This is depressing.
The Philadelphia Eagles have been one of the best stories of the season, and second-year QB Carson Wentz has been one of the best parts of that story.
Now, thanks to an ACL injury, he’s out for the season. And despite the fact that his team gutted out a win after his departure to clinch a playoff spot, their future is suddenly up in the air.
How will that affect their standing in the latest NFL power rankings? Our expert panel isn’t ready to drop the Eagles just yet — but they didn’t elevate them either.
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As always, the panel includes editor Geoff Lowe, as well as staff writers Donnovan Bennett, Mike Johnston and Emily Sadler.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
2017 record: 11-2
Previous: 4
Le’Veon Bell has 1,105 rushing yards to lead the league despite starting the season holding out. Antonio Brown leads the NFL in receiving yards. Chris Boswell leads all kickers with four go-ahead field goals in the final minute of the fourth quarter. When healthy the Steelers have the most talent in the league. (DB)
2. Philadelphia Eagles
2017 record: 11-2
Previous: 2
There’s no two ways about it: Carson Wentz’s season-ending injury is devastating. The play-making ability of the sophomore pivot is impossible to replace. But the Eagles are a good team from top to bottom, and with the NFC far from boasting a clear favourite, Philadelphia is still very much a factor. (GL)
3. New England Patriots
2017 record: 10-3
Previous: 1
The Patriots’ shocking loss to Miami on Monday night puts the AFC in the hands of the Steelers, making next week’s showdown in Pittsburgh one of the biggest games of the season. (GL)
4. Minnesota Vikings
2017 record: 10-3
Previous: 3
The Vikings’ winning streak is over but the Wentz injury boosts their chances of winning the NFC. Who would have ever thought that Nick Foles, Jared Goff and Case Keenum would be leading the top three Super Bowl contenders in the conference? (DB)
5. Los Angeles Rams
2017 record: 9-4
Previous: 5
The Seahawks’ loss to the Jaguars opened the door for the Rams to pad their division lead, but Jared Goff & Co. couldn’t quite pull the trigger as they fell just short in a huge NFC showdown against the Eagles. Cue the drama, because Seattle and L.A. go head-to-head this Sunday with the post-season on the line. (ES)
6. Carolina Panthers
2017 record: 9-4
Previous: 8
Won the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball against the Vikings and the defence held Case Keenum in check. Can they do the same this week when they host the potentially Aaron Rodgers-led Packers? (MJ)
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
2017 record: 9-4
Previous: 9
The last time Jacksonville won at least nine games in a season they were led by David Garrard. Blake Bortles has a 121.5 QB rating in the past two weeks. (MJ)
8. Atlanta Falcons
2017 record: 8-5
Previous: 10
Matt Ryan had a truly atrocious outing, but thanks to some solid defence and Saints penalties Atlanta is hanging on to a wild-card spot. (MJ)
9. New Orleans Saints
2017 record: 9-4
Previous: 6
New Orleans is all of a sudden 3-2 in the past five games. Sean Payton and his team took 11 penalties that resulted in nine Atlanta first downs. That was the difference — well, that plus Alvin Kamara leaving the game early with a concussion — in a Thursday loss to the Falcons. Good news is Kamara doesn’t expect to miss any time. (MJ)
10. Los Angeles Chargers
2017 record: 7-6
Previous: 13
The Chargers’ hot streak continued with a win over Washington on Sunday to keep pace in the race for the AFC West. Their fourth straight victory puts them in position to take the division lead when they battle the Chiefs in Week 15. (ES)
11. Seattle Seahawks
2017 record: 8-5
Previous: 7
The Seahawks are used to being the best defence on the field, but that wasn’t the case Sunday in Jacksonville as they fell out of a playoff spot (for now) with a drama-filled loss to the Jaguars. Quarterback Russell Wilson tried to rebound from a season-high three interceptions as he showed off his late-game strength again, but couldn’t quite pull off the miracle comeback against a Jacksonville defence that simply outplayed the Seahawks. (ES)
12. Baltimore Ravens
2017 record: 7-6
Previous: 12
The Ravens are fighting for a wild-card spot with the Titans, and potentially Chiefs or Chargers. Baltimore has the easiest remaining schedule of the AFC wild-card contenders as they go to winless Cleveland, then are home against Indianapolis and Cincinnati to end the season. (DB)
13. Dallas Cowboys
2017 record: 7-6
Previous: 15
While Ezekiel Elliott’s absence may ultimately cost Dallas the post-season it’s been good for Dak Prescott, who had one of the best games of his young career in a crucial win in New York. (GL)
14. Tennessee Titans
2017 record: 8-5
Previous: 11
They’ve been winning games so it hasn’t been much of a concern, but the Titans do not have a good overall offence. Putting up only seven points against the Cardinals was ugly. (MJ)
15. Buffalo Bills
2017 record: 7-6
Previous: 20
How good is LeSean McCoy in a blizzard? After taking over a snow game in Philly in 2013 to the tune of 200 yards and two TDs in 2013, Shady galloped for 150-plus and the overtime winner in white-out conditions Sunday to almost single-handedly keep the Bills’ playoff hopes alive. (GL)
16. Detroit Lions
2017 record: 7-6
Previous: 16
The Lions are in the wild-card race with three games to play but Jim Caldwell is once again on the hot seat. Detroit would be a dangerous playoff sleeper if they get in. Their saving grace is the team is 5-2 on the road this year — only three teams have a better road record. (DB)
17. Green Bay Packers
2017 record: 7-6
Previous: 18
Brett Hundley kept them in the race and now Aaron Rodgers is just waiting on medical clearance before he makes his return. The Packers have won three overtime games in a season for the first time ever and are the sleeping giant in the NFC. (DB)
18. Kansas City Chiefs
2017 record: 7-6
Previous: 23
The free-falling Chiefs rediscovered their offence in Week 13 against the Jets and followed it up with a strong defensive performance during Sunday’s division victory over Oakland. With the win, Kansas City halted its four-game losing streak and gave themselves another week atop the AFC West standings just in time for a Week 15 matchup against the Chargers. (ES)
19. Oakland Raiders
2017 record: 6-7
Previous: 14
The Raiders put together an ugly performance against Kansas City, fumbling an opportunity to pass the Chiefs in the tight division standings. Their playoff hopes received another blow thanks to the Chargers’ win over Washington. (ES)
20. Miami Dolphins
2017 record: 6-7
Previous: 24
The Dolphins are the front-runners for Shock of the Season after Monday’s beating of Tom Brady and the Patriots, in which Jay Cutler thoroughly outplayed Tom Brady. No, seriously. (GL)
21. Arizona Cardinals
2017 record: 6-7
Previous: 21
The Cardinals are essentially playing spoiler at this point, and they fulfilled that mission with a grind-it-out win over the Titans thanks to a strong performance on defence. (ES)
22. Washington Redskins
2017 record: 5-8
Previous: 17
Already lacking in offensive weapons, injuries to Chris Thompson, Rob Kelley and Jordan Reed have left Kirk Cousins with little options, evidenced by just 200 yards and nine first downs in Sunday’s loss to the Chargers. (GL)
23. Cincinnati Bengals
2017 record: 5-8
Previous: 19
A.J. Green called their blowout loss to Chicago “embarrassing.” To make matters worse, they face their old defensive coordinator in Mike Zimmer and the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. (DB)
24. New York Jets
2017 record: 5-8
Previous: 22
The Jets have been a pleasant surprise this season, but this weekend’s shutout loss to a bad Broncos team was more of what was expected from New York this season. (GL)
25. San Francisco 49ers
2017 record: 3-10
Previous: 29
Jimmy Garoppolo proved last week’s win wasn’t a fluke as he threw for 334 yards and a touchdown against the Texans to get the 49ers their third win of the year — and second straight victory with Jimmy G at the helm. (ES)
26. Chicago Bears
2017 record: 4-9
Previous: 27
The Bears’ young offence is starting to come into its own. GM Ryan Pace has a decision to make on Mitch Trubisky as the Bears likely will have a shot at a top QB in the draft. (DB)
27. Houston Texans
2017 record: 4-9
Previous: 25
The season is a wash with all the injuries and yet they still allow concussed players back on the field. Seems like a lifetime ago that the Texans were cruising and in the playoff race. (MJ)
28. Denver Broncos
2017 record: 4-9
Previous:
Hey! A win! It’s too little, too late, but Denver’s defence looked like the squad we’re used to seeing as they shut out the Jets for a meaningless win following an eight-game losing skid. (MJ)
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2017 record: 4-9
Previous: 26
They are 0-3 against division rivals this season after going 4-2 against divisional opponents in 2016. Jameis Winston has 51 turnovers in 42 career NFL games. (MJ)
30. Indianapolis Colts
2017 record: 3-10
Previous:
Fell to the Bills in overtime (more like snowvertime!), but at least Frank Gore kept chugging along one week after leapfrogging Jerome Bettis and LaDainian Tomlinson to sit in fifth place on the NFL’s all-time rushing list. (MJ)
31. New York Giants
2017 record: 2-11
Previous: 30
Bringing Eli Manning back as starter in the wake of last week’s front-office cleansing was the right thing to do. However, that doesn’t change the fact the injury-ravaged Giants just aren’t a good team. (GL)
32. Cleveland Browns
2017 record: 0-13
Previous: 32
The Browns have just named their fifth GM in seven seasons under owner Jimmy Haslam. Thanks to the departed Sashi Brown, new GM John Dorsey — who was 43-21 as GM with Kansas City — has lots of draft picks and cap space to work with. (DB)
