PurplePTSD: Week 16 NFL Power Rankings: Vikings Continue To Trend Upwards

Eagan MN

22 December, 2021

1:00 PM

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Press release from the PurplePTSD: Josh Frey 2021-12-22 Fantasy football playoffs got underway this week, so naturally, this was one of the stranger weeks of football we've seen. Many stars were held to dismal performances that we'd expect to see from them in just one quarter of play rather than an entire game. That said, a few teams earned some crucial victories as the actual NFL playoffs approach. Here is the updated NFL power rankings list as we head into week 16. 1. Green Bay Packers Last Week: 31-30 win @ BAL Trending: – This Week: 12/25 vs CLE Tyler Huntley made this game closer than many would have anticipated, but in the end, the Green Bay Packers defense was able to make one last stand. With that, they held on to the win and earned yet another NFC North crown.  2. Kansas City Chiefs Last Week: 34-28 win @ LAC Trending: +2 This Week: 12/26 vs PIT Travis Kelce feasted on the Chargers defense all night long, and it culminated in a game-clinching overtime touchdown reception. Patrick Mahomes was largely back to his old gunslinging self in this game, and all of a sudden, the Chiefs are back in the AFC's top seed. 3. Los Angeles Rams Last Week: 20-10 win vs SEA Trending: – This Week: 12/26 @ MIN It took a couple extra days to get this game in, but on Tuesday night the Rams were able to face off with the division rival Seahawks. Sony Michel has proven to be a valuable part of LA's offense, and the defense gave Russell Wilson fits the entire night.  4. Indianapolis Colts Last Week: 27-17 win vs NE Trending: +4 This Week: 12/25 @ ARI It's pretty simple, the Colts really just overpowered New England throughout this game. The defense made things tough on Mac Jones while a single big Jonathan Taylor run proved to be the dagger. The Colts are quickly emerging as a threat in the AFC playoffs. 5. New England Patriots Last Week: 17-27 loss @ IND Trending: -3 This Week: 12/26 vs BUF You can't stop Jonathan Taylor, you can only hope to contain him. The New England Patriots learned that the hard way on Saturday. They did a good job of holding him in check for about 58 minutes, but a 67-yard touchdown run at the end of the fourth quarter ended their comeback hopes.  6. Dallas Cowboys Last Week: 21-6 win @ NYG Trending: +3 This Week: 12/26 vs WSH Dallas' defense forced four New York turnovers, and that proved to be enough to completely halt the Giants. Among those four turnovers was yet another Trevon Diggs interception, bringing his league-leading total to 10. 7. Buffalo Bills  Last Week: 31-14 win vs CAR Trending: +4 This Week: 12/26 @ NE The Bills had lost three of their past four games going into this week, but they seemed to get back on track with a win over the reeling Carolina Panthers. Josh Allen threw a trio of touchdown passes while Devin Singletary rushed for another. This week won't be as easy though with a heavyweight matchup against the Patriots looming. 8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Last Week: 0-9 loss vs NO Trending: -3 This Week: 12/26 @ CAR It was not a pretty week in Tampa Bay as the Buccaneers were shutout by the Saints. It's the second consecutive year that Tom Brady's Bucs have been swept by New Orleans in the regular season, and this loss may have been the ugliest yet. 9. Arizona Cardinals Last Week: 12-30 loss vs DET Trending: -3 This Week: 12/25 vs IND The Cardinals are suddenly reeling after a hot start to the season. A lot of that can probably be attributed to Kyler Murray's injuries, but the defense just has not been playing as well as it needs to, either. 10. San Francisco 49ers Last Week: 31-13 win vs ATL Trending: +3 This Week: 12/23 @ TEN San Francisco is on a bit of a roll now. After a very rough start, they've now won five of their last six games. Four of them have been by double digits. This is a very dangerous team heading down the stretch of the season.  11. Tennessee Titans Last Week: 13-19 loss @ PIT Trending: -4 This Week: 12/23 vs SF In what was one of the uglier games of the season, the Titans jumped out to a 10-0 lead over the Steelers, but turnovers on three consecutive possessions allowed Pittsburgh to get back into the game. Ryan Tannehill was uncharacteristically off target in this one, but a matchup with the Niners this week does not bode well. 12. Los Angeles Chargers Last Week: 28-34 loss vs KC Trending: -2 This Week: 12/26 @ HOU LA secured their position atop the AFC West with a win on Thursday night, but Travis Kelce proved to be their kryptonite. The tight end got whatever he wanted as a receiver, and ultimately put the game away with his overtime touchdown. LA now has to fight for a wild card spot. 13. Cincinnati Bengals Last Week: 15-10 win @ DEN Trending: +3 This Week: 12/26 vs BAL Speaking of fighting for their playoff lives, the Bengals went into week 15 in need of a road win. They went into Denver and won a gritty matchup against the Broncos, and now they hold the lead in the AFC North. 14. Baltimore Ravens Last Week: 30-31 loss vs GB Trending: -2 This Week: 12/26 @ CIN Things seemed bleak when Lamar Jackson was ruled out for this game, but Tyler Huntley actually looked like a very similar quarterback to the former MVP against the Green Bay Packers. If only the final two-point conversion had succeeded, a lot of the NFL world could be looking at this game much differently. 15. Miami Dolphins Last Week: 31-24 win vs NYJ Trending: – This Week: 12/27 @ NO And here we are, the Dolphins have officially completed their journey back to .500. They reached an even 7-7 record with their win over the Jets, and they now have a date in the Superdome versus the New Orleans Saints on Monday night. 16. Minnesota Vikings Last Week: 17-9 win @ CHI Trending: +2 This Week: 12/26 vs LAR It sure wasn't pretty, but the Minnesota Vikings were able to escape from Soldier Field with a big win over the Chicago Bears. This victory and some help from Philadelphia moves the Vikings back into the playoff picture prior to their matchup with the Rams. 17. Pittsburgh Steelers Last Week: 19-13 win vs TEN Trending: +3 This Week: 12/26 @ KC There was very little offense to speak of in this game, with both Najee Harris and Deontae Johnson being held in check. However, the Steelers defense proved once again why they are one of the best units in the NFL, and that was enough to will Pittsburgh to a win. 18. Cleveland Browns Last Week: 14-16 loss vs LV Trending: -4 This Week: 12/25 @ GB Cleveland went into this game without either Baker Mayfield or Case Keenum, who both went on the Covid list this week. This meant Nick Mullens was left to start at QB, and well, he looked a lot like Nick Mullens. Ultimately, the Browns were unable to pull off a much-needed win over a frisky Raiders team. 19. Philadelphia Eagles Last Week: 27-17 win vs WSH Trending: +2 This Week: 12/26 vs NYG Jalen Hurts returned as the Eagles starting QB this week, but the real reason that Philly won this game lies in the running game. Miles Sanders rushed for 131 yards at a clip of over seven yards per attempt. Controlling the clock was really all Philly needed to do to get a win on Tuesday. 20. New Orleans Saints Last Week: 9-0 win @ TB Trending: +3 This Week: 12/27 vs MIA The New Orleans Saints continue to look like one of, if not the very best defensive unit in the NFL. The only problem is, Taysom Hill is still their quarterback. If they can get peak-Alvin Kamara down the stretch of the year, this will be a tough team to beat. If they have to rely on Hill, there's little hope of a playoff run. 21. Washington Football Team Last Week: 17-27 loss @ PHI Trending: -2 This Week: 12/26 @ DAL Garrett Gilbert looked overwhelmed on Tuesday stepping in for Washington at QB. Additionally, they got next to nothing out of their rushing attack, and that allowed Philly to completely control the time of possession in this game. 22. Denver Broncos Last Week: 10-15 loss vs CIN Trending: -5 This Week: 12/26 @ LV Teddy Bridgewater took a very ugly hit to the head, but it seems like he is recovering nicely. That is the good news from this week, but the bad news is the Broncos have once again fallen to .500 while the playoff contenders are leaving them behind.  23. Las Vegas Raiders Last Week: 16-14 win @ CLE Trending: +3 This Week: 12/26 vs DEN Derek Carr got one more chance at the end of this game, and he didn't waste it. He led the Raiders offense down the field and allowed Daniel Carlson a chance to send Vegas home as winners with a game-winning field goal. This team just refuses to die, and it's pretty admirable to watch.  24. Seattle Seahawks Last Week: 10-20 loss @ LAR Trending: -2 This Week: 12/26 vs CHI Once again, Russell Wilson just did not look like his normal self throwing the football. The Seahawks offense simply cannot thrive without an elite Wilson at QB, and they don't have that right now. 25. Detroit Lions Last Week: 30-12 win @ ARI Trending: +4 This Week: 12/26 @ ATL The Kardiak Kitties ride again. The Lions went into Arizona and absolutely dominated the Cardinals from start to finish of this game. This is nothing new for Jared Goff though, as he is now 8-1 against the Cardinals in his career. 26. Houston Texans Last Week: 30-16 win @ JAX Trending: +5 This Week: 12/26 vs LAC The Texans came out of the Tank Bowl victorious this week, which I guess means they are the losers? At any rate, a third win on the season moves them now two losses from the first overall pick. 27. Carolina Panthers Last Week: 14-31 loss @ BUF Trending: – This Week: 12/26 vs TB Those Cam Newton touchdowns were looking pretty good when he was coming in for just one or two plays at a time, but now that he's back as the starter, it's clear he's just not ready to compete at a high level. The Panthers never stood a chance against Buffalo. 28. Atlanta Falcons Last Week: 13-31 loss @ SF Trending: -4 This Week: 12/26 vs DET Right as we were starting to come around on the Falcons again in the playoff hunt, they found a way to let us down. This latest example was a blowout loss at the hands of the 49ers, a game they absolutely needed to win in order to stay in the hunt. 29. Chicago Bears Last Week: 9-17 loss vs MIN Trending: -4 This Week: 12/26 @ SEA The Bears were ravaged by Covid this week, but even with that, their offense was absolutely atrocious against the Vikings. Their offensive line was penalty prone and a swinging door for Vikings rushers. The loss officially eliminates their playoff hopes. 30. New York Jets Last Week: 24-31 loss @ MIA Trending: – This Week: 12/26 vs JAX At least the Jets were able to play a competitive game this week. New York ran into a buzzsaw that has been the Miami Dolphins, who won their six consecutive game. Zach Wilson still wasn't great, but New York's defense made things a lot tougher on Tua Tagovailoa than others have been able to in recent weeks. 31. New York Giants Last Week: 6-21 vs DAL Trending: -3 This Week: 12/26 @ PHI No Daniel Jones became a major issue from the very beginning against Dallas. Mike Glennon threw three interceptions before being benched for Jake Fromm. He didn't fare much better against the Cowboys, but at least he didn't turn the ball over. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done. 32. Jacksonville Jaguars Last Week: 16-30 loss vs HOU Trending: –- This Week: 12/26 @ NYJ The Jaguars are moving from one Tank Bowl straight to another this week against the New York Jets. They took a loos in the last one, and they have officially moved to the cellar of the NFL, claiming the first overall pick in the 2022 draft. This press release was produced by the PurplePTSD. The views expressed here are the author's own.