New England Patriots Dominate Week 15 NFL Power Rankings

The New England Patriots racked up another lopsided victory, this time in a blizzard, against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The Patriots performance on both sides of the ball were impressive by fair weather standards, yet the Pats were to overcome blinding white-out conditions to come out with big victory on the heels of their big win against the Jets two weeks ago. Even though JAMcLynne's NFL Power Ranking software does not take weather into account in determining its power rankings, it still had no trouble in placing the Patriots at the top of this week's NFL Power Rankings. In Week 15, the Patriots return home to Foxboro and will take on the Green Bay Packers, not an easy team to defeat on any day.

A recent team that has been moving up the NFL Power Rankings week by week are the Atlanta Falcons. Although the Atlanta Falcons have the same record as the Patriots, the Falcons have not been able to put together the string of dominating performances like the Patriots. This week the Falcons travel out west to take on another average team, the Seattle Seahawks. Even a dominating win in Seattle may not help the Falcon's power rankings much. Even the win against the flailing Panthers was not much help for the Falcon's rankings.

This week there will be a showdown in the NFC East between the Giants and the Eagles. This game has been selected as the game of the week in JAMcLynne's NFL Power Rankings, as the number 2 and 3 teams square off. This is a must win situation for the Giants, who have lost to the Eagles once already this season. The Eagles will be riding into New Meadowlands Stadium with a slight edge in the NFL Power Rankings for Week 15. If the Giants are able to figure out Michael Vick, and Eli Manning hits his receivers, then the Giants just might have a chance at an upset, and a chance to take the NFC East division championship from the Eagles.

Week 15 NFL Predictions based on JAMcLynne's NFL Power Rankings
Winner in Bold

Thu, Dec 16 Stadium Time (ET)

San Francisco 49ers (5-8) 51.91 at San Diego Chargers (7-6) 85.15
Qualcomm Stadium 8:20 PM
Philip Rivers should have not problem handling the defense of the 49ers, though the Niners have played a couple of stingy games. The Niners are also coming off a big with a win against the Seahawks, that keeps them in hunt for a playoff spot with a 5-8 record.

Sun, Dec 19 Stadium Time (ET)
Buffalo Bills (3-10) 52.37 at Miami Dolphins (7-6) 63.86
Sun Life Stadium 1:00 PM
The Dolphins sneaked out of New Meadowlands Stadium last week with a win against the New York Jets. The AFC East match-up between the Dolphins and the Bills may turn out to be a little closer on second glance, as the Bills have started to play a better brand of football in recent weeks.

Detroit Lions (3-10) 53.17 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5) 70.12
Raymond James Stadium 1:00 PM
Another team that sneaked away with a win last week were the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on a muffed extra point. They should not need as much luck against the Lions in Week 15 of the NFL season as the Lions come riding into Raymond James Stadium. The Lions may still be flying high after their upset victory over the Green Bay Packers.

Arizona Cardinals (4-9) 41.15 at Carolina Panthers (1-12) 27.99
Bank of America Stadium 1:00 PM
The Cardinals are out of the playoff hunt, and the Carolina Panthers were out of the playoff hunt since week 1 of the NFL season. The Cardinals should come away with the victory.

New Orleans Saints (10-3) 86.27 at Baltimore Ravens (9-4) 85.02
M&T Bank Stadium 1:00 PM
Two of the top teams in JAMcLynne's NFL Power Rankings. These are two teams that are vying for wildcard slots in their respective divisions, and possible even a division championship. This is a must win for both teams and it is too close to call, but New Orleans may have a slight edge.

Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5) 62.06 at Indianapolis Colts (7-6) 80.25
Lucas Oil Stadium 1:00 PM
The Colts have sunk the past couple of weeks because of a string of bad performances by Eli Manning. The Colts are still in the hunt to make a playoff spot, while the Jaguars are close to snagging their slot. These NFL Power Rankings do rely a little bit on past performance, and if Peyton Manning comes around, then the Colt should win at home.

Philadelphia Eagles (9-4) 93.96 at New York Giants (9-4) 90.72
New Meadowlands Stadium 1:00 PM
The game of the week for JAMcLynne's NFL Power Rankings. The Giants will need to beat the Eagles if they have any hope of making the playoffs, or winning the division. To bad there are some pretty stinky teams in the NFC West that may make it to the playoffs ahead of the Giants or Saints. Maybe there is something a little wrong with the NFL Wildcard Playoff system? Feel free to leave a comment and let everyone know what you think.

Cleveland Browns (5-8) 47.8 at Cincinnati Bengals (2-11) 51.3
Paul Brown Stadium 1:00 PM
The Bengals are on a long losing streak, and the Browns just gave up a game to Buffalo. Look the the Bengals to finally get a win, as they are a slightly better team then their record suggests. Then Terrel Owens and Ochocinco can start dancing again.

Houston Texans (5-8) 55.82 at Tennessee Titans (5-8) 62.09
LP Field 1:00 PM
Two 5-8 teams face off in Tennessee. Both teams are coming off losses and they are fighting to stay out of last place in the AFC South.

Washington Redskins (5-8) 55.22 at Dallas Cowboys (4-9) 60.1
Cowboys Stadium 1:00 PM
The Redskins should come into Dallas with a better special teams package after giving away a victory after a muffed extra point. Dallas has been embarrassed enough in their shiny knew stadium and will be hungry for a win.

Kansas City Chiefs (8-4) 80.44 at St Louis Rams (6-7) 47.55
Edward Jones Dome 1:00 PM
The Chiefs have a good shot at making the playoffs with a division championship. Amazingly, with a 6-7 record, the St Louis Rams also can make the playoffs with a division championship. The Rams will need to make a statement victory against the Chiefs to gain respect for the NFC West.

Atlanta Falcons (11-2) 86.11 at Seattle Seahawks (6-7) 55.47
Qwest Field 4:05 PM
The Atlanta Falcons are facing another lower ranked team in the NFL Power Rankings for Week 15. If the Falcons get another win in Seattle as they should, they may move up another slot or two in the NFL Power Rankings.

New York Jets (9-4) 76.53 at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) 82.48
Heinz Field 4:15 PM
The Jets had a dismal offensive performance against the Dolphins, and come to Heinz Field to face one of the better defensive teams in the NFL. The Steelers are starting to hit all cylinders, which is a good thing late in the season. The Steelers could be the one team that give the New England Patriots a run for the money in the upcoming NFL Playoffs.

Denver Broncos (3-10) 49.81 at Oakland Raiders (6-7) 58.81
Oakland Coliseum 4:15 PM
With a losing record, the Oakland Raiders still have an outside chance at getting to the playoffs. The just need to start playing more consistent football. Look the the Raiders to get a win at home against the Denver Broncos.

Green Bay Packers (8-5) 81.45 at New England Patriots (11-2) 102.45
Gillette Stadium 8:20 PM
An NFC vs. AFC match up in Week 15 features the nearly untouchable Patriots hosting the Packers at home. Expect a snowy day in New England when the Packers arrive. The Patriots seem to love to play in the snow, just like kids, and should be able to handle the Packers, who got stung by the Detroit Lions in their last game.

Mon, Dec 20 Stadium Time (ET)

Chicago Bears (9-4) 67.34 at Minnesota Vikings (5-8) 58.15
Mall of America Field 8:30 PM
Metrodome officials say the fixes to the roof will be in place to allow the game to be played on Minnesota's home field. Brett Favre's shoulder should also be ready to go after having his consecutive start streak broken. But will a patched up Brett Favre and a patched roof on the Metrodome and be enough to beat the Bears? Not likely. Even after the Bears got spanked by the Patriots, they still are a good football team, with one of the better defensive packages in the NFL. The Bears should be able to come away with a win against the lagging Vikings.

NFL Byes Week 15: None

Week 15 NFL Power Rankings

1. New England Patriots (11-2) 102.45
2. Philadelphia Eagles (9-4) 93.96
3. New York Giants (9-4) 90.72
4. New Orleans Saints (10-3) 86.27
5. Atlanta Falcons (11-2) 86.11
6. San Diego Chargers (7-6) 85.15
7. Baltimore Ravens (9-4) 85.02
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) 82.48
9. Green Bay Packers (8-5) 81.45
10. Kansas City Chiefs (8-4) 80.44
11. Indianapolis Colts (7-6) 80.25
12. New York Jets (9-4) 76.53
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5) 70.12
14. Chicago Bears (9-4) 67.34
15. Miami Dolphins (7-6) 63.86
16. Tennessee Titans (5-8) 62.09
17. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5) 62.06
18. Dallas Cowboys (4-9) 60.1
19. Oakland Raiders (6-7) 58.81
20. Minnesota Vikings (5-8) 58.15
21. Houston Texans (5-8) 55.82
22. Seattle Seahawks (6-7) 55.47
23. Washington Redskins (5-8) 55.22
24. Detroit Lions (3-10) 53.17
25. Buffalo Bills (3-10) 52.37
26. San Francisco 49ers (5-8) 51.91
27. Cincinnati Bengals (2-11) 51.3
28. Denver Broncos (3-10) 49.81
29. Cleveland Browns (5-8) 47.8
30. St Louis Rams (6-7) 47.55
31. Arizona Cardinals (4-9) 41.15
32. Carolina Panthers (1-12) 27.99