Last week’s ranking is in parentheses.

Week 14 power rankings

  1.  Carolina Panthers (12-0) (1) – By any means necessary.
  1.  Arizona Cardinals (10-2) (T-2) – By any measure, the NFL’s best team with its best resume.

T-3.  New England Patriots (10-2) (T-2) – Didn’t I tell ya to watch what happens without Gronk?

T-3.  Denver Broncos (10-2) (4) – Defense regaining that scary quality.

  1.  Cincinnati Bengals (10-2) (5) – No matter what, their test will come in the playoffs.
  1.  Seattle Seahawks (7-5) (7) – Ever heard of a “December team?”
  1.  Kansas City (7-5) (8) – En route to winning out.
  1.  Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) (10) – That team no wants to face in the AFC.
  1.  Green Bay Packers (8-4) (9) – How much credit, exactly, do they deserve for all-but-losing to the Lions?
  1.  Minnesota Vikings (8-4) (6) – Can’t win the big one.
  1.  New York Jets (7-5) (T-12) – It’s the not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.
  1.  Buffalo Bills (6-6) (15) – Don’t count this team out – they’re finally healthy.
  1.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6) (T-16) – If you don’t love the Buccaneers this season, you don’t love football.
  1.  Oakland Raiders (5-7) (11) – Wait ‘til next year.
  1.  New York Giants (5-7) (T-12) – They find ways to lose no one even knew existed.
  1.  Indianapolis Colts (6-6) (14) – House of cards.
  1.  Houston Texans (6-6) (19) – House of straw.
  1.  Atlanta Falcons (6-6) (T-16) – House by the cemetary.
  1.  Miami Dolphins (5-7) (22) – Not a factor.
  1.  Philadelphia Eagles (5-7) (23) – Frauds part 1.
  1.  Washington RacialSlurs (5-7) (18) – Frauds part 2.
  1.  Detroit Lions (4-8) (21) – How, oh how, do you blow that one?
  1.  Dallas Cowboys (4-8) (25) – Too little, too late.
  1.  Chicago Bears (5-7) (20) – No words.  Just none.
  1. New Orleans Saints (4-8) (24) – Nice try.
  1.  Baltimore Ravens (4-8) (26) – The good fight.
  1.  Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8) (27) – Again, wait ‘til next year.
  1.  St. Louis Rams (4-8) (28) – Todd Gurley, the defense, and 10 bums.
  1.  San Francisco 49ers (4-8) (30) – Does Blaine Gabbert actually get a starters’ job next year?
  1.  Tennessee Titans (3-9) (31) – Still miles away.
  1.  San Diego Chargers (3-9) (29) – They have Philip Rivers, but they might as well have Johnny Manziel.

32.  Cleveland Browns (2-10) (32) – Couldn’t win if Johnny Manziel was Philip Rivers.