NFL Power Rankings: Final Look Before Sunday's Week 12 Action

Sunday’s slate of Week 12 games features several key divisional battles and marquee matchups, and NFL fans are looking to see where their favorite team stands in the power rankings heading into the action.

This is how all 32 teams stack up.

1. Denver Broncos (9-1)

The Denver Broncos are coming off a huge win over the previously undefeated Kansas City Chiefs, but there is no rest for the weary. Week 12’s matchup with the New England Patriots will be an equally challenging test.

2. Seattle Seahawks (10-1)

The Seattle Seahawks have won six games on the bounce heading into the bye and deserve the week off. With Percy Harvin debuting last Sunday and looking to return to elite form for Week 13, the already dangerous Seahawks will only continue getting better.

3. New Orleans Saints (9-2)

After beating the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday Night Football in a game that was much closer than most expected, the New Orleans Saints must continue to develop the rushing attack. That will open up the field for Drew Brees and the pass offense.

4. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1)

A loss to the Broncos is not something that the Kansas City Chiefs should dwell on for long. It is clear that the team will have to go through Denver to make it deep in the postseason, but a solid matchup against the San Diego Chargers should result in the bounce-back victory the franchise needs.

5. Indianapolis Colts (7-3)

Despite dealing with injuries to key players on both sides of the ball, the Indianapolis Colts have continued to win. The Colts are coming off a hard-fought victory in Week 11, but the road will not get any easier against the underrated Arizona Cardinals.

6. Carolina Panthers (7-3)

The Carolina Panthers stunned the Patriots on Monday Night Football last week and proved the team is a legitimate playoff contender. Carolina must beat the Miami Dolphins this week and continue to find chemistry heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

7. New England Patriots (7-3)

As if the tough loss to the Panthers on Monday wasn’t hard enough to deal with, the New England Patriots now must face off against the Broncos in a potential AFC Championship preview. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

8. Cincinnati Bengals (7-4)

The Cincinnati Bengals are on a bye in Week 12 and need the rest. With overtime losses in two of the last three games and an offense that is stuttering, the team must enter the second half of the season with a new strategy.

9. San Francisco 49ers (6-4)

After winning five straight games heading into the bye, the San Francisco 49ers have lost each of their last two matchups and face another tough test against a Washington Redskins team with nothing to lose.

10. Detroit Lions (6-4)

The Detroit Lions have all of the raw talent needed to be a serious threat in the NFC, but the team’s biggest issue could be the decision-making of head coach Jim Schwartz. If the Lions fail down the stretch, the blame will rightly fall on the shoulders of Schwartz.

11. Chicago Bears (6-4)

When Jay Cutler went down with another injury, the Chicago Bears were supposed to mail it in for the rest of the season. Led by backup QB Josh McCown, the team has rallied around each other and will continue to do so against the lowly St. Louis Rams.

12. Arizona Cardinals (6-4)

The Arizona Cardinals have won three-straight matchups heading into this week’s battle with the Colts, but this will be the team’s biggest test in weeks. Indianapolis has struggled recently, but won’t lose to Arizona Sunday.

13. Philadelphia Eagles (6-5)

The Philadelphia Eagles deserve the bye week rest more than any other team in the league. Injuries have taken their toll on the side, but new head coach Chip Kelly’s dedication to endurance will pay off in the remaining weeks of the season.

14. Green Bay Packers (5-5)

The injury to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was devastating. An easy matchup against the Minnesota Vikings this week is exactly what the team needs to keep its playoff chances alive and bide time for Rodgers' return.

15. Dallas Cowboys (5-5)

Offensively, few teams can stand toe-to-toe with the Dallas Cowboys. The franchise is awful on defense, but there is enough raw talent on the roster to beat the New York Giants Sunday in what should be a bitter divisional battle.

16. Baltimore Ravens (4-6)

As one of the most inconsistent teams in the league, the Baltimore Ravens have looked like a shell of the franchise that won the 2012 Super Bowl. Joe Flacco must perform much better if the club even wants to make the postseason.

17. New York Jets (5-5)

Geno Smith is one of the most promising stars in the NFL, but the rookie will deal with growing pains. After a tough loss in Week 11, how the New York Jets bounce back this Sunday will be a great gauge of Smith’s character.

18. San Diego Chargers (4-6)

Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers are one of the best offensive units in the league. As great as the team has performed, a tough matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs could result in them suffering another loss.

19. New York Giants (4-6)

The New York Giants started the season with six-straight losses. As unbelievable as it may seem, the team’s four-straight victories actually put the Giants in contention to win the putrid NFC East. Big Blue must beat Dallas this week.

20. St. Louis Rams (4-6)

After blowing out the Indianapolis Colts, the St. Louis Rams had Week 11 off and are coming into this matchup with the Chicago Bears looking for a huge win. St. Louis doesn’t have many healthy players left, but the heart the roster continues to show is admirable.

21. Tennessee Titans (4-6)

The Tennessee Titans are a young team dealing with the inability to finish games. After losing in heartbreaking fashion last week to the Colts, the Titans will come out strong this week and ensure a victory over the Raiders.

22. Cleveland Browns (4-6)

After being blown out by the Cincinnati Bengals, the Cleveland Browns will have another chance at redemption in the AFC North when they square off against Pittsburgh. This has the potential to be an ugly matchup that exposes just how bad the division has become.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-6)

Two straight victories have the Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to build momentum for the second half of the season, but the team will be going head-to-head with a talented Browns defensive unit that will force Pittsburgh’s offense to make big plays.

24. Miami Dolphins (4-6)

The Miami Dolphins have faced their fair-share of controversy this season, and the toughness of the roster will be tested in a brutal matchup with the red-hot Panthers. If Miami isn’t focused, the team is in serious trouble.

25. Buffalo Bills (4-7)

The Buffalo Bills dominated the Jets last week and are on bye in Week 12. While every team wants the rest this late in the season, the Bills were just beginning to build some positive momentum.

26. Oakland Raiders (4-6)

The Oakland Raiders can’t stay healthy. Add in a tough matchup against the underrated Titans, and this could result in yet another key loss for the Silver and Black.

27. Washington Redskins (3-7)

Quarterback Robert Griffin III has been under intense scrutiny since being drafted No. 2 overall in last season's draft, but the focus has become even more distracting as his fame has grown. The Washington Redskins could begin blowing up in front of us starting with another possible loss against San Francisco on Monday night.

28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-8)

Despite off-field distractions to start the season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and head coach Greg Schiano have weathered the storm and are ready for the future. It may not be this season, but Tampa Bay has built a playoff-worthy franchise. With the right additions and some luck, the Buccaneers could make the postseason next year.

29. Houston Texans (2-8)

The best news Houston Texans fans could hear was that Case Keenum would be the starting QB this weekend. There is no chance the Texans make any real noise in the AFC playoff picture, but beating the Jacksonville Jaguars would get some momentum going in the favor of Houston.

30. Atlanta Falcons (2-9)

After another tough loss to the Saints on Thursday Night Football, the Atlanta Falcons have lost all hope that the franchise will be able to turn the season around. At this point, Atlanta should just be looking to string together a few wins to build momentum for 2014.

31. Minnesota Vikings (2-8)

The inability to find any consistency under center will be the ultimate downfall of the Minnesota Vikings. Even with a matchup against the struggling Packers, Minnesota will be unable to capitalize on the advantage.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9)

With the worst offense in the league and a defense that is equally as futile, the Jacksonville Jaguars will fail once again when they play the Houston Texans this week.

*All stats are via NFL.com.

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