With Week 14 in the books, there’s just four weeks left in the 2021-22 NFL regular season. Wins and losses at this stage in the game can be the deciding factor to determine which teams win their divisions, earn first-round byes, and make the playoffs overall.

With a sample size of 14 weeks though, the changes in my weekly Power Rankings become less drastic. Yes, Power Rankings are measure of which teams are the hottest at this current moment in time, but one game isn’t enough to erase positive or negative history built up over the course of the season.

With that being said, there’s still shake-ups this week, even in the Top Five. The middle of the pack is an absolute mess, with 14 of the league’s 32 teams holding exactly six or seven wins through 14 weeks.

Are the Arizona Cardinals still the best team in the NFL, or could the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Green Bay Packers hold that title after Arizona’s latest loss to the Los Angels Rams? Are the Buffalo Bills still a Super Bowl contender? What about the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans?

Read on for my full Power Rankings, and if you’d like to debate or discuss any rankings, join the conversation with @SakSports on Twitter.

SEE ALSO: Last Week’s Power Rankings

Post-Week 14 Power Rankings

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-3) [Last Week: 2]
    • While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense did allow Josh Allen and the Bills to score 17 points in the fourth quarter and force overtime, the defending Super Bowl champions still came away with a victory and are now tied for the NFL’s best record. While Tampa Bay’s defense may have some room for improvement, Tom Brady’s offense is ranked first in the NFL, scoring 31.5 points per game.
  2. New England Patriots (9-4) [Last Week: 3]
    • The New England Patriots had a bye in Week 14, and remain the hottest team in football with seven straight wins. If New England can beat the Colts and Bills over the next two weeks, they just might claim the top spot on this list before the season is over,
  3. Green Bay Packers (10-3) [Last Week: 4]
    • Despite allowing 27 first half points to a typically low-scoring Bears team, the Green Bay Packers defeated Chicago 45-30 on Sunday night behind four touchdown passes from Aaron Rodgers.
  4. Arizona Cardinals (10-3) [Last Week: 1]
    • For the first time since the season’s early going, the Arizona Cardinals aren’t one of my top three teams. Arizona is still an elite team with a real shot at the Super Bowl, but after suffering their second loss of the season with Kyler Murray at quarterback, the Cardinals feel a little less invincible. Realistically, Arizona is neck-and-neck with Green Bay, but the Packers did hand the Cardinals their first loss of the season a month ago.
  5. Kansas City Chiefs (9-4) [Last Week: 5]
    • After a subpar 3-4 start, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs have rattled off six straight wins to earn share of the best record in the AFC. While the Chiefs offense is back, evidenced by last week’s 48-9 win over the Raiders, more impressive is their defense, who has held the opposition to less than 10 points in four of Kansas City’s last five games.
  6. Dallas Cowboys (9-4) [Last Week: 6]
    • Dak Prescott didn’t have a great game, but the Dallas Cowboys staved off a Washington Football Team comeback attempt to improve to 9-4 and all but clinch the NFC East.
  7. Los Angeles Rams (9-4) [Last Week: 9]
    • The Los Angeles Rams secured a win over a team with a winning record for the first time since… defeating the Buccaneers in Week 3. Matthew Stafford and company downed the Cardinals 30-23 in Arizona and now trail them by just one game for the NFC West lead. Despite a recent three-game losing streak, the Rams are still a threat in the NFC.
  8. Buffalo Bills (7-6) [Last Week: 7]
    • Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills came back from down 17 points to force overtime against Brady and the Buccaneers. Buffalo ultimately fell 33-27, but still went toe-to-toe with the best team in the league (by my account.) Even though the Bills have lost back-to-back games, it’s an encouraging result.
  9. Baltimore Ravens (8-5) [Last Week: 8]
    • The Baltimore Ravens continue to struggle with Lamar Jackson’s availability, as he left Week 14’s matchup against the Browns in the first half. Tyler Huntley went 27-of-38 for 270 yards and a touchdown in relief, but Baltimore lost 24-22 and now barely clings to an AFC North lead.
  10. Tennessee Titans (9-4) [Last Week: 10]
    • The Tennessee Titans ended a two-game skid with a 20-0 win over the Jaguars in Week 14, but will need to beat stronger opponents in order to move up this list, despite being tied for the best record in the AFC.
  11. Indianapolis Colts (7-6) [Last Week: 11]
    • Carson Wentz, Jonathan Taylor, and the Indianapolis Colts control their own playoff destiny with four weeks left in the season after a bye week in Week 14.
  12. Los Angeles Chargers (8-5) [Last Week: 12]
    • Justin Herbert (275 yards, three touchdown passes) and the Los Angeles Chargers were firing on all cylinders in a 37-21 home win over Mike Glennon and the New York Giants.
  13. San Francisco 49ers (7-6) [Last Week: 14]
    • Despite allowing the Bengals to score 14 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime, Jimmy Garroppolo’s game-winning touchdown pass in OT lifted the San Francisco 49ers to a 26-23 win and etched the NFC West squad a spot in the conference’s playoff race.
  14. Cincinnati Bengals (7-6) [Last Week: 13]
    • Joe Burrow threw for 348 yards and two touchdowns, as well as led the Cincinnati Bengals to 14 fourth quarter points after putting up just six points through the first three quarters. But even after the Bengals struck first with a field goal in overtime, the 49ers responded with a game-winning touchdown to down Cincinnati 26-23.
  15. Minnesota Vikings (6-7) [Last Week: 15]
    • The Minnesota Vikings defense may have some adjustments to make after nearly blowing a 29-point lead against the Steelers, but the team ultimately prevailed 36-28 to improve to 6-7 and join a five-way tie for the NFC’s final playoff spot.
  16. Washington Football Team (6-7) [Last Week: 17]
    • Washington Football Team held Dak Prescott largely in check, but fell just short in a second half comeback attempt, scoring 20 over the final two quarters after going scoreless in the first two. The loss all but eliminates the possibility of Washington coming back to win the NFC East, but the team currently sits tied for the NFC’s final wildcard spot, and if the season ended today, would qualify for the postseason on tiebreakers.
  17. Cleveland Browns (7-6) [Last Week: 19]
    • Amazingly, the Cleveland Browns have alternated wins and losses for eight straight weeks. After losing to Baltimore in Week 12, Cleveland beat their AFC North rival 24-22 in Week 14, after Lamar Jackson left the game in the first half.
  18. Philadelphia Eagles (6-7) [Last Week: 16]
    • The Philadelphia Eagles had a bye in Week 14, and will have a shot at the playoffs with a strong showing over their final four games.
  19. Miami Dolphins (6-7) [Last Week: 18]
    • While they currently sit 13th in the AFC, Tua Tagovailoa the red-hot Miami Dolphins could still make the postseason if they extend their five gam winning streak after they come out of their bye.
  20. Denver Broncos (7-6) [Last Week: 20]
    • Teddy Bridgewater, Melvin Gordon, and the Denver Broncos laid in on the visiting Lions 38-10 in Week 14, emerging victorious as they honored former wide receiver Demaryius Thomas who passed away this week.
  21. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6-1) [Last Week: 22]
    • Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers nearly completed a 29-point comeback over the Vikings on Thursday Night Football, but couldn’t get the ball in the endzone on the final play of the game to potentially force overtime.
  22. Atlanta Falcons (6-7) [Last Week: 24]
    • Matt Ryan, Cordarrelle Patterson, and the Atlanta Falcons overcame the Panthers 29-21 in Carolina, and now, despite a largely mediocre season, are one of five teams tied for the NFC’s final playoff spot.
  23. New Orleans Saints (6-7) [Last Week: 23]
    • The New Orleans Saints finally won a game without Jameis Winston, downing the Jets 30-9 behind solid efforts from Taysom Hill and Alvin Kamara, but don’t seem like the team that will ultimately emerge from the NFC’s five-way tie for the final playoff spot.
  24. Seattle Seahawks (5-8) [Last Week: 25]
    • The Seattle Seahawks are finally coming around, with back-to-back wins scoring over 30 points, but it’s likely too little, too late for Russell Wilson and company.
  25. Las Vegas Raiders (6-7) [Last Week: 21]
    • Derek Carr and the Las Vegas Raiders to continue to reel, falling 48-9 to the Chiefs in Week 14 for their most embarrassing loss of the season. The Raiders have lost five of six games, falling from first in the AFC West to a longshot to even make the playoffs.
  26. Chicago Bears (4-9) [Last Week: 26]
    • Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears actually scored a season-high 30 points on Sunday Night Football, but still couldn’t keep up with Aaron Rodgers as they fell 45-30 to the Packers for their seventh loss in eight games.
  27. New York Giants (4-9) [Last Week: 27]
    • Surprisingly, Mike Glennon and the New York Giants actually scored three touchdowns against the Chargers, but two of them were in garbage time. Justin Herbert torched the Giants defense for three touchdown passes in Los Angeles’ 37-21 win.
  28. Carolina Panthers (5-8) [Last Week: 28]
    • For the third straight game, the Carolina Panthers started Cam Newton, and for the third straight game, Carolina lost. This week, Matt Ryan and the Falcons beat Carolina 29-21 on their own turf to drop the Panthers to 5-8. Carolina’s3-0 start feels like forever ago.
  29. Detroit Lions (1-11-1) [Last Week: 29]
    • The Detroit Lions had been playing decent as of late, but failed to show up in Denver, losing 38-10 to the Broncos in Week 14.
  30. New York Jets (3-10) [Last Week: 30]
    • Zach Wilson and the New York Jets couldn’t find the endzone in a 30-9 loss to Taysom Hill and the Saints at MetLife Stadium.
  31. Houston Texans (2-11) [Last Week: 31]
    • Davis Mills passed for 331 yards, but the Seahawks ran and threw all over the Houston Texans defense in a 33-13 loss in Houston.
  32. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-11) [Last Week: 32]
    • Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars were held scoreless in a 20-0 loss to the Titans, their fifth straight loss. Head coach Urban Meyer is reportedly out after just 13 games in Jacksonville, with the second-worst record in the NFL the 31st-ranked offense, and 27th-ranked defense.
SEE ALSO: NBA December Power Rankings

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

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