NFL Power Rankings: Week 13 Expert Consensus from Around the Web

The season of giving is upon fans, but experts around the globe have been doling out weekly power rankings all season long to whet the appetite for fans who cannot stand the few days of each week in which the NFL is not on the tube.

To the naked eye, power rankings are fun. They give everybody something to talk about. But more than anything else, rankings are a tool that gives fans a detailed rundown of the league as a whole.

The hierarchy of the NFL is a difficult beast to master, but power rankings make the basis of understanding much easier each week. Below, let's take a look at some of the notable rankings dished out this week before diving into the deep end.

Power Rankings from Around the Web

	USA Today	Frank Schwab, Yahoo Sports	Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
1	Patriots	Patriots	Patriots
2	Packers	Packers	Packers
3	Broncos	Cardinals	Cardinals
4	Cardinals	Broncos	Cowboys
5	Cowboys	Eagles	Broncos
6	Colts	Colts	Eagles
7	Seahawks	Cowboys	Bengals
8	Eagles	Seahawks	Seahawks
9	49ers	Chiefs	49ers
10	Bengals	Ravens	Colts
11	Ravens	Dolphins	Chiefs
12	Lions	49ers	Steelers
13	Steelers	Lions	Lions
14	Chiefs	Browns	Ravens
15	Browns	Chargers	Chargers
16	Dolphins	Bengals	Browns
17	Chargers	Steelers	Dolphins
18	Texans	Bills	Bills
19	Bills	Texans	Bears
20	Bears	Rams	Texans
21	Saints	Bears	Falcons
22	Rams	Vikings	Saints
23	Falcons	Saints	Giants
24	Vikings	Falcons	Rams
25	Giants	Panthers	Panthers
26	Panthers	Giants	Vikings
27	Buccaneers	Washington	Jets
28	Jets	Titans	Titans
29	Washington	Buccaneers	Buccaneers
30	Titans	Jets	Washington
31	Raiders	Raiders	Raiders
32	Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars

*USA Today's power rankings can be found here, CBS Sports' Pete Prisco's power rankings can be found here, and Yahoo Sports' Frank Schwab's power rankings can be found here.

Chris Roling's Week 13 Power Rankings

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-10)

USA TODAY Sports

Back to the basement the Jacksonville Jaguars go now that the team has not won since Week 7, and those around them improve. 

Really, things have gotten worse for the Jaguars, who at one point were at least losing close games.

Rookie quarterback Blake Bortles has now thrown eight scores to 15 interceptions, with plenty of room for improvement as the season winds down.

31. Oakland Raiders (1-10)

The biggest surprise of Week 12 was the Oakland Raiders bagging their first win of the season.

Really, though, it was due at some point given the positive progression Derek Carr and Co. had made in recent weeks.

The fact the win came on Thursday Night Football, though, makes win No. 1 that much sweeter. As a team ranked this low always is, the Raiders are a serious spoiler the rest of the way.

30. Tennessee Titans (2-9)

Slowly but surely the Tennessee Titans continue to show positive signs for the future. 

Take Week 12 for example. There was no win, but rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger continued to show progress by throwing for 345 yards and two scores. Justin Hunter scored once and tight end Delanie Walker caught five passes for 155 yards.

This season was a throwaway from the get-go, but the Titans are clearly molding a strong foundation for the future.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-9)

Many will now revert to calling for Josh McCown's job considering he threw for one score and two picks in a close loss last week, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have plenty of other issues to worry about. 

Think about a lackluster run game, which gained just 66 yards. Doug Martin rushed 11 times for 27 yards. Think about a laughable defense.

The list goes on and on, but the season is already lost. Going with young players is a smart way to eye the future.

28. Washington (3-8)

The best way to make a horrible team entertaining? Quarterback drama, of course. 

Around The NFL has the scoop:

Washington does not know which way is up right now, which means the team remains at the bottom the rest of the way.

27. New York Jets (2-9)

Even an extra day of preparation could not help the hapless New York Jets in Week 12.

The play under center was predictably bad, but more concerning was the fact the defense allowed 230 passing yards and two scores to Kyle Orton while a number of names totaled 116 yards and two scores on the ground.

Stick a fork in the Jets.

26. Carolina Panthers (3-7-1)

A bye week may have come too late for the Carolina Panthers. 

Then again, "maybe" is the key word in the NFC South. The Panthers have lost five in a row and tied the game before that stretch but remain in close contention with the teams above them in the division touting just four wins apiece.

Cam Newton and Co. may just back into a divisional crown out of sheer dumb luck.

25. Atlanta Falcons (4-7)

The Atlanta Falcons continue to be held back by a myriad of issues. 

Most recently, the team was taken down by the Cleveland Browns thanks to some dumbfounding clock management with the game on the line late in what turned out to be a two-point loss.

That two-game winning streak went up in flames as a result, although the Falcons are still alive in the playoff race thanks to the running joke that is the NFC South.

24. New York Giants (3-8)

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

The problem for the New York Giants is simple—Eli Manning can play his best, but it just does not matter. 

Thank the defense for that. Manning tossed a trio of scores with a pick in Week 12, but the Giants still lost to the Dallas Cowboys by three points because the defense allowed four passing touchdowns and 119 yards on the ground.

The Giants are done thanks to a defense that can stop just about nothing.

23. Minnesota Vikings (4-7)

The Minnesota Vikings may only have four wins this season, but the fact the team pushed Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers to the brink in Week 12 says a lot about where the ship is headed down the line. 

Mike Zimmer is building something special. The defense, as is always the case with Zimmer, looks great. Even better, the offensive side of things continues to develop as rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater continues to gain experience.

There are bright times ahead for Minnesota on the current trajectory. For now, they are a major spoiler.

22. St. Louis Rams (4-7)

The St. Louis Rams continue to fight each and every week, but can get no sort of consistency going. 

Well, except for the whole "beat up on contenders" thing considering the team has wins over Seattle, San Francisco and Denver this season.

The Rams are a tough out for any team in the league, but the roster is simply not healthy enough to make a serious push to close the season.

21. New Orleans Saints (4-7)

The New Orleans Saints are still right in the thick of things in the NFC South, but it does little to change the fact the team is downright miserable this year. 

There was a time when going to the Superdome in New Orleans was a tough task but no longer—the Saints have now lost three in a row at home.

With that advantage gone, it may not matter if the Saints back into the postseason.

20. Houston Texans (5-6)

Patric Schneider/Associated Press

Just like that, the Houston Texans have all hopes at a wild-card playoff bid dashed.

Ryan Mallett showed some positive signs under center in his two starts, but is now lost for the year, as ESPN's Adam Schefter helps to point out:

The Texans will still have a strong ground game when Arian Foster returns, but Mallett was promoted to starter for good reason.

19. Buffalo Bills (6-5)

Few better ways to bounce back exist than a matchup with the Jets. 

A 38-3 Monday win means the Bills swept their rivals this season and snapped a two-game skid in the process.

Buffalo is tied with Miami in the division but split the season series. A brutal schedule that includes Denver, Green Bay and New England to close the season does not bode well, but the Bills do tout a top defense.

18. Chicago Bears (5-6)

Try not to buy too much into the chatter that the Chicago Bears are a sneaky bet to make the playoffs. 

Sure, the team has won two games in a row. Try to keep in mind that those wins came against teams with a total of six wins this season, though.

Jay Cutler continues to turn the ball over at a ridiculous rate (12 interceptions, eight fumbles), and the defense ranks among the bottom five teams against the pass. That will not get it done in the pass-happy NFC North.

17. San Diego Chargers (7-4)

A bye back in Week 10 really did Philip Rivers and the Chargers some good.

Said bye halted a three-game skid and now has the team winners of two. As Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego points out, health up front has a lot to do with the current streak:

San Diego can play with any team in the league when Rivers is upright, although it helps that Ryan Mathews is back healthy once again, too.

16. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4)

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a bye in Week 12, and it was much needed, too. 

The last few weeks speak volumes about the Steelers this season. Week 10 was an upset at the hands of the New York Jets. The following week was a gritty win against the Titans that came by just three points.

If the Steelers are to stay competitive in the AFC North, more consistency is a must. This is clearly still the team that lost to Tampa Bay on a last-second touchdown back in September.

15. Kansas City Chiefs (7-4)

The definition of a trap game took down the Kansas City Chiefs last week. 

Tasked with a short turnaround to a Thursday game and hitting the road to take on a divisional rival, the Chiefs suffered a four-point loss to the winless Raiders.

Now, the Chiefs have had a spectacular season, and it was a divisional game, where records go out the window. Odds are the Chiefs bounce back in the coming weeks.

14. Cleveland Browns (7-4)

Josh Gordon may be back for the Browns, but the cries for Johnny Manziel are only going to intensify after Brian Hoyer went out and tossed three interceptions last week. 

Somehow the Browns still pulled out a win. Still, quarterback will continue to be the main issue in Cleveland, something Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan points out:

Manziel under center would not be much better, so expect performances like last week every now and then the rest of the way.

13. Baltimore Ravens (7-4)

Make it two in a row for the Baltimore Ravens as the team attempts to keep pace in the AFC North. 

The Ravens tout a top-10 rushing offense thanks to the emergence of back Justin Forsett, whose latest output was a cool 182 yards and two scores on 22 carries Monday night in New Orleans.

So long as the Ravens keep running the ball like that, they are contenders to sneak into the postseason and do some damage.

12. Miami Dolphins (6-5)

The Miami Dolphins blew it Sunday, allowing the Denver Broncos to come back in the fourth quarter and win what would have been a global statement for Ryan Tannehill and Co. in regard to their contending status. 

Although Peyton Manning tossed four touchdowns, the Dolphins still have a top-five pass defense and a top-10 rushing attack.

Things look bleak thanks to a high-profile loss, but the Dolphins are one of the last teams in the league a contender wants to see right now.

11. Detroit Lions (7-4)

The Detroit Lions might just be the league's biggest mess right now. 

An elite defense had carried the team this season until this current two-game skid. In those two games, Matthew Stafford and the offense have failed to find the end zone, although Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com provides some positive reinforcement:

Something has to change for Detroit in a hurry. The defense needs to look like a top unit again, at the very least.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (7-3-1)

The Cincinnati Bengals continue to rehab their image after a Thursday disaster a few weeks back, this time by going to Houston and expelling some recent postseason demons with a win. 

Granted, quarterback Andy Dalton threw just one touchdown to an interception, but rookie back Jeremy Hill bailed him out with 87 rushing yards and a score.

So long as the Bengals continue to play solid defense and the ground game is consistent, they will continue to look like playoff contenders—like always.

9. San Francisco 49ers (7-4)

It would have been nice if the San Francisco 49ers did not need a late touchdown at home to upend Washington last week, but a three-game win streak is just that. 

The concern for the 49ers at this point is the defense. Simply put, the unit is hobbled and a liability, which is something that has shined through this season in games against prolific offenses such as a 42-17 loss to Denver.

If the unit gets healthy, things will look much better. For now, the 49ers once again lean on a top rushing attack for help.

8. Seattle Seahawks (7-4)

It is hard to claim that the defending champs are back to elite form just yet. 

While a win over Arizona is nice, this is the same team that has stumbled three times on the road and once at home. The passing offense ranks close to dead last, and the defense sometimes struggles in the face of dynamic attacks.

The problem for Seattle is that the team is still behind in the divisional race, and road games have not exactly treated the team well this season. Should this current form hold on Thanksgiving Day against San Francisco, then the Seahawks will get a big bump.

7. Indianapolis Colts (7-4)

A great way to get over a tough loss is to play the last team on this list, which Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts did this past weekend. 

A 20-point win is hard to complain about, although as Scott Kacsmar of Football Outsiders points out, plenty will do just that:

Regardless, the Colts now have a bit of momentum back on their side and the division still in hand.

6. Philadelphia Eagles (8-3)

A win over the Titans is nothing to write home about, but the fact the Philadelphia Eagles have now won three of five after a Week 7 bye sure is—especially when one remembers the two losses in that stretch are to contenders such as Arizona and Green Bay. 

Keep in mind the Eagles continue to roll right along with Mark Sanchez under center, who has now thrown seven touchdowns to six interceptions this year.

So long as the USC product turns down the turnovers, the Eagles are a serious threat this year.

5. Arizona Cardinals (9-2)

Trips to Seattle have proved more accommodating to teams than usual this year but not for the Arizona Cardinals this past weekend.

Drew Stanton threw for just 149 yards and a pick, and the team found just 64 yards on the ground in an ugly 19-3 loss.

That said, it was just the Cardinals' second loss on the season. Thanks to one of the league's best defenses and a number of standout weapons around Stanton, it is hard to see how Bruce Arians' team does not turn things around in Week 13 with a date against Atlanta.

4. Dallas Cowboys (8-3)  

It took a touchdown by Dez Bryant with about one minute left, but the Cowboys got a hard-fought victory over the Giants to make it a two-game winning streak.

Romo tossed four scores, but more important is the fact that DeMarco Murray ran for 121 yards, good for his 10th 100-yard performance in 11 games this season.

Murray is complemented by a defense that is much improved this season in comparison to the last few years, which makes Dallas one of the most well-rounded teams in the league.

Two matchups with the Eagles over the course of their next three games—the first coming on Thanksgiving—will decide everything for the Cowboys.

3. Denver Broncos (8-3)

Rumors of the demise of Manning and the Broncos were greatly exaggerated a few weeks removed from a loss to St. Louis. 

It was as if Manning wanted to make this exact point in dramatic fashion in Week 12, too, throwing four scores and posting 22 points in the final frame to steal a victory from the Dolphins.

So long as Manning can take the field, the Broncos are surefire contenders. It certainly does not hurt that he is flanked by a top-15 pass defense and top-two rush defense, though.

2. Green Bay Packers (8-3)

The Packers got a scare against Minnesota last week, but so it goes in a divisional matchup. Coach Mike McCarthy put it best, via the Packers on Twitter:

Rodgers throwing a pair of touchdown passes and Eddie Lacy rushing for 125 yards and a score in the elements in November are just the latest signs that the Packers possess an elite balance that puts them on par with any team in the league.

1. New England Patriots (9-2)

Steven Senne/Associated Press

The New England Patriots made an example of the Lions this past Sunday.

Tom Brady and Co. have put the league on notice that this current seven-game winning streak is no fluke, especially now that it has claimed victims such as the Broncos, Colts and Bengals as well.

Few teams have an answer for Brady right now, nor for a stingy defense. Even fewer have the ability to counter the unpredictable mind of Bill Belichick.

Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com as of 10 a.m. ET on Nov. 25 unless otherwise specified.