NFL Power Rankings Heading into Week 12

Photo Credit: Seattle Seahawks. (111)

The NFL playoff picture is getting clearer now as we head into the final week of November.

In week 11, Matthew Stafford had another signature 4th quarter comeback as the Lions knocked off the Jaguars. The Cowboys won their 9th straight game with a win over the Ravens. With strong 2nd half performances, the Vikings, Bills and Steelers snapped losing streaks. The now 5–5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked up one of the biggest upsets of the season as they beat the Chiefs. Richard Sherman recorded his 4th interception of the season in a Seahawks win over the Eagles. Andrew Luck remained undefeated against the Titans as the Colts jumped back to the .500 mark.

After eleven weeks of the NFL season, here are the NFL Power Rankings heading into week 12.

1. Dallas Cowboys (9–1) — Ranked #1 last week

• Dak Prescott has owned the AFC North this season. Against the Ravens, Browns, Bengals and Steelers, Prescott has thrown for nine touchdowns and zero interceptions including his first two 300 yard passing games. Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott were effective in running the ball against the Ravens top rush defense with 113 rushing yards. With the Cowboys win against the Ravens, the Cowboys extended their win streak to nine games and they still hold a slim lead over the Seahawks for the #1 seed in the NFC.

2. New England Patriots (8–2) — Ranked #2 last week

• It was a surprisingly close game until the 4th quarter when the Patriots scored 17 answered points. Against the 49ers and one of the worst rush defenses in this decade, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels called for 30 rushing plays and they totaled 171 rushing yards. With the absence of Rob Gronkowski, Malcolm Mitchell had a breakout game with 98 receiving yards and a touchdown. The Patriots are inching closer to an inevitable 8th straight AFC East title.

3. Seattle Seahawks (7–2–1) — Ranked #4 last week

• It was easy work for the Seahawks. Fresh off their win against the Patriots on Sunday Night Football, the Seahawks defense dominated on all phases of the game. Bobby Wagner was all over the place in coverage and in stopping the Eagles rush offense as he recorded 15 tackles with two for a loss and a sack. Cliff Avril recorded his league-leading 10th sack of the season while Richard Sherman had his 4th interception of the season. Looking at the rest of the Seahawks schedule, winning out could realistically happen as they do not play a winning team although a road game against the Packers and two home games against the Panthers and Cardinals could give them trouble. Watch out Cowboys, this Seahawks team can give you problems in a potential NFC Championship game in January.

4. Oakland Raiders (8–2) — Ranked #5 last week

• The Oakland Raiders are now a win away from their first winning season in 14 years. With their win against the Texans, they take back 1st place in the AFC West and at the moment, they are the #2 seed in the AFC. Derek Carr led the Raiders with two touchdown passes in the 4th quarter and he recorded his fourth 4th quarter comeback this season. This team is the real deal and now they will prepare for the Panthers this week.

5. Denver Broncos (7–3) — Ranked #6 last week

• Broncos rested well on their bye week and now they’ll get ready for a crucial home game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

6. New York Giants (7–3) — Ranked #7 last week

• Coming into the season, all of the attention was on the Giants defense and how they would perform with new additions such as rookie Eli Apple and free agent signing Oliver Vernon. Over the past two seasons, the Giants defense have allowed at least 30 points in a game nine times but zero so far this season. In the Giants five game win streak, the defense have allowed 18.4 points per game. Against the Bears, the Giants defense came through with a scoreless 2nd half, four sacks and an interception by the improved Landon Collins.

7. Kansas City Chiefs (7–3) — Ranked #3 last week

• Disappointment is an understatement when discussing the Chiefs recent loss to the Bucs at home. The Chiefs defense allowed 442 total yards, 27 1st downs, and they were unable to get crucial stops to get the Bucs offense off the field as the Bucs had possession for 35 minutes. With the Chiefs loss and the Raiders win, Oakland now takes back 1st place in the AFC West. Alex Smith and the Chiefs need to quickly forget about this game as they have their biggest game of the year up next against the Broncos with wild card positioning on the line.

8. Atlanta Falcons (6–4) — Ranked #9 last week

• The Falcons had their much-needed bye week in week 11 but they should watch out for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bucs are now just a game behind the Falcons in the NFC South but Atlanta does own the head-to-head tiebreaker. Falcons will host the Cardinals this week.

9. Washington Redskins (6–3–1) — Ranked #13 last week

• Two straight wins for the Redskins has them currently holding the #2 wild card spot in the NFC. Kirk Cousins and the Redskins handed the Packers a revenge beatdown loss as they scored 42 points and totaled 515 yards. Kirk Cousins became the 3rd quarterback this season to reach 3,000 passing yards. The Redskins will battle with the Cowboys this Thursday.

10. Detroit Lions (6–4) — Ranked #11 last week

• Matthew “Clutch” Stafford did it again. Stafford delivered yet another 4th quarter comeback with two late scoring drives and the Lions have now won their last two games. Credit to Glover Quin and the Lions defense for stepping up in their last four games as they have allowed a solid 18 points per game. The Lions will face the Vikings this Thursday with 1st place in the NFC North on the line.

11. Miami Dolphins (6–4) — Ranked #12 last week

• The Dolphins offense were non-existent until the late stages of the 4th quarter. Two late Ryan Tannehill touchdown passes gave the Dolphins a 14–10 lead and that was all that they needed to pick up their 5th straight win. The Dolphins defense excelled against debuting Jared Goff. The Rams and Goff came into the game with a conservative game plan to not look for anything deep but rather elect for screens and short passes and the Dolphins will take that any day. The Dolphins held Goff to 134 passing yards and aside from a 40 rushing yards 1st quarter, Todd Gurley was not able to be the impact player that he wanted to be against the Dolphins defensive front.

12. Minnesota Vikings (6–4) — Ranked #14 last week

• Sam Bradford did not have to throw over 35 times against the Cardinals defense and the result? The Vikings first win since their victory against the Texans on October 9th. The Vikings offense were held to 217 total yards against Arizona but they were not the story of the game.Xavier Rhodes on defense and Cordarrelle Patterson on special teams picked up pivotal touchdowns and they did just enough to hold off the Cardinals. Now all of the attention turns to Thursday where the Vikings and Lions will play each other with 1st place in the NFC North on the line.

13. Philadelphia Eagles (5–5) — Ranked #8 last week

• The Eagles anticipated matchup with the Seahawks went just how many predicted it to go; a struggle on offense and Russell Wilson effectively moving the ball downfield. The Eagles offense were horrible through three quarters and heading into the 4th quarter, RUSSELL WILSON had more receiving yards than any Eagles receiver. While it was a tough game for Eagles fans to watch, it is still just one game. Eagles will host the Packers up next.

14. Houston Texans (6–4) — Ranked #10 last week

• Controversial calls by the refs and Bill O’Brien and well, the Texans dropped another game to a team with a winning record. The Texans were able to establish the run with over 100 rushing yards but it was not enough as the Texans defense allowed 14 answered points in the 4th quarter. The Texans AFC South lead is now down to one game over the Colts.

15. Indianapolis Colts (5–5) — Ranked #20 last week

• Andrew Luck owns the Titans. In his career, Luck is 9–0 with 15 touchdown passes against the Titans in his career. In the Colts win against the Titans, they made it interesting at the end but they held on for a 24–17 win. The Colts are inching closer to the Texans in the AFC South and both teams will meet each other in three weeks. As for now, the Colts will have to play Thursday’s matchup against the Steelers without Andrew Luck as Luck will miss the game due to a concussion.

16. Buffalo Bills (5–5) — Ranked #21 last week

• It was a stressful game for Bills fans as it came right down to the final play but Buffalo snapped their three game losing streak with a win over the Bengals. The Bills rushed for 183 yards as they were effective in piling up 1st down after 1st down. The Bills defense did their part with two interceptions and they limited Andy Dalton to 207 passing yards. The Bills playoffs hopes are not completely gone just yet as the win puts them two games back behind the Broncos for the 2nd wild card and in the NFL, anything can happen.

17. Baltimore Ravens (5–5) — Ranked #16 last week

• During the postgame interviews after the game, Joe Flacco repeatedly said that the Ravens should have won this game and these are the teams that they should beat. Well, the Ravens made it a competitive game but they were just outmatched on both sides. On offense, Joe Flacco and the Ravens totaled 368 yards but they scored 17 points… do not expect to beat the NFL’s top team scoring under 20 points. On defense, they had no answer for the Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott dynamic duo as they scored on five different drives. With the loss, the Ravens drop back to the .500 mark with their next two games at home.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers (5–5) — Ranked #22 last week

• Le’Veon Bell had a career night against the Browns. Bell had his 10th career game with at least 100 rushing yards and Bell finished with 201 total yards and a touchdown. The offense did not put up Maden type numbers this week but the defense stepped up after a disappointing performance last week against the Cowboys. The Steelers defense sacked Josh McCown and Cody Kessler eight times and they shut down the Browns rush offense for just 33 yards. The Steelers finally snapped their losing streak and the defense dominated from pass rush to pass defense.

19. New Orleans Saints (4–6) — Ranked #15 last week

• It was like watching the Saints and Broncos game all over again. Drew Brees and the Saints offense struggled to get anything going in the 1st half but the script switched in the 2nd half… and do not forget the special teams miscues. The rushing game played well again as Tim Hightower and Mark Ingram led the Saints to 107 total rushing yards. Looking back at their last two games, they were both winnable and they could have been 6–4. At 6–4, the Saints would have tied the Atlanta Falcons for 1st place in the NFC South but instead, they are 4–6 and outside the playoff race.

20. Tennessee Titans (5–6) — Ranked #17 last week

• You just can not trust these Titans. The Titans had another golden opportunity to have a winning record with a win against the Colts but they ended up losing after a fierce comeback attempt. The Colts scored 21 points to start the game and it turned out to be just enough as the Titans dropped back to a losing record. The Titans also failed to reach the 100 rushing yards mark for the 1st time since week 1 as DeMarco Murray rushed for just 70 yards and rookie Derrick Henry was inactive. The Titans still have realistic hopes for a surprise run to a AFC South title season but now is the perfect time for their 2nd win streak of the season.

21. Green Bay Packers (4–6) — Ranked #18 last week

• It would be ludicrous for the national sports media to continue to push the “Aaron Rodgers is in decline” false narrative. In the Packers four game losing streak, Rodgers has completed 64% of passes with 12 touchdown passes, three interceptions, and two 300+ passing yard games. Rodgers is doing his part but with the lack of rushing attack and a depleted defense that has allowed an average of 38 points per game in the losing streak, it is tough to carry this team to victory. It will not get easier from here as the Packers just play one losing team (Bears) in their remaining games this season.

22. Arizona Cardinals (4–5–1) — Ranked #19 last week

• Their game with the Vikings felt like a “must win game” considering how tight the NFC wild card race is becoming but the Cardinals blew it. Carson Palmer threw his 9th and 10th interceptions of the season to Xavier Rhodes including a 100 yard interception return for a touchdown. Cardinals also allowed a Cordarrelle Patterson kick off return touchdown and it was an all-around tough game for the Cardinals. Four of their last six games will be on the road including matchups against the Falcons and Seahawks. Road to a comeback and a potential deep playoff run will not be easy for the Cardinals.

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5–5) — Ranked #27 last week

• Optimism is at an all-time high for Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans after their biggest win of the season on the road over the Chiefs. Jameis Winston had his 2nd straight 300+ passing yard game as he threw for 331 and he recorded his 20th touchdown pass this season. Watch out Falcons, the Bucs are a game back in the NFC South.

24. Carolina Panthers (4–6) — Ranked #25 last week

• Just like the Panthers previous five games, their matchup against the Saints came down to the late stages of the 4th quarter. It was another game where the defense dominated in all phases until the 4th quarter where Drew Brees was heating up with 1st down after 1st down and eventually two touchdowns. On offense, they are still looking to find their true identity; rely on Cam Newton and the passing attack or rely on Newton and Jonathan Stewart with the rushing attack. Neither attack was efficient as Cam was flying inaccurate passes over receivers and Stewart rushed for 1.7 yards per carry. At 4–6, the Panthers minimal playoff hopes are still alive.

25. San Diego Chargers (4–6) — Ranked #23 last week

• The Chargers were on their bye this week but with the big wins from the Panthers and Buccaneers, San Diego dropped two spots in this week’s rankings. Chargers will face the Texans this week.

26. Cincinnati Bengals (3–6–1) — Ranked #24 last week

• The Bengals lost a close one to the Buffalo Bills and they lost way more than that. Giovani Bernard tore his ACL and he is out for the season and A.J Green suffered a hamstring injury and is ruled out for week 12. Without Green on the field, Andy Dalton struggled to get anything going as he completed 55% of passes and the Bengals offense was shutout in the 2nd half. The Bengals have made the playoffs in their last five seasons under Marvin Lewis but that streak will be snapped this season.

27. Los Angeles Rams (4–6) — Ranked #26 last week

• Jeff Fisher is now four losses away from passing Dan Reeves for the most head coach losses in NFL history. With the way the offense is playing, Fisher will no doubt have the record this season. The Rams offense ranks 30th in total yards and 32nd in points per game with 14.9. You can not put all of the blame on Case Keenum and Jared Goff considering the putrid offensive line play over the last four games and the ineffective coaching game plan. Looking at the rest of their schedule, the Rams will enjoy extended vacation time in January.

28. New York Jets (3–7) — Ranked #28 last week

• Fortunately for Jets fans, they were not put into misery in week 11 as the Jets had their bye week. They will host the Patriots this week.

29. Chicago Bears (2–8) — Ranked #29 last week

• The Bears were held scoreless in the 2nd half and they dropped their 2nd game in a row. The Bears are now 0–6 on the road and for a proud fanbase, they are a loss away from their 3rd straight losing season. The Bears failed to record a sack as Eli Manning had plenty of time in the pocket to scan the field for a wide open receiver or a favorable matchup. A silver lining for the Bears this season has been rookie Jordan Howard as he is now 318 rushing yards away from 1,000 yards.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (2–8) — Ranked #30 last week

• Gus Bradley, it is time to go. Goodbye, Jaguars fans will thank you for the unacceptable 14 wins through three and a half seasons. The only positive of this game was that they allowed a mere 14 rushing yards on a 0.7 yards per carry average against the Lions but other than that, it was another dissatisfying day for Jaguars fans. Blake Bortles threw two costly interceptions and the defense full of young talent were unable to stop Matthew “Clutch” Stafford in the 4th quarter. Another loss for Jacksonville and they will clinch their 6th consecutive losing season.

31. San Francisco 49ers (1–9) — Ranked #31 last week

• You gotta give credit where credit is due and well, the 49ers actually matched up with the New England Patriots through three quarters until they collapsed in the 4th quarter. The 49ers defensive front struggled to contain Legarrette Blount as he rushed for 124 yards on a 6.5 yards per carry average. Watching this game and it was disappointing to see dozens and dozens of empty seats and hear the Patriots fans make more noise than 49ers fans. This team were a threat to make a deep playoff run year after year during the Jim Harbaugh days and now they are headed for a top five pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

32. Cleveland Browns (0–11) — Ranked #32 last week

• It was another week of disappointment for the Browns. The Browns actually made it a competitive game early on as the Browns defense were able to get crucial red zone stops and limit the Steelers offense to two field goals. But of course, the Browns committed their usual share of unnecessary penalties and the Browns offensive line allowed eight sacks. The Browns are now six losses away from joining the 2008 Lions as the only 0–16 teams in NFL history.