Power Rankings
The Times’ NFL rankings (after Week 14)
by Lance Pugmire
Denver and New England rise to the top two spots and the top 10 shuffles quite a bit as the race for the playoffs heats up.
Up: Chargers + 4 | Down: Steelers - 5
broncos
10-3 2Cruising as they now go to Ravens. Thirty TDs and 3,800-plus yards from Manning – way better than expected.
patriots
10-3 2Tempting to make them No. 1 after Brady dissected former top-ranked Texans Monday. They’ll be in AFC title game.
texans
11-2 2Now the theory is they’re good but can’t handle an elite quarterback. Either that, or it really wasn’t a killer to lose Monday.
falcons
11-2 2Blowout loss at Panthers puzzling, but they were operating with a cushion in NFC standings, so no reason to panic.
49ers
9-3-1 0DE Aldon Smith now has 19 1/2 sacks after two in gritty victory over Dolphins. Leaning on RB Frank Gore eases their road.
packers
9-4 0By continuing dominance over visiting Detroit, they now just need a win at Bears to wrap up North.
colts
9-4 0Down 13 at half vs. Titans, they had ‘em right where they wanted, taking big step to wild-card spot.
giants
8-5 3If rookie RB David Wilson is going to be who he was Sunday (100 yards, three TDs), they’ll be challenging for another ring.
seahawks
8-5 3Showed no mercy in hammering Cardinals 58-0 to get to 6-0 at home. Get Buffalo in Toronto next.
redskins
7-6 3Losing Robert Griffin III for a week or two could spoil their momentum. RB Alfred Morris still running hard. At Cleveland now.
ravens
9-4 3Fired offensive coordinator Cam Cameron after OT loss to Redskins. In skid, but not hurt with Steelers, Bengals losing, too.
bears
8-5 3Health of Jay Cutler again a topic in 1-4 slide, but he says stiff neck shouldn’t prevent him from playing vs. Green Bay.
cowboys
7-6 2Endured emotional week after death of teammate Jerry Brown, scoring 10 points in last minutes to edge Bengals. Host Steelers now.
vikings
7-6 2Playing at home, where they’re 6-1, and handing ball to Adrian Peterson (154 yards, two TDs) secret to success.
steelers
7-6 5Had bear of a time stopping Ben Roethlisberger from pressure vs. Chargers, and secondary was leaky.
bengals
7-6 2Blown fourth-quarter lead leaves them 3-4 at home, so maybe they’re relieved going to Eagles Thursday.
rams
6-6-1 1Sam Bradford threw a final-minute TD pass in Buffalo for first three-game win streak since ’06, in playoff hunt going against Minnesota now.
buccaneers
6-7 2Harsh late home loss against badly slumping Eagles is likely the fatal blow. Had 21-10 as RB Doug Martin again bettered 100 yards.
browns
5-8 3Rookie RB Trent Richardson has tied Jim Brown’s team record with ninth rushing TD, and rookie Travis Benjamin had 93-yard punt-return TD in blowout of Chiefs.
bills
5-8 1Second loss after two-minute-warning lead shows how close they are. Rank 28th run with Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch coming to Toronto.
jets
6-7 2Falsely inflated move up after beating Cardinals and Jaguars. Get Titans now, expect run game to remain focus with sketchy QB play.
chargers
5-8 4Now that elimination is at hand, they’re playing well again. QB Philip Rivers relished protection, interim coach Turner called for gutsy fake punt.
dolphins
5-8 3Dropped to 2-5 on road and managed just 227 yards vs. 49ers to lose for fifth time in six games.
saints
5-8 3As they await bounty ruling, giving up 52 points to Giants shows they have big offseason of work to pursue.
panthers
4-9 3Where has that Cam Newton been? Impassioned performance vs. Falcons and now Coach Ron Rivera goes back to San Diego
eagles
4-9 1Something finally goes right: QB Nick Foles throws for 381 yards and no-time-left TD pass to win at Tampa Bay.
lions
4-9 3Just can’t win at Green Bay after taking 14-0 lead, getting 118 yards from WR Calvin Johnson. Loss was fifth straight.
titans
4-9 3QB Jake Locker threw for 262 yards, but was mistake-prone in key moments, throwing two INTs, rushing another play to blow lead.
cardinals
4-9 0They’ll keep Coach Ken Whisenhunt until the end of the year. The problem isn’t him, but absence of a QB.
raiders
3-10 0Playing for the draft now. They’re 2-5 at home, could salvage some fan appreciation going against Chiefs this week.
chiefs
2-11 0Highly ugly loss to Browns despite 165 yards rushing by Jamaal Charles. Without injured WR Bowe, QB Brady Quinn was awful.
jaguars
2-11 0Losing to Jets at home anbother indignity. At least they have WR Justin Blackmon to build around along with RB Jones-Drew.
