Week 13 NFL Power Rankings: A Familiar Face Takes Pole Position
Josh Frey
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Week 12’s common theme was quarterbacking, particularly the bad kind of quarterbacking. Lots of untimely turnovers, misthrows, and even lining up under the right guard. Despite all that, the usual suspects have claimed their spots at the top: Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers all sit in the top five this week’s power rankings.
1. New England Patriots
Last Week: 36-13 win vs. TEN
Trending: +1
This Week: 12/6 @ BUF
The Empire Strikes Back. In their first matchup against the Tennessee Titans since the January 2020 playoff loss, the New England Patriots took out the Titans with ease on the road. Mac Jones played like a star, and the defense held Ryan Tannehill completely in check.
2. Green Bay Packers
Last Week: 36-28 win vs LAR
Trending: +1
This Week: Bye
Aaron Rodgers will make a decision on whether or not to have surgery on his injured toe this week, but with the way he played this week, you would never know he’s injured. Rodgers and Randall Cobb reconnected this week like it was 2015, and the Packers cruised to a home win over the Rams.
3. Arizona Cardinals
Last Week: Bye
Trending: -2
This Week: 12/5 @ CHI
The Cardinals got to rest up this week, so hopefully it means Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins can return to the field at full health. Their next matchup is in Chicago against the Bears.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last Week: 38-31 win @ IND
Trending: +4
This Week: 12/5 @ ATL
The Buccaneers forced Indianapolis to take the ball out of Jonathan Taylor’s hands and made Carson Wentz throw a ton. Leonard Fournette also torched the Colts defense for four touchdowns. In the battle of two MVP candidates, Tom Brady came out on top.
5. Baltimore Ravens
Last Week: 16-10 win vs CLE
Trending: -1
This Week: 12/5 @ PIT
Lamar Jackson had one of his worst football games in the NFL, and quite possibly of his life on Sunday night. Luckily for him, Baker Mayfield wasn’t really any better, and the Ravens were able to come out on top. Even in the win, this doesn’t feel as convincing as I’m sure Baltimore was hoping for. Either way, they hold the top position in the AFC.
6. Kansas City Chiefs
Last Week: Bye
Trending: —
This Week: 12/5 vs DEN
Kansas City was just starting to get into a groove when they hit their bye week. After resting up, we’ll see if they can continue that run against a Denver Broncos squad that continues to prove to be a problem in the AFC.
7. Buffalo Bills
Last Week: 31-6 win @ NO
Trending: +4
This Week: 12/6 vs NE
The Buffalo Bills went into the Superdome on Thanksgiving and dominated the Saints on their home turf. The defense completely shut down New Orleans offensive attack all night, and Josh Allen outmatched Trevor Siemian in the QB competition.
8. Tennessee Titans
Last Week: 13-36 loss @ NE
Trending: -3
This Week: Bye
After a big win over the LA Rams, the Titans have now struggled with the Saints, Texans, and Patriots while losing two of those three games. After this most recent loss to New England, Tennessee now heads into their bye hoping to heal up from their mass of injuries.
9. Cincinnati Bengals
Last Week: 41-10 win vs PIT
Trending: +9
This Week: 12/5 vs LAC
If the Bengals needed a statement win to get some attention, this was certainly that. Cincinnati jumped out in front from the gun, and because of that, they forced Pittsburgh to move away from their biggest weapon, Najee Harris. Next we get what should be a great matchup between Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert. The Bengals take a massive leap up the power rankings after their big win.
10. Los Angeles Rams
Last Week: 28-36 loss @ GB
Trending: -2
This Week: 12/5 vs JAX
The rough times for LA continue. Matthew Stafford made one too many mistakes in this one to keep the Rams alive, and the vaunted defense was hamstrung by the Packer offense. This is a team in need of a get-right win.
11. Indianapolis Colts
Last Week: 31-38 loss vs TB
Trending: -2
This Week: 12/5 @ HOU
The Colts seemingly forgot that Jonathan Taylor existed for large stretches of this game, much to the chagrin of Indy’s fans as well as fantasy football players. Even more frustrating, the one drive that Indianapolis made an effort to feed Taylor in the second half ended in a touchdown.
12. San Francisco 49ers
Last Week: 34-26 win vs MIN
Trending: +4
This Week: 12/5 @ SEA
The 49ers played bully ball with the Vikings all afternoon. They ran the ball whenever and wherever they wanted while the defense made enough plays to earn a win. Elijah Mitchell has proven himself to be a great workhorse out of the bakersfield; yet another that San Fran has just seemingly discovered. San Francisco continues to climb up the power rankings.
13. Dallas Cowboys
Last Week: 33-36 loss vs LV
Trending: -3
This Week: 12/2 @ NO
Well, Dallas’ offense got back on track this week, but in the end, it was their defense that couldn’t get the job done. The Cowboys allowed the Raiders to get whatever they wanted for the majority of the night. Meanwhile, Ezekiel Elliott was held largely in check for the entire game.
14. Cleveland Browns
Last Week: 10-16 loss @ BAL
Trending: -1
This Week: Bye
It was an ugly game in Baltimore for both sides, but Cleveland ended up on the losing end. Baker Mayfield continues to look like a shell of himself as a QB, and the RB duo of Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb are still trying to get back up to speed. A bye week will hopefully be a step in the right direction for all three.
15. Minnesota Vikings
Last Week: 26-34 loss @ SF
Trending: -3
This Week: 12/5 @ DET
The Vikings entire starting defensive line missed this game, and it was clearly an issue as the Niners got whatever they wanted running the ball. Untimely turnovers by Kirk Cousins and Dalvin Cook only made things worse for Minnesota. Now with Cook in recovery from a torn labrum, he looks to be out this week in Detroit.
16. Denver Broncos
Last Week: 28-13 win vs LAC
Trending: +5
This Week: 12/5 @ KC
Those pesky Broncos just keep sticking around in the AFC West. Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams controlled this game on the ground, and the Denver defense forced two turnovers that changed the game. The Broncos have another big test this week in Kansas City against the Chiefs.
17. Miami Dolphins
Last Week: 33-10 win vs CAR
Trending: +5
This Week: 12/5 vs NYG
Another week, another terrific performance from Tua Tagovailoa. The young Dolphins QB played a terrific game against the Carolina Panthers, and it led to a blowout victory, Miami’s fourth consecutive victory.
18. Los Angeles Chargers
Last Week: 13-28 loss @ DEN
Trending: -4
This Week: 12/5 @ CIN
Justin Herbert threw a pair of interceptions; his fourth turnover in the last three games during which the Chargers are 1-2.This LA team is talented, but it is clear that right now they will only go as far as their QB will take them.
19. Washington Football Team
Last Week: 17-15 win vs SEA
Trending: +1
This Week: 12/5 @ LV
This game was a show of persistence by the Washington Football Team. They ran the ball 43 times, controlled the line of scrimmage, and just ate up the clock. Additionally, Taylor Heinicke was a great game manager throughout the evening.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
Last Week: 10-41 loss @ CIN
Trending: -5
This Week: 12/5 vs BAL
Pittsburgh fell far behind early on in this one, and it eliminated their biggest weapon, Najee Harris, from the offense. With the rookie RB unable to carry the offense, the Steelers had nowhere else to turn for production. They take a tumble down the power rankings as a result.
21. Las Vegas Raiders
Last Week: 36-33 win @ DAL
Trending: +5
This Week: 12/5 vs WSH
After a month of weak play from the Raiders, Derek Carr put the team on his back in a terrific Thanksgiving win over the Cowboys. It’s not time to crown the Raiders as being back yet, but they have given themselves another week to be in the playoff hunt.
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22. Philadelphia Eagles
Last Week: 7-13 loss @ NYG
Trending: -5
This Week: 12/5 @ NYJ
The Eagles have benefited from their running game over the past few weeks, but they would have no such luck on the ground against the Giants. New York read their every move in that area, and they forced Jalen Hurts to become a pass-first QB.
23. New Orleans Saints
Last Week: 6-31 loss vs BUF
Trending: -4
This Week: 12/2 vs DAL
No Alvin Kamara has become a death-sentence for the New Orleans Saints. Sean Payton has typically been able to find solutions to tricky puzzles, but this one may be unsolvable.
24. Chicago Bears
Last Week: 16-14 win @ DET
Trending: —
This Week: 12/5 vs ARI
Andy Dalton played like the veteran QB that Chicago needed in Detroit. The Bears defense showed up as well, holding the Lions to under 250 yards. At the end of the day, Cairo Santos was able to play hero for Chicago. The Bears sit at a stalemate in the power rankings.
25. Carolina Panthers
Last Week: 10-33 loss @ MIA
Trending: -2
This Week: Bye
Cam Newton’s second start in his return to Carolina did not go nearly as well as his first. He was benched by the end of the game, and the Panthers lost in a blowout to the Dolphins.
26. New York Giants
Last Week: 13-7 win vs PHI
Trending: +2
This Week: 12/5 @ MIA
The Giants offense may not be doing much, but the defense carried the way this week for New York. They forced Jalen Hurts to throw three interceptions, and that ended up being enough to get the win.
27. Atlanta Falcons
Last Week: 21-14 win @ JAX
Trending: +2
This Week: 12/5 vs TB
Whoda thunk Cordarrelle Patterson would be a top running back in the NFL? This week he rushed for over 100 yards and scored twice. This and the fact that Matt Ryan is still a superior QB to rookie Trevore Lawrence led to Atlanta’s win.
28. New York Jets
Last Week: 21-14 win @ HOU
Trending: +3
This Week: 12/5 vs PHI
Despite Zach Wilson’s return to the football field not being pretty at moments, it was still an overall success. The Jets were able to come away with their third victory of the season, and Wilson made it through looking fully healthy.
29. Seattle Seahawks
Last Week: 15=17 loss @ WSH
Trending: -1
This Week: 12/5 vs SF
DK Metcalf didn’t catch a pass until late in the fourth quarter, and that is not usually going to lead to success. Despite some last minute heroics by Russell Wilson, the Seahawks were unable to complete a two-point conversion to tie the game. Seattle’s season feels all but over at this point.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars
Last Week: 14-21 loss vs ATL
Trending: —
This Week: 12/5 @ LAR
The Jags remain as a team that can be competitive in games on a week-to-week basis, but they likely won’t come away with any more wins. Trevor Lawrence continues to progress though, and that is a great sign for the future.
31. Houston Texans
Last Week: 14-21 loss vs NYJ
Trending: -4
This Week: 12/5 vs IND
The Texans were held scoreless for three quarters on Sunday, and that is just not the recipe for winning football games. Tyrod Taylor hasn’t done enough as a passer, and there is no production out of the running game.
32. Detroit Lions
Last Week: 14-16 loss vs CHI
Trending: —
This Week: 12/5 vs MIN
Detroit kept the game close, but at the end of the day, penalties really killed their chances. Apart from a debacle of a last defensive drive that resulted in a game-sealing field goal, the Lions ended up being flagged 10 times. That’s enough to keep them at the bottom of the power rankings