The 2025 NFL season, which began on Thanksgiving and culminated with a Patriots victory on “Monday Night Football”, has intensified the playoff race after Week 13. With victories by the Bills, Chargers, Jaguars, and Packers, there are still 12 teams with at least four games above .500. According to Elias Sports Bureau, this ties with the year 2000 for the most teams at that mark after Week 13 since the 1970 merger. How do these teams fit into our updated Power Rankings? We’ve restructured the NFL heading into Week 14, which includes byes for the Giants, Panthers, Patriots and 49ers. In addition to the rankings from 1 to 32, we asked our NFL Nation reporters to pick an X-factor for the final stretch of the season. Who could be crucial for their team in the postseason hunt? Who needs big performances to get a new contract for 2026? Let’s get to it with team number 1, which is different from last week’s rankings. Our panel of experts, made up of more than 80 writers, editors, and television personalities, evaluated how the NFL teams compare to each other, ranking them from 1 to 32.
Week 14 Standings
1. New England Patriots (11-2)Result of Week 13: They defeated the Giants 33-15 Week 13 Ranking: 2 Factor X for the final stretch: Defensive tackle Christian Barmore With starting DT Milton Williams on injured reserve due to a high ankle sprain for at least the next two games and DT number 3 Khyiris Tonga sidelined with a Week 12 chest injury, most of the load falls on Barmore. During the first nine weeks, the Patriots had not allowed an opposing running back to gain 50 rushing yards in a game. But in Weeks 10-12, the Patriots’ opponents averaged more than 5.0 yards per carry. – Mike Reiss2. Los Angeles Rams (9-3)Result of Week 13: They lost to the Panthers 31-28 Week 13 Ranking: 1 Factor X for the final stretch: Linebacker Byron Young This Sunday demonstrated how important the Rams’ pass rush has been for their defensive success. That group has been particularly helpful for a secondary plagued by injuries by pressuring opposing quarterbacks. Young is the leader, at least in sacks, of their pass rush with a personal record of 10 this season. The 2023 third-round pick is also preparing for a big contract extension, to which he is eligible after the season. – Sarah Barshop3. Denver Broncos (10-2)
Result of Week 13: They defeated the Commanders 27-26 (OT) Week 13 Ranking: 3 Factor X for the final stretch: Runner RJ Harvey With J.K. Dobbins on injured reserve (foot), Harvey is clearly the team’s RB1 and the only “big” running back on the roster at 205 pounds; no other player at the position weighs more than 200 pounds. He has shown improvements in pass protection, so he should get some extra snaps on third down in the coming weeks. But the Broncos need him at his best as a runner if their running game is going to be anything more than ornamental. – Jeff Legwold4. Seattle Seahawks (9-3)Result of Week 13: They defeated the Vikings 26-0 Week 13 Ranking: 5 Factor X for the final stretch: Wide receiver/returner Rashid Shaheed Not long after acquiring Shaheed from the Saints last month, the Seahawks had to place rookie receiver/punt returner Tory Horton on injured reserve. While the move has proven to be timely, it still hasn’t had as much impact as Seattle envisioned. Shaheed only has 73 scrimmage yards on nine touches in four games with the Seahawks. But among the reasons they gave up fourth- and fifth-round picks for one of the NFL’s biggest deep threats was to give opposing defenses someone else to worry about besides Jaxon Smith-Njigba. If teams follow Minnesota’s lead and bottle up the league’s leading receiver, Seattle will need Shaheed to step up. – Brady Henderson5. Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)Result of Week 13: They defeated the Lions 31-24 Week 13 Ranking: 7 Factor X for the final stretch: Wide receiver Jayden Reed The Packers are not only getting another receiver back soon. They are getting back their leading receiver in each of the last two seasons. Reed hasn’t played since breaking his collarbone in Week 2. He underwent surgery to repair it, as well as a foot fracture, and is expected to return this week against the Bears or next week against the Broncos. Reed is the Packers’ most versatile receiver and should make their passing game even more difficult to defend down the stretch. – Rob Demovsky6. Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)Result of Week 13: They lost to the Bears 24-15 Week 13 Ranking: 4 Factor X for the final stretch: Running back Saquon Barkley The reigning Offensive Player of the Year has struggled to get going in 2025. He’s on pace for 1,048 rushing yards, roughly half of his production from his record-setting 2024 season (2,005). He’s faced more stacked boxes and is running behind an offensive line that hasn’t been as buttoned up as last season’s group. The running game is vital to the Philadelphia operation. The Eagles need to figure out how to unlock Barkley if they have plans to make another run. – Tim McManus
10. Indianapolis Colts (8-4)
Result of Week 13: They lost to the Texans 20-16 Week 13 Ranking: 6 Factor X for the final stretch: Runner Jonathan Taylor The Colts are 5-0 when Taylor runs for 100 yards or more. That’s an oversimplification because they tend to close out wins by running the ball and consuming time. But there’s a relationship between the Colts having an efficient offensive performance and Taylor being productive. In recent weeks, neither has been true, and Indy has lost three of four, with Taylor averaging 62.7 yards in those losses. – Stephen Holder
12. Houston Texans (7-5)
Result of Week 13: They defeated the Colts 20-16 Week 13 Ranking: 16 Factor X for the final stretch: Quarterback C.J. Stroud The Texans have an elite defense that is the league’s number 1 scoring unit (16.4 points allowed per game). So all Houston needs is an effective offense, led by Stroud, that can score 24 points per game. Usually, that’s all the defense needs to secure the win: it has conceded more than 20 points in only two games. Stroud admitted he was a bit rusty in his return from a concussion on Sunday, but the Texans need him to get back to form with a defense that could propel them to another divisional title and potentially a deep playoff run. – DJ Bien-Aime13. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4)
Result of Week 13: They defeated the Titans 25-3 Week 13 Ranking: 14 Factor X for the final stretch: Defensive end Josh Hines-Allen Hines-Allen took 11 weeks to get his third sack, giving him a franchise record of 56 in his career. In the last two weeks, however, he has had three sacks and a league-high 16 QB pressures, one more than Cleveland’s Myles Garrett. The Jaguars need Hines-Allen to maintain that momentum due to injuries to defensive end Travon Walker (knee) and defensive tackle Arik Armstead (hand). Walker hasn’t practiced in two weeks, and Armstead was unable to play with a cast on his hand this Sunday. Hines-Allen will have to carry the pass rush, especially in Sunday’s critical game against Indianapolis with the AFC South lead on the line. – Mike DiRocco14. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)Result of Week 13: They defeated the Raiders 31-14 Week 13 Ranking: 13 Factor X for the final stretch: Runner Omarion Hampton The 2025 first-round pick has been on injured reserve since Week 5 due to a fracture in his left ankle, but could return to the field as early as Monday against the Eagles. Hampton had been a consistent and forceful presence on the ground and a safety valve in the passing game for Herbert. Hampton caught 17 passes from Weeks 3 to 5, tied for second on the team with wide receiver Keenan Allen. Hampton was also third in the NFL in yards from scrimmage (364) during that period. His return should jumpstart this offense at a crucial part of the season. – Kris Rhim15. Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1)
Result of Week 13: They defeated the Chiefs 31-28 Week 13 Ranking: 19 Factor X for the final stretch: Cornerback Trevon Diggs Diggs hasn’t played since mid-October, but he was designated to return from injured reserve on Sunday. He suffered a concussion in a home accident and was placed on injured reserve to help alleviate pain in his right knee that had developed. He wasn’t playing at his Pro Bowl level before going on IR, but maybe he can find that form on a Cowboys defense that has improved with the additions of Quinnen Williams, DeMarvion Overshown, Shavon Revel Jr., and Logan Wilson. Diggs would provide another key player as the Cowboys fight for a playoff spot. – Todd Archer16. Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)
Result of Week 13: They lost to the Cowboys 31-28 Week 13 Ranking: 12 Factor X for the final stretch: Wide receiver Rashee Rice After missing the first six games while serving a suspension, Rice has made a difference for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Along with tight end Travis Kelce, Rice will need to continue to elevate his game, particularly his ability to gain yards after the catch, to keep the Chiefs’ playoff hopes alive. Mahomes will likely need to rely even more on short passes to Rice because Kansas City is dealing with numerous injuries on its offensive line. – Nate Taylor17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)Result of Week 13: They defeated the Cardinals 20-17 Week 13 Ranking: 15 Factor X for the final stretch: Runner Bucky Irving Since entering the league last season, Irving has a forced missed tackle rate of 35.2%, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. That’s the best rate among players with 250 or more carries during that span. With quarterback Baker Mayfield dealing with a shoulder injury to his non-throwing arm and Chris Godwin Jr. barely recovering, the Bucs have needed Irving to move the chains. And as Mayfield said, “[Irving] gets a lot of attention, whether he’s getting the ball or not. The play never ends; it doesn’t have to be blocked perfectly.” – Jenna Laine18. Carolina Panthers (7-6)Result of Week 13: They defeated the Rams 31-28 Week 13 Ranking: 20 Factor X for the final stretch: Quarterback Bryce Young When Young plays well and limits turnovers, the Panthers have a chance. The last two weeks are perfect examples. He had three touchdown passes and a passer rating of 147.1, the highest of the season, against the Rams on Sunday. The previous week, Young had two interceptions and a passer rating of 60.8 in a loss to San Francisco when the defense played well enough to win. With teams stacking up against the run, Young has to perform well in the passing game. – David Newton
