🏈 NFL Power Rankings: Week 12

1) Los Angeles Rams (+1)

This is the best tackling, best run-blocking, best passing, and the team with the most athletic defensive front in football. So, the Rams are the best team in the NFL.

2) Buffalo Bills (+5)

A couple of moves around the edges (adding Mecole Hardman and Gabe Davis) could spark Buffalo’s inconsistent offense down the stretch. Josh Allen being Superman is also effective kindling.

3) Seattle Seahawks (+1)

Sam Darnold was finally flustered by a great interior pass rush and he threw four picks, yet Seattle still had a chance to beat the Rams on the road thanks to a top-3 defense and a top-3 receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

4) Philadelphia Eagles (-1)

It’s amazing how well the Eagles defense is playing with their offense routinely going 3-and-out with a distinct lack of rhythm. The offensive line is getting healthier, but Lane Johnson (ankle) got hurt again.

5) Kansas City Chiefs (-4)

Every week is a Super Bowl for Kansas City’s opponents and a Week 11 loss at Denver carried massive implications for both sides. At 5-5, the Chiefs have a 54% chance to grab a Wild Card spot, and their run as AFC West champs is almost certainly over.

6) Detroit Lions (-1)

Jared Goff has struggled in two of his last three starts behind a diminished offensive line. Detroit's defense should soon get several starters back from injury.

7) New England Patriots (+2)

Mike Vrabel is now even money to be Coach of the Year with the Patriots undergoing a massive turnaround in his first year. They did lose Milton Williams (ankle) for at least four weeks.

8) Baltimore Ravens (-2)

Lamar Jackson struggled against the Browns again and Derrick Henry couldn’t get much going, then the Ravens got a gift with Shedeur Sanders coming in cold and going 4-for-16 with a pick.

9) Indianapolis Colts (+1)

Sauce Gardner should shore up a shaky Colts secondary and his addition sends a clear signal from the new ownership group that Indy is ready to compete now.

10) Denver Broncos (+2)

Already the first team to go 8-2 while leading the NFL in punts, the Broncos used a conservative offensive game plan and a stellar defense to slay the Chiefs and maintain their stranglehold on the AFC West.

11) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+0)

Sean Tucker and Baker Mayfield kept the Bucs alive in a shootout at Buffalo despite the absence of five starters on both sides of the ball. Bucky Irving (foot) is practicing and should return in Week 12.

12) Green Bay Packers (-4)

The worst injury luck in the NFL now belongs to the Packers with Josh Jacobs (knee) potentially out multiple weeks and several offensive linemen banged up along with Jordan Love.

13) San Francisco 49ers (+2)

Brock Purdy (toe) finally returned and the Niners offense was firing on all cylinders for the most time this season. Their defense gave up an NFL record 47 completions to Jacoby Brissett, so let’s hold off on the parade plans.

14) Houston Texans (-1)

Nico Collins posted a 16-228-TD line over the past two weeks with Davis Mills. The Texans will need their alpha receiver to stay hot with defenses doing little to respect their anemic run game.

15) Pittsburgh Steelers (+2)

The Steelers have won four of their last five at home with strong defensive performances in each of those games, they just got burned on some deep shots by the Packers in a loss. Aaron Rodgers (wrist) could miss a game or two.

16) Jacksonville Jaguars (+8)

Apparently the Jaguars are just going to hide Trevor Lawrence with an elite rushing attack. Liam Coen rotated Bhayshul Tuten and Travis Etienne evenly in a strong showing against the Chargers.

17) Chicago Bears (+1)

The Bears have a knack for beating bad teams by depending on QBs missing throws and Caleb Williams escaping from free rushers. They might get Jaylon Johnson (groin) back next week, but lost CB Tyrique Stevenson (ankle).

18) Dallas Cowboys (+4)

Jerry Jones made a couple moves to help the Cowboys defense improve incrementally and that could make Dallas dangerous going forward with Dak Prescott lighting it up offensively.

19) Los Angeles Chargers (-5)

How long can Justin Herbert survive with arguably the worst pass-protecting unit of the past few seasons in front of him? Getting Omarion Hampton (ankle) back would take some pressure off.

20) Minnesota Vikings (-1)

J.J. McCarthy put a clinic of missed throws on tape in Week 11. Justin Jefferson nearly lost his head and Jordan Addison let the second-year QB down with a few drops.

21) Carolina Panthers (+4)

A week after the Saints made him look like a Pop Warner kid, Bryce Young shredded the Falcons for 448 yards when they also sold out to stop Rico Dowdle.

22) Atlanta Falcons (-2)

The Falcons coaching staff rarely seems to push the right buttons in terms of their play calling and defensive schemes. Drake London is dealing with several injuries after seeing double-digit targets again.

23) Arizona Cardinals (-2)

Welcome to the carnival, Cardinals! With three defensive starters and Jacoby Brissett slinging it around the yard, they’ve been producing fantasy gold in their matchups lately.

24) New York Giants (-1)

Jameis Winston kept the Giants competitive in his spot start and their secondary is getting much healthier with Jaxson Dart (concussion) potentially ready to return next week.

25) Miami Dolphins (-6)

It seems the Dolphins benefitted from a new-GM bump. They’ve absolutely rolled two quality opponents (Falcons and Bills) in two of their last three games with a few missed opportunities costing them a close finish against the Ravens in Week 9.

26) Las Vegas Raiders (+0)

Another team that struggles with pass protection, the Raiders are basically incapable of establishing the run and are leaving Geno Smith out to dry.

27) Cincinnati Bengals (+0)

Joe Flacco seems to be running out of gas but Joe Burrow (toe) is back at practice and that could keep the Bengals believing despite their horrid defense.

28) New Orleans Saints (+0)

The Saints will look to build on a strong showing from Tyler Shough (19-of-27, 282 yards, 2 TD) when they come out of their bye to face Atlanta.

29) Washington Commanders (+0)

The Commanders defense came up with a couple big stops against Miami in Madrid. Chris Rodriguez took over lead back duties with rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt in a reserve role.

30) Cleveland Browns (+0)

Myles Garrett might be the best player in football and the Browns defense is fantastic whenever they play at home. However, you need some semblance of solid quarterback play to win NFL games.

31) New York Jets (+0)

The Jets started hot at the Patriots by leaning on Justin Fields’ legs, but couldn’t sustain much offense with a weak receiving corps and one of the least accurate passers in NFL history.

32) Tennessee Titans (+0)

Jeffrey Simmons returned and the Titans defense put up a stout fight against Houston. That was basically their Super Bowl, and they should get crushed in their next five games before hosting the Saints with a faint chance to win that one.