NFL Power Rankings, Week 16: Steelers fall into the bottom half; Bills surge and appear DANGEROUS
This NFL season has progressed to the point where it is safe to ask: How many elite teams are there this year?
By 2023 standards, the top two teams in my current ranking, the 49ers and Ravens, definitely qualify. The next five teams on my list are Dallas, Miami, Philadelphia, Kansas City, and Detroit. They’ve all had their share of great moments and inconsistent periods, but I’ll still rank them higher.
After that, things become a little dicey. However, the Bills are unquestionably the team outside the top seven with the most potential to break into that elite division in the Year of the Backup QB. Even though Buffalo’s 8-6 record naturally drags the team down, impressive back-to-back victories over the Chiefs and Cowboys have reminded everyone what Buffalo’s best football looks like. Still, the six losses for the Bills were separated by a total of 26 points. They won eight games by a total of 151 points.
Presently, the Bills are in the unique position of ranking eighth in this week’s Power Rankings, higher than their current position in the AFC playoff standings (ninth). That’s a reflection of their current level of play.
They might not make it to the postseason. However, should the Bills advance, they could be the most formidable wild-card team since the 2020 Buccaneers, who captured the Super Bowl after winning three road playoff games.
It’s encouraging to defeat a division rival on the road by 16 points despite a respectable but unspectacular performance; it very easily could have been more. The 49ers are cruising toward the top seed in the conference after securing the NFC West. The 49ers should be hoping that DTs Javon Hargrave and Arik Armstead can recover from their injuries because the run defense was lacking against the Cardinals. This coming Monday’s game against the Ravens will be a great playoff tune-up. Against the 49ers, Arizona ran for over 100 yards in each half, with its two longest gains of the game (49 and 44 yards) occurring on the ground. That’s a big component of Baltimore’s winning formula,
Lamar Jackson’s worth to this team increased in some way on Sunday night as the Ravens overcame a close first half and pulled away in the second half. Jackson was excellent once more, but Keaton Mitchell’s season-ending knee injury is particularly noteworthy as he had developed a significant role over the previous two months. Although there are still some playmakers in the offense, on Sunday night Zay Flowers was limited to one reception and Odell Beckham Jr. had as many drops as catches (one each). That won’t occur in most games, and tight end Isaiah Likely came through with a strong showing, but it does show that without Mark Andrews and Mitchell, the Ravens aren’t exactly loaded with playmakers. However, the Ravens boast a potent defense that is led
The high point of Sunday was that they had already locked up a postseason berth in Buffalo before the game even kicked off. The way it happened raised some serious concerns, but losing to Buffalo wasn’t going to end the season or undo all of the good momentum that had built up over the previous few months. Defending Buffalo for 266 yards and three touchdowns on the ground exposed what might be the formula for defeating Dallas in the postseason. Although DT Jonathan Hankins was not present for this game, it’s incredible to consider that he made a difference. The Cowboys have given up 767 rush yards on 153 carries (5.0 average) and nine touchdowns this season in their four losses. Opponents have run the ball 232 times for 877 yards in their 10 victories.
Although the Dolphins’ strange Week 14 loss to the Titans still hurts, their demolition of the Jets on Sunday was a much-needed response from a team that has a winning record but many doubts about its qualifications for the elite class. Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle had a huge game as they demonstrated that the offense could function without Tyreek Hill, even with the Jets cutting into Miami’s run game. However, a defense that has recently lost several starters to injury made an even more significant statement. Allowing a net of 4 first-half yards (and only 103 for the game) was the kind of performance this team needed going into a final stretch against, even against, a hapless Jets offense.
There were some real obstacles to overcome: Matt Patricia was taking over defensive play-calling from Sean Desai, Jalen Hurts attempted to play following his illness, and they were playing a desperate Seattle team away from home. However, they were also starting a backup quarterback, and the Eagles were well aware of the significance of this game. With Darius Slay sidelined, Patricia’s defense made a huge impact for the first fifty-eight minutes, allowing 205 yards in the Eagles’ best showing in months. Hurts was picked for the second time in a nightmare fourth quarter, and Drew Lock drove 92 yards for the game-winning touchdown in the final two minutes. This loss wasn’t as catastrophic as some had claimed.
Whatever way you look at it, this didn’t feel like a big win. Indeed, Belichick has a strong record when facing Andy Reid. It is indeed in New England. True enough, the Patriots prevailed last week. Though New England only moved the ball more than 29 yards on a drive twice, they have been a bad team far more often than a good one this season, and the Chiefs nearly allowed them to tie the game late. Another frustrating error by Kadarius Toney resulted in a pick after he dropped a pass. This is exactly like Week 1, only worse, and it happened right after the notorious offensive offsides penalty. Travis Kelce was TD-less. Rashee Rice played well, but she also had
It was a slog early against the Broncos, but it was also poetic—this was the get-right game the Lions needed. In the first quarter, as the offense was heating up, it was necessary for the defense, which had suffered enough in previous games, to hold its ground. However, even though the defense loosened up a little in the second half, Jared Goff and Sam LaPorta ignited the game with their first of three touchdown passes, and Jahmyr Gibbs demonstrated his ability to perform when he’s in the zone. It was an incredible show of offensive power at a time when that group had been struggling in recent games, especially up against one of the best defenses in the league in Denver.
