1. Detroit Lions (11-1)
Last Week: 1
The Lion’s win streak is now at ten games after Chicago blew a longshot chance at a comeback on Thanksgiving. Despite a lackluster win, Detroit holds the top spot rather easily. The Lions host Green Bay and Buffalo over the next two weeks. Detroit’s grip on the division and home field is in the balance.
Christmas List: The Lions are managing a pass rush without Aidan Hutchinson. They need Santa to bring health and better play to the secondary. The back four have been the team’s lone weakness.
2. Buffalo Bills (10-2)
Last Week: 2
The Bills seemed to be the only team on the field Sunday night that didn’t mind the weather. Their seventh win in a row clinched the woeful AFC East for Buffalo. The Bills travel to play the Rams this week followed by a trip to Detroit in a potential Super Bowl preview.
Christmas List: A dependable number one wide receiver is what Buffalo needs most. The Bills are second in points per game (29.6) despite an average passing attack. Josh Allen is forced to create yards with his legs too often. Allen’s health and the Bill’s chances at the Super Bowl depend on someone getting open more consistently.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (11-1)
Last Week: 3
The Chiefs are living dangerously. Kansas City has beaten Carolina and Las Vegas, two teams with a combined 5-19 record, by a total of five points in the last two weeks. Friday’s win over the Raiders was an especially close shave. There’s a big difference between playing the Chiefs close and beating the Chiefs, but the number of close games is a concern.
Christmas List: DeAndre Hopkins was a nice addition, but Kansas City could use another threat at wideout. Hopkins will produce, but depending on him as the number one receiver is a problem. Someone needs to take the top receiver position and let Hopkins settle in as the second receiver – a spot he is much more suited to at this point in his career.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (10-2)
Last Week: 5
The Eagles won an impressive game on the road in Baltimore on Sunday. The win is Philadelphia’s eighth in a row as the team presses Detroit for home field. The Eagles face the Panthers, Cowboys, and Giants over the season’s last five weeks, so the team has a very manageable road into January.
Christmas List: Jalen Hurts threw a career-high 15 interceptions last season. Hurts has just five picks this year. Philadelphia is fourth in offense and took over the top spot in the league in total defense, so continued discipline from the quarterback is what they would like from Santa.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
Last Week: 6
The Steelers rolled up over 500 yards of offense on the dreadful Cincinnati defense on Sunday. Russel Wilson had 414 yards passing. The Steelers might not be happy with allowing 38 points, but the style of play the Bengals force teams into skews the results. Pittsburgh has won six of seven and they get to avenge their only loss in that streak this week against Cleveland.
Christmas List: Pittsburgh would love to see continued maturity from gifted wideout George Pickens. Maturity in his play and in his temperament would make for a major holiday treat for the Steelers. Pickens has the talent to be a top-flight number one receiver. He just needs to be more consistent in his play. He also needs to avoid the on-field skirmishes that threaten to subtract from his Pro-Bowl potential.
6. Minnesota Vikings (10-2)
Last Week: 4
The Vikings came back at home on Sunday against the Cardinals to keep pace in the division. Minnesota seems to be the NFC’s version of the Chiefs, winning their last two against lesser competition by a total of four points. The upcoming schedule favors the Vikings, but their penchant for playing down to the competition must change.
Christmas List: Minnesota needs to find a more potent running game under the tree this Christmas. The Vikings are in the middle of the pack in rush yards. Minnesota was outrushed 154-68 Sunday against Arizona, and 124-78 the week before against the Bears. The Vikings will need to run it in the playoffs to win.
7. Green Bay Packers (9-3)
Last Week: 7
Green Bay dispatched the temperature-challenged Dolphins on Thanksgiving night. The Pack have been riding under the radar while winning seven of their last eight. Green Bay can take a big step out of the shadows this week with a win over division leader Detroit – the only team to have beaten the Packers over the last eight weeks.
Christmas List: The Packers would love it if their stockings included a recipe for winning against winning teams. Green Bay has faced four winning teams, and their record in those contests is 1-3. Staying power in January is going to depend on the Pack’s ability to step it up against the big boys.
8. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
Last Week: Unranked
The Chargers made a statement by beating the Broncos. This team has the tools to compete in the postseason but consistency remains an issue.
Christmas List: They need stability in their secondary to tighten up defense, giving them a better chance to go deep in the playoffs.
9. Seattle Seahawks (7-5)
Last Week: 10
The Seahawks got a road win against the Jets Sunday and took sole possession of the first place in the NFC West. Seattle held the Jets scoreless for the second half finally taking the lead with 5:30 left to play. The Seattle defense also put points on the board with a pick-six in the first half.
Christmas List: Seattle needs Santa to bring them a better rushing game. Only four teams run for fewer yards per contest than the Seahawks. As December rolls in, rushing the ball becomes more important. The postseason will be short for Seattle if they can’t produce more on the ground.
10. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)
Last Week: 8
The Ravens fell back in the NFC North with a home loss against surging Philadelphia. Justin Tucker missed two critical field goal attempts, and the Ravens went scoreless in the second half until the final seconds of the game.
Christmas List: The Ravens will be writing to Santa to ask for better secondary play. Baltimore in second to last in passing yards allowed per game (264.9). Glaring weaknesses are brought to light in the playoffs. It will be a short stay for the Ravens if things don’t tighten on the back end of the defense.
28. New York Jets (3-9)
Last Week: 28
The Jet’s offense shut down with over ten minutes left in the first half against Seattle on Sunday. That was when the team scored their final points for the day. The defense couldn’t hold on, and New York lost for the eighth time in nine games. The game was a statistical deadlock, but the difference came when Seattle got a defensive touchdown in the second quarter from former Jet and Giant defensive lineman Leonard Williams. Williams took an Aaron Rodgers interception 92 yards.
Christmas List: The Jets need continued development of their young players for Christmas. The season is lost, so the rest of the games must be played with an eye to the future. Olu Fashanu played exceptionally well Sunday starting at tackle. The first-year lineman did not allow a sack, and he gave up just two quarterback pressures. The Jets need to see how all their young players perform during the last games of the season, so they can make decisions on how the roster will look in 2025, and they can determine how to spend what looks like yet another top-ten pick in the draft.