Week 15 NFL power rankings: It’s the 49ers and Browns, and everybody else

The NFL wrapped up Week 14 with the New England Patriots holding off the Baltimore Ravens. The Patriots seemed set to run away with the game, jumping out to a 16-0 lead. However, Baltimore slowly chipped away, only to come up short in the end. They cut the lead to a field goal, but Tom Brady connected with Chris Hogan for a 79-yard touchdown catch and run. The Ravens could not recover. New England can clinch the AFC East next week with a win or a Dolphins loss. They are also a game ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs for the best record in the AFC. And with that, I am back with my Week 15 NFL power rankings.

The 49ers lost again, and yet again in embarrassing fashion. Last week against Chicago they took a 6-0 lead and then watched Matt Barkley lead the Bears to 26 unanswered points. This week, they took a 14-0 lead and then a 17-3 lead, and managed to blow it in a 23-17 overtime loss. I again pondered dropping the 49ers to No. 32, but the Browns continue to stink as well. They’re basically tied at the bottom, just below the Jacksonville Jaguars.

I made some adjustments at the top of my power rankings. The Patriots seem to be the best team in the league right now, but even they are not exactly a lock as the best team in the league. After the Patriots, I’ve got the Cowboys, Chiefs, Raiders, and Lions to round out the top five. You could pick a whole host of potential Super Bowl matchups, and none would be surprising. The Packers strike me as a dark-horse, but I think if the Cowboys can secure home field throughout the playoffs, that offensive line could be just the ticket to get them to Houston and Super Bowl 51. Or, the Cowboys could get upset at home in the divisional round. Nothing would surprise me.

Here are my full Week 15 power rankings.