The hunt for a coveted NFL playoff spot continued in Week 15 with seven teams officially clinching a spot in the postseason, but many of these remained unchanged in the most recent edition of The Dallas Express Power Rankings.
Teams across the NFL will now begin to look ahead to the upcoming playoffs or offseason as the parity of the league becomes clear, forcing difficult decisions from the franchises moving forward.
But which teams moved in the Week 16 NFL Power Rankings? Take a look below to find out.
1. Buffalo Bills (Previous Ranking: 3)
Buffalo deserves this. The Bills took down the Lions in Week 15 and have now knocked off the two teams with the best record in the league this season. There are still valid concerns about the defense allowing 86 points over the last two weeks, but many of those concerns can be nullified by the presence of Josh Allen. The Bills are the hottest team in the league on offense and can make themselves the clear Super Bowl favorites if the defense starts to play better in the final weeks of the season.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (Previous Ranking: 4)
The Eagles have established themselves as the best team in the NFC after dismantling the Steelers in Week 15. Philadelphia has made it clear that it plans to control the clock in every game it plays this season, highlighted by an impressive 10-minute drive to end the game against Pittsburgh. While the Eagles are not a perfect team and have a few small holes on the roster, they are the clear favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (Previous Ranking: 2)
The Chiefs are clearly one of the best teams in the league but winning close games every week does not instill much confidence in their abilities against the other best teams in the league. Regardless, this team still features the best quarterback and coach in the league and is sitting comfortably in the top spot in the AFC playoffs. The injury suffered by Patrick Mahomes is concerning leading into the playoffs, but there is no reason why this team cannot win a third straight Super Bowl if he is healthy.
4. Detroit Lions (Previous Ranking: 1)
Dan Campbell told his team after last season’s playoff loss that it might have been the best chance they had at making the Super Bowl, and the injuries suffered by this team are making that statement seem truer every day. The Lions spent the first 12 weeks of the season establishing themselves as one of the best teams in the league, but a plethora of season-ending injuries might hold this team back in the playoffs. The injuries on defense have been the worst as Detroit has now allowed 33 points per game over the last three weeks. This team can still compete with nearly anyone in the league, but the Lions’ offense will likely have to do the majority of the work and are now going to be without running back David Montgomery for the rest of the season.
5. Minnesota Vikings (Previous Ranking: 5)
The Vikings currently hold the second-longest winning streak in the league at seven games and continue to prove why they should be considered contenders to win the NFC. Minnesota is largely guided by the work of the coaching staff but is now 12-2 on the season with an opportunity to finish as the top overall seed in the conference. This team still has some issues that could be concerning leading into the playoffs, but those issues are seemingly diminished every week.
6. Green Bay Packers (Previous Ranking: 6)
Green Bay is a really good football team that has fully committed to its identity as a run-first group, which has opened up the rest of the field for Jordan Love and the receiving core. Love came off the Packers’ bye week in full health and has still thrown zero interceptions in the last four games, which is another large piece as to why the Packers have scored 30 or more points in four straight games. Green Bay still has issues on the defensive side of the ball with a lack of depth at cornerback and linebacker, but this team will rely on its high-scoring offense to lead it for the final stretch of the year.
7. Baltimore Ravens (Previous Ranking: 8)
Lamar Jackson led the Ravens in Week 15 with five touchdown passes against the Giants in a game that Baltimore won incredibly easily. While every team in the NFL must be taken seriously every week, the Ravens taking down the Giants was one of the only foregone conclusions leading into the past week. Baltimore has many of the pieces to win a championship but still has glaring weaknesses that could hold them back in the playoffs. Although this team features an explosive quarterback and one of the best rushing attacks in the league, an inability to stop any opposing offenses could be the downfall of this team in the playoffs.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (Previous Ranking: 7)
The Steelers are a very good team that does not have the offensive personnel to compete with the best teams in the league on a consistent basis. The Steelers have one of the best defensive units in the league, but nearly every position on offense is either average or below average for league standards, making any high-scoring game difficult for the Steelers to win. The formula for success for Pittsburgh is simple and repeatable against the majority of teams in the league, but the best teams in either conference can come out with a win against Pittsburgh by forcing the Steelers to play a different style.
9. Houston Texans (Previous Ranking: 9)
Houston is another team that has many of the pieces needed to win a Super Bowl this season, but one specific weakness will likely keep this team from making a deep playoff run. The Texans have put together a group of stars at the skills positions on offense, but the offensive line has been one of the worst in the league and makes it difficult to run any consistent action. Houston could negate many of these concerns with the correct play calling and matchups, but any opposing team with a strong defensive line could take this team down in the coming weeks.
10. Washington Commanders (Previous Ranking: 10)
The Commanders took down the Saints in Week 15 in a game that could have easily ended up in a loss, but wins are all that matters in the NFL and Washington continues to climb closer to a wild-card playoff spot. Washington does not have the firepower on either side of the ball to compete with the best teams in the league during the playoffs, but this team will be a scary matchup for any of the top three teams once the postseason begins.
11. Denver Broncos (Previous Ranking: 11)
Bo Nix threw three interceptions against the Colts in Week 15 and the Broncos still managed to win the game, which is generally a sign of a well-constructed team. Granted, Jonathan Taylor dropping a touchdown before the goal line helped secure this win but the Broncos have shown that they can compete with most teams in the league. Denver is ahead of schedule in the rebuild with a rookie quarterback and should not expect much in the playoffs, but the current structure of the team and the salary cap space opening up will make this a dangerous team for the next few seasons.
12. Los Angeles Rams (Previous Ranking: 15)
Los Angeles is one of the scariest teams in the NFC leading into the playoffs due to the improved health of Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. Despite starting the season just 1-4 and having a roster filled with injured players, the Rams are now 8-6 and control their own destiny to host a playoff game. The combined abilities of Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford should scare any opponent of the Rams before the playoffs and could create an interesting matchup in the first round.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Previous Ranking: 14)
Baker Mayfield had one of the most impressive games of his career in Week 15 and demonstrated to the NFC why the wild card teams should not look forward to a potential matchup in Tampa Bay. The return of Mike Evans has once again opened up the passing attack for the Buccaneers while the defense has also looked much more impressive during Tampa Bay’s winning streak. Although the Buccaneers are unlikely to make a run to the Super Bowl, this team can take down any opponent in the league and must be taken seriously in every game.
14. Los Angeles Chargers (Previous Ranking: 13)
The Chargers are an incredibly balanced team but suffer from a lack of overall talent on both sides of the ball. While game planning and matchups will keep the Chargers alive for many of their final games this year, the lack of explosive playmakers will make a deep postseason run difficult for this team. The future is bright for the Chargers in the coming years, but this team is not prepared for a meaningful playoff run in the first season under Jim Harbaugh.
15. Seattle Seahawks (Previous Ranking: 12)
Seattle has had moments this season where they looked like the best team in the NFC West, but there have also been other games when there seems to be nothing connecting on either side of the ball. The injury suffered by Geno Smith is not expected to keep him out for a significant amount of time, but any decreases in his ability could be the end of the season for Seattle. The Seahawks have a difficult schedule to end the season and will have to take down the Rams in Week 18 to make the playoffs, which is looking more unlikely with the Rams’ improvement and the Seahawks’ injuries.
16. Arizona Cardinals (Previous Ranking: 16)
Arizona has looked continually solid all season for a team that had low expectations to start the season, but these solid performances are unlikely to be enough to get this team into the playoffs. Despite having an overall record of 7-7 and being in the mix for a wild card spot, the Cardinals lost meaningful games that will determine the tiebreakers for the playoffs. Arizona will have to make changes to the defense during the offseason to continue this growth, but the future is bright for this team moving forward.
17. Miami Dolphins (Previous Ranking: 17)
The biggest concern for the Dolphins over the past few seasons was the defense, but that has seemingly shifted as the offense has now struggled to put up points in two of the last three weeks. Miami has some of the fastest and most explosive players in the league on offense, yet this team has seemed unable to create any explosive plays this season. The Dolphins will have to add more players to their defense to turn it into a consistently solid unit, but the priority for this team during the offseason should be to determine what changed with the offense over the last two seasons.
18. San Francisco 49ers (Previous Ranking: 18)
The drama surrounding the 49ers and the struggles within this team have continued to grow for most of the season, culminating in the suspension of linebacker De’Vondre Campbell for the remainder of the year. The 49ers are nearly eliminated from playoff contention and have faced an uphill battle all season due to the various injuries to some of the best players on the team. San Francisco must invest in both the offensive and defensive lines during the offseason to keep this team in contention next season, but many of the main pieces are expected to return in the future.
19. Cincinnati Bengals (Previous Ranking: 20)
The Bengals’ offense continued its impressive performances this season by scoring 30 points in the team’s 37-27 win over the Titans in Week 15. Cincinnati is preparing to enter a difficult offseason that could result in both Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson playing for different teams. Cincinnati must find a way to improve upon its defense next season through the draft and free agency while also keeping as many of the offensive pieces as possible.
20. Atlanta Falcons (Previous Ranking: 19)
Atlanta finally ended its losing streak with a 15-9 win over the Raiders in Week 15, though this win should not provide much confidence for fans of the team moving forward. The defense looked more impressive than in previous games but the offense continues to struggle behind Kirk Cousins, who threw a touchdown pass for the first time in four games. The Falcons no longer control their own destiny for the playoffs and must now rely on Tampa Bay to lose at least one more game this season.
21. Dallas Cowboys (Previous Ranking: 23)
The Cowboys have won three of their last four games and are still just 6-8 this season with almost no hope of making the playoffs. Cooper Rush has helped lead the Cowboys through the stretch without Dak Prescott since he underwent season-ending surgery, but this winning streak has also significantly affected the Cowboys’ draft position. Although future draft capital is never a concern for the players on the team, an improved selection would have been incredibly beneficial for this team moving forward. Dallas will have to make a few changes to the roster before next season, but this team is also set up well to compete at a high level when Prescott returns next year.
22. Indianapolis Colts (Previous Ranking: 21)
Indianapolis nearly took down the Broncos and had a path to the playoffs, but Taylor dropping the ball at the goal line completely shifted the momentum of the game as the Colts’ season slipped away. The Colts are now just 6-8 and will likely miss the playoffs for a fourth straight season. Indianapolis will have to decide whether to rely on Anthony Richardson next season or make a move for a more experienced quarterback, but the most likely outcome for this team is to make changes around the edges and rely on the growth of young players on the roster.
23. New Orleans Saints (Previous Ranking: 22)
New Orleans actually looks like a solid team when Derek Carr is healthy enough to lead the offense, but injuries have completely dismantled this season for the Saints. New Orleans has dealt with injuries and coaching changes this season and still competes in a large portion of games. Although many teams in a similar position are set up well for the future, the Saints will have to deal with a murky salary cap situation and could be destined to be an average team for the next few seasons.
24. New York Jets (Previous Ranking: 27)
Aaron Rodgers has looked impressive for multiple weeks in a row for the first time this season despite the Jets being eliminated from playoff contention. The Jets have proven that they can compete with the bad teams in the league but are still just 4-10 this season with no hopes of making a run to the playoffs. New York will now have to decide whether to keep the aging quarterback next season or dive back into quarterback uncertainty for the coming years.
25. Cleveland Browns (Previous Ranking: 24)
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski officially announced on Tuesday that quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson would be starting for the Browns moving forward, marking another significant change at the position for Cleveland this season. The Browns seemingly have many of the pieces needed to compete with teams around the league but below-average performances from quarterbacks have lost the Browns multiple games this season. Cleveland has reportedly told Deshaun Watson that he will be the starting quarterback when he returns from injury, but the Browns should consider making a move for another player in the offseason.
26. Chicago Bears (Previous Ranking: 25)
Every week seems to get worse for the Bears. Many of the Bears’ players looked disengaged within minutes of their Week 15 matchup against the Vikings. Chicago has already been eliminated from the playoffs and is preparing to make drastic changes to the coaching staff and front office during the offseason. Caleb Williams and other players on the team should be ready for another noisy offseason in which the Bears shake up some of the biggest pieces of the entire organization.
27. Carolina Panthers (Previous Ranking: 26)
Carolina strung together multiple impressive weeks despite losses leading into Week 15, but getting blown out by the Cowboys is a difficult loss after all the progress made this season. The Panthers still have a path to be a solid team next season, but this team will have to make smart and calculated moves in the upcoming offseason to support quarterback Bryce Young.
28. New England Patriots (Previous Ranking: 28)
New England has shown flashes of being competent on both offense and defense, but those flashes were difficult to see in the Week 15 loss to the Cardinals. While Drake Maye has proven to be the quarterback of the future for this team, there are still massive issues with the offensive personnel. New England will likely have to commit to a heavily offensive draft in a few months to help complement the abilities of the young quarterback.
29. Las Vegas Raiders (Previous Ranking: 29)
The Raiders do almost nothing well on offense. Las Vegas managed to score just nine points against a struggling Falcons defense and has scored less than 20 points for five consecutive weeks. The most likely outcome from this season will result in the Raiders selecting within the top three of the draft and taking a quarterback, but there are a variety of different positions that Las Vegas will have to fill before competing at a high level.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars (Previous Ranking: 30)
Jacksonville putting up 25 points against the Jets was the most it scored in a game since Week 9 against the Packers, yet the Jaguars still lost to a struggling Jets team. This team still has pieces that will be valuable for the future but the lack of production from Mac Jones and the coaching staff will make it difficult to win another game this season. The Jaguars will likely make a move to find a different coach in the offseason and could benefit from trading down in the draft to acquire more draft capital in the future.
31. Tennessee Titans (Previous Ranking: 31)
Will Levis was officially benched against the Bengals after throwing three interceptions in a game that this team likely could have won. The Titans will have to make meaningful changes to both the offense and defense in the offseason with a very blurry path forward in the draft. Tennessee will have to make a change at quarterback within the next two seasons, but there is no clear indication about who could be an option for the team moving forward.
32. New York Giants (Previous Ranking: 32)
No surprise here as the Giants lost another game in Week 15. New York needs drastic changes and that might come in the offseason with Head Coach Brian Daboll reportedly on the hot seat over the final weeks of the season. The Giants will have to make serious changes to the roster if this franchise wants to compete next season.