NFL Power Rankings: The Steelers’ stay at the top was short-lived

It is Tuesday, which means one thing — time to talk weekly Power Rankings.

While these rankings mean absolutely nothing, they do create a lot of buzz, discussion and debate as where your favorite team falls on said rankings. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, a bad Week 15 loss to the Patriots had the team fall out of the top spot, which they possessed for just one week.

However, they didn’t fall far, as most writers who put together weekly Power Rankings dropped them only one spot, but still debate lingers. For instance, NFL.com has the Steelers ranked behind the Vikings, who they beat early in the 2017 regular season. It all depends how people configure their rankings, and that is what creates the discussion on a weekly basis.

There are only two more weeks of Power Rankings left, which is good news for those who hate them, but let’s take a look at the latest rankings, and what they said about the Steelers, as the team heads into Week 16.

ESPN

1. New England Patriots
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
“The Steelers are the only team with four five-time Pro Bowl selections on their roster. Harrison has played only five games, but the other three have all produced at their normal rates.”
3. Philadelphia Eagles
4. Minnesota Vikings
5. Los Angeles Rams
6. Jacksonville Jaguars
7. New Orleans Saints
8. Carolina Panthers
9. Atlanta Falcons
10. Kansas City Chiefs

Sporting News

1. New England Patriots
2. Philadelphia Eagles
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
“The Steelers should be shaking their heads over what could have been against the Patriots. They dodged a bullet when they learned Antonio Brown should return to be a difference-maker in the rematch.”
4. Minnesota Vikings
5. Los Angeles Rams
6. Jacksonville Jaguars
7. New Orleans Saints
8. Carolina Panthers
9. Atlanta Falcons
10. Baltimore Ravens

NFL.com

1. New England Patriots
2. Minnesota Vikings
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
“Whatever counseling you need this week should be covered by your employer. How the heck are Pittsburgh fans supposed to go to work after watching that abomination at the end of the loss to the Patriots? Between the Jesse James catch-not-catch, the tipped-ball interception and losing Antonio Brown for the rest of the regular season, the collapse to New England must be up there among the most frustrating losses in franchise history. The broadcast crew didn't even realize why the James play was being reviewed until two minutes into the review. (Imagine the internal thought bubbles of Tony Romo, who played in the eerily similar Dezcaughtit affair three seasons ago.) Sure would be nice if Pittsburgh could ever be healthy for the entire postseason. Brown is the latest marquee player to fall during a season in which the league can't keep its stars on the field.”
4. Philadelphia Eagles
5. Los Angeles Rams
6. New Orleans Saints
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
8. Carolina Panthers
9. Atlanta Falcons
10. Dallas Cowboys