NFL Power Rankings entering Week 13
Heading into that unlucky number
The NFL is going into Week 13 as Monday Night Football concluded Week 12 with a lethargic NFC North contest between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings. As the NFL season heads into the final portion of the regular season schedule, here is how all 32 teams stack up…
32. Carolina Panthers (1-10, lost to Tennessee Titans)
The Panthers are 0-6 on the road and the Chicago Bears’ best friend. And that led to owner David Tepper firing Frank Reich. That makes a trifecta of canned coaches by the Panthers’ owner since 2019.
31. Washington Commanders (4-8, lost to Dallas Cowboys)
The defensive staff was decimated after the Cowboys strafed the Commanders on Thanksgiving. This is gonna get nasty. New ownership has allegiance to no one.
30. New England Patriots (2-9, lost to New York Giants)
The Patriots had six punts and seven points. Not exactly the way Bill Belichick drew it up. This is one struggling team (and one hopes there is a team psychologist to help Mac Jones through his woes).
29. Chicago Bears (4-8, defeated Minnesota Vikings)
It’s rare to see an offense turn four interceptions from its defense into only three points. The Chicago Bears did just that and somehow put together a game-winning drive against the Vikings
28. Arizona Cardinals (2-10, lost to LA Rams)
The Cardinals put forth one of their worst efforts of the season, getting clobbered by the Rams. Have to wonder what the losing is doing to the defense, which was under siege all game.
27. New York Giants (4-8, defeated New England Patriots)
The Giants won their second straight as they outlasted the New England Patriots. A missed field goal at the end of the game prevented MetLife fans from suffering through overtime. Wait until it comes time to try and re-sign Tommy DeVito.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7, lost to Indianapolis Colts)
The Buccaneers are a game out of first place while three games under .500 in the NFC South. They were once 3-1 and now are heading South — and quickly.
25. Los Angeles Chargers (4-7, lost to Baltimore Ravens)
Another week, another close loss. Who will be the next coach of the Bolts?
24. New York Jets (4-8, lost to Miami Dolphins)
Hard to imagine a team with worse luck than the Jets. And now one has to wonder if Robert Saleh’s seat isn’t going to become quite hot.
23. Tennessee Titans (4-7, defeated Carolina Panthers)
The Titans found a team they could beat, the Carolina Panthers. That doesn’t exactly bode well for the rest of the season.
22. New Orleans Saints (5-6, lost to Atlanta Falcons)
Almost defy anyone and everyone to deliver the name of the New Orleans kicker who had five field goals against the Falcons, the team’s entire offensive output. The answer: Blake Grupe.
21. Atlanta Falcons (5-6, defeated New Orlleans Saints)
The Falcons got a big game from Bijan Robinson and Jessie Bates provided a key pick-six as they moved atop the NFC South by virtue of the win over New Orleans.
20. Los Angeles Rams (5-6, defeated Arizona Cardinals)
Matthew Stafford and the Rams are showing signs of life. Kyren Williams had a gigantic game for the second time against the Cardinals.
19. Cincinnati Bengals (5-6, lost to Pittsburgh Steelers)
Jake Browning has the same initials as Joe Burrow. That’s as far as the comparison goes. Browning wasn’t bad against the Steelers but couldn’t deliver enough points for a victory.
18. Las Vegas Raiders (5-7, lost to Kansas City Chiefs)
Reality set in for the Raiders and interim coach Antonio Peirce. It’s a different ballgame when going up against the Chiefs, who handed the Raiders a second straight loss after the feel-good pair of wins against the Giants and Jets in previous weeks.
17. Green Bay Packers (5-6, defeated Detroit LIons)
There could be something to this Jordan Love. And there definitely is something to the coaching ability of Matt LaFleur. Still young in his career but on his way to being great.
16. Indianapolis Colts (6-5, defeated Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
How many people realize the Gardner Minshew-led Colts are a game over .500 and playing some good football?
15. Minnesota Vikings (6-6, lost to Chicago Bears)
The Vikings appeared in position to pull off a strange win after Joshua Dobbs threw four picks. However, they let it get away on the Bears’ last drive. Another one-score loss after a season of one-score victories.
14. Denver Broncos (6-5, defeated Cleveland Browns)
All hail, Sean Payton.
13. Buffalo Bills (6-6, lost to Philadelphia Eagles)
This one was a brutal loss for the Bills, who are now a .500 team and face an uphill climb to get into the playoffs. They have five games left and need to win most — if not all — of them.
12. Houston Texans (6-5, lost to Jacksonville Jaguars)
Forget the 58-yard field goal that hit the crossbar and bounced away. This is a team on the rise and it likely won’t won’t get all the way there in 2023, but it has advanced incredibly from where it was for years.
11. Seattle Seahawks (6-5, lost to San Francisco 49ers)
Things have started to fall apart — pretty rapidly — for the Seahawks. They need to reset and get it together to remain in the NFC wild-card picture.
10. Cleveland Browns (7-4, lost to Denver Broncos)
The Browns ran into a sizzling Broncos team. One has to wonder if the quarterback position will eventually hamper this team down the stretch. And now, Myles Garrett left the stadium with his arm in a sling.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4, defeated Cincinnati Bengals)
The Steelers changed offensive coordinators and went over 400 yards for the first time in 58 games. You do the calculus.
8. Miami Dolphins (8-3, defeated New York Jets)
The Dolphins love to beat up on lesser lights. Let’s see them take out someone that is considered their equal or better.
7. Detroit Lions (8-3, lost to Green Bay Packers)
So much was expected on Thanksgiving and so many left Ford Field saddened. The Lions need to shake it off, realize they could have lost to the Bears the week before, too, and focus on what got them eight wins. Stop believing the headlines and hype.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-3, defeated Houston Texans)
Another good win on the road for a team that is now 3-3 away from home and 5-0 in Jax. That means opponents have to hope they won’t play in Florida in the postseason.
5. Dallas Cowboys (8-3, defeated Washington Commanders)
The Cowboys are like the Dolphins. They beat up on weaker teams. They need to prove themselves against playoff contenders before anyone should buy a lot of stock in Dallas.
4. San Francisco 49ers (8-3 defeated Seattle Seahawks)
Forget what happened in those three straight losses. This team has its act together and will be intriguing.
3. Baltimore Ravens (9-3, defeated LA Chargers)
Another solid performance on both sides of the football by the Ravens. Their defense is ferocious and the offense does enough to get the job done. It’ll be intriguing to see how far this team goes.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (8-3, defeated Las Vegas Raiders)
The Chiefs lulled the Raiders to sleep, falling behind 14-0. Then they erupted and scored 31 of the final 34 points in the game.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (10-1, defeated Buffalo Bills)
That was the kind of win teams bent on capturing championships have. The Eagles were down in the fourth quarter and got a 59-yard field goal to force overtime. They fell behind in OT and then marched 75 yards for a touchdown to thrill the fans in Philly.
