Racing Post Sport NFL power rankings: Rams first to book playoff spot

Each week, we 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 up one
Record: 11-1
Last week: Won 30-16 at Detroit
This week: Three-point favourites at Chicago

The Rams finished strongly at Detroit and became the first team in the league to book their playoff spot. The top NFC seeding is now top of their agenda.

2 New Orleans Saints down one
Record: 10-2
Last week: Lost 13-10 at Dallas
This week: Eight-point favourites at Tampa Bay

The Saints' ten-match winning run came to an end against a solid Cowboys defence but their NFC South rivals were unable to take advantage. The divisional title is within their grasp.

3 Kansas City Chiefs unchanged
Record: 10-2
Last week: Won 40-33 at Oakland
This week: 6.5-point favourites at home to Baltimore

The Chiefs needed another divisional win as their AFC West rivals the Chargers continue to breath down their neck. Next week's clash at Arrowhead should be a belter.

4 New England Patriots unchanged
Record: 9-3
Last week: Won 24-10 at home to Minnesota
This week: 7.5-point favourites at Miami

Yet another AFC East title is on the horizon and a victory over a team with their own Super Bowl ambitions is a signal of intent. It looks a matter of time before they book their post-season berth.

5 Los Angeles Chargers unchanged
Record: 9-3
Last week: Won 33-30 at Pittsburgh
This week: 14-point favourites at home to Cincinnati

Another team who claimed a notable victory this week. The Chargers have lost just one of their last nine matches but they cannot switch off and think about their Week 15 clash with the Chiefs just yet.

6 Houston Texans up two
Record: 9-3
Last week: Won 29-13 at home to Cleveland
This week: 4.5-point favourites at home to Indianapolis

The Texans have won nine in a row but have to maintain their focus for a little while longer. Victory this would should effectively put them over the line.

7 Minnesota Vikings down one
Record: 6-5-1
Last week: Lost 24-10 at New England
This week: Three-point underdogs at Seattle

The Vikings are a talented squad but they are inconsistent and a trip to Seattle will not be easy. Failing to take advantage of Chicago's slip-up against the Giants will be seen as a disappointment.

8 Pittsburgh Steelers down one
Record: 7-4-1
Last week: Lost 33-30 at home to Los Angeles Chargers
This week: 11-point favourites at Oakland

The Steelers may not have a stranglehold on the AFC North after all. It's a good job they still have to face Oakland and Cincinnati because those matches are separated by clashes with the Saints and the Patriots. There's still work to do.

9 Baltimore Ravens unchanged
Record: 7-5
Last week: Won 26-16 at Atlanta
This week: 6.5-point underdogs at Kansas City

Pittsburgh's nerves are worsened by the fine form the Ravens are displaying. They have won three on the bounce and it will be interesting to see if quarterback Lamar Jackson continues once Joe Flacco has recovered from his hip injury.

10 Philadelphia Eagles up one
Record: 6-6
Last week: Won 28-13 at home to Washington
This week: 3.5-point underdogs at Dallas

The Eagles were desperate for victory in a key divisional clash and this week's game at Dallas really couldn't be bigger, especially as they still have games against the Rams and Texans to negotiate. Returning to the playoffs would be a big achievement.

11 Chicago Bears down one
Record: 8-4
Last week: Lost 30-27 at New York Giants
This week: Three-point underdogs at home to Los Angeles Rams

The Bears must have been kicking themselves after failing to open more space between them and their NFC North rivals, all of whom lost last week. It's not even going to be that cold for the visit of the red-hot Rams on Sunday.

12 Denver Broncos up one
Record: 6-6
Last week: Won 24-10 at Cincinnati
This week: 5.5-point favourites at San Francisco

The Broncos are definitely on the up and it is no forlorn hope that they can extend their season, even though they are in the red-hot AFC West. They face the Chargers on the last day but their three opponents before then have just eight wins between them. They are not out of it by a long chalk.

13 Seattle Seahawks up one
Record: 7-5
Last week: Won 43-16 at home to San Francisco
This week: Three-point favourites at home to Minnesota

Another team who are peaking at the right time for a playoff charge. They haven't lost to any team who doesn't come from Los Angeles since Week Two and they remain a match for anyone.

14 Carolina Panthers down two
Record: 6-6
Last week: Lost 24-17 at Tampa Bay
This week: 1.5-point favourites at Cleveland

The Panthers are falling off a cliff despite some excellent contributions from running back Christian McCaffrey. It looks as if they have allowed the Saints to slip away in the NFC South and now their own playoff place, which looked a banker a month ago, is in jeopardy.

15 Dallas Cowboys up two
Record: 7-5
Last week: Won 13-10 at home to New Orleans
This week: 3.5-point favourites at home to Philadelphia

Victory over one of the hottest teams in the NFC was a massive boost and victory over the Eagles in such a key game could see them fly up the chart. They have taken a grip on the division with four successive wins.

16 Tennessee Titans up three
Record: 6-6
Last week: Won 26-22 at home to New York Jets
This week: Four-point favourites at home to Jacksonville

The Titans could yet prove Houston's biggest rivals in the AFC South but only four teams have scored fewer points than the boys from Nashville this season.

17 Indianapolis Colts down one
Record: 6-6
Last week: Lost 6-0 at Jacksonville
This week: 4.5-point underdogs at Houston

The Colts had fought right back into the AFC South picture after drawing a blank against the Jags, who had fallen through the floor. A trip to Houston for a key divisional clash is probably the ideal fixture for them, though.

18 Green Bay Packers down three
Record: 4-7-1
Last week: Lost 20-7 at home to Arizona
This week: 15.5-point favourites at home to Atlanta

Mike McCarthy's long stint at Lambeau is over and there is little gloss that can be put on losing to a team as ordinary as Arizona. The Aaron Rodgers factor will mean they will still be fancied at home but their race looks to have been run.

19 Cleveland Browns down one
Record: 4-7-1
Last week: Lost 29-13 at Houston
This week: 1.5-point underdogs at home to Carolina

After the euphoria of grabbing an away win at Cincinnati the week before, it was down to earth for the Browns, who will still fancy themselves when the struggling Panthers head to Ohio.

20 Miami Dolphins up three
Record: 6-6
Last week: Won 21-17 at home to Buffalo
This week: 7.5-point underdogs at home to New England

The Dolphins are the Patriots' only real rivals in the AFC East and that is a bit of a stretch. Their divisional challenge could end this week and would be a big blow to their wildcard hopes, but they have won five of their six home matches.

21 Atlanta Falcons down one
Record: 4-8
Last week: Lost 26-16 at home to Baltimore
This week: 5.5-point underdogs at Green Bay

Four straight defeats in which the Falcons have failed to score 20 point in a game tells its own story. Their rampaging offensive play that took them to the cusp of their first Super Bowl victory two year ago seems a distant memory.

22 Jacksonville Jaguars up two
Record: 4-8
Last week: Won 6-0 at home to Indianapolis
This week: Four-point underdogs at Tennessee

There was finally something for the Jags to celebrate after seven straight defeats but it should be a small consolation. Their season is being read the last rites.

23 Washington Redskins down two
Record: 6-6
Last week: Lost 28-13 at Philadelphia
This week: 3.5-point underdogs at home to New York Giants

Mark Sanchez is taking the helm at quarterback as both Alex Smith and Colt McCoy have suffered broken legs. It's desperate luck for a team who were flying under the radar but their campaign looks to be in disarray.

24 New York Giants up two
Record: 4-8
Last week: Won 30-27 at home to Chicago
This week: 3.5-point favourites at Washington

The Giants claimed a notable scalp by winning at Soldier Field and they have at least eclipsed last year's win total. Enthusiasm for that achievement should be contained though as they have a long way to go.

25 Detroit Lions down three
Record: 4-8
Last week: Lost 30-16 at home to Los Angeles Rams
This week: 2.5-point favourites at Arizona

The Lions allowed the Rams to slip away and while they should not be too frightened of trips to Arizona and Buffalo, thoughts will be turning to next season.

26 Tampa Bay Buccaneers up one
Record: 5-7
Last week: Won 24-17 at home to Carolina
This week: Eight-point underdogs at home to New Orleans

Tampa Bay showed at the start of the season that they could be a match for anyone and they will be bidding for a repeat success over the Saints. At least their campaign is beginning to look respectable.

27 Cincinnati Bengals down two
Record: 5-7
Last week: Lost 24-10 at home to Denver
This week: 14-point underdogs at Los Angeles Chargers

The loss of Andy Dalton to a thumb injury was a big blow for the Bengals, who also saw star receiver AJ Green ruled out for the season after the loss to Denver. Expect the rest of the roster to limp to the line.

28 Buffalo Bills unchanged
Record: 4-8
Last week: Lost 21-17 at Miami
This week: 3.5-point favourites at home to New York Jets

Three of the Bills' remaining four games are at home so they could make further progress. They have exceeded many people's expectations already and quarterback Josh Allen is proving a rushing threat.

29 Arizona Cardinals up three
Record: 3-9
Last week: Won 30-27 at Green Bay
This week: 2.5-point underdogs at home to Detroit

Victory at Lambeau should be regarded as a big success for a team who always looked likely to struggle this term. They finish their campaign with a game against the Rams and a trip to Seattle so their joy may be shortlived.

30 New York Jets unchanged
Record: 3-9
Last week: Lost 26-22 at Tennessee
This week: 3.5-point underdogs at Buffalo

After a 3-3 start it had looked as if there may be signs of progress at the Jets but they have lost their last six and look set to finish bottom of the AFC East if they don't win in Buffalo.

31 San Francisco 49ers down two
Record: 2-10
Last week: Lost 43-16 at San Francisco
This week: 5.5-point underdogs at home to Denver

Even considering the early loss of quarterback Jimmy Garroppolo, the Niners have had a dismal season and are one of only two teams who head into the final four weeks without a chance of reaching the playoffs. It would be a surprise if head coach Kyle Shanahan isn't given time, though.

32 Oakland Raiders down one
Record: 2-10
Last week: Lost 40-33 at Kansas City
This week: 11-point underdogs at home to Pittsburgh

The Raiders are the other team who definitely won't be playing in January. But, hey, head coach Jon Gruden is only one year into a ten-season contract. It's a long-term project.

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