NFL Power Rankings, Week 16: Broncos Lead the Pack, Bucs Hanging On by a Thread
As we head into Week 16 of the 2025 NFL season, the playoff picture is starting to take shape-but it’s far from settled. Division titles are still up for grabs, Wild Card races are heating up, and a few teams are clinging to postseason hopes like a wide receiver toe-tapping on the sideline.
With just three weeks left, every snap matters. It’s crunch time, and for the eight current division leaders, the pressure is dialed all the way up.
Let’s break down how those teams stack up heading into the final stretch, starting from the bottom of the division-leader pile.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
There’s no sugarcoating it-the Bucs are spiraling. They’ve dropped multiple games at the worst possible time, and while it hasn’t cost them the NFC South lead (yet), that’s more a reflection of the division than their own play. The NFC South has been a mess all year, and Tampa Bay’s recent slump hasn’t pushed them out of first place, but it has raised serious questions.
This week’s matchup against the Panthers is massive. Not just for standings, but for morale.
If Tampa wants to prove they belong in the playoff conversation-and not just as the obligatory NFC South rep-they need to show some urgency. Hosting a playoff game is still on the table.
But the way they’ve been playing lately, you have to wonder: do they want it bad enough?
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
Credit where it’s due-Pittsburgh is showing some serious fight. After a rough patch, they’ve strung together back-to-back wins, including a gritty performance in prime time without their defensive centerpiece, T.J.
Watt. That’s the kind of resilience you want to see from a team with playoff aspirations.
Now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The Steelers are still a bit of a mystery.
Offensively, they’re not blowing anyone away, and there are legitimate concerns about whether they can hang with the AFC’s elite. But if they manage to hold off the Ravens and secure the AFC North?
That’s a statement. And it’s one that would force us to take them a lot more seriously heading into January.
Stay tuned as we continue to track the top division leaders across the league in our Week 16 Power Rankings. The playoff race is heating up, and with just three weeks to go, every game is a must-watch.