NFL Power Rankings entering Week 13

A dozen in the bank

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Twelve weeks down in the NFL season and the teams that are hoping to prove themselves contenders must stand up and be counted for the rest of the season. As the calendar turns to December this week, let’s look at where all 32 teams currently stand in the latest rankings…

32. Detroit Lions (0-10-1, lost to Chicago Bears)

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Just an awful football team. How many years will it take to rebuild? Next: vs. Minnesota Vikings

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9, lost to Atlanta Falcons)

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There are some weeks when the NFL schedules games that college bowl scouts wouldn’t attend. This is another one of those contests. Next: at Los Angeles Rams

30. Houston Texans (2-9, lost to New York Jets)

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The Texans couldn’t handle Gang Green on their home turf. Makes you wonder how they won at Tennessee. Next: vs. Indianapolis Colts

29. Atlanta Falcons (5-6, defeated Jacksonville Jaguars)

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In a game between teams battling for draft position, the Falcons did damage to their hopes by winning over the Jaguars. Next: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

28. New York Jets (3-8, defeated Houston Texans)

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The New York Jets have won three games this season as they took down the tepid Texans. Next: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

27. Carolina Panthers (5-7, lost to Miami Dolphins)

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The Cam Newton II experiment is going poorly, and now, Christian McCaffrey isn’t feeling well, again, and is out for the rest of the year. Next: Bye Week

26. Chicago Bears (4-7, defeated Detroit Lions)

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An interesting week for the Bears as they won on Thanksgiving and found out their coach had not been told he was gone after the game against the Lions. Next: vs. Arizona Cardinals

25. Seattle Seahawks (3-8, lost to Washington Football Team)

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This is about as stunning and sorry season as we have seen in years. The Seattle Seahawks need to win their last six games to finish better than .500. Imagine saying that about a Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson team? Next: vs. San Francisco 49ers

24. Philadelphia Eagles (5-7, lost to New York Giants)

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Jalen Hurts won’t be the fancy of Philadelphia fans this week. Three interceptions against Big Blue is plenty of fodder for the Philly faithful to turn against the young QB … until the next game. Next: at New York Jets

23. New York Giants (4-7, defeated Philadelphia Eagles)

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It was all Jason Garrett’s fault. That is how the vaunted Big Blue offense managed to put up 13 points after the OC was fired. Next: at Miami Dolphins

22. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-5-1, lost to Cincinnati Bengals)

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Burn the tape—forget this game happened. The Steelers were not ready for the Cincinnati Bengals. Maybe it was a trap game? Next: vs. Baltimore Ravens

21. Minnesota Vikings (5-6, lost to San Francisco 49ers)

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The Vikings had a chance to go over .500… and then their quarterback lined up behind the guard on fourth-and-goal. That tells you it was not Minnesota’s day. Next: vs. Detroit Lions

20. Washington Football Team (5-6, defeated Seattle Seahawks)

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The Washington Football Team has won three in a row and the defense has come to life despite losing Chase Young for the season a couple games ago. Great work by Ron Rivera keeping his team in the game. Next: at Las Vegas Raiders

19. Cleveland Browns (6-6, lost to Baltimore Ravens)

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The defense held its own but the Cleveland offense was stuck in the big muddy. You pick off Lamar Jackson four times and lose? Not your year. Next: Bye

18. New Orleans Saints (5-6, lost to Buffalo Bills)

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The loss of Drew Brees, Jameis Winston and having to start Trevor Siemian is too much for Sean Payton to overcome. Next: vs. Dallas Cowboys (Thursday Night Football)

17. Miami Dolphins (5-7, defeated Carolina Panthers)

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The Dolphins have found their stride. Now the question becomes whether starting 1-7 put them in too big of a hole to try and get into the AFC wild-card race. Next: vs. New York Giants

16. Los Angeles Chargers (6-5, lost to Denver Broncos)

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The Bolts went into Denver and played poorly. Hard to figure so many of these NFL teams from game to game in 2021, and the Chargers are near the top of the confusing pack. Next: at Cincinnati Bengals

15. Denver Broncos (6-5, defeated Los Angeles Chargers)

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The Broncos menaced Justin Herbert and got enough offense to enjoy a surprisingly comfortable victory over the Chargers. The AFC West continues to be a riddle. Next: at Kansas City Chiefs

14. Los Angeles Rams (7-4, lost to Green Bay Packers)

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The bye didn’t help. Odell Beckham Jr. caught a TD pass, but it didn’t matter. The Rams are in free-fall. Next: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

13. Las Vegas Raiders (6-5, defeated Dallas Cowboys)

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Just when it looked like the Raiders were finished, they flipped the script and won at Dallas on Thanksgiving. Next: vs. Washington Football Team

12. Indianapolis Colts (6-6, lost to Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

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The Colts had control against the Super Bowl champs, but let the Buccaneers slip away. Not good when you need all the wins you can get. Next: at Houston Texans

11. San Francisco 49ers (6-5, defeated Minnesota Vikings)

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The 49ers are above .500 and playing like the team many expected them to be before the season. This group is one to watch in the final weeks. Next: at Seattle Seahawks

10. Cincinnati Bengals (7-4, defeated Pittsburgh Steelers)

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The Bengals are either for real or the Steelers’ win streak was a mirage. Impressive victory for Cincy, though, as they absolutely lambasted Pittsburgh. Next: vs. Los Angeles Chargers

9. Dallas Cowboys (7-4, lost to Las Vegas Raiders)

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The Dallas Cowboys are another team that has gone from red-hot to ice-cold. Fortunately, they remain in a division of also-rans, so they have some wiggle room. Next: at New Orleans Saints (Thursday Night Football)

8. Tennessee Titans (8-4, lost to New England Patriots)

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Tennessee proved it can lose to a good team, too. Those losses to the Jets and Jaguars could come back to haunt when it comes to playoff positioning. Next: Bye Week

7. Buffalo Bills (7-4, defeated New Orleans Saints)

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The Bills feasted in New Orleans on Thanksgiving. Things get real in Week 13 as an AFC East slugfest is on tap. Next: vs. New England Patriots (Monday Night Football)

6. Baltimore Ravens (7-3, defeated Cleveland Browns)

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The Ravens overcame four interceptions by Lamar Jackson and won due to a couple of spectacular plays by the quarterback and Justin Tucker’s impeccable leg. Next: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

5. New England Patriots (8-4, defeated Tennessee Titans)

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Can’t say enough about what Bill Belichick has done with a rookie quarterback and so many new pieces. The test comes up this Monday, though. Next: at Buffalo Bills (Monday Night Football)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-3, defeated Indianapolis Colts)

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The Buccaneers looked troubled against the Colts. The defense made a couple of big plays and Leonard Fournette had a monster game, but it wasn’t a decisive effort. Next: at Atlanta Falcons

3. Green Bay Packers (9-3, defeated Los Angeles Rams)

Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK

The Packers need three more wins to give Matt LaFleur his third straight 13-win season. Don’t be surprised if they do it. Next: Bye Week

2. Arizona Cardinals (9-2, Bye week)

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What could go wrong on a bye week? Oklahoma’s coach could leave and there is a report that the Sooners want Kliff Kingsbury. Next: at Chicago Bears

1. Kansas City Chiefs (7-4, Bye Week)

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The Chiefs rode a winning streak into their bye. Will they develop rust from being off or come back as strong as they were playing before they had time off? Next: vs. Denver Broncos

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