NFL Power Rankings - Week 15: One bold prediction for every team
The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.
This week, we pick one bold prediction for every team over the final month of the season.
1. Green Bay Packers (10-3)
Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 2
Back-to-back MVPs for Aaron Rodgers: Rodgers has tossed 17 touchdowns against one interception over his last seven games, and he has Green Bay sitting first in the NFC. Brady might be leading the MVP race, but Rodgers will arguably have a stronger case if he keeps playing flawless football and the Packers finish ahead of the Bucs as the conference's No. 1 seed.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-3)Previous Rank: 3
Gronk leads all tight ends in TDs again: Rob Gronkowski is currently tied at fourth for touchdown receptions among tight ends with six, but the leader - the Buffalo Bills' Dawson Knox - is only two scores ahead. Tampa Bay's easy remaining schedule puts Gronk in a good position to top all tight ends in touchdowns for the fifth time in his career despite missing five games.
3. Arizona Cardinals (10-3)Previous Rank: 1
James Conner leads NFL in TDs: We all thought the Cardinals were mainly looking for depth when they signed Conner to a one-year deal. It turns out Arizona found a scoring machine. Conner has a realistic shot at finishing the year with the most scrimmage touchdowns in the league, as his 16 scores are only two behind the Indianapolis Colts' Jonathan Taylor.
4. New England Patriots (9-4)Previous Rank: 4
J.C. Jackson finishes with most INTs: Jackson has been a ball magnet since entering the league. He's added another seven interceptions this year, only trailing Trevon Diggs, who has nine. While Diggs is having a magnificent season, Jackson can pass him. The Patriots cornerback has grabbed four interceptions over the last five games, and if quarterbacks keep throwing his way, he could easily overtake Diggs by the season's end.
5. Kansas City Chiefs (9-4)
Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 5
Secure home-field advantage: Remember when the Chiefs' position as the AFC's top dog appeared to be in jeopardy? That's a distant memory now as Patrick Mahomes has KC tied for the top spot in the conference. With a light closing schedule, the Chiefs will run the table and secure home-field advantage as the No. 1 seed when all the dust settles.
6. Los Angeles Rams (9-4)Previous Rank: 6
Cooper Kupp breaks the receiving record: Kupp leads the NFL in every major statistical receiving category and might soon join the record books. He's 475 receiving yards shy of Calvin Johnson's single-season record, meaning he needs to average 118.7 yards per game to break the mark. Granted, the extra regular-season game this year makes Kupp's life a bit easier, but it doesn't take anything away from his absurd campaign.
7. Dallas Cowboys (9-4)Previous Rank: 7
Micah Parsons wins DPOY: It seems like the sky is the limit for Parsons, who's racked up 75 tackles, three forced fumbles, and 12 sacks, including one in six straight games. Don't be surprised if he joins Lawrence Taylor as the only rookie ever to take home the Defensive Player of Year award.
8. Los Angeles Chargers (8-5)Previous Rank: 10
Justin Herbert ends the season with most yards, TDs: Herbert trails Tom Brady by 312 yards and six touchdowns for the most passing yards and scores in the league. It'll be a steep challenge to pass the iconic quarterback, but the Chargers passer has been electric recently, tossing 1,277 yards and 11 touchdowns over his last four games. Bet on Los Angeles maximizing Herbert's arm in the final stretch to give him the ammunition to unseat Brady.
9. Tennessee Titans (9-4)Previous Rank: 11
Julio returns to Pro Bowl form: It hasn't been a season to remember for Julio Jones, who has just one 100-yard game and zero touchdowns. One week removed from his activation off injured reserve, Jones is due to become a key player for the Titans in December. Multiple 100-yard games and a few touchdowns are surely on the horizon.
10. Indianapolis Colts (7-6)
Carmen Mandato / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 12
Jonathan Taylor receives MVP votes: Taylor could very well be the most valuable player this season. It's hard to imagine the Colts where they are now without the back's incredible production. Still, he's likely a long shot for the MVP award, which is frequently a quarterback-centered accolade. However, it's not hard to imagine he'll receive multiple votes after running laps around the league's other top backs in 2021.
11. Buffalo Bills (7-6)Previous Rank: 8
Win four straight to take division: Clinging to a wild-card spot at the moment, the Bills desperately need to regroup if they want to reach the postseason. Assuming Josh Allen doesn't miss time, they should be able win four straight games to end the campaign. Buffalo has a favorable schedule with matchups against the Panthers, Falcons, and Jets. A crucial rematch against the Patriots also looms in Week 16, but expect the Bills to be hungry to avenge an earlier loss to the current division leaders.
12. San Francisco 49ers (7-6)Previous Rank: 14
George Kittle tops 1,000 receiving yards: Kittle has been a monster over the last two weeks, racking up 332 yards and three touchdowns on 22 receptions. San Francisco will need to keep him heavily involved in the game plan to have a real chance of making the postseason, and that will help the star tight end, who currently has 757 yards, top the 1,000-yard mark despite him missing three games.
13. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)Previous Rank: 9
Miss the postseason: The Ravens have put on a tremendous effort in spite of all their injuries. Unfortunately, they look to be losing steam down the stretch. With Lamar Jackson dealing with an ankle sprain and a tough four-game stretch that includes contests against the Packers, Rams, Bengals, and Steelers, the Ravens might not have enough gas in the tank to drag themselves to the playoffs.
14. Cincinnati Bengals (7-6)Previous Rank: 13
First postseason appearance since 2015: Cincinnati hasn't earned a playoff invite in any of its last five seasons. That streak ends in 2021, as the offensive trio of Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Joe Mixon make a final charge in the coming weeks. Although they've lost two in a row, the Bengals arguably appear to be the most stable team out of their AFC North rivals.
15. Cleveland Browns (7-6)
John McCoy / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 16
Baker pulled due to poor play, nagging injuries: The Browns' offense has struggled mightily in 2021. They rank 19th in scoring while Baker Mayfield's development has stagnated due to poor play and countless injuries. Both the offense and Mayfield need a strong push to make the playoffs. But at some point, Cleveland will make the call to replace a struggling and less than 100% Mayfield with Case Keenum.
16. Minnesota Vikings (6-7)Previous Rank: 22
Set record for one-possession games: Vikings games have been must-watch TV this season, with 12 of their 13 contests being decided by eight or fewer points. The all-time single-season record for one-possession games by a team is 14, which means Minnesota needs two more against its remaining opponents - the Bears, Rams, and Packers - to at least tie that mark.
17. Miami Dolphins (6-7)Previous Rank: 17
Tua goes 3-1 down the stretch: Tagovailoa has looked exceptional over his last three starts, completing 80% of his passes for five touchdowns and one interception. Expect him to carry that momentum, win three of his final four games, and make it difficult for the Dolphins to think about moving him in the offseason.
18. Philadelphia Eagles (6-7)Previous Rank: 21
Gardner Minshew gets another shot: Minshew turned heads while replacing the injured Jalen Hurts two weeks ago. While that probably wasn't enough to create a quarterback controversy, Hurts' recent struggles have left many wondering whether he's the right guy in Philly. Don't be surprised if Minshew gets another shot under center this year.
19. Denver Broncos (7-6)Previous Rank: 19
Javonte Williams leads all rookies in rushing: At the moment, only Elijah Mitchell and Najee Harris are ahead of Williams in rookie rushing yards. There are just 130 yards separating Williams and Harris, who leads all rookies, though that gap will shrink over the next four games. While Harris has relied on volume, Williams has been incredibly efficient.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6-1)
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious Rank: 15
T.J. Watt breaks single-season sack record: Watt leads the league with 16 sacks yet he's only appeared in 11 games this season. There's still a shot - albeit a long one - Watt can snap Michael Strahan's single-season record of 22.5 sacks. He'll need 6.5 over the next four games, which seems doable. The Steelers pass-rusher has already notched two or more sacks five times this season. It'll likely come down to the wire, but Watt will edge Strahan.
21. New Orleans Saints (6-7)Previous Rank: 24
Alvin Kamara tops 1,000 rushing yards: Kamara racked up 120 rushing yards Sunday, leaving him only 350 shy of the 1,000-yard mark despite him missing four games this year. The Saints will need to keep him heavily involved in the running game as they fight for a playoff spot, which will help the four-time Pro Bowler finally eclipse 1,000 yards on the ground in a season for the first time.
22. Washington Football Team (6-7)Previous Rank: 18
Antonio Gibson eclipses 1,500 scrimmage yards: The last Washington player to record at least 1,500 total yards in a season was Alfred Morris in 2012. This year, Gibson has amassed 1,057 yards, meaning he'll enter Week 15 needing to average 110.8 per game in the final four weeks to reach that mark. While that's not a given by any means, Gibson won't face any of the NFL's top defenses in the final contests of the year.
23. Seattle Seahawks (5-8)Previous Rank: 23
Run the table, make the playoffs: It's possible that a 9-8 team will occupy the No. 7 seed in the NFC, which means Seattle has to win its remaining four games to have a chance. Say Russell Wilson catches fire next week and the Seahawks beat the Rams. That'd leave the Bears, Lions, and Cardinals, who could be resting their starters, as Seattle's remaining opponents. Don't rule the Seahawks out yet.
24. Las Vegas Raiders (6-7)Previous Rank: 20
Finish with a top-10 pick: The Raiders have two paths ahead of them - one takes them to the postseason, the other ends with a top-10 selection. It looks like the latter is more likely. Las Vegas currently holds the 14th pick, though clubs with a 6-7 record like the Raiders range from 9-14 in the draft order at the moment. With credible opponents on the horizon, a poor end to the 2021 campaign may hurt at the moment, but it could pay dividends later for the Raiders.
25. Atlanta Falcons (6-7)
Don Juan Moore / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 26
Find a way to make the playoffs: Atlanta is one of five 6-7 teams in the NFC postseason hunt. Granted, the Falcons haven't played like a playoff team. But their final four opponents - 49ers, Bills, Lions, and Saints - have also had ups and downs in 2021. We're counting on Matt Ryan's experience and Cordarrelle Patterson's resurgence to make a difference for Atlanta.
26. Carolina Panthers (5-8)Previous Rank: 27
P.J. Walker becomes the permanent starter: Cam Newton's return to Carolina provided a spark, but it hasn't solved the team's issues - it's been quite the opposite, actually. Walker's been far from great this year, but the fact coach Matt Rhule has put him under center over Newton for specific in-game situations suggests a permanent move might happen anytime.
27. Chicago Bears (4-9)Previous Rank: 28
Robert Quinn leads NFC in sacks: Bears fans are finally seeing something from Quinn, who had just two sacks last year but is currently tied with Nick Bosa for the most in the NFC (14) despite missing one game. Count on Quinn to win this race, as Chicago faces three of the league's worst pass-blocking lines over the final games of the season, according to PFF.
28. New York Giants (4-9)Previous Rank: 25
Finish with two top-10 picks: The Giants are on track to own a top-10 draft pick in 2022 for the fourth time in five years. But they're also in a great position to have an extra selection in the top 10, as New York owns the Bears' first-round pick next year (currently No. 5 overall).
29. New York Jets (3-10)Previous Rank: 29
Zach Wilson leads the league in INTs: Wilson has made a frequent habit of throwing to the opposing team in his rookie year. The No. 2 overall pick has recorded 11 interceptions this season, just three short of the league lead. However, his 3.9% interception rate is the NFL's second highest. At this pace, Wilson will take home the unwanted prize of ending the year as the league's leader in interceptions.
30. Detroit Lions (1-11-1)
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious Rank: 30
The first overall pick goes elsewhere: With a tough remaining schedule ahead, the Lions have a league-high 57.4% chance of getting the first overall pick in 2022. However, those numbers don't take into account that the Packers might rest their main players in Detroit's regular-season finale, and that's exactly the game that will send next year's top selection away from Ford Field.
31. Houston Texans (2-11)Previous Rank: 32
Nico Collins breaks out: The Texans haven't provided much reason for excitement in 2021, but there are ample opportunities for young contributors to build momentum heading into next season. Collins is a great example. After recording a season-high 69 receiving yards Sunday, the rookie wideout signaled the start of his breakout moment. Look for him to become the Texans' top target in the final portion of the campaign.
32. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-11)Previous Rank: 31
Urban Meyer resigns: Owner Shad Khan recently said he won't make an "impulsive" decision on Meyer's future. Instead, Meyer will resign before the end of the season. It's been a campaign filled with controversy for the first-time NFL head coach, and it's probably best for both him and the team to go their separate ways sooner rather than later.
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