Welcome to the 2017 NFL Power Rankings – Week 15
The Holidays are almost upon us, and the NFL is the gift that keeps on giving (concussions…too soon?). The playoff picture is getting tighter as we close down to the end of the season. Big winners from Week 14 are the Steelers, 49ers, Falcons and Chargers. Enjoy the power rankings!
Agree, disagree? We want to hear your thoughts. Chime in below or on Facebook!
Where did your team end up?
- Tier 1 – We’re Back, Baby! (1-6)
- Tier 2 – Do You Smell Playoffs? (7-10)
- Tier 3 – It’s Nervous Time (11-19)
- Tier 4 – See Ya’ Next Year (20-27)
- Tier 5 – Shitsville, USA (28-32)
- Shout Outs
Click here for our last weeks rankings
Tier 1 – We’re Back, Baby!
1. Pittsburgh Steelers 
Record: 11-2
Last Game: W, 39-38 vs Ravens
Next Game: Week 15 vs Patriots
Last Week: 2
Brandon: Pittsburgh continues to pull off late game wins, but they’ve done so enough to throw 11 wins on the board. AFC Showdown next week against #2 seeded New England.
E: The Steelers have the Best RB and WR in the league this season, and they get to prove if they’re the best team in the league against the Pats this week.
2. New England Patriots 
Record: 10-3
Last Game: L, 20-27 @ Dolphins
Next Game: Week 15 @ Steelers
Last Week: 1
B: The Pats lose a tough one in Miami, and Brady throws two picks. I think they said, “Who cares about the Dolphins, we want the fucking Steelers!”, and then went out and didn’t give a shit. Oh, and Gronk is back next week.
E: Tom Brady looked 40 years old for the first time this season, but if anyone can bounce back, it’s TB12 and the Pats.
3. Philadelphia Eagles
Record: 11-2
Last Game: W, 43-35 @ Rams
Next Game: Week 15 @ Giants
Last Week: 2
B: The Eagles would be number one, if it wasn’t for Carson Wentz’s torn ACL. I hope he has a speedy recovery because he’s truly special. Nick Foles is back in action for Philly, and I doubt anyone is excited.
E: The Eagles have been the class of the NFC and it was hard to see Wentz go down, but this defense is still amazing so I wouldn’t count them out just yet.
4. Minnesota Vikings 
Record: 10-3
Last Game: L, 24-31 @ Panthers
Next Game: Week 15 vs Bengals
Last Week: 4
B: Minnesota lost a tough one on the road Carolina, but they are still really good. The Vikings will make the playoffs, and now they have their eyes on the #1 seed in the NFC.
E: With Wentz getting hurt, the Vikings are the team to beat in the NFC right now.
5. Carolina Panthers
Record: 9-4
Last Game: W, 31-24 vs Vikings
Next Game: Week 15 vs Packers
Last Week: 9
B: Carolina flexed its muscles last week against the Vikings, showing what this team could do when focused. Cam is still Cam, and when Cam is Cam, Cam CAN! Get it?
E: Cam looked great, and I don’t think too many teams would like to play the Panthers in the playoffs
6. Los Angeles Rams
Record: 9-4
Last Game: L, 35-43 vs Eagles
Next Game: Week 15 @ Seahawks
Last Week: 5
B: The Rams had every shot to win that game, and it took a Carson Wentz TD (on a torn ACL) to beat them. Still, the Rams hold the fate of the NFC West in their hands this week, needed to beat Seattle to win the division.
E: The Rams weren’t able to get the Job done against another SB contender like the Eagles, but they didn’t look bad, and they are still one of the best teams in the NFL.
Tier 2 – Do You Smell Playoffs?
7. Atlanta Falcons
Record: 8-5
Last Game: W, 20-17 vs Saints (Thursday)
Next Game: Week 15 @ Buccaneers (Monday)
Last Week: 13
Brandon: Atlanta continues to be very up-and-down this year. A huge win against the Saints saves their season. I really don’t believe in this team, but only time will tell here.
E: Great win against a playoff team last week, the Falcons are getting hot at the perfect time.
8. New Orleans Saints
Record: 9-4
Last Game: L, 17-20 @ Falcons (Thursday)
Next Game: Week 15 vs Jets
Last Week: 6
B: The Saints are still in great position to get back to the playoffs and win the division. One more game against the Falcons coming up in two weeks will determine their fate.
E: Tough divisional loss last week against the Falcons, but this team still has a great running game, and Drew Brees so there’s no need to overreact.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars
Record: 9-4
Last Game: W, 30-24 vs Seahawks
Next Game: Week 15 vs Texans
Last Week: 8
B: The Jags have 9 wins and are almost a lock to make the playoffs. This defense has turned into a real, legit defense and when Bortles doesn’t make mistakes…. (No Brandon, don’t fall for the trap) …. who knows are far they can go!! (I fell for the trap!)
E: Bortles hasn’t messed things up yet, and this defense is still rolling.
10. Los Angeles Chargers
Record: 7-6
Last Game: W, 30-13 vs Washington
Next Game: Week 15 @ Chiefs (Saturday)
Last Week: 11
B: The LA Chargers of Los Angeles are one of the best 7-6 teams I’ve ever seen. They are starting to route opponents now, and have a HUGE AFC West showdown this Saturday at Kansas City.
E: The Chargers are the hottest team in football right now, and Keenan Allen has a lot to do with that.
Tier 3 – Nervous Time
11. Buffalo Bills
Record: 7-6
Last Game: W, 13-7 vs Colts
Next Game: Week 15 vs Dolphins
Last Week: 20
B: The Buffalo Bills played in the snowiest game of the year and came out with a huge win. They still hold their fate in their hands. There is a path to 10 wins.
E: Props to the Bills for getting the Dub during a blizzard to hold on to a playoff spot for now, but it’s hard to believe in them moving forward without a legit QB.
12. Seattle Seahawks
Record: 8-5
Last Game: L, 24-30 @ Jaguars
Next Game: Week 15 vs Rams
Last Week: 7
B: The Seahawks lack of a run game is going to be their demise. Russell Wilson is truly in the prime of his career, and they have the least number of weapons for him. PS…where the fuck did Jimmy Graham go?
E: If it wasn’t for Russell Wilson, the Seahawks wouldn’t be anywhere close to making the playoffs.
13. Baltimore Ravens
Record: 7-6
Last Game: W, 38-39 @ Steelers
Next Game: Week 15 @ Browns
Last Week: 12
B: Baltimore has shown everyone that they can put up some points, but the defense showed some signs of weakness as Big Ben torched them for 500+.
E: I love the defense, but hate the QB. That’s how I’ve felt about Baltimore all year long.
14. Dallas Cowboys
Record: 7-6
Last Game: W, 30-10 @ Giants
Next Game: Week 15 @ Raiders
Last Week: 14
B: ONE MORE GAME! That’s all Cowboy fans and personnel are thinking right now, as after this week’s tilt against Oakland…Zeke is back. Question is…. will the Boys be 8-6 or 7-7?
E: They Cowboys don’t impress me much, ,but hey they’re technically still in the playoff hunt, so they get some love for that.
15. Kansas City Chiefs
Record: 7-6
Last Game: W, 26-15 vs Raiders
Next Game: Week 15 vs Chargers
Last Week: 16
B: ALERT: THE PATIENT IS STABLE, BUT IS STILL IN CRITICAL CONDITION! The Chiefs finally won a football game after going No-Win-November on us. However, the hottest team in the NFL comes to town with the division on the line.
E: I have been saying it for the last couple of weeks. The Chiefs are done, even if they were able to beat the Raiders last week.
16. Tennessee Titans
Record: 8-5
Last Game: L, 7-13 @ Cardinals
Next Game: Week 15 @ 49ers
Last Week: 10
B: The Titans traveled west to Arizona and didn’t show up. Mariota did not look great, and neither did this team. They are still 8-5, but it’s an ugly 8-5.
E: I was high on the Titans before the season started, but Mariota has been a huge disappointment this season.
17. Green Bay Packers
Record: 7-6
Last Game: W, 27-21 @ Browns
Next Game: Week 15 @ Panthers
Last Week: 19
B: The Packers are now 7-6, with Aaron Rodgers coming back for the final three. It’s set up for the comeback story, and he’s the man to make it happen.
E: The Packers managed to stay in the hunt while Aaron was out, and they now get him back, let’s see if they can sneak into the playoffs.
18. Detroit Lions
Record: 7-6
Last Game: W, 24-21 @ Buccaneers
Next Game: Week 15 vs Bears
Last Week: 18
B: I don’t trust this Lions team at all, but a win on the road is still a nice win. A week 17 game against the Packers might be for a wild card spot, if the Lions can hang on.
E: The Lions haven’t been terrible or great, they have been a middle of the pack team all year long.
19. Miami Dolphins
Record: 6-7
Last Game: W, 27-20 vs Patriots (Monday)
Next Game: Week 15 @ Bills
Last Week: 24
B: A nice, out-of-nowhere win for the Dolphins on MNF to stay in the playoff hunt. That probably felt great for Dolphins fans, because I know they hate Cutler, but they hate Brady more. “Congrats”
E: I’ve been hard on Cutler and the Dolphins as year long, but they get props from me this week after beating the Pats on MNF.
Tier 4 – See Ya’ Next Year!
20. Oakland Raiders
Record: 6-7
Last Game: L, 15-26 @ Chiefs
Next Game: Week 15 vs Cowboys
Last Week: 17
Brandon: The Raiders stink, and they are just a “good” bad team. What happened to Amari Cooper? I know he’s young, but if he’s not hurt, the Raiders must be questioning him right now.
Erick: The Raiders are one of the most underachieving teams this season, and it doesn’t seem like Carr has fully recovered from his injury.
21. Washington Football Team
Record: 5-8
Last Game: L, 13-30 @ Chargers
Next Game: Week 15 vs Cardinals
Last Week: 19
B: The Deadskins are done for the year, but whoever has Kirk Cousins on their fantasy team hope they don’t turn it in completely. Is Jordan Reed alive?
E: This hasn’t been a good year for Washington, and it might be even worse next year when Kirk Cousins leaves.
22. New York Jets
Record: 5-8
Last Game: L, 0-23 @ Broncos
Next Game: Week 15 @ Saints
Last Week: 22
B: The Jets were held scoreless by a team that lost 8 games in a row. On top of that, McCown broke his arm, so he’s done. The Jets were done, but they were spunky. I see that being a thing of the past.
E: They beat the Chiefs one week, and get shutout by the Broncos the next week. That’s just that way the Jets season has gone this year.
23. Cincinnati Bengals
Record: 5-8
Last Game: L, 7-33 vs Bears
Next Game: Week 15 @ Vikings
Last Week: 21
B: The Bengals have a shot to keep their season alive, and completely no-show, at home, to the BEARS. I am starting to agree with Erick, time to blow this shit up.
E: The Bengals have been bad all year, and after getting the Shit kicked out of them last week by the Bears, it is obvious this team has quit.
24. Arizona Cardinals
Record: 6-7
Last Game: W, 13-7 @ Titans
Next Game: Week 15 @ Washington
Last Week: 25
B: Bruce Arians is a great coach, and Larry Fitzgerald is a GREAT wide receiver. Blaine Gabbert has won two games as the starter, which is more than his career at SF (I think).
E: The Cardinals haven’t been that bad this year, but they are an example of how hard it is to compete in the NFL without a QB.
25. San Francisco 49ers
Record: 3-10
Last Game: W, 26-16 @ Texans
Next Game: Week 15 vs Titans
Last Week: 29
B: JIMMY MOTHER FUCKING G! Okay, sorry. I needed to get that out. The Niners have the chance to play spoiler against the AFC South, and then the Rams in Week 17.
E: Jimmy G has brought the hope that the 49ers faithful have been waiting for, and just in time for Christmas.
26. Chicago Bears
Record: 4-9
Last Game: W, 33-7 @ Bengals
Next Game: Week 15 @ Lions
Last Week: 26
B: The Bears showed up on the road against the Bengals, but lost to the Niners at home. I don’t get this team. I do like Mitch, and I think they need a good head coach to get to him.
E: I have said it a lot of times this season, and I’ll say it again. The Bears are my favorite crappy team cause they still haven’t quit.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Record: 4-9
Last Game: L, 21-24 vs Lions
Next Game: Week 15 vs Falcons (Monday)
Last Week: 23
B: The Bucs stink, and now they have a primetime game against the Falcons coming up. At least we can hear Gruden talk about his former team before he joins them in the off-season.
E: The Bucs have been the biggest flop this season, and they better hope they find the right coach to fix Jameis.
Tier 5 – Shitsville, USA
28. Denver Broncos
Record: 4-9
Last Game: W, 23-0 @ Jets
Next Game: Week 15 @ Colts (Thursday)
Last Week: 30
Brandon: The Broncos finally won a game! Congrats to the team, fans and management on this achievement. Only took three quarterbacks after losing eight straight.
Erick: The Broncos defense shutout the Jets last week, and reminded us of how good this defense was, which had to be bittersweet for Broncos fans.
29. Houston Texans
Record: 4-9
Last Game: L, 16-26 vs 49ers
Next Game: Week 15 @ Jaguars
Last Week: 28
B: This Texans team should just play Yates, but I know they want to lose… so expect to see Savage again, concussion or not.
E: Things won’t improve until Watson returns, but at least Yates looked better than Savage.
30. Indianapolis Colts
Record: 3-10
Last Game: L, 7-13 @ Bills
Next Game: Week 15 vs Broncos (Thursday)
Last Week: 27
B: Frank Gore has a shot to finish the season #4 on the NFL All-Time Rushing list.
E: This is probably the most unwatchable team in the league for me, and I don’t see much hope for the future.
31. New York Giants
Record: 2-11
Last Game: L, 13-30 vs Cowboys
Next Game: Week 15 vs Eagles
Last Week: 31
B: Eli is back as the starter, and it really doesn’t matter because this Giants team is horrible.
E: It was good to see Eli return and get the love from the crowd, but at the end of the day the Giants and Eli still suck.
32. Cleveland Browns
Record: 0-12
Last Game: L, 21-27 vs Packers
Next Game: Week 15 vs Ravens
Last Week: 32
B: Josh Gordon is REALLY back, and the Browns ALMOST won. Real shot to go 0-16 at this point.
E: The Browns have owned the 32nd spot, and from here on out the 32nd spot should be called the Brown Zone.
SHOUT OUTS
If you to be filled in on the latest memes and NFL social media news, please check out our friends at The Spleaze! They are self-hating NY fans and they are hilarious.
Thanks for reading our Week 15 Power Rankings!
-Brandon & Erick
RosenthalSports.com 