When doing rankings like these, it’s hard not to have any recency bias. Just remember this: a team’s record doesn’t always tell the story; sometimes, you have to look at how competitive they are every week and/or if they are trending one way or the other. Here are my top 15 teams in the NFL after Sunday’s action. Where do you rank these teams? Let me know in the comments.
Detroit Lions
No team in the league looks better than the Lions do right now. Their offense, led by Jared Goff, looks unstoppable. Their defense gets better every week, even after losing Aiden Hutchinson, and their confidence just keeps on growing. They look to be the most complete team in the NFL.
Buffalo Bills
They had their bye this week, but after beating the Chiefs in week 11, they remain right here in the number two spot.
Kansas City Chiefs
They lost in week 11 and barely beat the Panthers in week 12. They are still one of the top teams, but not laying a beat down on the Panthers has me wondering if this team is good but not great.
Philadelphia Eagles
This is the only team in the NFC that I think can beat the Lions. If the game is in Detroit though, I don’t think anyone can beat the Lions. Either way, the Eagles are a complete team this season. Their defense is playing at a very high level, and Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley are both having phenomenal seasons.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers remain one of the best teams in the NFC and would lead both the NFC West and South. However, they will likely have to settle for a Wildcard spot because no one is catching the Lions. In week 12, they destroyed a beat-up 49ers team.
Minnesota Vikings
Like the Packers, the Vikings would be winning other divisions in the NFC. You may even be surprised to see them this low on the list, considering they are 9-2, but they have been lucky that they have played bad teams. Their passing defense is weak, and Sam Darnold has been inconsistent since his hot start.
Baltimore Ravens
Their pass defense has been an issue this year, but their offense is elite, and so is their run defense. They have a massive MNF matchup against the Chargers. If they win it, they will likely leapfrog the Vikings and maybe the Packers. If they lose it, they will probably fall two spots.
Los Angeles Chargers
Their defense has been one of the best in the NFL this season. They run the football well, have a great head coach, and their QB, Justin Herbert, is a star. They have all the makings of a great team and will only continue to improve as they play more under Harbaugh. There is no one in the AFC that they can’t beat, and their MNF matchup vs. Baltimore is a big test of that.
Pittsburgh Steelers
They have fallen after their week 12 loss to the Browns but still remain in the top 10. That loss was on a short week, in a crazy blizzard, in a divisional game against a Browns team that has had success against the Steelers in Cleveland over the past few years.
Denver Broncos
They have one of the best defenses in the NFL, and their offense has come alive lately. Rookie QB Bo Nix has put himself in the Rookie of the Year conversation, and the Broncos have put themselves in the playoff conversation after nearly beating the Chiefs in week 10, dominating the Falcons in week 11, and surviving a week 12 trap game against a divisional opponent.
Seattle Seahawks
They are now tied for the most wins in the NFC West, thanks to winning back-to-back divisional matchups, and their defense has been a big reason why. It was a strong point for them early in the season, and after struggling for a number of weeks, it had returned to being a strong suit. Geno Smith continues to do just enough to lead him team to wins.
Tampa Bay Bucs
If not for key injuries to their WRs, the Bucs would be winning the NFC South right now. Godwin is done for the year, but Evans is back, Baker is playing at an elite level, the running game has gotten going, and their defense is going to get better, too. They are the best team in their division right now, even if their record doesn’t reflect that.
Miami Dolphins
This is a very good football team that suffered through Tua’s injury but is now back on track. They won’t catch the Bills in the AFC East, but they can fight for a wild card spot now that Tua is back. Their defense has been great, especially against the pass.
Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray is going to have to play at an elite level to give them any chance. Their defense has looked good lately, though, despite their tough road loss to the Seahawks in week 12. The division is still up for grabs, and they are also in the hunt for the final wildcard spot.
Atlanta Falcons
They limped into their bye week, but they are still leading their division. Some may think they should be listed ahead of the Bucs because they have beaten them twice this season, but the Bucs are playing well right now, while the Falcons haven’t been. They could be much improved coming out of their bye, though, and they could certainly move up this list next week. Kirk Cousins needs to be more consistent.
On The Bubble:
Rams (Lost to the Eagles on SNF but still have a chance at the division or wild card)
49ers (Most talent in the NFC West but are injured and playing bad football)
Texans (Leading the AFC South but lost to the 2-8 Titans in week 12)
