Draft Insiders’ NFL Power Poll – Week 16

Frank Coyle / Head scout / Staff
www.draftinsiders.com

Broncos & Rams Head Conferences

Teams of the Week
Bills Comeback vs Patriots – 35-31
Seahawks Edge Colts – 18-16
Broncos Beat Packers – 34-26

Players of the Week
Offense – QB Trevor Lawrence – Jaguars
Defense – LB Matt Milano – Bills

Rookies of the Week
Offense – QB Tyler Shough – Saints
Defense – Edge Abdul Carter – Giants

Games of Week 16

Thursday – Dec. 18th
8:15 pm – Rams (11-3) at Seahawks (11-3)

Saturday – Dec. 20th
8:20 pm – Packers (9-4-1) at Bears (10-4)

Sunday – Dec. 21st
1:00 pm – Bucs (7-7) at Panther (7-7)
1:00 pm – Chargers (10-4) at Cowboys (6-7-1)
4:05 pm – Jaguars (10-4) at Broncos (12-2)
4:25 pm – Steelers (8-6) at Lions (8-6)

Draft Insiders’ – NFL Power Poll – Week 16

Frank Coyle
NFL Team Poll

Ranking /Record /Team

#1 – 12-2 Broncos
The Broncos basted the Packers for their 12th straight victory. They have learned how to win in big spots under gutty HC Sean Payton, savvy Bo Nix and opportunistic defense. Host the hot Jaguars this week.

#2 – 11-3 Rams
The Rams dissected the Lions defense behind Matthew Stafford. Probably the most balanced team in the league. NFC West battle with the hot Seahawks on Thursday night may claim another divisional title.

#3 – 11-3 Patriots
The Patriots were ambushed by the Bills with a huge comeback. Travel to Baltimore to face a desperate Ravens club in a key AFC matchup.

#4 – 10-4 Bills
The Bills came back to edge the Patriots last week behind savvy Josh Allen and an aggressive offense. Travel to Cleveland looking to press the Patriots for the AFC East title.

#5 – 11-3 Seahawks
The Seahawks edged the Colts in last game. Host the Rams in a huge NFC West matchup for divisional leadership at stake. Hawks are a tough balanced club to challenge for the Super bowl.

#6 – 10-4 Bears
The Bears smashed the Browns last week. Face the acid test this week hosting the Packers with the NFC North leadership in the balance. QB Caleb Williams has responded to HC Ben Johnson’s coaching.

#7 – 10-4 49ers
The 49ers are taking care of business and beat the titans last week. Travel to Indy to face the desperate Colts and Philip Rivers. Still pressing the NFC West leaders for the division.

#8 – 10-4 Jaguars
The Jaguars toyed with the Jets behind the hot Trevor Lawrence. Prepare for the tough Broncos with a trip to Mile High for a key game for AFC playoff hopes.

#9 – 9-5 Texans
The Texans are rolling with another strong win over the Cardinals. Host the Raiders looking to continue their winning streak behind a healthy CJ Stroud and the best defense in the game.

#10 – 10-4 Chargers
The Chargers knocked the Chiefs out of the playoffs and ended their AFC West title streak. Travel to Dallas looking to continue to press the Broncos for the West leadership and a high wild card position.

#11 – 9-4-1 Packers
The Packers were drilled by the Broncos and lost defender Micah Parsons to a knee injury. Travel to Chicago on Saturday night with NFC North leadership on the line. QB Jordan Love faces the acid test here facing the tough Bears defense on the road.

#12 – 9-5 Eagles
The Eagles shutout the Raiders in last game. Travel to Washington Saturday night where they can clinch the NFC East with a victory. Looking to improve their home field advantage position.

#13 – 8-6 Lions
The Lions were bombed by Matthew Stafford as their defense was toasted once again in a big spot. Host the Steelers in a must win situation trailing both the Bears and Packers currently.

#14 – 8-6 Steelers
The Steelers were sharp vs the Dolphins on Monday night. Aaron Rodgers had a strong performance and their defense stepped up in key spots. Travel to Detroit looking to maintain AFC North leadership.

#15 – 8-6 Colts
The Colts lost a tough matchup with the Seahawks with new veteran Philip Rivers at the controls. Host the 49ers in a major interconference matchup for both divisional races.

#16 – 7-7 Bucs
The Bucs lost a heartbreaker to the Falcons on Thursday night which puts them in a tie with the Panthers for the divisional lead. Travel to Carolina to face the Panthers in a contest which can decide everything in the NFC South.

#17 – 7-7 Panthers
The Panthers lost a key game to the Saints with an eye on the Bucs matchup this week. They have turned the corner, though must prove they can finish in big game situations. Get a major test on Sunday.

#18 – 7-7 Ravens
The Ravens shutout the Bengals in a key divisional battle. Host the Patriots this week where if they lose they face a very difficult road for the postseason.

#19 – 6-8 Vikings
The Vikings young QB JJ McCarthy had a breakout game vs the Cowboys after a tough stretch earlier. They travel to MetLife to face the GMen hoping to stay alive for a wild card berth.

#20 – 6-7-1 Cowboys
The Cowboys fell to the Vikings as their defense failed them once again. Host the Chargers this week in a major contest where they will have to run the table to make the postseason.

#21 – 5-9 Falcons
The Falcons came back to beat the Bucs last week. Travel to Arizona looking to put together a few late wins for a young club for next season.

#22 – 6-8 Chiefs
The Chiefs were eliminated from the postseason by the Chargers. Patrick Mahomes tore his knee and is out the rest of the season. Chiefs have a big rebuilding job to keep stride with AFC contenders.

#23 – 6-8 Dolphins
The Dolphins were dominated by the Steelers in the cold on Monday night. HC Mike McDaniel has benched starting QB Tua for this week’s game with the Bengals.

#24 – 4-10 Bengals
The Bengals were shut out by the Ravens in a key game which ended their playoff hopes. Travel to Miami in a game of major disappointing clubs.

#25 – 4-10 Commanders
The Commanders held on to beat the GMen last week. Host the Eagles with only thoughts of what might have been with a healthy Jayden Daniels.

#26 – 4-10 Saints
The Saints beat divisional rival, the Panthers in a close game last week. Host the Jets in another winnable matchup with rookie QB Tyler Shough performing well.

#27 – 3-11 Cardinals
The Cardinals were wacked by the Texans last week in another poor performance. Host the Falcons playing only for pride at this point.

#28 – 3-11 Browns
The Browns struggled offensively again last week vs the Bears. Host the Bills in another mismatch with a young offense struggling on most areas.

#29 – 3-11 Jets
The Jets were bashed by the Jaguars last week. Travel to New Orleans with rookie QB Brady Cook getting another start after a respectable game vs Jaguars.

#30 – 2-12 Giants
The Giants came up short vs the Commanders last week despite a good effort. Host the Vikings hoping to spoil their playoff hopes.

#31 – 2-12 Raiders
The Raiders were shutout by the Eagles in another pathetic offensive performance. Travel to Houston to face the hot Texans in another difficult matchup.

#32 – 2-12 Titans
The Titans were crushed by the hot 49ers in another weak offensive performance. Host the struggling Chiefs this week in a game they could surprise and reap something from another horrible season.

Frank Coyle is a long-time scout with nationwide ties with NFL and college coaches, scouts and player agents. He is a member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards – Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Lombardi, Thorpe, Biletnikoff etc for the past 34 years. He writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He was a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He does sports radio shows for CBS, ESPN, Fox Sports and Sporting News on a year-round basis related to NFL and College Football especially during the postseason team and All-star Bowl time. He has worked for CBS Sports, USA Today, NBC Sports, Yahoo and Rivals sports publications and web sites.