The NFL season is 14 weeks in, if you can believe it or not. Most fantasy seasons are already in the playoffs, and NFL teams are fighting for playoffs spots, or draft order. There are been some changes from our Q1 ranks, and there have been some staples. The Rams and Chiefs have been at the top all season long so far, and don’t really need to worry. The rest of the league has been all over the standings, but at this point, we know who is competitive, and what teams stink (looking at you, Bay Area teams). Agree, disagree? Sound off below! Comment or hit us up on Twitter!
Our NFL crew (consists of Brandon Rosenthal, Erick Garcia, & Social Mike) ranks all 32 NFL teams from top to bottom. Teams are placed in tiers, taking stock in which teams are playing the best (and worst) football.
NFL Power Rankings
NFL TIERS
Tier 1 – Top 5, Top 5, Top 5 (1-5)
Tier 2 – Pleasant Surprises (6-10)
Tier 3 – On the Fringe (11-19)
Tier 4 – Nice Try, Have a Seat (20-26)
Tier 5 – Dumpster Fires (27-32)
Shout Outs
Tier 1 – Top 5, Top 5, Top 5
1. Los Angeles Rams
Record: 11-1
1st in NFC, 1st in NFC West
Q1 Rank: 1
The Rams to no surprise continue being the elite of the NFL, they’re back on track winning 3 straight after suffering it’s only loss at the hands of The Saints. The Rams are not only the 1st team to clinch the division but 1st to clinch a playoff spot as well. Very hard to argue why anyone but the Rams belong at #1, closing out the season with (CHI, PHI, ARI, SF) the NFC will have to go through Los Angeles. — Social Mike
2. Kansas City Chiefs
Record: 10-2
1st in AFC, 1st in AFC West
Q1 Rank: 2
The Chiefs are highest scoring team in all of football at 37 a clip, and winners of 4 out of their last 5 games (losing to the Rams). The Chiefs look to close out the year with 3 of their last 4 coming against teams in the playoff hunt (BAL, LAC, SEA, OAK), and they will have to finish above .500 through that stretch in my opinion (Chargers closing in) to secure themselves home field with one of the top 2 seeds. #Mahomeboy is back as front runner for the MVP. — Social Mike
3. Los Angeles Chargers
Record: 9-3
5th in AFC, 2nd in AFC West
Q1 Rank: 9
The Chargers come in hot at #3 after a huge win in PIT. QB Phillip Rivers is playing lights out, as he will have to continue and carry the team along with Keenan Allen. The home stretch is no cake walk (CIN, KC, BAL, DEN) and with MG30 still out, the Chargers will go as far as Rivers can take them. Looking good so far. (Huge Week 15 vs KC). — Social Mike
4. New Orleans Saints
Record: 10-2
2nd in NFC, 1st in NFC South
Q1 Rank: 5
None of the 3 teams above have put up a 10pt stinker like the Saints did on TNF. Not only did the Saints lose to Dallas, Drew Brees also failed to distance himself in the MVP race. With four games left (TAM, CAR, PIT, CAR), the Saints should bounce back and have no difficulties locking up the 2nd seed in the NFC. — Social Mike
5. New England Patriots
Record: 9-3
2nd in AFC, 1st in AFC East
Q1 Rank: 4
Topping the Saints with 2 stinkers this year (Weeks 3 & 10) the Pats close out our Tier 1 teams at # 5. This year like every year The Pats just pile up wins to close out the season. With that being said New England is in great position to earn a top seed in the AFC as they finish the year against (MIA, PIT, BUF, NYJ) even with a loss to PIT the Pats own the tiebreaker vs HOU (Week 1) so its looking like a 1 or 2 seed this postseason for the Pats. — Social Mike
Tier 2 – Pleasant Surprises
6. Chicago Bears
Record: 8-4
3rd in NFC, 1st in NFC North
Week 1 Rank: 6
The Bears are still the surprise of the season, however they have cooled of a bit as of late. Khalil Mack is still a DPOY candidate, and as long as they get decent QB play (from their QBs or RB), the Bears are a solid choice. Big showdown this Sunday against the #1 Rams.— Brandon Rosenthal
7. Houston Texans
Record: 9-3
3rd in AFC, 1st in AFC South
Week 1 Rank: 22
The Texans have won 9 games in a row, but I’m still not convinced. Gotta give credit when credit is due, but there at times Watson and co play like garbage. Texans have a real shot at a first round bye, which is insane after an 0-3 start. — Brandon Rosenthal
8. Pittsburgh Steelers
Record: 7-4-1
4th in AFC, 1st in AFC South
Week 1 Rank: 10
The Steelers have been up and down, and now find themselves only 1/2 up on the Ravens. Two of their last four games are against the Saints and Patriots, but the other two are against the Ravens and Bengals. That should be enough to backdoor into the postseason. — Brandon Rosenthal
9. Dallas Cowboys
Record: 7-5
4th in NFC, 1st in NFC East
Week 1 Rank: 24
The Dallas Cowboys are back! Kind of. The Boys have looked much better the arrival of Amari Cooper, and Zeke looks rejuvenated. However, it’s the defense that has been allowing the Cowboys to stay in games (and beat the Saints). Showdown for the division crown next Sunday against Philly. — Brandon Rosenthal
10. Seattle Seahawks
Record: 7-5
5th in NFC, 2nd in NFC West
Week 1 Rank: 20
The Seahawks have come back from the near-dead to be in the playoff picture. They have three very winnable games left, and one big one against the Chiefs. The Seahawks have been very impressive lately, lead by MVP-candidate Russell Wilson. They might not win the SB, and Wilson might not win MVP, but this team has shown fight and grit. — Brandon Rosenthal
Tier 3 – On the Fringe
11. Baltimore Ravens
Record: 7-5
6th in AFC, 2nd in AFC Nouth
Q1 Rank: 12
The Ravens have surprised me and have remained in the hunt. The Ravens defense has been solid, and they really look like a team that can upset some teams if they make it to the playoffs. Who knows maybe Harbaugh gets to keep his job. — Erick Garcia
12. Indianapolis Colts
Record: 6-6
8th in AFC, 2nd in AFC South
Q1 Rank: 29
The Colts had been rolling , and Andrew Luck has been looking like the comeback player of the year, but they just got shut out by the Jags. Let’s see if that was just a hiccup and if the Colts can shake the shutout loss off and get rolling again. — Erick Garcia
13. Denver Broncos
Record: 6-6
9th in AFC, 3rd in AFC West
Q1 Rank: 19
I wrote the Broncos off 3 weeks ago, and they won 3 in a row and are back in the mix. Props to the Broncos, they still need to find their QB of the future if they really want to compete though. — Erick Garcia
14. Minnesota Vikings
Record: 6-5-1
6th in NFC, 2nd in NFC North
Week 1 Rank: 15
The Viking can still make a push for a wild card spot , but this team is still no where near the team it was last year. — Erick Garcia
15. Carolina Panthers
Record: 6-6
7th in NFC, 2nd in NFC South
Q1 Rank: 8
Even though the Panthers have a better record than the Packers, I still think they’ve had the same kind of disappointing season, and firing the head coach might also be the next move this team needs to make. — Erick Garcia
16. Tennessee Titans
Record: 6-6
10th in AFC, 3rd in AFC South
Q1 Rank: 17
The Titans have been up and down all season. Every time I buy into them again they lose. So I’m not gonna over react after they beat the Jets. I’m just gonna say they’re still in the race for now. — Erick Garcia
17. Miami Dolphins
Record: 6-6
7th in AFC, 2nd in AFC East
Q1 Rank: 18
I haven’t given the Dolphins props all season long, but even though I was right that the Dolphins weren’t great they still are an average team, and I didn’t expect that. — Erick Garcia
18. Philadelphia Eagles
Record: 6-6
8th in NFC, 2nd in NFC East
Q1 Rank: 16
The Eagles are only one game back of the Cowboys, but they don’t have anything close to the momentum the Cowboys have. The Eagles aren’t done yet, but this season is still a disappointment so far. — Erick Garcia
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Record: 5-7
10th in NFC, 3rd in NFC South
Week 1 Rank: 25
The Bucs have a big decision to make about Jameis in the off season but for now they’re gonna ride him to a 7-9 record. — Erick Garcia
Tier 4 – Nice Try, Have a Seat
20. Washington Football Team
Record: 6-6
9th in NFC, 3rd in NFC East
Week 1 Rank: 13
Better season than I expected, but this team never looked like a true division leader. Losing McCoy after already having lost Alex Smith was the nail in the coffin. — Erick Garcia
21. Green Bay Packers
Record: 4-7-1
11th in NFC, 3rd in NFC North
Week 1 Rank: 14
Losing to Arizona was a horrible loss for the Packers. No matter how bad their season was going, they should never have lost to this Cardinals team in Green Bay. This team needs to make changes if they want to compete next year, and getting rid of the head coach was a start. — Erick Garcia
22. Jacksonville Jaguars
Record: 4-8
14th in AFC, 4th in AFC South
Q1 Rank: 7
Too little to late for the Jaguars. They were able to shutout Andrew Luck and the Colts, but the Jaguars were doomed with Bortles as their starter since the beginning. They have no shot to make the playoffs. — Erick Garcia
23. Cleveland Browns
Record: 4-7-1
12th in AFC, 4th in AFC North
Q1 Rank: 11
Baker Mayfield followed up a 4 TD game with a 3 INT game. Not ideal , but expected for a rookies QB. Even after the loss this team is still better without Hue. — Erick Garcia
24. Atlanta Falcons
Record: 4-8
12th in NFC, 4th in NFC South
Q1 Rank: 27
Atlanta has to be in the discussion for most disappointing season. Maybe someone of us thought they weren’t going to be that good, but I don’t think anyone thought they were going to be Worse than the Bucs bad. — Erick Garcia
25. Buffalo Bills
Record: 4-8
13th in AFC, 3rd in AFC East
Q1 Rank: 26
The Bills lost a close one to the Dolphins, good to see that the Bills haven’t quit even though they don’t have much to play for. — Erick Garcia
26. New York Jets
Record: 4-8
15th in AFC, 4th in AFC East
Week 1 Rank: 23
New York Jets. The Jets have lost 6 in a row, and they might be joining tier 5 sooner rather than later. — Erick Garcia
Tier 5 – Dumpster Fires
27. Cincinnati Bengals
Record: 5-7
11th in AFC, 3rd in AFC North
Q1 Rank: 3
Back in our Q1 rankings, I said I was wrong about the Bengals. Well, I was wrong about being wrong…so that means I was right. The Bengals S.T.I.N.K., and to make matters worse, Hue Jackson is back in the fold. It’s dumpster fire time in Cincy, as Dalton, AJ Green and your hopes and dreams are out for the season. — Brandon Rosenthal
28. New York Giants
Record: 4-8
13th in NFC, 4th in NFC East
Q1 Rank: 28
The Giants won’t finish 9-7 like Odell said they would, but they have won 3 out of 4 games since their bye. Saquan has been incredible this year, proving he was the correct choice. The GMen are a darkhorse to make the postseason, with their last four games all against .500 teams or better, including a Week 17 battle with Dallas. — Brandon Rosenthal
29. Detroit Lions
Record: 4-8
14th in NFC, 4th in NFC North
Q1 Rank: 21
The Lions had every opportunity to take a leap forward this season. The Packers stink. The Vikings weren’t the same. The Bears start Trubisky. However, the Lions have gone 1-3 in the division, and year one of the Matt Patricia era will most likely end with a team under .500. At least they beat the Patriots. — Brandon Rosenthal
30. Arizona Cardinals
Record: 3-9
15th in NFC, 3rd in NFC West
Q1 Rank: 31
The Cardinals stink, but the future doesn’t look that bad. Josh Rosen has looked alright at times, and beating the Packers on the road was a good win (and it was a win that wasn’t against the hapless 49ers). However, the Cards need to improve their point differential to be more competitive in 2019 (HINT: stop getting blown out). Shoutout to Larry Fitz, who’s still getting it done in year 15! — Brandon Rosenthal
31. Oakland Raiders
Record: 2-10
16th in AFC, 4th in AFC West
Q1 Rank: 30
John Gruden’s welcome back campaign has gone completely off the rails. Khalil Mack is looking like an MVP in Chicago, and Amari Cooper looks like a new player in Dallas. The Raiders have been equally awful at home and on the road, and will most likely end up with a top 5 pick. Not if Derek Carr has anything to say about it though… — Brandon Rosenthal
32. San Francisco 49ers
Record: 2-10
16th in NFC, 4th in NFC West
Q1 Ranking: 32
Another season my beloved 49ers find themselves at the bottom of power rankings. At least I know i’m not alone. The 49ers have been one of the worst teams in the league since Jimmy G went down in Week 3, and are a lock for a top 2 pick. Mission Accomplished. — Brandon Rosenthal
Thank you for reading our power rankings for the final quarter of the season. Stay tuned for the final 2018/19 power rankings in a few weeks.
Brandon, Erick, & Mike
SHOUT OUTS
If you like beer and music, then you will love Manny In Lo-Fi. Once a week, my buddy Manny gets together and plays his favorite music and chats about recent news in the world. Beer is required! Website: mixlr.com/mannyinlofi/
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