NFL Week 16 Power Rankings: Bills, Rams, Broncos Rise as Packers Fall after Week 15

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NFL Week 16 Power Rankings: Bills, Rams, Broncos Rise as Packers Fall after Week 15

Matt Johnson · Sportsnaut

Tue, Dec 16, 2025 ·

16 min read

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As Sunday's NFL Week 15 action draws to a close, we're now in the final stretch of the regular season with playoff battles tightening. Unfortunately, we'll have to remember this week for some devastating season-ending injuries and even short-term blows that impacted multiple teams.

Let's dive into our NFL Week 16 power rankings, evaluating all 32 teams from Week 15. We'll provide updates after Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football.

1. Los Angeles Rams (4)

The good news for the Los Angeles Rams is that after trailing Detroit 24-14 late in the second quarter on Sunday, they answered back by outscoring the Lions 27-10 the rest of the way for a big win at home. This win improves Los Angeles to 11-3, holding the head-to-head tiebreaker right now over the Seahawks . Unfortunately for the Rams, it's a short week and they'll be without Davante Adams against Seattle .

2. Denver Broncos (5)

Bo Nix looked like an MVP-caliber quarterback on Sunday, using his athleticism to extend plays and then make pinpoint throws all over the field. That's really the main thing that's kept Denver from being viewed as a top-tier Super Bowl contender in the AFC. If Nix can maintain anything close to that level of play, with this defense, the Broncos' win streak could go all the way to the Super Bowl.

3. Seattle Seahawks (1)

For the second consecutive week, Rashid Shaheed delivered the big play that seemed to propel the Seattle Seahawks to a win. In a victory over Indianapolis that was far too close for comfort, Shaheed finished second in receiving yards (74) and tacked on 131 kickoff return yards. Seattle now gets a chance to regain some control of its playoff positioning if it can beat the Rams on Thursday Night Football. However, a victory is far from a given considering how poorly Sam Darnold has played in big games.

4. Houston Texans (6)

The Houston Texans have now won six consecutive games and seven of their last eight, a stretch that includes victories over the 49ers , Jaguars , Bills , Colts , and Chiefs . Houston doesn't just have the best defense in football, it now boasts an effective offense with a healthy C.J. Stroud delivering the downfield strikes and explosive plays we saw in 2023. That's the resume of one of the five best NFL teams right now.

Related: NFL Defense Rankings 2025

5. Buffalo Bills (7)

What a comeback. The Buffalo Bills trailed 21-zip late in the second quarter and 24-7 at halftime, seemingly ready to give the AFC East to New England . Instead, Josh Allen showed why he's the reigning NFL MVP, and Buffalo's defense delivered a second-half performance that felt reminiscent of the comeback versus Cincinnati . At halftime, it seemed like Drake Maye would win MVP, and Buffalo would have to settle for a wild card spot. Now? Buffalo still has its shot at keeping the division crown.

6. New England Patriots (2)

After a dominant first half, the New England Patriots simply imploded at home. TreVeyon Henderson and Drake Maye had to freelance in order to get the team its only score of the second half. Outside of that, this looked like the club we saw last season. There are real concerns defensively, and an implosion like this has to raise some questions about how New England would handle the pressure of the playoffs.

7. Chicago Bears (9)

Sunday's matchup versus Cleveland was a good test for the Chicago Bears. Coming off a tough loss to Green Bay , which snapped a five-game win streak, Caleb Williams and Co. could have come out flat at home with their minds a little too focused on revenge next week versus the Packers . Instead, Caleb Williams and this Bears offense got to an electric start, and that allowed the defense to play with a big lead that it never surrendered. With the Packers coming to Chicago in Week 16, a few adjustments from the Bears could be all Williams and Ben Johnson need to reclaim control of the NFC North.

8. San Francisco 49ers (10)

The San Francisco 49ers keep doing what good teams must do: beat up on inferior competition. There's still a glaring flaw with this club come playoff time—an absent pass rush—but a healthy Brock Purdy , Christian McCaffrey , and George Kittle give San Francisco a chance to be competitive in every game. The 49ers should be 11-4 next week, assuming they handle business in Indianapolis, and then two great tests come to close out the regular season at home versus Chicago and Seattle.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars (9)

In previous years with since-fired head coaches, the Jacksonville Jaguars would find a way to lose on Sunday at home to the Jets . That was never even a thought for Liam Coen's team in Week 15. Trevor Lawrence picked New York's defense apart, and Jacksonville's defense built upon the outstanding run it's been on for more than a month now. With the victory, the Jaguars secure their first 10-win season since 2017, and they've now returned from the bye to win six of their last seven, including five straight.

10. Green Bay Packers (3)

Injuries are all that matter now for the San Francisco 49ers. Already without standout tight end Tucker Kraft for the season, Green Bay just lost Christian Watson and Micah Parsons to season-ending injuries. Without those two difference-makers, the defense lacks a pass rush and there is no one to stretch the field or make explosive plays. Oh, the Packers also lost top safety Evan Williams and their top offensive lineman ( Zach Tom ) indefinitely. This is just too much to overcome.

11. Detroit Lions (8)

The Detroit Lions need to win out in order to have any shot at making the playoffs, and that's not a given since the regular-season finale takes place in Chicago. On Sunday, the injury-decimated defense performed as poorly as it has in the last four weeks, and this passing game sorely misses Sam LaPorta . Detroit will keep fighting, but for the first time in a few years, this feels like a fight the Lions will lose.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (14)

Beating up on the Raiders , who have long since thrown in the towel on this season, doesn't do much for changing how we perceive the Philadelphia Eagles right now. Vic Fangio's defense is elite, and there are some great offensive weapons, but they aren't being used correctly most weeks, and Jalen Hurts hasn't even played like a top-15 quarterback this season. Philadelphia should also easily dispatch Washington next week, with its real litmus test coming on Dec. 28 in Buffalo.

13. Los Angeles Chargers (13)

The Los Angeles Chargers are now a 10-win team, but it never feels like it when you watch them. Los Angeles dominated this one defensively, similar to last week, once again helping this team overcome Justin Herbert getting sacked four times and throwing an interception. We recognize that a 10-4 record should put the Chargers ahead of several teams higher in our NFL power rankings, but they have a fatal flaw that just can't be overcome against better competition.

14. Pittsburgh Steelers (16)

Complete domination by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football, with the score not at all telling the story of how one-sided this one was. It's a critical win for Pittsburgh to, as it keeps the club a game ahead of the Ravens in the AFC North and still holding the added edge of the head-to-head tiebreaker. Set to face the Lions in Week 16, this win could feel even more critical with the Steelers poised to be underdogs in Detroit.

15. Dallas Cowboys (12)

The Dallas Cowboys have repeatedly been provided opportunities late in the year to make the Eagles sweat for the NFC South crown. Each time, the Cowboys secondary performed like a unit that has no business nor interest in playing meaningful games. To make matters worse, George Pickens is starting to provide the franchise with reasons to not bring him back.

16. Carolina Panthers (15)

The officiating wasn't good by any means on Sunday, but the Carolina Panthers can't blame that for getting swept by the Saints. Both times against New Orleans , the Panthers' rushing attack was a non-factor, and that put far too much of the weight on the shoulders of Bryce Young . It also doesn't help that this team really can't cover and doesn't have much of a pass rush. Carolina should be kicking itself for blowing an opportunity to take control of the NFC South.

17. Baltimore Ravens (22)

The good news for the Baltimore Ravens (7-7) is that Lamar Jackson has looked healthier in the last two games, performing more like an above-average starting quarterback than what he'd been in previous weeks. Just look at the difference on Sunday, with Baltimore largely protecting the football and taking care of Cincinnati with relative ease. The AFC North is still up for grabs, but Baltimore has the misfortune of facing two of the best NFL teams – Patriots and Packers – in the next two weeks.

18. Indianapolis Colts (20)

The Indianapolis Colts almost won a game where 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers threw an interception and put up just 118 net passing yards on 27 attempts. That's a testament to Jonathan Taylor and the Colts defense. Unfortunately, the end result was still a lost and now Indianapolis (8-6) seems destined to miss the playoffs with more losses on the way.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (18)

This feels close to rock-bottom for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During this 1-5 stretch, Tampa Bay has dropped from 6-2 to 7-7 with a -46 point differential in that six-game stretch. Equally as bad as the collapse itself is that the locker room, particularly veteran leaders, seem to be turning on Todd Bowles. Tampa Bay still can win the NFC South, but the defeated state of this club feels like it will keep imploding and miss the playoffs.

20. Miami Dolphins (17)

Monday Night Football should be the final piece of evidence needed for the Miami Dolphins organization to determine that Tua Tagovailoa can't be the starting quarterback in 2026. He's simply unable to play the position effectively in cold weather and he is still taking far too many sacks that he shouldn't. Even if the contract requires him to remain with the club next season, there needs to be a new Dolphins starting quarterback.

21. Minnesota Vikings (23)

Let's dial back the excitement for J.J. McCarthy bit. The Sunday Night Football broadcast hyped up the second-year quarterback as much as possible and he does now have a 5-1 TD-INT ratio with a 120.3 QB rating over the last two games. Just please keep in mind he faced two of the league's worst defenses. In related news, the Minnesota Vikings get to feast on a lifeless Giants team in Week 16. So, another good McCarthy game could be coming.

22. New Orleans Saints (24)

Tyler Shough is leaving no doubt about who should be the New Orleans Saints starting quarterback in 2026. We continue to also be impressed by this Saints coaching staff, which has this young team playing well above its talent level and experience while fighting to the whistle as the season winds down. After years of feeling pessimistic about the Saints' future, it feels like the franchise is slowly starting to turn the corner.

23. Kansas City Chiefs (19)

Suddenly, a disastrous season for the Kansas City Chiefs hits a worst-case scenario. The Patrick Mahomes injury, if it's what everyone fears, will linger into next season. If fortune is finally on the team's side this year and Mahomes avoids an ACL tear, Kansas City should rule him out for the remainder of the season. No matter what, there must be serious pressure on Andy Reid and Brett Veach to change a lot of what they've done in the last two seasons, because it's no longer working.

24. Cincinnati Bengals (21)

Coming off that Thanksgiving Day victory over the Ravens, some people legitimately thought the Cincinnati Bengals would run the table and win the division. It felt like they missed how bad this team has been all season. Joe Burrow is now 1-2 since returning to the starting lineup, with Cincinnati's defense and offensive line constantly throwing him back into proverbial holes that he first seemed to dig himself out of. It's no wonder Burrow spoke like a quarterback who has considered pulling an Andrew Luck .

25. Atlanta Falcons (26)

A Thursday Night Football victory at Tampa Bay shouldn't have any influence over the Atlanta Falcons' looming decision on Raheem Morris. This team has fallen short of expectations for the second consecutive year, and beating a reeling Bucs team just means this locker room hasn't thrown in the towel on Morris. That's a testament to his leadership, but he's fallen short in so many other areas in two seasons that a change feels necessary for the franchise.

26. Washington Commanders (27)

In a battle between two of the worst NFL teams in 2025, the Washington Commanders proved to be slightly better than the Giants. It's a low bar to clear, but at least it's something for Washington. There is ongoing debate about Dan Quinn's future with Washington, but we just don't see a way the organization fires him a year removed from making the NFC Championship Game when it can blame injuries for a down 2025 campaign. Is that the right call? Probably not.

27. Arizona Cardinals (25)

The Arizona Cardinals have played many of the best NFL teams this season very close, often outperforming their record. Now, they've been blown out in consecutive matchups. It's not exactly a ringing endorsement of head coach Jonathan Gannon, but ownership isn't going to pay for a coaching change when injuries ( Kyler Murray , Trey Benson , James Conner , and Marvin Harrison Jr. ) can be blamed for some of the woes. Still, Arizona's inability to close games early in the season and now the team seemingly giving up don't say anything positive about Gannon as a head coach.

28. New York Giants (28)

With these last two games, Mike Kafka has effectively taken himself out of the mix to be the New York Giants head coach in 2026. We have also seen Jaxson Dart 's performance drop off considerably, which shouldn't come as a surprise given the lack of viable offensive weapons he has. What we can't get over is how much of a disappointment New York's defense has been this season. Alas, a loss in Week 15 keeps the Giants in position for the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

29. Cleveland Browns (29)

With the Cleveland Browns falling behind by 14 points in the first quarter on Sunday, head coach Kevin Stefanski was forced to do the thing he fears the most: put the football in Shedeur Sanders ' hands for an entire game behind this offensive line. The results went about as poorly as you'd expect. All Sunday's game did is reaffirm why Cleveland needs to find both a new head coach and quarterback this offseason.

30. Tennessee Titans (31)

The good news for the Tennessee Titans is that these last two games have restored a lot of confidence that Tony Pollard could be a key part of this offense next season. Outside of that and the occasional flashes from Cam Ward , you watch this team and see both how poorly coached it is and how bad the roster is. It's going to take a long time to even get this team to looking competitive on a weekly basis, probably two years.

31. Las Vegas Raiders (30)

In what should have been no surprise to anyone, a different quarterback didn't make any difference for this Las Vegas Raiders offense. Pete Carroll assembled an offense that makes running the football impossible and leaves its starting quarterback running for his life. Fans might see a looming positive: the likely drafting of Fernando Mendoza to be the quarterback of the future. He's a nice prospect, but putting him in this environment with this Raiders offensive line is a recipe for disaster.

32. New York Jets (32)

As with last week, there's nothing really to evaluate from this New York Jets offense since UDFA Brady Cook was under center. Until the Tyrod Taylor injury, there had seemingly been some new life from this club in Aaron Glenn's first season as head coach, but that small flame has been extinguished with Cook at quarterback. On the bright side, this season is nearly over, and New York will have plenty of money and draft capital to spend on improving this roster.

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