NFL Power Rankings: Reviewing League Outlook Ahead of Week 12

With another wild weekend of football set to kick off on Thursday night, there's no time better than the present to review the league landscape. 

The first 11 weeks of the season are in the books. While the list of playoff contenders is long, the catalog of surging teams more than halfway through this parity-filled season is short. 

Below, we'll take a closer look at where all 32 teams stand heading into Week 12, highlighting the three hottest teams heading into the final Sunday in November.

*Top surging teams are italicized.  

1. Seattle Seahawks (10-1)

Seattle has made a strong case for the top spot over the past six weeks, finding various ways to win and proving that they are virtually unstoppable when both sides of the ball are clicking. 

The Seahawks are 3-0 on the road since losing at Indianapolis in Week 5 and continue to roll at home, where they are a perfect 5-0 this season. Seattle's incredible start has been powered by its relentless defensive unit, which ranks second in fewest yards allowed and third in fewest points allowed.

With Russell Wilson growing more and more confident with each start and dynamic playmaker Percy Harvin finally entering the mix offensively, this is a Seahawks team capable of winning it all.

For now, Seattle will have to settle for being the favorite. 

2. Denver Broncos (9-1)

Denver has overtaken Kansas City as the AFC favorite but is set to face two more stiff challenges in the coming weeks as the Broncos get set to play the Patriots and Chiefs on the road. 

The question becomes: Can Denver's top-ranked offensive attack continue to make up for its 23rd-ranked scoring defense?

3. New Orleans Saints (8-2)

The Saints are one of four teams in the league boasting a point differential of more than 100 points through 11 weeks. Ranking second in scoring offense and fifth in scoring defense, the Saints are firing on all cylinders in every phase and are a legitimate Super Bowl threat.

4. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1)

Kansas City suffered its first setback of 2013 in Week 11, falling to the Broncos in Denver, but is still in the driver's seat in the AFC with a home game vs. Denver on the horizon in Week 13. 

The Chiefs have some major question marks on offense, but the bottom line is that they still control their own destiny in the race for home-field advantage. 

5. Carolina Panthers (7-3)

If there's a team out there as hot as the Seahawks right now, it's the Carolina Panthers, who have won six straight games and seven of their last eight to pull within a game of the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South.

Like Seattle, a dominant defensive unit is behind Carolina's strong play. But keep in mind that Cam Newton and the Panthers offense have played a key role, mainly by mounting a top-10 rushing attack and avoiding costly turnovers. 

Carolina ranks fourth in the NFC in fewest giveaways this season. When you rank tops in scoring defense, that's an easy recipe for success.

6. San Francisco 49ers (6-4)

While the Niners' 6-4 record and two-game losing streak suggest they should be lower in these power rankings, keep in mind that San Francisco was a controversial call away from beating the Saints in the Superdome. 

Although their record may lead you to think differently, the eye test confirms that this is a Super Bowl-caliber team yet again in 2013.

7. New England Patriots (7-3)

A tough break on Monday night has dropped New England two games back of the Broncos and Chiefs in the race for home-field advantage in the AFC. Fortunately, Tom Brady and company will have a shot to make up ground on Sunday night when they host Peyton Manning's first-place Broncos.

8. Indianapolis Colts (7-3)

The Colts have had their fair share of head-scratching results in 2013, but at 3-0 and three games up in the division, Indianapolis is a virtual lock to host a playoff game this winter. 

9. Cincinnati Bengals (7-4)

Cincy has rebounded following back-to-back gut-wrenching overtime defeats. And at 7-4, the Bengals are in control of a bad division heading into their bye. 

But it's far too early to lock onto the Bengals as AFC North champions. After all, Cincinnati still has to play at San Diego, vs. Indianapolis, at Pittsburgh and vs. Baltimore. The only guaranteed win on the schedule is Week 16's home matchup with Minnesota.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (6-5)

Philadelphia will carry a tremendous amount of momentum into its bye this weekend, having won three straight. With Chip Kelly's offense clicking and the defense stepping up across the board, the Eagles are emerging as the NFC East favorites with five games left to play.

11. Detroit Lions (6-4)

Despite having gone 3-1 in the division thus far, it's hard to believe in the Lions, who have squandered winnable games and are a mediocre 3-3 over their last six.

12. Chicago Bears (6-4)

Chicago may have a quarterback controversy on its hands, but a favorable upcoming schedule has the Bears in excellent position to win the NFC North this year.

Only one of the Bears' final six opponents boasts a winning record at the moment.

13. Arizona Cardinals (6-4)

Despite the fact the Cardinals have won three in a row and are 6-4 overall, they seem to be lacking a signature victory. Arizona has lost to the NFC's elite (New Orleans, San Francisco and Seattle) but can prove it is legitimate with a win over Indianapolis in Week 12.

14. New York Giants (4-6)

Shockingly, the New York Giants have a historic comeback in their sights following Week 11's win over the Green Bay Packers. Winners of four straight, the G-Men are two wins away from .500 despite a disastrous 0-6 start in 2013.

Eliminating turnovers and increased defensive intensity have been key to New York's turnaround and will continue to be moving forward. 

With three division matchups still left to play—including a showdown against Dallas on Sunday—New York is in excellent position to compete for a playoff berth over its final six regular-season games. 

Who'd have thunk it? 

15. Dallas Cowboys (5-5)

Dallas is facing a pivotal matchup against the New York Giants this coming weekend. The Cowboys are coming off a bye and the last time we saw them, they were surrendering 49 points and 40 first downs to the Saints. 

A loss to the Giants would have Dallas tied with New York at 5-6 with five games to play. But a win over New York will have the Cowboys tied with Philadelphia for the division lead and two games up on the Giants. 

Needless to say, the stakes are sky-high in that Week 12 showdown.

16. Green Bay Packers (5-5)

The Packers are a shell of themselves without Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay is averaging 13 points over its past two games and will need to beat a bad Minnesota team at home in Week 12 in order to avoid a four-game losing streak and falling below .500 for the first time since Week 3.

17. Baltimore Ravens (4-6)

Although the defending Super Bowl champions have dropped four of their last five games, it's not quite time to count them out. They're only one game out of the AFC Wild Card and will play their next three games at home, starting with Week 12's matchup against the Jets. 

18. Miami Dolphins (5-5)

It's hard to believe Miami boasts wins over Indianapolis and Cincinnati this season considering the Dolphins have suffered recent losses to Buffalo and Tampa Bay.

Having won two of their past three, the Fins will need to maintain their positive trend if they are to sneak into the postseason as an AFC Wild Card.

19. New York Jets (5-5)

The Jets are on pace to finish 8-8 this season. Oddly enough, New York hasn't won two in a row or lost two in a row yet in 2013. That will have to change, though, if the Jets hope to make the postseason for the first time since 2010.

20. Tennessee Titans (4-6)

Tennessee has now lost five of six games following an impressive 3-1 start. Therefore, it's safe to label Sunday's matchup with the Raiders in Oakland a must-win. 

21. San Diego Chargers (4-6)

San Diego's vaunted aerial attack makes it one of the league's most dangerous offensive teams. But a three-game losing streak has effectively buried the Chargers, who still have to play the Broncos in Denver and the Chiefs twice. 

22. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-6)

Pittsburgh's 4-6 record isn't as bad as it seems when you consider that the Steelers have won four of their last six. An 0-4 start severely damaged Pittsburgh's playoff hopes, but two straight wins have the Steelers right back in the AFC playoff race.

23. St. Louis Rams (4-6)

While the Rams' playoff hopes are still alive with six games to go, their remaining schedule suggests they'll be lucky to finish at .500, let alone earn a postseason berth. 

St. Louis will host Chicago this weekend and still has matchups with San Francisco, New Orleans and Seattle looming down the stretch. 

24. Oakland Raiders (4-6)

Oakland has been one of the league's most inconsistent teams in 2013 but can still make a run at the postseason with so many mediocre teams in the AFC. However, Sunday's showdown with 4-6 Tennessee could decide the Raiders' fate.

25. Cleveland Browns (4-6)

Losing four of five hasn't helped the Browns' already-minimal chances of making the playoffs. A lack of balance offensively has held Cleveland back in 2013 and squandered some great defensive play. 

26. Buffalo Bills (4-7)

Buffalo will have a superb shot to get back to .500 with games against Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Jacksonville over the next three weeks. But if the Bills drop one of those, they can kiss their postseason dreams goodbye.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-8)

The Bucs have won two straight games thanks to an offensive explosion in Week 11. Prior to scoring 41 in last week's rout of the Atlanta Falcons, Tampa hadn't scored more than 24 points in a single game in 2013.

28. Washington Redskins (3-7)

When your defense is surrendering more than 31 points per game, you can't afford to struggle offensively. That's been the story of the Washington Redskins all season long.

With a loss to San Francisco on Monday night, Washington's season is effectively over. 

29. Atlanta Falcons (2-8)

Atlanta and Houston have by far been the two biggest disappointments in the NFL this season. Granted the Falcons have had some key players go down to injury, but that hardly excuses Matt Ryan's nine interceptions since Week 8 and the defense's inability to stop anyone.

30. Houston Texans (2-8)

The Texans are one of only three teams to lose eight in a row this season. Houston joins Tampa Bay and Jacksonville in that department and can become the only team to lose nine straight with another loss against Jacksonville this weekend. 

31. Minnesota Vikings (2-8)

Minnesota will have a great shot to pick up its third win of the year in Week 12 when it travels to take on the short-handed Packers in Green Bay. Still, the Vikings' 0-5 road record in 2013 sticks out like a sore thumb.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9)

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been outscored by a ridiculous 189 points in 10 games this season. To put that mark in perspective, no other team in the league has been outscored by more than 85 points in 2013.

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