January 14, 2025
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NFL Power Rankings Week 20: Texans and Rams Rise

Walt17 mins
Puka Nacua
My current NFL Power Rankings of the 2024 NFL season for Week 20. Texans and Rams Rise.

I’m going to use these rankings as the order for my 2025 NFL Mock Draft during the early stages of the 2024 season. Follow @walterfootball.

NFL Power Rankings updated Jan. 14, 2025




    Group A:

  1. Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) – Previously: 1.
    Jalen Hurts didn’t look quite right against the Packers, but quarterbacks coming off concussions tend to struggle. Hurts should be much better in the following round.

    If you haven’t visited the site in a while, you may have noticed the new look. Yes, after nearly two decades, we’ve finally re-designed our site to be more modern. This was not done on a whim, but rather out of necessity because of what occurred during the 2023 NFL Draft. Our site crashed during the entire first day of the draft, which was disastrous for our revenue stream because we make more money during the draft than any other time. The site crashed because a line of code conflicted with the old format of the site, so we had to transition to this new look.

    Because we lost so much money during the draft, I want to point out that you can really help support the site by paying for the ad-free version of it. It’s $7.99 per month, but you’ll get a super-fast site with no ads. My developer will be adding new features to paid subscribers as well, so look for that in the near future. If you don’t want to pay, please spread the word about the site through word of mouth. That would also be a big help!

  2. Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills (13-4) – Previously: 2.
    The Bills took care of business after giving their fans a brief scare when Bo Nix delivered a deep touchdown to Troy Franklin on the opening drive. We’ll see how Buffalo’s fifth-ranked run defense handles Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry.

  3. Detroit Lions NFL Power Rankings Detroit Lions (15-2) – Previously: 4.
    Perhaps I was too quick to move the Lions down after the Monday game. To be fair, I was dealing with the flu, so I think I deserve a mulligan for last week’s decision-making.

  4. Kansas City Chiefs NFL Power Rankings Kansas City Chiefs (15-2) – Previously: 3.
    The Chiefs look like they’re about to go on an impressive playoff run again. Marquise Brown gives them a legitimate threat, while Xavier Worthy has developed well recently. Kansas City dismantled the Steelers without Chris Jones.


    5. Group B:

  5. Baltimore Ravens Baltimore Ravens (12-5) – Previously: 6.
    The Ravens are still just 5-3 against Group A and Group B teams, and two of their victories came against the Steelers, a soft team that might belong in Group C. I worry about their pass defense, which hasn’t been challenged in a while.

  6. Los Angeles Rams Los Angeles Rams (10-7) – Previously: 8.
    The Rams played with amazing energy to rally around the wildfire victims. The way they played Monday night, I don’t think the ’85 Bears would’ve stood a chance.

  7. Houston Texans Houston Texans (10-7) – Previously: 19.
    The Texans looked broken. However, everyone said the same thing of the 2008 Cardinals, who also won their terrible division early. Arizona ended up going to the Super Bowl and nearly defeating the Steelers.

  8. Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers (11-6) – Previously: 7.
    The Packers looked so great at times during the season, but sloppy mistakes and injuries crushed them late in the year.

  9. Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings (14-3) – Previously: 5.
    The Vikings were never really tested following the Christian Darrisaw until the end of the season. They beat a disinterested Packer team, then went to get blown out by the Vikings and Lions. The Darrisaw injury was devastating, yet unrealistic Minnesota fans didn’t truly realize it before it was too late.

  10. Los Angeles Chargers San Angeles Chargers (11-6) – Previously: 9.
    The Chargers dominated the bad teams they’ve played this year, owning a 8-0 straight up and ATS record against Group D and Group F teams. They probably could have beaten the Texans if they weren’t distracted by the wildfires.

  11. Washington Redskins Washington Redskins (12-5) – Previously: 10.
    The Redskins ran way too much with Brian Robinson Jr. in the red zone, but didn’t pay the price because the Buccaneers imploded. Washington better change its strategy in the following round versus Detroit.

  12. Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks (10-7) – Previously: 12.
    The Seahawks have played three Group A teams – the upper echelon of the NFL – and have lost by double digits in all three contests. They’re also 0-3 versus Group B, though they almost beat the Rams in their sole real meeting. They were 10-1 in their games against mediocre or bad teams.


    13. Group C:

  13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) – Previously: 13.
    The Buccaneers nearly blew it with a near-loss to the Saints. They should have just allowed the Falcons to take their spot, because their fourth-quarter meltdown allowed Washington to get a free win.

  14. Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals (9-8) – Previously: 14.
    The Bengals have clawed back to 9-8, though they wouldn’t have needed losses by the Broncos and Dolphins had they just shown up on Week 1 to play against the Patriots.

  15. Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) – Previously: 11.
    The Steelers are seldom described as soft, but that’s exactly how they played against the Ravens. Allowing a 13-play touchdown drive that was nothing but runs was absurdly pathetic.

  16. Denver Broncos Denver Broncos (10-7) – Previously: 15.
    I’ve put all the NFL teams into groups, ranging from A to F. Group A is comprised of the elite teams, while Group F is the worst. Not counting Week 18, Six of Denver’s nine wins came against Group D and Group F. Their other three victories have been very fluky or have occurred in weird circumstances. They finished 0-6 straight up, 1-5 against the spread versus teams above Group C.

  17. Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons (8-9) – Previously: 16.
    The Falcons had what seemed like an insurmountable lead in the division when they swept the Buccaneers, but they ended up missing the playoffs. Their huge mistake was not turning to Michael Penix Jr. earlier when it was apparent that Kirk Cousins had nothing remaining in the tank.

  18. Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins (8-9) – Previously: 17.
    It didn’t matter because the Broncos won, but the Dolphins had to be very disappointed not to have Tua Tagovailoa once again in Week 18. He’s the most unreliable quarterback in the NFL.

  19. San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers (6-11) – Previously: 18.
    The season from Hell is finally over. The 49ers’ 2024 campaign began with Christian McCaffrey’s troublesome calf and ended with Ricky Pearsall being the only receiver on the field with Joshua Dobbs throwing the ball to him.

  20. Arizona Cardinals Arizona Cardinals (8-9) – Previously: 20.
    It’s amazing that the Cardinals played with so much more effort against the Rams and 49ers than they did versus the Panthers, which was the game they really needed to win.

  21. Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts (8-9) – Previously: 21.
    The Colts won a meaningless game at the end to improve to 8-9, but the damage was already done. Losing as they did to the Broncos and Giants ruined a legitimate chance they had of making the playoffs.

  22. New York Jets New York Jets (5-12) – Previously: 22.
    If special teams were removed from football, the Jets would have at least three more victories right now. I wonder how eager Jets fans would be to welcome back Aaron Rodgers had their team gone 8-9.


    23. Group D:

  23. Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys (7-10) – Previously: 23.
    I thought that Dallas’ win over the Buccaneers would convince Jerry Jones to keep Mike McCarthy, but it’s going to be hard for him to justify that after the team’s no show against the Eagles. It was puzzling as to why McCarthy didn’t go to Trey Lance earlier, given that Jerry Jones traded a fourth-round pick for him.

  24. Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers (5-12) – Previously: 24.
    The Panthers have played much better in the second half of the season. However, they’ve been dismantled by the two teams that were focused against them. It didn’t help, however, that the Panthers were missing several players and were dealing with the flu in their second meeting against the Buccaneers. Their Week 18 win allowed them to climb out of last place in the division, thanks to tie-breakers.

  25. Chicago Bears Chicago Bears (5-12) – Previously: 25.
    If you reverse the Hail Mary, the blocked field goal, the result in overtime versus Minnesota, and the dumb sequence by Matt Eberflus on Thanksgiving, the Bears would have finished 9-8. It was nice that they were able to exorcise some of their demons with a successful field goal at the end.

  26. New England Patriots New England Patriots (4-13) – Previously: 26.
    The Patriots played a perfect game against the Bills the first time. They excited their fans by getting out to a 14-0 lead. They gave them some hope for the future by nearly slaying the Bills. And they lost to preserve their draft positioning. The opposite occurred the second time. Joe Milton was exciting, but why did the Patriots win?


    27. Group F:

  27. Las Vegas Raiders Las Vegas Raiders (4-13) – Previously: 27.
    The Raiders wanted Michael Penix Jr. last year, but got screwed over by the Falcons. They probably wanted Shedeur Sanders this year, but got screwed over by their own incompetence to avoid two victories.

  28. Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13) – Previously: 28.
    The Jaguars ruined a chance to secure the No. 1 pick with a win over the Titans several weeks ago. They continued to ruin their future with meaningless victories with Mac Jones. The Jaguars should have considered cutting Jones and replacing him with a random fan in the stands.

  29. New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints (5-12) – Previously: 29.
    The Saints played their hearts out at Tampa Bay. At least they can look back many years from now and know that they almost were able to defeat one of the worst teams to reach the postseason.

  30. New York Giants New York Giants (3-14) – Previously: 30.
    The Giants either didn’t know that they stood to benefit greatly with a loss to the Colts, or they really hate Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward as prospects. Either way, the Giants now have to trade up if they want to draft a quarterback.

  31. Tennessee Titans Tennessee Titans (3-14) – Previously: 31.
    For a while, it looked like the Titans weren’t going to be able to address their dreadful quarterback situation in the draft. That is no longer true because Tennessee was able to lose into the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

  32. Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns (3-14) – Previously: 32.
    Credit the Browns for correctly making the move to Dorian Thompson-Robinson. This was the ultimate way to tank for a better draft choice, as Thompson-Robinson is substantially worse than Jameis Winston.



2024 NFL MVP Projection:

1. Josh Allen, QB, Bills
2. Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens
3. Saquon Barkley, RB, Eagles
4. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs
5. Jared Goff, QB, Lions


Go to 2025 NFL Mock Draft




NFL Power Rankings - Jan. 14


NFL Picks - Jan. 13


2025 NFL Mock Draft - Jan. 8


2026 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 29


Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4







2022 NFL Power Rankings. Week: Post-Super Bowl Power Rankings | Post-Free Agency Power Rankings | Post-NFL Draft Power Rankings | Post-Preseason Power Rankings | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17

2021 NFL Power Rankings. Week: Post-Super Bowl Power Rankings | Preseason Power Rankings | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Playoffs |

2020 NFL Power Rankings. Week: Post-Super Bowl Power Rankings 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Playoffs |

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