Week 15 NFL power rankings: 49ers, Ravens at the very top after clutch wins
By Peter Panacy
NFL power rankings, Nos. 10-1
16. . 9-4. Previous: . Buffalo Bills. 10. team
L, 24-17 vs. Ravens
The Bills faced a tall order in Week 14, trying to pull off a home win against quarterback Lamar Jackson and the red-hot Ravens.
Jackson had his moments, while Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen found himself under constant pressure and was sacked six times. And despite a heroic fourth-quarter comeback attempt, the Bills couldn’t pull it off and could be in danger of losing a Wild Card spot.
Tennessee Titans. 9. team. 35. . 8-5. Previous:
W, 42-21 @ Raiders
It seems like so long ago when the Titans were ho-humming their way through the season, which appeared to be yet another year towards mediocrity.
The difference in the second half of 2019? Quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s resurgence and running back Derrick Henry going off again. These two players are pushing Tennessee into playoff positioning, and the Titans get a nice boost into the top 10 of our NFL power rankings as a result.
New England Patriots. 8. team. 47. . 10-3. Previous:
L, 23-16 vs. Chiefs
The Patriots continue to fall in our NFL power rankings, and their offense continues to stutter, too. Week 14’s loss to the Chiefs only marked the latest chapter in what must be a frustrating stretch of games for quarterback Tom Brady and Co.
One thought that fourth-down fourth-quarter play would have been the difference, but the Pats suffer their third loss of the season instead.
Still, don’t count New England out until it’s officially out.
. 9-4. Previous: . Minnesota Vikings. 7. team. 60
W, 20-7 vs. Lions
Well, the Vikings sure shook off their Week 13 loss to the Seahawks, didn’t they?
And yet the back end of the NFC race is oh-so heated, meaning the Vikings have plenty of competition hot on their collective tail.
124. . 9-4. Previous: . Kansas City Chiefs. 6. team
W, 23-16 @ Patriots
It’s crazy to think the Chiefs almost lost this game via a forfeit, after their gear was mistakenly shipped somewhere other than Gillette Stadium.
Alas, it arrived and Kansas City was able to secure the AFC West crown with the win over the Patriots. Hard to say whether or not the Chiefs offense was good, or the Patriots offense was simply bad. Kansas City would prefer the former.
5. team. 49. . 10-3. Previous: . Green Bay Packers
W, 20-15 vs. Redskins
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers isn’t necessarily driving the Packers right now. No, that honor is falling on running back Aaron Jones, who went off for an impressive 134 yards and a touchdown on the grab, while adding 58 through the air.
If this is the secret to keep first-year head coach Matt LaFleur’s offense rolling into the playoffs, so be it. Jones is a great player, and Green Bay will want him in key form for a postseason push.
10-3. Previous: . Seattle Seahawks. 4. team. 36.
L, 28-12 @ Rams
So much for Seattle’s hold on the top spot in the NFC West.
The Seahawks were stymied, offensively, by the Rams on Sunday Night Football, and Russell Wilson found himself under duress for much of the prime-time bout. Not even his own masterful elusiveness could save him from taking five sacks, while rookie wide receiver D.K. Metcalf had himself a game he’d rather forget.
Seattle drops a key spot in our NFL power rankings, yet it’s now in the No. 5 seed in the NFC. What a difference a week can make.
3. team. 15. . 10-3. Previous: . New Orleans Saints
L, 48-46 vs. 49ers
Early on, the Saints looked like they were en route to a rout of the visiting Niners, getting out to a quick 20-7 lead in what looked to be a possible NFC Championship game preview.
After coughing up the lead, New Orleans recaptured it late, thanks to some more mastery from quarterback Drew Brees, who tossed five touchdowns, and an unguardable wide receiver in Michael Thomas.
Yet the Saints might have considered guarding against George Kittle, whose late fourth-quarter grab topped New Orleans’ hold on the No. 1 spot in the conference.
And the No. 2 spot in our NFL power rankings for that matter, too.
San Francisco 49ers. 2. team. 42. . 11-2. Previous:
W, 48-46 @ Saints
What an epic bout for the Niners, who weren’t able to rely on their top-ranked defense against Brees and Co., yet answered back with some clutch moments from Kittle, Jimmy Garoppolo and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who added both a receiving and passing touchdown in this back-and-forth showdown between two powerhouses.
It took some of those moments to get San Francisco into field-goal range late at a moment when it looked as if head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad would squander a fourth-quarter two-score lead.
Fortunately for 49ers fans, they were on the right side of a game-winning field goal this time around, and the Niners are back atop the NFC standings heading into Week 15.
team. 26. . 11-2. Previous: . Baltimore Ravens. 1
W, 24-17 @ Bills
Yeah, Jackson is pretty darned good. It doesn’t matter if he’s going up against merely OK defenses, good defenses or whatever. He’s just that good.
Jackson was a difference maker on the road in Buffalo, ensuring the Ravens would retain their hot streak. He passed for 145 yards and three touchdowns, while also adding another 40 yards on the ground in a tough environment.
But one could argue Baltimore won this key matchup against the Bills because of its defense, which made life hell for Allen over four quarters and held Buffalo to a mere 4-of-17 mark on third downs.
dark. Next. Winners, losers from 49ers' nail-biting Week 14 win vs. Saints
That’s almost as big a reason why the Ravens are the top seed in the AFC and No. 1 in our NFL power rankings, too.