The NFC has the two biggest heavyweights in the race for Super Bowl 59. The Lions have been worthy of the top spot in Sporting News’ weekly power rankings for a while and held it after holding off the Bears on Thanksgiving. But now, they have closer company from the red-hot Eagles, who have won eight straight, including upsetting the Ravens in Baltimore on Sunday.
Detroit and Philadelphia seem to be on a collision course for the conference championship, even with some tough teams, such as Minnesota and Green Bay, not far behind. The top of the AFC, however, seems more flawed, starting with Kansas City and Buffalo.
Here’s looking at how all 32 teams stack up against each other coming out of Week 13 with only five weeks left in the 2024 NFL regular season.
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NFL Power Rankings Week 14
1. Detroit Lions 11-1 (previous ranking: 1)
The Lions got a little sloppy with their banged-up defense in the second half against the Bears, but they still smashed enough with the running game to build a nice cushion. They have become very difficult to beat.
MORE: Breaking down wild ending to Bears-Lions Thanksgiving game
2. Philadelphia Eagles 10-2 (4)
The Eagles were fearless with their Vic Fangio defense going into Baltimore, then closed out the Ravens down the stretch with a lot of Saquon Barkley. Philadelphia keeps getting better at the ideal time.
MORE: Saquon Barkley outduels Derrick Henry, stays on record pace
3. Buffalo Bills 10-2 (2)
The Bills got a break with a shorthanded, fading 49ers team at home, but they took care of business with their own heavy dose of the defense and the running game while prancing through the snow. Josh Allen should remain near the top of MVP lists.
MORE: Josh Allen makes MVP statement | Allen pulls off rare TD ‘hat trick’ | Allen starts himself in fantasy
4. Kansas City Chiefs 11-1 (3)
The Chiefs don’t get a lot of style points for surviving another close game at home because they should not have struggled so much vs. the rival Raiders. They will get plenty of chances to try to flex as champions with four tough games left.
MORE: Chiefs set record for one-score winning streak
5. Minnesota Vikings 10-2 (5)
The Vikings play strong complementary defense and have their passing offense and pass defense going at the right time. They can build on their five-game winning streak before seeing the Packers and Lions again in the final two games.
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6. Green Bay Packers 9-3 (6)
The Packers have found a strong 1-2 punch of running Josh Jacobs and making big plays defensively at the right time with the weather getting colder. They have a big chance indoors in 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 keeps coming up with clutch plays even when giving up significant yardage 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 some breakdowns vs. the Ravens at home. They were ready to swarm the Falcons and made up for Justin Herbert cooling off big time in Atlanta.
9. Baltimore Ravens 8-5 (8)
The Ravens’ defense is having more unexpected breakdowns, as their issues vs. the pass have bled into sudden concerns vs. the run. They also are getting crushed by some sudden, inconsistent passing from Lamar Jackson.
MORE: What’s wrong with Justin Tucker?
10. Washington Commanders 8-5 (11)
The Commanders got their groove back in a comfortable matchup with the Titans at home. Jayden Daniels needed that get-well game, helped plenty by the traditional running game — a steady formula for Washington to finish with a wild-card berth.
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11. Houston Texans 8-5 (13)
The Texans’ passing game didn’t get back on track as expected with C.J. Stroud in Jacksonville, but the defense and running game continued to be the backbone of DeMeco Ryans’ soon-to-be repeat division champions.
MORE: Will Azeez Al-Shaair be suspended for late hit on Trevor Lawrence?
12. Denver Broncos 8-5 (10)
The Broncos won a hird consecutive game since falling to .500, to close Week 13 in thrilling fashion vs. the Browns. They needed to keep rolling 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 out the offense plenty in winning Geno Smith’s revenge game at the Jets. Mike Macdonald is creeping into the coach of the year competition by getting his team back into first place after a midseason slump.
MORE: NFC West playoff picture
14. Arizona Cardinals 6-6 (12)
The Cardinals are a great team at times at home. They are a struggling offense and leaky defense on the road, however. Kyler Murray faces an almost must-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 in it with an intimidating-but-inconsistent offense and an impactful-but-inexperienced defense. Don’t rule out another late surge into the playoffs, even as NFC West champions, thanks to Sean McVay.
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16. San Francisco 49ers 5-7 (15)
The 49ers have become an injury-riddled, unrecognizable mess on both sides of the ball. They are just missing too many key pieces even with Brock Purdy back. They are down to flashing a tiny bit of last year’s NFC champions.
MORE: Christian McCaffrey injury update
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6-6 (19)
The Buccaneers have done well to manage some key injuries, as Baker Mayfield is getting plenty of help from the running game to lift the entire offense. They aren’t making it easy on the Falcons anymore.
MORE: NFC South playoff picture
18. Atlanta Falcons 6-6 (17)
The Falcons will be stuck thinking about a quarterback change after seeing Kirk Cousins’ fourth-quarter magic go black. It doesn’t get easier with a revenge game vs. the Vikings next.
MORE: Will Falcons bench Kirk Cousins?
19. Indianapolis Colts 6-7 (20)
The Colts have gotten that needed spark from Anthony Richardson as a runner and a passer to get back into playoff contention. The midseason benching has proved to be fortuitous for Shane Steichen.
MORE: Colts playoff picture | Shane Steichen explains decision to go for 2 vs. Patriots
20. Dallas Cowboys 5-7 (22)
The Cowboys have won two consecutive division games with Cooper Rush to get back to some life in the NFC wild-card race. The upcoming schedule can keep them hot, but the Eagles and Commanders loom in the final two games.
MORE: Cowboys playoff picture | CeeDee Lamb injury update
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21. Miami Dolphins 5-7 (18)
The Dolphins have struggled to put offense and defense together all season. They have become too compressed to help their pass defense, putting their issues against the run on bigger display.
MORE: Tua Tagovailoa remains winless in cold-weather games
22. Cincinnati Bengals 4-8 (21)
The Bengals have been pouring out every bit of offense with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Chase Brown, and Tee Higgins, but their defense just gives up too many big plays in relation, going from bad vs. the run early to bad vs. the pass late.
23. Chicago Bears 4-8 (23)
The Bears got their offense going with Caleb Williams thanks to Thomas Brown, so he was a worthy choice to get a longer look at head coach at the expense of oft-flustered Matt Eberflus.
MORE: Caleb Williams offers glimpse of potential vs. Lions | Best Bears’ coaching candidates
24. New Orleans Saints 4-8 (24)
The Saints have done their best to rally around Darren Rizzi, but the injury to Taysom Hill is a gut punch to what’s left of their heart and soul in a brutal season. They just don’t have enough left in the tank to be more competitive.
MORE: Taysom Hill injury update
25. Cleveland Browns 3-9 (25)
The Browns are capable of playing spoiler should Myles Garrett keep getting some 2023-like defensive support. The issue will still be finding enough clean offense from Jameis Winston.
26. Carolina Panthers 3-9 (27)
The Panthers dropped a heartbreaker to the Buccaneers after just missing vs. the Chiefs, but they need to be encouraged by the long-term positives Bryce Young is giving them. He seems to be getting “it” under Dave Canales.
27. Tennessee Titans 3-9 (26)
The Titans have also seen flashes from their own second-year QB, Will Levis, and their defense has shined at times, too. They should put it all together better in the second year of Brian Callahan’s tenure.
28. New York Jets 3-9 (28)
Aaron Rodgers is sparking the team a little with Davante Adams, but the rest of the offense keeps falling 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 it up, even if they get some mop-up wins in the final weeks.
MORE: Will Jets bench Aaron Rodgers?
29. New England Patriots 3-10 (29)
The Patriots had a real chance to win at home vs. the Colts, but Drake Maye and Jerod Mayo are still learning how to win close games.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars 2-10 (30)
The Jaguars showed some fight with Mac Jones vs. the Texans after enduring that ugly illegal hit on Trevor Lawrence. Big injuries might end up saving the tenure of Doug Pederson.
MORE: Trevor Lawrence injury update | Doug Pederson calls out Azeez Al-Shaair after illegal hit
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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 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-upside, high-mistake results when Drew Lock needed to start for lame-duck coach Brian Daboll.