NFL Power Rankings, Week 15: Steelers’ second straight loss has them trending the wrong way

The Pittsburgh Steelers, along with the rest of the NFL, are coming off the 14th week of a journey which has never been done in the history of the game. Playing games amidst a global pandemic.

The league has done tremendous work with protocols and adjustments to make sure this season goes off without a hitch, but even the best laid plans can have their bumps in the road. The Steelers experienced that first hand with an unexpected bye week after the Titans’ outbreak forced their Week 4 game to be moved.

Who do the experts think will be the team to beat this season? Power Rankings are one way to decipher who they like, or don’t like, at any particular juncture of the season. Heading into Week 14, there is a lot which can be expected. The Chiefs find themselves at the top of most rankings, while the Green Bay Packers or the New Orleans Saints are everyone’s favorite now in the NFC.

Where do the Steelers fall? Well that depends. After their second straight loss, this to the Buffalo Bills, where do they have them dropping in the rankings. Take a look at some of the Power Rankings below, and be sure to let us know what you think of the rankings in the comment section below!

ESPN

1. Kansas City Chiefs
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Pittsburgh Steelers

“It’s no surprise that the Steelers have another highly ranked defense, with the core from last season returning. What is a surprise is that the offense, bolstered by Ben Roethlisberger’s return, is only 20th in the FPI rankings. Roethlisberger and the offense were effective with the short passing game earlier in the season, especially when complemented by a well-balanced running game. But in recent weeks, the offensive line hasn’t been physical enough, opposing defenses are blowing up the short passes, and the running game has evaporated. The offense is broken, yet the Steelers keep trying to force what worked earlier in the season. It’s costing them games and playoff seeding.”

5. New Orleans Saints
6. Los Angeles Rams
7. Seattle Seahawks
8. Tennessee Titans
9. Indianapolis Colts
10. Baltimore Ravens

CBS Sports

1. Kansas City Chiefs
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Pittsburgh Steelers

“They haven’t look good for a while, which is a concern. They do get the Bengals this week to help fix their ails.”

5. New Orleans Saints
6. Seattle Seahawks
7. Indianapolis Colts
8. Los Angeles Rams
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
10. Baltimore Ravens

Sports Illustrated

1. Kansas City Chiefs
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Pittsburgh Steelers

“The Steelers have hit a rough patch, which seemed inevitable given some of their ugly early-season performances that still yielded wins. The offense, which seems reliant on a 38-year-old QB coming off season-ending surgery to make plays, has a lot to figure out, but the defense should get a boost when Vince Williams, Robert Spillane and Joe Haden can return.”

5. New Orleans Saints
6. Los Angeles Rams
7. Seattle Seahawks
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
9. Baltimore Ravens
10. Tennessee Titans

NFL.com

1. Kansas City Chiefs
2. Green Bay Packers
3. New Orleans Saints
4. Buffalo Bills
5. Pittsburgh Steelers

“The Steelers are in a certified funk. Pittsburgh has followed 11 consecutive wins to start the season with back-to-back losses, the latest a convincing 26-15 setback against the Bills on Sunday Night Football. The national audience watched the Steelers’ short passing game implode as Buffalo’s defense sat on routes and smothered Pittsburgh’s talented collection of wide receivers. The Steelers’ defense played well in the first half, but eventually faded as Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs worked impeccably to exploit soft spots in the zone. With an absentee running game and a nearly non-existent vertical attack, the Steelers have become rote and predictable on offense. Can they adjust on the fly? Is this version of Big Ben up for that challenge? The Steelers’ season may depend on it.”

6. Los Angeles Rams
7. Seattle Seahawks
8. Baltimore Ravens
9. Cleveland Browns
10. Indianapolis Colts

The Sporting News

1. Kansas City Chiefs
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Pittsburgh Steelers

“The Steelers have gone from the verge of a perfect season to losing two straight games at the worst time. They’ve regressed to where they really should be with their offensive limitations and defensive lapses. Now the former AFC front-runners have real pressing questions related to injuries and execution.”

5. New Orleans Saints
6. Los Angeles Rams
7. Seattle Seahawks
8. Cleveland Browns
9. Tennessee Titans
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers