NFL Power Rankings

My current NFL Power Rankings.

I’m going to use these rankings as the order for my 2020 NFL Mock Draft during the 2019 season. Follow @walterfootball.

I’ve gone from WORST to FIRST, so if you don’t see reverse numbering (via Javascript), don’t worry; the Dolphins and Bengals aren’t my top teams.

Updated: Dec. 31

Detroit Lions (3-12-1) – Previously: 32.
It was a great afternoon for the Lions, who were able to excite the five fans they had in the stands and also maintain their draft positioning. With the third pick, they’ll have their choice of Jeff Okudah and Derrick Brown. Both would be amazing options.

Carolina Panthers (5-11) – Previously: 30.
The Panthers have interviewed Mike McCarthy twice. Twice! Was hearing about his 1950s-style offense really worth two interviews?

Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10) – Previously: 31.
Leave it to the Jaguars to finally try hard for the first time since October when it was announced that Doug Marrone would be fired. Good riddance, Doug. I look forward to seeing how you sabotage your next coaching staff.

Washington Redskins (3-13) – Previously: 28.
I imagine the Cowboys would not have scored 47 points on the Redskins had Washington started Chase Young at one of its outside linebacker spots. Just a hunch!

Cleveland Browns (6-10) – Previously: 25.
“The Browns said they were bringing back Freddie Kitchens after they had a 4-1 stretch where they had some ‘great’ wins over the Bengals and Dolphins. However, they’ve dropped several games in a row, so I wonder if ownership’s stance will change on the worst coach in the NFL.”

Apparently, they have. Kitchens was fired, which was the right decision.

Cincinnati Bengals (2-14) – Previously: 29.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the Bengals are an underrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

New York Giants (4-12) – Previously: 24.
The Giants could be selecting second overall right now, but they blew it in Week 16. They have the No. 4 overall pick instead, so they’ll miss out on Chase Young and possibly Jeff Okudah. Luckily, they should be able to get Jerry Jeudy to give them a dominant No. 1 receiver for Daniel Jones.

Arizona Cardinals (5-10-1) – Previously: 23.
Kyler Murray probably shouldn’t have played Week 17. He had some bright moments, but wasn’t 100 percent. This led to three turnovers. Luckily, Murray didn’t aggravate his hamstring, which should allow him to enter his first full NFL offseason at 100-percent health. I’m looking forward to seeing what Murray can do with what I can presume to be improved blocking next season.

New York Jets (7-9) – Previously: 21.
The Jets finished 7-9, but that record is misleading, given that they missed Sam Darnold for several games due to mono. The good news is that you can’t get mono twice, so Darnold won’t miss any time for kissing skanks next year.

Indianapolis Colts (7-9) – Previously: 20.
I’d like to say that Jacoby Brissett was injured, which impacted how he performed down the stretch. However, the fact remains that he doesn’t seem like a viable long-term option for Indianapolis, which will need to look for an alternative solution this offseason.

San Angeles Chargers (5-11) – Previously: 26.
The Chargers had the lead against the Chiefs in the third quarter, but in typical Charger fashion, they blew it via dumb plays. I guess this is for the best, as the Chargers helped their draft positioning by not winning a meaningless game.

Miami Dolphins (5-11) – Previously: 27.
I had the Dolphins under five wins. All I needed was for the Patriots to beat Miami in the final week of the season. HOW DID THAT NOT HAPPEN!?!?!?

Chicago Bears (8-8) – Previously: 17.
It’s amazing that the Bears nearly lost to the Vikings despite Minnesota resting its starters and constantly making mistakes. Still, the Bears clawed back to 8-8 despite poor quarterbacking and offensive line play. Those areas must be fixed this offseason, perhaps via a Teddy Bridgewater acquisition.

Las Vegas Raiders (7-9) – Previously: 22.
The Raiders may have gotten to 8-8 had they kicked the extra point and won in overtime. I appreciate Jon Gruden not doing so. Hopefully that positive karma pays off next year in Las Vegas.

Speaking of Vegas, it’s official. These are now the Las Vegas Raiders. It doesn’t quite roll off the tongue like “Oakland Raiders,” but maybe we’ll get used to it.

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8) – Previously: 14.
“I’ve had the Steelers as underrated for quite some time, but their quarterbacking play is so bad that I just can’t list them as such anymore.”

I wrote this last week, and all the Steelers did was fail to move the chains against Baltimore’s backups!

Atlanta Falcons (7-9) – Previously: 19.
The Falcons ended up saving Dan Quinn’s job with a great effort in the second half of the year. The one egg they laid was against the Buccaneers, yet they were able to make amends for that in the season finale. Their defense was so much better in the second half of the year, following Raheem Morris’ move to the defense. The one question I have is, what was Morris doing on offense in the first place?

Los Angeles Rams (9-7) – Previously: 15.
The Rams need several brand new offensive linemen to protect Jared Goff, but how’s that going to happen? The Rams don’t have much money available, and they’re also missing a first-round pick as the result of the Jalen Ramsey trade.

Dallas Cowboys (8-8) – Previously: 18.
The Cowboys were crushed by both the Bills and the Bears. They destroyed the Rams. They lost to the Eagles. Then, they obliterated the Redskins. Would it be inconvenient if the Cowboys made up their minds and played more consistently? I suppose such things happen when a team is coached very poorly.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) – Previously: 12.
For the first time ever, a quarterback threw for 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in the same year. How does that even happen? The pick-six was the most Jameis way to end the season, but he’ll be back in 2020 because general manager Jason Licht will never admit that he made a mistake.

Houston Texans (10-6) – Previously: 13.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Texans are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Denver Broncos (7-9) – Previously: 16.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the Broncos are an underrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) – Previously: 11.
The Eagles made it to the playoffs, but it was a Pyrrhic victory. They lost several more players to injury, so it’ll be even more difficult for them to win. It was so bad that Brandon Graham actually had to go into the locker room when he got hurt because the line for the blue tent was so long.

Buffalo Bills (10-6) – Previously: 10.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Bills are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Minnesota Vikings (10-5) – Previously: 9.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Vikings are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Tennessee Titans (9-7) – Previously: 8.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the Titans are an underrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Seattle Seahawks (11-4) – Previously: 7.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Seahawks are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Green Bay Packers (13-3) – Previously: 6.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Packers are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

New England Patriots (12-4) – Previously: 3.
Wow.

Despite the offense’s struggles, the Patriots could at least hang their hat on their great defense, particularly their secondary. And yet, the Dolphins just threw all over New England in a meaningful game. Unreal.

New Orleans Saints (13-3) – Previously: 5.
Unlike some of the other “elite” teams in Week 17, the Saints took care of business rather easily. I love the Saints’ chances of reaching the Super Bowl, as their secondary will be better with Janoris Jenkins playing across from Marshon Lattimore.

San Francisco 49ers (13-3) – Previously: 4.
Congratulations to the 49ers for winning the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Their possible second-round opponents are the Seahawks, Eagles or Vikings. If I were a San Francisco fan, I’d be cleaning off the poop off my shoes and making sure I didn’t step on any syringes, but after that, I’d pray for the Seahawks not to be the second-round foe. Russell Wilson is an inch away from sweeping the 49ers this year, so battling the Eagles or Vikings would be way more ideal (especially the latter.)

Kansas City Chiefs (12-4) – Previously: 2.
As I wrote last week, I’m very tempted to move the Chiefs up to No. 1. They’d probably have a 14-2 record if Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill healthy the entire year, giving them the No. 1 overall seed because they beat the Ravens. Meanwhile, their defense has gotten so much better of late, and Terrell Suggs will only help matters.

Truthfully, I have the Chiefs and Ravens ranked evenly in my own ratings system. Thus, if the Ravens host the Chiefs in the AFC Championship, my projected line will be Baltimore -3, barring any major injury news.

Baltimore Ravens (14-2) – Previously: 1.
The Ravens will play either the Texans, Bills or Titans in their initial playoff game. They should beat all three of those potential foes, but if I were them, I’d root against the Texans. Deshaun Watson is the ultimate wild card, and the fact that the Ravens demolished them earlier in the year might cause them to be too overconfident in the rematch.

NFL Picks - Dec. 13

2025 NFL Mock Draft - Dec. 11

NFL Power Rankings - Dec. 9

2026 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 29

Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4