NFL Power Rankings - Week 14: Every team's most important remaining game
The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.
This week, we identify the biggest game left on every team's schedule.
1. Arizona Cardinals (10-2)
Previous Rank: 1
Week 14 vs. Rams: Arizona has a commanding two-game lead over the Rams at the top of the NFC West, and a win Monday would virtually lock up the Cardinals' first division title since 2015.
2. Green Bay Packers (9-3)
Previous Rank: 2
Week 15 at Ravens: A trip to Baltimore is the toughest challenge remaining for the Packers, who might have to go undefeated the rest of the way to have a shot at the NFC's No. 1 seed.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-3)
Previous Rank: 3
Week 15 vs. Saints: The most challenging opponent left for Tampa Bay is probably the Bills in Week 14, but the Buccaneers could be in a position to clinch the NFC South in two weeks versus the Saints. New Orleans has won all three regular-season meetings between these teams since Tom Brady arrived in Florida.
4. New England Patriots (9-4)
Previous Rank: 4
Week 16 vs. Bills: This AFC East rematch could very well decide the division, and it should shed light on how good the Patriots and Bills really are after atrocious conditions marred their first encounter.
5. Kansas City Chiefs (8-4)
Previous Rank: 5
Week 15 at Chargers: The Chiefs can practically coast to another division title if they take care of business against the Chargers.
6. Los Angeles Rams (8-4)
Previous Rank: 9
Week 14 at Cardinals: The NFC West is still within the Rams' reach, but a loss to the Cardinals this week would all but seal the division title for Arizona.
7. Dallas Cowboys (8-4)
Previous Rank: 10
Week 16 vs. Washington: The Cowboys have a two-game lead over Washington in the NFC East, but these teams face each other twice over the next three weeks. Either matchup could feature in these rankings, but Dallas should be able to clinch the division title with a Sunday Night Football win in the second game.
8. Buffalo Bills (7-5)
Previous Rank: 6
Week 14 at Buccaneers: The Bills have feasted on bad teams all year. The Buccaneers represent an opportunity for Buffalo to show it can hang with the NFL's elite.
9. Baltimore Ravens (8-4)
Previous Rank: 7
Week 15 vs. Packers: It may not impact the standings as much as other contests, but this tilt against the Packers will show Ravens whether they can still contend for a Super Bowl with Marlon Humphrey on the shelf.
10. Los Angeles Chargers (7-5)
Previous Rank: 14
Week 15 vs. Chiefs: L.A. already has a win against the Chiefs, and another would put the Chargers in the driver's seat to win the AFC West - assuming they top the Giants the week before.
11. Tennessee Titans (8-4)
Previous Rank: 11
Week 17 vs. Dolphins: The Titans have a favorable schedule down the stretch, but a slipup over the next few weeks could turn this contest with the Dolphins into a pivotal one.
12. Indianapolis Colts (7-6)
Previous Rank: 13
Week 15 vs. Patriots: The Colts have one signature win, and it came against a Bills squad that has looked shaky against better teams. The week after a bye is the perfect time to get another signature victory.
13. Cincinnati Bengals (7-5)
Previous Rank: 8
Week 16 vs. Ravens: The Bengals could vault to the top of the AFC North with a win over the Ravens. Cincinnati will likely be favored at home.
14. San Francisco 49ers (6-6)
Previous Rank: 12
Week 15 vs. Falcons: San Francisco isn't contending for the division anymore, but it's definitely alive in the wild-card race. The 49ers currently own the No. 7 seed in the NFC but are only one game ahead of the Falcons; this head-to-head matchup could have huge playoff implications.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5-1)
Previous Rank: 19
Week 18 at Ravens: Expect the Ravens to seek vengeance after Pittsburgh beat Baltimore in Week 13 - especially if they have a chance to dash the Steelers' playoff hopes.
16. Cleveland Browns (6-6)
Previous Rank: 17
Week 17 at Steelers: Both teams figure to be fighting desperately for their playoff lives by the time their Jan. 3 matchup comes around.
17. Miami Dolphins (6-7)
Previous Rank: 20
Week 16 at Saints: The streaking Dolphins can't afford to lose any games to struggling teams, and no squad is currently struggling more than the Saints.
18. Washington Football Team (6-6)
Previous Rank: 21
Week 14 vs. Dallas: Washington is only two games behind Dallas in the NFC East. The two rivals haven't faced each other yet this season, so a win Sunday would let Washington control its destiny in the division.
19. Denver Broncos (6-6)
Previous Rank: 18
Week 16 at Raiders: Not only would a win over the Raiders help the Broncos in the playoff race, but it would also help them avoid finishing last in the AFC West for a second straight year.
20. Las Vegas Raiders (6-6)
Previous Rank: 16
Week 15 at Browns: The Raiders will face several teams ahead of them in the wild-card hunt down the stretch, including the Browns, who are as vulnerable as any of the contenders.
21. Philadelphia Eagles (6-7)
Previous Rank: 23
Week 15 vs. Washington: Washington is currently the NFC's No. 6 seed, but the Eagles could potentially steal that spot if they sweep the series against their division rivals. Philadelphia faces Washington twice in three weeks after its Week 14 bye.
22. Minnesota Vikings (5-7)
Previous Rank: 15
Week 14 vs. Steelers: With the Rams and Packers still on tap, Pittsburgh probably isn't the Vikings' toughest remaining opponent. But Thursday's matchup is definitely the most important one left for Minnesota; the team needs to quickly forget its embarrassing loss to the Lions and must likely run the table to have a realistic shot at the playoffs.
23. Seattle Seahawks (4-8)
Previous Rank: 26
Week 15 at Rams: Can the Seahawks make the playoffs? It's highly unlikely, but their remote chances depend on winning all five of their remaining games. The schedule isn't particularly frightening; the Rams are Seattle's only opponent above .500 before a Week 18 meeting with the Cardinals.
24. New Orleans Saints (5-7)
Previous Rank: 22
Week 14 at Jets: A game against the Jets isn't usually one that teams circle on the calendar. But the Saints desperately need to snap their five-game losing streak to have any chance of saving their season.
25. New York Giants (4-8)
Previous Rank: 25
Week 17 at Bears: New York and Chicago will likely finish among the NFL's worst teams, but this matchup has special significance for the Giants, who should be happy regardless of the outcome. New York owns Chicago's 2022 first-round pick and is on track to have two top-10 selections next year.
26. Atlanta Falcons (5-7)
Previous Rank: 28
Week 14 at Panthers: Atlanta should treat each remaining game as its last. Beating Carolina on Sunday would move the Falcons ahead of the Panthers in the playoff hunt and tie their season series.
27. Carolina Panthers (5-7)
Previous Rank: 27
Week 14 vs. Falcons: Carolina has tougher games down the stretch, but those likely won't matter if the Panthers don't beat the Falcons this week. Carolina and Atlanta currently have identical records; a loss will be a big blow to either team.
28. Chicago Bears (4-8)
Previous Rank: 24
Week 14 at Packers: The Bears don't have any must-watch games left on their schedule, but a classic prime-time meeting with the Packers will surely be special.
29. New York Jets (3-9)
Previous Rank: 29
Week 16 vs. Jaguars: The Jets would love to see Zach Wilson outduel Trevor Lawrence in a battle of the top two picks of the 2021 draft.
30. Detroit Lions (1-10-1)
Previous Rank: 32
Week 18 vs. Packers: Detroit can head into Week 18 with the 2022 first overall pick locked up, so Lions fans will look forward to potentially playing spoiler with a rivalry win against the Packers.
31. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10)
Previous Rank: 31
Week 15 vs. Texans: The Jaguars' clash with the Texans should have significant draft implications for a pair of teams stapled to the bottom of the conference standings.
32. Houston Texans (2-10)
Previous Rank: 30
Week 17 at 49ers: Houston will have a chance to play spoiler against the 49ers, and that's about all the Texans have to look forward to for the rest of the season.