NFL Power Rankings - Week 12

The Chiefs move up to the top 10 while there's a new #3.


1. New England Patriots: 341
Last Week: 1
Notes:  Whistle controversy aside, another tough battle for the Patriots, but they remain undefeated and look closer and closer to getting to that 16-0.

2. Carolina Panthers: 306
Last Week: 2
Notes: I think the Redskins game helped to quiet critics asking if they are as good as their record is. Cam Newton might be the MVP this season.

3. Arizona Cardinals: 248

Last Week: 4

Notes: Possibly a Super Bowl preview? Likely not, but the Cardinals pull off the win and move to 8-2.

4. Cincinnati Bengals:208
Last Week: 3
Notes: All of a sudden the Bengals look like they might not have the AFC North locked up. The Steelers game in Week 14 might decide the division.

5. Denver Broncos: 167

Last Week: 6

Notes: What a game by Osweiler. More importantly, the Broncos get the win. He'll have a tougher match-up next week against the Patriots.

6. Green Bay Packers: 156
Last Week: 7

Notes:  The Packers showed why they're still the team to beat in the NFC North, regaining the lead in the division with a win over the Vikings.

7. Minnesota Vikings: 122

Last Week: 5
Notes: They'll need to have short memories after that Packers loss with a tough remaining schedule to close out the season. They need to beat the Falcons next week.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers: 115

Last Week: 9

Notes: The Steelers had a great bye week with a loss by the Bengals.

9. Atlanta Falcons: 94
Last Week: 8
Notes: The Falcons blow a lead and lose their 3rd straight. After looking like an NFC favorite, they might not even get into the playoffs.

10. Kansas City Chiefs: 90

Last Week: 13

Notes: Remember when the Chiefs were 1-5? If the playoffs started today, the Chiefs would be in as the 6th seed.

11. Seattle Seahawks: 75

Last Week: 14

Notes: All year, the Seahawks have been losing against good teams and beating subpar teams. Regardless of the win against the 49ers, they look like a .500 team. If this pattern holds true, they'll struggle against the Steelers next week.

12. New York Giants: 65

Last Week: 12

Notes: It's strange to say that a team is building off of the momentum of a loss, but the Giants played their best football against the Patriots last week. They'll look to carry that momentum over on the road against the Redskins; an important game to help expand their lead.

13. Buffalo Bills: 62

Last Week: 11

Notes: They played the Pats tough, but found themselves on the losing. Regardless, the Bills look like the 2nd best team in the AFC East.

14. New York Jets: 59

Last Week: 10

Notes:  This team is no longer the great defense / run team they were the first 5 games of the season. If they can't find their way against the Dolphins, you can pretty much count the Jets out of the playoffs.

15. Indianapolis Colts: 21

Last Week: 17
Notes: It wasn't pretty, but a win is a win and the Colts remain in first in the AFC South.

16. Houston Texans: 15

Last Week: 18

Notes:  The Texans keep pace with the Colts with a win against a struggling Jets team. A wildcard is as much as a possibility for this team as the division.

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 15

Last Week: 22
Notes: Tampa Bay is quietly in the thick of the playoff race after destroying the Eagles and moving up to .500.  If they beat the Falcons in Week 13, they'll hold the tiebreaker against them.

18. Philadelphia Eagles: 0

Last Week: 15

Notes: Despite the struggles of the NFC East, the Eagles are decreasingly looking like an option to win the division. An ugly loss.

19. Oakland Raiders: -29

Last Week: 20
Notes:  They move up only because of how bad most of other teams below played. They are looking less like the potential wildcard team they were the first half of the season.

20. St. Louis Rams: -30

Last Week: 19

Notes: It's really pathetic how bad the Rams play against non-divisional opponents.

21. Washington Redskins: -44

Last Week: 16

Notes:  I didn't expect them to win, but they were destroyed. The Redskins need to shake off the loss and bounce back against the Giants next week.

22. Chicago Bears: -45

Last Week: 23

Notes: A close game, but the Bears lose against the Broncos and drop to 4-6 on the season.

23. Miami Dolphins: -46

Last Week: 21

Notes: The excitement of a new coach has definitely worn off and the Dolphins are back to playing mediocre football.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars: -49

Last Week: 26

Notes: The Jaguars win again and find themselves still a game out of first. Those two things nobody ever expects to say about the Jaguars at this point in the season, but they've been finding ways to win.

25. New Orleans Saints: -60

Last Week: 24

Notes: The Saints hope that a Ryan-less defense will be an improvement for the remainder of the season.

26. Baltimore Ravens: -66

Last Week: 25

Notes: The Ravens squeak by with a win, but too little too late. More importantly, Flacco is out for the season.

27. Dallas Cowboys: -73

Last Week: 29

Notes: Romo didn't play like an elite QB, but he showed why he's so valuable to this team, getting the Cowboys their first win since week 2. A true test against the Panthers is ahead.

28. Tennessee Titans: -123

Last Week: 28

Notes:  Another less that finds the Titans dropping down to 2-8 on the season.

29. Detroit Lions: -132

Last Week: 31

Notes: Make that two wins in a row for the Lions! 29 is the highest they've ranked all season.

30. San Diego Chargers: -149

Last Week: 27

Notes:  The Chargers look like they've finally given up.

31. San Francisco 49ers: -156

Last Week: 30
Notes: Curious to see what this team will do for a QB come next season.

32. Cleveland Browns: -169

Last Week: 32

Notes: The Browns have a chance to win next week against a Flacco-less Ravens team. Still see them losing though.