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NFL Power Rankings Week 15

Published: 13th Dec 11 3:24 pm
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by Michael Terrill
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NFL Power Rankings Week 15
Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE

1.  Green Bay Packers (13-0): The crushing win over the Raiders is overshadowed by Greg Jennings’ injury. The upside is he should be back in time for the playoffs.

2.  New Orleans Saints (10-3): Saints held off Jake Locker and the Titans to officially claim a playoff berth. If the 49ers lose to the Steelers on Monday Night Football and the Saints win out, guess who has a first-round bye.

3.  Baltimore Ravens (10-3): Terrell Suggs and the Ravens defense dominated the Colts, not that is hard to do these days. Regardless, Suggs recorded five solo tackles, three sacks and three forced fumbles. AFC beware, this will be your top seed.

4.  New England Patriots (10-3): Rob Gronkowski is one of the best tight ends, if not the best, in the NFL in only his second season. Not to mention his fifteen touchdowns this season is a single-season NFL record.

5.  Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3): Big Ben’s injury could be crucial down the stretch as it is still up in the air if he will play Monday night at San Francisco.

6.  Houston Texans (10-3): Congratulations to the Texans for not only winning your division but for making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

7.  Denver Broncos (8-5): Tebow Time is great and all but how about the rest of the Broncos with their six straight victories. Clutch kicks by Matt Prater and incredible forced fumble by Wesley Woodyard.

8.  San Francisco 49ers (10-3): The one thing the 49ers could not do is lose a game like this the week before they have to play the Steelers. That first-round bye is slipping through their fingers.

9.  New York Jets (8-5): If the season ended today the Jets would be in as the sixth seed. They go to Philadelphia next week then the battle of the Meadowlands that could decide their season.

10. Atlanta Falcons (8-5): It looks like the division is out of their grasp but they still have a very realistic shot at making the playoffs. At Saints in two weeks will be a fun game.

11. New York Giants (7-6): Eli Manning tied the record for most fourth quarter touchdown passes with fourteen. The Giants are playing their best football and if the season ended today they would win the NFC East.

12. Detroit Lions (8-5): Thanks to a Chicago loss, the Lions have switched places with the Bears for the last wild-card spot. Three tough games remain starting with the Oakland Raiders.

13. Dallas Cowboys (7-6): Tough loss, this one could really come back and bite them. At least it wasn’t the Cowboys who iced their kicker this time around.

14. Oakland Raiders (7-6): No one expected the Raiders to beat Green Bay at Lambeau Field, especially when they commit five turnovers.

15. Cincinnati Bengals (7-6): The Bengals playoff hopes took a serious dive with that one-point loss to the Texans. Last game of the year against the Ravens could still be meaningful.

16. Tennessee Titans (7-6): I understand it was Jake Locker’s first time seeing NFL action but he has to give his team a chance and throw the ball into the end zone on the last play of the game.

17. Chicago Bears (7-6): Marion Barber might have cost the Bears a playoff spot with those two boneheaded plays.

18. San Diego Chargers (6-7):  The resurgent Chargers are making a lot of noise. Too bad they waited once again for the season to be virtually over to make a run.

19. Arizona Cardinals (6-7): Two weeks in a row results in impressive victories over playoff teams. Larry Fitzgerald’s 46-yard touchdown catch and 53-yard reception to set up the go-ahead score were clutch.

20. Seattle Seahawks (6-7): The Seahawks won’t make the playoffs this year but they are sure playing at a high level with plenty to build off of.

21. Philadelphia Eagles (5-8): The Eagles finally won their fifth game of the season but have no chance of making the playoffs. Juan Castillo is still in line to get fired.

22. Miami Dolphins (4-9): Nine sacks allowed and four turnovers will never be good enough to win no matter who you’re playing.

23. Buffalo Bills (5-8): What a disastrous season for the Bills. Everything seemed to be going so smoothly and then six straight losses get fired off in a row. Hopefully they can turn this ship around with a win against the Dolphins, but nothing is for certain.

24. Carolina Panthers (4-9): Tough loss for the Panthers behind Cam Newton’s two second-half picks but they continue to show plenty of potential.

25. Kansas City Chiefs (5-8): With Todd Haley out, Romeo Crennel takes the reigns for now. The offense needs to find its identity.

26. Washington Redskins (4-9): Just when you think the Redskins are going to pull off the monumental upset they turn the ball over in the red zone.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9): Total team effort against the reeling Buccaneers, good win for Mel Tucker.

28. Cleveland Browns (4-9): Good defensive effort Thursday night against the Steelers. Unfortunately, Colt McCoy could never move the ball after the turnovers.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-9): The bad season just keeps getting worse. To get blown out by the Jaguars is really saying something.

30. Minnesota Vikings (2-11): I guess when you have only won two games all season the obvious facemask to end the game doesn’t get called.

31. St. Louis Rams (2-11): I really feel for the Ram defense. They play their hearts out every week in attempt to keep their team in the game only to watch the atrocious offense and special teams lose the game. Sam Bradford has taken a giant step back in his progression as an NFL quarterback.

32. Indianapolis Colts (0-13):  Their only chance at winning a game is against the Jaguars the last game of the year. I still don’t think it is going to happen.

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