NFL power rankings: Where 49ers sit after crappy loss to Rams originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Anyone else want to fast forward to the end of the regular season?
I know of a number of teams, and one player in particular, who wouldn’t mind ending their 2024 NFL seasons early.
The playoff picture just doesn’t change much, and aside from seeding, we pretty much know who will be there in January.
Speaking of a team that won’t be, here the 49ers sit after a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on “Thursday Night Football” and heading into Week 16.
32. New York Giants (Last week: 32)
Record: 2-12
I’m counting down the days until I don’t have to waste a single brain cell thinking about this team. The “Hard Knocks” offseason came a year early, as it appears the first overall pick will be theirs.
31. Las Vegas Raiders (Last week: 31)
Record: 2-12
Avert your eyes, there’s disgusting football being played in Las Vegas. However, it’s all part of their plan. Let them cook.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars (Last week: 30)
Balance: 3-11
Brian Thomas Jr. is the only redeeming quality of this team. A healthy Trevor Lawrence will have at least one weapon next season.
29. Tennessee Titans (Last week: 29)
Balance: 3-11
Do you realize how bad you must be if Mason Rudolph replaces you and looks like a competent quarterback? Drafting anything other than Will Levis’ replacement in the first round next spring should be considered a betrayal.
28. New England Patriots (Last week: 28)
Balance: 3-11
I’ll be honest: I kind of forgot about Drake Maye until now. How is his rookie season going? Probably not good. Do I think it’s important enough to find out? Not really.
27. Cleveland Browns (Last week: 27)
Balance: 3-11
I know, we all love Jameis Winston, and that’s why it pains me to say he should never be a starting quarterback in the NFL again. We just have to accept that he is the extremely charismatic backup/motivational speaker.
26. Carolina Panthers (Last week: 25)
Balance: 3-11
There was no continuation of Bryce Young’s redemption arc this week. He may still be the man, but how he responds to end the season will tell us a lot.
25. Chicago Bears (Last week: 24)
Record: 4-10
At this point they might as well refuel. And it looks like they got the message. The Bears will forever be bound in the chains of misery.
24. New York Jets (Last week: 26)
Record: 4-10
This is the passing game we expected from the Jets offense this season. However, Aaron Rodgers leading the team in rushing wasn’t on my bingo card. What happened to Breece Hall this season?
23. New Orleans Saints (Last week: 23)
Record: 5-9
Quarterback time in the third series in The Big Easy. Bah. Blow it up in the off season.
22. Indianapolis Colts (Last week: 20)
Balance: 6-8
Ah, I see Anthony Richardson has been doing Anthony Richardson things again. I think I’ve seen enough of him, it’s time to look elsewhere this offseason.
21. Dallas Cowboys (Last week: 22)
Balance: 6-8
Cooper Rush is a pretty good backup quarterback. There I said it. I still think it’s blasphemous that Rico Dowdle didn’t get all these opportunities earlier this season.
20. Miami Dolphins (Last week: 17)
Balance: 6-8
Does anyone else find it appropriate that Mike McDaniel’s offense has declined at the same rate as his mentor’s? Likewise, the pieces are still there. It just… doesn’t come together.
19. San Francisco 49ers (Last week: 16)
Balance: 6-8
A depressing, frustrating and embarrassing season came to an end in the most depressing, frustrating and embarrassing way. Side note: De’Vondre Campbell should not play NFL football again. Goodbye.
18. Cincinnati Bengals (Last week: 21)
Balance: 6-8
Joe Burrow kept cooking and scored a big win, but at this point it’s probably too late. Cincy has the Browns, Broncos and Steelers to end the season. Even if they win, the Bengals will need a lot of help.
17. Arizona Cardinals (Last week: 19)
Record: 7-7
FINALLY the offense comes alive. That just means things will be rotten against Carolina next week, right? They are still in the thick of the division race.
16. Atlanta Falcons (Last week: 18)
Record: 7-7
Kirk Cousins ended up throwing a touchdown pass, but of course that came with an interception. They’re still in the playoff race, but their best chance is winning the NFC South. Two of their next three games are against the Giants and Panthers.
15. Seattle Seahawks (Last week: 11)
Balance: 8-6
If Geno Smith’s injury is serious, Seattle is done. If that’s the case, I congratulate the Rams on winning the NFC West.
14. Los Angeles Rams (Last week: 14)
Balance: 8-6
It really wasn’t pretty, but an offense that scored 44 points a week ago found a way to barely get by without scoring a single touchdown. The team on the other side of the field happened to be a little more pathetic.
13. Los Angeles Chargers (Last week: 10)
Balance: 8-6
I’ve made my feelings known about the offense and it was mediocre again on Sunday, but if their defense plays like they did against Tampa Bay, this team is definitely not going anywhere.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Last week: 15)
Balance: 8-6
This is a very good and balanced offense that woke up feeling dangerous on Sunday against a good Chargers defense. The division should be a fact soon enough.
11. Denver Broncos (Last week: 13)
Record: 9-5
Bo Nix struggled against Indy, but when your defense is as good as theirs, even the ugliest rookie mistakes won’t matter.
10. Washington Commanders (Last week: 12)
Record: 9-5
The Jayden Daniels we saw early in the season has returned. Highly efficient and flawless through the air and elusive on the ground.
9. Houston Texans (Last week: 9)
Record: 9-5
I’ve been sounding the alarm about this offense all season and they were disappointing again on Sunday, but if the defense can play like it did against Miami, it might not be DEFCON 1 yet.
8. Baltimore Ravens (Last week: 8)
Record: 9-5
An easy 355 all-purpose yards and five passing touchdowns for Lamar Jackson, who makes a strong case for another MVP award. However, his counterpart in Buffalo could have a slight advantage.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (Last week: 6)
Balance: 10-4
No George Pickens and a terrible rushing performance made it difficult for Russell Wilson and the offense to keep up with Philly. However, they still clinched a play-off spot.
6. Green Bay Packers (Last week: 7)
Balance: 10-4
Josh Jacobs has been on a touchdown tear lately and Jordan Love is playing good, clean football. This is a team that will perform well against any playoff opponent. The wildcard team that no one wants to face.
5. Buffalo Bills (Last week: 5)
Balance: 11-3
I’ve seen enough. Josh Allen is your league MVP. Every week he seems to find a new way to score touchdowns. Crown him.
4. Minnesota Vikings (Last week: 4)
Balance: 12-2
Oh boy, the NFC North just got really interesting. Minnesota has a brutal rest schedule with games against the Seahawks, Packers and Lions, but Detroit’s schedule isn’t exactly a cakewalk either. This can be fun.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (Last week: 3)
Balance: 12-2
Okay, so Saquon Barkley is human. Luckily for Philly, Jalen Hurts has AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith to feed over and over again.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (Last week: 2)
Balance: 13-1
Another decent victory for the defending champions, whose attack hardly had to break a sweat thanks to four choices from the defense.
1. Detroit Lions (Last week: 1)
Balance: 12-2
The Lions have now won a game in which Jared Goff threw five interceptions and lost a game in which he threw five touchdowns. Sunday’s game against Buffalo was a shootout of epic proportions.
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