Crowe - NFL Week #14 Power Rankings 2022: Pats Make the Top 10
John Crowe, Sports Contributor
Crowe - NFL Week #14 Power Rankings 2022: Pats Make the Top 10
Now comes the hard part for Bill Belichick’s crew. A four-game gauntlet the rest of the way starts Sunday in Las Vegas in a game that was flexed out of NBC’s primetime Sunday night football slot in favor of the Giants vs. Commanders' rematch. That removal out of primetime surely comes as a slight to the organization’s ego, especially since the Pats have always been a ratings draw for the tv networks. Still, four straight national television games appear to be even a bit much for America. After the Raiders, the Pats return home for back-to-back games with postseason rivals the Bengals and Dolphins before ending the 2022 regular season in Buffalo.
Belichick, along with offensive play caller Matt Patricia and quarterbacks coach Joe Judge have to find a way to give the offense a jolt if they are to be successful. Their reliance on screen plays is striking. In Monday night’s win, Patricia called a season-high 12 screen passes, which accounted for nearly one-third of Jones’ pass attempts. Those 12 plays only gained 58 yards. When Jones wasn’t throwing screen passes, he went 13-23 for 177 yards, a nearly three-yard per play improvement (4.8 vs. 7.7). If only Jones could turn his spirited words pointed at Patricia of late into points, we might see them get to the next level.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe saving grace for the Patriots has been their defense, who accounted for a pair of turnovers, one which went for a scoop-and-score touchdown by Raekwon McMillan to break a 13-13 tie in the third quarter. Add in Josh Uche (3) and Matthew Judon (1.5) combining for 4.5 sacks against backup quarterback Colt McCoy and New England has itself a top-six overall defense. The Patriots are surrendering only 18.4 points per game, good for fifth in the league. For his work, Uche was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
No matter what happens moving forward, the Patriots have put themselves into position to control their own destiny. As Belichick pointed out after the victory Monday night, "It's always good to win. It's what we practice for," said Belichick according to the team’s website.
If they can continue to do that and win three of their last four games, they just might make it back-to-back seasons of playoff football in Foxboro.
Week 15’s Power Rankings
10. New England Patriots (7-6, Last week not ranked)
It’s an improbable journey that finds the Patriots back in our top 10. Yet, with that Monday night win in Arizona, New England vaulted over the Jets and Chargers into the AFC’s final playoff spot for now. Former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels provides the opponent Sunday in Las Vegas with the Raiders. Remember, McDaniels beat the Pats in the preseason and he would love to make it a clean sweep and put a death blow into their postseason chances.
9. Miami Dolphins (8-5, Last week ranked 8th)
Suddenly, the Dolphins are in the midst of a two-game losing skid and a possible snowy Saturday night in Buffalo straight ahead. After back-to-back road losses to the 49ers and Chargers, the Fins now have injuries to Tyreke Hill (ankle) and Jeff Wilson (hip) to deal with on a short week. Tua Tagovailoa provides even more concern at quarterback too. Tua’s tossed a pair of interceptions the past two weeks while being sacked five times and completing just 28 of 61 passes for 340 yards and three touchdowns.
8. Baltimore Ravens (9-4, Last week ranked 9th)
The Ravens were down to third-string quarterback Anthony Brown Sunday in Pittsburgh. Yet, the Baltimore defense held up for a 16-14 victory keeping the Ravens atop the AFC North standings, only one game ahead of surging Cincinnati. Lamar Jackson’s ailing knee could keep him out until Christmas Eve while Tyler Huntley awaits his dismissal from the concussion protocol. So, it could be a late-week decision on who starts for Baltimore Saturday in Cleveland.
7. Minnesota Vikings (10-3, Last week ranked 5th)
After nine straight wins in one-score games, the Vikings Cinderella streak struck midnight against the Lions. Even with a 10-3 record, the Vikings still lack the respect around the league heading into week 15’s Saturday game with the Colts. Having a net point differential of -1 will do that.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (9-4, Last week ranked 6th)
Cross another first off Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow’s list. After becoming the only QB to beat Patrick Mahomes in his first three games in week 13, Burrow took out the Browns for his first victory against Cleveland, 20-13. Burrow had to do it without wide receivers Josh Boyd and Tee Higgins as Ja’Marr Chase picked up the slack to the tune of 119 yards and a score. Next up for Cincy is a trip to Tampa against Tom Brady and the struggling Buccaneers.
5. San Francisco 49ers (10-4, Last week ranked 7th)
Just as we expected, Tom Brady vs. Brock Purdy wasn’t a fair fight. In fact, Purdy made it a no-contest, leading the 49ers to an overwhelming 35-7 win over the Bucs. The 49ers followed that up by clinching the NFC West division title with a 21-13 victory in Seattle Thursday night. They now have their sights set on the second seed if they can overtake the Vikings.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (10-3, Last week ranked 4th)
The Chiefs hung on to beat the Broncos 34-28 after running out to a quick 27-0 first-half advantage behind Patrick Mahomes three touchdown passes. Unfortunately, from there, Mahomes threw three interceptions as KC held on for its 10th victory. Still, a win is a win as Kansas City faces the one-win Texans Sunday in Houston.
3. Dallas Cowboys (10-3, Last week ranked 3rd)
No one saw the Cowboys needing a 98-yard touchdown drive in the final seconds to save them from losing to cross-state rival Houston. Yet that’s exactly what happened as Dak Prescott rallied the Cowboys from an embarrassing loss to the Texans, who came into the game as a 17-point underdog. Dallas travels to Jacksonville Sunday before facing the first place Eagles on Christmas Eve.
2. Buffalo Bills (10-3, Last week ranked 2nd)
It may not look as easy or efficient as some Buffalo media would like, but the Bills continue to grind out effective wins as they try to solidify the top spot in the AFC playoffs. The Bills grounded the Jets 20-12, sending Mike White in and out of the lineup with four sacks, countless hits and bruised ribs. Buffalo welcomes second-place Miami to upstate New York Saturday night as they try to get revenge for the Dolphins' week four victory in South Florida.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (12-1, Last week ranked 1st)
In a word, the Eagles win over the Giants last Sunday was “non-competitive.” Before the G-Men knew what hit them, they were down 24-7 with New York keeping a banged-up Saquon Barkley on the bench for most of the second half. Philly rushed for 253 yards and four scores, clinching a playoff spot and taking its 12-1 record to Chicago for a battle of running quarterbacks between Jaylen Hurts and Justin Fields.
Week 15 games to watch:
Dolphins at Bills (Saturday 8:15 pm NFL Network) – First place in the AFC East is on the line.
Lions at Jets (Sunday 1 pm CBS) – New York tries to avoid a third straight loss as they take on surging Lions, winners of five of six.
Patriots at Raiders (Sunday 4:05 pm FOX) – It’s teacher vs. mentor as Josh McDaniels takes on Bill Belichick.
Titans at Chargers (Sunday 4:25 pm CBS) – Two teams desperately clinging to playoff hopes.
Bengals at Buccaneers (Sunday 4:25 pm CBS) – Burrow vs. Brady for the very first time.
Giants at Commanders (Sunday 8:20 pm NBC) – Second game in three weeks for these two after a tie in week 13.
Last week:
10. Seahawks
9. Ravens
8. Dolphins
7. 49ers
6. Bengals
5. Vikings
4. Chiefs
3. Cowboys
2. Bills
1. Eagles