NFL Power Rankings: Where Does Every Team Stand Heading into Week 14?

Week 13 of the NFL season did not disappoint, but it did leave us with massive changes to be made in the weekly Power Rankings. A matchup featuring the NFL's two biggest powerhouses—the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers—meant a chance at a new No. 1 team after Sunday's action. Add that to divisional games on Thanksgiving and interesting matchups all day Sunday, and it was a week for major shakeups across the board. Who is the new No. 1 team this week? How about the new No. 32? With the season only four weeks away from completion, here's a look at which teams stack up as the best of the best. 32. Tennessee Titans (2-10) 32. Tennessee Titans (2-10) B/R Design Last Week: 31 This Week: 32 Change: -1 Week 13 brought on more of the same for the Tennessee Titans. The offense struggled, the defense couldn't pressure or stop the Houston Texan offense, and the scoreboard showed a final point total that was lopsided against the Titans. With 11 losses, the Titans can start focusing on the draft, but the coaching staff has to focus on which young players are worth keeping and developing. Is rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger the guy head coach Ken Whisenhunt wants to build around? His job will depend on that decision. The Titans remain one of the league's bottom-feeders, and their ranking reflects that for another week. 31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-10) 31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-10) B/R Design Last Week: 30 This Week: 31 Change: -1 The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were one point (14-13) and one last-minute drive away from beating the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals. But a penalty for having 12 men on the field in the final minute took away a 20-yard gain and took the wind out of their sails late. And that's why they're ranked No. 31 overall. Head coach Lovie Smith will likely get at least another year to build this team in his image, but the lack of building blocks on offense should be a concern for Smith and general manager Jason Licht. They must find a quarterback and also build a defense able to compete in the Tampa 2 defense Smith runs. Neither is an easy fix no matter how early the team is drafting in each round. 30. Oakland Raiders (1-11) 30. Oakland Raiders (1-11) b/r design Last Week: 28 This Week: 30 Change: -2 The happy feelings died in Oakland thanks to a road trip to meet the St. Louis Rams. With a 52-0 loss, the Raiders move back down the rankings after beating the hated Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12. And that in itself really sums up the 2014 NFL season—nothing is predictable. The Raiders are a team with individual pieces but lack the talent and leadership right now to be a great team. And make no mistake—having a few good players doesn't make you a great team. The next head coach of this team must figure out how to build around quarterback Derek Carr and linebacker Khalil Mack—both rookies in 2014 but clearly the most talented players on either side of the ball. The fight we saw from the Raiders against Kansas City was gone by the time they hit the turf in St. Louis, and that's why they fall down the rankings. 29. New York Jets (2-9) 29. New York Jets (2-9) B/R Design Last Week: 29 This Week: 29 Change: MNF The New York Jets play on Monday Night Football and will be updated after the game. 28. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10) 28. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10) B/R Design Last Week: 32 This Week: 28 Change: +4 For the second straight week, the team ranked No. 32 overall wins the following week. Congrats, Jacksonville: You're moving up the board. The improbable comeback win over the New York Giants will quiet doubters and give hope to the fans who know the 2014 season is—and has always been—about building a team in Jacksonville. No one expected the playoffs or really even a winning season. Progress is the key, and beating a veteran New York team is progress. The Jaguars are talent-deficient at spots, but they're also the youngest offense in the NFL. Learning from a gritty, comeback win will do the entire team good. 27. Washington (3-9) 27. Washington (3-9) B/R design Last Week: 27 This Week: 27 Change: 0 The quarterback may change, but the result does not in Washington. Loss No. 9 came at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts, and it wasn't pretty for Jay Gruden's team. Three straight losses in Washington have Gruden and Co. looking inept after the constant changing at quarterback has led to zero rhythm and consistency on offense. Not to mention the pass-heavy play-calling Gruden is known for has hurt the team in key spots (like a 4th-and-inches play call for a play-action pass). Colt McCoy, Kirk Cousins and Robert Griffin III have all tried, and failed, to lead this team. It's not just the quarterbacks failing in Washington; it's the entire team (offense, defense and coaching). 26. New York Giants (3-9) 26. New York Giants (3-9) B/R Design Last Week: 23 This Week: 26 Change: -3 The New York Giants have lost seven straight football games. The seventh, a loss to the one-win Jacksonville Jaguars, came after a 21-3 lead was established by the Giants. That's not something head coach Tom Coughlin can explain away or rest on his past accomplishments over. Coughlin was great in New York, and the Giants have two Super Bowl rings to show for it, but at what point does the current outweigh the past? You have to think nine losses and seven straight would put his job security in question. The Giants have four more games—at Tennessee, vs. Washington, at St. Louis and at home against Philadelphia to end the year. Can they win two of those games? Even a 5-11 record may not be good enough to keep Coughlin and his staff intact for 2015. 25. Carolina Panthers (3-8-1) 25. Carolina Panthers (3-8-1) B/R Design Last Week: 25 This Week: 25 Change: 0 The Carolina Panthers have been a roller-coaster team in 2014. They started the year as a middle-tier team in the rankings (No. 14 overall) before shooting up to No. 8 before Week 3. But since that time, they have been on a constant downward spiral, bottoming at No. 25 overall again for another week. Cam Newton is obviously a very good quarterback, but we're seeing that even a unique talent cannot succeed without an offense around him. The offensive line in Carolina is terrible, and even the skill position players are below average as a group. Head coach Ron Rivera was on the hot seat in 2013 before going on a big run that led to the playoffs and the No. 2 seed in the NFC. But just three wins in 13 weeks is an issue—and one that could ultimately cost him his job after the season. 24. Chicago Bears (5-7) 24. Chicago Bears (5-7) B/R Design Last Week: 22 This Week: 24 Change: -2 The Thanksgiving Day loss to the Detroit Lions doesn't knock the Bears completely out of playoff contention, but in a very tough division and with many teams fighting for two wild-card spots in the NFC, it's tough to imagine a scenario where this team gets into the postseason. The Bears have more talent than their record shows—which is generally an indictment of the coaching staff. The offense has all the pieces to be explosive (and it was in 2013), but the defense has consistently struggled due to personnel issues. The Bears were my pick to win the NFC North this year, but right now they look like they're competing with Minnesota for the last spot in the division. 23. Minnesota Vikings (5-7) 23. Minnesota Vikings (5-7) B/R Design Last Week: 26 This Week: 23 Change: +3 The Minnesota Vikings are flying under the radar, but first-year head coach Mike Zimmer has done a fantastic job with this team. Take a look at the offense, and you see a rookie quarterback on a team that lost its best threat (Adrian Peterson) and has an offensive line full of names and big salaries but very bad play. But the Vikings are winning ball games and have now won three of their last five games. That's definitely a step in the right direction for Zimmer, Teddy Bridgwater and the Vikings. It's a move up in this week's rankings thanks to a complete takedown of the Carolina Panthers. And after winning just five games in 2013, the Vikings have already matched that total. 22. Atlanta Falcons (5-7) 22. Atlanta Falcons (5-7) B/R Design Last Week: 24 This Week: 22 Change: +2 It took 13 weeks, but the Atlanta Falcons finally got a win outside the NFC South. And it's a big one as they took down the previously ranked No. 4 team, the Arizona Cardinals. With Roddy White out due to injury, the Falcons' game plan was pretty transparent—throw it to Julio Jones early and often. They did, and Matt Ryan torched Patrick Peterson to the tune of 10 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown. But they also worked in Harry Douglas, and running back Steven Jackson went over 100 yards for the first time all season. Balance on offense was the key. The Falcons end Week 13 tied with the New Orleans Saints at 5-7 but ahead in the division thanks to their unbeaten record there. The division will come down to December 21 in New Orleans as long as the Falcons can hold on against Green Bay and Pittsburgh in the next two weeks. 21. St. Louis Rams (5-7) 21. St. Louis Rams (5-7) b/r design Last Week: 21 This Week: 21 Change: 0 If the St. Louis Rams were supposed to be afraid of the Oakland Raiders in Week 13, well, someone forgot to tell them. Running back Tre Mason and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams took over the day for the Rams as Mason and the offense kept the Raiders defense off balance, and Williams' defense swarmed rookie quarterback Derek Carr. If you want to award game balls, they should go there. The Rams might not be a playoff team, but you can bet no one wants to play them right now. And that includes the Arizona Cardinals in Week 15. 20. New Orleans Saints (5-7) Share Tweet Embed Last Week: 20 This Week: 20 Change: 0 It may be hyperbole to call the Week 13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers a season-saving-win, but it was pretty dang close to that. Are the Saints getting hot at just the right time? Stephen Nelson and I discuss in the video above. 19. Houston Texans (6-6) 19. Houston Texans (6-6) B/R Design Last Week: 19 This Week: 19 Change: 0 The Houston Texans were without quarterback Ryan Mallett in Week 13, but former starter Ryan Fitzpatrick was huge in getting the ball down the field to wide receivers Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins. That led to six passing touchdowns for Fitzpatrick and a crazy 238 yards receiving for Hopkins. It's easy to forget that the Texans had just two wins in all of 2013. Credit rookie head coach Bill O'Brien and his staff for making major improvements to a team that's seen little production from its first- or third-round draft picks (Jadeveon Clowney, C.J. Fiedorowicz, Louis Nix). The playoffs may be another year away, but the Texans are headed in the right direction with a strong foundation in place. 18. Buffalo Bills (7-5) 18. Buffalo Bills (7-5) B/R Design Last Week: 18 This Week: 18 Change: 0 All the talk coming out of the Buffalo vs. Cleveland game will unfortunately be on the late-game play of rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel. That means people will overlook or forget the fact that the Buffalo Bills won by 16 points while moving to seven wins and staying very much in the AFC playoff mix. We won't forget that here, though. The Bills dominated the Browns on a day when their offense wasn't great. But the defense was. Jerry Hughes was great against Joe Thomas and put consistent pressure on the Cleveland backfield. Hughes' defensive touchdown on a strip-sack came right after a Kyle Orton touchdown, and that 14-point swing was crucial to the game. The Bills may be defying expectations, but two straight wins are keeping them in the playoff mix. 17. Miami Dolphins (6-5) 17. Miami Dolphins (6-5) B/R Design Last Week: 17 This Week: 17 Change: MNF The Miami Dolphins play on Monday Night Football and will be updated after the game. 16. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) 16. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) B/R Design Last Week: 15 This Week: 16 Change: -1 The AFC North playoff race remains a dog fight headed into Week 14, and a loss by the Pittsburgh Steelers comes at a terrible time. Now they're 7-5 (tied with the Ravens and Browns) but 1.5 games back from the Cincinnati Bengals in the division with four weeks to play. The Steelers lost to the New Orleans Saints because of poor protection for Ben Roethlisberger and poor play from the secondary. Drew Brees threw just eight incomplete passes and five touchdowns against a Steelers secondary that looked old and slow. And that's something they'll face often with a remaining schedule featuring the Bengals, Falcons, Chiefs and then the Bengals again. The Steelers' season will likely come down to two games—Week 14 and Week 17 against Cincinnati. Win those two games, and they can take the AFC North. 15. Cleveland Browns (7-5) 15. Cleveland Browns (7-5) B/R Design Last Week: 14 This Week: 15 Change: -1 The Cleveland Browns traveled to Buffalo to take on a Bills team that's quietly one of the hottest in the NFL. It wasn't pretty for Mike Pettine's homecoming. The Browns trailed early, and even strong play from the Cleveland secondary (especially Joe Haden) wasn't enough to overshadow their offensive issues. Replacing starting quarterback Brian Hoyer with rookie first-rounder Johnny Manziel did lead to a touchdown drive, but it cut the Buffalo lead to just 10 points. The Browns are still a good team, but they have to learn to win on the road and will always be a middle-tier team until the quarterback play and offense are more consistent. 13. San Francisco 49ers (7-5) 13. San Francisco 49ers (7-5) b/r design Last Week: 11 This Week: 13 Change: -2 The San Francisco 49ers remain one of the NFL's most confusing teams on a weekly basis. Their Thanksgiving night loss to the Seattle Seahawks—at home in a must-win game—may have put an end to a head-scratching run for Jim Harbaugh's team. The injuries on defense are a definite issue for the 49ers no matter how well Chris Borland is playing. But that doesn't explain why the offense is so anemic at times and disjointed at others. There is no rhythm, no identity. And that falls on head coach Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman as much as it does on quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the players. The 49ers can still manage an 11-win season if they win out, but even that won't guarantee a playoff berth.