We've reached Week 15 of the NFL season, and that means the playoff race is really starting to heat up for many teams around the league. Some teams are starting to separate themselves from the pack with only three games left in the regular season, while others are struggling to find a rhythm.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (11-2)
Patrick Mahomes is the front-runner for league MVP after finding yet another way to win a game in the victory over Baltimore, and now the Chiefs will prepare for one of the biggest games of the year on Thursday night against the Chargers.
2. New Orleans Saints (11-2)
The Saints haven't played particularly great the past few weeks, but last weekend's effort was good enough to score a two-touchdown win over the Bucs. This offense is still really tough to prepare for, even with some recent struggles.
3. Los Angeles Rams (11-2)
Yes, the game against the Bears was bad. Really bad. However, it wouldn't be fair to drop the Rams all that far after a lackluster performance against the best defense in the league.
4. Los Angeles Chargers (10-3)
Getting Melvin Gordon healthy is still priority No. 1, and the upcoming matchup with the Chiefs will tell us a lot about the Chargers' case as a potential NFL Super Bowl contender.
5. Chicago Bears (9-4)
Mitchell Trubisky's three interceptions against the Rams were somewhat concerning, but I'm willing to let it slide since it was his first game back. And with the Chicago defense on a tear, this team continues to be among the toughest to prepare for in the NFL.
6. New England Patriots (9-4)
The loss to Miami was one that New England won't forget anytime soon. But a team led by Bill Belichick and Tom Brady has already undoubtedly turned the page. The Patriots are on to Pittsburgh.
7. Houston Texans (9-4)
While the Texans saw their nine-game winning streak snapped by the Colts, they're still in good shape when it comes to clinching the AFC South title.
8. Dallas Cowboys (8-5)
Amari Cooper has now compiled 642 receiving yards and six touchdowns since joining the Cowboys, and he has reignited their offense to the point that this team is increasingly becoming more and more intriguing heading into the stretch run of the season.
9. Seattle Seahawks (8-5)
The Seahawks may not be getting the credit they deserve for their impressive four-game winning streak, and their ability to completely shut down the Vikings' offense on Monday night was quite an accomplishment. It's not wise to sleep on Russell Wilson and company moving forward.
10. Baltimore Ravens (7-6)
The Ravens were a Tyreek Hill play away from beating the NFL's top team, and that will sting a little in the race for a playoff berth. The good news is that they're playing very good football right now and may be able to surpass the Steelers in the AFC North.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5-1)
Simply put, the loss to the Raiders was not good. Ben Roethlisberger getting hurt and James Conner being out likely played a role, but it's still not a game you want to lose when you're fighting for a playoff spot. And things don't get any easier with an angry Patriots team coming to town.
12. Indianapolis Colts (7-6)
A week after a zero-point outing against Jacksonville, Andrew Luck and the Colts' offense responded with a great performance in Houston. And don't look now, but Indianapolis has a realistic chance of winning out and making the NFL playoffs.
13. Minnesota Vikings (6-6-1)
It's hard to know exactly where to put the Vikings after the ugly performance in Seattle. For this team to be a realistic contender, they've got to get things figured out on offense after scoring 17 total points the past two weeks.
14. Tennessee Titans (7-6)
Make it two straight wins for Mike Vrabel's squad, but the biggest recent development was the insane four-touchdown performance from Derrick Henry in the win over the Jags. Think he may touch the ball a little more this week against the Giants?
15. Philadelphia Eagles (6-7)
The Eagles now have some work to do if they want to have a shot at defending their Super Bowl crown. Unfortunately, up next is a trip to Los Angeles to play the Rams before returning home to play a solid Texans group.
16. Miami Dolphins (7-6)
Kenyan Drake's miraculous touchdown helped the Dolphins stop the Patriots from clinching the AFC East. And don't look now, but it's not unrealistic to think that Miami could win its next three games – at Minnesota, vs. Jacksonville, and at Buffalo.
17. Green Bay Packers (5-7-1)
Game one of the post-Mike McCarthy era was a success, and mathematically, the Packers still have a shot at making the NFL playoffs. With a win in Chicago, things would get very interesting for Aaron Rodgers and company.
18. Denver Broncos (6-7)
With Emmanuel Sanders out for the season, Denver's stock has taken a bit of a hit after a 20-14 loss to the 49ers in Week 14. The Browns are up next on Saturday.
19. Cleveland Browns (5-7-1)
It seemed unlikely that the Browns would reach this high of a ranking when they were finding new ways to lose earlier in the season, but Baker Mayfield has helped Cleveland become one of the most entertaining offenses in the league.
20. Carolina Panthers (6-7)
Cam Newton is clearly not himself right now due to the shoulder problems, yet the Panthers are still firmly in the hunt for a playoff berth. But the remaining schedule won't exactly be easy with two games against the Saints and one against the Falcons.
21. New York Giants (5-8)
The Giants have been one of the hottest teams in football over the past month, and they could throw things completely out of whack if they're able to run the table and knock off three playoff contenders in the Titans, Colts, and Cowboys.
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-8)
There just haven't been enough complete performances from Tampa this season, and that will likely present plenty of questions surrounding the job security of head coach Dirk Koetter.
23. Detroit Lions (5-8)
The Lions got a much-needed win in Arizona, but there are plenty of things that Matt Patricia will need to tweak this offseason if this team wants to climb back up the NFC North standings.
24. Washington Redskins (6-7)
They say that the record doesn't always tell the full story about an NFL team, and that's certainly the case here. The Redskins have lost four straight and are now down to their fourth quarterback in as many weeks, which isn't ideal with three tough games left.
25. Atlanta Falcons (4-9)
Atlanta's losing streak is now at five games after the loss to the Packers, and even with all the injuries, it's still been a disappointing season for Dan Quinn's squad.
26. Cincinnati Bengals (5-8)
The Bengals are also among the teams with long losing streaks, as they suffered their fifth straight defeat in the loss to the Chargers. A home matchup with the Raiders could help stop the struggles.
27. New York Jets (4-9)
With Todd Bowles reportedly on the way out, the Jets need to find the right fit to help this team become a threat once again in the AFC. As for the remaining schedule this season, it's brutal.
28. Buffalo Bills (4-9)
There isn't exactly a whole lot that separates teams that are ranked this low. On a positive note, Josh Allen could be a very good quarterback down the road.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9)
Jacksonville has easily been the most disappointing team of the season in losing eight of their last nine games. And after letting Derrick Henry run all of the defense, you would think that the Jaguars would respond in a big way against the Redskins.
30. San Francisco 49ers (3-10)
Injuries have completely decimated this Niners team, and least Kyle Shanahan and company were able to find a little bit of success in the win against the Broncos.
31. Oakland Raiders (3-10)
The Raiders celebrated their surprising win over the Steelers by firing general manager Reggie McKenzie. It seems obvious at this point that Jon Gruden has some significant rebuilding to do.
32. Arizona Cardinals (3-10)
While the Cardinals were expected to have their struggles this season, it's been pretty ugly at times. Add Arizona to the list of NFL franchises that have plenty to ponder heading into the offseason.
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