NFL Power Rankings: Where the 49ers Stand After the Ravens Loss first aired on NBC Sports Bay Area.
As we approach 2024, the NFL playoff scenario is beginning to take shape.
Week 16 began with a big win for the Los Angeles Rams over the New Orleans Saints. The Rams are now in first place for the second wild-card spot and a Wild Card Weekend matchup with the Detroit Lions.
With a loss to Mason Rudolph and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, Jake Browning and the Cincinnati Bengals put their postseason chances on life support. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills avoided a disastrous loss in Los Angeles to move up to sixth place in the AFC.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took another stride toward the NFC South title on Sunday, crushing the Jacksonville Jaguars, while the Dallas Cowboys all but wrapped up the No. 5 spot with a loss in Miami.
In Chicago, the Bears rebounded from a humiliating loss in Cleveland with a 27-16 victory over a sluggish Cardinals club. The Bears’ playoff prospects are all but ended, but victories over the Falcons and Packers to close up the season will provide some positive momentum moving into the offseason.
The Baltimore Ravens drove into Santa Clara on Christmas Eve and bludgeoned the 49ers in what could be a Super Bowl preview. With two weeks to go, there’s a new Super Bowl favorite and MVP front-runner, and they both live in Baltimore.
Here is where each club stands following Week 16:
32. Carolina Panthers (2-13): Barring two victories to end the season, the Panthers will deliver the No. 1 pick to the Bears following a terrible 2023 season. That’s not how Scott Fitterer imagined it.
31. Arizona Cardinals (3-12): The Cardinals are still in the early stages of their rebuild. They are still digging in order to lay the foundation. It will take time to get things right in the desert.
30. Washington Commanders (4-11): Jayden Daniels and (maybe) Drake Maye should check into DMV real estate. Sam Howell no longer appears to be the answer, and the commanders are now ranked third in the selection.
29. New England Patriots (4-11): Congratulations to Bailey Zappe and Bill Belichick on potentially squandering the Patriots’ chances at Drake Maye and Caleb Williams with a win in Denver.
28. New York Giants (5-9): The Tommy DeVito saga was entertaining for a while, but it ultimately cost the Giants a number of draft picks.
27. Tennessee Titans (5-10): The Titans are presently ranked fifth in the draft, but a win will move them to the back end of the top 10. A meaningless victory down the stretch appears to be unavoidable.
26. Los Angeles Chargers (5-10): When Brandon Staley was fired, it was evident that the whole Chargers roster breathed. Behind backup quarterback Easton Stick, the Rams ran wild in a near-upset of the Bills.
The New York Jets (6-9) are safe because Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles. That’s a weak reason to retain a net-negative coach on the job for another year.
24. Chicago Bears (6-9): Despite the continual barrage of adversity, the Bears refuse to let go of the rope. That’s a feather in Matt Eberflus’ cap, and it’s likely to earn him a reprieve from execution this offseason. The 2023 Bears are three fourth-quarter faceplants away from a 9-6 record. That shows how far they’ve come since last year and how far they still have to go to get to where they want to go.
Green Bay Packers (7-8): A week after being thrashed by Baker Mayfield, the Packers allowed Bryce Young to throw for 311 yards in a tight victory. Their playoff aspirations are alive and well, but even if they punch their postseason ticket, they won’t be there for long.
22. New Orleans Saints (7-8): Derek Carr isn’t going anywhere until he wants to, thanks to a complete no-trade clause and a guaranteed $30 million in 2024. Sorry about that, Saints.
Denver Broncos (7-8): Losing at home to Bailey Zappe should eliminate you from the playoffs.
20. Indianapolis Colts (8-7): The Colts have outperformed this season, but their streak appears to be coming to an end following a demoralizing loss to the Falcons on Sunday. Indy plays the Raiders in Week 17 but has only a 42% chance of making the playoffs after the failure in Atlanta.
19. Atlanta Falcons (7-8): With Arthur Smith in the stands, the Falcons delivered their most complete effort of the season. Atlanta totaled 406 yards while sacking Gardner Minshew six times and restricting the Colts to 262 yards. With the Bears and Saints still on the schedule, the Falcons may complete the season with a three-game victory streak and a 9-8 record.
18. Los Angeles Raiders (7-8): Antonio Pierce has beaten the Los Angeles Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs in consecutive weeks. That is the easiest road to Mark Davis’ heart and removing the temporary tag.
17. Minnesota Vikings (7-8): If you still doubt Kyle Shanahan’s ability as an offensive genius, recall that he made Nick Mullens appear like a winning quarterback.
16. Cincinnati Bengals (8-7): Jake Browning finally became Jake Browning against the Steelers, and the Bengals’ playoff hopes suffered as a result.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7): In true Mike Tomlin form, the Steelers will finish 9-8 despite using three backup quarterbacks. Teams should line up to trade picks for Tomlin if the Steelers truly want to move him.
14. Houston Texans (8-7): Amari Cooper outgained the Texans (265-250) on Sunday. If C.J. Stroud is unable to return next week, Houston’s season is likely finished.
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7): Despite a four-game losing streak, the Jaguars remain in first place in the AFC South after the Texans and Colts both lost on Sunday. But Jacksonville is currently playing its worst football of the season, and it shows no signs of abating. The Jaguars might win the South and earn the No. 4 seed, but their postseason run would most likely be brief.
12. Seattle Seahawks (8-7): Geno Smith’s future in Seattle may be in doubt beyond 2023, but he completed a game-winning drive in Tennessee on Sunday to spare the Seahawks from a crushing loss. The Seahawks are in a terrific position to return to the postseason with two winnable games remaining.
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7): In Sunday’s rout of the Jaguars, the Bucs played their most complete game of the season. Tampa Bay now controls the NFC South, and Baker Mayfield appears to have found a long-term home. Who needs Tom Brady, you say?
10. Los Angeles Rams (8-7): The Lions will play their first playoff game since 2016 against the Rams in three weeks… Stafford, Matthew. Who says football isn’t poetry?
9. Kansas City Chiefs (9-6): The Chiefs play as if they want to prove to themselves that they are still the same squad that can call any play at any time and execute it flawlessly. But they are no longer that team, and they have run out of time to address the numerous issues that plague them.
8. Cleveland Browns (10-5): For the first time in his career, Joe Flacco has thrown for 300 yards or more in three consecutive games. Could it be fate?
7. Detroit Lions (11-4): The Detroit Lions have won the NFC North for the first time in franchise history. The Lions have a few weeks to try to repair a defense that has been burned via the air in recent weeks, including 411 yards to Nick Mullens on Sunday.
6. Buffalo Bills (9-6): The Bills reverted to their abysmal November form against the Chargers, but they avoided a landmine that would have sunk their playoff hopes. In the playoffs, Buffalo could be the most dangerous team in the AFC.
5. Philadelphia Eagles (11-4): I felt the Eagles’ problems over the last month were a result of the schedule challenges they faced. That theory was proven erroneous by the Giants’ shoddy performance on Monday.
4. Dallas Cowboys (10-5): The Cowboys simply cannot win away from home. That’s bad news since their loss on Sunday almost ensures them the fifth seed in the NFC, which means they’ll have to win three straight road playoff games to go to the Super Bowl.
3. Miami Dolphins (11-4): The Dolphins finally beat a winning club when they defeated the Cowboys at home. Can they follow up with a win over the Ravens in Week 17 to establish themselves as real Super Bowl contenders?
2. San Francisco 49ers (11-4): The 49ers started Monday night’s game against the AFC-leading Ravens as the preseason favorite to win the Super Bowl. They were not ready for prime time, as the Ravens pantsed them on their home turf, destroying Brock Purdy’s MVP campaign.
1. Baltimore Ravens (12-3): That sound you just heard was Lamar Jackson assuming the lead in the MVP race. The matchup at Levi’s Stadium on Monday night was touted as a statement game, but only one team spoke up.
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