Week 12 gave us some interesting developments in the playoff races in both conferences, separating the pretenders from those who truly have a shot to fight their way back into contention. It was a tough week for the teams that I've highlighted to make their way back into the fray, as three of them lost (Cowboys, Saints, Bills), while only the Bengals continued the trend. Anyway, here are my power rankings, updated to reflect the new information we learned in week 12. Each team is followed by a quick summary of their change with {Season high, Season low}. Here we go!
1) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (8-3):
Another week, another rout by the Patriots. The Pats made all the analysts who were predicting a Jets upset look like complete fools. As I said last week, the biggest reason for the Patriots' recent dominance is the emergence of the defense. Tom Brady is rarely going to have a bad game for you, and when he doesn't have to do everything himself, the Patriots are near impossible to beat.
Change: 0 {1,6}.
2) SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (8-2-1): I was so impressed by the 9ers last week. I've kept them relatively low on my rankings until now because I've been concerned about this QB controversy...now I'm convinced that they'll win with either of them under center. The defense looks great, and the 49ers could very well be the class of the NFC.
Change: +3 {2,8}.
3) HOUSTON TEXANS (10-1): The Texans scraped a win while looking less than stellar for the second consecutive week. However, there is something to be said for the way that they've been able to rally back. Their defense needs to bounce back quickly, or they may have a quick exit from the playoffs. They may be the toughest team to gauge at this point in the season.
Change: -1 {1,3}.
4) DENVER BRONCOS (8-3): Another week, another win for Peyton. This one was nothing special, and the Broncos should have won by a lot more, but a win is a win, and that is now six in a row for Denver. They are going to be a dangerous team in January.
Change: 0 {4,7}.
5) CHICAGO BEARS (8-3): If anyone was saying that Jay Cutler didn't mean much to the Bears, the need to watch the Jekyll and Hyde teams that the Bears have been with and without him. The Bears got a huge win last week over a divisional rival in dominant fashion while Green Bay laid an egg against the Giants. The Bears hold sole possession of first place in the NFC North, and may surprise and hold on to take the division crown.
Change: +2 {3, 7}.
6) ATLANTA FALCONS (10-1): Another week, another game the Falcons win that they have no business winning. It's starting to seem like teams feel sorry for them being the most overrated 10-1 team in NFL history and decide to hand them the game as a pity offering in the fourth quarter. This team is going nowhere, and I'm just waiting for them to lose another game so I can drop them lower on my rankings.
Change: 0 {2,6}.
7) NEW YORK GIANTS (7-4): The Giants delivered a huge win after their bye, and I'm proud to say that I called it. Aaron Rodgers still can't do anything against the Giants' front four, and the G-Men quickly silenced their critics with a rout of most analysts' Super Bowl pick. Look for the Giants to string together several wins and rise up in these rankings...I would watch out for the red-hot Redskins this week, though.
Change: +2 {7,9}.
8) GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-4): You have to think that Aaron Rodgers wanted to win this game more than any other on the schedule after how last season ended. You would never have guessed it by watching the Packers play last week, though...they lacked energy, and couldn't find any rhythm on either side of the ball. They need to bounce back this week to keep up with the Bears in the race for the division.
Change: -5 {2,8}.
9) BALTIMORE RAVENS (9-2): The Falcons are a very weak for a 10-1 team, and the Ravens are very weak for a 9-2 team. Sure, they fought back to beat the Chargers, and while that was an incredible run by Ray Rice on 4th and 29, it's not often that you'll win games if you put yourself in that situation. The Ravens should've blown out the Chargers, and they are not playing like a #2 seed at all right now. I'm predicting them to fall to the #4 slot before the season is over.
Change: -1 {7,9}.
10) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-6): Did I expect more from the Saints last week? Yes. Do I see any shame in losing to a very solid 49ers team? Not really. That's why the Saints stand pay in my rankings this week. The Saints stayed with the 9ers for most of the game, and I think we have a much different outcome if Brees doesn't throw that bone-headed pick-6 right before halftime. The Saints' record doesn't look good, but they are still one of the hottest teams in the league and no one wants to see them upcoming on the schedule. Look out, Falcons...the Saints are coming again.
Change: 0 {10,17}.
11) TAMPA BAY BUCS (6-5): The Bucs will also stay put this week after falling to current #1 seed in the NFC by only a point. The Bucs gave that game away, though, and they need to find a way to close out teams if they hope to take a wildcard slot. They have a few games that they've won against subpar teams (Raiders, Chargers), where they held a lead and allowed the other team to claw back....if they allow the good teams to claw back, they won't be able to fend them off so easily.
Change: 0 {11,14}
12) PITTSBURGH STEELERS (6-5): I'm keeping the Steelers here because the is the lowest spot I would put them if Big Ben is ready to go (early reports say he should be ready for the upcoming game against the Ravens). The Steelers with Byron Leftwich (let alone Charlie Batch) are nothing compared to the Steelers with Big Ben - he's a clutch QB who will put the team on his back to win games.
Change: 0 {10,12}.
13) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-4): The Colts continue to impress with the solid win for a Bills team that they were expected to beat. If the Steelers continue to falter, Luck should have little trouble getting his young team into the postseason. Winning a game there, however, is a different story, with a road trip to Denver or Baltimore likely in store.
Change: 0 {11,13}.
14) CINCINNATI BENGALS (6-5): The Bengals continued to roll with their third straight dominant performance, this time taking out the Raiders. They have a decent test against a Chargers team the looks ready to attempt their traditional late-season surge. I think that the Bengals are playoff-bound, and will show it this week.
Change: +2 {14,19}.
15) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (6-5): That was a horrible loss to the Seahawks, who just can't seem to get anything going on the road. On paper, they were a much superior team to Miami, but they just couldn't translate it into a win. With the 49ers likely taking the West, the Seahawks had better learn to win on the road quickly, as the only way they will make the playoffs is as a road wildcard team.
Change: -1 {12,15}.
16) WASHINGTON REDSKINS (5-6): What an impressive win for RG3 on Thanksgiving. Believe it or not, it gets the Skins back into the playoff discussion since so many teams in the NFC underperformed this week. If the Skins can pull of the upset against the Giants this week (they almost did last time), they will be just one game out of first in the NFC East -isn't that crazy?
Change +2 {16,25}.
17) MINNESOTA VIKINGS (6-5): They should be ashamed of themselves after that horrid showing against the Bears. You have to bring more energy than that when facing a divisional rival. I predicted the Vikings would fall out of wildcard contention about 3/4 of the way through the season, and that's exactly what's happening now. AP is a great story for them this year, but he can only do so much for the team.
Change: -2 {15,17}.
18) DALLAS COWBOYS (5-6): What an utter disappoint for the Cowboys. They looked lost in the first half, then turned it on big time in the second, but it was just too little too late. The loss does serious damage to their playoff hopes, but at least they don't have to worry about the cellar as the Eagles are atrocious. They have had so many games this year where they have only played one half - they need to find a way to straight two consistent halves together.
Change: -2 {16,18}.
19) DETROIT LIONS (4-7): How much more heartbreak can one team take? Hanson doesn't miss field goals like that.....it was just a terrible day to be a Lions fan. It's been a terrible YEAR to be a Lions fan. Like the Cowboys, they have struggled greatly with consistency, and it has cost them greatly this year.
Change: 0 {11,19}.
20) SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (4-7): It was a valiant effort against the Ravens last Sunday, but once again San Diego came up short. Even with one of their famous late-season playoff pushes, the postseason light looks very dim for this team.
Change: 0 {15,20}.
21) BUFFALO BILLS (4-7): I picked the Bills to win against the Colts, and they were able to keep the game close, ultimately losing. Their defense has finally come together, but now the offense is sputtering. This could be a playoff-caliber team if they could get both sides to get play decently at the same time, but that seems to be too tall of an order.
Change: 0 {21,26}.
22) CAROLINA PANTHERS (3-8): What? The Panthers didn't blow their lead at the end of the game? That's unbelievable. Well, they improve to 3-8, and will probably win just enough games the rest of the year to ensure that their draft pick isn't too good.
Change: 0 {22,23}.
23) ST. LOUIS RAMS (4-6-1): This is yet another hard team to figure out, but they took care of business against the Cardinals, and that will move them up a little in these rankings.
Change: +1 {21,27}.
24) CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-8): What a big win for the Browns and their fans. Even though it was their 3rd string QB, it still feels great to beat the Steelers. There is a lot of talent on this team, and they will be a tough one to beat next year.
Change: +1 {24,29}.
25) ARIZONA CARDINALS (4-7): Make it a seventh straight loss. I thought that a Rams team that had just lost to the Jets was a winnable enough game for the Cardinals, but no! It was way too hard for them. I guess that any team that isn't the Chiefs is too difficult. Wait, maybe the Chiefs are too difficult....
Change: -2 {21,25}.
26) MIAMI DOLPHINS (5-6): This team is terrible, but they just won't go away. They pulled off a minor upset at home against the Seahawks, and are actually still in the AFC's playoff picture. It won't happen.
Change: 0 {20,26}.
27) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (3-8): The Eagles are terrible. Crazily, everyone below them is even worse, so I can't move them down after their MNF loss to Carolina. They've lost seven in a row, yet I'm able to find 5 teams that are worse - it's a sad day in the NFL.
Change: 0 {22,27}.
28) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (2-9): They held the Titans' offense in check while still playing their best offensive ball of the season, and that's good enough to make them the best of the bottom 5 teams. Mike Mularkey now faces his old team in Buffalo this week in a game I'm sure he'd love to win.
Change: +2 {28,32}.
29) TENNESSEE TITANS (4-7): They lost to the Jaguars. That was enough for their offensive coordinator to get fired. Chris Johnson still looks terrible running the ball. Hasselbeck is still a much better option at QB than Locker. This is a team in disarray.
Change: -1 {28,30}.
30) NEW YORK JETS (4-7): They are so bad, they lost their most dedicated fan. Their showing against the Patriots was...well, not a showing at all, as they forgot to make the trip, apparently. Rex, seriously...why not throw Tebow in at this point? You have nothing to lose, except maybe your job....
Change: -1 {24,30}.
31) OAKLAND RAIDERS (3-8): Some teams just keep getting worse.
Change: 0 {28,31}.
32) KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1-10): Some teams are so bad already that they can't get any worse.
Change: 0 {31,32}.
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