The NFC East is the worst division in the NFL. It also is the most entertaining.
Even though no team in the division currently has a winning record, the playoff scenario got more intriguing in Week 15. Plus, there’s all sorts of speculation about which head coaches might be fired, and a New York icon may have played his last game for the Giants.
The Cowboys finally played the way a team with that much talent is supposed to play, improving to 7-7 with a 44-21 shellacking of the Los Angeles Rams. The Eagles also climbed to 7-7 after a 37-27 win over the Redskins. Dallas plays at Philadelphia in Week 16, and the Cowboys can clinch the division title with a victory.
Even though the Cowboys are in the playoff race, coach Jason Garrett’s job doesn’t appear safe. Rumors are swirling that owner Jerry Jones is considering Urban Meyer as a replacement for Garrett.
Things got even more interesting when Meyer showed up at the Redskins game on Sunday. Can you imagine a bidding war for Meyer between Jones and Washington owner Daniel Snyder?
New York Giants coach Pat Shurmur also could be on the hot seat, even though he got a win against Miami. But Shurmur wasn’t the Giants’ most interesting story of Sunday. Instead, that was Eli Manning. The veteran quarterback played what might have been his final game for the Giants, while filling in for injured rookie Daniel Jones.
Here’s where the NFC East teams — and the rest of the league — stand in Touchdown Wire’s Week 16 Power Rankings.
32. Cincinnati Bengals
(1-13. Last week: 32)
A 34-14 loss to New England was expected, but the Bengals actually kept the game close until the third quarter. But in the end, they lost to one of the league’s best teams. More importantly, the Bengals remained on pace to earn the top pick in next year’s draft. That means it appears as if newly crowned Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow will wear a Cincinnati uniform next season. After briefly benching veteran starter Andy Dalton in favor of rookie Ryan Finley, the Bengals have been sticking with Dalton. That’s somewhat inexplicable, because Dalton threw four interceptions Sunday. Dalton has no future with the Bengals. But he’s doing his part to make sure Cincinnati gets Burrow.
31. Washington Redskins
(3-11. Last week: 30)
The Redskins lost to Philadelphia, 37-27. The game meant nothing to the Redskins aside from impacting their draft position. The real story here is that Urban Meyer was spotted in a luxury box at FedEx Field with injured Washington quarterback Alex Smith, who played for Meyer at the University of Utah. Let the speculation grow that Meyer, who won national championships at Florida and Ohio State will be the next coach of the Redskins. Of course, current Redskins quarterback Dwayne Haskins also played for Meyer, at Ohio State. Meyer’s sighting could foreshadow an off-field showdown in the NFC East. There is widespread speculation that Dallas owner Jerry Jones covets Meyer. Given the personalities and egos of Jones and Washington owner Daniel Snyder, there could be a bidding war for Meyer.
30. Miami Dolphins
(3-11. Last week: 29)
The only real highlight of Sunday’s 36-20 loss to the Giants was that it likely was Eli Manning’s final start for New York. Injured rookie Daniel Jones is expected back in the lineup next week, and Manning probably will retire or play for another franchise next year. But there were a few bright spots for the Dolphins, too. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and receiver DeVante Parker hooked up on two touchdown passes. More significantly, the loss keeps the Dolphins in the race for an early draft pick, where they can seek a long-term answer at quarterback — because there is no long-term future with Fitzpatrick or backup Josh Rosen.
29. Detroit Lions
(3-10-1. Last week: 28)
The Lions lost 37-17 to Tampa Bay on Sunday. That means they now have suffered 10 losses in consecutive years with Matt Patricia as coach. They also ran their losing streak to seven games. Does all that mean Patricia is on the hot seat? There are two ways to look at it. First, Patricia’s record in Detroit (9-20-1) has been unimpressive, and coaches have been fired for less. The fan base probably wouldn’t be too upset if Patricia gets canned. But on the flip side, Patricia still has his team playing hard even though the Lions are down to third-string quarterback David Blough and are dealing with a rash of injuries. For the sake of continuity, I would give Patricia one more season.
28. New York Giants
(3-11. Last week: 31)
A 36-20 victory against the Miami Dolphins may not seem like much. But there was a big storyline for the history of New York’s franchise. This almost certainly was the last start of Eli Manning’s tenure with the Giants, as he threw for two touchdowns and Saquon Barkley ran for two more. Daniel Jones is New York’s quarterback of the future. Jones has been out with an ankle injury, and that’s the only reason Manning has been back as the starter. But Jones returned to practice on a limited basis last week and is expected to return as the starter for the final two games of the season. This win was important for Manning, who could decide to retire after the season. It got his career record back to .500. Manning is a borderline Hall of Famer. A .500 record sounds a lot better than a losing record to Hall of Fame voters.
27. Jacksonville Jaguars
(5-9. Last week: 27)
The Jaguars went to California and beat the Raiders in their final game in Oakland before moving to Las Vegas next season. But the win doesn’t mean all that much in the grand scheme of things. Prior to the game, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that significant changes will be made in Jacksonville in the offseason. That could mean coach Doug Marrone, executive vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin and general manager Dave Caldwell are on the hot seat. Any or all of them could be gone after two disappointing seasons since a berth in the AFC Championship Game. The other big question in Jacksonville is who will be the quarterback next season. Rookie Gardner Minshew has outplayed the high-priced Nick Foles. Minshew has earned the right to at least compete with Foles in the preseason.
26. New York Jets
(5-9. Last week: 24)
Thursday night’s game against Baltimore went exactly as expected. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, the likely NFL Most Valuable Player, threw for 212 yards and five touchdowns and also ran for 86 yards. That’s no surprise, since Jackson has put up huge numbers all season. What is surprising, and concerning, is that the Jets suddenly seem to be a team in turmoil. During Sunday’s game, coach Adam Gase and quarterback Sam Darnold had a heated exchange on the sideline. They downplayed the incident after the game, but it still wasn’t a good sign. Running back Le’Veon Bell, the source of controversy in Week 14 when he supposedly missed the game with the flu but was seen bowling the previous night, returned and rushed for a season-high 87 yards. Maybe Bell should go bowling more often. The Jets also clinched their fourth straight losing season. That’s their longest such streak in the Super Bowl era.
25. Carolina Panthers
(5-9. Last week 23)
On the surface, a 30-24 loss to Seattle isn’t embarrassing. The Seahawks are one of the best teams in the NFL, after all. But this one was embarrassing when you look at it from another perspective. The Panthers now are 2-5 at home this season. That’s embarrassing because the Panthers have good fans, and Bank of America Stadium has given the team a home-field advantage in the past. But the Panthers have lost six games in a row, and their future has more questions than answers. Will Kyle Allen, who threw three interceptions Sunday, be the starter next year? Or will it be longtime franchise quarterback Cam Newton? The bigger question is who will be the coach next year? Don’t be surprised if Urban Meyer’s name surfaces. Carolina owner David Tepper has the funds and the desire to compete with the big boys — Dallas’ Jerry Jones and Washington’s Daniel Snyder — for Meyer’s services.
24. Denver Broncos
(5-9. Last week: 22)
The Broncos officially were eliminated from the playoffs and even a chance at a .500 finish with Sunday’s 23-3 loss to Kansas City. But the real story of the game for the Broncos was the play of rookie quarterback Drew Lock. He previously had some bright moments, and some observers thought he was ready to take over as Denver’s first true franchise quarterback since Peyton Manning. But fans who believe Lock is the definitive answer need to curb their enthusiasm. Against Kansas City, Lock completed just 18 of 40 passes for 208 yards with an interception. The jury remains out on Lock.
23. Los Angeles Chargers
(5-9. Last week: 21)
The Chargers strengthened their case for most disappointing team in the league by committing seven turnovers in a 39-10 loss to Minnesota. It’s the first time the Chargers committed at least seven turnovers in a game since 1998 when they had eight against the Seahawks. There’s no way you can commit seven turnovers against a good team and win, and the Vikings are a good team. The Chargers are not. Veteran quarterback Philip Rivers appears to be in steep decline. He threw three interceptions, and it looks unlikely that Rivers will be back next season. Back in the preseason, the Chargers were talked about as a potential Super Bowl contender. Now they’re staring at the reality of finishing below .500.
22. Arizona Cardinals
(4-9-1. Last week: 26)
With a 38-24 win against Cleveland, Arizona rookie quarterback Kyler Murray earned bragging rights over Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, his former teammate and fellow Heisman Trophy winner at Oklahoma. Although the Browns aren’t likely to reach the playoffs, this victory had some significance for the Cardinals. They beat a team with a better record. That’s a sign of progress, and that’s what this season is all about for rookie coach Kliff Kingsbury and Murray. The quarterback has had ups and downs, but you can see signs of growth each week. Sunday was another step in the right direction for Murray, who threw for 219 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 56 yards. The Cardinals can be a playoff contender next year if they put more talent around Murray during the offseason.
21. Atlanta Falcons
(5-9. Last week: 25)
The Falcons pulled off a huge upset and beat the 49ers on the last play of the game Sunday. Still, one nice road win doesn’t mean all that much when you factor in the rest of the season, which has been a major disappointment. Yes, the win did show that the players haven’t quit on Dan Quinn. That’s nice, but it doesn’t secure his job. Owner Arthur Blank wants to win a Super Bowl, and he’s not the most patient guy in the world. Mike Smith couldn’t survive two straight disappointing seasons, and I don’t think Quinn can either. But don’t look for Urban Meyer’s name to pop up in Atlanta. Blank was burned once by a college coach in Bobby Petrino, and his other previous moves suggest he’ll go with a rising NFL coordinator.
20. Cleveland Browns
(6-8. Last week: 20)
Remember back in the preseason when there was so much optimism about the Browns? That was a long time ago, and things have changed in a bad way. The Browns are guaranteed they’ll finish no better than .500 after Sunday’s 38-24 loss to Arizona. Head coach Freddie Kitchens abandoned Nick Chubb and the running game too early. Is Kitchens on the hot seat? Generally, a coach that wins at least six games in his first year is safe. But this situation could be different, because the expectations were so high and because Kitchens has made some highly questionable moves. There’s a chance Kitchens could be one and done in Cleveland.
19. Indianapolis Colts
(6-8. Last week: 18)
The Colts came into Monday night’s game against New Orleans clinging to slight playoff hopes. After getting crushed by the Saints and Drew Brees, the Colts are officially eliminated from the postseason. They were completely manhandled by the Saints. Would the season had gone differently if quarterback Andrew Luck hadn’t retired in the preseason? Probably not. Jacoby Brissett took over and did an adequate job for a team that’s been decimated by injuries. Now, the Colts need to start looking ahead to next season. They need to get Brissett more help at the wide receiver position and find a pass-rusher or two on defense.
18. Oakland Raiders
(6-8. Last week: 15)
The Raiders blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter on Sunday and lost their last game in Oakland before moving to Las Vegas next season. It was a sad moment for Oakland fans, who have been some of the most dedicated in the league. After a 6-4 start, those fans have now endured four consecutive losses. Head coach Jon Gruden has endured two disappointing seasons since signing a 10-year, $100 million contract. But he has a good relationship with quarterback Derek Carr — a luxury Gruden hasn’t had since he was coaching Rich Gannon — and the Raiders have some other good parts in place. Gruden now gets another honeymoon period in Las Vegas.
17. Chicago Bears
(7-7. Last week: 14)
The Bears have been eliminated from the postseason. Chalk that up as a disappointing season that started with great hopes after last year’s 12-4 record. In many ways, Sunday’s loss to Green Bay was the story of the Bears’ season. Like many other teams, the Packers challenged Chicago quarterback Mitchell Trubisky to beat them on his own. Trubisky put up some numbers — 334 yards passing and a touchdown — but he also threw two interceptions. Trubisky’s numbers were hollow. To put it bluntly, Trubisky prevented the Bears from making the postseason. Chicago has a good defense, but Trubisky dragged the entire team down. The Bears are likely to make some changes to their offensive coaching staff in the offseason.
16. Philadelphia Eagles
(7-7. Last week: 19)
The Eagles escaped with a comeback against lowly Washington. It wasn’t pretty, but a win is a win. It gave the Eagles a 7-7 record and set up a huge game against Dallas in Week 16. The Eagles weren’t spectacular against the Redskins, but quarterback Carson Wentz led a comeback for the second straight week. More importantly, the Eagles have figured out how to best use running back Miles Sanders, who scored two touchdowns, rushed for 122 yards and added 50 receiving yards on six catches. The Eagles need to rely on Sanders the rest of the way. The Eagles desperately need a win against Dallas. Otherwise, the Cowboys will clinch the division title based on the head-to-head tiebreaker. If the Eagles lose, their season is over.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(7-7. Last week: 17)
I’ve been all over the board with my thoughts on quarterback Jameis Winston this season. I’ve now come to the conclusion that the Bucs should sign Winston to a lucrative contract. That’s a far cry from what I thought early in the season when I thought the Bucs should let Winston walk as a free agent. Around midseason, I started thinking the Bucs should place the franchise tag on Winston and give him one more year with coach Bruce Arians. So why am I now saying Winston is a franchise quarterback? Just look at what he’s done in the past two games. With Sunday’s 458 yards in a 38-17 victory against Detroit, Winston became the first player in history to throw for 450 yards in consecutive weeks. Winston, who pulled off Sunday’s performance with a broken right thumb, has the Bucs on a four-game winning streak and a respectable .500 record. Winston also was without injured receiver Mike Evans, and receiver Chris Godwin left in the third quarter with a leg injury.
14. Los Angeles Rams
(8-6. Last week: 13)
A year after reaching the Super Bowl, the Rams’ playoff hopes are hanging by a thread following a blowout loss to the Cowboys on Sunday. What’s gone wrong? Injuries have been a part of it. But the main problems are that Todd Gurley no longer is the focal point of the offense — no matter what the coaches say — and the offensive line isn’t very good. Gurley simply isn’t the same back he was. His knee isn’t healthy enough to carry this offense anymore. And quarterback Jared Goff isn’t good enough to carry the Rams, who must recalibrate their offense next season.
13. Dallas Cowboys
(7-7. Last week: 16)
In routing the Rams 44-21, the Cowboys finally played the kind of all-around football that they did when they started the season 3-0 and looked like Super Bowl contenders. Give credit to coach Jason Garrett. “Jason’s message all week was kind of re-establish our DNA,” tight end Jason Witten said. The Cowboys found their DNA and looked like a team that might be getting hot at the right time. If the Cowboys at Philadelphia on Sunday, they clinch the NFC East title — and anything becomes possible in the playoffs. But Garrett remains on the hot seat and probably will be gone with anything less than a deep postseason run. There is widespread speculation that owner Jerry Jones wants to hire former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer to replace Garrett. Maybe the Cowboys can show enough this postseason to convince Jones to keep Garrett.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers
(8-6. Last week: 12)
A 17-10 loss to the Bills on Sunday night hurt Pittsburgh’s playoff chances considerably. But the Steelers still deserve credit for turning things around after an 0-3 start. If they somehow rally and make the playoffs, Mike Tomlin will deserve to be named Coach of the Year. Just look at what he’s done with Devlin Hodges and Mason Rudolph under center since Ben Roethlisberger went down for the season with an elbow injury. Put a healthy Roethlisberger back into this lineup next season, and the Steelers will be a playoff team.
11. Tennessee Titans
(8-6. Last week: 11)
The Titans had a four-game winning streak end with a 24-21 loss to Houston in a key AFC South game. The loss puts the Texans in charge of the division, but Tennessee remains in the playoff hunt. The Titans play New Orleans next week and need a win to stay alive. At least the game will be at home in Nissan Stadium. The brightest spot for the Titans against Houston was the play of rookie receiver A.J. Brown, who had eight catches for 114 yards and a touchdown. Brown now has four 100-yard receiving games.
10. Houston Texans
(9-5. Last week: 8)
With a 24-21 victory at Tennessee, the Texans took control of the AFC South and their own destiny. Houston can clinch the division with a win Saturday at Tampa Bay. Even if the Texans and Titans, who play again in Week 17, end up in a tie, Houston would win the AFC South because of a better division record. If the Texans are going to go anywhere in the postseason, they’ll need a better performance than they got from quarterback Deshaun Watson on Sunday. Watson was intercepted twice, marking only the second time in his career that Watson has thrown multiple interceptions in consecutive games. Both interceptions happened in the end zone. If this team is going anywhere, it needs Watson to be at the top of his game.
9. Minnesota Vikings
(10-4. Last week: 10)
Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer is known as a defensive guru, and that reputation was bolstered Sunday as the Vikings forced seven turnovers by the Los Angeles Chargers. The Vikings haven’t clinched anything yet as they head into next week’s huge game with Green Bay. If the season ended today, the Vikings would be the No. 6 seed in the NFC. The Vikings just need to win one of their final two games to clinch a playoff berth. Their defense is hitting full stride at the right time. But there’s a red flag on offense. Running back Dalvin Cook has been battling chest and shoulder injuries since Week 11 and had to leave Sunday’s game. Backup Alexander Mattison already was out with an ankle injury. Mike Boone stepped in and rushed for 56 yards and two touchdowns. The Vikings need Cook at full strength for the playoffs, so it might be wise to rest him in the final two games.
8. Kansas City Chiefs
(10-4. Last week: 9)
A bruised hand? A snowstorm? Neither of those things bothered Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes in Sunday’s 23-3 victory against the Denver Broncos. Mahomes threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns to Tyreek Hill, and the defense turned in a strong effort. The Chiefs have built a miniature dynasty in the AFC West. The Chiefs clinched their fourth consecutive division title last week. On Sunday, they improved their record to 26-3 against division teams in the past five seasons. Head coach Andy Reid is putting together another strong regular season. But the big question about Reid, dating to his Philadelphia days, is whether he can win it all. That reputation is going to eventually become attached to Mahomes as well until he wins it all.
7. Buffalo Bills
(10-4. Last week: 7)
Buffalo’s 17-10 win against Pittsburgh on Sunday was historic on multiple levels. The Bills clinched their first 10-win season of this century and their second playoff berth of the century. They also defeated the Steelers for the first time since 1999. Since they play in a small market, the Bills often fly under the radar of national media. No more. Head coach Sean McDermott should be Coach of the Year, general manager Brandon Beane should be Executive of the Year, and Josh Allen is the most underrated quarterback in the league. The Bills grind it out on the ground while taking some shots downfield and playing solid defense. This is a team that can do some damage in the postseason. But the postseason isn’t here yet. Buffalo has another huge game Saturday at New England.
6. Green Bay Packers
(11-3. Last week: 6)
The Packers clinched a playoff spot Sunday with a 21-13 victory against Chicago. It wasn’t without a frenetic finish, however, as the Bears used multiple laterals on the final play off the game before getting stopped just short of the goal line. It was an ugly win for the Packers, but any division win is a good win. The Packers will need to be better in all areas to win in the postseason. Green Bay’s defense allowed 334 passing yards to Mitchell Trubisky, who has struggled much of the season. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for only 203 yards and one touchdown. But Rodgers is capable of doing much more than that, and the Packers, who finished the regular season with a 7-1 home record, could end up with a first-round bye.
5. San Francisco 49ers
(11-3. Last week: 2)
By losing to the Falcons on a last-minute touchdown, the 49ers handed off the lead for the NFC’s top playoff seed to Seattle. Is it time for the 49ers to panic? Hardly. They were due for a letdown after facing the Packers, Ravens and Saints. The big problem for the 49ers in this game was that their running game wasn’t as strong as it has been most of the season. Raheem Mostert, who had the hot hand in recent weeks, was held to 54 yards on 14 carries. Still, the 49ers have qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2013. The 49ers need to re-establish the running game in the final two regular-season games to get ready for the playoffs.
4. New England Patriots
(11-3. Last week: 5)
There’s been a lot of debate about whether or not the Patriots really are a team with the ability to win the Super Bowl. Ordinarily, a 34-13 victory would be enough to silence critics. But that’s not the case for the Patriots this week. They defeated the one-win Bengals and struggled a bit in the first half before taking control of the game. That’s not going to impress anyone. But the bottom line is the Patriots ended a two-game losing streak and stayed on track to earn a first-round bye. Say what you want about an offense that has sputtered at times this season. Tom Brady threw for only 128 yards (and two touchdowns) at Cincinnati. But Brady still is Brady, and Bill Belichick remains the coach. That means the Patriots are capable of anything at anytime.
3. New Orleans Saints
(11-3. Last week: 3)
New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees got his record … and then some. Brees came into Monday night’s victory needing three touchdown passes to break Peyton Manning’s record for career touchdown passes (539). Brees ended up with four touchdown passes. There could be some back and forth on the record, because New England’s Tom Brady has 538 career touchdown passes. But, for now, the record belongs to Brees with 541. He also completed 29 of 30 pass attempts to set an NFL record for best completion percentage in a single game. On a night the Saints honored their Super Bowl championship from the 2009 season, the current edition played like a Super Bowl team. The Saints dominated the Colts in all phases. But there still is work ahead for the Saints. At the moment, they would be the third seed in the NFC behind Seattle and Green Bay based on tiebreakers. For the Saints to get a bye, they need to win their next two games and hope the Seahawks or Packers suffer a loss.
2. Seattle Seahawks
(11-3. Last week: 4)
With a 30-24 win at Carolina, the Seahawks improved to 7-1 on the road this season — and following San Francisco’s loss to Atlanta, the Seahawks moved into position for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Seattle showed great balance on offense and big-play ability on defense against the Panthers. Although Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson remains the favorite to win the MVP award, Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson kept himself in the conversation. Wilson threw for 286 yards and two touchdowns. The balance came from running back Chris Carson, who rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns. The Seahawks allowed 24 points, but the defense did pick off Carolina quarterback Kyle Allen three times.
1. Baltimore Ravens
(12-2. Last week: 1)
The Ravens are the best team in the NFL, and Thursday night’s 42-21 victory against the Jets only strengthened that argument. The Ravens won their 10th consecutive game and remained on pace to earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Baltimore also clinched its second straight AFC North title. The Ravens have been a machine, outscoring opponents by 215 points. That’s tops in the league — 24 points ahead of the New England Patriots, who rank second in point differential at plus-191. Perhaps the biggest story of the night (and the season) for the Ravens was quarterback Lamar Jackson. If there still were any Jackson doubters out there, they should be convinced after another brilliant performance on national television. Jackson threw for five touchdowns and ran for 86 yards. This game might have cemented the MVP award for Jackson.
Pat Yasinskas has covered the NFL since 1993. He has worked for The Tampa Tribune, The Charlotte Observer and ESPN.com and writes for numerous national magazines and websites. He also has served as a voter for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
