The Houston Texans improved to 8-5 on the regular season after surviving a scare in a 23-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. They’re coming off their bye week and begin to prepare for a showdown against the Miami Dolphins at NRG Stadium.
Does Houston feel like one of the better AFC rosters? Right now, not really. The Texans would barely be in the playoff conversation if they played in any other division, but at least seem to be within striking distance of other opponents like the Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens.
The 2024 season is quickly separating from fighting for a playoff berth to preparing for 2025 and beyond.
Here’s a look at the Week 15 Power Rankings.
32. Las Vegas Raiders (2-11): Last Week 30
The Raiders have now dropped nine straight games. Desmond Ridder is their expected starter in Week 15. They are in a good position to get a new QB in the draft, but is Cam Ward the answer? Is Sheduer Sanders?
31. New York Giants (2-11): Last Week: No. 31
New York is also 0-7 at home, but at least it showed up against New Orleans. You know, until it didn’t.
30. Tennesee Titans (3-10) | Last Week: No. 28
Tennessee was up by six entering the fourth quarter against the AFC’s worst team. It lost. And by more than a field goal. Will Levis isn’t the problem, but also doesn’t appear to be the answer. The worst part? Unless you’re drafting the Colorado gunslinger, there’s no one worth betting your career on if you’re Ran Carthon.
An overpay for Sam Darnold incoming?
29 Jacksonville Jaguars (3-10) Last Week: No. 32
They won the head-to-head over Tennessee. That’s it. Everything else needs to change this offseason.
28. New England Patriots (3-10 )| Last Week: No. 28
You can’t lose the bye week, right?
27. Cleveland Browns (3-9) | Last Week: No. 26
Everyone loves Jameis Winston. The Browns are getting what they deserve for the Deshaun Watson guaranteed contract. Sadly, America’s favorite backup has to be the face of the misery.
26. New York Jets (3-10) | Last Week: No. 27
Death, taxes and the New York Jets missing the playoffs. We’re on 16 years and counting after an overtime loss in a game they should have won.
25. Carolina Panthers (3-10) | Last Week: No. 25
This is the best three-loss team in the NFL. Despite losing three straight games, Carolina’s played close. The games were by a combined 12 points to the Chiefs, Buccaneers and Eagles, all of whom are in the playoffs at the moment.
24. Dallas Cowboys (5-8) | Last Week: No. 22
Can it be 1993 again with Troy Aikman on the field rather than in the broadcast booth?
23. Chicago Bears (4-9) | Last Week: No. 24
The Bears have the right quarterback in Caleb Williams. After moving to 0-6 on the road for the season, that might be all they have.
22. New Orleans Saints (5-8) | Last Week: No. 23
A new spark in the bayou? After seven straight losses, the Saints have won three of their last four. They’re just two games behind the Buccaneers in the NFC South. They’re also without Derek Carr for the rest of the season.
21. Atlanta Falcons (6-7) | Last Week: No. 18
Is this the beginning of the end for Kirk Cousins? He’s thrown four interceptions in four games, one for each loss since holding the NFC South division lead. Is it time for the Michael Penix Jr. era to start?
20. Cincinnati Bengals (5-8) | Last Week: No. 21
It might be too late for Cincinnati to make a run to the playoffs, but Joe Burrow is still playing like an MVP. Trey Hendrickson should be a favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year. This is the perfect representation to show those who say, “You are what your record says you are,” know nothing.
19. Indianapolis Colts (6-7) | Last Week: No. 19
You can’t lose the bye week, right?
18. Arizona Cardinals (6-7) | Last Week: No. 15
At the bye, Arizona was 6-4 and leading the NFC West. Just like that three weeks later, the Cardinals’ playoff chances were clipped with three straight losses.
17. San Francisco 49ers (6-7) | Last Week: No. 20
Brock Purdy was almost perfect passing and he threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns against Chicago. Not too shabby. Thursday’s game against the Rams could decide which team is out of the running for a division title.
16. Miami Dolphins (6-7) | Last Week: 17
The Dolphins are still alive in the AFC Playoff race. Will that change Sunday against the Texans? Based on how they looked last week in comeback fashion, this team is finding their way to the postseason.
15. Los Angeles Rams (7-6) | Last Week: No. 19
Seriously? Matthew Stafford entering his twilight years scoring 44 points? That’ll happen when Puka Nacua catches 12 balls for 162 yards and a touchdown against one of the league’s best teams. Los Angeles remains hot down the stretch.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6) | Last Week: No. 13
Three straight wins have Tampa at the top of the NFC South. Baker Mayfield has found his Chris Godwin replacement in rookie Jalen McMillan and the Buccos have a new youthful offensive approach. The Chargers are the only team with a winning record left on the schedule. If the magic of Bucky Irving can stay alive, Mayfield Mania is heading back to the playoff.
13. Washington Commanders (8-5) | Last Week No. 13
You can’t lose the bye week, right?
11. Houston Texans (8-5) | Last Week: No. 12
You can’t lose the bye week, right?
11. Seattle Seahawks (8-5) | Last Week: No. 11
The Seahawks have won four straight since their week off and now appear in control of the NFC West. Even without Kenneth Walker as the lead back, Seattle totaled over 170 yards and averaged 5.7 yards a run against a pretty strong Arizona defense.
10. Denver Broncos (8-5) | Last Week: No. 10
You can’t lose the bye week, right?
9. Los Angeles Chargers (8-5) | Last Week: No. 10
Losing at Arrowhead on the game-winning field goal, where the voodoo magic is strong these days, is nothing to be upset over. The league just realized that you can’t count out the Chargers as an AFC dark horse with their NFL-leading scoring defense.
8. Green Bay Packers (9-3) | Last Week No. 7
Are the Packers a real contender in the NFC? Well, it depends on the matchup. They led the Lions in the fourth quarter and were tied with them entering the final seconds on the road. So long as Josh Jacobs is healthy, Green Bay should be in every game.
7. Baltimore Ravens (8-5) | Last Week: No. 8
You can’t lose the bye week, right?
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) | Last Week: No. 6
Is Russ cooking? No, really, is he? Another solid game with a passer rating over 100 and zero turnovers? Death, taxes and Mike Tomlin serving up winning seasons in Yinz Country. Fans will see how real Pittsburgh is on Sunday against the Eagles.
5. Minnesota Vikings (11-2) | Last Week: No. 6
At some point, the Vikings could prove to be fraud, but Sam Darnold tossed five touchdowns and nearly had a perfect passer rating. Style points matter in these rankings, but so does consistency and that’s all you’re getting from the once-thought face of the New York Jets. What more do the Vikings need to see to give him a contract extension?
4. Kansas City Chiefs (12-1) | Last Week: No. 4
Matthew Wright’s “Doink for the Division” Sunday night was a visual representation of Kansas City’s season. The Chiefs keep winning in the most unheralded fashion but their luck is going to run out eventually, right? No, please, right?!?!
3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-2) | Last Week: No. 3
They arguably should be higher, but the vibes are low. Well, at least between Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown. Why can’t Philly just be a normal 11-win team? The Eagles’ locker room and attitude could cost them a Lombardi Trophy.
2. Buffalo Bills (10-3) | Last Week: No. 2
Josh Allen had six touchdowns and lost. If Sean McDermott doesn’t waste a timeout on first-and-goal at the 1-yard line, is Buffalo sitting with 11 wins. Either way, the Bills looked better than Kansas City against a Los Angeles team, so they’re staying put.
1. Detriot Lions (12-1) | Last Week: No. 1
Dan Campbell is a walking Russian Roulette, as evident by his decision to go for it in field goal range on fourth-and-1 in a tie game. Will it derail their Super Bowl run? Maybe, but vibes are great in the Motor City.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: NFL Power Rankings Week 15: Where do Texans land after the bye week?
