NFL Power Rankings Week 15: 1-32 voting, plus offensive, defensive, and special team rankings

2021-12-14 14:14:39 By : Ms. Melissa Cai

After Lamar Jackson was injured in the 14th week against the Browns, Mina Kings expressed concern about the Ravens' playoff hopes. (1:03)

We decided to go beyond the typical numbers in this week’s NFL power rankings and use ESPN’s Football Power Index to tell the story of each team. Therefore, the reporters evaluated the team's offensive, defensive and special team FPI rankings they reported to explain why the team is in the standings.

Some reporters began to talk about interesting things, such as the efficient offense led by GOAT by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the petty defense led by coach master Bill Belichick by the New England Patriots. Other things are less interesting, such as the lack of offensive strength of the Houston Texans, the defensive loopholes of the New York Jets, and most things about the Lions and Jaguars. Even others are trying to understand how the FPI rankings have not yet been translated into their recommendations. For example, the Buffalo Bills, despite being ranked in the top seven for every unit, still averaged 7-6. A lot, but trust us, it will make sense in the end.

How do we determine our strength ranking: Our strength group-a group of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities-evaluates the team's performance throughout the season.

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The Buccaneers averaged 31.54 points and 410.15 yards per game are the best in the NFL, so their top rankings are guaranteed, and their defense—which has been destroyed by injuries for most of the season—started in Be healthy at the right time. They still lose 22.85 points per game, ranking 19th in the league, but the same as this time last year (22.6 to the 14th week of 2020). Their ratings on special teams are not high. Their 81% field goal percentage is only 20th in the league, and their opponent’s return yards are 27.54 yards — third in the NFL — but they have done a good job in pan coverage, ranking No. Nine. These figures are fair. --Jenna Lane

The Cardinals are one of the best teams in football for a reason, not just because their offense is a high-power, high-intensity machine. According to these numbers, their defense is equally good-or better. The biggest problem for the rest of the season and entering the playoffs may be their special team, according to these rankings, they are in the middle. But offense and defense are enough to cover up the shortcomings of any special team. --Josh Winvers

Stephen A. Smith analyzed why Aaron Rogers' performance against the Bears on Sunday showed that his toes were not a problem.

Offense dominates, defense is already available, and the special team is a disaster. Sunday’s victory against the Bears is the epitome of the Packers’ season and these rankings: Green Bay gave up a 97-yard punt pass in the first half for a touchdown and allowed Chicago to recover a side in the fourth quarter. Kicked, but the Packers scored 45 points and returned with a scoring interception. However, if the Packers do not repair the third part, it may ruin their season. ——Rob Demowski

For the Chiefs on both sides of the team, this is an uneven season, so it is difficult to correctly view their rankings. Except for their recent two games against the Raiders, their offensive feel has ranked among the top three in the league for a long time. At the same time, I feel that the defense, which averaged 12 points per game in the past six games, is better than the midfielder. After the victory over Las Vegas, they are dominant on offense and defense, and the Chiefs seem to be in a good position to perform stretching exercises. ——Adam Techer

Bill Belichick often talks about playing complementary football, weaving the three phases of the game together to help win the game. FPI data shows how the Patriots mainly do this. The strong defense and special team assists the offense. This allows rookie quarterback Mac Jones to play a clever role in his learning process at work. -Mike Rice

Ryan Clark defended the Cowboys linebacker Mika Parsons for winning the Defensive Player of the Year.

Who would have thought that defense would be the strength of this team? At the beginning of the season, no one would say that. I hope the Cowboys can enter the first half of the league. This will be a huge improvement in 2020. Good enough can make them a contender, but now their defense is enjoying the strongest season in recent years, and the crime is a scuffle. However, to become a real contender in January, the offense must return to scoring, which means that the big show has been cut in recent weeks. --Todd Archer

The offensive and defensive FPI scores are the result of the absence of important players due to injuries. After losing running back Derek Henry, Tennessee began to effectively manage football in a committee manner. As wide receiver Julio Jones continues to stay healthy, and with the eventual return of AJ Brown, the passing game should improve. The defense made four turnovers and seemed to be rejuvenated after the goodbye week. The final return of linebacker Bud Dupree will help to further improve. The special forces performed mediocre. But a healthy Titan team will be in a good position to advance to the playoffs. ——Tren Davenport

The numbers make sense. But for the Rams, what hasn't added up this season is their inconsistency. Sometimes, Matthew Stafford and the offense are unstoppable. The 13-year-old quarterback used his arm to create an explosive offense on the court. But in three consecutive defeats, he is also prone to many mistakes. The defense has been able to stop when needed, but it also kept the 49ers and Packers on the court for too long. And a special team? Well, they have been a problem throughout the season, and the low ranking reflects this. -Lindsay

The Bills’ numbers reflect a frustrating trend. This team performed well in all three stages at different times of the season, but underperformed in too many games, especially on the defensive end. The special team ranking stands out here because it reflects the impressive season of position kicker Taylor Bass and why the team likes punter Matt Hack. These ratings show that a team should have a better record than 7-6, but it was 0-5 in a single game this year. ——Alena Getzenberg

The Ravens lead the AFC North with moderate offense and defense, as both sides have taken them sometimes this season. The lack of consistency is the result of the Ravens losing seven starters due to injuries at the end of the season. In the past month, defense has been the Ravens' most powerful unit. If Lamar Jackson (ankle) and offense can get back on track, Baltimore can enter the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. —— Jamison Hensley

These numbers almost accurately prove the performance of the 49ers this season: a mid-range team that can beat or lose to anyone. Niners are always at their best when the offense can control the ball and the clock and defend timely takeaways or stop the ball in the red zone. But the special team also played an important role in at least two losses. Although the unit has made great progress in the 14th week against the Bengals, it still needs to continue to improve to improve the Nigerian team to the present. Looks beyond the limited upper limit. --Nick Wagner

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The Chargers’ offense is as good as Justin Herbert’s arm, which is very good. A beautiful 59-yard TD pass to Jalen Gayton on Sunday’s victory proved it. Herbert is a star, Austin Eckler has stepped up his game, and the Chargers have the ability to beat anyone when they click. However, if the Chargers seriously want to run in the playoffs, defense is sometimes lacking and needs to become more stable. The special teams are better than their final rankings, but at best they are not. ——Shelley Smith

It's not surprising that the Colts rank in the top 10 offensively, especially when MVP contender Jonathan Taylor runs back. The real test this season will be on the defensive end, as the Colts will be tested by the Patriots, Cardinals and Raiders in the next three games. The Patriots and Cardinals are in their respective divisions, while the Raiders are trying to stay in the AFC playoffs. -Mike Wells

This confirms that Cincinnati's offense is the worst team on the team. The Bengals have been trying to either start well, maintain a certain consistency, or do both. According to NFL Next Gen data, Cincinnati’s offensive line ranks second in terms of pass and block win rate, and the Bengals seem to be regularly establishing regional running plans and broadcasting with quarterback Joe Burrow. Get into trouble between. Under the leadership of third-year coordinator Lu Anarumo, the defense is very solid, and Darin Simmons’s special team is also very strong, except for the flat bottom of two losses in Sunday’s loss to the 49ers. The ship returns. ——Benbao

Rex Ryan doubted that the Browns had a chance to succeed as a quarterback at Baker Mayfield.

Regardless of the FPI ranking, Cleveland's defense has begun to take steps in time to advance the playoffs. The Browns intercepted Lamar Jackson four times two weeks ago and then scored on Miles Garrett's undress and scoring in Sunday's game against the Ravens. The problem is that the Browns' offense continues to scuffle. If Kevin Stefansky can launch an offense again, especially on the ground, the Browns may become a strong enemy in the playoffs. --Jack Trotter

It is difficult to translate the FPI rating because it is difficult to fully explain the 2021 Steelers. For most of Thursday night, they looked like a team ranked 26th in offense and defense. But in the fourth quarter, their performance seemed to be in the top 10 in both aspects. This is not the first time this season. The offense looks stiff and stagnant until it is no longer crowded, and the defense has been unable to stop anyone on the ground for four full quarters. The special team provided by Miles Killebrew and Chris Boswell was responsible for changing the rules of the game, but rookie bettor Pressley Harvin III was unstable. So, just like the ratings, the Steelers are everywhere. --Brook Pryor

The bottom line is that in most cases, despite a bunch of injuries, the Broncos' defense is still good enough to be a playoff team. Except for the losses to Las Vegas, Cleveland and Philadelphia. On the offensive end, the Broncos are hot and cold, depending on their willingness to stick to what they do best: running the ball in a passing game and pushing the problem to the low court. To a large extent, the special forces gave up more drama than they did. If the Broncos can maintain defensive consistency, become their offensive people more often, and prevent special teams from sabotaging potentially good things, then they may linger in the AFC playoffs until the end. —— Jeff Levold

The fact that Miami's defensive FPI score is only 0.5 really proves how bad it performed in the first eight weeks of the season. Since week 9, the defense has allowed the Dolphins to win five consecutive victories, and they are currently playing like an elite team. On the offensive end, the Dolphins rely on Tua Tagovailoa's big play and efficient play, but they have not yet shown the ability to win penalty shootouts. Miami needs to win to have the hope of entering the playoffs, but with its defensive level, anything is possible. --Marcel Louis-Jacques

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These numbers reflect the struggle with a 2-6 record in the first half. Defense, which should be the cornerstone of the team, was terrible for most of that time-the final score and the 29th yard. But in the past six games, Washington has ranked fourth in defensive yards and eighth in allowed points. The special team was hurt by five kicks or blocked extra points, but overall, they have been stable. The offensive ranking shows the struggle. Washington lost a key player (tight end Logan Thomas) due to injury, and potential organizer Curtis Samuel missed eight games due to a groin injury, which has yet to have the expected impact. ——John Keim

The Eagles are the best rushing team in the NFL (160 yards per game), but the pass is ranked third from the bottom (196 YPG), which helps explain why they are close to the midfield. Their scoring average (25.9) ranks 12th, and their overall performance is stable after coach Nick Sirianni switched to more ground offenses in Week 8. The defense has also been moving in the right direction, thanks to the corner kick Darius Slay, who has returned with 3 touchdowns this season. Over the past four weeks, the Eagles have limited their opponents to 17 points per game. This is an encouraging sign because they have played at home. Three of the last four games were against Washington (20.5 points per game) and Giants (17.8 points per game). Although it is fair to rate a special team as average, kicker Jack Elliott (22 of 24 shots, 92% success rate) has been eliminated. -Tim McManus

Minnesota scored a point in 10 consecutive games, which is reflected in its defensive FPI score. The Vikings were defeated four times in their opponent's final hit, and they almost wasted a 29-point lead over Pittsburgh, thus making it almost the biggest comeback in NFL regular season history. Because of Kirk Cousins' league's best TD intercept ratio and the production it saw from Justin Jefferson after the 10th week, the offense has always been the top 10 unit. In fact, the Vikings have been trying to form a complete offensive and defensive game (and some ups and downs in the kicking game) is the reason they watched from the outside into the final four games of the playoffs. - Courtney Cronin

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Compared to many previous seasons at Drew Brees' peak, this was a weird season, when offense was dominant and defense prevented the Saints. But in their long season without QB1, WR1, RB1, TE1 and OT1 and OT2, these numbers are very meaningful. The good news is that the Saints should be as healthy offensively and defensively as they have throughout the season-which may make their hopes for the playoffs slim. —— Mike Triplet

As Bill Parcells once said: "You are what your record says." When it comes to these FPI numbers... exactly. Overall, the offensive end, especially quarterback Derek Carr (Derek Carr) is at a mid-level. The defense has improved, yes, but it's still a bottom feeder. Perhaps the scariest number here is the special team. Interim head coach Rich Bisacha is one of the most respected special team coaches in the NFL. But in the final analysis, it's about winning or losing, isn't it? Explain in the words of another member of Al Davis's Hall of Fame: just competition, baby! --Paul Gutierrez

If you have seen the Falcons' performance this season, these ratings are not surprising. Most of their victories were a possession game - including Sunday's game against Carolina State - and their loss was an explosion. Atlanta is one of two teams (Hello, Jets) and has not made the top 20 in all three stages of football. The Falcons, ranked 27th overall, are the lowest ranked team in the playoffs. So, what does this think of a real Falcon? Although each side of the ball has its own struggles, they have performed well as a whole and are well guided. --Michael Rothstein

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The Seahawks’ offensive ranking at number 12 is better than you might expect, as the team has been in ups and downs most of the time dealing with Russell Wilson’s finger injury and the absence of their best running back, Chris Carson. Uncertain state. year. They have performed poorly in two of Gino Smith's three starts and the first three games of Wilson's return, but the Seahawks have made considerable progress in the past two games. What's more surprising is that although their scoring ranks fifth in the NFL, their defense is so low. Most of their success has come from the smaller quarterback, with Aaron Rodgers being the biggest exception. On Sunday, they controlled the scoring of rookies Davis Mills and the Texans to 13 points, but the Seattle team will put Matthew Stafford and the Rams to a tougher test this week. --Brady Henderson

The offensive rating summarizes where this team is heading south and the factors that prevent it from succeeding for the rest of the season. Losing to Atlanta on Sunday is the epitome of this year. Quarterbacks Cam Newton and PJ Walker made two interceptions and missed errors that led to Atlanta's 13 points. Coach Matt Ruhr called Newton's two mistakes "catastrophic", and since Sam Danold started 3-0, there have been many such mistakes. Offensive data will not lie. --David Newton

Yes, it looks almost the same. The Giants are not good at any aspect, but at least it will get them the top ten picks. They averaged 17.8 points per game, they couldn't run steadily, and their passing performed poorly for everyone (including quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receivers Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard, and Kadarius Toney). If there is no real pass and sprint, the defense can't handle the quarterback well. Their best unit is their special team, which is not surprising. After all, Joe Judge is a special team coach. This is why you finally failed for the fifth consecutive season. - Jordan Ranan

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The lack of talent around Justin Fields-from the offensive line to the receiver-is why Chicago ranks 29th in offensive scoring, 31st in yards, and last in passing. Fields' rookie season has put his development into question and pointed out that the Bears need to concentrate on supporting him in the draft. Obviously, the window for Chicago to win defensively has almost closed, and the once proud team has been affected by injuries from Khalil Mack to Danny Trevatan. But hey, at least the Bears' return team makes things exciting. In the 14th week of the defeat, Jakeem Grant Sr. (Jakeem Grant Sr.) completed a 97-yard touchdown return-this is the NFL's first scoring return this season. - Courtney Cronin

There is no hope now, only the future-which means 2022 and beyond. The defense has always been poor, with expansion talent. It won't improve until the Jets invest in high draft picks on that side of the ball. No matter what talent they have on the offensive end, they are hurt; WRs Elijah Moore and Corey Davis and RB Michael Carter are on IR. In the last four races, QB Zach Wilson's sled will be tough. -Rich Cimini

Stephen A. Smith explained in detail why Urban Meyer needs to be the coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Since the team’s goodbye week, the offense has been a mess, and the defense must be perfect to give the Jaguars a chance to win. That happened once-a 9-6 Buffalo upset, in which the offense only made three shots-but the defense did not have such a high level of personnel every week. QB Trevor Lawrence didn't play well, but his pass receiver (24 conceded goals ranked second in the NFL) or RB James Robinson sitting on the bench for a long time due to groping did not help him. Since defeating Miami 23-20 in London to end their 20-game losing streak, the Jaguars have averaged only 9.1 points per game in the past seven games. —— Mike Di Rocco

The Lions are currently most likely to win the first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. With the current lineup, even in the best circumstances, this team may be able to achieve five victories, which is generous. However, the end-of-season injuries of key players such as cornerback Jeff Okuda, center Frank Lagno and linebacker Romeo Okwara help explain the poor offensive and defensive ratings. The last four games of the season may be difficult for the Lions as they try to rebuild for the future under the leadership of first-year coach Dan Campbell. ——Eric Woodyard

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The Texans replaced the quarterback — replacing Tyler Taylor with Davis Mills — but this did not help the FPI's final offensive struggle in the NFL. Houston's defense has some playmakers, but they have been torn apart throughout the season. The Texans' special team was a highlight, including kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn who shot 61 yards in Sunday's loss to the Seahawks. -Sarah Bashop