The more things change, the more the Eagles and Chiefs keep rising to the top of the NFL.
Just like when they met in Super Bowl 57 at the end of the 2022 season.
Just like when they met in Week 11 of the 2023 season.
Same old, same old.
Buffalo’s upset of previously unbeatable Detroit opened the door for a new team to be considered the one to beat in the NFL.
Three teams emerged: The Bills, Eagles and Chiefs.
Who deserves to be No. 1?
Well, maybe things would look different if Patrick Mahomes wasn’t reportedly week-to-week with a high ankle sprain.
Don’t forget to take that into account when parsing The Post’s NFL power rankings for Week 16:
1. Eagles 12-2 (3)
Who’s complaining about Philadelphia’s passing attack now?
Jalen Hurts busted out of a slump by throwing for 290 yards and three touchdowns while still adding his near-weekly rushing touchdown in a 27-13 win against the Steelers.
Jalen Hurts threw for three touchdowns during the Eagles’ win over the Steelers on Dec. 15.Imagn Images
2. Chiefs 13-1 (2)
Mahomes threw two touchdown passes before leaving the rest of a 21-7 victory against the Browns to backup Carson Wentz.
By Kansas City standards, this was an otherwise comfortable victory because it was not their typical one-score margin (10 wins by seven or fewer points).
Patrick Mahomes exited the Chiefs’ win on Dec. 15 with a high ankle sprain.Getty Images
The defense stepped up to force six takeaways, including two end-zone interceptions.
3. Bills 11-3 (4)
If you were expecting a shootout between the NFL’s two-highest scoring offenses, you got it in this 48-42 victory against the Lions.
Josh Allen ran for two first-quarter touchdowns and threw for two second-half touchdowns as Buffalo jumped out to a 35-14 lead and became the first NFL team since 2013 to score 30 or more points in eight straight games.
Josh Allen and the Bills defeated the Lions on Dec. 17.Getty Images
4. Lions 12-2 (1)
Jared Goff threw five touchdown passes but couldn’t stop Detroit’s 11-game winning streak from ending.
Why?
Because the defense allowed touchdowns on the Bills’ first three possessions.
A long line of injuries is threatening to spoil a potentially magical run.
Defensive tackle Alim McNeil, cornerback Carlton Davis and running back David Montgomery might all be sidelined for the season.
5. Vikings 12-2 (5)
Justin Jefferson, Aaron Jones and Cam Akers scored touchdowns and Will Reichard kicked three field goals in a 30-12 victory that sent the Bears to an eighth straight loss.
The defense pitched a first-half shutout and didn’t allow a touchdown until the final six minutes.
Justin Jefferson celebrates after catching a touchdown during the Vikings’ win on Dec. 16.USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Rookie first-round draft pick Dallas Turner had his first sack since Week 1.
6. Packers 10-4 (6)
Josh Jacobs and Romeo Doubs scored first-quarter touchdowns to quiet a hostile crowd, and an early 14-point lead set the tone for a 30-13 win against the Seahawks.
Kingsley Enagbare (two sacks) and Edgerrin Cooper (one sack, one interception) had big games for a swarming defense.
Jordan Love completed 17 of his first 19 passes.
He tossed two touchdown strikes to Doubs.
7. Steelers 10-4 (7)
Russell Wilson is no longer undefeated against the Eagles (6-1) after throwing for a season-low 128 yards in his second straight game without top receiver George Pickens.
A botched pitch between Wilson and Najee Harris led to a forced fumble that was turned into a takeaway and a fourth-quarter insurance touchdown.
The Steelers still haven’t won at Philadelphia since 1965.
8. Ravens 9-5 (8)
It doesn’t get much easier than this: Lamar Jackson overcame an early lost fumble and completed 21 of 25 passes, including five for touchdowns on five consecutive possessions in a 35-14 rout of the Giants.
Four of the offense’s six 20-plus-yard gains went for touchdowns.
Lamar Jackson threw for five touchdowns during the Ravens’ win against the Giants on Dec. 15.AP
Nine of 11 third-down attempts were converted.
Mark Andrews became the franchise’s all-time touchdowns leader.
9. Broncos 9-5 (10)
The Broncos scored 21 unanswered, fourth-quarter points to turn a close game into a 31-13 blowout win against the Colts.
Nik Bonitto intercepted a lateral pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown.
A winning record is assured for the first time in eight years because the defense and special teams forced five takeaways to cover for an underwhelming 193-yard offensive output.
10. Texans 9-5 (11)
Derek Stingley had two fourth-quarter interceptions to account for two of the four takeaways — all out of Tua Tagovailoa’s hands — in a 20-12 win against the Dolphins.
C.J. Stroud threw for just 131 yards but two touchdowns — both to Nico Collins.
Derek Stingley Jr. had two clutch interceptions during the fourth quarter of the Texans’ win against the Dolphins on Dec. 15.Imagn Images
The Texans clinched the AFC South title with their win plus the Colts’ loss.
11. Commanders 9-5 (12)
12. Buccaneers 8-6 (16)
13. Chargers 8-6 (9)
14. Rams 8-6 (14)
15. Seahawks 8-6 (13)
16. Cardinals 7-7 (15)
17. Falcons 7-7 (20)
18. Dolphins 6-8 (17)
19. 49ers 6-8 (18)
20. Bengals 6-8 (21)
21. Colts 6-8 (19)
22. Saints 5-9 (22)
23. Cowboys 6-8 (23)
24. Jets 4-10 (27)
Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams turned back the clock by connecting nine times for 198 yards and two touchdowns — all in the second half of a 32-25 win against the Jaguars.
Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams connected for 198 yards and two touchdowns during the Jets’ win over the Jaguars on Dec. 15.USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Breece Hall broke a tie with a touchdown with 1:05 to go, and Sauce Gardner’s first interception in 37 games provided the final-minute stop that has been missing from so many Jets’ losses.
25. Bears 4-10 (24)
26. Browns 3-11 (25)
27. Panthers 3-11 (26)
28. Jaguars 3-11 (28)
29. Titans 3-11 (29)
30. Patriots 3-11 (30)
31. Raiders 2-12 (31)
32. Giants 2-12 (32)
The Giants suffered a ninth straight loss, tying a franchise record.
Tim Boyle played the entire second half against the Ravens, becoming the fourth different quarterback this season.
Tim Boyle became the fourth Giants quarterback to play this season during their loss to the Ravens on Dec. 15.Robert Sabo for the NY Post
Boyle actually ended the team’s four-game drought without a touchdown pass by connecting with Malik Nabers.
The special teams allowed two big returns, and the defense let receivers run wide open through the patchwork secondary.
