The JetNation NFL Power Rankings are here with just four games left and fourteen shopping days until Christmas. The Seahawks are rolling, the Broncos will not stop winning, surprise teams like the Texans and Jaguars are crashing the party, and a few supposed contenders are suddenly scrambling to hang on to playoff spots.
Each of the league’s heavyweights has a specific wish list item they would love to find under the tree on Christmas morning, whether it is a more balanced offense, a run defense that can actually tackle, or a young quarterback finally taking the next step. Unfortunately for the New York Jets, the holidays mostly bring coal; after another embarrassing no-show, they are buried near the bottom of the rankings and staring down a miserable finish while fans are already counting the 135 days until the NFL draft.
NFL Power Rankings
1. Seattle Seahawks 10-3 (Last Week: 1)
The Seahawks flopped around in the first half before demolishing the Falcons in the second half. The fading Colts are coming to town this week. The Seahawks cannot get caught looking ahead to the Rams the week after.
Christmas List: A vintage version of Cooper Kupp. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the league’s leading receiver. The Seahawks offense has been humming along but some balance would be great. Kupp has not caught more than three passes in the last seven games.
2. New England Patriots 11-2 (Last Week: 4)
New England had a bye week to prepare for the Bills. The game is at home and there are no excuses. The Patriots opponents have an overall record of 65-117. The Pats can win the division even if they lose this week, but would they be taken seriously?
Christmas List: The Patriots trail only Dallas in passing yards per game. As the weather deteriorates, New England would love to improve on the league’s 21st ranked rush offense.
3. Los Angeles Rams 10-3 (Last Week: 3)
The Rams were not challenged by Arizona Sunday. Detroit will be a much tougher opponent. There is no room for errors with a trip to Seattle looming.
Christmas List: The Rams have no weaknesses, but they get very little from their tight ends. Having second-round pick Terrance Ferguson or one of the veterans step up for the playoff run would make life easier for Puka Nacua and Davante Adams on the outside.
4. Denver Broncos 11-2 (Last Week: 4)
The Broncos winning streak is now at ten games. The schedule is ramping up now with the Packers, Jaguars, Chiefs, and Chargers coming up.
Christmas List: Bo Nix has been good, not great. If Denver is going to secure home field advantage and make a serious run, the second-year quarterback needs to take a major step forward in the last stage of the season.
5. San Francisco 49ers 9-4 (Last Week: 5)
The Niners were off last week as they lurk just off the pace in the NFC West.
Christmas List: San Francisco desperately needs a wide receiver to step up. Christian McCaffrey has more than twice the number of receptions of any wide receiver on the Niners roster.
6. Green Bay Packers 9-3-1 (Last Week: 9)
The Packers have taken control of the NFC North. Green Bay’s top five defense is leading the way.
Christmas List: Tight end Tucker Craft is the second leading receiver for the Packers despite playing in just eight games due to injury. The Packers need more from their pass catchers.
7. Buffalo Bills 9-4 (Last Week: 10)
Buffalo came back against the Bengals to keep their division hopes alive. The Bills will need to play better on both sides of the ball to win in New England.
Christmas List: The rush defense is now allowing over 135 yards per game. That is 28th in the league. If that statistic does not improve, the Bills season will be shorter than they would like.
8. Houston Texans 8-5 (Last Week: Unranked)
The Texans have won five straight games. If they stay healthy, the Texans have the schedule to run the table.
Christmas List: Good health. The only thing standing between this team and a long playoff run is injuries. Nobody wants to see the Texans in the playoffs.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars 9-4 (Last Week: Unranked)
The Jaguars make their first appearance in the top ten after winning their fourth straight game. The Texans are on their heels in the AFC South, but Jacksonville’s schedule sets up nicely for them to take the division.
Christmas List: A better Trevor. Fans wanted their teams to lose so they could draft this guy. There are flashes, but the team needs more if the Jags are going to make any noise in the playoffs.
10. Chicago Bears 9-4 (Last Week: 6)
The Bears win streak ended in Green Bay. The team fell from top seed to now fighting for a playoff berth.
Christmas List: Better defense. Chicago has been great at creating turnovers, but their defense lags at 27th in the league. The Bears need to slow offenses down to be a postseason factor.
30. New York Jets 3-9 (Last Week: 27)
That was a pathetic showing by the Jets. Sunday’s game against Miami rivaled any of the horrible performances this team has had over recent years. That is saying something as this team has played horrifically on multiple occasions.
This week New York travels to Jacksonville to play the surging Jaguars. The Jets are 12.5-point underdogs. I do not know if that is enough. Jacksonville has a lot to play for, and the Jets showed on Sunday that they cannot wait for the season to be over. The Jets’ best chance is if the Jaguars overlook them thinking about their upcoming opponents, all of which are involved in the postseason race, but the Jags would probably still win anyway.
I do not see another winnable game on the calendar. I thought the New Orleans game was winnable, but the Saints showed spirit on Sunday winning in Tampa Bay. There are just 135 days until the NFL draft.
