NFL Power Rankings – Week 15, John Crowe

NFL Power Rankings – Week 15, John Crowe

With the first full-fledged snowstorm in the books here in Southern New England, we can officially say it looks like the holiday season. So, with that in mind, we’re going to try and play Santa for some of our favorite NFL teams. Time to give some of those in (and out) of the NFL Power Rankings a Christmas gift to bring a little cheer this holiday season.

For the New England Patriots, we naturally want to give them a franchise QB. Maybe they can coax Dak Prescott out of Dallas. They’ll need lots of stocking stuffers too in the form of skilled positions to surround that QB. Wide receivers and tight ends for all!

For the Los Angeles Chargers, Santa’s bringing them a new head coach that will turn those last second losses into wins. How’s former Patriots assistant coach and current Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll sound?

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For the New Orleans Saints, the gift of good health for Drew Brees and a long playoff run in what could be his final season before joining the NBC broadcast booth would fit nicely in a Christmas stocking.

For the Pittsburgh Steelers, new hands for their receivers and tight ends are in order after three weeks of drops. Good luck JuJu Smith-Schuster, Eric Ebron, Chase Claypool and Diontae Johnson.

For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a true identity and letting Tom Brady have the full keys to the offense.

For the Miami Dolphins, a win in week 17 in Buffalo to hopefully clinch a playoff spot for them and help them avoid the Bills in round one of the playoffs. If you’re Miami, you want the Steelers and not the Bills in the postseason.

For the Washington Football Team, a really cool nickname for 2021 and continued health for quarterback Alex Smith, who should be the hands-down Comeback Player of the Year.

For the New York Jets, a yes from Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is all they really need!

Best of rest: Miami Dolphins (8-5 Last week: ranked 8th)

I know what you're saying. Lose to the Chiefs and drop two spots? Well, it's a combination of losing an early 10-0 lead to Kansas City, injuries to wide receiver Davante Parker (hamstring) and tight end Mike Gisecki (shoulder) plus the COVID-19 hit to their running backs. Having the Patriots, Raiders and Bills the next three weeks doesn’t help either.

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5, Last week: ranked Best of Rest)

No, I don't believe Bucs head coach Bruce Arians when he says his team's identity is "we can do any damn thing we want to." Tampa will need to run the ball, something made tougher with starting running back Ronald Jones on the COVID-19/reserve list and finger surgery this week. Tom Brady has the Falcons two out of the next three weeks (plus, the Lions), so the road to the playoffs isn't all that tough

9. Cleveland Browns (9-4, Last week: ranked 6th)

That one hurt! The Browns had the Ravens beat Monday night until Lamar Jackson's infamous return from the bathroom/locker room snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Luckily for Cleveland, they travel to the Giants this week who could be without starting quarterback Daniel Jones again (ankle sprain/hamstring) and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett (COVID-19 positive test).

8. Indianapolis Colts (9-4, Last week: ranked 10th)

The Colts put a thumping to the Raiders Sunday, running for 212 total yards behind Jonathan Taylor's 150 yards, two touchdown day. They should be able to handle Houston this Sunday in Indy before traveling to the Steelers in week 16.

7. Seattle Seahawks (9-4, Last week: ranked 9th)

For a week, Seattle righted the ship. But then again, they played the Jets. It's back to reality this week when the Seahawks travel East to take one of the hottest defenses in the league, the Washington Football team.

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

Good things come in threes they say. First, the Rams demolished the Patriots last Thursday night. Then, they got 10 days off. Finally, they get the winless Jets coming to LA this Sunday. Happy Holiday to the Los Angeles Rams. They're inching closer and closer to an NFC West title.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2, Last week: ranked 4th)

The bad news for Pittsburgh is that they've lost two in a row and lost the top seed spot in the AFC. The good news is that they have the Bengals Monday night with a backup quarterback. If things don't get back to normal for the Steelers, there are more troubles than we thought.

4. New Orleans Saints (10-3, Last week: ranked 2nd)

Just when you thought the Saints were rolling into their game with the Chiefs, the Eagles and a quarterback named Jalen put the Hurts on them. See what we did there! Unfortunately, with the upset loss to Philly, New Orleans drops out of the top spot in the NFC to Green Bay and could fall even further as with the Chiefs coming to town in the marquee matchup of week 15. The biggest question is how good will Drew Brees be in his first game back since his rib injury last month. The Saints announced he would start Friday morning, according to NFL.com.  He’ll be playing without his favorite target, wide receiver Michael Thomas, who’s out due to an ankle injury, according to the team’s website.

3. Green Bay Packers (10-3, Last week: ranked 5th)

IMHO, the Packers have themselves the MVP of 2020 in quarterback Aaron Rodgers. All he does is win and throw multiple touchdowns every game. This week, it's the Carolina Panthers who try to get in Mr. Rodgers neighborhood Saturday night.

2. Buffalo Bills (10-3, Last week: ranked 3rd)

Josh Allen may be the best story in the NFL not named Alex Smith. Maturity, smart decision making and pure athleticism have brought the Bills from just a good team with some playoff aspirations to a team that just could challenge the Chiefs for a spot in Tampa. Sunday night’s primetime 26-15 victory over Pittsburgh was a stepping stone for them. Allen’s completing nearly 70% of his passes, throwing 28 touchdowns against just 9 interceptions while adding 6 more scores on the ground.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (12-1, Last week: ranked 1st)

KC is on a mission to become the first repeat champions since the Patriots. Last week in Miami, Kansas City checked off another box by beating another upstart challenger on the road. This week, the road trip through the South continues with a stop in the Big Easy and the Saints, who have Drew Brees back at QB after missing a month due to rib injuries.

Last week:
Best of Rest: Buccaneers
10. Colts
9. Seahawks
8. Dolphins
7. Rams
6. Browns
5. Packers
4. Steelers
3. Bills
2. Saints
1. Chiefs