NFL Power Rankings - Week 16: Every team's unsung hero
NFL Power Rankings takes stock of all 32 teams throughout the season.
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1. Los Angeles Rams (11-3)
Previous rank: 1
Poona Ford, DL. The Rams' defense has gone from a 22nd-ranked finish in rush success rate last year to a top-four output so far in 2025, according to TruMedia. Ford has been the primary difference-maker, ranking fifth among all defensive tackles with a 13.3% PFF run-stop rate after joining L.A. in free agency.
2. Seattle Seahawks (11-3)
Previous rank: 2
DeMarcus Lawrence, EDGE. The Cowboys letting Lawrence walk in free agency was probably a mistake. The veteran defensive end has bounced back nicely after last year's injury issues, leading all Seahawks edge rushers with 42 pressures, according to PFF.
3. Denver Broncos (12-2)
Previous rank: 5
John Franklin-Myers, DL. Nik Bonitto, Jonathan Cooper, and Zach Allen are the big names on a lethal Broncos defensive line. Franklin-Myers thriving in a supporting role takes this unit to even greater heights. The 2024 trade addition has 5.5 sacks and ranks 17th among all interior defensive linemen with a 13.2% pass-rush win rate.
4. Houston Texans (9-5)
Previous rank: 6
Dalton Schultz, TE. The Texans are still waiting for one of their rookie wideouts to emerge as a reliable No. 2 opposite Nico Collins. Schultz has done well to pick up the slack in the meantime, leading the team with 70 receptions and posting more yards (650) than Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel combined.
5. Buffalo Bills (10-4)
Previous rank: 9
Jackson Hawes, TE. The Bills' run game was already tough enough to stop. Finding a fifth-round rookie who immediately establishes himself among the NFL's best blocking tight ends takes things to another level. Hawes has also been more involved than expected in the pass game, chipping in three touchdowns.
6. New England Patriots (11-3)
Previous rank: 4
Doug Marrone, OL coach. Remember that name? The former Jaguars head coach landed a job running the offensive line on Mike Vrabel's new staff, and the results have been outstanding. Not only did that unit take a massive step forward with a pair of rookie starters on the left side, but it's also kept things rolling since losing Will Campbell to injured reserve.
7. Chicago Bears (10-4)
Previous rank: 7
Nahshon Wright, CB. The unsung hero label may be a stretch for a defensive player who leads the league with eight takeaways. Then again, we can probably bend the rules if it means shouting out a former castoff who hadn't started a game since 2022. Wright's sudden knack for game-changing plays has been the key to Chicago overcoming a 22nd-ranked standing in defensive success rate.
8. Green Bay Packers (9-4-1)
Previous rank: 3
Christian Watson, WR. The Packers' passing game was a frustrating watch until Watson made an early return from last year's knee injury in Week 8. His ability to stretch the field really opens up everything for Jordan Love. Green Bay is tumbling down this list after losing Micah Parsons for the rest of the season, but Watson avoiding a major injury at least gives the offense a chance to score with anyone.
9. Detroit Lions (8-6)
Previous rank: 8
Tate Ratledge, G. Detroit's interior offensive line is a completely different unit without Frank Ragnow in the middle. Ratledge emerging as a quality starter from the outset of his rookie season has at least somewhat softened the blow.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4)
Previous rank: 12
Jourdan Lewis, CB. Scooping up Lewis on a three-year, $30-million contract is looking like one of the smartest moves of free agency. The veteran defensive back has posted the NFL's second-best passer rating allowed (66.9) on snaps aligned in the slot.
11. Los Angeles Chargers (10-4)
Previous rank: 10
Cameron Dicker, K. A decimated offensive line has put the Chargers in a position where it can be tough to pull away from opponents. Dicker converting on 34 of 36 field goals, including five of six from 50-plus yards, is a big reason L.A. is 6-1 in one-score games.
12. Philadelphia Eagles (9-5)
Previous rank: 11
Moro Ojomo, DL. The Eagles have a knack for developing talent in the trenches. Ojomo has quickly replaced the production lost from Milton Williams' departure, posting five sacks and tying for eighth among all interior defensive linemen with 44 pressures.
13. San Francisco 49ers (10-4)
Previous rank: 13
Mac Jones, QB. A brutal run of injuries easily could have closed the book on the 49ers' season by October. Jones leading the way to five wins in eight games without Brock Purdy kept them afloat until the offense started to get healthy. And with a number of teams in the market for a short-term starter at quarterback, the former first-round pick could become an interesting trade chip this offseason.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6)
Previous rank: 16
Kenneth Gainwell. This was supposed to be the year that Jaylen Warren broke out as a feature back. Gainwell, who landed in Pittsburgh on a one-year, $1.8-million deal, is just too tough to keep off the field. The former Eagles back has been an especially reliable checkdown option for Aaron Rodgers, leading the entire team with with 57 receptions.
15. Baltimore Ravens (7-7)
Previous rank: 17
Travis Jones, DL. The Ravens were wise to lock up Jones before he could get to free agency next offseason. Baltimore is posting 0.08 EPA/play with their standout defensive tackle on the field and minus-0.09 EPA/play without him. That's the difference between a top-four defense and a bottom-five unit.
16. Indianapolis Colts (8-6)
Previous rank: 15
Lou Anarumo, DC. Key injuries have made things difficult at times, but Anarumo has been a substantial upgrade at defensive coordinator for the Colts. Don't be surprised when he gets some head coaching buzz in January.
17. Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1)
Previous rank: 14
Klayton Adams, OC. Brian Schottenheimer probably isn't feeling great about the move to hire Matt Eberflus as his defensive coordinator, but there will be no such regrets on the other side of the ball. Stealing Adams away from the Cardinals was a stroke of genius in helping Dallas rediscover the run game.
18. Carolina Panthers (7-7)
Previous rank: 18
Mike Jackson, CB. Jaycee Horn will continue to get the majority of the attention as one of the best corners in the game, but Jackson has been just as good. The veteran defensive back has a career-high three interceptions and he's 11th among all qualified corners with a 71.8 passer rating allowed.
19. Minnesota Vikings (6-8)
Previous rank: 23
Justin Jefferson, WR (the teammate). Nobody would have blamed Jefferson if his frustrations boiled over amid a historically bad start from J.J. McCarthy. Other superstar receivers may not have stayed so patient. And perhaps that makes a difference in McCarthy's development in the long run - who knows?
20. Kansas City Chiefs (6-8)
Previous rank: 19
Kingsley Suamataia, G. The Chiefs are going to miss out on the playoffs for the first time since 2014, so it's probably tough to identify many positives. But Suamataia finding a fit at guard after a rough rookie season could go a long way toward solidifying this offensive line long term.
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)
Previous rank: 21
Tykee Smith, S. It's been a tough year for the Buccaneers' defense, but Smith's emergence is a promising development. The 2024 second-round pick has been doing it all in his second season, racking up 90 tackles, two sacks, an interception, and a pair of fumble recoveries.
22. Cincinnati Bengals (4-10)
Previous rank: 20
Scott Peters, OL coach. Lost in the disappointment of a disaster season is the fact that the Bengals may have finally found a solution for their issues up front. The offensive line has made considerable strides in both pass protection and run blocking since hiring Peters to oversee that group. Next season could be a special year for this offense.
23. Miami Dolphins (6-8)
Previous rank: 22
Aaron Brewer, C. The Dolphins briefly managed to keep their season alive on the back of a top-four run game by EPA/rush. Brewer is the straw that stirs the drink in the middle, and he should be rewarded with his first career Pro Bowl nod.
24. Atlanta Falcons (5-9)
Previous rank: 25
Ryan Neuzil, C. Letting Drew Dalman walk away in free agency seemed like a risky move. As it turns out, the Falcons already had another starting-caliber center in the building. Neuzil has been a steady presence in the run game, and his fumble recovery Thursday night kept the door open for Atlanta to complete a comeback against the Bucs.
25. New Orleans Saints (4-10)
Previous rank: 26
Juwan Johnson, TE. A reliable tight end can be a young quarterback's best friend. Johnson has been exactly that for both Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough, as he ranks eighth among all players at the position in targets (84), receptions (62), and receiving yards (644).
26. Washington Commanders (4-10)
Previous rank: 29
Marcus Mariota, QB. The Commanders are in the midst of a wildly disappointing season, but it could have been even worse without a capable backup to step in for an injured Jayden Daniels. Mariota is quietly tied for 13th among all quarterbacks in EPA/dropback.
27. Arizona Cardinals (3-11)
Previous rank: 24
Michael Wilson, WR. There's nothing left to play for at this point in a lost season. Wilson is giving Cardinals fans a reason to tune in regardless. The third-year wideout has made the most of his recent opportunities, ranking second behind only Puka Nacua with 535 yards over the last five weeks.
28. Cleveland Browns (3-11)
Previous rank: 27
Harold Fannin Jr., TE. The third-round rookie isn't getting nearly enough attention outside of Cleveland. Perhaps that's to be expected, given the way this season has gone, but the Browns appear to have a superstar in the making. Fannin's ability after the catch - he ranks second only to Christian McCaffrey (!) with 21 missed tackles forced as a receiver - makes him a truly rare talent at the tight end position.
29. New York Giants (2-12)
Previous rank: 28
Jermaine Eluemunor, OT. Andrew Thomas isn't the only steady contributor on the Giants' offensive front. Eluemunor has proven to be a steal since joining New York on a modest two-year, $14-million deal in 2024, tying for eighth among all offensive tackles in PFF's pass-block efficiency rating so far this season.
30. New York Jets (3-11)
Previous rank: 30
Darren Mougey, GM. The Jets are still a mess. And while dumping both Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner probably wasn't the most popular decision, the draft capital acquired at least gives fans something to look forward to. The question is whether the general manager can turn those picks into players as good as the ones he traded away.
31. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)
Previous rank: 31
Eric Stokes, CB. If you thought the Raiders' defense was bad, just picture how much worse it could have been without the surprise contributions of Stokes. The former first-rounder has been one of the few bright spots for Las Vegas after joining the club on a one-year flier, allowing just 23 catches. His 19.3 coverage snaps per reception is third among all cornerbacks.
32. Tennessee Titans (2-12)
Previous rank: 32
Cedric Gray, LB. Rebuilding this roster is going to be a long process. Gray's sophomore breakout can at least leave the Titans feeling good about the future of the linebacker spot, as the 2024 fourth-rounder leads all players at the position with 37 run stops.
Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.