NFL Week Fifteen power rankings

By Rick Morris

NOTE: Previous ratings in parentheses.

FIRST TIER: BEST OF THE BEST
1 New Orleans (1)
2 Indianapolis (2)
3 Minnesota (3)
SECOND TIER: SOLID PLAYOFF CONTENDERS
4 San Diego (4)
5 Arizona (5)
6 Philadelphia (7)
THIRD TIER: POTENTIAL PLAYOFF CONTENDERS
7 Cincinnati (6)
8 New England (9)
9 Denver (8)
10 Green Bay (11)
11 NY Giants (10)
12 Miami (16)
13 Baltimore (14)
14 NY Jets (17)
15 Jacksonville (15)
16 Dallas (12)
THIRD TIER: VERY DISTANT PLAYOFF POSSIBILITIES
17 Tennessee (18)
18 Houston (20)
19 Pittsburgh (13)
20 Atlanta (19)
21 San Francisco (21)
FOURTH TIER: VERY BAD, BUT NOT THE WORST
22 Seattle (22)
23 Washington (23)
24 Carolina (24)
25 Chicago (25)
FIFTH TIER: TEAMS WITHOUT ANY REDEEMING VALUE WHATSOEVER
26 Buffalo (26)
27 Oakland (27)
28 Kansas City (28)
29 Tampa Bay (29)
30 Detroit (30)
31 Cleveland (32)
32 St. Louis (31)

BIGGEST RISERS: Miami (4 spots), NY Jets (3 spots)
BIGGEST FALLERS: Pittsburgh (6 spots), Dallas (4 spots)