Welcome to Week 14 of the NFL common season.
Our energy panel — a bunch of greater than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities — has evaluated how groups are stacking up by way of 13 weeks.
There have been very slight actions within the rankings this week. A brand new No. 1 decide has been named after the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs fell to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Plus, an unlikely Pittsburgh Steelers crew climbs within the ballot.
Along with our up to date rankings, we checked in with NFL Nation reporters throughout the league and requested them to call a stat through which every crew ranks No. 1. Some groups excel in rush protection and others shine in scoring, and a few are No. 1 in metrics they in all probability do not need to be one of the best in.
Now let’s check out the up to date rankings.
Soar to a crew:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
Week 13 rating: 2
We’re No. 1 in … turnover margin.
The Eagles are an NFL-best 13-plus in that division — a significant purpose they’ve the league’s greatest document. The protection is prime in takeaways with 23, whereas the offense has turned the ball over simply 9 occasions, which ranks second. Quarterback Jalen Hurts deserves a lot of the credit score, having thrown three interceptions to twenty touchdowns on the 12 months. — Tim McManus
Week 13 rating: 1
We’re No. 1 in … scoring.
The Chiefs stay No. 1 offensively with a median of 29.2 factors per sport. Their lead was constructed on the energy of three 40-plus-point video games of their first seven. Since then, the Chiefs have topped their common solely as soon as in 5 video games, that being a 30-point efficiency in a win over the Chargers in Week 11. The Chiefs scored 17, 20 and 24 of their three losses. — Adam Teicher
Week 13 rating: 3
We’re No. 1 in … the AFC.
After beating the Patriots on Thursday, the Payments sat on their couches Sunday and watched the Dolphins and Chiefs lose, transferring Buffalo to the highest spot within the AFC with 5 weeks to go. Wins over the Chiefs (with whom they share the identical document), Ravens and Titans might show to be key for the Payments because the three groups are behind them within the standings. Securing home-field benefit has been a precedence after consecutive journeys to Kansas Metropolis within the playoffs. With the Payments accountable for their very own future, back-to-back dwelling video games in opposition to the Jets and Dolphins might be essential, together with “Monday Evening Soccer” at Cincinnati. — Alaina Getzenberg
Week 13 rating: 4
We’re No. 1 in … level differential.
Although the Cowboys are 9-3 and do not lead their division, they’re 127-plus on the season with 333 factors for and 206 in opposition to. That is an indication of how dominant they are often. Prior to now three video games they’re 80-plus, which might be tied for fifth greatest within the NFL over the course of the season. Of their previous 5 video games, they’ve scored 25 offensive touchdowns and two defensive touchdowns. — Todd Archer
2:07
Dan Orlovsky does not perceive how anybody might consider there’s even a contest between the Cowboys and Eagles for one of the best crew within the NFC.
Week 13 rating: 6
We’re No. 1 in … wins by one possession.
9 of the Vikings’ 10 victories this season have been determined by one possession (eight factors or fewer). In reality, they’re the primary crew in NFL historical past to begin a season with a 9-0 document in such video games. (Their different victory, in Week 1 in opposition to the Packers, got here by a margin of 16 factors.) One interpretation right here is that the Vikings are fairly lucky to have gained as many video games as they’ve. One other is that they are primed for the postseason, the place video games are sometimes competed into the ultimate minute. — Kevin Seifert
Week 13 rating: 5
We’re No. 1 in … the proportion of offensive performs going for 10-plus yards.
A ridiculous 25% of the Dolphins’ offensive performs this season have gained a minimum of 10 yards, which highlights the explosive nature of this offense. It is the rationale this crew is difficult to rely out, even when it is down a number of scores — because the Baltimore Ravens discovered in dramatic vogue in Week 2. Miami just isn’t completely reliant on massive performs, however arguably, no different offense is extra able to offering them. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Week 13 rating: 7
We’re No. 1 in … scoring protection.
The 49ers’ protection leads the league in loads of classes, however none matter greater than this one. San Francisco has yielded simply 15.8 factors per sport. Having misplaced two beginning quarterbacks (Trey Lance, Jimmy Garoppolo) to season-ending accidents, much more onus will fall on the protection. If that unit can hold enjoying at this stage, rookie Brock Purdy & Co. will not should do a lot to maintain the Niners rolling towards the postseason. — Nick Wagoner
Week 13 rating: 8
We’re No. 1 in … defensive completion proportion.
Bengals coordinator Lou Anarumo has stymied opposing quarterbacks this season. Cincinnati leads the NFL in opposing completion proportion at 59%, in accordance with ESPN Stats & Info. It is a formidable feat given the Bengals are with out prime cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, who went down in Week 8 with a torn ACL. The Bengals have held eight opponents underneath the 60% mark. That features Kansas Metropolis’s Patrick Mahomes, who accomplished 59.3% of his passes within the crew’s Week 13 loss in Cincinnati. — Ben Child
Week 13 rating: 10
We’re No. 1 in … run block win charge.
Although Lamar Jackson grabs a lot of the consideration for his highlight-making runs, the success of the Ravens’ floor sport begins up entrance. Baltimore’s run block win charge is 75.7%, which is one of the best within the league. The Ravens have 4 offensive linemen who rank sixth or increased in run blocking at their positions: offensive tackles Patrick Mekari (fourth) and Ronnie Stanley (sixth), guard Ben Powers (sixth) and middle Tyler Linderbaum (sixth). This is no surprise contemplating Baltimore ranked within the prime 5 in run block win charge the previous 4 years, together with No. 1 in 2018 and 2019. — Jamison Hensley
Week 13 rating: 14
We’re No. 1 in … completion proportion.
The Seahawks are tops by a large margin at 72.5%, greater than 3 proportion factors increased than the second-ranked crew. It is a reflection of how environment friendly their passing sport has been as a complete, with an offensive line that is been good in move safety, receivers who’re creating separation and — greater than something — essentially the most correct quarterback within the NFL. And it is not as if Geno Smith has merely been feasting on quick, high-percentage throws. He leads the league completion proportion above anticipated (a Subsequent Gen Stat that components within the problem of every throw) and adjusted completion charge (an identical stat that is weighted by air yards and excludes drops and throwaways). — Brady Henderson
Week 13 rating: 9
We’re No. 1 in … gross punt yards per sport.
The Titans are No. 1 in gross punt yards per sport at 294.4. Rookie punter Ryan Stonehouse has been a vivid spot on particular groups for Tennessee. Stonehouse is averaging 53.5 gross yards per punt and has downed opponents contained in the 20 a complete of 24 occasions. The rookie has surpassed 400 punting yards thrice this season. — Turron Davenport
Week 13 rating: 11
We’re No. 1 in … fourth-quarter level differential.
The Jets have outscored opponents 94-40 — a formidable plus-54 level margin. This is among the key causes for the crew’s 7-5 document, as robust finishes have proved important in 5 of their victories. Causes: Glorious protection (40 factors is a league low), well timed offense, sound teaching changes and good roster depth. — Wealthy Cimini
0:53
Though he is upset in regards to the Jets’ loss to the Vikings, Rex Ryan nonetheless sees encouraging indicators in New York.
Week 13 rating: 12
We’re No. 1 in … time of possession.
The Commanders lead the NFL by averaging 32:59 time of possession every week. They have been good on this space all season, nevertheless it’s been pronounced prior to now eight weeks once they’ve gone 6-1-1, partially by retaining the ball for a median of 33:48. Their renewed dedication to the run sport has helped rather a lot — they averaged 89 yards and three.87 yards per carry within the first 5 video games; it is 146.6 and 4.10 prior to now eight. Lastly, the consequence has been the protection enjoying 5 fewer performs per sport since Week 5, retaining it contemporary. — John Keim
Week 13 rating: 13
We’re No. 1 in … fumble recoveries.
OK, so the Giants are literally tied for first on this class with the Cowboys, every with 11 fumble recoveries. However man, it was robust to search out one thing the Giants had been one of the best at. Not surprisingly, eight of the 11 fumble recoveries have come of their seven wins. A ninth got here of their tie to Washington. Cornerback Adoree’ Jackson and security Dane Belton are tied for the crew lead with two fumble recoveries apiece. — Jordan Raanan
Week 13 rating: 15
We’re No. 1 in … opposition net-punt common.
Opponents have a 37-yard net-punting common in opposition to the Patriots, which ranks New England greatest in that class. A giant a part of that has been the emergence of rookie punt returner Marcus Jones (20 returns, 294 yards, 14.7 avg.), who has obtained some strong blocking in entrance of him, with longtime veteran Matthew Slater and up-and-coming rookie Brenden Schooler enjoying main roles. — Mike Reiss
Week 13 rating: 16
We’re No. 1 in … fewest interceptions.
Quarterback Tom Brady has thrown solely three interceptions this season — tied for the fewest within the NFL with Jalen Hurts, and the fewest in his profession in a season by way of 12 video games. That is not essentially an excellent factor, nevertheless, as he takes far fewer probabilities with the ball, and he has thrown solely 14 landing passes for the season. The Bucs are averaging simply 17.5 offensive factors per sport, which ranks twenty sixth within the league. — Jenna Laine
Week 13 rating: 17
We’re No. 1 in … yards allowed per carry.
This is not precisely the class you need to be ranked No. 1 in — permitting a league-worst 5.4 yards per carry. However after 13 weeks and regardless of a big overhaul to their defensive entrance, that is the place the Bolts stand. It hasn’t helped that a number of key defensive gamers have been sidelined this season, together with Joey Bosa, Austin Johnson, Christian Covington and Otito Ogbonnia. Head coach Brandon Staley has emphasised that it takes all 11 defensive gamers to cease the run. “Run protection is a crew operation,” he stated. — Lindsey Thiry
Week 13 rating: 20
We’re No. 1 in … the longest rush of the season.
Josh Jacobs‘ epic 86-yard walk-off run in Seattle on Nov. 27 did greater than give the Raiders an additional time win — it was the longest rush of the season. And it contributes to the Raiders additionally main the NFL in common yards after first contact (2.33). Jacobs, who had his fifth-year possibility declined by the Raiders’ new management this previous offseason, is in line for a giant payday as he leads the league with 1,303 speeding yards. Curiously sufficient, Las Vegas is simply thirteenth as a crew with 1,505 yards on the bottom. — Paul Gutierrez
Week 13 rating: 26
We’re No. 1 in … discipline objectives.
It is a good/dangerous information form of stat. The Steelers lead the league in discipline aim makes an attempt (32) and discipline objectives made (26). Their make proportion is within the backside half of the league, however with a groin harm touchdown longtime kicker Chris Boswell on IR, that is not solely shocking. The rationale the Steelers lead the league in discipline aim makes an attempt, although, is their crimson zone effectivity is among the many league’s worst, scoring touchdowns on lower than half their journeys contained in the 20. — Brooke Pryor
Week 13 rating: 23
We’re No. 1 in … crimson zone effectivity.
The Lions are just about cash on the aim line due to the robust speeding assault spearheaded by the backfield of Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift. The Lions are scoring touchdowns within the crimson zone 73.9% of the time. Williams additionally leads the league in complete speeding touchdowns with 14 on the season because the crew’s most popular goal-line menace, which has turn into a well-oiled machine once they want factors. — Eric Woodyard
1:30
Area Yates, Daniel Dopp and Liz Loza focus on why D’Andre Swift’s massive Week 13 efficiency ought to make him a must-start in fantasy.
Week 13 rating: 19
We’re No. 1 in … all-time NFL wins.
This season in complete may not be remembered for a lot when it comes to success, however they’re No. 1 — for now — in a single factor: all-time wins. Sunday’s win over the Bears was their 787th NFL victory, another than the Bears. It is the primary time since 1921 that anybody apart from the Bears didn’t personal a minimum of a share of the all-time wins lead. The final crew to take action earlier than the Packers was the Buffalo All-Individuals, with 18 wins in 1921. — Rob Demovsky
Week 13 rating: 22
We’re No. 1 in … going for it on fourth down within the third quarter.
The Jaguars have gone for it on fourth down within the third quarter practically half the time: 43.8% (seven occasions out of 16 fourth downs). That is practically twice the proportion of the next-closest groups (Kansas Metropolis and the New York Giants at 22.2%). That is partly as a result of head coach Doug Pederson believes in being aggressive on fourth down, but in addition as a result of the Jaguars have trailed on the half in six video games. — Michael DiRocco
Week 13 rating: 24
We’re No. 1 in … a participant’s speeding yards after contact.
Nick Chubb leads the NFL in yards after contact per rush (2.60), powering one of many prime speeding assaults within the NFL. With Kareem Hunt rating sixteenth in yards after contact per rush (2.03), Cleveland stays among the finest tackle-breaking speeding offenses within the league. — Jake Trotter
Week 13 rating: 18
We’re No. 1 in … Avery Williams‘ 17.44 yards per punt return.
The second-year professional has bounced between protection and offense — beginning his profession as a nook earlier than transferring to operating again this 12 months — however his greatest contribution has been on particular groups. He has 16 returns this 12 months for 279 yards. Although he is tied for seventeenth in return numbers, he is tied for third in yards and has been a game-changer on the place for the Falcons, who even have Cordarrelle Patterson, the all-time NFL chief in kick return touchdowns, as their kick returner. — Michael Rothstein
Week 13 rating: 21
We’re No. 1 in … destructive turnover differential.
The Colts simply caught as much as them after Monday night time’s sport, however the Saints have constantly led the league this season with a foul turnover ratio. The Saints are minus-12 in turnover margin, with their protection not often taking the ball away and their offense routinely giving it away — a difficulty that has brought about them to lose multiple sport this season. — Katherine Terrell
Week 13 rating: 25
We’re No. 1 in … offensive penalties.
The Cardinals lead the NFL in offensive penalties and accepted offensive penalties, with 53 and 44, respectively. Penalties, particularly premature flags, find yourself costing Arizona in conditions that are not preferrred, and have been an issue for the Cardinals not simply this 12 months however all through Kliff Kingsbury’s tenure. — Josh Weinfuss
Week 13 rating: 28
We’re No. 1 in … run block win charge for guards.
Brady Christensen and Austin Corbett have a mixed run block win charge of 75.3, which partially explains why the operating sport has gotten so wholesome the previous month. They’ve helped D’Onta Foreman rush for greater than 100 yards in 4 of his previous six video games since star Christian McCaffrey was traded to the San Francisco 49ers. That is helped interim coach Steve Wilks go 3-0 at dwelling since taking on. — David Newton
Week 13 rating: 27
We’re No. 1 in … turnovers.
The Colts lead the NFL in turnovers, and this distinction is the largest purpose they’ve been in shambles on offense. The Colts dedicated 5 turnovers in Sunday night time’s epic loss at Dallas, with giveaways on 4 consecutive possessions within the Cowboys’ document 33-point fourth-quarter deluge. Between Matt Ryan‘s league-leading 13 interceptions and the Colts’ league-high 12 misplaced fumbles, turnovers have utterly undermined the Colts. — Stephen Holder
Week 13 rating: 30
We’re No. 1 in … offensive line mixtures.
The story of the season for this Rams crew has been accidents, and that began up on the offensive line. On Sunday, the Rams began their twelfth completely different offensive line mixture of the season. In keeping with the Elias Sports activities Bureau, the Rams are the one crew within the Tremendous Bowl period (since 1966) to make use of a unique beginning five-man offensive line mixture in every of their first 12 video games of a season. — Sarah Barshop
Week 13 rating: 29
We’re No. 1 in … speeding yards by a quarterback.
Justin Fields has 905 speeding yards in 12 video games thanks partially to an uptick of designed runs beginning in Week 7. He is gone six straight video games with a speeding landing, tied for the longest streak by a quarterback since 1950, and is on tempo to interrupt the Bears’ franchise quarterback speeding document at present held by Bobby Douglass (968) in 1972. His three speeding TDs of 50-plus yards are essentially the most by any quarterback for his profession within the Tremendous Bowl period. With 4 video games remaining, Fields is on tempo to hurry for over 1,200 yards, which might be essentially the most ever by a quarterback in a season. — Courtney Cronin
Week 13 rating: 31
We’re No. 1 in … crimson zone protection.
Apart from main the league in soul-crushing, one-score losses — the Broncos have had seven of these this season — their protection continues to be one of many league’s greatest on all fronts, with top-three standing in scoring protection, complete protection, move protection and on third down. And so they prepared the ground in crimson zone protection, as opponents have scored touchdowns on simply 32% of the journeys inside Denver’s 20-yard line. That hasn’t been sufficient to counteract the Broncos’ lowest-scoring offense, although, which is tied for final in crimson zone effectivity. — Jeff Legwold
Week 13 rating: 32
We’re No. 1 in … opposing quarterbacks’ crimson zone completion proportion.
The Texans’ protection is holding quarterbacks to a completion of 40.4% within the crimson zone, one of the best within the NFL. It is a part of the rationale they permit touchdowns on solely 51.28% of opposing offenses’ journeys, seventh greatest within the NFL. Additionally they have two interceptions within the crimson zone, which is tied for third most. — DJ Bien-Aime
