WEEK 15 NFL Power Rankings

 

The Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, and Cincinnati Bengals all won last week, and therefore retain the top three spots in the Week 15 edition of the Power Rankings. Jumping up the list this week are the Denver Broncos (from No. 7 to No. 4), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from No. 11 to No. 5), New York Giants (from No. 10 to No. 6), and Minnesota Vikings (from No. 12 to No. 7), four teams that picked up big wins on Sunday.

They rise at the expense of five teams who were tagged with potentially costly losses last week - the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers, San Diego Chargers, and Kansas City Chiefs. Those five will need to pick up wins this week to move back up the rankings, and help their postseason chances.

It's business as usual at the bottom of the list, where the Houston Texans once again hold down spot No. 32. The Texans have a chance to pick up their second win of the season this week, when they play host to the 4-9 Arizona Cardinals. But the big game on their schedule is likely Week 17's matchup with the San Francisco 49ers, which could determine who gets the top pick in the 2006 National Football League entry draft. No one is suggesting either of those teams would tank a game in order to move up in the draft order, but we're guessing there could be a couple of missed field goals in that contest.

The 2005-06 NFL Week 15 Power rankings. Click your favorite team for their NFL Team Resources Page.

Week 15 NFL Power Rankings:				Last Weeks Power Rankings >>
05 Record	Rank	Team		2005 NFL Power Rankings - Comments
13-0-0	1	Colts		13 games, 13 wins. They go for No. 14 in a row at home versus the Chargers this week, with little left to play for.
11-2-0	2	Seahawks		Another week, another rout as they embarrassed the 49ers on Sunday. Travel to Tennessee for their Week 15 game.
10-3-0	3	Broncos		Beat the Ravens by two points last week, to stay two games ahead of the Chiefs and Chargers in the AFC West.
10-3-0	4	Bengals		Slipped past the Browns last week, but not by much. Carson Palmer picked up only 93 yards passing in the victory.
9-4-0	5	Buccaneers		Huge win over the Panthers on Sunday moved them into a first-place tie in the NFC South. Have won two in a row.
9-4-0	6	Giants		Overtime win over the Eagles on Sunday kept them atop the NFC East. Next up are the Chiefs in a Saturday game.
9-4-0	7	Panthers		Home loss to the Bucs was a missed chance to control the division. Should have an easier time versus New Orleans.
9-4-0	8	Bears		Vaunted defense gave up 21 points to the Steelers on the weekend, turning their win streak into a one-game skid.
8-5-0	9	Patriots		Sitting a comfortable two games up in the AFC East, but haven't quite shaken the Dolphins and clinched the division.
9-4-0	10	Jaguars		Solid outing by David Garrard on Sunday (26-of-35 for 250 yards), but it wasn't enough for them to beat the Colts.
8-5-0	11	Chargers		Lost to the Dolphins in San Diego on Sunday, and now have to take on the Colts in Indianapolis in a Week 15 game.
5-5-0	12	Steelers		Win over the Bears in Week 14 kept them in the playoff hunt, although catching the Bengals isn't looking too good.
8-5-0	13	Cowboys		Sitting one game behind the Giants in the NFC East, with the division-rival Redskins on tap for this week's game.
8-5-0	14	Vikings		The Vikings' win streak now sits at six games, and they're only one game behind the Bears in the NFC North.
8-5-0	15	Falcons		Topped the Saints on Monday night to keep pace in the NFC South. Have the Bears coming up on their schedule.
8-5-0	16	Chiefs		Trent Green threw for 340 yards and a score versus the Cowboys, but it wasn't enough for them to earn the victory.
7-6-0	17	Redskins		If the Redskins can beat the Cowboys in Week 15, they'll move into a tie for second place in the NFC East division.
6-7-0	18	Dolphins		Will be gunning for their fourth straight win on Sunday, and their opposition (the Jets) doesn't have much fight left.
5-8-0	19	Eagles		Are 0-5 versus the other three NFC East teams so far this season, and 2-7 against teams in their own conference.
4-9-0	20	Browns		Almost pulled out a stunner versus the Bengals on Sunday, with Cincinnati needing a late field goal to get the win.
5-8-0	21	Rams		Ryan Fitzpatrick was intercepted five times in their loss to the Vikings; Marc Bulger, your job is not in danger.
4-9-0	22	Titans		Down 10-3 to the Texans at halftime Sunday, but 'stormed back' with 10 points in the second half to secure the win.
4-9-0	23	Ravens		The only question left for them is whether they'll move ahead of the Browns or end up last in the AFC North division.
4-9-0	24	Cardinals		Showed the 49ers who was the real third-place team in the NFC West with their 17-10 victory in Week 13 action.
4-9-0	25	Raiders		Couldn't get anything going on offense versus the Jets last week; will look to do better against Cleveland on Sunday.
4-9-0	26	Bills		Host the Broncos in a Saturday night game this week - we're guessing it won't be too warm at this Week 15 matchup.
3-10-0	27	Packers		An overtime field goal gave them a win over the Lions on Sunday. Get the Ravens this week in a Monday night dud.
3-10-0	28	Saints		Home will be Baton Rouge for them this weekend, while next week home will be the Alamodome in San Antonio.
3-10-0	29	Jets		Quarterback Brooks Bollinger has proven he can win games when the opposing QB is Marques Tuiasosopo.
4-9-0	30	Lions		Jeff Garcia went 13-of-24 for 112 yards passing in their loss to the Packers - and he's better than Joey Harrington?
2-11-0	31	49ers		Their field goal in the first quarter Sunday versus the Seahawks was their offensive highlight. Next up: Jaguars.
1-12-0	32	Texans		Fell just short in their game against the Titans on Sunday, which puts them in the driver's seat for Reggie Bush.