NFL power rankings, Week 16: Colts roll, Cardinals and Bucs flop
team. 48. . 10-4. Previous: . Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 9
It was a Sunday night clash at Tampa as the Saints and Buccaneers renewed acquaintances for the fifth time since last season. Bruce Arians’ team was blanked in the first half and managed only 124 total yards.
Tom Brady was sacked three times in the first two quarters. And things didn’t get any better after intermission as the Bucs were blanked for all 60 minutes. Brady finished the night with a pair of turnovers and not a single point in a stunning home loss. How revealing it ends up being as far as exposure on how to trounce the Super Bowl champs in the playoffs remains yet to be seen.
. 8-6. Previous: . Indianapolis Colts. 8. team. 46
Could Frank Reich’s club cool off a Patriots’ team that entered this Saturday night clash with a seven-game winning streak? The answer was yes and once again, running back Jonathan Taylor proved to be the main factor.
He would finish the evening with 29 carries for 170 yards, 67 of those coming on a touchdown run with 2:01 to play. This after Indianapolis owned a 20-0 third-quarter lead and then watched the Pats narrow the deficit to three points.
35. . 9-5. Previous: . Tennessee Titans. 7. team
The Titans headed north to the Steel City for the first time since 2017 and took on the Steelers for the second consecutive year. Last season, Pittsburgh visited Nashville and came away with a 27-24 win.
Things looked good early for the AFC South leaders as they owned a 10-point lead at intermission. But Mike Vrabel’s team finished the afternoon with four turnovers and was blanked in the second half. The defense allowed only 168 total yards.