Week 16 NFL power rankings: Lions’ surge continues, while Cowboys booted from top five
previous rank in parentheses):
1. Eagles (1): One more win, and they’ll lock up the NFC East plus the conference’s first-round bye and home-field advantage. If that happens Saturday at Dallas, Philadelphia could have an awfully challenging month trying to manage player health while remaining sharp enough so as not to fall flat when the divisional round rolls around.
2. Bengals (2): A sweep of the putrid NFC South in hand, time to move on to weightier matters — namely trying to hang onto first place in the AFC North while closing out the schedule against New England, Buffalo and Baltimore.
3. Chiefs (3): How big a weapon has RB Jerick McKinnon become? Only TE Travis Kelce has scored more TDs (12) than McKinnon’s half-dozen for the AFC West champs in 2022.
4. 49ers (6): During the course of their league-best seven-game winning streak, NFC West titlists have allowed an average of 11 points. As great as rookie Brock Purdy has been, Brock Lesnar could play quarterback here and this group would still be rolling.
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5. Bills (5): Keep an eye on rookie RB James Cook, who’s really started eating into starter Devin Singletary’s snap count this month.
6. Cowboys (4):Â They’re in consecutive postseasons for the first time in 15 years. But QB Dak Prescott’s 3.9% interception rate is easily the highest of his career … and looms as a much bigger concern than whoever might be running deep routes as Dallas’ No. 3 wideout in the postseason.
7. Dolphins (8): Yes, they’ve dropped three straight. But they nearly (literally) weathered Buffalo’s best shot — in snowy Orchard Park and on a short week following a stay on the West Coast — and served a fresh reminder they can hang with just about anyone … though they better do more than hang with the Pack on Christmas Day.
8. Vikings (7): Historic, wonderful comeback … blah, blah. The fact they fell into a 33-point hole — at home — to say nothing of the seven sacks Minnesota surrendered or its three turnovers, is going to give whichever team(s) travels to Minneapolis during the playoffs plenty of confidence it can leave with a victory.
9. Ravens (9): Without injured QB Lamar Jackson most of the past three games, Baltimore hasn’t netted 200 passing yards or even 17 points in any of them.
10. Lions (13): Feels like Dan Campbell’s bandwagon is filling up with plenty of folks far removed from Motown. Detroit closes with Carolina, Chicago and Green Bay … which projects as a nice formula for the Lions’ first playoff venture in six years.
11. Chargers (11): Congratulations to QB Justin Herbert, the first player to surpass 4,000 passing yards in each of his first three NFL seasons.
12. Giants (17): This could be the last ride for QB Daniel Jones and RB Saquon Barkley … but the figurative arrival — on Sunday night — of rookie OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux ensures this team will have a star in 2023.
13. Patriots (10): Sunday’s loss will be forever remembered for the ill-considered laterals that not only cost New England this game but perhaps a postseason spot. But how long can it mask the fact that Pats got next to nothing from QB Mac Jones? Anyway, on to Cincinnati.
guy who oversaw the biggest one-game meltdown of all time.
30. Broncos (31): Nothing says coal in your stocking quite like having to watch this Denver team on Christmas afternoon.
31. Cardinals (30): The starting quarterback is hurt. The backup quarterback is hurt. The general manager’s health may lead to his departure. Since when did “Hard Knocks” become a spinoff of “Grey’s Anatomy?”
32. Texans (32): They’ve suddenly become a tough out. And given the final three opponents are of the AFC South variety, Houston better be very careful lest this franchise plays itself out of that No. 1 overall draft pick.
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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis.