Crowe - NFL Week #15 Power Rankings

Crowe - NFL Week #15 Power Rankings

What a week in the NFL.

Over 100 players and coaches have tested positive for COVID-19 already this week putting rosters in jeopardy as we kick off the final month of the NFL season. In Jacksonville, the Jaguars fire first-year head coach Urban Meyer after only 13 games (2-11). We get a whale of a Thursday night overtime roller coaster of a game between the Chiefs and Chargers to start week 15 in which we see Kansas City show the rest of the league that they are ready to retake their claim as one of the top teams in the NFL.

Now, before we take a breath for a full slate of Sunday games, we get some bonus Saturday football. What would’ve been a doubleheader starting in Cleveland with the Browns hosting the Raiders before the Patriots and Colts tangle in Indianapolis has turned into just one game. On Friday, the NFL moved the Raiders vs. Browns game to Monday as the Browns had over 20 players, including quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum, and head coach Kevin Stefanski on the COVID-19 list. Two other games have since been moved as well with the Washington vs. Eagles contest now set for Tuesday along with the Rams vs. Seahawks. It’s now day-to-day as to who’s going to be available for teams as the latest surge in the pandemic grows.

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So, sit back and we’ll all watch it unfold together. The NFL is the ultimate reality show going on before our very eyes.

 

10. Baltimore Ravens (8-5, Last week: ranked 7th)

Simply put, the Baltimore Ravens will go as far as Lamar Jackson will take them. A team besieged by injuries has its leader and quarterback as its latest victim as Jackson went down with an ankle sprain in the Ravens 24-22 loss to the Browns Sunday. Baltimore still holds a one-game edge over the Browns and Bengals in the AFC North, but with a tough schedule – vs. Packers, at Bengals, vs. Rams, at Steelers – on tap and a gimpy Jackson, the Ravens could be on the outside looking in come January.

 

9. Indianapolis Colts (7-6, Last week: ranked 10th)

The Colts are the trendy pick among the five teams tied at 7-6 for the final two playoff spots in the AFC. Coming off the bye, Indy hosts the red-hot Patriots Saturday night. The question will be if its offense, led by the trio of the NFL’s top rusher Jonathan Taylor, QB Carson Wentz, and WR Michael Pittman, can figure out how to put up enough points against the league’s number one scoring defense from New England.

 

8. Tennessee Titans (9-4, Last week: ranked 8th)

Consider the Titans vanilla for the past two weeks. They had a real bye in week 13 and then whipped on the hapless Jacksonville Jaguars 17-0 in week 14 for what seemed like a bye. They may be tied for the top spot in the AFC with the Patriots and Chiefs, but until the Titans get Derrick Henry back from foot surgery, possibly in week 18, we won’t really know how good Tennessee really is.

 

7. Los Angeles Rams (9-4, Last week: ranked 9th)

Monday night’s 30-23 road win over the Cardinals was just what the doctor ordered for LA. Quarterback Matthew Stafford looked sharp once again with three touchdown passes, including one to the improving Odell Beckham Jr. Plus, Aaron Donald seemingly bookended the game with sacks of Kyler Murray. After a three-week bump in the road, the Rams look like they are ready to make that late December run towards the playoffs.

 

6. Dallas Cowboys (9-4, Last week: ranked 6th)

The Cowboys continue to be an enigma. They look amazing in building a 24-0 lead over Washington. Then, they let WFT right back in and have to hold on after a shaky fumble call for the 27-20 victory. Sure, Dallas has all but clinched the NFC East and a home game in the Wild Card round, but do you have faith in them going further on the road the rest of the way? My eyes will have to see more to believe that.

 

5. Arizona Cardinals (10-3, Last week: ranked 1st)

A big drop for the Cards this week, the biggest drop, in fact, moving from #1 to #5. Now, it’s not all about just the Monday night loss at home to the Cardinals. It’s the fact that we were all waiting for the other shoe to drop as teams like the Packer and Bucs in the NFC as well as the Patriots and Bucs in the NFC continue to win. Now, the Cards will be without WR DeAndre Hopkins for the rest of the season with a knee injury which will be a huge blow to that offense. Maybe the Cards just prefer to play on the road where they’re 7-0 while just 3-3 at home.

 

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

The hottest team not named the Chiefs faces a new challenge in week 15. Winners of seven in a row, the Patriots come off the bye-week and head to Indianapolis for a rare Saturday night contest against the Colts. This team, led by rookie quarterback Mac Jones, come in off that bizarre Monday night win in windy Buffalo where Jones threw just three passes. It will take a more balanced effort this week as well as trying to contain Jonathan Taylor, the league’s top rusher if the Pats are going to make it eight in a row and keep the top spot in the AFC.

 

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-3, Last week: ranked 4th)

We all know that Aaron Rodgers owns the Chicago Bears, but you could say that Tom Brady REALLY owns the Buffalo Bills. Brady is now 33-3 against the boys from Buffalo after week 14’s 33-27 overtime thriller. It wasn’t all good news for the Bucs though as they blew a 24-3 halftime lead before taking the win in OT on Brady’s 58-yard touchdown pass (and run) to Breshad Perriman. Make no bones about it, things are lining up again for TB12 and friends to make another trip to the Super Bowl.

 

2. Kansas City Chiefs (10-4, Last week: ranked 5th)

If you didn’t believe the Chiefs were back after a rout of the Raiders in week 14, you definitely can believe it after KC’s 34-28 overtime victory over the Chargers to kick-off week 15. They’ve now won seven in a row and for the moment, have the top seed in the AFC. The stars came out Thursday night to lead the way too. Patrick Mahomes threw for 410 yards and 3 touchdowns. Travis Kelce caught 10 passes for 191 yards and the game-winning score. Plus, Tyreke Hill threw in 12 catches for 148 yards and a touchdown. Beware NFL. The Chiefs are beasts once more.

 

1. Green Bay Packers (10-3, Last week: ranked 2nd)

Just when you thought the Bears would give the Packers a fight, up 27-21 at the half Sunday night, Aaron Rodgers invoked his ownership privileges as the Pack rolled off 24 straight points for a 45-30 victory. With the Cardinals losing, Green Bay is firmly entrenched as the number one team in the NFC, now 6-0 at home. The one thing to watch though continues to be Rodgers’ fractured pinky toe. Rodgers said after the game that he had a setback, so the story of “As the Toe Goes” continues in Green Bay.

 

Games to watch in week 15:

Patriots at Colts – The top scoring defense vs. #1 running back in the league.
Bengals at Broncos – A pair of 7-6 teams with the winner looking good for the playoffs.
Packers at Ravens – Battle of banged-up QBs with Rodgers vs. Jackson.

 

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