We’re starting to see a difference between playoff contenders and Super Bowl contenders at this point in the season. That’s partially due to an oldage used by Tom Brady: the NFL season starts after Thanksgiving.

We’re starting to see real separation between teams capable of winning a division or claiming a wild card spot and not much else and teams at the elite level. It took longer that usual this season, but we’re getting real close to top-level football.

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Most of the time. There’s still some teams who can’t get out of their own way or are just playing out the string. Those teams are headed for a top 10 NFL draft pick and probably a coaching or quarterback change or maybe both.

The Bears don’t need a quarterback change but they’ll be looking for a new head coach this offseason. This is a prideful group, however, that needs to win some games to prove they can be as good as they think they are.

Each team has it’s own issues, some more grave than others. That helps establish the heirarchy over last week within these Week 14 NFL power rankings:

1. Detroit Lions (11-1): Lions survive the Bears’ challenge. They didn’t look invincible, but winning is all that matters.  

2. Buffalo Bills (10-2): Josh Allen gets a receiving touchdown and passing touchdown. On the same play. Highlight of the year.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (11-1): Chiefs still squeaking by, but they’ve already got a playoff spot in a division with three over .500 teams.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2): The Eagles haven’t lost since September. Eagles can beat you so many ways.

5. Minnesota Vikings (10-2): Vikings win close games so often. That’s what makes them good. That’s what makes them vulnerable in the postseason.

6. Green Bay Packers (9-3): Jordan Love got himself a turkey leg on Thanksgiving. It was well deserved.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3): That was vintage Russell Wilson, right there. Steeler are near impossible to beat when he plays like that.  

8.  Baltimore Ravens (8-5): Ravens have a Justin Tucker problem. Maybe for the first time, ever.

9. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4): Always a plus when you don’t play well and still win. That’s what the Chargers are doing. That’s what good teams do.  

10. Washington Commanders (8-5): Dan Quinn said his team was out of gas heading last week’s bye. Looks like they’re all fueled up.

11. Houston Texans (8-5): I get why DeMeco Ryans is defending his guy, but that wasn’t a great hit.

12. Denver Broncos (8-5): Broncos defense gets worked all night, and then comes through with a huge pick-six to win it.

13. Seattle Seahawks (7-5): Mike Macdonald winning the NFC West in his first season would be a real accomplishment. Not there, yet, though.

14. Los Angeles Rams (6-6): Rams are in the hunt, somehow, due to some young talent and veteran leaders.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6): It’s gonna be a two-team. race for the NFC South. Even though the Falcons have the tiebreaker, I’ll bet on the team with Mike Evans.

16. Atlanta Falcons (6-6): Kirk Cousins threw four picks in a loss to the Chargers and hasn’t thrown a touchdown in three games. And, no, Raheem Morris says, it’s not time for Michael Peniz.

17. Arizona Cardinals (6-6): Like the James Conner signing. Don’t like how inconsistent Cardinals are.

18. San Francisco 49ers (5-7): The 49ers are lost. And banged up. And dealing with tragedy.  Rough few months in the Bay.

19. Dallas Cowboys (5-7): Jerry Jones says it’s possible Mike McCarthy keeps his job. Someone check the man’s sanity.

20. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8): It’s official. We can’t talk Bengals and playoffs anymore. What a waste of a season.

21. Indianapolis Colts (6-7): Colts just keep hanging around .500, with no real shot at contention.

22. Miami Dolphins (5-7): Dolphins can survive in the cold. Those from Miami, at least.  

23. Chicago Bears (4-8): If Matt Eberflus calls a timeout and Caleb Williams does his thing, the head probably still has a job. True story.

24. Cleveland Browns (3-9): Jerry Jeudy went OFF against his former team in Denver. I’m sure he would’ve taken the win to go with it.

25. New Orleans Saints (4-8) Taysom Hill is done for the year. Too bad. He was on a roll lately.

26. Carolina Panthers (3-9): Panthers aren’t winning much, but Bryce Young is showing us something. Would’ve give up on him just yet.

27. New York Jets (3-8): Hard to imagine a team with Aaron Rodgers playing this bad, this often.

28. Tennessee Titans (3-9): Hope the Titans enjoyed that game they won recently. Might’ve be the last chance to celebrate.

29. New England Patriots (3-10): Jerod Mayo said he discussed what happened with the Bears against the Lions and says he would’ve done things differently. Well, duh.

30. Las Vegas Raiders (2-10): Losing to a rival on a too-early snap is such a Raider-like way to lose this season.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10): Thankful that Trevor Lawrence is okay. That hit he took was illegal, cheap and unnecessary.

32. New York Giants (2-10): Giants have used so many quarterbacks. None of them are any good.