NFL POWER RANKINGS: WEEK 12

BY ADAM GREENE

Once again, there’s no change atop the rankings as the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to feast on the easiest schedule they’ve played in a decade. The truth is, the entire Top 10 is solid and likely locked into postseason mode already. It’s the other 22 teams that have their work cut out for them.

For what it’s worth, the bottom of the rankings appears all but set in stone.

1. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-0)

With their Thanksgiving night game against the Baltimore postponed over multiple Ravens COVID-19 positives, the team keeps getting punished for other franchise’s screw ups. In this case, with no team with a winning record scheduled for Thanksgiving now, we all get a taste of that punishment too. Last week: No. 1

2. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (9-1)

The Steelers and Chiefs don’t play in the regular season, so this heavyweight battle won’t be settled until the AFC Championship. Unless the Bills get in the way. Last week: No. 2

3. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (8-2)

It’s just one game so there’s no reason to forge his bronze bust for Canton just yet, but Sean Payton has to feel pretty good about Taysom Hill right now. Hill should feel even better about Payton, who is 6-0 minus Drew Brees in his last six outings without him. Before Sunday, Hill had more career tackles (12) than completions (10). Last week: No. 3

4. LOS ANGELES RAMS (7-3)

Sean McVay picked up his 40^th win Monday night over the Bucs, putting him in fifth place already in Rams history. He stretched his streak of wins while leading at halftime to 32-0. The win over Tom Brady was the first as a franchise for the Rams since 2001. Last week: No. 5

5. BUFFALO BILLS (7-3)

The Bills are the only team in the AFC that can screw up the inevitable Lamar Hunt Trophy battle between the Chiefs and Steelers. They could very well do it too. Last week: No. 8

6. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (7-3)

The Seahawks and Rams could take the NFC West title down to the wire. The hapless Eagles this week probably won’t do anything to mess that up. Last week: No. 9

7. TENNESSEE TITANS (7-3)

Derrick Henry just signed a new contract extension this offseason but what will really pay off for him financially is his partial ownership of the entire Baltimore Ravens franchise. Last week: No. 11

8. GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-3)

The Packers haven’t beaten a team with a winning record since a Week Three victory over the New Orleans Saints. Lucky for them they only have one team with a winning record remaining on their schedule, the Tennessee titans on Dec. 27. Last week: No. 4

9. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-3)

Speaking of schedules, the Colts have a clear path to the playoffs, but an AFC South title could be on the line Sunday when they host the Titans. Last week: No. 10

10. CLEVELAND BROWNS (7-3)

Here’s how crazy it is that the Browns are this good. The last time they were 7-3, they made it all the way to the AFC Championship game. And it was the 1989-90 season. Last week: No. 15

11. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (6-4)

Derek Carr would put up Pro Football Hall of Fame numbers if he played the Kansas City Chiefs every week and end his career with a huge losing record. Last week: No. 12

12. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (6-4)

In his last four games, quarterback Tom Brady is 0-for-19 on deep passes and missed his last 22 attempts. It’s the worst streak for any QB since 2017. That’s not going to keep the Bucs out of the playoffs, but it’ll keep them from making a deep run once they get there. Last week: No. 6

13. ARIZONA CARDINALS (6-4)

In any other season, the Cardinals would be in some real trouble with their remaining schedule as they make a potential playoff run. But considering the next closest team to them in the current bracket is the Bears, they’re probably good. Last week: No. 7

14. MIAMI DOLPHINS (6-4)

Giving Tua Tagovailoa the hook Sunday was an interesting move from head coach Brian Fores. Especially since it made no difference in the outcome of the game. It’s a bold strategy Cotton, let’s see if it pays off for them. Last week: No. 13

15. BALTIMORE RAVENS (6-4)

The Ravens messed up everyone’s Thanksgiving with multiple COVID-19 positives before everyone’s racist uncle could even figure out how to install Zoom. Last week: No. 14

16. CHICAGO BEARS (5-5)

We’ve secretly replaced the Chicago Bears with a team that could get back into the playoff race with a couple of wins. Let’s see if anyone notices. Last week: No. 17

17. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (4-6)

The Pats are still mathematically in it, but we could be witnessing the end of an historic run with no reboot anywhere in sight. Last week: No. 16

18. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-5)

A repeat trip to the playoffs was always going to be a long shot for a 49ers team with a pounding Super Bowl hangover, but the injuries they’ve suffered this season have made punching that ticket all but impossible. Last week: No. 18

19. DENVER BRONCOS (4-6)

Just when you try to forget the Broncos exist as a franchise, they show up and win a game. Last week: No. 25

20. CAROLINA PANTHERS (4-7)

I didn’t think much of the Matt Rhule hire this offseason, but the Panthers rebuild might be going quicker than anyone suspected. Last week: No. 23

21. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (4-6)

There’s bad losses and then there’s losing to the Mike McCarthy Cowboys bad losses. Last week: No. 19

22. DETROIT LIONS (4-6)

No one is sadder about the Lions playing on Thanksgiving than their own head coach Matt Patricia, who would be diving face first into a gravy boat if not for this stupid job he’s so bad at. Last week: No. 20

23. ATLANTA FALCONS (3-7)

Nine points last week and a loss to Taysom Hill, making his first ever NFL start? Raheem Morris, I don’t think it’s going to happen, my man. Last week: No. 21

24. NEW YORK GIANTS (3-7)

The Giants are the highest ranked NFC East team. Fun fact: Since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, the current state of the NFC East has never happened. Not once in 50 years has every member of a division had the same number of wins and a losing record after Week 11. Last week: No. 22

25. HOUSTON TEXANS (3-7)

All the Texans accomplished last week with their win over the Patriots is ruining a nation full of parlays. Last week: No. 26

26. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (3-7)

Justin Herbert has five games this season with three or more touchdown passes, the most ever by a rookie quarterback in the history of the NFL. With Burrow out, the Offensive Rookie of the Year award is all but his. The Chargers should make a coaching change this offseason to make sure that’s not the only trophy on his mantle by his career’s end. Last week: No. 27

27. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (3-6-1)

Since 2016, Carson Wentz has fumbled more times than any other NFL player, 58 to be exact. He could also be fumbling away his career in Philadelphia with Jalen Hurts pushing him from the bench. Here’s another NFC East fun fact: In the last five decades no team has ever led a division this late in the season with just three wins. The Eagles currently have a half-game lead over the NFC East field thanks to their tie with the Bengals. Last week: No. 24

28. DALLAS COWBOYS (3-7)

The Red Rifle returned to lead the Cowboys to their third victory and half a game back from the NFC East division lead. Here’s another fun fact: The last time Mike McCarthy coached a team with a winning record at any point in the season was Oct. 15, 2018 when the Packers were 3-2-1. Fire this man, Jerry. Last week: No. 31

29. CINCINNATI BENGALS (2-7-1)

The Bengals got bad news Sunday about Joe Burrow’s knee. Monday, the news got even worse as he could possibly be out for a full 12 months. Last week: No. 28

30. WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM (2-8)

Alex Smith had his lowest passing total of the season as a starter and his first quarterback win since Oct. 18, 2018. Last week: No. 29

31. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-9)

No one is rooting harder for the Jets this week as they host the Miami Dolphins than the Jags. Last week: No. 30

32. NEW YORK JETS (0-10)

Here’s your chance, Jets. Probably the last you’ll get to avoid an 0-16 season. Is it worth a win to maybe miss out on drafting Trevor Lawrence? We’ll know by around 4 p.m. EST Sunday. Last week: No. 32

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