Arizona Sports NFL Power Rankings Week 15: Steelers take over the top spot

If you saw the New England Patriots, last week’s top team, potentially stumbling in a Monday night trip to Miami, please step forward.

Yeah, nobody. That’s what we thought.

However, that scenario played out. The Dolphins thoroughly outplayed the Patriots, snapping their 14-game road winning streak and allowing the Pittsburgh Steelers to become the latest team to claim the top spot in the Arizona Sports Power Rankings.

While the Patriots did fall, they didn’t fall far. New England is our number-two team this week and they’ll face the Steelers Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field in what could be a preview of the AFC Championship Game.

Here’s a look at our 1-32 NFL pecking order heading into Week 15.

Ties will go to the team that receives the majority of higher rankings from our panel.

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Burns | Jurecki | Lapinski | Marotta | Morgan

Week 15 Composite

Biggest Risers: Kansas City Chiefs ▲4
Biggest Fallers: Oakland Raiders ▼5

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1. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2)

Shift: ▲3
Hi: 1
Lo: 2
Comment: Doing just enough to win — three straight by a field goal or less. — Marotta
Next: vs. New England

2. New England Patriots (10-3)

Shift: ▼1
Hi: 1
Lo: 3
Comment: Tom Brady had a bad day in a loss to the Dolphins. We probably won’t see another one this season. — Morgan
Next: at Pittsburgh

3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-2)

Shift: ▼1
Hi: 2
Lo: 4
Comment: Impressive that they still managed to beat the Rams, but really tough to think they can win it all now without Wentz. — Lapinski
Next: at NY Giants

4. Minnesota Vikings (10-3)

Shift: ▼1
Hi: 3
Lo: 6
Comment: Probably the new favorite in the NFC with the Wentz injury. — Burns
Next: vs. Cincinnati

5. Los Angeles Rams (9-4)

Shift: —
Hi: 4
Lo: 7
Comment: Why did coach Sean McVay run play-action late in a loss to the Eagles with his starting RT out and the Rams running well? — Morgan
Next: at Seattle

6. Carolina Panthers (9-4)

Shift: ▲2
Hi: 5
Lo: 8
Comment: If Cam ever gets dialed in as a passer again, they’re dangerous. — Lapinski
Next: vs. Green Bay

7. New Orleans Saints (9-4)

Shift: ▼1
Hi: 6
Lo: 9
Comment: Have lost 2 of 3 after Thursday night defeat at Atlanta. Sean Payton embarrassed himself in that game. — Marotta
Next: vs. NY Jets

8. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)

Shift: ▲1
Hi: 4
Lo: 10
Comment: I love it when somebody out-physicals Seattle. — Burns
Next: vs. Houston

9. Atlanta Falcons (8-5)

Shift: ▲1
Hi: 8
Lo: 10
Comment: TGood division win last week vs. Saints. Final three games at TB, at NO, and home against vs. Panthers. — Jurecki
Next: at Tampa Bay (Monday night)

10. Seattle Seahawks (8-5)

Shift: ▼3
Hi: 9
Lo: 11
Comment: Classless way to end that game. The bully got bullied and they didn’t know how to respond. — Burns
Next: vs. LA Rams

11. Los Angeles Chargers (7-6)

Shift: ▲2
Hi: 9
Lo: 12
Comment: 7-2 in their last nine — and they have four losses by three points or less. — Marotta
Next: at Kansas City (Saturday)

12. Baltimore Ravens (7-6)

Shift: —
Hi: 12
Lo: 14
Comment: Alex Collins just gets better every week. — Lapinski
Next: at Cleveland

13. Tennessee Titans (8-5)

Shift: ▼2
Hi: 11
Lo: 18
Comment: Marcus Mariota just isn’t a very good quarterback. — Morgan
Next: at San Francisco

14. Kansas City Chiefs (7-6)

Shift: ▲4
Hi: 13
Lo: 16
Comment: Their defense and run game finally came to play vs. Raiders. — Burns
Next: vs. LA Chargers (Saturday)

15. Dallas Cowboys (7-6)

Shift: —
Hi: 13
Lo: 18
Comment: Dez Bryant somehow hasn’t had a 100-yard game since Nov. 13… of 2016. — Lapinski
Next: at Oakland

16. Green Bay Packers (7-6)

Shift: —
Hi: 14
Lo: 17
Comment: Hundley’s three wins have come against Chicago, Tampa Bay and Cleveland — but the Packers are still alive. — Marotta
Next: at Carolina

17. Detroit Lions (7-6)

Shift: —
Hi: 13
Lo: 18
Comment: Ho-hum. Another 4th quarter rally for Stafford. — Burns
Next: vs. Chicago (Saturday)

18. Buffalo Bills (7-6)

Shift: ▲1
Hi: 17
Lo: 19
Comment: LeSean McCoy is the greatest running back ever in games where there’s a foot of snow on the field. — Marotta
Next: vs. Miami

19. Oakland Raiders (6-7)

Shift: ▼5
Hi: 18
Lo: 21
Comment: The Raiders are the NFL’s most disappointing team. — Morgan
Next: vs. Dallas

20. Arizona Cardinals (6-7)

Shift: ▲3
Hi: 20
Lo: 20
Comment:  Gabbert won another start vs. Titans, missed some receivers but zero turnovers. — Jurecki
Next: at Washington

21. Miami Dolphins (6-7)

Shift: ▲3
Hi: 17
Lo: 24
Comment: When the meaningful games are done, Jay Cutler takes over. — Lapinski
Next: at Buffalo

22. Washington Redskins (5-8)

Shift: —
Hi: 21
Lo: 23
Comment: Falling apart just in time for the Cards visit on Sunday. — Burns
Next: vs. Arizona

23. Cincinnati Bengals (5-8)

Shift: ▼3
Hi: 22
Lo: 24
Comment: The Bengals’ 33-7 loss to the Bears was its worst home loss since a 34-3 loss to Baltimore in 2008. — Morgan
Next: at Minnesota

24. New York Jets (5-8)

Shift: ▼3
Hi: 21
Lo: 27
Comment: Got only 100 yards of offense in shutout loss to Denver. — Marotta
Next: at New Orleans

25. Denver Broncos (4-9)

Shift: ▲2
Hi: 23
Lo: 29
Comment: Watching Trevor Siemian vs. Bryce Petty sort of makes you think the NFL needs more quality quarterbacks. — Lapinski
Next: at Indianapolis (Thursday)

26. Chicago Bears (4-9)

Shift: ▲2
Hi: 24
Lo: 28
Comment: Mitch Trubisky had his best performance in a win over the Bengals. — Morgan
Next: at Detroit (Saturday)

27. Houston Texans (4-9)

Shift: ▼2
Hi: 25
Lo: 28
Comment: The Tom Savage situation was disgusting. Bill O’Brien has done a deplorable job of coaching this team this season. — Marotta
Next: at Jacksonville

28. San Francisco 49ers (3-10)

Shift: ▲2
Hi: 22
Lo: 30
Comment: Jimmy G now 4-0 in his career as a starter. — Jurecki
Next: vs. Tennessee

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-9)

Shift: ▼3
Hi: 24
Lo: 26
Comment: Reports swirling about Jameis and Koetter feuding. Gee, I wonder who will win that battle? — Marotta
Next: vs. Atlanta (Monday night)

30. Indianapolis Colts (3-10)

Shift: ▼1
Hi: 29
Lo: 30
Comment: If Chuck Pagano gets fired, he could be on the radar for the Cardinals in 2018 as co-defensive coordinator. — Jurecki
Next: vs. Denver (Thursday night)

31. New York Giants (2-11)

Shift: —
Hi: 31
Lo: 31
Comment: The old-school helmets were the only thing to love about them on Sunday. — Burns
Next: vs. Philadelphia

32. Cleveland Browns (0-13)

Shift: —
Hi: 32
Lo: 32
Comment: If this was hockey, the Browns at least would have two OT losses. — Lapinski
Next: vs. Baltimore

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