NFL Power Rankings

My current NFL Power Rankings.

I’m going to use these rankings as the order for my 2021 NFL Mock Draft during the 2020 season. Follow @walterfootball.

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

Updated: Jan. 5

Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15) – Previously: 32.
Once again, congratulations to the Jacksonville Jaguars for clinching the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Unlike the stupid Jets, the Jaguars were smart enough to lose on purpose, meaning they’ll enjoy at least 15 years of elite quarterbacking from Trevor Lawrence. The Jets will get a nice consolation prize in Justin Fields, but beating the Rams and Browns was a very stupid decision.

New York Jets (2-14) – Previously: 31.
Here’s a Justin Fields Scouting Report, Jets fans.

Fields looked great against Clemson, but Jet fans still have to be wondering why their team had to get two utterly meaningless wins against the Rams and Browns.

Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1) – Previously: 28.
So long, Penei Sewell. Do you think the Bengals could start a cardboard cutout of Sewell at left tackle next year? Sadly, that would be a better pass protector than some of the offensive linemen who have played for Cincinnati in recent years.

You have to wonder how much the Bengals will regret those meaningless wins down the road. If they were even looking for momentum heading into 2021, that was shattered with the horrible 38-3 loss to the Ravens.

Philadelphia Eagles (4-11-1) – Previously: 25.
I like tanking for better draft picks, but not when you’re deciding the outcome of a divisional playoff race. I commend teams for playing their “Super Bowl,” much like the Texans did in Week 17 versus the Titans. Instead of playing their “Super Bowl,” the Eagles played their Week 3 preseason game. What a joke.

On the bright side, if you’re a Giants fan, you can at least take solace in that the Eagles will likely screw up the draft. They selected Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson and then wasted a second-round pick on a quarterback when they were paying a crap ton of money to their starter. I guess the only question now is, which second-round prospect do the Eagles take at No. 6?

Dallas Cowboys (6-10) – Previously: 24.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Cowboys are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Detroit Lions (5-11) – Previously: 30.
The Lions lost to the Vikings because they were flagged for the worst roughing-the-passer penalty in the history of the NFL. However, they’ll have the last laugh because they improved their draft stock by losing. So, were they the true winners of the game?

Houston Texans (4-12) – Previously: 29.
The Texans lost to the Titans, but at least they were able to obtain a better pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft!

Oh, wait, Bill O’Brien traded that pick.

But hey, at least they move up in the second round!

Oh, wait, O’Brien traded that selection, too. Womp, womp.

I know, I know, I used this joke last week, but I just want to make fun of O’Brien, OK?

New York Giants (6-10) – Previously: 27.
I had an 18/1 prop on the Giants to win the division. I bet $200 to win $3,600. And then Doug Pederson pulls a stunt like that.

Giants fans, if you’re hurting, imagine losing out on a chance to win $3,600 because a coach wanted to “see Nate Sudfeld.” Ugh!

New England Patriots (7-9) – Previously: 26.
Patriot coaches not named Bill Belichick looked very thrilled to be beating the Jets. The entire time, I wondered if they were yelling to each other, “YAY! WE’RE BEATING THE SECOND-WORST TEAM IN THE NFL AND RUINING OUR DRAFT POSITIONING IN THE PROCESS, YEAH!!!!!”

Washington Redskins (7-9) – Previously: 23.
If the Redskins won the NFC East, but didn’t really win it, did they really win it?

I think I just made my nose bleed, but that’s OK. I’m sure the Redskins will make everyone look dumb by winning their first playoff game, only to get demolished in the second round.

Carolina Panthers (5-11) – Previously: 22.
What happened to Teddy Bridgewater? I thought he was supposed to be this super careful game manager? Why did he throw a billion interceptions against the Saints in a game that was close otherwise? Seriously, the yardage between the Saints and Panthers was about even, and that doesn’t include any sort of garbage time.

Denver Broncos (5-11) – Previously: 21.
The Broncos have a big decision to make regarding Drew Lock this offseason. Lock has had some brilliant flashes in his second year, including what he did versus Carolina in Week 14 and then the Raiders in the finale. Then again, he’s been abysmal in some games, as evidenced by his inability to connect with his wide receivers against the Bills. Lock also made one too many mistakes against the Chargers. He deserves a third year of development, but what if John Elway falls in love with a quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft?

Minnesota Vikings (6-10) – Previously: 20.
Kirk Cousins is the master of looking great versus terrible teams. He torched the Lions for 400 yards, which will have a few clueless fans proclaiming that he was totally worth the unprecedented fully guaranteed contract.

San Francisco 49ers (6-10) – Previously: 19.
The 49ers have beaten the Rams and Cardinals, and they nearly knocked off the Seahawks late in the year. Despite this, they lost to the crappy Redskins and Cowboys! How does that happen? This just in: Handicapping football games is difficult.

Las Vegas Raiders (8-8) – Previously: 18.
It goes without saying that the Raiders must improve their defense this offseason. They would have made the playoffs with just an average stop unit, considering how well their offense played most of the year.

Atlanta Falcons (4-12) – Previously: 17.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the Falcons are an underrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Chicago Bears (8-8) – Previously: 16.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Bears are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

San Angeles Chargers (7-9) – Previously: 14.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the Chargers are an underrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Arizona Cardinals (8-8) – Previously: 13.
A live look at John Wolflord destroying the Cardinals:

The Cardinals hits decreased by 32. The Cardinals art dead.

Miami Dolphins (10-6) – Previously: 11.
Aurora Snowmo had the Dolphins by the throat and was inches away from the frozen lake, but a bearded, old man got his helmet ripped off while completing an improbable Hail Mary.

The Dolphins thought they had escaped, but the Lady of the Frozen Lake dragged them to their demise in the sequel. She also infected Ryan Fitzpatrick with a minor illness as well, apparently.

Cleveland Browns (11-5) – Previously: 12.
I’m not going to mention that the Browns nearly lost to a skeleton-crew Steeler roster because they made the playoffs for the first time in 18 years. This is a happy moment for them, so I defnitely won’t spoil it by mentioning that they nearly lost to Mason Rudolph. I wouldn’t do that, so I’ll just move on without mentioning that near-loss to Rudolph and a defense missing so many starters.

Los Angeles Rams (10-6) – Previously: 15.
I highly doubt the Rams will have Jared Goff for the playoffs. In fact, it’s better that they didn’t. Goff won’t be 100 percent if he returns, and he kind of stinks anyway. Plus, who doesn’t want to see more Wolflord?

Indianapolis Colts (11-5) – Previously: 6.
I can’t call the Colts underrated anymore. When I did, I admired their offensive line. I can’t say I do now, given the Anthony Castonzo injury. Indianapolis has a tough task ahead of itself to keep up with the Bills in the opening round of the playoffs.

Baltimore Ravens (11-5) – Previously: 10.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Ravens are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Tennessee Titans (11-5) – Previously: 9.
The Titans have a date with the Ravens in the opening round of the playoffs, which bodes well for them. They seemingly match up well with the Ravens, as evidenced by their stunning upset over them in the playoffs last year and also the win in Baltimore earlier this season.

Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) – Previously: 7.
I was so close to mistakenly changing the Steelers’ record from 12-3 to 13-3 instead of 12-4. They played their backups and nearly won, so it felt as though they had actually prevailed. Nevertheless, it was a smart decision by Pittsburgh to sit Ben Roethlisberger, as the difference between the second and third seeds isn’t very important these days.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5) – Previously: 8.
The Buccaneers may have lost Mike Evans for the playoffs, so it’s a good thing they have Antonio Brown in reserve. It’s also nice that they have the rare fifth-seed opening-round bye week.

Seattle Seahawks (12-4) – Previously: 4.
The Seahawks didn’t have the most convincing win versus the 49ers, beating a team missing 13 starters by only three points. Russell Wilson’s pass protection was awful, but it’ll be better in the playoffs because they’re expected to get some linemen back from injury. I haven’t checked the Super Bowl odds yet, but I bet we can get nice value with them.

New Orleans Saints (12-4) – Previously: 5.
I’d commend the Saints for winning without all of their running backs, but it’s not so difficult when the opposing quarterback does nothing but throw to the other team in the red zone.

Green Bay Packers (13-3) – Previously: 3.
I made a big bet on the Packers as soon as I learned Corey Linsley would return to action. The Packers had sputtered offensively without Linsley because they were down two offensive linemen (Lane Taylor), but his return changed that. The 40-point output was not a surprise.

And there goes my optimism. David Bakhtiari going down is huge. I know the Packers just clobbered the Bears, but Chicago is a 4-12 team wearing an 8-8 costume.

Buffalo Bills (13-3) – Previously: 2.
The Bills made a risky, low-upside call to play Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs in the finale. Both performed well, but wow, I imagine Bills fans were holding their breath when Allen was sacked on the opening drive.

Kansas City Chiefs (14-2) – Previously: 1.
Thank you, Andy Reid, for tanking Week 17 and allowing me to finish in the top 10 of the Supercontest!

Anyway, we won’t see the Chiefs for a while, but they’ll remain the Super Bowl favorites with Mitchell Schwartz bound to return soon.