JACKSONVILLE – Here are senior writer John Oehser's Week 14 2016 NFL power rankings. And we all know how important these are:
Rank.Team (Rec) | Last week | Comment
- Dallas Cowboys (11-1) | 1 | Playoff spot clinched. How far can the 'Boys go?
- New England Patriots (10-2) | 2 | With or without Gronk they're the team to beat
- Oakland Raiders (10-2) | 3 | They keep looking better and better and better
- Seattle Seahawks (8-3-1) | 4 | If NFC doesn't come down to 'Hawks-'Boys it will be a total shock
- Kansas City Chiefs (9-3) | 6 | It wouldn't be a surprise if Chiefs wind up winning the AFC
- Denver Broncos (8-4) | 8 | Back in control of their destiny in the race for the playoffs
- Detroit Lions (8-4) | 9 | It's time to call the Lions the clear favorites in the NFC North
- Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) | 13 | Still … your first-place Pittsburgh Steelers
- Atlanta Falcons (7-5) | 5 | What a difference a two-point conversion makes
- New York Giants (8-4) | 7 | Still very much a wild-card favorite
- Baltimore Ravens (7-5) | 15 | Still … your first-place Baltimore Ravens
- Miami Dolphins (7-5) | 10 | Slipped out of final wild-card spot … for now
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5) | 17 | Your first-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Washington Redskins (6-5-1) | 11 | Playoff hopes alive, but they need to start winning
- Green Bay Packers (6-6) | 18 | Still staying alive
- Houston Texans (6-6) | 12 | Three consecutive losses … and still tied for first place
- Minnesota Vikings (6-6) | 14 | Vikings are 1-6 in their last seven games; up next: Jaguars
- Buffalo Bills (6-6) | 18 | Need a big finish to have a chance at the playoffs now
- Arizona Cardinals (5-6-1) | 20 | Still hanging around the playoff chase … but barely
- Indianapolis Colts (6-6) | 21 | Somehow, some way the Colts are still very much in it
- Tennessee Titans (6-6) | 21 | Moved into first place with a smash-mouth bye week
- Philadelphia Eagles (5-7) | 19 | Long slide continues
- New Orleans Saints (5-7) | 24 | Playoffs now a long unlikely climb for Brees and Co.
- Carolina Panthers (4-8) | 23 | Always, always, always have an extra tie
- Cincinnati Bengals (4-7-1) | 25 | Too little too late for Bengals
- San Diego Chargers (5-7) | 26 | Just not enough to compete in NFL's best division
- Los Angeles Rams (4-8) | 27 | Offense just keeps struggling and struggling and struggling
- New York Jets (3-9) | 28 | Everything that could go wrong … has
- Chicago Bears (3-9) | 30 | Didn't waste their opportunity on Sunday
- Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10) | 29 | Seven and counting …
- San Francisco 49ers (1-11) | 31 | Eleven and counting …
- Cleveland Browns (0-12) | 32 | Even during a bye, twelve and counting …
