Week 13 NFL Power Rankings: The Vikings Bounce Back
Josh Frey
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The Thanksgiving weekend is now in the rear-view mirror, and after the holiday we now look ahead to the final third of the NFL season. Before we get into that slate of games, here are the Week 13 NFL power rankings.
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1. Kansas City Chiefs, 9-2
- Last Week: 26-10 win vs. LAR
- Trending: —
- This Week: 12/4 @ CIN
The Chiefs looked like they were playing against a team with its third-string QB, and they outclassed them as such. As a result, there are no changes at the top of the power rankings this week.
2. Philadelphia Eagles, 10-1
- Last Week: 40-33 win vs. GB
- Trending: —
- This Week: 12/4 vs. TEN
It wasn’t necessarily a spectacular showing from the Eagles defense, but they made up for it with an outstanding run game. They rushed for 363 yards on the night, including 157 from their QB Jalen Hurts.
3. Miami Dolphins, 8-3
- Last Week: 30-15 win vs. HOU
- Trending: —
- This Week: 12/4 @ SF
The Dolphins offense ran away with this game in the first half, scoring all 30 of their points in the opening 30 minutes. This group has been a juggernaut all season, and if they actually needed to get up to 60 points in this game, I don’t doubt that they could have done it.
4. Dallas Cowboys, 8-3
- Last Week: 28-20 win vs. NYG
- Trending: —
- This Week: 12/4 vs. IND
Micah Parsons brought the stuffing on Thanksgiving with another multi-sack game. Dak Prescott threw a couple tough interceptions, but the Cowboys offense did enough to overcome those early mistakes. Coming off a huge road victory on short rest, this is an impressive divisional win.
5. Cincinnati Bengals, 7-4
- Last Week: 20-16 win @ TEN
- Trending: +4
- This Week: 12/4 vs. KC
The Bengals defense did an outstanding job of holding Derrick Henry in check, something that I didn’t believe they’d be able to do this week. They proved me wrong and limited Henry to just 38 yards at 2.2 yards per carry.
6. Minnesota Vikings, 9-2
- Last Week: 33-26 win vs. NE
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 12/4 vs. NYJ
The Minnesota Vikings bounced back in a big way after their 40-3 debacle in Week 11 against the Cowboys. The highlight of this game has to be Kirk Cousins and his outstanding showing on primetime against arguably the best pass defense in the NFL.
7. Buffalo Bills, 8-3
- Last Week: 28-25 win @ DET
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 12/1 @ NE
The Bills escaped Thanksgiving with a victory over the Detroit Lions in their second consecutive game at Ford Field. Their offense moved the ball with a balanced attack, but things got a little too close for comfort down the stretch.
8. San Francisco 49ers, 7-4
- Last Week: 13-0 win vs. NO
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 12/4 vs. MIA
The Niners let the Saints go down the field a couple times, but their defense made plays each time and forced Alvin Kamara into two fumbles for the first time in his career. San Francisco will need more of these plays this week against the Dolphins.
9. Tennessee Titans, 7-4
- Last Week: 16-20 loss vs. CIN
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 12/4 @ PHI
Derrick Henry couldn’t carry the Titans to victory last weekend. For just the fourth time this year, Henry was held to fewer than 100 yards from scrimmage. That won’t cut it if they hope to find any hope of beating the Eagles.
10. Washington Commanders, 7-5
- Last Week: 19-13 win vs. ATL
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 12/4 @ NYG
The Commanders are now 5-1 with Taylor Heinicke as their starting QB. Washington continues to boost their playoff profile, and they can further do so with back-to-back games against their division rival New York Giants.
11. Baltimore Ravens, 7-4
- Last Week: 27-28 loss @ JAX
- Trending: -5
- This Week: 12/4 vs. DEN
As it turns out, Justin Tucker is still human after all. After a last-minute drive to try and defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars, the highly esteemed kicker missed a 67-yarder to win the game. Perhaps a win will come easier against the Broncos this week.
12. New York Jets, 7-4
- Last Week: 31-10 win vs. CHI
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 12/4 @ MIN
There seems to officially be a QB controversy in New York. Despite a downpour during the game, Mike White lit the field on fire last weekend, leading the Jets to a easy victory over the Bears.
13. New England Patriots, 6-5
- Last Week: 26-33 loss @ MIN
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 12/1 vs. BUF
The vaunted pass defense that went into the weekend atop the league in passing yards allowed let the Vikings move the ball all over them on Thanksgiving Night. Mac Jones didn’t play too poorly himself, but it’s going to be tough for any QB to overcome a defense allowing big plays as well as a kick return TD.
14. Los Angeles Chargers, 6-5
- Last Week: 25-24 win @ ARI
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 12/4 @ LV
Brandon Staley showed no fear going for two points at the end of regulation. In a do-or-die situation, Justin Herbert and the Chargers came through, remaining in the hunt for a playoff spot this winter.
15. New York Giants, 7-4
- Last Week: 20-28 loss @ DAL
- Trending: —
- This Week: 12/4 vs. WSH
The Giants may be revealing themselves to just be one of the middling teams in the NFL, and they played that way on Thanksgiving. In order to get back on track, they have to win at least two of their next three games to keep pace in the division.
16. Seattle Seahawks, 6-5
- Last Week: 34-40 loss vs. LV
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 12/4 @ LAR
In last week’s rankings, this matchup was described as one of the more surprising teams (Seattle) going against one of the most disappointing ones (Las Vegas). Well, after another loss, it seems that the Seahawks are coming back to earth since their hot start.
17. Atlanta Falcons, 5-7
- Last Week: 13-19 loss @ WSH
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 12/4 @ PIT
The Falcons simply find ways to continuously lose games in the most depressing fashion. This week, it involved Marcus Mariota throwing an interception in the end zone at the end of the fourth quarter. Still, having a chance to win against the red-hot Washington Commanders is impressive.
18. Jacksonville Jaguars, 4-7
- Last Week: 28-27 win vs. BAL
- Trending: +3
- This Week: 12/4 @ DET
Trevor Lawrence played one of his best games as a pro this week against the Ravens, and it culminated in a game-winning TD drive in the last-minute of the game. This team could be scary with Calvin Ridley next year and another WR in the draft.
19. Detroit Lions, 4-7
- Last Week: 25-28 loss vs. BUF
- Trending: —
- This Week: 12/4 vs. JAX
The Lions had no answers for Josh Allen or Devin Singletary in the Buffalo running game on Thanksgiving. Even still, Jared Goff wasn’t too bad himself throughout the day. A close loss to one of the best teams in the NFL is not the worst way for a three-game winning streak to come to an end.
20. Cleveland Browns, 4-7
- Last Week: 23-20 win vs. TB
- Trending: +5
- This Week: 12/4 @ HOU
In Jacoby Brissett’s final start before Deshaun Watson returns, he led the Browns to an overtime win over Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 5-6
- Last Week: 17-23 loss @ CLE
- Trending: -4
- This Week: 12/5 vs. NO
Rachaad White continues to be a promising piece to the Tampa Bay offense, but they continue to struggle to string drives together on a consistent basis.
22. Arizona Cardinals, 4-8
- Last Week: 24-25 loss vs. LAC
- Trending: -2
- This Week: Bye
The Cardinals were the victim of a last-minute two-point conversion by the Chargers, turning what could have been a season-saving win into a loss that buries them deeper in the NFC hole.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers, 4-7
- Last Week: 24-17 win @ IND
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 12/4 @ ATL
Najee Harris’ injury is concerning for the close of this season for Pittsburgh, but Benny Snell Jr. had a strong game on Monday night running the ball as well. Either way, it doesn’t seem like there should be much hope for the playoffs in Pittsburgh this year.
24. Green Bay Packers, 4-8
- Last Week: 33-40 loss @ PHI
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 12/4 @ CHI
Aaron Rodgers left this game with an oblique injury, and that’s certainly a concern for the Packers. However, the more pressing concern is that their defense cannot hold anyone in check right now, and Green Bay’s final hopes for a playoff run may have been dashed.
25. Las Vegas Raiders, 4-7
- Last Week: 40-34 win @ SEA
- Trending: +3
- This Week: 12/4 vs. LAC
Josh Jacobs took this game over, putting up over 300 yards from scrimmage, and he capped it off with an 86-yard touchdown run to win the game for Vegas in overtime. The Raiders may be disappointing this year, but this was an electric win.
26. Indianapolis Colts, 4-7-1
- Last Week: 17-24 loss vs. PIT
- Trending: -3
- This Week: 12/4 @ DAL
This was the first time where Jeff Saturday’s inexperience seemed to come into play in a big way. The time management down the stretch of the game wasn’t great, and Indy is now losers in five of their last six games.
27. Carolina Panthers, 4-8
- Last Week: 23-10 win vs. DEN
- Trending: +4
- This Week: Bye
Sam Darnold had one of the stranger touchdown runs you’ll ever see in this game, but Carolina managed to get a win against the reeling Broncos. Although, Carolina fans probably wish they would have lost this game.
28. New Orleans Saints, 4-8
- Last Week: 0-13 loss @ SF
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 12/5 @ TB
Alvin Kamara fumbled twice for the first time in his career, and in three red zone drives, the Saints managed zero points.
29. Los Angeles Rams, 3-8
- Last Week: 10-26 loss vs. KC
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 12/4 vs. SEA
The Rams may not be great with Matthew Stafford this year, but it was very clear that they were playing with their third-string QB in this game.
30. Denver Broncos, 3-8
- Last Week: 10-23 loss @ CAR
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 12/4 @ BAL
In this week’s edition of “what went wrong with the Denver Broncos” Russell Wilson had Mike Purcell, a defensive tackle, arguing with him on the sideline.
31. Chicago Bears, 3-9
- Last Week: 10-31 loss @ NYJ
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 12/4 vs. GB
The Bears offense is significantly worse without Justin Fields at QB, and that only emphasizes the weaknesses on their defense even more.
32. Houston Texans, 1-9-1
- Last Week: 15-30 loss @ MIA
- Trending: —
- This Week: 12/4 vs. CLE
Kyle Allen played decently in the second half, but there was no coming back from a 30-0 first half deficit for this Houston Texans squad. Brandin Cooks himself admitted it after the game.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. He also earned minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon training, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his opinions, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.