JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser's pre-Week 16 2019 NFL power rankings. And we all know how important these are:
Rank.Team (record) | Comment
1.Baltimore Ravens (13-2) | 1 | Clinched homefield advantage; Super Bowl favorites
2.New Orleans Saints (12-3) | 2 | Could be as tough as any opponent come the postseason
3.San Francisco 49ers (12-3) | 3 | Now the favorite for No. 1 seed in NFC
4.Green Bay Packers (12-3) | 4 | Clinched NFC North Monday
5.Kansas City Chiefs (11-4) | 5 | Stronger and stronger as postseason approaches
6.New England Patriots (12-3) | 7 | Getting right at the right time
7.Seattle Seahawks (11-4) | 6 | Red-flag loss to the Cardinals? It felt like it
8.Minnesota Vikings (10-5) | 8 | Big games remain a big issue
9.Buffalo Bills (10-5) | 9 | Looking like Team of the Future in AFC East
10.Houston Texans (10-5) | 11 | Your AFC South champion Texans
11.Philadelphia Eagles (8-7) | 14 | Will win the NFC East with a victory over the Giants Sunday
12.Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7) | 10 | As uncharacteristic a loss as you will see from this franchise
13.Tennessee Titans (8-7) | 12 | Will make the postseason with a victory Sunday
14.Dallas Cowboys (7-8) | 13 | Must beat Washington Sunday and hope the Eagles lose to the Giants
15.Los Angeles Rams (8-7) | 15 | That first-round selection is looking better and better
16.Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8) | 16 | Future is bright in Tampa, but who will be quarterback?
17.Oakland Raiders (7-8) | 21 | Your playoff-contending Oakland Raiders
18.Chicago Bears (7-8) | 17 | Must fix offense in the offseason
19.Cleveland Browns (6-9) | 18 | Team of the offseason will try again next season
20.Indianapolis Colts (7-8) | 19 | Eliminated from the postseason Sunday despite big victory
21.Atlanta Falcons (6-9) | 20 | Winners of five of seven since bye week
22.Denver Broncos (6-9) | 22 | Positive signs at quarterback for these guys
23.Los Angeles Chargers (5-10) | 23 | Fading to the finish
24.New York Jets (6-9) | 24 | Jets have improved as the season has continued
25.Carolina Panthers (5-10) | 25 | Seven consecutive losses as long season approaches end
26.Arizona Cardinals (5-9-1) | 28 | Solid signs of life for Murray, Kingsbury
27.Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10) | 26 | Too many problems to count
28.Miami Dolphins (4-11) | 29 | They weren't tanking after all
29.New York Giants (4-11) | 30 | Scrapping, clawing – and hurting their draft status
30.Detroit Lions (3-11-1) | 27 | League's longest losing streak stands at eight
31.Washington Redskins (3-12) | 31 | Now in line for No. 2 overall selection
32.Cincinnati Bengals (1-14) | 32 | With the No. 1 overall selection …
