NFL power rankings, Week 12: Saints rise, Chiefs fall
The New Orleans Saints continue to roll, while the Kansas City Chiefs have fallen and, by the looks of it, can’t get up.
32
Cleveland Browns 0-10
Last week: L, 19-7 vs. JAX
Last rank: 32nd
A winless season continues to look more and more possible.
31
San Francisco 49ers 1-9
Last week: BYE
Last rank: 30th
San Francisco hasn’t lost in two consecutive weeks.
30
New York Giants 2-8
Last week: W, 12-9 (OT) vs. KC
Last rank: 31st
The Giants played horribly but still beat the slumping Chiefs at home.
29
Indianapolis Colts 3-7
Last week: BYE
Last rank: 29th
The Colts have to be counting the days until the end of the season.
28
Chicago Bears 3-7
Last week: L, 27-24 vs. DET
Last rank: 27th
Chicago continues to play hard but couldn’t get the job done against the Lions.
27
Denver Broncos 3-7
Last week: L, 20-17 vs. CIN
Last rank: 25th
Denver has lost six straight, and now the Paxton Lynch watch is fully on.
26
Miami Dolphins 4-6
Last week: L, 30-20 vs. TB
Last rank: 24th
The Dolphins are very, very lucky to have won four games.
25
New York Jets 4-6
Last week: BYE
Last rank: 26th
New York comes off the bye with real hope of ending up in second place of the AFC East.
24
Arizona Cardinals 4-6
Last week: L, 31-21 at HOU
Last rank: 21st
If the Cardinals can’t beat Houston and Tom Savage, it’s not a good sign moving forward.
23
Green Bay Packers 5-5
Last week: L, 23-0 vs. BAL
Last rank: 20th
Green Bay was shut out for the first time at home since 2006. Not pretty.
22
Buffalo Bills 5-5
Last week: L, 54-24 at LAC
Last rank: 18th
The Bills are in total and complete free fall. Luckily, a trip to Arrowhead awaits.
21
Houston Texans 4-6
Last week: W, 31-21 vs. AZ
Last rank: 23rd
Houston finally got off the snide with a win over Blaine Gabbert and the Cardinals.
20
Cincinnati Bengals 4-6
Last week: W, 20-27 at DEN
Last rank: 28th
The Bengals stayed alive for another week with a win over the listless Broncos.
19
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-6
Last week: W, 30-20 at MIA
Last rank: 22nd
Tampa Bay has won two straight behind Ryan Fitzpatrick. Not the best look for Jameis Winston.
18
Oakland Raiders 4-6
Last week: L, 33-8 vs. NE
Last rank: 16th
Oakland’s defense is impossibly bad. Tough to make the playoffs with that.
17
Washington Redskins 4-6
Last week: L, 34-31 (OT) at NO
Last rank: 15th
Washington blew a 15-point lead and with that, turn out the lights.
16
Baltimore Ravens 5-5
Last week: W, 23-0 at GB
Last rank: 17th
The Ravens are the most likely team to get the AFC’s sixth seed with an easy schedule ahead.
15
Los Angeles Chargers 4-6
Last week: W, 54-24 vs. BUF
Last rank: 19th
The Chargers are an average team, but that might be enough to win the AFC West.
14
Dallas Cowboys 5-5
Last week: L, 37-9 vs. PHI
Last rank: 11th
After another ugly loss, the Cowboys are in a very tough spot.
13
Tennessee Titans 6-4
Last week: W, 40-17 at PIT
Last rank: 13th
The Titans aren’t ready to play with the big boys of the AFC.
12
Detroit Lions 6-4
Last week: W, 27-24 at CHI
Last rank: 14th
The Lions have needed two heart attack wins over the Browns and Bears. Not sure what to make of the Lions.
11
Kansas City Chiefs 6-4
Last week: L, 12-9 (OT) at NYG
Last rank: 7th
Kansas City would be lucky to make the playoffs at this point. Incredible how far the Chiefs have fallen.
10
Seattle Seahawks 6-4
Last week: L, 34-31 vs. ATL
Last rank: 10th
Right now, this doesn’t look like a playoff team.
9
Jacksonville Jaguars 7-3
Last week: W, 19-7 at CLE
Last rank: 12th
The Jaguars defense is great. The offense is another story altogether.
8
Atlanta Falcons 6-4
Last week: W, 34-31 at SEA
Last rank: 9th
Atlanta has to be feeling good after consecutive wins over contenders.
7
Carolina Panthers 7-3
Last week: BYE
Last rank: 8th
Nobody is talking about the Panthers, but they’re an interesting team to watch down the stretch.
6
Los Angeles Rams 7-3
Last week: L, 24-7 at MIN
Last rank: 3rd
Los Angeles is still a very good team, it just happened to lose to another one.
5
New Orleans Saints 8-2
Last week: W, 34-31 (OT) vs. WSH
Last rank: 6th
The Saints just continue to win, beating the Redskins to make it eight straight.
4
Minnesota Vikings 8-2
Last week: W, 24-7 vs. LAR
Last rank: 5th
Minnesota could absolutely be the first team to play at home in a Super Bowl.
3
Pittsburgh Steelers 8-2
Last week: W, 40-17 vs. TEN
Last rank: 4th
If Ben Roethlisberger finally figured things out on Thursday, the Steelers are the best team in football.
2
New England Patriots 8-2
Last week: W, 33-7 at OAK
Last rank: 2nd
The Patriots basically have a bye from now until the AFC title game.
1
Philadelphia Eagles 9-1
Last week: W, 37-9, at DAL
Last rank: 1st
At 9-1, the Eagles have all but wrapped up the NFC East before Thanksgiving.