Seahawks ascending

1. Chiefs 14- 1 ( 1): The Chiefs were off their game Sunday against the Falcons, but it didn’t matter.

2. Bills 12- 3 ( 2): Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs put an exclamation point on the Bills’ hostile takeover of theAFCEast.

3. Packers 12- 3 ( 3): It’s a shame for the Bears that the Packers need to win Sunday to clinch the topNFCseed.

4. Saints 11- 4 ( 4): The Saints tied a bow on their fourth consecutive NF C South crown by destroying the Vikings 52- 33 as Alvin K amara became the first player to rush for six touchdowns since Ernie Nevers of the Chicago Cardinals did it against the BearsonNov. 28, 1929.

5. Seahawks 11- 4 ( 7): The Seahawks have slowly gotten healthier on defense andshowedupto clinch theNFCWest.

6. Ravens 10-5(8): The Ravens are surging at the right time.

7. Buccaneers10- 5( 11): TheBucs nailed downtheir first playoffspot since 2007.

8. Titans 10-5(5): The Titans aren’ t built to play from behind and really aren’t equipped to do it in the snow, as we learned Sunday night in Green Bay, Wis.

9. Steelers 12- 3( 12): The Steelers ended their three- game losing streak by rallying to defeat the Colts.

10. Colts 10- 5 ( 6): The Colts need a win over the Jaguars, whichshouldn’tbe aproblem, andthenneedhelp to reach the playoffs after a loss to the Steelers.

11. Dolphins10- 5( 13): “Fitzmagic” is the latest showtaking Las Vegas by storm. Roo ki eTua Tag ovai lo a was pulled for the second time this season, andRyan Fitzpatrick sparked the Dolphins to a last-second victory over the Raiders. Why is Brian Flores returning toTagovailoa thisweek?

12. Browns 10-5(9): A wild ly successful season by Cleveland standards could end this weekend. That’s what happens whenyoulose to the Jets.

13. Rams 9- 6 ( 10): The Rams’ playoff chances rest on the right arm of backup QB John Wol ford.

14. Bears 8- 7 ( 15): The Bears have been a juggernaut on offense lately against some of the league’sworst defenses. Theylikely will need to score plentySunday.

15. Cardinals 8- 7 ( 14): The Cardinals came out flat and stayed that way in a stunning 20- 12 loss to the 49ers on Saturday asQBKylerMurray struggled.

16. Chargers 6- 9 ( 20): All of a sudden the Chargers, who had lost so many close games, havewon three straight, all decidedby one score.

17. Cowboys6- 9( 23): TheCowboys seemto have steadied some of their horrible defensive issues, and QB Andy Dalton has gotten hot.

18.49ers6- 9( 21): TheNinershadlost six ofsevenandhave been severely limited by injuries, but coach Kyle Sh ana han got his guys to deliver Saturday at Arizona and defensive coordinator RobertS al eh showed why he’ s a top candidate tobecomea head coach.

19. Washington 6- 9 ( 16): Dwayne Haskins authored a how- to manual when it comes to torpedoing a career in less thantwo seasons.

20. Vikings 6- 9 ( 17): After allowing Alvin Kamara to run for six touchdownsin a 52- 33 loss inNewOrleans, Vikings coach MikeZim mer declared ,“This is a bad defense. Worst one I’ve ever had.” No argumenthere.

21. Raiders 7-8(18): Jon G ru den already fired his defensive coordinator, and he will need to fire defensive backs this offseason after Saturday’s stunning loss to the Dolphins eliminated the Raiders fromthe playoffchase.

22. Patriots 6-9(19): CamNewtonisn’t the answer at quarter back in 2021.

23. Panthers 5- 10 ( 29): Matt Rhule would like to see his team finish strong after awinatWashington.

24. Giants 5-10(22): The Giants have lost three in a row and QB Daniel Jones has struggled. That will make it interesting to seewhatGMDave Gettleman willdo.

25. Broncos 5-10(24): Vic Fang io reportedly is safe to return for a third season. The Broncoswould have to blowup the entire operation if they’re bouncing another coach.

26. Bengals4- 10- 1( 26): BrandonAllen threwfor 371 yards andtwo touchdownsin the Bengals upset of theTexans.

27. Eagles 4- 10- 1 ( 25): The Eagles are the only team out of the mix in the NFC East, and JalenHurts gets the start Sunday night against Washington with Doug Peder son saying hewants another chance to evaluate the rookieQB.

28. Texans4- 11( 28): J. J. Watt made an impassioned speech about putting forth maximum effort at theendof a miserable season for the fans invested in the team’s fortunes.

29. Falcons 4- 11 ( 30): The Falcons have found new and creative ways to self- destruct all season. Younghoe Koo, who had missed only one field goal all year, failing to deliver ona 39- yardkick with 14seconds to playwas a first.

30. Lions 5- 10 ( 27): A 47- 7 loss to the Buccaneers was a forget table debut for Robert Prince, the interim head coach as Darrell B eve ll was quarantined because ofCOVID- 19.

31. Jets 2- 13 ( 31): The question isn’t if Adam Gase stays or goes but if the Jets lean on a new coach to fix QB Sam D arnold or draft BYU’ sZa ch Wilson or OSU’ s Justin Fields.

32. Jaguars 1-14(32): Even Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry was in a partying mood when the Jaguars lost their 14th consecutive game to sew up the No .1 pick in the draft.