Strong quarterback performances from Bo Nix and C.J. Stroud have further elevated the Broncos and Texans into Super Bowl contention.
The Patriots dropped four spots after a loss to the Bills, highlighting their struggles against winning opponents.
Green Bay’s Super Bowl hopes may be in jeopardy following a season-ending ACL tear for DE Micah Parsons.
NFL power rankings entering Week 16 of the 2025 season (previous rank in parentheses):
3. Denver Broncos (5): Will the real Bo Nix please stand up? But if that was you Sunday against Green Bay, then the Broncos are truly a legitimate Super Bowl threat.
4. Houston Texans (6): Will the real C.J. Stroud please stand up? But if that was you Sunday against Arizona, then the Texans are truly a legitimate Super Bowl threat.
5. Buffalo Bills (7): What was more important last weekend − their defeat of New England (keeping Buffalo’s AFC East title hopes alive), or Kansas City’s loss (removing a massive impediment on the Bills’ path to Super Bowl 60)?
6. New England Patriots (2): The loss to Buffalo with a division crown on the line was a reminder that this is a young and inexperienced team, and one that’s only beaten a single opponent this season that currently has a winning record … though it was the Bills.
7. Green Bay Packers (4): Will the loss of DE Micah Parsons to an ACL tear have a bigger impact on the Pack’s defense or its collective psyche?
9. San Francisco 49ers (10): For all the (belated) focus on the Rams and Seahawks, it’s easy to forget that the lurking Niners could yet slip past both and wind up as the NFC’s No. 1 playoff seed.
11. Los Angeles Chargers (12): Jim Harbaugh took the 49ers to the Super Bowl in his second year coaching them. But no way he replicates that trick with Bolts. Right?
13. Detroit Lions (8): A team this good and fun to watch? Notre Dame is definitely going to cry foul if the committee leaves the Lions out of the playoff field.
15. Baltimore Ravens (19): They won a football game 24-0 and didn’t have possession for even 21 minutes? No wonder we thought this team could win the Super Bowl.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (20): They’ve just gotten a lot of (expletive) players like WR Mike Evans back in the (expletive) lineup. We still feel fairly confident (expletive) Baker Mayfield and Co. can win the (expletive) NFC South for a fifth straight time.
17. Carolina Panthers (14): Getting swept by the Saints could quite literally ruin their season.
18. Indianapolis Colts (22): You’re telling us they’re about to host a Monday night game in their ‘Indiana Nights’ uniforms with 44-year-old Philip Rivers at the controls, but there’s no NFL script? The jig’s up.
21. Kansas City Chiefs (16): They’re shockingly in their Gardner Minshew Era … which may determine whether they want to go back to their Carson Wentz Era in 2026.
22. Miami Dolphins (21): When did ‘Tank for Tua’ become ‘Tank with Tua during a nationally televised game’? (In coach Mike McDaniel’s defense, he had a rationale for slow-playing the fourth quarter − figuring a recovered onside kick was needed regardless of circumstances. But the team’s lack of urgency wasn’t a great look at an urgent moment of its now officially lost season.)
23. Atlanta Falcons (30): TE Kyle Pitts has been their best player not named Bijan Robinson since Thanksgiving. But does it matter if it requires QB Kirk Cousins to unlock the pending free agent?
25. Arizona Cardinals (23): TE Trey McBride and WR Michael Wilson are the only NFL players with at least 40 receptions since Week 11 (both have 44 during that span). Despite all their efforts, the Cards are 0-5 during that stretch.
29. New York Jets (27): The defense has zero interceptions this season. And one fired coordinator. Coincidence?
31. Cleveland Browns (28): This week, let’s give Shedeur the wristband with three TD pass plays on it, not three picks.