NFL Week 12 Power Rankings: Yeah, I’m leading with the Ravens again

1. New England Patriots (9-1; Won 17-10 vs PHI) (-)

A bad game from Tom Brady was not enough to condemn the Patriots to their second loss of the season as the defense came up huge in Week 11. Brady threw for only 216 yards on 17 attempts and Sony Michel led the rushing attack with only 33 yards. The Patriots managed to get revenge for their recent Super Bowl loss, though, and stayed atop the AFC.

2. Baltimore Ravens (8-2; Won 41-7 vs HOU) (+4)

It feels like I have said this a few times already this season, but the Ravens earned a statement victory this week. Lamar Jackson may have taken pole position in the MVP race with 222 yards and four touchdowns through the air, adding another 86 yards on the ground. Baltimore is making a run reminiscent of the 2017 Eagles—who won the Super Bowl.

3. Seattle Seahawks (8-2; BYE) (-1)

The Seahawks got a week off ahead of a battle of the birds against the Eagles next week that will have NFC playoff implications.

4. Green Bay Packers (8-2; BYE) (-)

The Packers got a bye week ahead of a huge match up against the 49ers next week that could decide the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

5. San Francisco 49ers (9-1; Won 36-26 vs ARI) (-2)

San Francisco barely avoided dropping their second straight game as they mounted a late comeback to defeat a scrappy Cardinals team. Jimmy Garoppolo had a bounce back game after a rough Week 10, throwing for 424 yards and two touchdowns.

6. New Orleans Saints (8-2; Won 34-17 vs TB) (-)

Drew Brees threw three touchdown passes as he led the Saints to another victory in the NFC South. The defense managed to hold up as well against the Bucs talented offense. New Orleans keeps pace in an interesting NFC playoff race.

7. Minnesota Vikings (8-3; Won 27-23 vs DEN) (-)

Kirk Cousins managed to put a horrible first half behind him and looked like the elite quarterback we all knew he could be. The Vikings erased a 20-point deficit in the second half and avoided dropping a costly game. Cousins finished with 319 yards and three touchdowns through the air.

8. Dallas Cowboys (6-4; Won 35-27 vs DET) (+1)

Dak Prescott added to his MVP resume with an incredible 444-yard, three-touchdown day. The defense struggled to contain a Jeff Driskel-led Lions defense, though, which is worrying for them going forward.

9. Kansas City Chiefs (7-4; Won 24-17 vs LAC) (+2)

Kansas City avoided an upset in a sloppy contest on Monday night. Patrick Mahomes threw for only 182 yards, but the quarterback’s 59 rushing yards did lead the team. The Chiefs keep their lead in the division as the Raiders slowly gain on them.

10. Houston Texans (6-4; Lost 41-7 vs BAL) (-2)

This game was billed has a huge matchup between two future stars of the NFL, but Deshaun Watson did not live up to expectations. The Texans offense could not crack the Ravens defense, and if not for a garbage time touchdown they would have been shut out in an embarrassing loss.

11. Los Angeles Rams (6-4; Won 17-7 vs CHI) (-1)

Los Angeles earned another win to stay alive in a tough NFC Wild Card race, but the poor play from Jared Goff in recent weeks will have this team worried about their playoff hopes this season... and their long term success.

12. Indianapolis Colts (6-4; Won 33-13 vs JAX) (+3)

Jacoby Brissett and Nick Foles both returned from injury in this AFC South tilt, but it was the running backs that made the difference. Marlon Mack rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown while Johnathan Williams added 116 more yards. Mack may miss time with a hand injury though, which is worrying going forward.

13. Philadelphia Eagles (5-5; Lost 17-10 vs NE) (-1)

Carson Wentz could not do what Foles did a few years ago. Wentz struggled against the Patriots in a rematch of the 2017 Super Bowl, throwing for only 214 yards on 40 attempts. His accuracy was everywhere and he had trouble dealing with the Patriots defense. His receivers inability to catch passes did not help either.

14. Oakland Raiders (6-4; Won 17-10 vs CIN) (+3)

Oakland struggled more than they should have against the Bengals, but another 100-yard day from rookie Josh Jacobs was enough to keep the Raiders on pace in the AFC West.

15. Tennessee Titans (5-5; BYE) (-1)

Tennessee gets a week off ahead of a crucial stretch, where in the next four weeks they play each of their divisional opponents—and their main foe in the Wild Card race, the Raiders. A season-defining month is ahead.

16. Buffalo Bills (7-3; Won 37-20 vs MIA) (-)

A not-good Bills team got to 7-3 on the year after beating the Dolphins. It was not as clean as it should have been though, as Miami was actually in the game for much of the contest. This team is probably going to make the playoffs and they are probably going to get blown out once they are there.

17. Carolina Panthers (5-5; Lost 29-3 vs ATL) (-4)

It feels like a lifetime ago when Kyle Allen and the Panthers were streaking as the youngster could do no wrong behind center. But the young signal-caller has been a disaster in recent weeks, and a four interception performance against a poor Falcons defense may have killed any chance he had to be the team’s quarterback long term.

18. Cleveland Browns (4-6; Won 21-7 vs PIT) (+3)

A big day from Nick Chubb got the Browns back in the win column as they defeated their division rival Steelers for the first time in a long time. Baker Mayfield was inconsistent, but he managed to avoid being a disaster, which is all the team needed. Losing Myles Garrett for the rest of the season could be huge on the defensive side of the ball.

19. Chicago Bears (4-6; Lost 17-7 vs LAR) (-)

The defense is very good and no one on the offense knows what they are doing. Mitchell Trubisky is not the only problem, but his late benching for Chase Daniel may say a lot for who the coaching staff is putting the blame on for this team’s failures, even if they’re going with the injury excuse publicly.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-5; Lost 21-7 vs CLE) (-2)

The Steelers saw their win streak get snapped by their division rivals in a brutal Thursday night game. Mason Rudolph threw four interceptions and was bonked on the head with Myles Garret’s helmet to close out a rough day at the office. Pittsburgh may have let their chance to make the playoffs slip from their grasp.

21. Atlanta Falcons (3-7; Won 29-3 vs CAR) (+6)

It’s too late to mount a playoff run, but the Falcons may have finally found life this season. For the second straight week they put together a great defensive performance and knocked off a playoff contender in the NFC South. If the team can keep this up then head coach Dan Quinn may be able to save his job.

22. Arizona Cardinals (3-7-1; Lost 36-26 vs SF) (+2)

Kyler Murray and the Cardinals could not fend off a late 49ers rally as they dropped an opportunity to pull off a huge upset in the NFC West. The rookie quarterback had a rough game, with only 150 passing yards on 33 attempts.

23. Los Angeles Chargers (4-7; Lost 24-17 vs KC) (-3)

Watching Phillip Rivers—who is by all accounts an NFL legend—limp through his final season has been painful. The quarterback has now thrown seven interceptions in the last two games and is most responsible for his team’s failures this season.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-6; Lost 33-13 vs IND) (-1)

Foles’ return did not go as planned, as the veteran quarterback struggled in his first game back from a Week 1 collarbone injury. He threw for only 296 yards on 47 attempts and did not get much help from the defense or run game. The Jaguars’ playoff hopes may be all but dead.

25. Denver Broncos (3-7; Lost 27-23 vs MIN) (+1)

Denver collapsed in the second half, allowing the Vikings to climb all the way back from a 20-point deficit and steal a road victory away from the Broncos. Quarterback Brandon Allen had a rough day, completing only 17 of 39 passes.

26. Detroit Lions (3-6-1; Lost 35-27 vs DAL) (-1)

Jeff Driskel and the Lions gave the Cowboys more of a game than one would expect, but they came up short at home. Driskel was better in his second start for Detroit, throwing for 209 yards and two touchdowns without any interceptions.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3-7; Lost 34-17 vs NO) (-5)

Tampa Bay could not handle Drew Brees’ air attack, and Jameis Winston could not mount enough of one himself to make this game into a shootout.

28. New York Jets (3-7; Won 34-17 vs WAS) (-)

The Jets managed to win their second straight after a dominant performance against Washington. Sam Darnold threw for 293 yards and four touchdowns as the Jets excitedly watch him develop into the player they need him to be.

29. New York Giants (2-8; BYE) (-)

A struggling Giants team got a week off as they head into a match up against an also struggling Bears team next week.

30. Miami Dolphins (2-8; Lost 37-20 vs BUF) (-)

Miami saw their two-game win streak get snapped after they fell to their division rival Buffalo Bills in a sloppy game. The tank is back on track in South Beach.

31. Washington (1-9; Lost 34-17 vs NYJ) (-)

Dwayne Haskins had a bit of trouble against the Jets and the run game could not get moving as Washington fell to a dismal 1-9 on the year. The rookie quarterback threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns on 35 attempts.

32. Cincinnati Bengals (0-10; Lost 17-10 vs OAK) (-)

Joe Burrow looked great against Ole Miss this week, though a scary injury to Tua Tagavailoa will have the Cincinnati faithful worried down the line. The Bengals are officially eliminated from the playoffs, though.