NFL Power Rankings: Week 16

There are just three games left to go in the 2025-26 NFL season, and more than half the league is in contention for a playoff spot. It’s getting spicy down the stretch.

Only the Rams and Broncos have clinched playoff spots. The Patriots are back out in front like it’s 2011. The Chiefs will miss the playoffs for the first time in ten years. And the Bears lead the NFC North with three games to go.

All that and more as we break down the NFL’s best.

You can stream all 32 NFL teams go head-to-head on the gridiron in the 2025-26 season. 

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NFL Power Rankings through Week 15

Heading into the final stretch of the 2025-26 regular season, here is where the NFL’s best teams stand.

1. Denver Broncos (12-2)

The Broncos won the biggest game of their season on Sunday, beating the Green Bay Packers 34-26. Bo Nix had his best game as a pro, throwing for over 300 yards and four touchdowns. The defense made a handful of big plays in the second half to turn Green Bay over and end drives.

At 12-2, the Broncos have won 11 straight and claimed the only playoff spot in the AFC thus far.

2. Seattle Seahawks (12-3)

Seattle grabbed hold of the NFC West and the #1 seed in the NFC playoff race with a huge comeback win against the Rams.

They were down 30-14 late in the third quarter when everything turned. Seattle’s defense forced three straight three-and-outs, Rashid Shaheed returned a punt for a touchdown and Seattle converted the strangest two point conversion you’ll ever see to tie the game and ultimately force overtime.

Seattle has now won five straight and will finish the year with road trips to Carolina and San Francisco as they try to clinch the top seed.

3. Los Angeles Rams (11-4)

Up 30-14 late in the third quarter, the Rams looked like they were going to roll to an easy victory over their division rival Seahawks. But a trio of three-and-outs and Seattle punt return touchdown completely changed the momentum of the game.

It was LA’s third straight game scoring 37+ points and their sixth 30+ point game in their last eight. Matt Stafford threw for 457 yards and three touchdowns. With Davante Adams out, 225 of those yards and two of those touchdowns went to Puka Nacua who posted his third straight game of 150+ receiving yards which is tied for an NFL record.

The Rams close out with two light matchups against Atlanta and Arizona. There is still a chance to win the division, but it got infinitely harder after Thursday’s loss.

4. New England Patriots (11-3)

The Patriots blew a 21-point lead to lose a division battle against the Bills on Sunday. Still, they maintain their AFC East lead and get another chance to clinch the division on Sunday against the Ravens.

The Pats ran for a season high 246 yards, including 148 by rookie TreVeyon Henderson. But New England’s defense was carved up by Josh Allen from the second quarter on and was gashed for more than 100 rushing yards for the fifth straight time.

The Bills game was the first test for the Patriots. This week in Baltimore is the second as they look to stay atop the AFC East and within striking distance of the number one seed in the conference.

5. Chicago Bears (10-4)

The Bears smashed the Browns 31-3 at home. Caleb Williams and the offense put up 361 total yards, including another 140 on the ground, and their defense intercepted Shedeur Sanders three times.

The Bears regained the lead in the NFC North in the process and have a chance to all but wrap it up this week as they take on the Packers for the second time in three weeks.

6. Los Angeles Chargers (10-4)

The Chargers shut down the Chiefs and knocked them out of playoff contention for the first time in a decade. It was the Chargers’ third straight win and third straight game holding their opponent to under 20 points.

Justin Herbert threw for 210 yards but still took four sacks in the loss as he continues to work his way back to full health after having left hand surgery. Omarion Hampton, in his second game back after missing much of the season with an ankle injury, rushed for 61 yards on 15 carries.

The Chargers wrap up the season with three straight difficult games. First is a road matchup against Dallas and their 4th-ranked offense. Then they face Houston, who have the league’s number one defense and finally they travel to Denver, who they trail in the AFC West and have the league’s third-ranked defense.

7. Buffalo Bills (10-4)

The Bills have had a quieter year than they did a year ago, but they made some noise by going into New England in Week 15 and pulling off a 21-point comeback win over the AFC East-leading Patriots.

Josh Allen led the Bills on four straight touchdown drives between the second and third quarters and outscored the Patriots 35-10 down the stretch. It’s enough to keep the Bills’ hopes of winning the AFC East alive and, at the very least, keeps them cemented in the middle of the playoff picture.

But New England did run for more than 250 yards, and this Bills team is one of the league’s worst against the run. There’s nothing more demoralizing and debilitating in the playoffs than a defense that can’t stop the run.

8. Houston Texans (9-5)

The Texans won their sixth straight game with a 40-20 blowout over the Cardinals. It was the fifth straight game that they’ve allowed 20 points or fewer, and this was by far one of the most impressive outings for the offense to date.

Houston still remains just one game out of the AFC South lead and holds on to the seventh overall spot in the playoffs. They get another on-paper easy matchup against the Raiders in Week 16 before wrapping up with the Chargers and the Colts.

With the offense playing at a high level, this elite defense looks even scarier.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4)

The Jaguars held on to the AFC South lead with a 48-20 trouncing of the Jets. Trevor Lawrence had a career highlight game, throwing for 330 yards and five touchdowns and rushing for 51 yards and another touchdown.

This game is exactly what Jacksonville expected when drafting the generational prospect. The question that first-year head coach Liam Cohen faced coming into this season was if he could unlock the potential that remained bottled up in Lawrence. Sunday’s game was against the Jets, which should be taken with a grain of salt, but it was certainly a glimpse of what Lawrence and this offense are capable of if he is able to reach his ceiling.

10. Green Bay Packers (9-4-1)

The Packers lost a tough one in Denver. They were winners of four straight going into this game and held on to the number one spot in the NFC North. But two Jordan Love interceptions and timely plays by the Broncos defense allowed Denver to climb back in and then ultimately win this game.

With the loss, the Packers lose their grip on the NFC North lead to Chicago but have a chance to get it right back as they face the Bears for the second time in three weeks.

11. San Francisco 49ers (10-4)

The 49ers walked into Tennessee and dropped 37 on the league’s worst team. They’ve now won four straight and kept pace with not only their division mates in the Rams and Seahawks but with the NFC playoff picture as a whole.

Brock Purdy threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns. Christian McCaffrey ran for 73 yards and a score. The 49ers have been one of the quietest 10-4 teams in the league, but this is a team that could certainly make for a disruptive playoff matchup.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (9-5)

The Eagles had lost three straight coming into Sunday’s game against Las Vegas, and they took out all their anger in a 31-0 beatdown. Their defense was near perfect, allowing 75 total yards in the game.

They sacked Kenny Pickett four times, picked him off once and held Las Vegas to just 46 rushing yards.

The offense was hyper-efficient. Jalen Hurts was 12-of-15 for 175 yards and three touchdowns. Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby combined for 135 yards on the ground.

It was a much-needed win for this Eagles team as they held strong with their lead in the NFC East. The Eagles have one of the cushier end-of-year schedules with two matchups against the Commanders bracketing a road trip to Buffalo in between.

13. Detroit Lions (8-6)

The Lions lost a shootout to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in a game that didn’t technically eliminate them from playoff contention but certainly sunk their playoff hopes to new depths.

With the Rams shutting down their run game for the most part, Detroit turned to Jared Goff to try to win them the game, and he nearly did. Goff threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns and made big play after big play to Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

The problem is Detroit’s defense can’t stop opponents. They’ve given up at least 27 points in four straight games and injuries are piling up defensively. In order to make the postseason, Detroit needs to win out and hope that a couple of matchups outside of their control break their way.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made the NFC South interesting for the first time in a while. Starting 5-1, the Bucs are 2-6 over their last eight, and Thursday night’s loss to the Falcons was maybe the most painful.

They had the lead going into the fourth quarter before the Falcons stormed back and stole the upset win.

The Bucs were bailed out by the Panthers, who trail them by mere decimal points in the division standings. They face each other twice over the last three weeks of the season.

15. Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1)

The Cowboys lost a second straight game to an NFC North opponent, this time falling to Minnesota 34-26. Once again, their offense put up points, but for the third straight time and fourth time in the last six weeks, their defense allowed 27+ points.

Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy had been struggling for much of this season entering the game and Dallas’s defense allowed him to look like a Pro Bowler. On a one-yard score, McCarthy even danced into the end zone to the chagrin of his own coach.

The Cowboys are still, technically, in the playoff hunt, but not only do they need to win every game remaining, they need everything to break their way. It’ll be a very frustrating season for a team with the fourth-ranked offense but arguably the league’s worst defense.

16. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6)

The Steelers need to win out the rest of their games as they face their own tight division battle. The Baltimore Ravens are breathing down their neck, and the Steelers responded by hosting the Dolphins on Monday Night Football.

In a cold game, Aaron Rodgers turned back the clock and led Pittsburgh to a 28-15 victory. The Steelers defense was borderline immaculate, allowing just three points through three quarters before relinquishing 12 junk-time points.

The Steelers sacked Tua Tagovailoa four times, picked him off once and completely disrupted the Miami offense.

Pittsburgh will need to defend the top spot in the AFC North for the rest of the season. First, they get a road trip to Detroit to take on the Lions. Then a trip to Cleveland to take on the Browns, and they close the season with a home matchup against Baltimore in a game that could very well decide the division and which team goes to the postseason.

17. Carolina Panthers (7-7)

The Panthers had a golden opportunity to take the NFC South division lead in Week 14 and they blew it. After taking a 17-7 lead midway through the third quarter, it looked like Carolina was rolling. But they were outscored 13-3 in the final 17 minutes of regulation.

Carolina and Tampa Bay will face each other twice in the final three weeks, the first matchup of which is in Week 16. Both teams control their own destiny down the stretch.

18. Baltimore Ravens (7-7)

The Ravens blanked the Bengals 24-0 in Week 14 to stay within striking distance of the Steelers in the NFC North. Lamar Jackson needed to attempt just 12 passes to put this game away. He completed eight of them for 150 yards and two touchdowns.

Still a game out of the division lead, the Ravens host the Patriots before traveling to Green Bay and then Pittsburgh for a Week 18 matchup against the Steelers that could determine their playoff fate.

19. Indianapolis Colts (9-5)

With 44-year-old Philip Rivers at quarterback, the Colts lost a surprisingly close game to the Seahawks 18-16. Rivers, who had unretired just earlier that week, had the Colts in it with just minute to go before the Seahawks were able to win it on a last-second field goal.

For the Colts, that makes four straight losses and four straight games where running back Jonathan Taylor has failed to tally 100 yards rushing.

If Indianapolis does somehow make it into the postseason, they will have earned it. Their final three games are against San Francisco, Jacksonville, and Houston—three teams firmly in playoff position.

2025-26 NFL TEAMS ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFF CONTENTION

20. Kansas City Chiefs (6-8)

Sunday was a devastating end to not only Patrick Mahomes’ season due to an ACL injury but also the Chiefs dynasty in total. The questions will now begin about whether or not the team as constructed is built to continue the dynasty that they built over the last 10 years.

21. Miami Dolphins (6-8)

The Dolphins lost another cold-weather game as they remain winless in frigid conditions under head coach Mike McDaniel. Tua Tagovailoa put up enough junk-time stats to make his final line look respectable, but Miami was down 28-3 going into the 4th quarter, and it never felt close.

Heading into Week 16, Tagovailoa will be benched for Quinn Ewers, and questions about whether or not Tua will remain the quarterback of the Dolphins going forward will take over talk shows from here on out.

22. Minnesota Vikings (6-8)

The Vikings may be eliminated from playoff contention, but that didn’t stop them from playing spoiler to the Dallas Cowboys in a 34-26 upset win.

J.J. McCarthy had his best game as a starter, throwing for 250 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for a third touchdown. However, he still remains incapable of getting on the same page as star receiver Justin Jefferson.

With Minnesota out of playoff contention, the rest of the season becomes an audition for McCarthy to hang on to this job. Critical to him succeeding is developing chemistry with the franchise star and the player who is going to raise the ceiling of the rest of the team.

23. Cincinnati Bengals (4-10)

The Bengals were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 15 with a 24-0 loss against Baltimore. At times, it seemed like this team had no interest in being on the field as they seemed to realize just how futile the season will be.

With three games left against three teams also eliminated from playoff contention, it’s unclear what we’ll get from the Bengals team for the rest of the year.

24. Atlanta Falcons (5-9)

The Falcons pulled off an upset win on Thursday Night Football against the Bucs. It was an impressive 4th-quarter comeback that provided a highlight in a largely low season. It was a career game for tight end Kyle Pitts, who had 11 catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns.

Bijan Robinson added 175 total yards and a touchdown, and Kirk Cousins, who was benched for much of this year, threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns.

Atlanta is out of playoff contention, but it’s a chance for Cousins to put good games together in an attempt to retake the starting job in Atlanta or earn a starting spot on another QB-needy team.

25. Washington Commanders (4-10)

The Commanders won their first game with Marcus Mariota at the helm, beating the Giants 29-21.

For the Commanders, they’re just playing for pride at this point. They’ve officially shut down Jayden Daniels for the rest of the season. Their primary focus is taking a look at what talent they have on the roster and figuring out how they keep their franchise QB upright and healthy.

26. New Orleans Saints (4-10)

The Saints don’t have much to play for down the stretch. The goals at this point are talent evaluation and playing the part of spoiler. They played the part beautifully on Sunday in a comeback win over the Panthers who are still fighting for the NFC South division title.

27. Arizona Cardinals (3-11)

The Cardinals took a 40-20 beating against the Houston Texans. Trey McBride had an exceptional game with 134 yards receiving and two touchdowns, but it’s the sixth straight loss for the Cardinals, who are 1-11 over their last 12 games.

The Cardinals find themselves in a position where not only does starting quarterback Kyler Murray’s future seem murky, but head coach Jonathan Gannon’s as well. After showing moderate improvement in 2024, Arizona is back at the bottom of the NFC West with no clear path forward.

28. Cleveland Browns (3-11)

The Browns took a 31-3 mauling by the Bears on Sunday. Shedeur Sanders threw for 177 yards and three interceptions. Cleveland as a unit ran for just 50 yards.

The rest of this season will be a tryout for Sanders. But more than likely, the Browns are headed for a top six pick and will be looking for another quarterback.

29. New York Jets (3-11)

The Jets got taken out by the Jacksonville Jaguars 48-20 on Sunday. Rookie Brady Cook was picked three times and sacked three times as New York never had a chance in this one.

At 3-11, the Jets have their sights on a top draft pick and are already ready to turn the page on the season and begin their rebuild.

30. New York Giants (2-12)

The Giants took their eighth straight loss to the Washington Commanders. Now at 2-12, the Giants are in contention for the number one pick. Their goal for the rest of the season is just to make sure that QB Jaxson Dart remains healthy.

31. Tennessee Titans (2-12)

The Titans made their matchup against the 49ers a little closer than a casual observer may expect but still took their 12th loss on the season. Tony Pollard rushed for more than 100 yards for the second straight game, but their defense was carved up by Brock Purdy.

Over the next three games, Tennessee will be in a race with the Giants and the Raiders to see who gets the number one pick in next year’s draft.

32. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)

You never want to accuse a team of tanking, but for the Raiders to total just 75 yards against the Eagles on Sunday, it certainly makes you wonder. The Raiders now drop to 2-12 after the 31-0 loss.

Kenny Pickett was sacked four times. Ashton Jeanty did not eclipse 40 yards rushing. On the year, the Raiders have yet to score more than 17 points since Week 9 and have not scored more than 24 points all season.

This was a team that had expectations of winning now, and now it’s a question of when they’ll win again.

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