Arizona Sports NFL Power Rankings Week 16: Saints elevate
Dec 18, 2018, 7:53 AM
New Orleans Saints' Alvin Kamara (41) celebrates his run against the Carolina Panthers in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Dec. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
(AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
It’s mid-December, and defense has made a return to the NFL.
After some wild nationally-televised games in recent weeks, the offensive fireworks that highlighted play have been replaced by some good, old-fashioned low-scoring games.
The New Orleans Saints have been on both sides of things. They’re second in league with 459 points scored, but proved they could win a knuckle-dragger, too, Monday night when they beat the Carolina Panthers 12-9 in Charlotte. With that win, and Kansas City’s loss to the Chargers, Drew Brees and company have moved back into the top spot in this week’s Arizona Sports NFL Power Rankings.
Speaking of the Chargers, they’ve elevated all the way up to No. 2 after their gutsy win at Arrowhead.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Arizona Cardinals suffered their fourth loss by 25 or more points this season and stay in the 32nd spot, only because they can’t go any lower.
Here’s a look at this week’s order:
Arizona Sports NFL Power Rankings – Week 16
| Rank | Team | Record | Result | Movement | Comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  |
New Orleans Saints | 12-2 | beat Carolina 12-9 | (▲1) | Have been held to under 13 points in two of their last three games. |
| 2. |  |
Los Angeles Chargers | 11-3 | beat Kansas City 29-28 | (▲2) | Anthony Lynn again showing guts with 2-point conversion call. |
| 3. |  |
Kansas City Chiefs | 11-3 | lost to LA Chargers 29-28 | (▼2) | Mahomes held to season-low 243 yards by Chargers defense. |
| 4. |  |
Los Angeles Rams | 11-3 | lost to Philadelphia 30-23 | (▼1) | There’s a growing concern about Jared Goff’s recent play. |
| 5. |  |
Chicago Bears | 10-4 | beat Green Bay 24-17 | (▲1) | Trubisky’s back, and the Bears are NFC North champs! |
| 6. |  |
Houston Texans | 10-4 | beat NY Jets 29-22 | (▲2) | Beat the Jets despite a season-low 47 rushing yards. |
| 7. |  |
New England Patriots | 9-5 | lost to Pittsburgh 17-10 | (▼2) | Two weeks in a row with a boneheaded play from Brady. |
| 8. |  |
Indianapolis Colts | 8-6 | beat Dallas 23-0 | (▲2) | Handed Cowboys their first shutout loss since Week 11 of 2003. |
| 9. |  |
Pittsburgh Steelers | 8-5-1 | beat New England 17-10 | (▲3) | Jaylen Samuels in for James Connor, Steelers keep on running the ball. |
| 10. |  |
Tennessee Titans | 8-6 | beat NY Giants 17-0 | (▲4) | Derrick Henry has nearly doubled his yardage and touchdowns totals in just the last two weeks. |
| 11. |  |
Baltimore Ravens | 8-6 | beat Tampa Bay 20-12 | (–) | Since taking over as starter, Lamar Jackson is the fifth-leading rusher in the league. |
| 12. |  |
Dallas Cowboys | 8-6 | lost to Indianapolis 23-0 | (▼5) | Manhandled in Indy. |
| 13. |  |
Seattle Seahawks | 8-6 | lost to San Francisco 26-23 (OT) | (▼4) | Seahawks set new team record with 148 yards in penalties. |
| 14. |  |
Philadelphia Eagles | 7-7 | beat LA Rams 30-23 | (▲1) | Nick Foles directing December wins? Where have I heard this before? |
| 15. |  |
Minnesota Vikings | 7-6-1 | beat Miami 41-17 | (▲1) | Offense rolls up season-high 41 points in first game since DeFilippo got fired. |
| 16. |  |
Cleveland Browns | 6-7-1 | beat Denver 17-16 | (▲5) | Browns have won four out of their last five. |
| 17. |  |
Washington Redskins | 7-7 | beat Jacksonville 16-13 | (▲5) | Josh Johnson picks up first career win — 10 years after he was drafted! |
| 18. |  |
Miami Dolphins | 7-7 | lost to Minnesota 41-17 | (▼5) | Outside of a long run by Kalen Ballage, the Dolphins managed 118 yards of offense. |
| 19. |  |
Green Bay Packers | 5-8-1 | lost to Chicago 24-17 | (▼1) | Aaron Rodgers no TD passes for first time this year (13th time in 156 starts). |
| 20. |  |
Denver Broncos | 6-8 | lost to Cleveland 17-16 | (▼3) | Welcome back to the hot seat, Vance Joseph. |
| 21. |  |
Carolina Panthers | 6-8 | lost to New Orleans 12-9 | (▼2) | Cam Newton isn’t right. |
| 22. |  |
New York Giants | 5-9 | lost to Tennessee 17-0 | (▼2) | Were averaging 31.4 points per game over last five…then a goose egg. |
| 23. |  |
Atlanta Falcons | 5-9 | beat Arizona 40-14 | (▲5) | Struggling offense breaks out against Cardinals. |
| 24. |  |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 5-9 | lost to Baltimore 20-12 | (–) | Koetter era just about over in Tampa. |
| 25. |  |
Cincinnati Bengals | 6-8 | beat Oakland 30-16 | (▲1) | Losing streak halts at five in a row. |
| 26. |  |
Buffalo Bills | 5-9 | beat Detroit 14-13 | (▼4) | The Bills have five wins…let that sink in. |
| 27. |  |
San Francisco 49ers | 4-10 | beat Seattle 26-23 (OT) | (▲3) | Back-to-back wins for the Niners. |
| 28. |  |
Detroit Lions | 5-9 | lost to Buffalo 14-13 | (▼5) | Matt Patricia dropping ‘F bombs’ after losses now, but his posture is perfect. |
| 29. |  |
New York Jets | 4-10 | lost to Houston 29-22 | (▼4) | Had a lead with five minutes to go, just couldn’t hang on. |
| 30. |  |
Jacksonville Jaguars | 4-10 | lost to Washington 16-13 | (▼3) | Easy winner for the ‘Disappointment of the Year’ Award. |
| 31. |  |
Oakland Raiders | 3-11 | lost to Cincinnati 30-16 | (–) | You knew they couldn’t win two in a row. |
| 32. |  |
Arizona Cardinals | 3-11 | lost to Atlanta 40-14 | (–) | Have a chance to tie the record for most losses by 25 or more points. |
