2013 Power Rankings - Week 12

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1) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (10-1):  Change: 0 [1,3]  They stay put at #1 during their bye week.  They have a huge test coming this Monday Night against the Saints.  I think they are up to the challenge and will defend their number one spot.

2) CAROLINA PANTHERS (8-3): Change: 0 [2,14] Some will criticize the Panthers for trailing to the Dolphins most of the game, but I instead view it as them showing grit to come back and win a trap game.  Diehard Panthers fans will attest to how many such games the Panthers have lost over the years...the fact that they were able to come from behind and pull out the victory is a testament to how much of a corner this team has turned.

3) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (8-3): Change: +2 [2,8] Underdogs at home?  That's a good one.  The Patriots showed that they are the class of the AFC with their comeback win against Denver.  It wouldn't surprise me at all if they won out this season and claimed a first round playoff bye.  They just have to find a way to eliminate all of these fumbles....

4) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (9-2): Change: -1 [2,6]  They drop a slot after a poor showing in their win over Atlanta, but this is a very strong team.  They have a HUGE test coming their way as they travel the Seattle on Monday Night.

5) DENVER BRONCOS (9-2): Change: -1 [1,5]  The Broncos have holes, but there isn't much shame in losing in New England.  I don't understand why they didn't unleash Peyton Manning more when the game got close in the second half.  With the Chiefs continuing to stumble, Denver has a chance to take the division for their own when they face KC this weekend.

6) SAN FRANCSICO 49ERS (7-4): Change: +1 [2,7] They move up a slot after their solid win on MNF.  They'll continue to be a feared team in the NFC down the stretch.

7) ARIZONA CARDINALS (7-4): Change: +5 [7,24] At some point, you have to give credit to quality wins, no matter how shaky the team may seem as a whole.  That's the point I've reached with these Cardinals...I don't think they're all that good, but they continue to win and ascend in these rankings.  Last week's rout of the Colts showed me that the Cardinals will be a wildcard contender. 

8) CINCINNATI BENGALS (7-4): Change: +1 [7,11] The Bengals move up during their bye week as the teams around them played atrociously.

9) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-4): Change: -3 [1,14]  This is the hardest team to gauge in the league.  I feel like they can beat anybody (and they have beaten most of the top teams), but they can also lose to anybody.  I'll leave them near the bottom of the top ten for now.

10) KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (9-2): Change: -2 [8,22] After a 9-0 start, the Chiefs have lost two in a row, and both losses have come in their division.  If they lose to Denver this week, expect the wheel to come flying off.  Tex's Super Bowl pick isn't looking so good anymore...oh, wait, it never looked good!

11) DETROIT LIONS (6-5): Change: -1 [9,13] I guess the Lions only drop one spot this week, but they hardly deserve to be this high after losing two straight games that were very winnable.

12) CHICAGO BEARS (6-5): Change: -1  [8,12] With the division lead in their grasp, the Bears played their worst half of football of the season and let the Rams get the win.

13) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (6-5): Change: 0 [13,22] I'm interested to see how the Eagles look after their bye.  Huge test coming this week against the Cardinals.

14) DALLAS COWBOYS (6-5): Change: 0 [12,18] The Cowboys got a much-needed victory against the Giants, and will make a strong push for the NFC East crown.

15) PITTSBURGH STEELERS (5-6): Change: +5 [15,26] The Steelers are peaking at the right time - that's three wins in a row.  Huge showdown with their bitter rivals in Baltimore with the winner getting back to .500.

16) BALTIMORE RAVENS (5-6): Change: 0 [14,20]  Big game on Thanksgiving night.

17) NEW YORK GIANTS (4-7): Change: -2 [12,26]  Crushing loss for the Giants in a game which was a microcosm of their last few seasons.  They got off to a horrible start, made an insanely strong push to correct it...but ultimately fell short.

18) SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (5-6): Change: +1 [16,25]  Nice win against the Chiefs, but I still think this team is too inconsistent to get enough wins strung together to get a playoff berth.

19) GREEN BAY PACKERS (5-5-1): Change: -2 [2,19]  They need Rodgers now, but he won't be available for their Thanksgiving game.  By the time he comes back, it could be too late for the Packers...however, with how poorly the Lions and Bears have been playing, the division could still be within their grasp.

20) ST. LOUIS RAMS (5-6): Change: +3 [14,29] The Rams pass rush is for real, and they're starting to compile a resume of impressive victories this season.

21) CLEVELAND BROWNS (4-7): Change: -3 [16,27] It could have been a much different story for the Browns this season if they hadn't had so many issues at quarterback.

22) NEW YORK JETS (5-6): Change: -1 [13,30]  They need to right the ship fast, or this season is over.

23) BUFFALO BILLS (4-7): Change: -1 [22,29] The AFC is so weak that they're still alive for a wildcard berth.

24) TENNESSEE TITANS (5-6): Change: +1 [18,30]  They beat the Raiders, yippee, but they are one of the weakest 5-6 teams in the AFC.

25) TAMPA BAY BUCS (3-8): Change: +3 [19,31]  Hottest 0-8 team I've ever seen - that's three wins in a row!

26) OAKLAND RAIDERS (4-7): Change: -2 [24,32]  They're better than the teams below them, but not by much.

27) MIAMI DOLPHINS (5-5): Change: +4 [19,31]  They've been more competitive the last two weeks.

28) MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-8-1): Change: +4 [23, 31]  AP is enough to keep this team in games a least for a little while.

29) ATLANTA FALCONS (2-9): Change: +3 [8,30]  They showed some signs of life in a narrow loss to the Saints.

30) WASHINGTON REDSKINS (3-8): Change: -3 [17,27] The Redskins look lifeless.

31) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (2-9): Change: +2 [31,32]  For the first time this season, the Jags are out of the cellar!!!  Quality win against the Texans, and the defense is showing some life.  MJD looked like his old self out there on Sunday.

32) HOUSTON TEXANS (2-9): Change: -6 [6,32]  When you lose to the worst team....