NFL Week 12 Power Rankings

Week 12 is not quite done, yet, as we await the playing of the Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens Thanksgiving game – six days later than scheduled – but that doesn’t preclude us from dissecting the power balance of the NFL as we head into December. 

The playoff picture is becoming clearer every week, as a gap between those in serious contention and those fighting to stay alive widens. Only one game separates several teams in both the NFC and AFC as teams head into their final four or five games of season, so we better get ready for plenty of drama in the coming month. 

With that said, how does the share of power look in the NFL as we finish Week 12?

1. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1) +1 

The Chiefs are just more talented and deep than any team in the NFL. I may have said in previous weeks that until the Steelers lose a game they can’t be dropped down the rankings, but I don’t think there is a team who can actually matchup with the Chiefs. I simply trust this squad and so many of its pieces more than any others in the NFL, and Sunday’s game showed that. 

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-0) 

We are yet to see the Steelers’ Thanksgiving game against the Ravens as it has now been pushed back to Wednesday afternoon, but it’s a game the Steelers should win. The only question for this team is can they matchup with the Chiefs? 

3. New Orleans Saints (9-2) 

Considering the state of the Denver Broncos going into this game, you’d almost have expected the game to be even more one-sided. The Saints defense played well – though it didn’t necessarily have to do much – but the offense was disappointing. Latavius Murray was excellent, but Taysom Hill struggled. He can’t afford to play that way against better teams. 

4. Green Bay Packers (8-3) 

The Packers took care of business. As they should have. Aaron Rodgers and the offense picked apart the meant-to-be-strong Chicago Bears defense and the defense turned in its best game of the year. It was the type of performance that showed what the Packers can do and what they should expect, now it is about doing it against the best. 

5. Tennessee Titans (8-3) +6

What a statement couple of weeks for the Titans. After losing in fairly poor fashion to the Indianapolis Colts just two weeks ago, Tennessee have answered with big wins over the Ravens and those same Colts, solidifying their position atop the AFC South and in the AFC playoff picture. 

6. Buffalo Bills (8-3) -1

The Bills may have won, so dropping them a spot may seem harsh, but their early season loss to the Titans right now has them locked in the AFC’s number four seed. They do, however, have control of their division and are locked in among the best in the NFL. 

7. Seattle Seahawks (8-3) +2 

The final result of Seattle’s Monday night game against the Philadelphia Eagles was not representative of the game, in fact, it is more of a knock on the Seahawks for not dealing with the Eagles more convincingly. Nevertheless, a win is a win and this one put the Seahawks back in control of the NFC West, which is significant. 

8. Los Angeles Rams (7-4) -1

After beating the Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in back-to-back weeks to take charge of the NFC West, the Rams let one slip against the beat up San Francisco 49ers. This result serves to illustrate how small the gap is between most teams in the NFL. 

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5) -1

Despite the obvious talent, Week 12 provided another disappointing loss for the Buccaneers. It’s tough to call a three-point loss to the Chiefs a disappointing result, but there was a gap between these teams for much of the game, and the Bucs’ offense feels disjointed. Whether it is Tom Brady not being the same player, players not being settled into the system, or issues with playcalling, this team has work to do. 

10. Cleveland Browns (8-3) +2

For the first time since 2007 the Browns have won eight games – clinching a non-losing season. They made it look tougher than it should have been against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but they’re getting the job done, which is more than can be said about many teams around them.

11. Indianapolis Colts (7-4) -1

Having beaten the Titans in the fashion the Colts did just two weeks ago, then beating the Packers last week, it seemed the Colts were maybe finding their groove and claiming the AFC South as theirs. This week put that to bed as they were totally beaten by Tennessee. The Colts are the five seed in the AFC right now – pending the Ravens vs Steelers result. 

12. Las Vegas Raiders (6-5) -5

Sunday’s loss was very bad. Considering everything we have seen from this team, a loss that bad to this Atlanta Falcons team is a bad look. Could it be partly attributed to Chiefs-fatigue? Maybe. Nevertheless, the whole team played badly and as a result now sit outside the playoffs. 

13. Baltimore Ravens (6-4) 

Due to their COVID-19 outbreak, the Ravens have yet to play their Week 12 game against the Steelers, but Wednesday afternoon’s matchup figures to be an even stiffer test for the Ravens than it was already going to be. They need to get back in the win column, and a loss to the Steelers to go 6-5 would be a significant blow to the team’s playoff chances. 

14. Miami Dolphins (7-4) +1

As they should have, the Dolphins got back to winning ways against the New York Jets and sit just one game back from the playoffs. Tua Tagovailoa is still working his way back from his thumb injury, but whether he’s back healthy this week or Ryan Fitzpatrick is forced to keep playing, the Dolphins have a tough road ahead of them to make the playoffs, with games against the Chiefs, New England Patriots, Raiders, and Bills.

15. Arizona Cardinals (6-5) -1

The Cardinals’ lead in the NFC West came and went shockingly quickly. Kyler Murray and co. still have a playoff spot and are a game ahead of the pack, with potentially tricky games against the New York Giants, 49ers, and two against the Rams. 

16. San Francisco 49ers (5-6) 

What a win for the 49ers. This team got a huge boost from the return of just Deebo Samuel, let alone Raheem Mostert and Richard Sherman. They still have a few more pieces to come back and their win this week over the Rams shows the quality still left on this team and the quality of the coaching. The 49ers are well in position to make a legitimate run for the playoffs. 

17. New England Patriots (5-6) 

It wasn’t pretty, there are clearly still plenty of issues which aren’t going away, but the Patriots got an important win to keep their slim playoff chances alive. The Patriots will need plenty of help to make the playoffs, but the path is there, and if they can continue to win in different ways it wouldn’t be surprising to see them sneak in. 

18. Minnesota Vikings (5-6) 

After the disappointment of last week, the Vikings squeaked out a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. They were fortunate at the end, watching the Panthers miss a game-winning field goal attempt, but beggars can’t be choosers, and a win is a win. 

19. Houston Texans (4-7) +3

The Texans have now won three of their last four, but the news to come from their organization since their Thanksgiving Day win leaves this already struggling franchise in an even bleaker situation. Both Will Fuller V and Bradley Roby announced yesterday they’d been suspended six games, thus leaving an already struggling defense without its top corner, and a limited offense without its top receiving threat. Pour one out for Deshaun Watson this week, folks. 

20. New York Giants (4-7) +4

This team’s steady improvement is continuing, and they finally have some reward for it by being atop the NFC East with just five games to go. Daniel Jones left the game on Sunday in the third quarter and could miss at least another game, so it may be Colt McCoy’s job to keep the Giants atop the division. 

21. Denver Broncos (4-7) 

What a situation the Broncos had to deal with. To have to play a game with a practice squad wide receiver at QB, a player who took no practice reps and hasn’t played in two years, is outrageous. It was an ugly day on offense, but it was precisely what should have been expected against such a good team. Thankfully they get their QBs back for Week 13. 

22. Chicago Bears (5-6) -2

Fans, rejoice! There are no more primetime Bears games! As expected, Mitch Trubisky made no difference to this offense, it still sucked. What’s more, it appears the defense is suffering the same fate as last year after weeks of propping up an inept offense. 

23. Washington Football Team (4-7) +5 

It may have come against the Dallas Cowboys, but Washington’s Thanksgiving win was excellent. They dominated the game and got huge performance from their ground game. They are now tied atop the NFC East with the Giants and have a much friendlier schedule down the stretch. The division is theirs for the taking. 

24. Atlanta Falcons (4-7) +3

What a win. It doesn’t mean all that much because the Falcons are too far away to make much noise in the playoff race, but if they can continue to make plays like they did against the Raiders I’m sure they could hand another team a costly loss. 

25. Carolina Panthers (4-8) -6

Despite the growth shown in many areas on this team, they have had to deal with a few very tough finishes. On the back of two fumble return touchdowns the Panthers were in position to get their fifth win of the season, only to give up a go-ahead touchdown, drive into field goal range, and then miss the field goal. Joey Slye has had a tough year when it comes to end-of-game kicks. 

26. Philadelphia Eagles (3-7-1) -1

What are we doing, Doug Pederson? Throughout the week there was constant talk of Jalen Hurts getting more playing time, without Carson Wentz on the field, and what do we get? Two plays, on first and second down, and nothing more. Wentz is a poor QB right now. Can he be fixed? It doesn’t look like it will happen in Philly. This game was strewn with peculiarities from the Eagles, and Pederson’s handling of this team is becoming more and more questionable. 

27. Los Angeles Chargers (3-8) -4

The main takeaway from this game has to be that Joey Bosa is a significant problem. We knew that already, but due to injuries and being stuck on a struggling team it feels as though he has slipped under the radar. He is a dominant edge player when he wants to be, and serves as a reminder of the immense building blocks this team has going forward. 

28. Detroit Lions (4-7) -2

Thanksgiving was embarrassing, but it at least provided the final nail in the coffin of the Matt Patricia/Bob Quinn era in Detroit. They took over a 9-7 team with recent playoff pushes, and left it as a team with no direction, last in their division, with a talent- and youth-poor roster and no good vibes. This was at least a step in the right direction. 

29. Dallas Cowboys (3-8)  

What a poor night for the Cowboys. Thanksgiving provided nothing for the Cowboys to be thankful for as they were smacked by Washington. They now sit firmly in last place in the NFC East and they absolutely seem the least likely to somehow play a home playoff game.  

30. Cincinnati Bengals (2-8-1) 

Considering the Bengals were without Joe Burrow this game went better than many would have expected. Ultimately, without Burrow, there isn’t much to take from the Bengals’ remaining games – it is just about staying as healthy as possible.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-10) 

If nothing else, this team is playing for one another. They are not the most talented and they now truly have nothing to play for as they’ve been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, but they have fought in every game. Doug Marrone may not have the results as their head coach, but he clearly has a culture and that locker room. 

32. New York Jets (0-11)

This team makes it so difficult to watch football, and they seem destined for an 0-16 season. It may get them Trevor Lawrence, but it sure is a brutal way to go about it.