Racing Post Sport NFL power rankings: Steelers going from strength to strength

Each week, we will list the 32 NFL teams in order of best to worst and see how far each one climbs up or falls down the list during the course of the regular season.

Last week's rankings

Here's this week's 1-32:

1 Los Angeles Rams unchanged
Record: 10-1
Last week: Won 54-51 at home to Kansas City
This week: Bye

The Chiefs were a notable scalp in what is turning into an excellent season. The Rams are cementing their position as the team to beat.

2 New Orleans Saints unchanged
Record: 9-1
Last week: Won 48-7 at home to Philadelphia
This week: 13-point favourites at home to Atlanta

The Saints are scoring a whopping average of 37.8 points per game and they could virtually have the division in the bag before two late games with Carolina.

3 Kansas City Chiefs unchanged
Record: 9-2
Last week: Lost 54-51 at Los Angeles Rams
This week: Bye

Turnovers were costly in their clash with the Rams but their closest divisional rivals the Chargers slipped up too. It's difficult to be harsh on a team who scored more than 50 points but still lost.

4 Pittsburgh Steelers up two
Record: 7-2-1
Last week: Won 20-16 at Jacksonville
This week: Three-point favourites at Denver

The Le'Veon Bell holdout is now behind them but the Steelers are going from strength to strength. Pulling back a 16-point deficit should provide a further boost to their confidence.

5 New England Patriots down one
Record: 7-3
Last week: Bye
This week: 9.5-point favourites at New York Jets

The Patriots have had a week to dwell on their defeat to Tennessee, but with four of their remaining games against weak AFC East divisional opponents, they should have few problems in extending their season.

6 Minnesota Vikings down one
Record: 5-4-1
Last week: Lost 25-20 at Chicago
This week: 3.5-point favourites at home to Green Bay

A divisional defeat to Chicago was a blow and puts extra pressure on this week's clash with the Packers. It's time for them to prove themselves.

7 Los Angeles Chargers unchanged
Record: 7-3
Last week: Lost 23-22 at home to Denver
This week: 12-point favourites at home to Arizona

The Chargers will be disappointed that their six-match run came to an end in a week when AFC West rivals Kansas City also lost. A wildcard spot still looks in their hands though.

8 Houston Texans up three
Record: 7-3
Last week: Won 23-21 at Washington
This week: Six-point favourites at home to Tennessee

Seven straight wins have left the Texans in great shape to claim the AFC South title, particularly as their three rivals have proved so inconsistent. It may not be an end to their climb.

9 Baltimore Ravens up one
Record: 5-5
Last week: Won 24-21 at home to Cincinnati
This week: 10.5-point favourites at home to Oakland

Replacement quarterback Lamar Jackson gave the Ravens an extra dimension with a fine rushing performance against Cincinnati. Just two of their remaining six opponents have winning records.

10 Carolina Panthers down two
Record: 6-4
Last week: Lost 20-19 at Detroit
This week: 3.5-point favourites at home to Seattle

With the Saints in such great form, the Panthers cannot afford many more slip-ups like the one they suffered in the Motor City when their comeback came just too late. Games against New Orleans in Weeks 15 and 17 loom large.

11 Philadelphia Eagles down two
Record: 4-6
Last week: Lost 48-7 at New Orleans
This week: Six-point favourites at home to New York Giants

The NFC East is becoming a competitive heat, but the Super Bowl champions have to be more competitive than they were in new Orleans if they are going to be a factor. Four defeats in six matches means they are still off the pace.

12 Green Bay Packers unchanged
Record: 4-5-1
Last week: Lost 27-24 at Seattle
This week: 3.5-point underdogs at Minnesota

The Packers' defeat in Seattle was their seventh consecutive away loss. That doesn't bode well with trips to Minnesota and Chicago still to come.

13 Chicago Bears up four
Record: 7-3
Last week: Won 25-20 at home to Minnesota
This week: Four-point favourites at Detroit

Victory over the Vikings should be a massive shot in the arm for the Bears who have improved dramatically in the last year. A Thanksgiving trip to another divisional rival should provide enough motivation to maintain their focus.

14 Denver Broncos up four
Record: 4-6
Last week: Won 23-22 at Los Angeles Chargers
This week: Three-point underdogs at home to Pittsburgh

The Broncos had performed quite well against decent sides before getting over the line against the Chargers. They still have plenty of work to do to force their way into the playoff picture.

15 Tennessee Titans down one
Record: 5-5
Last week: Lost 38-10 at Indianapolis
This week: Six-point underdogs at Houston

Being thumped by Indianapolis a week after beating the Patriots sums up the Titans' season. But this is the last week they face a team with a winning record apart from Washington, whose quarterback has broken his leg, so all is not lost.

16 Atlanta Falcons down one
Record: 4-6
Last week: Lost 22-19 at home to Dallas
This week: 13-point underdogs at New Orleans

Two poor defeats against Cleveland and the Cowboys have left the Falcons facing a massive struggle to extend their season. This week's clash against New Orleans will have a huge bearing on whether they are playing in the new year.

17 Seattle Seahawks up two
Record: 5-5
Last week: Won 27-24 at home to Green Bay
This week: 3.5-point underdogs at Carolina

A win over the Packers was crucial after two defeats to the two Los Angeles teams. They still have to face Minnesota and Kansas City, but it could be key that those matches are at home. It would be no surprise if they made the playoffs.

18 Washington Redskins down five
Record: 6-4
Last week: Lost 23-21 at home to Houston
This week: 7.5-point underdogs at Dallas

The Redskins remain top of the NFC East but quarterback Alex Smith's broken leg is a crushing blow. Replacement Colt McCoy needs to hit the ground running.

19 Jacksonville Jaguars down three
Record: 3-7
Last week: Lost 20-16 at home to Pittsburgh
This week: Three-point favourites at Buffalo

Losing a 16-point lead was the latest blow for a team in freefall. it's hard to see them making much more of an impression after six straight losses

20 Detroit Lions up two
Record: 4-6
Last week: Won 20-19 at home to Carolina
This week: Four-point underdogs at home to Chicago

The Lions once again proved they can mix it with the best teams in the NFL - they just need to show it on a more consistent basis. They only have two home games left after this week's clash with the Bears and that won't help.

21 Indianapolis Colts up two
Record: 5-5
Last week: Won 38-10 at home to Tennessee
This week: Ten-point favourites at home to Miami

The Colts have woken up with four straight wins and they can take advantage in the AFC South if the Texans slip up - a suggestion that would have seemed crazy a month ago.

22 Cincinnati Bengals down two
Record: 5-5
Last week: Lost 24-21 at Baltimore
This week: Three-point favourites at home to Cleveland

The Bengals have to react positively to last week's loss at the Ravens, as victory there would have given them a great chance of extending their campaign. They could be spurred on by the fact they still have the Browns to play twice.

23 Miami Dolphins down two
Record: 5-5
Last week: Bye
This week: Ten-point underdogs at Indianapolis

The Dolphins are not out of the race and with two games to come against Buffalo they could still make their presence felt. An 8-8 season beckons, however.

24 Dallas Cowboys unchanged
Record: 5-5
Last week: Bye
This week: 7.5-point favourites at home to Washington

Smith's injury means the Cowboys face Washington at the perfect time and they should be fresh after a week off when they have enjoyed winning a key divisional battle against the Eagles. They could prove another unlikely challenger.

25 Cleveland Browns unchanged
Record: 3-6-1
Last week: Bye
This week: Three-point underdogs at Cincinnati

The Browns' priority now has to be to end the season on a positive note and they should be buoyed by a win over Atlanta in their last outing. They have a tough schedule in the remaining weeks, though.

26 New York Giants up three
Record: 3-7
Last week: Won 38-35 at home to Tampa Bay
This week: Six-point underdogs at Philadelphia

Two successive victories have lifted the gloom a bit in New York but it would be easy to get carried away. They should at least now be able to beat last year's tally of three wins.

27 San Francisco 49ers down one
Record: 2-8
Last week: Bye
This week: 3.5-point underdogs at Tampa Bay

The Niners' only win in their last eight games came against Bay Area rivals Oakland, who have endured a miserable season too. It's been a tough campaign.

28 New York Jets down one
Record: 3-7
Last week: Bye
This week: 9.5-point underdogs at home to New England

The Jets have had to deal with the fact they were thumped by the worst offence int he league when they lost 41-10 at home to Buffalo. They should be motivated by a clash against their arch-rivals this week.

29 Tampa Bay Buccaneers down one
Record: 3-7
Last week: Lost 38-35 at New York Giants
This week: 3.5-point favourites at San Francisco

The Bucs' freefall continues. They should soon be tailed off in the NFC South and a change of coach at the end of the season looks likely.

30 Oakland Raiders up two
Record: 2-8
Last week: Won 23-21 at Arizona
This week: 10.5-point underdogs at Baltimore

A win over the Cardinals has lifted the gloom a bit but as coach Jon Gruden has a ten-year contract, we can only conclude that it is a long-term project for the Raiders.

31 Buffalo Bills unchanged
Record: 3-7
Last week: Bye
This week: Three-point underdogs at home at Jacksonville

The Bills have had a week to enjoy their thumping win over the Jets and a win over the Jaguars could be within their scope. However, that doesn't apply to many of their opponents.

32 Arizona Cardinals down two
Record: 2-8
Last week: Lost 23-21 at home to Oakland
This week: 12-point underdogs at Los Angeles Chargers

The Cards are averaging just 14.5 points per game and the only outfit they have beaten this season is San Francisco. Their run-in is tough so they may do well to add to that tally.

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