This is not about a win-loss record. It’s not about leading a division. In fact, two division leaders just missed the cut. One has blown a chance to run away with their division, and the other isn’t a good team, but they play in the worst division in the league. Can you guess who they are? I’m sure you can. I break them down in the final slide, so be sure to check them out, even though they aren’t top 15 teams currently. This article is about who is playing the best currently and who projects to be on the rise heading into week 14. Let’s take a look!
Eagles
They are an excellent team, and now, after beating the Ravens in Baltimore, I believe they’re the best team in the league. Their defense and offense are both playing at an elite level. They have the best RB in the league, Saquon Barkley, who might be the NFL MVP, and they have played more than half their season, missing one of their top 2 WR. When Brown and Smith are both healthy, Jalen Hurts becomes one of the best QBs in the league, and there really is no way to beat them.
Lions
Although they got lucky that the Bears can’t tell time or manage a clock, the Lions won again, moved to 11-1, and remain a top team. There really is no weakness on the roster, especially if they get some of their injured players on defense back. The key for the Lions is maintaining the top record in the NFC. If they can, they’re going to be very difficult to beat. Jared Goff plays elite football at home, and it gets insanely loud in the dome. The Eagles are better than them right now, but if the two teams meet, the winner will be decided by who the home team is.
Bills
In my opinion, the Bills were the best team in the AFC before they beat up the 49ers on SNF in the snow, and they still are the best team in the AFC after it. The Bills’ defense has really come together lately; Josh Allen plays at an MVP level, he isn’t turning the ball over, and they have a lot of different contributors in the passing game rather than forcing the ball to Stefon Diggs in previous years.
Chiefs
They are 11-1 and have the best record in the AFC, but they don’t deserve to be higher on this list. Disagree if you want, but this team won on a blocked FG, then lost to a good team, then barely beat the Panthers (I know they’re playing better lately), and then they were handed a win by the refs on Black Friday. They beat the Ravens by an inch, the Bucs in OT, and the Bengals on a late PI call. They could easily be 7-5 or worse. Their record in no way is indicative of how they’re playing right now.
Ravens
Thanks to Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, their offense is putting up numbers that rival some of the best teams in history, and their run defense is one of the best in the league as well. Their pass defense had been a weakness, but now they have improved that, too. They still beat themselves with penalties, and their usually very clutch kicker, Justin Tucker, has the YIPS, but they can beat anyone in the league. Losing to the Eagles moves them below other AFC powerhouses, but don’t count them out as one of the top teams in the NFL.
Packers
They won a big game on Thanksgiving night against a Miami team that came into the week playing great football. This is about the time last season when Jordan Love turned into the best QB in the NFC, and I think it’s going to happen again. If they can beat the Lions this week on Thursday, they are going to move into the top 5 overall.
Vikings
They squeaked out another win, this time against a good team. They are a top-four team in the NFC but the third-best team in their own division (second-best record). In a big game, I still want Goff, Hurts, or Love over Darnold. Perhaps I am disrespecting them; I am happy for them to prove me wrong, but I need to see them beat Green Bay or Detroit.
Steelers
They won a big game on the road against a divisional rival. Even more impressive, the offense looked as good as it has all season. Russell Wilson was able to go toe-to-toe with Joe Burrow, which is why the Steelers won. They have a better record than the Ravens and beat them head-to-head, but I don’t think they’re as talented, especially now that the Ravens pass defense has improved over the past few weeks.
Chargers
They bounced back from a tough loss last week against the Ravens. They went on the road to play a 1 pm ET game as a West Coast team and beat a division-leading Falcons team that was coming off their bye week. The Chargers defense was the big difference in the win. Justin Herbert wasn’t great, but he did enough. Ladd McConkey had a huge game.
Broncos
They might be the most surprising team on the list, and Monday Night Football this week could change how we view them. Entering Monday, though, they have a playoff spot, an elite defense, and a rookie QB in Bo Nix, who is playing great football and getting better each week. They play the Browns on MNF, a game they should win based on record alone. Good teams win the games they’re supposed to win, so let’s see how they play in prime time.
Seahawks
It didn’t look good for them early on the road in New York, but when it mattered most, the Seahawks offense made plays, and their defense shut the door on the Jets comeback effort. They lead the NFC West, have won 4 in a row, and have been playing good football at the right time. In the Broncos writeup, I mentioned that good teams win games they’re supposed to win, and this Seahawks win over the Jets is a perfect example of that. Geno Smith got his revenge on the Jets as well.
Commanders
Boy, did they need a win in the worst way or what? Not only did they get it, but they completely dominated the Titans and showed why they were so dominant early in the season, too. They now head into their bye week in a playoff spot, can get healthy, work on some things, and finish the season strong. Jayden Daniels had four total TDs, and the defense bounced back after a horrible showing in week 12.
Bucs
They should have beaten the Panthers more handily, so I cannot have them higher on the list, but they are the best team in their division on paper, and they’re playing the best football of any team in their division. If not for injuries to Godwin and Evans, they would be better than 6-6. Evans’s return has given them the boost they need to win their division. Bucky Irving is turning into a star, and Baker Mayfield made big plays when he had to.
Cardinals
They played a great game until the final 10 minutes. They went on the road and had a lead against a good Vikings team but couldn’t hold onto it. They then had a chance to drive down the field and kick a game-winning field goal, but Kyler Murray was unable to make it happen. The Cardinals will only go as far as Murray takes them.
Rams
Simply put, other than a recent loss to the Eagles, the Rams have been playing really well since they got Kupp and Nacua back healthy. They went on the road and won in a tough environment in New Orleans, and they can still win their division. There is also an opportunity to sneak into a wild card spot. The combo of McVay and Stafford have done it before, so until they’re mathematically eliminated, they need to be considered a contender.
Division Leaders Not Inside The Top 15:
Falcons:
They are still leading the division because of tie-breakers, but their loss to the Chargers definitely bumps them back. The offense looked stale, and Cousins made too many mistakes.
Texans:
They are 8-5, but they haven’t been able to beat a good team since early in the season; they lost to a horrible Titans team in week 12 and barely beat an even worse Jags team in week 13. They’ll be in the playoffs and lose to a wild-card team.
