{"id":335665,"date":"2025-12-10T00:25:07","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T00:25:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/335665\/"},"modified":"2025-12-10T00:25:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T00:25:07","slug":"eagles-bears-drop-despite-close-losses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/335665\/","title":{"rendered":"Eagles, Bears drop despite close losses"},"content":{"rendered":"

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What is an NFL postseason without Patrick Mahomes?<\/p>\n

Joe Rivera and Chris Bumbaca break down which quarterback not making the playoffs would be the most brutal hit to NFL fans.<\/p>\n

We must have this league pegged given there was just one change in the top 10.The Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers made significant jumps in the rankings, moving up four and seven spots, respectively.The Chicago Bears experienced a notable drop, falling from the NFC’s top projected playoff seed to seventh after Sunday’s loss.<\/p>\n

NFL<\/a>\u00a0power rankings entering\u00a0Week 15<\/a>\u00a0of the 2025 season (previous rank in parentheses<\/a>):<\/p>\n

1. Los Angeles Rams<\/a> (1): They’re holding steady at No. 1 \u2212 Sunday’s 45-point outburst, a season high, indicative that their Week 13 stumble in Charlotte was fairly fluky. Matthew Stafford continues to play like the MVP favorite, whether or not he’s actually the league’s best quarterback. He can further burnish his case Sunday if LA is able to stave off Stafford’s former club, the formidable Lions, and thereby wrap up the NFC’s first playoff berth<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2. New England Patriots<\/a> (2): They’re holding steady at No. 2 \u2212 though they lost their grip on the AFC’s No. 1 seed<\/a> during their bye week. Drake Maye continues to play like the MVP runner-up, whether or not he’s actually the league’s second-best quarterback. He can further burnish his case Sunday if New England is able to complete a season sweep of the Bills<\/a> and wrap up its first AFC East crown since 2019.<\/p>\n

3. Seattle Seahawks<\/a> (3): They’re holding steady at No. 3 \u2212 thanks in large part to a defense that’s surrendered just nine points (and nary a TD) in its past eight quarters. Win their next two games at home (Colts, Rams), and the ‘Hawks take possession of the NFC’s No. 1 seed.<\/p>\n

4. Green Bay Packers<\/a> (4): They’re holding steady at No. 4 \u2212 thanks in large part to a 4-0 record in the NFC North, the only one above .500 in what’s arguably the league’s toughest division. And memo to Ben Johnson, Matt LaFleur is now 12-1 against Chicago since taking the Pack job in 2019 … and, to be quite frank with you, he’d definitely enjoy beating you twice a year.<\/p>\n

5. Denver Broncos<\/a> (5): They’re holding steady at No. 5 \u2212 but it could be tough to stay there, and on top of the AFC, given the only opponent among their final four not projected to reach the playoffs \u2026 is Kansas City. But beat the Pack on Sunday, and the Broncos secure a postseason invite<\/a>.<\/p>\n

6. Houston Texans<\/a> (6): They’re holding steady at No. 6 \u2212 and on the verge of a sixth straight win with Arizona headed to Houston on Sunday. And if QB C.J. Stroud and the offense can pick up the pace just a bit, this team poses a legit Lombardi threat.<\/p>\n

7. Buffalo Bills<\/a> (7): They’re holding steady at No. 7 \u2212 and QB Josh Allen, who might be the league’s best quarterback at this point and perhaps the most dangerous and experienced one on the AFC side of the playoff bracket, is looking like a man who could finally be on a fruitful Super Bowl mission.<\/p>\n

8. Detroit Lions<\/a> (12): It’s amazing how many good players coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes have amassed here \u2212 and a shame so many of them are sidelined. But Jahmyr Gibbs, who needs to be recognized as the league’s premier running back at this point, fortunately remains in the lineup for a team still capable of offensively overwhelming its competition<\/a>.<\/p>\n

9. Jacksonville Jaguars<\/a> (9): They’re holding steady at No. 9 \u2212 and now firmly atop the AFC South with fifth-year QB Trevor Lawrence playing his most efficient football of the season heading into the stretch drive.<\/p>\n

10. San Francisco 49ers<\/a> (10): They’re holding steady at No. 10 \u2212 and even moved up a spot in the wild-card standings<\/a> during their much-needed bye week. The Niners<\/a> are also just a game off the NFC West lead but only have one more divisional game (Seattle) while the Seahawks<\/a> and Rams seem to face a tougher final month.<\/p>\n

11. Chicago Bears<\/a> (8): It’s been a fantastic ride in Year 1 with Johnson. Yet it also feels like the bottom could fall out at any point following a weekend when the Bears dropped from the NFC’s first seed to its seventh<\/a>. Chicago’s final three games are against Green Bay, San Francisco and Detroit.<\/p>\n

12. Los Angeles Chargers<\/a> (19): So many of their key players have been hit with injuries. But when you’re led by tough guys like QB Justin Herbert and OLB Khalil Mack, who have shrugged off their own physical setbacks, and now have rookie RB Omarion Hampton back in the fold, then you’re a team wired well to deal with late-season (and postseason) adversity.<\/p>\n

13. Philadelphia Eagles<\/a> (11): If a team goes as its quarterback goes? Jalen Hurts doubled his season turnover total<\/a> from five to 10 on Monday night, becoming the first player since the league expanded to a 16-game schedule in 1978 to commit two giveaways on a single play. After going to two Super Bowls in three seasons, it’s sure starting to feel like Philly will now experience two cheesesteak meltdowns in three seasons<\/a>.<\/p>\n

14. Carolina Panthers<\/a> (17): Quite the bye week. Not only did they move into a first-place tie atop the NFC South, they now control their destiny. Simply Sweep the Bucs in Weeks 16 and 18, and the Panthers<\/a> win the division for the first time since they went to Super Bowl 50 \u2026 which, coincidentally, was in Santa Clara, also the site of Super Bowl 60 this season.<\/p>\n

15. Dallas Cowboys<\/a> (14): Three of their final four opponents are below .500. And if the Eagles continue to lose, that divisional window of opportunity could still open wide for “America’s Team.”<\/p>\n

16. Kansas City Chiefs<\/a> (15): The last time they lost seven games? How about 2014 \u2026 which was also the last time they failed to qualify for the playoffs. Even if this dynasty wins out, it will still need significant help to reach Week 19.<\/p>\n

17. Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a> (21): Before we “shut the hell up for a week,” dare we say the Steelers got a vintage Aaron Rodgers performance in Sunday’s win at Baltimore \u2212 both on the field and at the podium?<\/p>\n

The legendary Aaron Rodgers ROASTED the Steelers reporters at his press conference.<\/p>\n

Q: \u201cWhat does it mean to get a win like this after the week that you guys have had?\u201d<\/p>\n

Rodgers: \u201cIt means maybe you guys will shut the hell up for a week.\u201d<\/p>\n

\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2dpic.twitter.com\/3a2dqXjgaB<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

18. Cincinnati Bengals<\/a> (20): Who would have thought DE Trey Hendrickson would be shut down before QB Joe Burrow<\/a>? Whatever. Score 40 points a week, and they’ll be fine. Maybe.<\/p>\n

19. Baltimore Ravens<\/a> (16): QB Lamar Jackson hasn’t rushed for more than 50 yards since Week 1. With a 5-5 record this season, he’s also in jeopardy of winning 50% or fewer of his starts in a season for the first time in his eight-year career.<\/p>\n

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a> (18): We’ll always admire QB Baker Mayfield’s toughness. But injuries (his and the Bucs’ at large) have caught up to this team, Mayfield passing for fewer than 200 yards in each of his past four games \u2212 all but one a loss.<\/p>\n

21. Miami Dolphins<\/a> (24): Like Mayfield, QB Tua Tagovailoa has passed for fewer than 200 yards in each of his past four games \u2212 all of them … wins. Quite the Floridian dichotomy.<\/p>\n

22. Indianapolis Colts<\/a> (13): When you’re recycling a 44-year-old quarterback<\/a> who hasn’t played in five years, then the writing is pretty much on the wall.<\/p>\n

23. Arizona Cardinals<\/a> (22): If Trey McBride catches five more balls Sunday, he’ll set the record for most consecutive five-reception games (16) by a tight end. Gotta look for silver linings where you can find them in the desert.<\/p>\n

24. Minnesota Vikings<\/a> (28): QB J.J. McCarthy, a first-rounder a year ago, just had the best game of his career. Good vibes for 2026?<\/p>\n

25. Washington Commanders<\/a> (25): QB Jayden Daniels, a first-rounder a year ago, just had the worst game of his career. Bad vibes for 2026?<\/p>\n

26. New Orleans Saints<\/a> (29): Arch Manning? Whatevs. Tyler Shough is the first rookie quarterback to win multiples games for this franchise since … Arch’s grandpa, Archie Manning, in 1971. And though he’s started just five times, Shough’s two wins this season are tied for the most in his draft class.<\/p>\n

27. New York Jets<\/a> (26): Of their 26 touchdowns this season, four \u2212 a full 15% \u2212 have come on special teams. Not. Sustainable. But trust the process.<\/p>\n

28. Cleveland Browns<\/a> (23): Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders will start the rest of the way<\/a> \u2212 and is already fomenting quite a dilemma for a team that once seemed certain to spend one of its 2026 first-round picks on another passer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

29. New York Giants<\/a> (30): They’re not scheduled to play a team with a winning record the rest of the way \u2026 which won’t make it easy to secure that No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft.<\/p>\n

30. Atlanta Falcons<\/a> (27): They definitely won’t secure the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft \u2026 because the Rams own it<\/a>, and this ain’t the NBA.<\/p>\n

31. Las Vegas Raiders<\/a> (31): If the season ended today, they would own the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft \u2212 and a team with such a glaring need at quarterback sure could use Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza<\/a>.<\/p>\n

32. Tennessee Titans<\/a> (32): The team that made last year’s No. 1 pick could really accelerate its rebuild if it also lands atop the ’26 draft \u2026 assuming struggling rookie QB Cam Ward takes a quantum leap as a sophomore.<\/p>\n

All NFL news on and off the field.\u00a0Sign up<\/a>\u00a0for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter.<\/p>\n