Arizona Sports Week 15 NFL Power Rankings: Patriots return to top spot
Dec 13, 2016, 6:00 PM
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) sets to throw during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Tom Brady threw for 406 yards and three touchdowns, including a 79-yarder to Chris Hogan, as the New England Patriots notched their fourth straight win, 30-23, over the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football.
The win, coupled with Dallas’ first loss since Week 1, returns the Patriots to the top of the Arizona Sports NFL Power Rankings for Week 15.
Since returning from a four-game suspension, Brady is playing at a ridiculously high level, completing 68.5 percent of his passes for 2,876 yards and 22 touchdowns against only two interceptions. His QB rating of 113.6 is the highest in the league, four-tenths of a point better than Atlanta’s Matt Ryan.
Here’s how our 7-person panel voted this week Here’s each panelist’s individual Week 15 ballot
1. New England Patriots (11-2) ▲ 1
If Jon Gruden mentions how flexible Tom Brady is one more time, I’m out. — Lapinski
Next: at Denver
2. Dallas Cowboys (11-2) ▼ 1
Ohh, I’ve been waiting for this. Dak plays bad and now we have a controversy. — Dimakos
Next: vs. Tampa Bay
3. Kansas City Chiefs (10-3) ▲ 2
I hope this ranking makes Marotta happy. Still not going anywhere in the playoffs, though. — Green
Next: vs. Tennessee
4. Oakland Raiders (10-3) ▼ 1
Could a dislocated pinky cost Derek Carr and the Raiders? — Grialou
Next: at San Diego
5. New York Giants (9-4) ▲ 4
The Giants will have a psychological edge over Dallas if they meet in the playoffs. — Morgan
Next: vs. Detroit
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5) ▲ 2
If you faced Le’Veon Bell in your fantasy playoffs, welcome to the offseason. — Lapinski
Next: at Cincinnati
7. Detroit Lions (9-4) —
Will Matt Stafford’s finger (sound familiar?) be their undoing? — Burns
Next: at New York Giants
8. Seattle Seahawks (8-4-1) ▼ 4
Simply terrible in their last two road games. — Marotta
Next: vs. Los Angeles (Thursday)
9. Atlanta Falcons (8-5) ▲ 1
The Falcons have scored more TDs in Los Angeles this year than the Rams have. — Morgan
Next: vs. San Francisco
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5) ▲ 2
Defense has forced 14 turnovers in last five games. — Morgan
Next: at Dallas
11. Green Bay Packers (6-6) ▲ 2
Thanks for making Pete Carroll do his dumb sideline face. — Dimakos
Next: at Chicago
12. Denver Broncos (8-4) ▼ 6
‘Tis the season for Aqib Talib to threaten Harry Douglas. — Lapinski
Next: vs. New England
13. Washington Redskins (7-5-1) ▲ 1
Hanging around with a good offense. Should win the next two. — Green
Next: vs. Carolina
14. Miami Dolphins (8-5) ▲ 1
Tough to get excited when they’ve only beaten one team with a winning record. — Lapinski
Next: at New York Jets (Saturday)
15. Baltimore Ravens (7-6) ▼ 4
Their lead in the AFC North is officially nevermore. — Green
Next: vs. Philadelphia
16. Minnesota Vikings (7-6) —
Adrian Peterson hopes to return Christmas Eve in a key game against the Packers. — Morgan
Next: vs. Indianapolis
17. Tennessee Titans (7-6) —
Mariota and Winston will get to the playoffs in year two. — Burns
Next: at Kansas City
18. Houston Texans (7-6) ▲ 3
Houston wins its ninth straight against AFC South opponents. — Grialou
Next: vs. Jacksonville
19. Buffalo Bills (6-7) —
I praised Rex a few weeks ago, now he’s on the hot seat. — Marotta
Next: vs. Cleveland
20. Indianapolis Colts (6-7) —
Two straight years with no playoffs? Changes are coming. — Burns
Next: at Minnesota
21. Arizona Cardinals (5-7-1) ▼ 3
Stadiums should play the “Benny Hill” theme song when the Cardinals are on special teams. — Marotta
Next: vs. New Orleans
22. Cincinnati Bengals (5-7-1) ▲ 3
Vontaze is gonna Vontaze this weekend vs. Steelers *grabs popcorn. — Dimakos
Next: vs. Pittsburgh
23. Carolina Panthers (5-8) ▲ 3
What the hell was Cam wearing? — Dimakos
Next: vs. San Diego
24. New Orleans Saints (5-8) ▼ 2
Brees with three picks vs. Tampa Bay — you don’t see that often. — Burns
Next: at Arizona
25. Philadelphia Eagles (5-8) ▼ 2
Philadelphia and Carson Wentz have hit a wall. — Grialou
Next: at Baltimore
26. San Diego Chargers (5-8) ▼ 2
Philip Rivers has 10 interceptions in his last four games — but he’s still awesome, right? — Marotta
Next: vs. Oakland
27. New York Jets (4-9) ▲ 2
Know what Bryce Petty does? He wins football games and nothing else. — Lapinski
Next: vs. Miami
28. Chicago Bears (3-10) —
CBS’ Jason La Canfora gets a lot wrong. The latest: his Bill Polian-to-Chicago report. — Morgan
Next: vs. Green Bay
29. Los Angeles Rams (4-9) ▼ 2
He knows what he’s doing. — Burns
Next: at Seattle (Thursday)
30. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-11) —
The Jags are so awful, they got a delay of game penalty before the game started. — Morgan
Next: at Houston
31. San Francisco 49ers (1-12) —
Losing to the Jets at home might be rock bottom. — Green
Next: at Atlanta
32. Cleveland Browns (0-13) —
Counting preseason, the Browns are 0-17. — Marotta
Next: at Buffalo
