NFL power rankings: Packers, Bills continue ascent as Saints, Steelers drop

NFL power rankings, 2020 post-Week 14 edition (previous rank in parentheses):

1. Chiefs (1): They've taken over top spot in AFC field … not that it matters. With a club record 10-game winning streak on road, not like champs need to be tethered to Arrowhead next month to pull off a repeat.

2. Packers (4): You'd have to say QB Aaron Rodgers is now front runner to win his third MVP award in a season every bit as good as his seminal 2011 performance.

3. Saints (2): Loss in Philly isn't as worrisome as diminishing window to reintegrate 41-year-old QB Drew Brees into the fold before postseason – which gives New Orleans enough problems – begins.

4. Bills (5): What a year from WR Stefon Diggs, who leads league with 100 grabs and will set Buffalo record for one season – he currently shares it with Eric Moulds – with his next reception.

5. Rams (6): Looks like RB Cam Akers has claimed position, his 171 rushing yards in Week 14 more than double his next-best game and most a rookie had ever put on Patriots.

32 things we learned: From Week 14 of the 2020 NFL season

6. Steelers (3): Given QB Ben Roethlisberger has already beaten Bengals 24 times, Pittsburgh has to feel pretty good about getting back on track Monday.

7. Titans (8): Average 156 rushing yards over his final three games (Detroit, Green Bay and Houston), and RB Derrick Henry reaches 2,000.

8. Buccaneers (10): How good are they? Ask coach Bruce Arians, who said after Sunday's win, "I think we just showed our identity. We can do any damn thing we want to do."

9. Seahawks (11): Nice weekend for Russell Wilson, who set a Seattle single-season record with his 36th TD pass while becoming first quarterback in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to win at least nine games in each of his first nine seasons.

10. Ravens (12): QB Lamar Jackson has started 34 games, and Baltimore has rushed for 100 yards in every single one … and is on verge of being playoff entry in all three of his NFL campaigns.

11. Browns (7): Bitter loss to Ravens on Monday night, but silver lining is a two-game swing through New Jersey swamps for a pair of likely victories.

12. Colts (13): Hopefully America now understands why Kenny Moore is one of the league's preeminent slot corners. You won't see a prettier interception.

[email protected] is good at football.

? CBS

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13. Dolphins (9): Rookie seasons are all about firsts, and QB Tua Tagovailoa served up his maiden NFL INT Sunday. Now, he must serve his first defeat to New England if Miami is to maintain playoff course.

14. Cardinals (16): Haason Reddick has finally found a home on the edge, racking up 10 sacks this year after tallying 7½ in his first three combined. He and Chandler Jones might make quite a tandem … if Reddick returns after having his fifth-year option declined.

15. Washington (17): They've won four in row for the first time in four years. They also have their first 1,000-yard receiver (Terry McLaurin) since 2016.

16. 49ers (18): After they dropped two games in Arizona, NFL teams playing "home" games at alternate sites are now 1-6 since the 1970 merger. As former Niners coach Steve Mariucci would say, "Bummer."

17. Patriots (14): Though they're still mathematically alive for a wild-card spot, their record 11-year rule over the AFC East came to an end Sunday night.

18. Falcons (19): Matt Ryan may have bypassed Peyton Manning for most pass yards (54,846) through 13 seasons … but WR Russell Gage was nevertheless Atlanta's best quarterback Sunday.

An absolute ? from @GageRussell in slow-mo ?

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19. Vikings (20): Let's summarize their pass rush – Minnesota's leading sack man remains Yannick Ngakoue (5), who last played for Vikes in Week 6.

20. Raiders (21): Quite a four-game stretch – Vegas surrendering 150 points, while QB Derek Carr has uncharacteristically turned ball over eight times.

21. Eagles (28): Rookie QB Jalen Hurts certainly provided a spark, perhaps most notably igniting a run game that exploded for a season-high 246 yards.

22. Giants (15): QB Daniel Jones returned just in time to pilot offense to season-low 159 yards. Hard to see this team rebounding against Browns or Ravens.

23. Bears (25): No idea why they don't switch to the Michigan-esque throwbacks full time given Chicago is 3-0 in 1936-era uniforms since reviving them in 2019.

The classic unis stay undefeated. pic.twitter.com/BVvQieze3z

24. Broncos (26): Suspensions and injuries have now cost them five cornerbacks – great news with Josh Allen and the Bills headed to the Mile High City.

25. Panthers (22): LB/S Jeremy Chinn continues to bolster case for defensive rookie of the year award with copious splash plays while leading all incoming players with 95 tackles.

26. Chargers (27): QB Justin Herbert needs three TD passes over next three weeks to break the rookie record (27, Baker Mayfield) for most in a season.

27. Texans (23): DE J.J. Watt's 0.38 sacks per game are easily the lowest of his career when he's played at least half the season.

28. Cowboys (29): They showed a heartbeat against a Cincy squad in worse straits than Dallas, but America's Team is cooked with one more Washington win.

29. Lions (24): Hard to envision Detroit keeping it close Sunday in Nashville if QB Matthew Stafford is out or even partially hampered by his rib issues.

30. Bengals (30): Their season has seemed over for some time, but Sunday was first instance Cincinnati seemed non-competitive while being blown out by Dallas.

31. Jaguars (31): There's a rich history of terrible J-A-G-S football, but this is the first JAX team to lose 12 in a row in one season … so, at least they're historic.

32. Jets (32): There's a rich history of terrible J-E-T-S football, but this is the first NYJ team to lose 13 in a row … so, at least they're historic. 

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Follow USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis

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