NFL power rankings for Week 16: Biggest threats to Chiefs throne are emerging
The more things change, the more the Eagles and Chiefs keep rising to the top of the NFL.Just like when they met in Super Bowl 57 at the end of the 2022 season.Just like when they met in Week 11 of the 2023 season.Same old, same old.Buffalo’s upset of previously unbeatable Detroit opened the door for a new team to be considered the one to beat in the NFL.Three teams emerged: The Bills, Eagles and Lions.Who deserves to be No.
1? Well, maybe things would look different if Patrick Mahomes wasn’t reportedly week-to-week with a high ankle sprain.Don’t forget to take that into account when parsing The Post’s NFL power rankings for Week 16:Who’s complaining about Philadelphia’s passing attack now? Jalen Hurts busted out of a slump by throwing for 290 yards and three touchdowns while still adding his near-weekly rushing touchdown in a 27-13 win against the Steelers.Saquon Barkley’s chase of the NFL single-season rushing record was slowed by gaining just 65 yards and missing most of the second quarter.Mahomes threw two touchdown passes before leaving the rest of a 21-7 victory against the Browns to backup Carson Wentz.
By Kansas City standards, this was an otherwise comfortable victory because it was not their typical one-score margin (10 wins by seven or fewer points).The defense stepped up to force six takeaways, including two end-zone interceptions.If you were expecting a shootout between the NFL’s two-highest scoring offenses, you got it in this 48-42 victory against the Lions.
Josh Allen ran for two first-quarter touchdowns and threw for two second-half touchdowns as Buffalo jumped out to a 35-14 lead and became the first NFL team since 2013 to score 30 or more points in eight straight games.Jared Goff threw five touchdown passes but couldn’t stop Detroit’s 11-game winning streak from ending.Why? Because the defense allowed touchdowns on the Bills’ first three possessions.A long line of injuries is threatening to spoil a potentially magical run...