D.S. Williamson
The Philadelphia Eagles didn’t far too much on my NFL Week 14 Power Rankings after their loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Philly is still 10 and 2. That makes them one of the teams to beat in the NFC. Check out my NFL Week 14 Power Rankings!
2017 NFL Week 14 Power Rankings
1. New England Patriots (10-2)
The Patriots rushed for close to 200 yards versus the Buffalo Bills in Week 13. If the Pats have a viable rushing attack, watch out.
2. Minnesota Vikings (10-2)
I thought Minnesota was fantastic in their 14 to 9 win over the Atlanta Falcons. The Vikings have a legit starting QB in Case Keenum. Keenum continues to excel while the Vikings’ defense is about as good as it gets.
3. Los Angeles Rams (9-3)
It took the Rams until the third quarter to pummel the Arizona Cardinals. That’s okay. It’s difficult to beat a team like the Cardinals. LAR’s defense gets better week to week. That’s why I like them ahead of the Eagles.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (10-2)
Nobody agrees with me, but Philly could have some trouble taking on the Rams in L.A. this Sunday. Philly might bounce back after the loss to Seattle. Or, the Eagles could start imploding because they peaked three weeks ago.
5. New Orleans Saints (9-3)
The Saints proved that a single loss wasn’t going to derail their season. In an important battle versus NFC South foe Carolina, the Saints came up huge. Once the defense gets healthier, New Orleans might end up being the team to beat in the NFC.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-2)
Pittsburgh is one of the worst 9 and 2 teams I’ve ever seen. The Steelers needed a 13 points fourth quarter to beat Cincinnati 23 to 20. Pitt doesn’t have an easy game in Week 14 versus the surging Baltimore Ravens.
7. Carolina Panthers (8-4)
I believe the Panthers are a good football team. They just ran into a buzz saw in the Saints’ rushing attack. The Saints also got back starting corner Ken Crawley. Carolina is good enough to upset the Minnesota Vikings as a home dog in Week 14.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4)
The Jaguars are a different team at home. While they struggled to keep Arizona from scoring points against their NFL first ranked defense in Week 12, the Jags’ D dominated the Colts in Week 13.
9. Seattle Seahawks (8-4)
Don’t get too excited Seahawk fans. Sure, you guys beat the Philadelphia Eagles. However, Russell still ran for his football life for most of the game. Things won’t be as easy against the Jaguars in Jacksonville this Sunday.
10. Tennessee Titans (8-4)
Tennessee is the absolute worst 8 and 4 team I’ve ever seen. The Titans beat the Houston Texans 24 to 13 even though QB Marcus Mariota only threw for 150 yards and a TD.
11. Baltimore Ravens (7-5)
Time to eat crow. Or, in this case, raven. I’ve been all over Baltimore this season. I didn’t think they had a shot, I also thought they were overrated. I was wrong. The 44 to 20 win over Detroit proves that Baltimore is a legit playoff squad.
12. Atlanta Falcons (7-5)
The Atlanta Falcons had a chance to make a statement. Minnesota had won 8 games in a row. All the Falcons needed to do was beat the Vikings. Did it happen? Nope.
13. Los Angeles Chargers (6-6)
The Bolts didn’t look that great in their 14 to 9 win over the Cleveland Browns. Still, the victory put L.A. into a three-way tie with the Raiders and Chiefs in the AFC West.
14. Dallas Cowboys (6-6)
Dallas battled their arch rivals, Washington, in Week 13. The Boys came up big. They did exactly what they were supposed to do, hand the ball off to Alfred Morris and let him run it all over Washington’s defense. What was more impressive is how the Boys held Washington to only 56 rushing yards without LB Sean Lee.
15. Cincinnati Bengals (5-6)
No excuses, again, for the Cincinnati Bengals. They took a 17 to 3 lead over the Pittsburgh Steelers into halftime. By the end of the game, the Bengals had lost. Ridiculous.
16. Green Bay Packers (6-6)
How do you win a football game with your quarterback throwing for only 84 yards? You win it by playing a terrible team like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Packers rushing attack was en fuego on Sunday.
17. Oakland Raiders (6-6)
I sort of feel like the Raiders have tried to mail it in. Just like Michael Corleone, though, they keep getting pulled back into the playoff race. The Raiders are tied with the Bolts and the Chiefs atop the AFC West. How crazy is that?
18. Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)
The Chiefs are finding ways to lose. That’s the only explanation. QB Alex Smith was fantastic. He threw 4 TD passes. The Chiefs still managed to lose 31 to 38.
19. Detroit Lions (6-6)
Detroit is waiting to see if QB Matthew Stafford can play in Week 14. The loss to Baltimore was incredibly ugly. However, if Stafford can play, Detroit should have a chance to beat the Bucs this Sunday.
20. Buffalo Bills (6-6)
The Bills defense didn’t allow Terrific Tom Brady to throw a single TD pass against it. Sounds great, right? Not really. The Pats rushed for close to 200 yards in the 3 to 23 Bills loss.
21. New York Jets (5-7)
How about the Jets? NYJ is a spectacular 7 and 4 against the spread this season. Hey, I know the Jets aren’t a good team. But, they never quit. That says a lot about coach Todd Bowles.
22. Miami Dolphins (5-7)
The Dolphins didn’t quit in Week 13. Things could have been different if they hadn’t faced the lowly Denver Broncos. Denver is a team that has quit. So, not a ton of positive things to write about the Dolphins victory over the quitters that the Broncos have become.
23. Washington Redskins (5-7)
Dallas dominated Washington last Thursday night. Washington just doesn’t have it. There are a lot of good players on the team. But, since Dan Snyder bought Washington, hasn’t that always been the case? Maybe, Washington’s become a forever losing franchise.
24. Arizona Cardinals (5-7)
The Cardinals played the Rams tough for an entire half. Then, the Rams realized they were playing the Arizona Cardinals. That’s how the Rams beat Zona 32 to 16.
25. Houston Texans (4-8)
The Texans dropped another game. This time, Houston’s D allowed the Titans to rush all over it. The truth is that Houston’s season ended the day DE J.J. Watt went down. As well as QB DeShaun Watson was playing, he wasn’t going to be enough for Houston to make the playoffs. Not without Watt on the defense.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-8)
The Buccaneers squandered a fine performance from QB Jameis Winston to go along with a great rushing performance in their overtime loss to Green Bay. The Buccaneers are just a bad football team.
27. Chicago Bears (3-9)
At least, it’s not painful to watch the Buccaneers play. It’s become painful to watch Chicago play. The Bears are hesitant to allow QB Mitch Trubisky sling it all over the field. That’s why the Bears lost to the previously 1 win San Francisco 49’ers.
28. Indianapolis Colts (3-9)
Colts’ QB Jacoby Brissett had no shot against the Jacksonville Jaguars defense. Brissett threw a couple of picks. The Colts need a lot of help. They must trade Andrew Luck for a couple of Round 1 draft picks if they hope to get that help.
31. New York Giants (2-10)
The Giants fired coach Ben McAdoo after their 17 to 24 blase loss to the Oakland Raiders. The G-Men also unloaded their GM. Will it matter? It could. The interim coach is Steve Spagnuolo. He knows that Eli should start under center.
30. San Francisco 49’ers (2-10)
There’s some light in San Francisco’s dark tunnel. QB Jimmy Garoppolo did just enough to help the Niners upset the Bears 15 to 14. Jimmy G. might be the answer in SF. If he is, the Niners could do a lot of things with what projects to be a Top 5 draft pick come April.
29. Denver Broncos (3-9)
Sure, the Denver Broncos have one more win than both SF and the New York Giants. But, the Giants beat the Broncos. Also, Denver hasn’t won a game in a long time. What’s worse? Denver has quit. There’s no there, there. No effort. No heart. Nothing.
32. Cleveland Browns (0-12)
The Browns stink. With that being written, I believe they’ve got a huge shot of beating the Green Bay Packers straight up in Week 14. I mean it. Green Bay’s defense isn’t great while the Browns’ defense ranks in the Top 10.
