Week 13 is in the books. The power rankings won’t see much fallout. I didn’t overreact over the 3 game losing streak by the 49ers earlier this year. Which means I’m not going to overreact to the curb stomping the Eagles took at home by those same 49ers. Good teams have their bad games. It happens. Let’s move on.
WEEK 14 NFL POWER RANKINGS TOP TEN
1. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (10-2). The recent signing of Shaq Leonard should help their depleted LB room. They are still the best team in the NFL, but the gap is closing. The defense has to be a concern. Middle of the pack in total defense and are minus-2 in turnover margin. That will catch up to a team.
2. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (9-3). The Brock Purdy revenge game couldn’t have gone much better. Deebo Samuel made it his mission to get his QB a win. That was as impressive a game as there’s been this year. Hard to find any weaknesses with this team.
3. BALTIMORE RAVENS (9-3). Normally I wouldn’t drop a team coming back off a bye, but the 49er win was that impressive. Can Lamar stay hot and keep the Ravens rolling? With that defense, all he has to do is not turn the ball over and they can win every game.
4. DALLAS COWBOYS (9-3). That was a battle against Seattle on Thursday night, but the home win streak gets extended to 14 games. Defense showed some warts. Was that fatigue? Whatever it was, they can’t play that way and expect to win. Dak Prescott was amazing yet again.
5. MIAMI DOLPHINS (9-3). This is your current number 1 seed in the AFC. I’m still not 100% sold on them, yet. I feel like they need to play at home or indoors to be dangerous.
6. DETROIT LIONS (9-3). Nice bounce back win in New Orleans although they almost coughed it up. Still very worried about the defense and now with Alim McNeil out the next 4 games, they have their work cut out for them. Offense has to be near perfect to carry them.
7. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (8-4). Is there a team in the NFL that needs WR’s more than them? Miscommunications. Dropped passes. Patrick Mahomes looks human. It’s almost as if a QB needs to have help around him. Hmm.
8. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (8-4). This ranking depends on the severity of the injury to Trevor Lawrence. I mean, if the CFP Committee can drop Florida State, why can’t I drop the Jags? That was a poor showing on defense for the Jaguars against the Bengals and backup QB Jake Browning. Really?
9. HOUSTON TEXANS (7-5). An Ohio State QB is throwing to a Michigan WR to win games. Somebody check on hell. Is it frozen over? I kid, of course. The emergence of Nico Collins is a big reason for CJ Stroud’s success. Collins is nine yards shy of a 1,000-yard season.
10. GREEN BAY PACKERS (6-6). Jordan Love is balling. Is it enough to make the people in Detroit sweat a little bit? The Packers have an easy schedule the rest of the year. Things could get interesting in the NFC North.
BOTTOM FIVE
28. CHICAGO BEARS (4-8). When all is said and done, they could have two draft picks in the top five. Are they all-in on Justin Fields? Would they entertain a trade and draft a new QB?
29. NEW YORK GIANTS (4-8). This team could look vastly different next year. Is Brian Daboll’s job safe? He was supposed to be the help that Daniel Jones needed. Jones just got a huge contract. Something has to give.
30. ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-10). I’m not convinced that Kyler Murray will be there next year. That is a complete guess, but I feel like they move on from him. It just hasn’t worked there.
31. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (2-10). I’m fairly certain that Mac Jones will be gone. The big question is this, will Bill Belichick be back? They are more than likely going to draft a QB. Who will be the coach?
32. CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-11). What is going on here? Did they want Bryce Young? Do they want Bryce Young? A possibly QB heavy draft coming up? The question is, who wants to go coach there? Ownership is a dumpster fire.
IF THE DRAFT WAS TODAY TOP 5:
1. CHICAGO BEARS (FROM CAROLINA). Let’s assume they are staying with Justin Fields, what are the major areas of need? I’d say OL, WR, and DE. Given those needs, I could see them trading and acquiring more picks but for this purpose, I will stay at 1 and pick WR Marvin Harrison Jr from Ohio State University. Pair him with DJ Moore and all of a sudden, Justin Fields has options.
2. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS. Who do you take? Given the previous scenario, both Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are there. So, who is it? Who will be making the selection is an equally important question. Is their a new head coach? It’s early so let’s have some fun. Drake Maye from North Carolina is the pick.
3. ARIZONA CARDINALS. Going with my assumption that Kyler Murray is gone and how the 2 previous picks went, the Cardinals will take QB Caleb Williams from USC. Use the rest of the draft to get him weapons.
4. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS. This feels easy. QB Sam Howell is the most sacked QB in the NFL. The have to protect him. Give them Olu Fashanu, the OT from Penn State.
5. CHICAGO BEARS. They got their stud WR at pick 1. Now what? Offensive line? Defensive line? Nope. Both positions, I feel are deep in this draft. It’s an offense driven league now. The Bears added the best WR in the draft at pick 1, now they add the best TE in the draft. Give them TE Brock Bowers from Georgia. Yikes.
GAMES OF INTEREST IN WEEK 14
DETROIT LIONS AT CHICAGO BEARS. Detroit can’t afford to slip. It’s the last outdoor game of the year. Handle your business.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS. Seattle fighting for a playoff spot. San Fran fighting for the number one seed. Gonna be a good one.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT DALLAS COWBOYS. Huge game with the division lead on the line. Possible number one seed ramifications. Can the Eagles bounce back? Can Dallas keep the home winning streak going?
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT NY GIANTS. All of a sudden, the Packers are playing meaningful games. Buckle up!
