The Kansas City Chiefs started the season 3-4, at which point many dismissed them as a Super Bowl contender. But the defense turned things around, the team won seven in a row, and now, they have made a triumphant return back atop these power rankings.
Beyond the surging Chiefs, there was a lot of movement this week after several losses among the power teams. Here are the latest rankings. Odds courtesy of DraftKings on Dec. 22.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (10-4)
Last week: 2
Week 15 result: 34-28 overtime win over the Chargers
Week 16: Chiefs (-7.5) vs. Steelers
Super Bowl odds: +450
The Chiefs were lucky to rally for the win against the Chargers, but it was a reminder how explosive the offense can be at a moment’s notice. That, combined with the defensive improvement, helps Kansas City return to the catbird’s seat.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-4)
Last week: 1
Week 15 result: 9-0 loss to the Saints
Week 16: Buccaneers (-10.5) at Panthers
Super Bowl odds: +650
The Buccaneers were shut out by the Saints last time out, although in-game injuries to several key skill players contributed heavily. The loss of Chris Godwin to a season-ending knee injury is far from ideal, but Tampa should still have Mike Evans, Antonio Brown and Rob Gronkowski for the playoffs, which makes it the team to beat in the NFC.
3. Green Bay Packers (11-3)
Last week: 5
Week 15 result: 31-30 win over the Ravens
Week 16: Packers (-7) at Browns
Super Bowl odds: +450
The Packers continued their season-long trend of playing in close games and escaped with a win over Baltimore by thwarting a late two-point conversion attempt. Green Bay has the inside track on the No. 1 seed in the conference, which is huge, but Tampa is better.
4. Los Angeles Rams (10-4)
Last week: 6
Week 15 result: 20-10 win over the Seahawks
Week 16: Rams (-3) at Vikings
Super Bowl odds: +1000
The Rams had a few hiccups against Seattle but eventually pulled away. This team will go as its stars go, and recently, Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey have all played really well.
5. Buffalo Bills (8-6)
Last week: 7
Week 15 result: 31-14 win over the Panthers
Week 16: Bills (+2.5) at Patriots
Super Bowl odds: +1000
The up-and-down Bills dominated Carolina on Sunday and have a critical matchup with the Patriots this week. Buffalo is the better team, and will prove it with an upset win.
6. Dallas Cowboys (10-4)
Last week: 8
Week 15 result: 21-6 win over the Giants
Week 16: Cowboys (-10.5) vs. Washington
Super Bowl odds: +1200
The Cowboys have quietly surged to the No. 2 seed in the NFC and have an easy game this week against Washington. Dallas is a well-rounded team but still seems a half-step below the Buccaneers, Rams and Packers in the conference.
If the playoffs started today the Dallas Cowboys would host the Minnesota Vikings in the Wildcard Round. pic.twitter.com/4wtTU0nwDr
— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) December 22, 2021
7. New England Patriots (9-5)
Last week: 3
Week 15 result: 27-17 loss to the Colts
Week 16: Patriots (-2.5) vs. Bills
Super Bowl odds: +900
The Patriots are vulnerable when they fall behind, which is exactly what happened against the Colts last time out. New England is still among the better teams in the AFC but the Indy loss was a wakeup call.
8. Arizona Cardinals (10-4)
Last week: 4
Week 15 result: 30-12 loss to the Lions
Week 16: Cardinals (-1) vs. Colts
Super Bowl odds: +1800
After a white-hot start to the season, the Cardinals have lost two in a row, including an embarrassing showing in Sunday’s blowout loss to the Lions. It feels like a make-or-break showdown against the Colts on Christmas as Arizona tries to get back on track and fill the cracks in its foundation.
9. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)
Last week: 9
Week 15 result: 34-28 overtime loss to the Chiefs
Week 16: Chargers (-9) at Texans
Super Bowl odds: +3000
Justin Herbert continues to show that he is one of the most talented quarterbacks in football. Los Angeles lost out on a good chance to steal the AFC West from the Chiefs on Thursday, but this team will be dangerous as a wild card.
10. San Francisco 49ers (8-6)
Last week: 10
Week 15 result: 31-13 win over the Falcons
Week 16: 49ers (-3.5) at Titans
Super Bowl odds: +3000
Speaking of dangerous wild cards, the 49ers have found their groove and could give a top seed all they can handle in the opening round of the postseason.
NFC seeds are very close and fluid in remaining three weeks — 2 through 4 come down to tiebreakers right now. Bucs right now would host 49ers in wild-card round, potentially going to Dallas in divisional round. Much can change in next three weeks, good or bad.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) December 20, 2021
11. Indianapolis Colts (8-6)
Last week: 13
Week 15 result: 27-17 win over the Patriots
Week 16: Colts (+1) at Cardinals
Super Bowl odds: +1600
The Colts have an up-and-down quarterback in Carson Wentz, but the rest of the roster is solid. Running back Jonathan Taylor will aim to continue a dynamic season on Saturday against a leaky Cardinals run defense.
12. Cincinnati Bengals (8-6)
Last week: 11
Week 15 result: 15-10 win over the Broncos
Week 16: Bengals (-2.5) vs. Ravens
Super Bowl odds: +3500
The Bengals have taken over first place in the AFC North. This team isn’t a true contender but has vastly outplayed expectations and is on a promising trajectory.
13. Baltimore Ravens (8-6)
Last week: 12
Week 15 result: 31-30 loss to the Packers
Week 16: Ravens (+2.5) at Bengals
Super Bowl odds: +3500
The Ravens have now lost a pair of games on late two-point conversion attempts. Baltimore was a contender when healthy but has been decimated by injuries and is now outside the playoff picture with three games left.
14. Tennessee Titans (9-5)
Last week: 14
Week 15 result: 19-13 loss to the Steelers
Week 16: Titans (+3.5) vs. 49ers
Super Bowl odds: +2500
The Titans badly need A.J. Brown and Derrick Henry to return because the offense is floundering.
15. New Orleans Saints (7-7)
Last week: 19
Week 15 result: 9-0 win over the Buccaneers
Week 16: Saints (-3) vs. Dolphins
Super Bowl odds: +10000
Huge upset win on Sunday for the Saints, who now have a legitimate shot at grabbing the No. 7 seed in the NFC with a strong finish.
The #Saints shutout of the Buccaneers was the third time in Tom Brady’s career that his team was shutout in a game he started.
Brady’s Patriots were shutout by the Bills, 31–0, in the 2003 opener and by the Dolphins, 21–0, in a December game in 2006.
— Elias Sports Bureau (@EliasSports) December 20, 2021
16. Cleveland Browns (7-7)
Last week: 15
Week 15 result: 16-14 loss to the Raiders
Week 16: Browns (+7) at Packers
Super Bowl odds: +10000
The Browns lost a critical game to the Raiders last week through no fault of their own, as quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum were both sidelined by COVID. Cleveland will now be hard-pressed to qualify for the postseason.
17. Philadelphia Eagles (7-7)
Last week: 18
Week 15 result: 27-17 win over Washington
Week 16: Eagles (-10) vs. Giants
Super Bowl odds: +8000
The Eagles took care of business against Washington after a slow start and needs to keep winning to grab the NFC’s final playoff slot.
18. Denver Broncos (7-7)
Last week: 16
Week 15 result: 15-10 loss to the Bengals
Week 16: Broncos (+1.5) at Raiders
Super Bowl odds: +20000
Denver is at the bottom of the AFC playoff contender logjam because of tiebreakers, as Sunday’s loss to the Bengals was one it could not afford.
19. Minnesota Vikings (7-7)
Last week: 17
Week 15 result: 17-9 win over the Bears
Week 16: Vikings (+3) vs. Rams
Super Bowl odds: +8000
The Vikings beat the Bears this week but it was truly an uninspiring performance. Minnesota is currently in line to make the playoffs but must hold off New Orleans and Philly.
20. Las Vegas Raiders (7-7)
Last week: 20
Week 15 result: 16-14 win over the Browns
Week 16: Raiders (-1.5) vs. Broncos
Super Bowl odds: +20000
Las Vegas got the win this week, but it didn’t exactly inspire confidence as it came over an extremely depleted Browns team and was in doubt until the final play.
21. Miami Dolphins (7-7)
Last week: 22
Week 15 result: 31-24 win over the Jets
Week 16: Dolphins (+3) at Saints
Super Bowl odds: +20000
Miami had to rally to beat the woeful Jets, but it does keep the Dolphins alive in the muddled AFC playoff race with three games left.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6-1)
Last week: 24
Week 15 result: 19-13 win over the Titans
Week 16: Steelers (+7.5) at Chiefs
Super Bowl odds: +15000
The Steelers benefitted from several Tennessee turnovers to secure an upset win and keep their outside shot at a playoff berth alive. Pittsburgh is a big underdog against Kansas City in Week 15, although the Chiefs are getting hit by COVID issues.
23. Washington Football Team (6-8)
Last week: 21
Week 15 result: 27-17 loss to the Eagles
Week 16: Washington (+10.5) at Cowboys
Super Bowl odds: +20000
COVID severely impacted Washington’s chances of beating Philly on Tuesday, and the loss may have ended WFT’s shot at making the playoffs.
24. Seattle Seahawks (5-9)
Last week: 23
Week 15 result: 20-10 loss to the Rams
Week 16: Seahawks (-6.5) vs. Bears
Super Bowl odds: +20000
The Seahawks’ last-gasp hope of a playoff berth ended on Tuesday in a loss to the Rams. Seattle is going to have an interesting offseason.
25. Atlanta Falcons (6-8)
Last week: 25
Week 15 result: 31-13 loss to the 49ers
Week 16: Falcons (-5.5) vs. Lions
Super Bowl odds: +50000
The Falcons continue to show that they cannot hang with quality opponents, and Sunday’s loss to the 49ers was the likely end to their playoff hopes.
26. Carolina Panthers (5-9)
Last week: 26
Week 15 result: 31-14 loss to the Bills
Week 16: Panthers (+10.5) vs. Buccaneers
Super Bowl odds: +100000
The Panthers’ season has officially bottomed.
27. Chicago Bears (4-10)
Last week: 27
Week 15 result: 17-9 loss to the Vikings
Week 16: Bears (+6.5) at Seahawks
Super Bowl odds: N/A
Justin Fields actually showed some impressive flashes, but mostly, the loss to Minnesota was a colossal mess.
28. Detroit Lions (2-11-1)
Last week: 29
Week 15 result: 30-12 win over the Cardinals
Week 16: Lions (+5.5) at the Falcons
Super Bowl odds: N/A
Here come the Lions! Leaving the basement in the dust with a dominant upset win over the Cardinals last week.
29. New York Giants (4-10)
Last week: 28
Week 15 result: 21-6 loss to the Cowboys
Week 16: Giants (+10) at Eagles
Super Bowl odds: N/A
Giants coach Joe Judge won’t reveal whether Mike Glennon or Jake Fromm will start at quarterback this week. Oh, the intrigue.
30. Houston Texans (3-11)
Last week: 30
Week 15 result: 30-16 win over the Jaguars
Week 16: Texans (+9) vs. Chargers
Super Bowl odds: N/A
The Texans are a bad team, but preseason prognostications had them as the worst in the league, and they certainly seem better than the Jets and Jaguars.
31. New York Jets (3-11)
Last week: 31
Week 15 result: 31-24 loss to the Dolphins
Week 16: Jets (-1.5) vs. Jaguars
Super Bowl odds: N/A
The Jets are getting ravaged by COVID this week, so keep an eye on the spread in their scintillating matchup with the Jaguars.
32. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12)
Last week: 32
Week 15 result: 30-16 loss to the Texans
Week 16: Jaguars (+1.5) at Jets
Super Bowl odds: N/A
Jacksonville didn’t play any better last week without Urban Meyer around. The Jaguars are the front-runner for the No. 1 overall pick but the game against the Jets could have a big impact on those standings.
