NFL Power Rankings: Eagles surpass Chiefs, Bills; Cowboys prepare ahead of Week 14

The NFC has the two biggest heavyweights in the race for Super Bowl 59. The Lions have earned the No. 1 spot in the Sporting News weekly rankings for some time and kept it after holding off the Bears on Thanksgiving. But now they have closer company in the red-hot Eagles, who have won eight straight, including beating the Ravens in Baltimore on Sunday.

Detroit and Philadelphia appear to be on a collision course for the conference championship, even with some tough teams, like Minnesota and Green Bay, not far behind. The top of the AFC looks more flawed, however, starting with Kansas City and Buffalo.

Here’s how all 32 teams compare at the end of Week 13, with just five weeks remaining in the 2024 NFL regular season.

NFL HQ: Live NFL Scores | Updated NFL Rankings | Complete NFL schedule

NFL Power Rankings, Week 14

1. Detroit Lions 11-1 (previous ranking: 1)

The Lions were a little sloppy with their banged-up defense in the second half against the Bears, but they still broke down enough with the running game to build a nice cushion. They have become very difficult to beat.

MORE: Breaking down the wild ending to the Bears-Lions Thanksgiving game

2. Philadelphia Eagles 10-2 (4)

The Eagles were fearless with their Vic Fangio defense in Baltimore, then closed out the Ravens with plenty of Saquon Barkley. Philadelphia continues to improve at the perfect time.

MORE: Saquon Barkley surpasses Derrick Henry and remains on record pace

3. Buffalo Bills 10-2 (2)

The Bills got a break from a short-handed 49ers team at home, but they took care of business with their own dose of defense and running game while prancing around in the snow. Josh Allen should remain at the top of MVP lists.

MORE: Josh Allen makes MVP declaration | Allen scores rare TD ‘hat trick’ | Allen launches into fantasy

4. Kansas City Chiefs 11-1 (3)

The Chiefs don’t get many style points for surviving another close home game, as they shouldn’t have struggled so much against their rival Raiders. They will have plenty of opportunities to try to become champions with four tough matches to play.

MORE: Chiefs set record for consecutive wins by one score

5. Minnesota Vikings 10-2 (5)

The Vikings play solid complementary defense and have their pass offense and pass defense at just the right time. They can build on their five-game winning streak before seeing the Packers and Lions in the final two games.

WEEK 14 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS:
QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST | Kickers

6. Green Bay Packers 9-3 (6)

The Packers found a solid 1-2 punch by rotating Josh Jacobs and making big defensive plays at the right time as the weather cooled. They have a great chance inside Detroit to open Week 14 on Thursday night.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers 9-3 (7)

The Steelers didn’t take the Bengals lightly and stepped on the gas for their best offense under Russell Wilson. The defense continues to come up with decisive plays even while giving up important distances and points.

MORE: Mike Tomlin says George Pickens needs to ‘grow up’

8. Los Angeles Chargers 8-4 (9)

The Chargers passed another big defensive test after having a few breakdowns against the Ravens at home. They were ready to invade the Falcons and caught Justin Herbert’s cooling in Atlanta.

9. Baltimore Ravens 8-5 (8)

The Ravens’ defense is experiencing more unexpected breakdowns, as their problems against the pass have turned into sudden concerns against the run. They are also crushed by the sudden and incoherent death of Lamar Jackson.

MORE: What’s wrong with Justin Tucker?

10. Washington Commanders 8-5 (11)

The Commanders found their rhythm in a comfortable match against the Titans at home. Jayden Daniels needed this recovery game, aided largely by the traditional running game – a steady formula for Washington to finish with a wild card spot.

11. Houston Texans 8-5 (13)

The Texans’ passing game didn’t pick up as expected with CJ Stroud in Jacksonville, but the defense and running game continued to be the backbone of the DeMeco Ryans’ future division champions.

MORE: Will Azeez Al-Shaair be suspended for late hit on Trevor Lawrence?

12. Denver Broncos 7-5 (10)

The Broncos will be looking to win a third straight game since falling to .500. They must continue to roll at home with a red-hot Bo Nix to secure the third and final AFC wild card spot.

13. Seattle Seahawks 7-5 (14)

The Seahawks defense helped the offense a lot by winning Geno Smith’s revenge game against the Jets. Mike Macdonald sneaks into the Coach of the Year competition by returning his team to first place after a mid-season slump.

MORE: NFC West playoff picture

14. Arizona Cardinals 6-6 (12)

The Cardinals are a great home team at times. However, they are a struggling offense and a leaky defense down the road. Kyler Murray faces a near-win for the NFC West division race at home against the Seahawks in Week 14.

15. Los Angeles Rams 6-6 (16)

The Rams are doing their best to stay there with an intimidating but inconsistent offense and a hard-hitting but inexperienced defense. Don’t rule out another late push in the playoffs, even as NFC West champions, thanks to Sean McVay.

16. San Francisco 49ers 5-7 (15)

The 49ers have become an unrecognizable, injury-riddled mess on both sides of the ball. They are simply missing too many key pieces, even with Brock Purdy returning. They need to show just a little bit of last year’s NFC champions.

MORE: Christian McCaffrey injury update

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6-6 (19)

The Buccaneers have done a good job of handling some key injuries, as Baker Mayfield gets a lot of help from the running game to lift the entire offense. They are no longer making it easy for the Falcons.

MORE: NFC South playoff picture

18. Atlanta Falcons 6-6 (17)

The Falcons will be forced to think about a quarterback change after seeing Kirk Cousins’ fourth-quarter magic turn black. It won’t get any easier with an upcoming revenge game against the Vikings.

MORE: Will the Falcons bench Kirk Cousins?

19. Indianapolis Colts 6-7 (20)

The Colts got the needed spark from Anthony Richardson as a runner and passer to get back into playoff contention. The mid-season benching proved fortuitous for Shane Steichen.

MORE: Colts playoff photo | Shane Steichen explains his decision to go for 2 against the Patriots

20. Dallas Cowboys 5-7 (22)

The Cowboys won back-to-back divisional games with Cooper Rush finding some life in the NFC wild-card race. The upcoming schedule may keep them hot, but the Eagles and Commanders loom in the final two games.

MORE: Cowboys playoff photo | CeeDee Lamb injury update

21. Miami Dolphins 5-7 (18)

The Dolphins have struggled to combine offense and defense all season. They became too compressed to help their pass defense, highlighting their problems against the run.

MORE: Tua Tagovailoa remains winless in cold weather games

22. Cincinnati Bengals 4-8 (21)

The Bengals have deployed all their offense with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Chase Brown and Tee Higgins, but their defense is simply giving up too many big plays in connection, going from bad against the run early to bad against the pass late .

23. Chicago Bears 4-8 (23)

The Bears started their offense with Caleb Williams thanks to Thomas Brown, so he was a valid choice to take a longer look at head coach over the oft-flustered Matt Eberflus.

MORE: Caleb Williams offers glimpse of potential against Lions | Best Bears Coach Candidates

24. New Orleans Saints 4-8 (24)

The Saints have done their best to rally around Darren Rizzi, but Taysom Hill’s injury is a blow to what’s left of their heart and soul during a brutal season. They simply don’t have enough fuel left to be more competitive.

MORE: Taysom Hill injury update

25. Cleveland Browns 3-8 (25)

The Browns are capable of playing the role of spoiler if Myles Garrett continues to get similar defensive support as he did in 2023. The problem will still be finding sharp enough offense from Jameis Winston.

26. Carolina Panthers 3-9 (27)

The Panthers dropped a heartbreaker to the Buccaneers after narrowly missing against the Chiefs, but they should be encouraged by the long-term positives that Bryce Young is giving them. He seems to be achieving this under the direction of Dave Canales.

27. Tennessee Titans 3-9 (26)

The Titans also saw flashes from their own second-year QB, Will Levis, and their defense shined at times as well. They should put this together better in the second year of Brian Callahan’s tenure.

28. New York Jets 3-9 (28)

Aaron Rodgers boosts the team a bit with Davante Adams, but the rest of the offense continues to fall apart and the defense hasn’t been too scary since Robert Saleh was fired. The Jets need to stop tolerating Rodgers when he can’t back him up, even if they get a few make-up wins in recent weeks.

MORE: Will the Jets bench Aaron Rodgers?

29. New England Patriots 3-10 (29)

The Patriots had a real chance to win at home against the Colts, but Drake Maye and Jerod Mayo are still learning how to win close games.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars 2-10 (30)

The Jaguars struggled with Mac Jones against the Texans after suffering that nasty illegal hit on Trevor Lawrence. Big injuries could end up saving Doug Pederson’s tenure.

MORE: Trevor Lawrence injury update | Doug Pederson challenges Azeez Al-Shaair after illegal hit

31. Las Vegas Raiders 2-10 (32)

Aidan O’Connell and the defense played well in Kansas City, but that doesn’t change the fact that the Raiders need a true franchise QB and a new offensive-minded head coach in 2025.

32. New York Giants 2-10 (31)

The Giants dug deeper at quarterback with the same low and high results when Drew Lock had to start for lame-duck coach Brian Daboll.