Dave B’s NFL Power Rankings – Week 12
What a week!
The top dogs in the league survived just barely and some new Big Dogs emerged! Some previously standout teams showed that without a QB their chances for success are hugely diminished. No other league on the planet is as fluid and as interesting from week to week – that’s why we love this game!
Enough talk – let’s get on with Dave B’s Week 12 edition of the Rankings!
1. TEXANS (1) – The Texans played their second worst game of the year in Week 10 and they still won. This time it was an offensive explosion (527 yards by Matt Schaub) that got it done. They can win every which way and barley hold onto #1 this week.
2. FALCONS (2) – The Falcons are another team that holds onto their Ranking by a thread. They almost lost to the brutal Cardinals but as all good teams do, they still won the game.
3. 49ERS (5) – absolutely annihilated the Bears Monday night and proved once again they are a force. They are a tad up and down but right now, they certainly are UP.
4. PATRIOTS (7) – The Patriots taught Andrew Luck a bit of a lesson didn’t they? New England did lose Rob Gronkowski with a broken arm but they are absolutely looking like one of the top two best teams in the AFC
5. BRONCOS (8) – the Broncos have suddenly emerged as a Super Bowl favorite. They are playing superb on both sides of the ball at the moment and as predicted a couple of weeks ago by yours truly, they have reached the Top 5 on the Power Rankings.
6. RAVENS (3) – they won in Week 10 but they didn’t look great against a Pittsburgh team that had absolutely nothing offensively. Baltimore is a virtual lock to win their division but they aren’t a top 3 team in the AFC at the moment.
7. PACKERS (6) – The Packers have won five straight and they still haven’t played their best game. Still, without Clay Matthews and Greg Jennings the Packers still looked like a team to contend with. They slip in the Rankings because the risers looked a whole lot better than them this week.
8. SEAHAWKS (10) – The Hawks are 5-0 at home this year – totally dominant. Russell Wilson is playing beyond his years, Marshawn Lynch continues to be a beast and the defense is still one of the best in the league. The Seahawks – Top 10? There is no way I could have predicted this!
9. BUCCANEERS (12) – have won five of their last six games and have the best rushing defense in the league. Josh Freeman has really elevated his play and rookie Doug Martin has been off the charts the last three weeks. The Bucs are a scary team to play at the moment and are finding new ways to win each and every week.
10. VIKINGS (14) – Adrian Peterson is the MVP of the league so far to me. 11 months off ACL surgery and he leads the NFL in rushing. They were on their bye last week and return to a very tough schedule. We’ll see what they are made of in the next few weeks.
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11. SAINTS (15) – amazing to see a 5-5 team at #11 but they look like a team that can beat just about every other team in the league at the moment. Drew Brees is a God and the defense is finally chipping in – scary for the NFC.
12. BEARS (4) – Come back Jay Cutler please!
13. STEELERS (9) – ditto for Ben Roethlisberger!
14. GIANTS (13) – coming off a bye and need to right the ship in a hurry! This week they face the Packers – I don’t love their chances!
15. COLTS (11) – fell back to earth in Week 10 but they are still holders of an AFC Wild Card spot at the moment. They have a relatively easy schedule down the stretch and should remain Top 15 through the end of the year.
16. COWBOYS (16)
17. BENGALS (17)
18. LIONS (18)
19. REDSKINS (22)
20. BILLS (29)
21. CHARGERS (21)
22. RAMS (19)
23. DOLPHINS (20)
24. JETS (28)
25. TITANS (23)
26. CARDINALS (24)
27. EAGLES (25)
28. RAIDERS (26)
29. PANTHERS (27)
30. BROWNS (30)
31. JAGUARS (31)
32. CHIEFS (32)
