Week 14 on TNF features two teams looking to keep their playoff hopes alive
USA TODAY Sports’ Chris Bumbaka and Prince Grimes break down Thursday night’s big game between the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions.
- The New England Patriots moved up the standings with a league-best record of 11 wins and 2 losses.
- Significant rises in the rankings included the Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills, and Chicago Bears, bringing five teams into the top 10.
NFL power rankings entering Week 14 of the 2025 season (previous rankings in parentheses):
1. Los Angeles Rams (1): Yes, they lost…on the East Coast…in a rainstorm…QB Matthew Stafford unusually threw as many interceptions (two) in the first quarter entering Sunday as he had all season. Perhaps the only red flag here was the way the defense looked cut into the ground. If not, you’ll be giving LA a mulligan.
2. New England Patriots (3): It’s tempting to declare the team with the NFL’s best record (11-2) the best in the league. But as QB Drake Maye and company have shown, we need to open our eyes a little more and against better competition.
3. Seattle Seahawks (2): “I’m very happy to have the best defense in the world,” WR Jackson Smith-Nijiva (23 receiving yards) said on the quietest day of the 2025 season. But how far can it carry the Hawks if the offense continues to disappear?
4. Green Bay Packers (5): The Pack could rise to the top of the conference standings if they defeat the arch-rival Bears on Sunday and win their third straight NFC North division in three weeks.
5. Denver Broncos (4): In some ways, they’re like the Rockies’ version of the Seahawks, often featuring a dominant D and a quarterback who has the potential to be great, while also being a total wild card.
6. Houston Texans (11): The Seahawks are said to have the best defense in the world, but the numbers back up the Texans, who allow the fewest points and yards per game in the league. Now, will it be enough to end the losing streak against the Chiefs at five?
7. Buffalo Bills (12): The league’s No. 1 rushing attack just racked up a season-high 249 yards, which is also Pittsburgh’s most yards gained in a half-century.
8. Chicago Bears (15): They swept the NFC East. They swept Pennsylvania. If the team currently leading the NFC can win at Lambeau Field on Sunday, any notion of cheating should be completely dispelled.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars (13): They are 4-1 since returning from London and could take full control of first place in the AFC South if they defeat the Colts on Sunday.
10. San Francisco 49ers (14): They will only leave the Valley one more time during the regular season, and at 9-4 the Niners will very likely have home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs.
11. Philadelphia Eagles (6): WR AJ Brown is averaging 7.3 catches and 91.3 receiving yards (3 TDs) in Philadelphia’s four losses. In his other seven games, he averaged 47.7 yards and 3.9 receptions (including 3 TDs) in all wins. So tell me again how important it is to get the ball, AJ?
12. Detroit Lions (9): Even if they can avoid another regular-season losing streak for the first time since 2022, there is no scenario in which they can return to the field for the NFC playoffs, which is expected this week. This situation shows how much this team is struggling with changes in the coaching staff.
13. Indianapolis Colts (8): They have won one game since acquiring cornerback Sauce Gardner, who is out indefinitely with a calf injury.
14. Dallas Cowboys (19): He’s been overshadowed by the turmoil that has followed this team, but running back Javonte Williams has turned things around — he’s 45 yards away from hitting his first 1,000-yard year in the NFL.
15. Kansas City Chiefs (7): With Houston’s pass rush coming to Arrowhead, the state of their battered offensive line is a real concern.
16. Baltimore Ravens (10): They’ve averaged 20 points and nearly three turnovers per game over the past three weeks, but QB Lamar Jackson looked a little more energetic in the Thanksgiving loss to Cincinnati.
17. Carolina Panthers (20): Bringing running back Chuba Hubbard back into the offense seems like a smart move. It certainly paid off in Sunday’s upset of the Rams, with a season-high 19 touches and 124 yards.
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (16): They appear to be healthier overall in the most important period of their schedule, four of their last five games against NFC South opponents.
19. Los Angeles Chargers (17): Would it be better to go into Monday night’s game against the salty Philly D with a quarterback fresh off surgery for a broken hand (on his non-throwing side)? Or Trey Lance?
20. Cincinnati Bengals (23): As important as having QB Joe Burrow back in the lineup is obviously important, this team’s story may be just as influenced by the defense, which was almost universally cited in the locker room win over Baltimore. Cincy has certainly gotten a lot better on that side of the ball in recent weeks.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers (18): You don’t actually want to fire Mike Tomlin, conspiracy theorists. You want to trade him for a first-round draft pick.
22. Arizona Cardinals (21): When was the last time a tight end, in this case Trey McBride, gained more yards from scrimmage and touchdowns than the team’s top two running backs combined?
23. Cleveland Browns (24): DE Myles Garrett vs. Cam Ward, the most sacked quarterback in the league? Considering the single-season sack record could be broken in just 13 games, Hall of Fame officials should make a short trip to Cleveland on Sunday.
24. Miami Dolphins (25): RB Devon Ashen became the fifth running back this century to score at least 10 touchdowns in each of his first three NFL seasons.
25. Commander Washington (27): Their brave play in Sunday night’s loss to Denver is pretty good evidence of coach Dan Quinn and a team that could have easily put it together by now.
26. New York Jets (30): With the Gardner deal quietly acquiring WR Adonai Mitchell and also acquiring two first-rounders, this trade could become one-sided at some point. Trust the process.
27. Atlanta Falcons (26): Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgaier are the only running back tandem in the league this season with both players scoring at least 7 TDs…and that’s because they’re doing something good.
28. Minnesota Vikings (22): I don’t know what was so bad about Sunday. Whether it was his body language on the sideline during the team’s shutout loss in Seattle or the fact that rookie QB Max Bromser was being compared to Nathan Peterman.
29. New Orleans Saints (29): Cam Jordan and Terrell Suggs are the only players this century to have at least 125 sacks and 745 tackles in their careers. Unfortunately, Jordan doesn’t get the recognition he deserves on the field.
30. New York Giants (28): To summarize for future head coaches: Rookie quarterbacks seem determined to play recklessly, and rookie pass rushers seem determined not to play at all.
31. Las Vegas Raiders (31): Seriously, how much can Max Crosby hold out here?
32. Tennessee Titans (32): A matchup between Ward and Shedur Sanders would have sounded more appealing eight months ago.
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