NFL Week 16 Power Rankings: Giants leap to No. 4; Chiefs, Lions drop

1. New England Patriots (12-2) defeated Denver 16-3. Previously: 1

The Jets and the Dolphins are all that stand between New England and home field advantage through the playoffs. But while the Patriots are 2-0 so far against those teams this season, neither victory came easily. The Jets had one of their few strong performances this season in New York, and the Dolphins almost rallied from a 31-3 hole after Jimmy Garoppolo got injured. Just hang tight and hope that scenario doesn’t repeat itself with Tom Brady, Pats fans.

2. Dallas Cowboys (12-2) defeated Tampa Bay 26-20. Previously: 3

This was an impressive rebound performance from the Cowboys, who suffered their first loss since Week 1 a week earlier against the Giants. When you consider the streak of performances Tampa Bay had been on, it just looks better. Dak Prescott had his best game in at least a month, and that should put to rest the questions about Tony Romo that had started to poke their heads above the sand during the Dallas offense’s dry streak.

3. Oakland Raiders (11-3) defeated San Diego 19-16. Previously: 4

Nice rebound for the Raiders in San Diego, where the Chargers have hardly been a pushover this season. Stay focused on your own business and look what happens: They’re back in first in the AFC West and on track for a first round bye in the playoffs. It’s fitting that to clinch the division they’ll likely have to win the season finale against the Broncos, the defending Super Bowl and AFC West champions. We’ll see how they feel about passing the torch.

4. New York Giants (10-4) defeated Detroit 17-6. Previously: 6

We’re not shaping up for a third Giants-Patriots Super Bowl are we? Who would the favorites be? Ask the Giants and they’ll probably want it to be the Patriots, as that scenario has worked out pretty well for them in the past. Before then, they might be the team Dallas least wants to face in the NFC playoffs, but it’s pretty hard to beat a team three times in one season. Winning against the Eagles this weekend will clinch the top wild-card spot for New York.

5. Kansas City Chiefs (10-4) lost to Tennessee 19-17. Previously: 2

A week after another impressive win, Kansas City’s weakness is showing through: They can’t sustain offense. Tyreek Hill busts a big run for the lead, but finishes the day with zero catches. Zero is also how many points the Chiefs had in the second half. Their defense might be the best in the NFL, but they ask an awful lot of it every week. They’ve kept it up for longer than the Vikings defense could, at least.

6. Atlanta Falcons (9-5) defeated San Francisco 41-13. Previously: 8

Even when you’re not missing Julio Jones, 83-17 is a pretty good two week stretch, no matter who it comes against. The Falcons have the inside track to the NFC South and the NFC’s second first round bye is still up for grabs with Atlanta, Detroit and Seattle all sitting at nine wins. Unlike last season, the Falcons look to be peaking at exactly the right time, and Devonta Freeman didn’t look too injured running for 139 yards and three touchdowns Sunday.

7. Seattle Seahawks (9-4-1) defeated Los Angeles 24-3. Previously: 7

The Seahawks handed out ample revenge for their early season defeat to the now-hapless Rams. They have more division “rivals” to feast on in the next two games, and if they beat both the Cardinals and 49ers they’ll have locked up the No. 2 seed in the playoffs and a first-round bye thanks to their earlier tie against Arizona.

8. Detroit Lions (9-5) lost to New York Giants 17-6. Previously: 5

Everything was going right for Detroit. They had the Giants right where they wanted them: winning in the fourth quarter. This loss doesn’t change too much for Detroit, though it does take them out of the driver’s seat for a first round bye. If they beat the Packers in Week 17, the division will be theirs no matter what happens in Weeks 15 or 16.

9. Green Bay Packers (8-6) defeated Chicago 30-27. Previously: 9

The Pack avoided disaster in Chicago after allowing the Bears to recover from a 27-10 deficit. Winners of four straight after losing four straight, the Packers offense looks like it’s once again among the most dangerous in the league, and the defense has been feasting on turnovers with eight interceptions in the last two games.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5) defeated Cincinnati 24-20. Previously: 10

Pittsburgh just couldn’t give us a 21-20 win on seven field goals, could they? Ah well, it isn’t quite Christmas yet, we suppose. Though Steelers fans have been getting presents since before Thanksgiving with five straight wins. Ladarius Green’s concussion may keep him out this week, which is unfortunate given the rematch against the Ravens is essentially for the division.

11. Baltimore Ravens (8-6) defeated Philadelphia 27-26. Previously: 12

The Ravens don’t have the straightest path to the playoffs in the AFC, but they at least hold it entirely in their own hands after making sure the Eagles’ two-point conversion attempt didn’t wind up in those of Jordan Matthews. Winning against the Steelers and Bengals will give them the division, and with the Dolphins a win ahead in the wild-card race, that’s certainly the safest path.

12. Miami Dolphins (9-5) defeated New York Jets 34-13. Previously: 15

Speaking of those Dolphins, missing Ryan Tannehill sure didn’t slow them down any against the Jets. Of course, the Jets are usually more of a booster pack than a speed bump. The Dolphins will make the playoffs if they win out, it’s just that winning out involves beating the Patriots (albeit, potentially a Patriots team with nothing to play for).

13. Tennessee Titans (8-6) defeated Kansas City 19-17. Previously: 16

The Titans are making sure we owe the AFC South an apology for bad mouthing them all season while hyping the AFC West. Taking down the Broncos and Chiefs in back-to-back weeks is a good résumé for any team, let alone one that’s still supposed to be suffering growing pains.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6) lost to Dallas 26-20. Previously: 11

This week cost them a game on the Falcons, as many expected, but they can still pump up their division record nicely in the coming two games with a rematch with the Saints (that, if the Saints explosion against the Cardinals is any indicator, won’t be a repeat of the 16-11 battle we saw a week ago) and a Panthers team that seems pretty intent on not rolling over.

15. Houston Texans (8-6) defeated Jacksonville 21-20. Previously: 17

We’ll have to wait and see, but having the courage to bench Brock Osweiler could pay off big time for Houston. DeAndre Hopkins produced with four quarterbacks last season, and hasn’t been able to with Osweiler. Tom Savage had 260 yards coming back in part of a game Sunday. Osweiler has hit that mark twice all season: 268 in Week 2, and 269 in Week 4.

16. Denver Broncos (8-6) lost to New England 16-3. Previously: 13

The offense has gone from something the Broncos could work around to something they can’t in Denver. Turns out you need at least some points to win football games, and the Broncos have just 13 in the last two. If only they’d kept Brock Osweiler.

17. Indianapolis Colts (7-7) defeated Minnesota 34-6. Previously: 19

A week after their season was seemingly ended by the loss to the Texans, the Colts just lit up the Vikings like no one else has this season. Sure, a lot of teams have beaten the Vikings, but 27-0 at halftime, on this defense? That’s a special performance. And their defense: two takeaways and five sacks. Forcing Adrian Peterson out of the equation sure makes it easier.

18. Washington (7-6-1) lost to Carolina 26-15. Previously: 14

That was ugly. Washington abandoned the run against Carolina, with just 13 carries for 29 yards. They’ve lost three of the last four since seemingly legitimizing themselves in a blowout of the Packers. Boy have the two teams’ paths diverged since that playoff rematch. At the time it looked like only one of the two would be returning to the postseason, and it actually still does. But now it isn’t Washington.

19. Buffalo Bills (7-7) defeated Cleveland 33-13. Previously: 20

Tyrod Taylor still doesn’t look like the problem in Buffalo. This is a different team when LeSean McCoy can get rolling and the whole team plays downhill. This is also a different team when playing the Browns, like the rest of the NFL.

20. Minnesota Vikings (7-7) lost to Indianapolis 34-6. Previously: 18

After a week of will-they, won’t-they drama with Adrian Peterson, the Vikings sure made Peterson irrelevant fast, falling behind 27-0 by halftime. The playoffs are technically still within reach, but at this point would you even bet on the Vikings to beat Chicago in Week 17?

21. Carolina Panthers (6-8) defeated Washington 26-15. Previously: 25

Maybe the season won’t finish as an unmitigated disaster for the Panthers. They’re 5-3 after starting 1-5 and while they are “all but eliminated from the playoffs” in case you haven’t heard, finishing at .500 would be a huge achievement and have to leave them with a better taste than they had in their mouths circa October.

22. New Orleans Saints (6-8) defeated Arizona 48-41. Previously: 23

Phew, our worldview was starting to shake. Throw out Drew Brees zero touchdowns and six interceptions over the last two games. Four touchdowns and no picks is more like it. And throw out the Saints defense limiting Tampa to less points than the Cowboys and bring back allowing six touchdowns to the Cardinals. There we go.

23. Arizona Cardinals (5-8-1) lost to New Orleans 48-41. Previously: 21

For a defense that started out the day with a fumble return, the Cardinal’s sure ended it poorly. Rough result that when Carson Palmer and the offense finally got on track, 41 points wasn’t enough for a win. It won’t get easier in Week 16 against the Seahawks. Then it will get easier in Week 17 against the Rams.

24. Cincinnati Bengals (5-8-1) lost to Pittsburgh 24-20. Previously: 22

Brutal second half for the Bengals, who bent all they could before breaking and allowing a Steelers touchdown. In their defense, a seventh field goal would have done the same damage. At least they didn’t injure Le’Veon Bell.

25. Philadelphia Eagles (5-9) lost to Baltimore 27-26. Previously: 24

Carson Wentz’ final drive was a thing of beauty and a good sign for the Eagles even while they dropped their fifth straight. The Steelers can’t appreciate Doug Pederson’s two-point recklessness regardless of the team’s playoff status, but they have little room to talk.

26. San Diego Chargers (5-9) lost to Oakland 19-16. Previously: 26

The Chargers have dropped three in a row, but with a trip to Cleveland on the horizon it probably won’t reach four. It doesn’t look like they’ll be as well-prepared to weather Melvin Gordon’s injury as Gordon made them to survive Danny Woodhead’s.

27. Chicago Bears (3-11) lost to Green Bay 30-27. Previously: 27

The Bears are firmly the best of the worst. Their last four losses have all been by a score or less, and they’ve taken the two teams competing for their division (Detroit and Green Bay) to the wire the last two weeks.

28. Los Angeles Rams (4-10) lost to Seattle 24-3. Previously: 28

They’ve lost five in a row and been outscored by a shocking 141-48 margin in the last four. Now they face San Francisco, who beat them 28-0 in the season opener, the 49ers’ only win of the season.

29. New York Jets (4-10) lost to Miami 34-13. Previously: 29

What do you expect Bryce Petty, for someone to block Ndamukong Suh or Cameron Wake? Glad he’s OK. The last Dolphins quarterback to throw four touchdowns against the Jets used to be Dan Marino. Now it’s Matt Moore.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12) lost to Houston 21-20. Previously: 30

Gus Bradley is out after a 14-48 record in Jacksonville. When we all stacked our teams with young talent in “Madden,” weren’t they supposed to get better each year?

31. San Francisco 49ers (1-13) lost to Atlanta 41-13. Previously: 31

The 49ers didn’t tease their fans with any early leads this week. Atlanta doubled up San Francisco’s yardage in this one: 550-272.

32. Cleveland Browns (0-14) Lost to Buffalo 33-13. Previously: 32

Exactly what the Browns need right now is a couple “maybe he’s still got it” games from Robert Griffin III while still losing out and being forced into a decision with the top pick in the draft