Week 15 is in the books. Here all 32 NFL teams ranked worst to first.
Getty Image / Katelyn Mulcahy
We’re nearing the end of the NFL season, and plenty of games have huge stakes. Here are all 32 teams, ranked worst to first, heading to Week 16.
32. New York Giants (2-12)
Last Week: 35-14 (L) vs. Ravens
This Week: @ Falcons
The Giants are simply running out the clock on this disastrous season. Just how bad are things? They had to play Tim Boyle for much of Sunday’s loss to the Ravens. At least Malik Nabers looks good.
31. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)
Last Week: 15-9 (L) vs. Falcons
This Week: vs. Jaguars
The Raiders played hard against the Falcons, but this remains a terrible team that needs a new head coach, quarterback, and pretty much an entirely new roster.
30. Tennessee Titans (3-11)
Last Week: 37-27 (L) vs. Bengals
This Week: @ Colts
Will Levis was so bad on Sunday that it left Titans coach Brian Callahan no choice but to bench him. That means that this team is starting over at quarterback this offseason, though there are some pieces to build around on defense and on the offensive line.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11)
Last Week: 32-25 (L) vs. Jets
This Week: @ Raiders
The Jaguars offense put in a solid performance. But, ultimately, it’s a defense that needs rebuilt, especially the back 7. As bad as the Jaguars were this year, this roster isn’t that far away from being good.
28. Chicago Bears (4-10)
Last Week: 30-12 (L) @ Vikings
This Week: vs. Lions
It’s now eight straight losses for the Chicago Bears, who only needed to defend a Hail Mary to go to 5-2 earlier in the year. The biggest question is how much damage this season did to Caleb Williams.
27. New England Patriots (3-11)
Last Week: 30-17 (L) @ Cardinals
This Week: @ Bills
Each week, the Patriots gameplan is quite confusing. It seems like Drake Maye is being asked to be a game manager for much of the game, and the offense struggles. Then, when they’re behind, they let him actually play, and they play much better. One thing is for sure, Jerod Mayo’s got to go.
26. New York Jets (4-10)
Last Week: 32-25 (W) @ Jaguars
This Week: vs. Rams
Aaron Rodgers played his best game of the season. Sadly, the season has long been over for the Jets. That sums up how this year has gone in an nutshell.
25. Cleveland Browns (3-11)
Last Week: 21-7 (L) vs. Chiefs
This Week: @ Bengals
The Browns have seen the entire Jameis Winston experience this year, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Sadly, Sunday was the latter of the three. They’re another team just running out the clock on the season.
24. Carolina Panthers (3-11)
Last Week: 30-14 (L) vs. Cowboys
This Week: vs. Cardinals
Sunday was a step back for both Bryce Young and the Panthers, who had been pretty competitive lately. Overall, the team has made massive strides this year with roster upgrades coming.
23. New Orleans Saints
Last Week: 20-19 (L) vs. Commanders
This Week: @ Packers
The Saints continue to play hard for Darren Rizzi, and he should receive serious consideration for the full-time job. But, why do teams continually run sprint options on crucial two-point plays? It seems like the success rate is low.
22. Indianapolis Colts (6-8)
Last Week: 31-13 (L) @ Broncos
This Week: vs. Titans
How thin are the margins in the NFL? If Jonathan Taylor doesn’t drop the ball while walking in for a touchdown to put the Colts up by two scores on Sunday, I think they make the playoffs given their soft schedule coming up. Instead, their season is essentially over.
21. Dallas Cowboys (6-8)
Last Week: 30-14 (W) @ Panthers
This Week: vs. Buccaneers
You’ll laugh, but if not for the strange blocked punt play at the end of their Week 14 loss to the Bengals, the Cowboys would have a very real shot at making the playoffs
20. San Francisco 49ers (6-8)
Last Week: 12-6 (L) vs. Rams
This Week: @ Dolphins
Big changes are coming for this roster in the offseason. At this point, it would be a shock for Brock Purdy and Kyle Shanahan to both be in the Bay next season. It seems like only one of them will be back.
19. Miami Dolphins (6-8)
Last Week: 20-12 (L) @ Texans
This Week: vs. 49ers
Tua Tagovailoa played his worst game since September, and the Dolphins played uninspired football with their season on the line. Next year is setting up to be a make-or-break season for the franchise and this core.
18. Atlanta Falcons (7-7)
Last Week: 15-9 (W) @ Raiders
This Week: vs. Giants
Kirk Cousins is really playing poorly, but they found a way to win. As bad as things have been, they’re only one game back of a playoff spot, and hold the tiebreaker over the Buccaneers.
17. Arizona Cardinals (7-7)
Last Week: 30-17 (W) vs. Patriots
This Week: @ Panthers
The Cardinals had to get a win after their three-game skid, and did. It’s likely win-out territory the rest of the season. Still, the rebuild is ahead of schedule.
16. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
Last Week: 30-13 (L) vs. Packers
This Week: vs. Vikings
The Seahawks avoided disaster on Geno Smith’s knee injury. That’s the good news. The bad news is that they’re now in 2nd place in the NFC West, and have a really difficult game this weekend. Things are starting to slip away from them.
15. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)
Last Week: 37-27 (W) @ Titans
This Week: vs. Browns
The offense was good, as always, and the defense made some plays, too. There’s a path for Joe Burrow to make the playoffs, and we should all be rooting for it.
14. Washington Commanders (9-5)
Last Week: 20-19 (W) @ Saints
This Week: vs. Eagles
Their performance on Sunday was less-than-inspiring, and Jayden Daniels isn’t quite the quarterback he was earlier in the season. But, just one more win will almost certainly lock up a playoff berth.
13. Houston Texans (9-5)
Last Week: 20-12 (W) vs. Dolphins
This Week: @ Chiefs
I keep waiting for this team and CJ Stroud to play up to their potential, and it never happens. But, they’re 9-5, and that was a good win over a Miami team that is a tough out when Tua Tagovailoa plays. That being said, they don’t appear to be a team that can win multiple playoff games.
12. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)
Last Week: 40-17 (L) vs. Buccaneers
This Week: vs. Broncos
The injury to JK Dobbins seems significant, as they can’t run the ball without him. If this team can’t run the ball, they aren’t build to win. They were exposed on both sides of the ball on Sunday, but the future is still bright.
11. Los Angeles Rams (8-6)
Last Week: 12-6 (W) @ 49ers
This Week: @ Jets
It wasn’t nearly as pretty on offense as the win over the Bills in Week 14. But, the Rams, who started the year so terribly, are now in first place in the NFC West. They are a team nobody wants to play in the postseason.
10. Denver Broncos (9-5)
Last Week: 31-13 (W) vs. Colts
This Week: @ Chargers
Bo Nix did not play well at all, and it didn’t matter. The Broncos continue to be one of the best defenses in the NFL, even if they did have a bit of good fortune on Sunday. Just one more win will clinch a playoff berth.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)
Last Week: 40-17 (W) @ Chargers
This Week: @ Cowboys
I was a believer in the Buccaneers all year, and it’s paying off. Mike Evans rocks, they can run the ball now, and the defense is good against the run. You may laugh, but Baker Mayfield is playing well enough to take this team to the Super Bowl.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
Last Week: 27-13 (L) @ Eagles
This Week: @ Ravens
The Steelers were thoroughly outclassed by the Eagles. Frankly, the score doesn’t quite show just how lopsided the game was. But, George Pickens didn’t play, and that can make a huge difference for this offense. Saturday’s game against the Ravens will likely decide the AFC North.
7. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
Last Week: 35-14 (W) @ Giants
This Week: vs. Steelers
The Ravens took care of business against the Giants behind a big game from Lamar Jackson. Ultimately, Saturday’s game against the Steelers will define the regular season for this team.
6. Green Bay Packers (10-4)
Last Week: 30-13 (W) @ Seahawks
This Week: vs. Saints
Green Bay was firing on all cylinders against Seattle on Sunday Night Football. If that’s the team that we will see in the postseason, they could definitely get out of a rugged NFC and make the Super Bowl. Ultimately, it will come down to Jordan Love taking care of the football.
5. Minnesota Vikings (12-2)
Last Week: 30-12 (W) vs. Bears
This Week: @ Seahawks
You could make an argument that the Vikings have been the most consistent team in football this year. And, they can win games in a lot of different ways. With Detroit’s injuries on defense, a divisional title is very much in reach.
4. Detroit Lions (12-2)
Last Week: 48-42 (L) vs. Bills
This Week: @ Bears
At this point, the injuries on defense, plus a season-ending injury for David Montgomery, are difficult to ignore. Alim McNeil and Carlton Davis, two of the best healthy players on the defense, got hurt on Sunday, and McNeil is out for the season. It would be awful for this fantastic team to have their title chances derailed by injuries.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)
Last Week: 21-7 (W) @ Browns
This Week: vs. Texans
Hey, look! The Chiefs won by more than one score! It’s their first win by more than one score since October 7, and only their second such win all year. Patrick Mahomes’ high ankle sprain is concerning, but he overcame a similar injury to win the Super Bowl previously in his career. It’s unknown if he will be able to play in their next two games, which happen on Saturday and Wednesday, meaning it’s a tight turnaround.
2. Buffalo Bills (11-3)
Last Week: 48-42 (W) @ Lions
This Week: vs. Patriots
Yes, the defense has injuries in the secondary. But, with Josh Allen playing as well as any quarterback ever has down the stretch, it might not matter. Allen is going to win the MVP going away, and they should be considered favorites to win the AFC alongside Kansas City.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)
Last Week: 27-13 (W) vs. Steelers
This Week: @ Commanders
Welcome to the top spot, Philadelphia. Their tenth-straight win wasn’t due to a huge game from Saquon Barkley, though he was pretty effective once again. Instead, it was due to a precise Jalen Hurts, an offense that consistently converted on 3rd and 4th down, and a dominant defensive performance. They’re the healthiest team out of all of the top contenders, and that counts for a lot.