Crowe - NFL Week #14 Power Rankings

Crowe - NFL Week #14 Power Rankings

Tis the season of giving. Christmas is just around the corner and you can bet that the gifts will continue to fly around the National Football League. So, who’s been in the sharing spirit through 13 weeks?

Well, Matthew Stafford has certainly been nice to opposing defenses, throwing a pick-six in three straight games during the Rams’ three-game losing streak.

How about the Baltimore Ravens? Their offensive line has given up 37 sacks on Lamar Jackson, the most in the league. Plus, Jackson himself has thrown 8 interceptions over the last 4 games.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

The Patriots have been kind to New England Nation, turning last season’s disastrous (for them) 7-9 season with Cam Newton into a 9-4 season so far with seven straight victories. Rookie QB Mac Jones is playing his best Santa role too, letting all the reindeer, errr Pats play their running game 46 times Monday night in Buffalo.

Now, speaking of rookies, Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is making his mark already gathering in 86 catches, good for second in the league. That in itself has given life to Miami’s offense that’s led to a six-game win streak. On the other side of the ball, Dallas is blessed to have Micah Parsons dominating his way to 10 sacks in his first year.

Finally, kudos to all 32 nominees for this year’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. The work that all of these men, including Lawrence Guy of the Patriots, gives inspiration and help to their respective communities.

So, with that, we give you our weekly present and this week’s top 10 power rankings.

 

10. Indianapolis Colts (7-6, Last week: not ranked)

The Colts have the bye this week but then host the Patriots in week 15 before traveling to Arizona on Christmas. Needless to say, we should know just how battle-tested Indy will be by then and if the team’s postseason aspirations are for real. If the Colts are to be contenders, they’ll need to continue to ride the legs of Jonathan Taylor, who continues to top the rushing list with 1348 yards and 16 touchdowns. They also lead the league in turnover differential at a +13.

 

9. Los Angeles Rams (8-4, Last week: not ranked)

The good news for the Rams is that QB Matthew Stafford looked more like the quarterback that led the team to win 7 of its first 8 games. Stafford threw for three touchdowns in a 37-7 rout over the Jaguars but more importantly, he threw zero interceptions for the first time in a month.

 

8. Tennessee Titans (8-4, Last week: ranked 7th)

It’s put up or shut up time for the Titans. Coming off the bye week, the Titans have a get-right game at home against the Jaguars before taking on the Steelers in week 15.  They could get some of their walking wounded back too as WR Julio Jones, LB Rashaad Evans, LB David Long, Jr., and RB Jeremy Nichols could return as the Titans continue to bide time until RB Derrick Henry comes back from foot surgery, presumably in time for the playoffs.

 

7. Baltimore Ravens (8-4, Last week: ranked 6th)

After a season’s worth of final second victories, the football gods finally caught up with the Ravens. Baltimore went for a two-point attempt and the win Sunday in Pittsburgh but came up short after Lamar Jackson and Mark Andrews couldn’t connect on what should’ve been a walk-in conversion. Losing cornerback Marlon Humphrey (torn pectoral muscle) for the season might be the latest in a long line of injuries that the Ravens can’t overcome. Speaking of overcoming, the Ravens schedule is a big hurdle as the Browns, Packers, Bengals, Rams, and Steelers lay ahead.

 

6. Dallas Cowboys (8-4, Last week: ranked 8th)

Dallas should be enjoying their mini-bye, having 10 days off since slamming the Saints before traveling to Washington for the middle game of their three-game road trip. A victory against the WFT Sunday would leave the Cowboys with a three-game edge in the NFC East with four games to play. A loss in Washington leaves the Cowboys feeling a little pressure with a month to go.

 

5. Kansas City Chiefs (8-4, Last week: ranked 5th)

You just get the sense that the Chiefs, just like the Bucs, are using the regular season to tweak things for the playoffs. KC’s now won five in a row and it seems to get easier with each passing week. The latest example came Sunday night, beating the Broncos 22-9 in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score. Kansas City takes on the Raiders Sunday before traveling to LA for a Thursday night game against the Chargers. Those five days will say a lot about how the AFC West will play out. 

 

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-3, Last week: ranked 4th)

As long as Tom Brady has a healthy Rob Gronkowski, the Bucs offense will be just fine. The former Patriots tandem teamed up for two more touchdown connections in a 30-17 victory at Atlanta Sunday. A tasty treat comes this Sunday in Tampa as the Bucs welcome the wounded Bills to town. How good is TB12 in December? Well, I’d say his 67-16 record sounds very good.

 

3. New England Patriots (9-4, Last week: ranked 3rd)

What can you say about the Patriots’ latest victory in the gusty winds of upstate NY? They ran the ball 46 times, including an eye-whopping 31 straight times, for 220 yards in a 14-10 victory over the Bills. Mac Jones threw just three passes, completing two in a game that he’ll always remember. Winners of 7 straight, the longest active winning streak in the league, the Pats now hold the #1 seed in the AFC as they head into the bye week.  A rematch with the Bills on December 26th is on the horizon after a trip to Indianapolis in week 15.

 

2. Green Bay Packers (9-3, Last week: ranked 2nd)

A much-needed bye week should do Aaron Rodgers’ fractured pinky toe wonders. A primetime Sunday night visit from the Bears won’t hurt either. Rodgers is 22-5 all-time against his NFC North Division rivals and could clinch a tie for the division title with win number 23.

 

1. Arizona Cardinals (10-2, Last week: ranked 1st)

Things are looking mighty fine for the Cards. They’re as healthy as they’ve been in over a month as Kyler Murray, along with DeAndre Hopkins, returned to the lineup to account for four scores in an easy win at the Bears. The Cardinals are 7-0 on the road, joining the Patriots (6-0) as the only unbeaten teams away from home. The Cards could all but put away the NFC West with a win Monday night in Arizona against the Rams.

Games to watch in week 14:

Bills at Buccaneers – The last thing Buffalo wanted to see after losing to the Pats is Tom Brady.
49ers at Bengals – The loser in this one will have a tough time making the playoffs.
Ravens at Browns – This could be Cleveland’s last stand in 2021.
Cowboys at Washington – The roller coaster Cowboys against the streaking WFT, winners of 4 in a row.

Last week:
10. Bills
9. Bengals
8. Cowboys
7. Titans
6. Ravens
5. Chiefs
4. Buccaneers
3. Patriots
2. Packers
1. Cardinals