The 2020-21 NFL season has just one more week in the regular season. With fifteen games in the books for all 32 teams, there was less movement in this week’s Power Rankings than ever before. But it makes sense: as the sample size increases, the result of one game will have less baring on a team’s overall resume.

This week, there was barely any change in positioning of the Top 10. There is shake-ups after that though, including a new team at the bottom of the rankings.

Previous Power Rankings: Post-Week 1, Post-Week 2, Post-Week 3, Post-Week 4, Post-Week 5, Post-Week 6, Post-Week 7, Post-Week 8, Post-Week 9, Post-Week 10, Post-Week 11, Post-Week 12, Post-Week 13, Post-Week 14, Post-Week 15

Weekly Picks: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12, Week 13, Week 14, Week 15, Week 16

MVP Watch: Quarter Season, Half Season, Three-Quarter Season

SEE ALSO: Top Ten Players Heading Into the 2020-21 NBA Season

Post-Week 16 Power Rankings

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1) [Last Week: 1]
    • Nine Straight Weeks at the Top: The Chiefs struggled to beat the 4-10 Falcons last week, narrowly avoiding overtime on a missed field goal attempt. Still, it’s going to take more than a tight win over a bad team to knock Kansas City off their perch.
  2. Buffalo Bills (12-3) [Last Week: 2]
    • The Bills dominated once again, steamrolling their foes from New England 38-9 on Monday Night Football.
  3. New Orleans Saints (11-4) [Last Week: 3]
    • The second through fourth-ranked teams all blew out their opponents in Week 16, and as a result didn’t budge at all in the rankings. New Orleans did their part, annihilating the Vikings 52-33 on Christmas Day behind six Alvin Kamara touchdowns.
  4. Green Bay Packers (12-3) [Last Week: 4]
    • While the Packers 40-14 win over the Titans was the most impressive of this bunch, I still like Buffalo and New Orleans’ resumes just a little bit more. Interestingly, Green Bay has just as many wins over teams with winning records (two) as the New York Jets now have.
  5. Seattle Seahawks (11-4) [Last Week: 5]
    • After suffering a mid-season scare, Seattle has stamped their ticket to the postseason as NFC West champions, defeating the Rams 20-9 in Week 16.
  6. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3) [Last Week: 6]
    • For a moment it looked as if Pittsburgh was set to lose their fourth straight matchup, until 14 fourth quarter points lifted the Steelers over the Colts 28-24. The Steelers clinched the AFC North with the win, and it came over a quality opponent. I still have doubts about Pittsburgh after their three-game losing streak though.
  7. Tennessee Titans (10-5) [Last Week: 7]
    • The Titans really deserve to be lowered after failing to show up against the Packers, but with many teams below them losing, Tennessee holds firm in the seventh position on this list.
  8. Baltimore Ravens (10-5) [Last Week: 11]
    • Lamar Jackson and the Ravens appear to be gaining traction at just the right time.
  9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-5) [Last Week: 12]
    • Tampa Bay destroyed the Lions defense with a 47-7 victory on Saturday, behind four touchdown passes from Tom Brady. The Buccaneers, like Seattle, Baltimore, and to an extent, Pittsburgh, suffered a period of struggle, but this week, they punched their ticket to the playoffs.
  10. Indianapolis Colts (10-5) [Last Week: 10]
    • The Colts nearly had the Steelers beat, which would have given them a lead in the AFC South, but they squandered that opportunity in the second half. Still, Indianapolis can probably play with any team in the postseason in either conference, with the possible exception of Kansas City.
  11. Arizona Cardinals (8-7) [Last Week: 9]
    • While the playoffs are still attainable, it’s frustrating to see how many wins Kyler Murray and the Cardinals have left on the table this season.
  12. Miami Dolphins (10-5) [Last Week: 13]
    • I’m not sure benching your starting quarterback will be a winning formula in the playoffs, but in their 26-25 win over the Raiders, using both Tua Tagovailoa and Fitzpatrick worked out perfectly.
  13. Los Angeles Rams (9-6) [Last Week: 8]
    • Biggest Loser of Week 16 (tie): The Rams are disappearing at the wrong time. After an embarrassing loss to the Jets, Los Angeles fell 20-9 to Seattle, with the potential to create a tie for the NFC West lead. Even in a win-and-in scenario in Week 17, the Rams will be without Jared Goff and Copper Kupp. A once-promising season could be lost at the last moment.
  14. Chicago Bears (8-7) [Last Week: 22]
    • Biggest Winner of Week 16: The Bears have earned three straight wins, albeit all over teams with losing records, after their six-game losing streak. I didn’t intend to raise them so high after just beating the Jaguars, but with other teams falling apart and Chicago seemingly putting it back together, the Bears easily are the biggest riser of Week 16.
  15. Cleveland Browns (10-5) [Last Week: 14]
    • The short-handed Browns couldn’t handle the 1-13 Jets, and suddenly, their playoff hopes are in doubt.
  16. Minnesota Vikings (6-9) [Last Week: 15]
  17. San Francisco 49ers (6-9) [Last Week: 18]
  18. Washington Football Team (6-9) [Last Week: 16]
    • Washington had entered the playoff mix with four straight wins, the most impressive being their Monday Night win over the Steelers. They’ve lost their last two games by seven points or less, without Alex Smith. With Smith, they’re probably a Top 16 team.
  19. Dallas Cowboys (6-9) [Last Week: 26]
    • Dallas rises seven spots, perhaps because it was overdue. Andy Dalton and the Cowboys have put up 30 or more points in three straight games. They could be a potentially dangerous playoff team if they squeak in.
  20. Los Angeles Chargers (6-9) [Last Week: 20]
  21. Denver Broncos (5-10) [Last Week: 19]
  22. New York Giants (5-10) [Last Week: 17]
    • Kind of like Washington, the New York Giants enjoyed a good stretch: a four-game winning streak. But with three straight losses, New York has lost control of their playoff destiny. They can still get in the postseason with a win over Dallas and a Washington loss.
  23. Philadelphia Eagles (4-10-1) [Last Week: 21]
    • The Eagles are much more competitive with Jalen Hurts, as opposed to Carson Wentz, but were humbled by a 37-17 loss to Dallas that officially dashed any chance at the postseason.
  24. Las Vegas Raiders (7-8) [Last Week: 24]
  25. Carolina Panthers (5-10) [Last Week: 25]
  26. Atlanta Falcons (4-11) [Last Week: 27]
  27. New England Patriots (6-9) [Last Week: 23]
    • It’s been a lost season for Cam Newton and the Patriots, but in a unique year, and with many key defensive players sitting out, I wouldn’t be surprised if New England bounces back next year.
  28. Cincinnati Bengals (4-10-1) [Last Week: 30]
  29. Houston Texans (4-11) [Last Week: 29]
  30. Detroit Lions (5-10) [Last Week: 29]
    • While Detroit managed five wins, they’ve proved lately they’re one of the worst teams in the NFL.
  31. New York Jets (2-13) [Last Week: 32]
    • After thirteen straight weeks at the bottom, the New York Jets have rose to the #31 slot. If the season had more games to play, the Jets might rise even more, over deflating Detroit and Houston teams. With two straight victories, a complete surprise upset of the Rams, and then this week defeating a short-handed Browns team, New York has proven they’re not the worst team in the NFL. Of course, some fans may be upset that the Jets “didn’t even tank correctly,” losing out on the first overall draft pick.
  32. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-14) [Last Week: 31]
    • New Team at the Bottom: The Jaguars had some competitive games in the middle of the season, but at the end of the day, they’re the only one-win team in the league. With blowouts coming lately, it’s easy to put Jacksonville at the bottom.
SEE ALSO: 2020-21 NBA Standings, Playoffs, NBA Finals Predictions

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Posted on 0 By Billy Sakmann NFL Posted in NFL, Sak Sports Blog Tagged #, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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