2013 Power Rankings - Week 11

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1) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (10-1):  Change: 0 [1,3]  Another convincing win by the Seahawks, and they stay atop my rankings.  They are the most complete team in the league, and are virtually unbeatable at home.  After a few games where they let poor teams stick around, they have back-to-back routs where their backups saw playing time.

2) CAROLINA PANTHERS (7-3): Change: +4 [2,14] Six victories in a row, capped by this signature win against Tom Brady and the Patriots.  The Panthers played a complete game, and everyone chipped in for the victory.  Cam still makes a few errant throws, but they are much more infrequent while his patient, accurate throws are becoming the norm.  Kuechly is the best defensive player in all of football.  And, yes, the Panthers will beat the Saints, as good as the Saints are.  The Panthers just match up well against them.

3) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (8-2): Change: 0 [2,6]  HUGE win against a top-notch opponent.  They fell behind, but showed grit to come back and win it at the end.  Brees is so clutch.  The Saints look like they can beat anybody right now.

4) DENVER BRONCOS (9-1): Change: +1 [1,5]  The Broncos got a big win at home against the only undefeated team that was left.  They showed themselves to be the class of the AFC and certainly the best team in their division.  They silenced all the pundits who ranked the Chiefs #1, and most writers will likely have the Chiefs near where I've had them ranked all along this week.  Denver outplayed the Chiefs in every stage of the game.  While the final score of 27-17 doesn't look too impressive, the game was nowhere near as close as the score would indicate - the game was never in doubt.

5) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (7-3): Change: -3 [2,8] The Pats lost a hard-fought game to an outstanding Carolina Panthers team.  The Patriots are very solid on both sides of the ball, and this loss will not deter their late-season push.

6) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-3): Change: -2 [1,14]An uninspired performance against the Titans on Thursday Night Football causes the Colts to fall a bit.  They still stay high in these rankings due to the quality of the opponents they have beaten.  The Colts have problems, but they are that team that can upset anyone and which the top seeds in the AFC will not want to play.


7) SAN FRANCSICO 49ERS (6-4): Change: 0 [2,7] Everyone is freaking out and saying that the 49ers are going to miss the playoffs.  RELAX, people!  The Niners lost to two top teams by four combined points.  They nearly beat the Saints and were a play away from beating Carolina.

8) KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (9-1): Change: 0 [8,22] You'd think Dennis Green was coaching the Broncos last week, because the Chiefs are who I thought they were.  Except Denver didn't let them off the hook....not even close.  It was far from the great game everyone expected, and the Broncos were never in any real danger of losing.  I leave the Chiefs at #8 because what they showed me in Week 11 just confirmed everything I suspected about them.  I don't hate the Chiefs like I hated the Falcons last year....heck, I kind of like this team outside of Tex's outrageous Super Bowl talk.  This is a good team, but they are nowhere near the seven teams ahead of them in these rankings.  Their pass rush is outstanding, and their rushing offense is very good, but their suspect run defense and game-managing offensive style will prevent them from going anywhere this season.

9) CINCINNATI BENGALS (7-4): Change: +2 [7,11] The Bengals get a win and reassert control over their division. Their defense showed up big time.  Burfict was perfect against Cleveland.  The Bengals have been slumping lately, but they enter the bye week on a positive note to build upon when they return.

10) DETROIT LIONS (6-4): Change: -1 [9,13] The Lions drop a spot because they couldn't close the deal in Pittsburgh.  Megatron was once against outstanding, but this secondary has to play much better if the Lions are to win their division, let alone go anywhere in the playoffs.

11) CHICAGO BEARS (6-4): Change: -1  [8,12] The Bears showed so much grit in their comeback win in the Mudbowl.  They've shown that they can win with McCown just as well as Cutler, and the NFC North is still well in their grasp.

12) ARIZONA CARDINALS (6-4): Change: +1 [12,24] It's not pretty, it's not impressive, but the Cardinals just keep on winning.  With the way the teams below them have been playing, that's good enough to continue to move up in these rankings.

13) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (6-5): Change: +5 [13,22] The Eagles are another team that continues to win.  They nearly blew a 24-0 lead, but they closed the deal against Washington.  They now get their bye week to rest up for their late-season push for the NFC East crown.

14) DALLAS COWBOYS (5-5): Change: 0 [12,18]  Dallas stays put in their bye week.  Hopefully Demarcus Ware rested up during the bye and Dez Bryant got some of the diva out of his system so that they can battle for the NFC East title.

15) NEW YORK GIANTS (4-6): Change: +4 [12,26]  That's four wins in a row for Big Blue after their 0-6 start.  They're starting to create some buzz about challenging for the division.  Only in the NFC East could this happen...huge game this week against the Cowboys.  If they lose, their season is over.  But, then again, that's been every game since week 7.

16) BALTIMORE RAVENS (4-6): Change: +4 [14,20]  If Ray Rice continues to stay awake and play like he did last week, the Ravens will creep back into discussion for the #6 seed that no one seems to want in the AFC playoff picture.

17) GREEN BAY PACKERS (5-5): Change: -5 [2,17]  This team is totally different with Aaron Rodgers.  They are so bad without him.  By the time Rodgers comes back from his collarbone injury, there may not be a season left to salvage.

18) CLEVELAND BROWNS (4-6): Change: -2 [16,27] Tough loss to the Bengals, but they led early on.  Their schedule lightens up from this point on, and they're still my pick to take the #6 seed in the AFC.

19) SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (4-6): Change: -2 [16,25] What a disappointing loss to Miami.  The Chargers should've won this game, but now they're 4-6 and on the outside looking in.  Dud games have plagued this franchise in recent history.  There's so much talent on this team, and they continually fail to deliver.

20) PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-6): Change: +4 [20,26] Wow, look who's 4-6?  The Steelers are only a game out of the playoff picture.  Their defense leaves a lot of room for concern, but hey - it's a weak AFC.

21) NEW YORK JETS (5-5): Change: -6 [13,30]  They didn't just lose to the Bills, they got throttled by the Bills.  Any glimmer of hope I had for the Jets season was dashed in that game.  I know they are currently in the #6 seed, but it won't last.

22) BUFFALO BILLS (4-6): Change: +3 [22,29] Much tougher than their record.  Convincing win against the Jets.

23) ST. LOUIS RAMS (4-6): Change: -2 [14,29] It will be interesting to see how the Rams finish out these six weeks after their bye.

24) OAKLAND RAIDERS (4-6): Change: +3 [24,32] Nice win by the Raiders, winning a game where they were heavy underdogs. 

25) TENNESSEE TITANS (4-6): Change: -2 [18,30]  They should have won on TNF.

26) HOUSTON TEXANS (2-8): Change: -4 [6,29]  There's so much talent on this team for them to be 2-8.  And why they benched Keenum for Schaub is beyond me.

27) WASHINGTON REDSKINS (3-7): Change: -2 [17,27] Another tough divisional loss.

28) TAMPA BAY BUCS (2-8): Change: +2 [19,31] They've won two in a row!

29) MIAMI DOLPHINS (5-5): Change: +2 [19,31]  They got a fluke win against a horribly underachieving Chargers team.  The Dolphins aren't good.

30) ATLANTA FALCONS (2-8): Change: -2 [8,30] They just keep losing and losing!  And I love it.

31) MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-8): Change: -1 [23, 31] According to Tex, they almost beat the Seahawks.

32) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-9): Change: 0 [31,32]  Hey, for 24 hours this season they didn't have the worst record in the league.  That's the best thing I can say about my team.