2013 Week Fourteen NFL Power Rankings

32. Washington Redskins (3-9)

• A new, and probably a controversial, choice for the last spot in the power rankings. However, it is deserved. Remember the methodology for these rankings, and ask yourself, who would Washington be favored against in that scenario? Maybe the next two teams on this list, but even that may be a stretch. Washington is completely falling apart, and if this were where their record landed them come draft time, the Rams would own their first overall pick. These are just dreadful times in the nation’s capital right now. 
  

31. New York Jets (5-7)

• Their record says they do not belong here, their play says they do. Their offense is the dumpster fire we all believed it would be coming into the season. Rex Ryan’s defense is one dimensional with their front seven being a strength and their secondary a huge liability. Once a playoff favorite, the Jets personnel issues have left them amongst the worst teams in the league. 
  

30. Houston Texans (2-10)

• Antonio Smith’s underhanded spying accusation against the Patriots is actually pretty embarrassing for his team. Of course, the Patriots have not earned the benefit of the doubt given their history, but lets assume they are not spying on the Texans facility for a minute. The fact that Smith is so shocked by a defenses’ ability to adjust midgame is quite damning to his coaches and teammates. Just more evidence for why the Texans have fallen so far. 
  

29. Atlanta Falcons (3-9)

• The Falcons beat the Bills in Toronto, but just about everyone does that. They should at least be encouraged by the performance of Steven Jackson on Sunday. Jackson seems to finally be adjusting to this team, and that looks like one of the fews area where they do not need to invest in this offseason. 
  

28. Cleveland Browns (4-8)

• With a halfway decent quarterback and a dynamic running back, the Browns could be a decent team. As it stands, their defense is not playing well enough to make up for a Brandon Weeden led offense.
  

27. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-9)

• Lets hope any talk about Gus Bradley not being apart of the future in Jacksonville is finished. He is now finally getting the best out of a roster lacking any real difference makers. 
  

26. Minnesota Vikings (3-8-1)

• Imagine if the Vikings had two ties. The NFL would really have to reconsider their overtime rules if that had come to fruition. The Vikings late season improvement will likely eliminate them from grabbing any elite quarterback prospects in the draft; a situation they are perennially in. 
  

25. Oakland Raiders (4-8)

• Talk out of Oakland is that there may be something of a two-quarterback system coming for the Raiders. Those set-ups hardly ever work out, but a McGloin/Pryor combination would at least be entertaining. The Raiders really do need to see what both of them bring to the table.
  

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-9)

• The Buccaneers took a step back on Sunday. About the two worst things for them to experience took place against the Panthers. Mike Glennon stumbled and Darrelle Revis succumbed to an injury. 
  

23. Buffalo Bills (4-8)

• The Bills have a great young base to build on. There are not a ton of glaring holes on this roster, provided E.J. Manuel continues to grow. Some minor patch ups on defense and the offensive line and this could be a contending team in the AFC in a few years.
  

22. New York Giants (5-7)

• Andre Brown has really bailed this team out. He has a well-rounded skill set and is really the only reliable presence this team has on offense. He might just be a keeper beyond this season.
  

21. Tennessee Titans (5-7)

• The Titans got bad Ryan Fitzpatrick on Sunday, and they lost a game where they did just about everything better than the Colts. It is interesting to fathom what the Titans could be with a top tier quarterback. But how will they obtain that if Jake Locker cannot become one?
  

20. Green Bay Packers (5-6-1)

• Everyone always talks about how some of these great teams would be four win squads if they lost their starting quarterbacks. Well the Packers are out here proving that theory is no joke.
  

19. Miami Dolphins (6-6)

• Given how poor the Jets are playing, it is hard to be impressed with this team’s win on Sunday. The best thing they can take away from their recent stretch of games is that Mike Wallace is finally starting to look good. He will always be a slightly inefficient receiver, but if he can actually infuse a big play or two a game, he becomes worth it.
  

18. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-7)

• Le’Veon Bell is another running back that has been a late Godsend for his team. He excels at almost everything required from the running back position, and is the first reliable Steelers back since Willie Parker. In a lost season, they have found a great piece for the future in Bell. 
  

17. San Diego Chargers (5-7)

• More of the same from the Chargers. There are a lot of nice young pieces on offense, and the greatest may be the young tight end Ladarius Greene. He could be the next star in line amongst his position. 
  

16. Indianapolis Colts (8-4)

• The Colts got a win, and essentially wrapped up their division. However, can you really see this team winning a playoff game? It is tough to see them besting the Chiefs if they draw that matchup and could struggle against the Ravens if they get the sixth seed. 
  

15. Baltimore Ravens (6-6)

• Joe Flacco played his best game against the Steelers. Providing that was not just an aberration caused by playing their hated rival, the Ravens could make some noise going forward. Their offense still has issues, but Eugene Monroe has stabilized the left tackle position, and Dennis Pitta is due to return soon. Better days could be on the horizon for this championship team. 
  

14. St. Louis Rams (5-7)

• The Rams finally reminded us what a limited team they are with Kellen Clemens behind center. There is a lot to debate about how the Rams should approach that position in the offseason. Should they stick with Sam Bradford or start over with a rookie quarterback taken with Washington’s first round pick. 
  

13. Chicago Bears (6-6)

• The Bears just do not have enough juice to be a contender in the AFC. The offense is dynamic, but the defense has completely fallen apart. It is sad when a unit just cannot hold up its end of the bargain when it has waited too long for the other side of the ball to catch up. 
  

12. Cincinnati Bengals (8-4)

• Not much new to say about the Bengals, but they may have one of the best one-two punches at running back in the NFL. BJGE excels at all the little things about the position, and Gio is a phenomenal player in the open field. They are great compliments to each other. 
  

11. Dallas Cowboys (7-5)

• The Cowboys still control their own destiny in the NFC East, but they let the Raiders hang around too long to believe they will win it. This team has to be concerned with how bad Matt McGloin and Andre Holmes made Brandon Carr look on Thanksgiving. 
  

10. Arizona Cardinals (7-5)

• The Cardinals took a step back on Sunday. Their inability to defend tight ends is now seriously alarming. Todd Bowles has to figure out why that is. One hypothesis is that, as great as he has been, Tyrann Mathieu’s lack of height may finally be rearing its ugly head. 
  

9. Philadelphia Eagles (7-5)

• The Eagles have a shot to win a playoff game if they manage to get in. they have a solid roster, outside of their secondary, and look to only be getting better. Watch out for them if they make it to January. 
  

8. San Francisco 49ers (8-4)

• The 49ers look to be getting hot at the right time. Their offense looks like it is rounding into shape with Crabtree back in the fold, and their defense is only getting better. The one issue that remains is if Colin Kaepernick can continue to string together strong performances. He had not managed two good games in a row before this week.
  

7. Detroit Lions (7-5)

• Hard to imagine this, but many NFL coaches could learn from something Jim Schwartz did on Thanksgiving. Even though his star running back put the ball on the turf early in the game, he stuck with him. Reggie Bush rewarded his coaches with a massive game. Benching the fumbling running back is one of the most confusing thing NFL coaches continue to do.
  

6. Kansas City Chiefs (9-3)

• It’s been obvious for weeks, but Sunday clearly showed that the lack of weapons will sink the Chiefs, not the play of their quarterback, because Alex Smith absolutely gave his team the chance to beat the Broncos. The Chiefs should pour most of their offseason resources into improving that situation. 
  

5. New England Patriots (9-3)

• Rob Gronkowski has the best catch radius in the NFL. Seriously, it is ridiculous. People who are nearing 6’7” should not be able to catch passes thrown at their feat. It is no coincidence this team’s offense began to get back on track when he returned from injury. He is one of the biggest difference makers in the league. 
  

4. Carolina Panthers (9-3)

• The Panthers put up another mature win in blowing out their inferior division rival in anticipation of several big games on the horizon. Watching the game at Bank of America stadium, the team’s secondary may have been the best unit on the field. Sean McDermott had them in some pretty unique coverages that kept the Bucs guessing all afternoon. Will that work against better quarterbacks?
  

3. New Orleans Saints (9-2)

• The biggest issue with the Saints loss is that the Carolina Panthers can easily exploit the flaws that they showed on Monday night. For as great as some of their pieces are, their lack of protection and consistent receivers are huge problems. Do not be surprised if they drop both games to the Panthers simply because they cannot match their physicality. 
  

2. Denver Broncos (10-2)

• The Broncos might have a dynamic pair at running back on their hands. Montee Ball finally looks like he is over his early season woes, and is ready to be a valuable contributor. For as much punishment as Knowshon Moreno has absorbed this season, Ball’s arrival is right on time. 
  

1. Seattle Seahawks (10-1)

• It is nearly impossible to argue that they are the best team in the league right now. However, if the NFL has taught us anything, it is not to jump to hasty conclusions. Assuming that the Seahawks will backwards waltz into the Super Bowl almost guarantees that someone will go to Seattle and beat them come January. 

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