NFL Power Rankings: Updated Hierarchy for Entire League Heading into Week 12

With the Kansas City Chiefs falling in their first game against a team with a winning record, the NFL is left without an undefeated team.

My power rankings also have a new king.

It was a revealing Sunday of action in Week 11, and power rankings can now be filled out with an increasing sense of certainty.

Here is how the balance of power shakes out.

1. Seattle Seahawks

With Percy Harvin getting on the field for the first time as a Seahawk and an offensive line that is getting healthy after a dismal stretch of midseason play, Seattle is in great shape to start hitting its stride for the postseason.

Considering this team is already 10-1 and will enjoy its bye this week, that is a scary proposition for the rest of the league.

2. Denver Broncos 

Facing the Kansas City Chiefs' league-leading pass rush, the Denver Broncos did not allow Peyton Manning to be sacked one time.

This is a great sign for the Broncos. Manning was not going to make it through the season with the amount of abuse he had been taking in recent weeks. If the Broncos are going to protect Manning like that, this team is going to be very difficult to outscore.

3. New Orleans Saints

The Saints barely edged the San Francisco 49ers 23-20 this past Sunday. However, they did outgain them 387 offensive yards to 196. 

That included rushing for 92 yards at an average of four per carry against a solid rushing defense. 

With the balance given to this offense by an improving run game, the Saints are becoming even more unstoppable. 

4. Kansas City Chiefs

After a slow start, the Chiefs offered up a nice effort in Denver while playing their first team with a winning record.

Kansas City played Denver to a 17-17 tie not counting the first quarter.

Still, the Chiefs' lack of explosion in the passing game was on display in this game, and it is a big enough concern for me to drop them from No. 1 to No. 4 in my rankings.

5. Carolina Panthers

The Panthers don't boast a lot of explosion on offense. However, there is no denying that Cam Newton is a wild card. Newton can still make some bad decisions and poor throws, but he can also hit for big plays and break down a defense with his dual-threat ability.

With the Panthers defense beating people up, the Panthers are for real.

6. New England Patriots

All eyes will be on the Patriots as they bring a close to Week 11. After performing well below expectations in passing, Tom Brady threw for 432 yards in the Patriots' last game. 

If the Patriots can come anywhere close to duplicating that success against the Panthers, this team will be in great shape as we inch towards the postseason. 

7. San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers played the the Saints extremely tough in a loss in New Orleans. While there is no shame in falling to the Saints on their turf, the 49ers' lack of success on the ground in that game was alarming.

San Francisco rushed for just 81 yards at an average of 3.7 yards per carry against a Saints defense that's giving up a league-worst 4.9 yards per carry.

Since the 49ers are limited in the passing game, they have to be able to dominate on the ground.

8. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts have to figure out how to get off to faster starts in games. This past week, they quickly fell behind the Titans 14-0 in the first quarter before battling back for a narrow victory. 

The Colts have a comfortable three-game lead in the AFC South, but they have to learn how to bring their best from the opening gun, or owner Jim Irsay will be stuck with just one championship ring. 

9. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals scored 41 points on 224 yards against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. They were helped by four turnovers from the Browns. This win helped the Bengals snap a two-game losing streak and gives them a 2.5-game lead in their division.

However, Andy Dalton has to stop throwing interceptions if this team wants to succeed in the postseason. He threw two this Sunday, and he's thrown nine in his past four games. 

10. Chicago Bears

The Bears haven't been able to escape the injury bug, but they are battling through it. Chicago downed the Ravens this past week 23-20 in overtime.

This team still has serious concerns on defense, however. The Bears allowed the anemic rushing attack of the Ravens to go for 174 yards at an average of 4.2 yards per carry.

Still, allowing an average of just under 21 points per over the last three games is a good sign for the Bears. 

11. Arizona Cardinals

I've been putting the Cardinals down all year. I love their defense, but with a suspect offensive line and a turnover-prone quarterback in Carson Palmer, I've felt this team was doomed.

All of a sudden, this team has won three straight, and Palmer is coming off of his first interception-free game of the season.

If Palmer can turn that performance into a trend, this team has a chance to make a run at the postseason—despite the schedule getting much more difficult down the stretch. 

12. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles have won three straight to move over .500 for the first time since they were 1-0.

With Nick Foles playing excellent football at quarterback and an improving defense that has allowed just 49 points over the last three games, the Eagles have a chance to make some waves going into the postseason.

13. New York Jets

In the past two games, the Jets have beaten the Saints, one of the NFL's best teams, 26-20, and then lost to the Buffalo Bills, not one of the NFL's best teams, 37-14.

These wildly different results have convinced me the Jets are the most predictable team in the NFL. They are going to win every other game.

That trend has held all season, and apparently, it does not matter who the opponent is.

14. Detroit Lions

I've taken a lot of flak for having the Lions too low in my power rankings. They have done nothing to change my opinion of them.

This last week, the Lions had a chance to entrench themselves in first in the NFC North. Instead, they gave up 14 points in the fourth quarter to a Pittsburgh Steelers team that has been struggling to score all season.

The Lions have the talent and potential to be higher in my power rankings. However, what reason is there to think this team has the fortitude to consistently win?

15. Green Bay Packers

The Packers are not the same team without Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. Shoot, this is not the same team without Seneca Wallace at quarterback.

Green Bay has lost three straight after allowing 27 points in each game. That would've been a good enough mark for the defense with Rodgers at quarterback.

If this team can somehow make its way into the playoffs, it will not be without hope. However, at 5-5, those chances are fading. 

16. Miami Dolphins

I give credit to Joe Philbin and the Dolphins for continuing to battle. This team has gone through a bit of drama in the past few weeks and had lost three of four. 

However, Miami hung in there to beat the Chargers, 20-16.

The offensive line, which had been terrible lately, did a solid job. The Dolphins rushed for 104 yards at an average of 5.5 per carry on Sunday.

17. Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys enjoyed their bye this week, and they better have spent it figuring out how to make defensive improvements.

The Cowboys are 32nd in passing defense and 28th in rushing defense. In their last game, they were embarrassed by allowing more than 600 yards to the Saints.

18. St. Louis Rams

The Rams also enjoyed a bye this week after their most impressive win of the season. St. Louis beat the Colts 38-8 in its last game.

It is too much to expect this 4-6 team to make a run to the postseason, but if this young defense can build on the momentum of the last performance, this season will not be a loss for the Rams. 

19. San Diego Chargers

Losers of three straight, the Chargers sit at 4-6 and can kiss the postseason goodbye. 

Philip Rivers' resurgence is a wonderful development for the Bolts, but this defense needs some serious work to turn this team into a real contender.

20. New York Giants

Somehow, the Giants have won four straight games. This team is still struggling to find consistency on offense, but the defense has sprung to life. New York has allowed just 47 combined points in its four-game winning streak. 

I think we've all seen enough to know that this team can't be counted out of anything if the defense starts performing.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers

After winning four of the last six, the 4-6 Steelers are hoping for a less turbulent offseason. 

This team needs serious help along the offensive line and more athletes on defense, but perhaps not all hope is lost for the current regime in Pittsburgh.

It is getting a little easier to laugh at comments like this:

22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Sure, 22nd is high for a team with just two wins. However, the Buccaneers have won two straight and played well in three straight.

Three games ago, the Bucs nearly beat the Seahawks in Seattle.

With an improving run game and a good rush defense, the Buccaneers are not going to be an easy opponent for anyone.

23. Cleveland Browns

I'm disappointed in the Browns. I spent the last few weeks telling everyone that the safe quarterback play of Jason Campbell would give this excellent defensive team a shot at a winning streak. 

So what do they do? They allow 41 points to the Bengals and Campbell throws three picks.

I will not be predicting any more win streaks for this team.

24. Buffalo Bills

Rookie EJ Manuel looked fantastic last week by throwing for 245 yards and two touchdowns and completing 20-of-28 passes.

The Bills still have a lot of work to do on defense. That is especially true in the run game. The Jets rushed for 134 yards at an average of 5.8 yards per carry on Sunday.

However, this franchise is not without hope under first-year coach Doug Marrone and QB Manuel.

25. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens finally got the ground game going this past weekend by rushing for 174 yards against the Bears. 

Still, that didn't help keep the pressure off of Joe Flacco. He was sacked three times and wound up throwing two interceptions. 

The Ravens will continue to struggle until the offensive line improves its play in pass protection. 

26. Tennessee Titans

With two straight losses, a 4-6 record and three of the next four games coming against teams with winning records, it is time for the Titans to start thinking about next season. 

This team has a lot of issues on offense with the 23rd-ranked pass offense and 15th-ranked rushing offense. However, this is a tough defensive team that has some talent to build around.

27. Washington Redskins

Nothing is going right for the Redskins. They've lost three of their last four.

The defense continues to be abysmal. 

Also, while Robert Griffin III has made strides while returning from his knee surgery, there are still serious issues in the passing game. Against the Eagles' 31st-ranked pass defense, Griffin completed less than 50 percent of his passes and threw another pick.

28. Oakland Raiders

Playing with an undrafted rookie starting at quarterback, Matt McGloin, the Raiders went into Houston and pulled out a solid win. 

Despite a lack of strength along the offensive line, the Raiders were able to rush for 165 yards.

These are facts that coach Dennis Allen will want to point out when he's doing his exit interview with general manager Reggie McKenzie. 

29. Minnesota Vikings

Despite having freak of nature Adrian Peterson in the backfield, the Vikings are just 17th in rushing. The workhorse faces nothing but stacked boxes on his rushes, and the passing game is still too anemic to be ranked any higher than 25th.

There is very little going on with this team to inspire hope for the future.

30. Atlanta Falcons

After starting off the season as one of the favorites to make the Super Bowl, the Falcons weren't competitive with a Buccaneers team that entered Sunday's game with one win. 

The Buccaneers ran for 186 yards. The Falcons simply don't have the physicality to compete at a high level in the NFL.

31. Houston Texans

Well, the Texans have hit another new low in this abysmal season.

They fell to the Raiders at home this past weekend, and franchise stalwart Andre Johnson got into a beef with quarterback Matt Schaub and walked off the field early. 

He also sounds less than thrilled with his current situation in Houston: 

32. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars returned to form this past weekend. After earning their first win of the season, Jacksonville fell 27-14 at home to the Arizona Cardinals.

Hey, no one can take that win away from you Jaguars fan(s).

Season rankings taken from ESPN and TeamRankings.com on Monday prior to the Panthers-Patriots contest.