NFL Power Rankings, Week 16: Steelers come back to life, Cowboys stumble

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 16: Members of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense reacts after an interception by Joe Haden #23 in the fourth quarter during the game against the New England Patriots at Heinz Field on December 16, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 16: Members of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense reacts after an interception by Joe Haden #23 in the fourth quarter during the game against the New England Patriots at Heinz Field on December 16, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
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The Dallas Cowboys stumbled and the Pittsburgh Steelers got a huge win to shake up the Week 16 edition of the 2018 NFL Power Rankings

Week 15 had its share of surprises with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys finding themselves in the midst of the biggest head-scratchers. A week after losing to the Oakland Raiders, the Steelers found themselves ready for a game against the New England Patriots.

It seemed like this one should go in New England’s favor, but the Steelers decided to remember who they were. They controlled the ball for the majority of the game and held Tom Brady and the Patriots to just 10 points in a 17-10 win. That keeps them in firm control of the AFC North with just two games left.

As for the Dallas Cowboys, they just needed one win to wrap up the NFC East, but that didn’t happen for them. Dallas was shut out by the Indianapolis Colts, who ended the longest winning streak in the NFL as the Cowboys came in with victories in their final five games.

The Cowboys also could have wrapped things up with the Eagles Redskins losing, but that didn’t happen either as Washington surprised the Jaguars despite being down to their fourth quarterback. Josh Johnson got his first ever win after starting his first game in seven seasons.

While we thought some clarity could arise in the playoff pictures, things actually just got more muddied after the way things fell in Week 15. We now try and sort it all out with the latest edition of our 2018 NFL Power Rankings.