NFL Week 15 overreactions
USA TODAY’s Prince Grimes breaks down the best storylines from NFL Week 15.
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For the past six weeks, the New England Patriots have been the No. 1 team in our NFL power rankings. But not this week.
New England’s close loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Dec. 14, opened the door for a new team to take over the top spot in our NFL Week 16 power rankings, the first time this team has sat atop our power rankings this season.
It is the sixth team to be ranked No. 1 in our power rankings poll since play began this season, joining the Philadelphia Eagles (Weeks 1-5), Detroit Lions (Week 6), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 7), Indianapolis Colts (Weeks 8-9) and Patriots (Weeks 10-15).
Many teams could make an argument to be No. 1 right now, including the 11-3 Seattle Seahawks, 11-3 Los Angeles Rams and 12-2 Denver Broncos.
Who is the new No. 1 team in our NFL power rankings now? Check out our Week 16 NFL power rankings to find out. Previous ranking in parentheses.
NFL Week 16 picks: Rams at Seahawks | Eagles at Commanders | Packers at Bears | Buccaneers at Panthers | Bills at Browns | Chargers at Cowboys | Jets at Saints | Vikings at Giants | Chiefs at Titans | Bengals at Dolphins | Falcons at Cardinals | Jaguars at Broncos | Steelers at Lions | Raiders at Texans | Patriots at Ravens | 49ers at Colts | The Republic’s score predictions
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The Raiders have now lost eight straight games. They are just 2-12 in Pete Carroll’s first year. Big changes could be coming in Las Vegas.
NFL Week 15: Lost to Philadelphia Eagles, 31-0NFL Week 16: Sunday at Houston Texans (Dec. 21)31. Tennessee Titans (31)
The Titans have struggled mightily on defense, having given up the second-most points in the AFC. They have given up at least 25 points in four straight games.
NFL Week 15: Lost to San Francisco 49ers, 37-24NFL Week 16: Sunday vs Kansas City Chiefs (Dec. 21)
The Giants’ losing skid has now reached eight games. Jaxson Dart has shown promise for New York, but this team has a lot of issues.
29. New York Jets (28)
Brady Cook was 22-for-33 for 176 yards and a touchdown, with three passes intercepted in the loss. Who is going to be the starting QB for the Jets next season?
28. Cleveland Browns (26)
Shedeur Sanders fell back to earth with an 18-for-35, 177-yard performance, with three passes intercepted. Cleveland is now 3-11.
27. Arizona Cardinals (27)
Arizona has now dropped six straight games to fall to 3-11 on the season. Will Jonathan Gannon get another season as the Cardinals’ coach?
NFL Week 15: Lost to Houston Texans, 40-20NFL Week 16: Sunday vs Atlanta Falcons (Dec. 21)
This team didn’t bother to show up to its home game against the Ravens. 4-10 for Cincinnati? A 24-0 loss at home? Inexcusable.
25. Washington Commanders (29)
The Commanders ended an eight-game losing streak with the win over the Giants. Their reward? The Eagles, Cowboys and then Eagles again over the last three weeks of the season.
NFL Week 15: Beat New York Giants, 29-21NFL Week 16: Saturday vs Philadelphia Eagles (Dec. 20)24. New Orleans Saints (25)
The Saints have defeated the Buccaneers and Panthers in back-to-back weeks and have the Jets and Titans up next. Tyler Shough (24-for-32, 272 yards, one touchdown) is showing promise for New Orleans.
NFL Week 15: Beat Carolina Panthers, 20-17NFL Week 16: Sunday vs New York Jets (Dec. 21)23. Atlanta Falcons (24)
Did Kirk Cousins earn himself another starting gig in the NFL next season with his 30-for-44, 373-yard, three-touchdown performance?
NFL Week 15: Beat Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 29-28NFL Week 16: Sunday at Arizona Cardinals (Dec. 21)22. Kansas City Chiefs (18)
The Chiefs were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss, something we did not see coming this season. To make matters worse for Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes was injured late in the game.
NFL Week 15: Lost to Los Angeles Chargers, 16-13NFL Week 16: Sunday at Tennessee Titans (Dec. 21)
21. Miami Dolphins (20)
The Dolphins picked a bad time to lay an egg, with the loss to the Steelers ending their four-game win streak and the loss eliminating them from playoff contention. There’s always next year.
NFL Week 15: Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers, 28-15NFL Week 16: Sunday Night Football vs Cincinnati Bengals (Dec. 21)20. Dallas Cowboys (19)
This will be looked back upon as a season of missed chances for the Cowboys, who fell to 6-7-1 with the loss to the Vikings.
NFL Week 15: Lost to Minnesota Vikings, 34-26NFL Week 16: Sunday vs Los Angeles Chargers (Dec. 21)19. Minnesota Vikings (22)
The Vikings might not be that far away from contending in the NFC North with J.J. McCarthy as QB. He was 15-for-24 for 250 yards with a pair of touchdown passes and one pass intercepted in Minnesota’s second straight win.
NFL Week 15: Beat Dallas Cowboys, 34-26NFL Week 16: Sunday at New York Giants (Dec. 21)18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (17)
The Buccaneers led the game against the Falcons in the fourth quarter, 28-14. Ouch. They are now fighting for the playoffs.
NFL Week 15: Lost to Atlanta Falcons, 29-28NFL Week 16: Sunday at Carolina Panthers (Dec. 21)17. Carolina Panthers (16)
The Panthers blew a shot to take over first in the NFC South over the Buccaneers, who they play in two of the final three weeks of the season.
NFL Week 15: Lost to New Orleans Saints, 20-17NFL Week 16: Sunday vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Dec. 21)16. Baltimore Ravens (21)
Kyle Van Noy’s interception, then handoff to Alohi Gilman, who returned it for a touchdown, was a thing of beauty.
NFL Week 15: Beat Cincinnati Bengals, 24-0NFL Week 16: Sunday vs New England Patriots (Dec. 21)
15. Indianapolis Colts (15)
Indianapolis has now lost four straight and ends the season with the 49ers, Jaguars and Texans. But we were impressed with Philip Rivers’ performance off the street for the Colts.
NFL Week 15: Lost to Seattle Seahawks, 18-16NFL Week 16: Monday Night Football vs San Francisco 49ers (Dec. 22)14. Pittsburgh Steelers (14)
The Steelers impressed in the win over the Dolphins, their second straight win. A win over the Lions in NFL Week 16 this week would really impress.
NFL Week 15: Beat Miami Dolphins, 28-15NFL Week 16: Sunday at Detroit Lions (Dec. 21)13. Detroit Lions (11)
The Lions’ playoff hopes took a hit with the loss to the Rams. At 8-6, Jared Goff and Detroit could need help to make the NFC postseason.
NFL Week 15: Lost to Los Angeles Rams, 41-34NFL Week 16: Sunday vs Pittsburgh Steelers (Dec. 21)12. Philadelphia Eagles (13)
Philadelphia’s 3-game skid is over. Jalen Hurts looked more like Jalen Hurts. Saquon Barkley looked more like Saquon Barkley. Good signs for the Eagles.
NFL Week 15: Beat Las Vegas Raiders, 31-0NFL Week 16: Saturday at Washington Commanders (Dec. 20)11. Houston Texans (12)
The Texans have now won six straight games, and they have one of the NFL’s best defenses. Could this team be a Super Bowl contender?
NFL Week 15: Beat Arizona Cardinals, 40-20NFL Week 16: Sunday vs Las Vegas Raiders (Dec. 21)10. Los Angeles Chargers (10)
How big was the win over the Chiefs? Los Angeles is now 10-4 on the season and closer to a playoff berth. But we still have questions about the Chargers’ offensive line.
NFL Week 15: Beat Kansas City Chiefs, 16-13NFL Week 16: Sunday at Dallas Cowboys (Dec. 21)
Green Bay’s 4-game win streak ended with the loss at Denver, and the Packers fell out of the NFC North lead. Saturday’s game against the Bears will be pivotal.
NFL Week 15: Lost to Denver Broncos, 34-26NFL Week 16: Saturday at Chicago Bears (Dec. 20)8. Chicago Bears (9)
The 10-4 Bears have been a huge surprise, but tough games against the Packers, 49ers and Lions remain to close out the regular season.
NFL Week 15: Beat Cleveland Browns, 31-3NFL Week 16: Saturday vs Green Bay Packers (Dec. 20)7. San Francisco 49ers (8)
The 49ers have won four in a row. They are 10-4. And they are somehow in third place in the NFC West, which is proving to be the toughest division in the NFL.
NFL Week 15: Beat Tennessee Titans, 37-24NFL Week 16: Monday Night Football at Indianapolis Colts (Dec. 22)6. Jacksonville Jaguars (7)
Yes, it was the Jets, but Jacksonville has now won five straight. Trevor Lawrence had five touchdown passes and a touchdown run in the win.
NFL Week 15: Beat New York Jets, 48-20NFL Week 16: Sunday at Denver Broncos (Dec. 21)5. Buffalo Bills (6)
The Bills rallied from a 21-point deficit to stay in the AFC East race. James Cook’s 22 carries for 107 yards, with two touchdown runs, were a big reason why.
NFL Week 15: Beat New England Patriots. 35-31NFL Week 16: Sunday at Cleveland Browns (Dec. 21)4. New England Patriots (1)
The Patriots’ reign as the No. 1 team in our NFL power rankings is over, but New England showed us that it can contend for the AFC title in the loss to the Bills.
NFL Week 15: Lost to Buffalo Bills, 35-31NFL Week 16: Sunday at Baltimore Ravens (Dec. 21)
3. Seattle Seahawks (4)
Jason Myers had six field goals for the Seahawks against the Colts, accounting for all of Seattle’s points. The Seahawks needed every one of them.
NFL Week 15: Beat Indianapolis Colts, 18-16NFL Week 16: Thursday Night Football vs Los Angeles Rams (Dec. 18)2. Los Angeles Rams (3)
Puka Nacua had nine catches for 181 yards in the win for the Rams. He was targeted 11 times. Los Angeles might be the team to beat for the Super Bowl.
NFL Week 15: Beat Detroit Lions, 41-34NFL Week 16: Thursday Night Football at Seattle Seahawks (Dec. 18)1. Denver Broncos (2)
The Broncos have won 11 straight games. They are 7-0 at home and could be a very difficult out on the NFL playoffs, especially if they get homefield advantage in the AFC postseason. This team deserves to be No. 1 right now.
NFL Week 15: Beat Green Bay Packers, 34-26NFL Week 16: Sunday vs Jacksonville Jaguars (Dec. 21)
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