NFL Power Rankings: Initial Post-Sunday Breakdown Ahead of Week 13

In most cases, larger sample sizes provide a greater understanding of something, but that has not been the case in the NFL during the 2014 season.

After all, fans saw the previously-winless Oakland Raiders knock off the playoff-contending Kansas City Chiefs to kick off Week 12—and then seven more one-score games on Sunday. Parity is a very real thing in the NFL, and it makes winning almost as difficult as separating the actual teams in the power rankings.

With that in mind, read on to see the latest power rankings after Sunday’s results.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-10)

Welcome to the bottom, Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jaguars get something of a pass for the 2014 season because they are so young across the offensive board, but they need to start showing some development by year’s end. Blake Bortles, Denard Robinson and the young receiver corps all have talent, and it could come together within the next couple of years. 

For now, though, it was a moral victory to keep Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts close for the first half.

31. Oakland Raiders (1-10)

You have to feel good for Derek Carr unless you are a Kansas City Chiefs fan. 

The Oakland Raiders finally picked up their first win on Thursday night in front of a fired-up crowd. The defense came through on the final drive, and, most importantly, it helped the Silver and Black move out of the basement in these power rankings.

30. Tennessee Titans (2-9) 

Credit the Tennessee Titans for battling back on Sunday, making the game against the Philadelphia Eagles interesting for a bit after the initial punch in the mouth on the opening kick return. In an ideal world, Bishop Sankey and Zach Mettenberger will develop together and be ready to go in the AFC South next season.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-9)

Had the 2-9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers held onto their 10-point halftime lead against the Chicago Bears, they would be one game back in the win column in the NFC South. Think about that for a minute. 

Alas, Josh McCown struggled mightily down the stretch in his old stomping grounds (a cynical Bears fan would point out that he was once again more important than Jay Cutler to Chicago’s success on Sunday), and the Buccaneers took yet another step back in a dismal season.

28. Washington (3-8)

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Washington lost again and couldn’t muster anything up offensively against the San Francisco 49ers. 

While Robert Griffin III had issues, the offensive line could not protect him at all, which made passing rather difficult. The defense actually played well too, which hasn’t happened often in Washington, but it was a wasted effort.

27. New York Jets (2-8) 

The New York Jets play on Monday night against the Buffalo Bills. At this point, all the Jets can do is play spoilers after a disappointing season.

26. Carolina Panthers (3-7-1) 

The Carolina Panthers had a bye week, but they were actually winners on Sunday because the Atlanta Falcons lost to the Cleveland Browns. They recognized the Browns’ efforts in a rather amusing way on Twitter:

25. New York Giants (3-8) 

ESPN Stats & Info pointed out that things have gone downhill for the New York Giants since those two Super Bowl trophies they won with Eli Manning:

The Giants actually had their game against the Dallas Cowboys won on Sunday night before they choked it away. It was not just the final touchdown drive by the Cowboys that did New York in either. 

Manning and company had a two-score lead for much of the contest and a final shot of their own to win, but didn’t even manage a first down.

24. Atlanta Falcons (4-7) 

Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller was dead on in his assessment of Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith after Sunday’s last-second loss:

The Falcons kicked a field goal to go ahead with less than a minute remaining on Sunday, but if they managed the clock more effectively, that field goal could have been the final play of the game. Instead, the Browns drove the ball down the field themselves and iced the game with a winning field goal of their own.

23. Minnesota Vikings (4-7)

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The Minnesota Vikings lost to the division-rival Green Bay Packers, but they managed to keep the game close. 

The defense contained Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay passing attack for most of the day but couldn’t stop Eddie Lacy when it mattered most. If the Vikings continue to play well on defense over the course of the next couple of seasons as Teddy Bridgewater develops, they could compete for a playoff spot sooner rather than later.

22. St. Louis Rams (4-7)

The St. Louis Rams got another solid performance from the defense on Sunday, and they had a chance to win against the San Diego Chargers, but quarterback Shaun Hill threw a crippling interception in the red zone in the final moments to lose. 

It was a solid metaphor for the season as a whole, as the Rams are close to being a contender talent-wise but haven’t quite put it together on a consistent basis.

21. New Orleans Saints (4-6) 

The New Orleans Saints play on Monday night and have a golden opportunity to seize control of the NFC South after the Falcons lost to the Browns. They may only need to get to seven wins to capture the division crown, so a 5-6 start wouldn’t be bad.

20. Houston Texans (5-6)

The Houston Texans defense and run game have been formidable all season, but the quarterback play has prevented them from making any noise in the AFC.

That was once again the case with Ryan Mallett (instead of Ryan Fitzpatrick) on Sunday as they lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in a must-win game at home. Had Arian Foster played, Houston may have been able to capitalize on opportunities to beat the Bengals. 

Now Mallett is hurt, and the playoffs seem like a long shot at best.

19. Buffalo Bills (5-5)

The Buffalo Bills play on Monday night, and it is close to a must-win contest against the lowly Jets with wild-card positioning on the line.

18. Chicago Bears (5-6)

The Chicago Bears knocked off their old coach on Sunday, and cornerback Tim Jennings talked about that when discussing the critical turnovers, according to The Associated Press (via Fox Sports).

''Lovie preaches that a lot -- we felt we had to win the turnover battle. That was huge for our success today. It was real huge. We needed that.''

Technically, the Bears kept their season alive with wins in the past two weeks, but both were narrow victories at home against the Vikings and Buccaneers. That is not exactly the stuff to quiet the critics. 

If Chicago finds a way to win its Thanksgiving matchup with the Detroit Lions, the record would suddenly be .500 again, and this talented offensive group can be taken seriously as a dark-horse wild-card threat. For now, though, the Bears are middle-of-the-pack at best.

17. San Diego Chargers (7-4)

The San Diego Chargers barely scraped together a victory on Sunday thanks to a timely interception, which was critical for playoff positioning considering the Kansas City Chiefs lost on Thursday. 

It is easy to criticize the Chargers for letting the Rams hang around, but that was the same Rams team that beat the Denver Broncos in the last game.

16. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4) 

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The Pittsburgh Steelers enjoyed a bye week on Sunday, and the two games remaining against the Cincinnati Bengals will go a long way toward determining their playoff fate.

15. Miami Dolphins (6-5)

The Miami Dolphins nearly beat the Denver Broncos in Denver, and that has to count for something. Ryan Tannehill and Lamar Miller helped the offense put up 36 points, but it was the typically solid defense that fell short on Sunday and allowed 39 points. 

Much of the credit goes to Peyton Manning and Denver’s high-octane attack, but the Dolphins could still be a factor in the wild-card race down the stretch.

14. Kansas City Chiefs (7-4)

Sorry Chiefs, but losing to the previously winless Raiders means you take a tumble in the power rankings. 

Alex Smith just couldn’t make plays in the final minutes, which is always going to be the question with this team. Jamaal Charles is a star at running back and the defense is strong, but Smith needs to be able to make throws downfield against the Raiders if Kansas City is going to be seen as a serious playoff contender.

13. Cleveland Browns (7-4) 

ESPN Stats & Info highlighted just how important Josh Gordon is for the Cleveland Browns:

Throw in a suddenly resurgent running game behind Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell, and the Browns are a dangerous playoff contender in the logjammed AFC North. The defense was solid against a formidable Atlanta offense as well. 

The key will be Brian Hoyer’s ability to avoid back-breaking turnovers, which was a real problem on Sunday, but the Browns look to be in this race all season.

12. Baltimore Ravens (6-4) 

The Baltimore Ravens play on Monday night against the New Orleans Saints and have a chance to move up in the standings and these power rankings in the coming weeks.  A win would be critical after both the Browns and Bengals emerged victorious on Sunday.

11. Detroit Lions (7-4) 

Don Bell of Fox Sports 1 had a rather alarming stat regarding Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions:

The Lions played the red-hot New England Patriots and understandably lost, but the offense has struggled mightily the past couple of weeks. That is two straight losses, and the once promising season is suddenly on the brink with the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks as wild-card threats. 

It is just hard to see this team as a legitimate contender when it looks like it did on Sunday against the best competition away from home. The defense is still strong enough to secure a playoff spot, but that doesn’t look like a given anymore if the offense continues to struggle.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (7-3-1)

The Cincinnati Bengals are one of the best teams in the league when they don’t play in prime time.

They picked up another afternoon win on Sunday, and the defense secured the victory with a timely interception of Mallett down the stretch. Jeremy Hill is a solid weapon out of the backfield, and the receivers are talented enough to beat defenses over the top. 

The only question about this team is how it will perform on the national stage against the Steelers in the two remaining games down the stretch.

9. San Francisco 49ers (7-4)

The San Francisco 49ers struggled to get past Washington on Sunday, but they did pick up the all-important win. 

The defense was excellent throughout—which is a testament to the depth because of how many players are missing—but the offense never really got anything going. It is easy to just sit back and say lean on the run, but the offense is just not producing at the level it needs to if it is going to reach the postseason in the daunting NFC West.

8. Seattle Seahawks (7-4) 

NFL on ESPN gave the Seattle Seahawks some credit for the impressive win over the division leader Arizona Cardinals on Sunday:

The Seahawks needed that win at home to stay in the playoff mix, and the defense lived up to the hype in Week 12. Despite the win, the offensive line needs to protect Russell Wilson better than it did against Arizona if there are to be any playoff games for this squad.

7. Dallas Cowboys (8-3)

ESPN Stats & Info noted that the Tony Romo and Dez Bryant connection was particularly clutch on Sunday night:

Odell Beckham Jr. may have tallied the most impressive individual play in the Cowboys’ win over the Giants, but the Dallas offensive line was the most impressive part of the entire contest. Romo could have read the sports section of the newspaper with the time he was given on the final touchdown pass, and Bryant's fantasy owners were certainly pleased with the result. 

Next up is a critical showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles.

6. Indianapolis Colts (7-4)

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Ugly wins still count as wins in the NFL, and the Indianapolis Colts got one of those on Sunday against the Jaguars. 

The running game was nonexistent, but Andrew Luck and T.Y. Hilton finally connected for the backbreaking touchdown in the second half. The offensive line was a concern, but as long as Luck is under center and the defense plays well, which it did on Sunday, this team has a chance to play with anyone in the league.

5. Philadelphia Eagles (8-3)

The Eagles likely already had their attention turned to that Thanksgiving showdown with the Dallas Cowboys for first place in the NFC East by the second half of their win over the Titans. 

LeSean McCoy carried the offensive load on Sunday, and the special teams certainly made a mark as well with a kick return for a touchdown. The defense also held its own against an overmatched Tennessee squad.

4. Arizona Cardinals (9-2)

There is certainly no shame in losing at Seattle, and the Arizona Cardinals still have the best record in the NFC. 

The offense was certainly a concern for the Cardinals on Sunday, but the defense deserves some credit for pressuring the mobile Wilson all game and registering seven sacks. A stout front seven is the formula for wins in the playoffs when games are tight down the stretch, and the Cardinals seem to have that covered.

3. Denver Broncos (8-3)

The Denver Broncos offense should pat itself on the back after their performance against the Dolphins, but the defense struggled for most of the day. 

Granted, Von Miller and Aqib Talib were both dealing with injuries, but Peyton Manning ultimately had to rescue his squad with a scoring run in the third quarter. Denver is going to have to be stronger defensively to win in the playoffs, but the offense did enough to secure the No. 3 spot with Arizona losing in decisive fashion.

2. Green Bay Packers (8-3)

Jim Mone/Associated Press

The Packers won in a closer call than expected against the Vikings, 24-21, but it was the versatility in which they won that should have fans excited.

Instead of throwing the ball all over the field, the Packers relied on Lacy and the run in the critical moments, and it worked. That is a good sign for a team that can almost always count on Rodgers, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb on a weekly basis.

Finding multiple ways to win is always a sure-fire indicator of an elite team.

1. New England Patriots (9-2)

The New England Patriots are a locomotive right now that is blowing past the rest of the league.

Just when it looked like Jonas Gray was going to be the man to help Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski out, it was the newly-signed running back, LeGarrette Blount. Giving the Patriots yet another weapon this late in the season just seems unfair. 

They have won seven in a row and crushed a dangerous Lions team on Sunday. Next up is a marquee showdown with Rodgers and the Packers in what could be a Super Bowl preview.

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