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B/R Experts Week 12 NFL Power Rankings
We're 11 weeks into the 2025 NFL season, and the playoff picture has come into focus.
Just kidding—it's about as clear as mud in as many divisions as not.
The Denver Broncos have opened up a multi-game lead in the AFC West, and the Indianapolis Colts are in control in the AFC South. But the Buffalo Bills remain hot on the heels of the New England Patriots in the AFC East, and the Baltimore Ravens have closed the gap in the AFC North to a single game.
In the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles are in firm control of the NFC East after handling the Detroit Lions Sunday night. But the conference's other divisions are all tight races.
A big win by the Los Angeles Rams over the Seattle Seahawks gives them a one-game lead in the NFC West. The Chicago Bears are surprisingly kings of the NFC North right now, but the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions lurk close behind. And a skid by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has opened a door for the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South.
Yes, those Carolina Panthers.
From here out, every week's matchups are that much more important. Shakeups to the league's pecking order will happen on a regular basis. And as they do every week here at Bleacher Report, NFL analysts Gary Davenport, Kris Knox, Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski are here to sort through last week's action and slot the NFL's teams from worst to first.
32. Tennessee Titans (1-9)
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Last Week: 32
Week 11 Result: Lost vs. Houston 16-13
What is there really left to say about the 2025 Tennessee Titans?
This is an atrocious football team in every way a team can be, especially on offense. Rookie quarterback Cam Ward struggles behind a leaky offensive line with iffy passing-game weapons, and now he'll be without No. 1 receiver Calvin Ridley the rest of the season.
Tennessee's ground game was grounded in Sunday's loss to Houston—Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears combined for 25 yards on 14 carries.
This is a franchise that has already fired its head coach and will be looking to hit the reset button in 2026—quite possibly with the first overall pick in its pocket again.
At this point, the rest of the waking nightmare that is the 2025 season in Nashville needs to be about two things: Establishing some positive momentum with Ward and identifying the few areas on the roster that don't need a complete overhaul. -- Davenport
31. Cleveland Browns (2-8)
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Last Week: 31
Week 11 Result: Lost 23-16 vs. Baltimore
In Week 11, Shedeur Sanders took over for Dillon Gabriel, who went into concussion protocol. He only completed four of his 16 pass attempts for 47 yards and an interception.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters that Gabriel will reclaim his starting job when healthy.
Clearly, Sanders, who started the season as the Browns' third-string signal-caller, needs more reps to develop a rapport with his supporting cast.
For now, though, Cleveland is floundering at the bottom of the power rankings with a rookie quarterback, whether it's Gabriel or Sanders under center for Week 12. -- Moton
30. New York Jets (2-8)
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Last Week: 30
Week 11 Result: Lost vs. New England 27-14
On Thursday night, the New York Jets played a closer game against the surging New England Patriots than the final score might indicate.
With two wins in their last three games, the Jets are starting to provide fans with hope.
No, New York isn't going to push to the playoffs this year. However, it finally seems to be finding some direction under the new regime.
The Jets should have a chance to steal another win or two and gain a little momentum before heading into an offseason with enough capital to control the 2026 draft. -- Knox
29. New Orleans Saints (2-8)
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Last Week: 29
Week 11 Result: Bye Week
The Saints entered their bye on a high note after knocking off the rival Carolina Panthers. The schedule sets up favorably coming out of New Orleans' off-week, too.
Facing the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins in back-to-back contests gives the Saints a legitimate chance to improve upon their 2-8 record.
Wins will also indicate rookie quarterback Tyler Shough is playing well. The most important aspect of New Orleans' upcoming schedule is whether he is prepared to take over the offense through the rest of the 2025 campaign and into the future. His second start was promising.
The second-round rookie needs to stack quality outings and prove the Saints don't need to draft another quarterback. -- Sobleski
28. Las Vegas Raiders (2-8)
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Last Week: 28
Week 11 Result: Lost vs. Dallas 33-16
Since the Raiders' Week 8 bye, Las Vegas is getting worse by the week. An overtime loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, where they didn't convert a two-point conversion for the win was followed by a sub-188-yard offensive performance against the rival Denver Broncos.
During Monday Night Football, the Cowboys dominated most of the contest.
Dallas was even a little rusty coming off its bye week. After a slow start through two offensive series, the Cowboys scored on the next five possessions. The Raiders defense, which was believed to be the stronger side of the ball, didn't have many answers.
This reality only makes life more difficult, because Las Vegas' offense is severely limited with no real threat at wide receiver.
At 2-8, the Raiders aren't anywhere near where they were supposed to be after hiring the oldest head coach in NFL history and bringing in veteran quarterback Geno Smith into the fold. --Knox
27. New York Giants (2-8)
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Last Week: 27
Week 11 Result: Lost vs. Green Bay 27-20
The Giants attempted to turn the page as a franchise with the dismissal of head coach Brian Daboll, but the team we saw against the Green Bay Packers Sunday looked a lot like the same book fans have been reading all season.
It's not a fun read.
Once again, a Giants team ravaged by injuries on offense played well enough to win. But again, the G-Men just couldn't seal the deal, with a Jameis Winston interception ending New York's last-second comeback.
The rest of this season is a wash at MetLife Stadium (again), with the team's starting running back and No. 1 wideout out for season and the (hopefully) franchise quarterback taking a pounding weekly (that led to Jaxson Dart spending Week 11 in the concussion protocol). Wins will likely be few and far between.
That may well be for the best. Every slot higher the Giants draft next April offers more options to add another impact player to what appears a promising young nucleus.
Now the Giants just have to find the right head coach. -- Davenport
26. Cincinnati Bengals (3-7)
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Last Week: 25
Week 11 Result: Lost 34-12 vs. Pittsburgh
Joe Flacco's backup quarterback magic may have run its course. He mostly struggled against the Pittsburgh Steelers, throwing for 199 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Even if it is just a blip instead of a sign of the 40-year-old's decline, Joe Burrow seems poised to make his return in a couple of weeks.
Burrow may have to lead the Bengals to 40 or more points per game for this team to win, though. Going into Week 12, they are giving up the most points per game, allowing an average of 33.4 points to opponents. -- Moton
25. Arizona Cardinals (3-7)
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Last Week: 24
Week 11 Result: Lost 41-22 vs. San Francisco
The Arizona Cardinals won't recover from their nosedive, which started after a 2-0 start.
They've lost seven of their last eight contests. Kyler Murray, whose future with the team is in doubt, is on injured reserve, and their last two opponents have outscored them 85-44.
At 3-7, with Jacoby Brissett under center, the Cardinals need to start thinking about their future direction. -- Moton
24. Washington Commanders (3-8)
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Last Week: 23
Week 11 Result: Lost vs. Miami 16-13
Another week, another listless loss for the Commanders. Hopefully their fans slept in.
After last year's surprise run to the NFC Championship Game, this was a year of promise and expectations. The Commanders made a number of "win now" moves, acquiring aging veterans to take another shot at a deep postseason run.
It was a gamble that has blown up in the team's face. Quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receiver Terry McLaurin have been hurt most of the year. The defense has been bad—bottom-five in both yards and points allowed per game.
Washington is a 3-8 team headed nowhere in a hurry with the oldest 53-man roster in the NFL.
A campaign that started with hopes of a Super Bowl trip has now become one in which Dan Quinn is coaching for his job.
And big changes are coming in the nation's capital in 2026. -- Davenport
23. Miami Dolphins (4-7)
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Last Week: 27
Week 11 Result: Won vs. Washington 16-13 (OT)
Could the Miami Dolphins actually go on a run over the second half of the season and make the playoffs? Probably not, but they might show enough down the stretch to save Mike McDaniel's job.
Miami needed overtime to beat a Commanders team playing without Jayden Daniels. However, it's tough to be a desperate opponent in an overseas game, and the Dolphins continue to show the will to fight.
They have won two of their last three and have several winnable games after their Week 12 bye. -- Knox
22. Atlanta Falcons (3-7)
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Last Week: 20
Week 11 Result: Lost vs. Carolina 30-27
The Falcons have lost five straight games, and that's not even the worst news coming out of Sunday's contest.
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. reaggravated a bone bruise in his knee that he suffered earlier this season. He's expected to miss some time, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Kirk Cousins may be the NFL's highest-paid backup quarterback and an experienced starter, but he hasn't been a quality option behind center for over a year. Since Nov. 10, 2024, he threw one touchdown in eight appearances.
Maybe the 37-year-old veteran recaptures some of the success from earlier in his career, but a 3-7 start places the Falcons in a major hole that's likely too much to overcome. -- Sobleski
21. Dallas Cowboys (4-5-1)
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Last Week: 22
Week 11 Result: Won vs. Las Vegas 33-16
Whether Monday night's domination of the Raiders was a post-bye week metamorphosis by a team that tried to remake its defense at the trade deadline, the raw emotion of recent events or just the Raiders being terrible is unknown right now.
What is known is that Dallas looked as good in Week 11 as it has all season.
The bigger question is what happens next.
At 4-5-1, the Cowboys probably aren't catching the Eagles in the NFC East. And the schedule is about to get barbaric, with the Eagles and Chiefs (on Thanksgiving) at home before a trip to Detroit.
If Dallas is really going to make a second-half run, it needs to figure out a way to win two of those contests. -- Davenport
20. Minnesota Vikings (4-6)
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Last Week: 18
Week 11 Result: Lost vs. Chicago 19-17
Just when it felt like the Minnesota Vikings might steal one and get back to .500, a special teams letdown let the Chicago Bears off the hook.
Minnesota scored a go-ahead touchdown with less than a minute remaining and still lost, something that playoff-caliber teams rarely do. Right now, though, the Vikings don't look anything like a postseason contender.
They are capable of beating good teams, something they did in Week 9. However, an average defense and the up-and-down play of J.J. McCarthy have made it difficult for Minnesota to win with any consistency. -- Knox
19. Houston Texans (5-5)
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Last Week: 19
Week 11 Result: Won at Tennessee 16-13
The good news for the Houston Texans is that after a last-second-win over the Titans that included a second-straight gutsy performance from backup quarterback Davis Mills, they have won three of four and five of seven and are a .500 team for the first team this season.
The Houston defense is among the best in the NFL, allowing just 258.1 yards and 16.8 points per contest.
The bad news is the Texans are going to need that defense over a brutal three-week stretch (Buffalo at home followed by trips to Indianapolis and Kansas City) that starts in Week 12, especially given the inconsistency the offense showed even before C.J. Stroud went down.
Houston isn't going to catch Indy in the AFC South, but the next few weeks could well determine whether the Texans make the playoffs at all. -- Davenport
18. Carolina Panthers (6-5)
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Last Week: 21
Week 11 Result: Won vs. Atlanta 30-27
If the Panthers can get Sunday's version of Bryce Young on a weekly basis, the NFC South is doomed.
Young set a single-game franchise record with 448 passing yards. He finally looked like a recent No. 1 overall pick. He was on time, in rhythm and consistently on target, which allowed the Panthers to capture an overtime victory over the rival Falcons.
Carolina had built a burgeoning identity through a strong ground game and a talented defense. Young may be the missing piece.
Meanwhile, the Panthers are only a half-game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South. Carolina won five of its last seven games, while the Bucs are headed in the opposite direction, losing three of their last four. -- Sobleski
17. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)
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Last Week: 10
Week 11 Result: Lost vs. Jacksonville 35-6
The Chargers played so poorly against the Jaguars that they didn't even force their opponent to punt. Jacksonville didn't play the role of kind host, as it punched L.A. in the mouth with 192 rushing yards.
Los Angeles already had enough problems along its offensive line. The defense has to step up and do its part. It didn't after making a cross-country trip and playing during the NFL's early-game slate.
Fortunately, the Chargers are back at home for the next two contests. They're currently 4-2 at SoFi Stadium.
If Jim Harbaugh's team is going to shake off this latest performance, it's better to be in friendly confines instead of going back on the road. -- Sobleski
16. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4)
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Last Week: 16
Week 11 Result: Won 34-12 vs. Cincinnati
The Pittsburgh Steelers may again turn to Mason Rudolph to help them in a playoff push. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the team is concerned Aaron Rodgers has a "slight break" in his left wrist.
Pittsburgh doesn't have an offensive identity, and its defense only marginally improved after Jalen Ramsey moved from cornerback to safety. The Steelers will be tested with the Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens coming up on their schedule.
We'll likely know if they are in a position to win the AFC North early in December. For now, they're a middling team in the power rankings with a serviceable backup quarterback. -- Moton
15. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4)
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Last Week: 17
Week 11 Result: Won vs. Los Angeles Chargers 35-6
Will someone please explain the Jacksonville Jaguars to me.
They destroyed a good Chargers team. They outgained the Bolts by 300 yards, allowed just 135 yards of offense and held Justin Herbert under 100 passing yards.
Considering the quality of the opponent, it was one of the best single-game efforts we have seen from an NFL team in 2025.
However, this is also a Jaguars team that got stomped by the Rams not that long ago and needed overtime (and a Geno Smith vapor-lock) to get past a poor Raiders team in Las Vegas.
Jacksonville's next two games are on the road and look easier. If Trevor Lawrence and Co. want to be taken seriously in the AFC, they have to win the games they should—and be 8-4 when they welcome the Colts on December 7. -- Davenport
14. Kansas City Chiefs (5-5)
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Last Week: 9
Week 11 Result: Loss vs. Denver 22-19
Andy Reid is now in his 13th season as the Chiefs head coach. Kansas City hasn't held a 5-5 record since 2015. That team won 10 straight to close out that campaign. However, a similar turnaround may not be forthcoming this fall.
Kansas City holds an 0-5 record in one-score games this season. The Chiefs aren't making the plays they did in the past. The upcoming schedule doesn't let up, either.
The Indianapolis Colts, who are coming off their bye, are next on the docket. The Dallas Cowboys and their potent offense follow. Finally, the Houston Texans and their top-ranked defense round out the next three games. -- Sobleski
13. San Francisco 49ers (7-4)
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Last Week: 15
Week 11 Result: Won 41-22 vs. Arizona
Every week, the San Francisco 49ers lose a defensive player to injury, but they're getting healthier on offense.
Quarterback Brock Purdy and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall returned to action after a month on the sideline. The former threw for 200 yards and three touchdowns, while the latter only caught one pass.
San Francisco's offense must compensate for key losses on the defensive side of the ball in potential scoring shootouts with more competitive teams. The 49ers have alternated wins and losses since Week 3, which explains why they're stagnant in our rankings. -- Moton
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4)
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Last Week: 11
Week 11 Result: Lost vs. Buffalo 44-22
The Buccaneers are like a stunned boxer who could be finished off by an opponent with a final knockout punch. It could happen next weekend against the NFC's best team, the Los Angeles Rams.
Tampa is reeling. Over the last two weeks against elite quarterbacks and quality offenses, Todd Bowles' defense allowed 849 yards. The group isn't going to find Matthew Stafford any easier to confuse and pressure.
If anything, Stafford will pick apart the aggressive scheme, as he's done whenever he's faced pressure packages throughout the season. In fact, he hasn't thrown an interception since Sept. 21. But he's tossed at least two touchdowns in all but one of the Rams' last seven games.
The Bucs' tenuous grasp of the NFC South could be relinquished next weekend. -- Sobleski
11. Baltimore Ravens (5-5)
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Last Week: 14
Week 11 Result: Won 23-16 vs. Cleveland
Early in the season, the Baltimore Ravens deserved to fall in our rankings. They jumped off to a 1-5 start.
Deep down inside, though, you knew this team would clean up errors and climb the standings, and it's done that with four consecutive wins after its Week 7 bye.
While the power rankings aren't a direct reflection of the overall standings, the Ravens continue to surge in the hierarchy after a hard-fought road win over the Cleveland Browns. -- Moton
10. Chicago Bears (7-3)
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Last Week: 13
Week 11 Result: Won vs. Minnesota 19-17
The Bears aren't just keeping pace in the NFC North, they're playing like a team that could win it with a couple of fortunate breaks. Chicago has won seven of its last eight and is finding new ways to win on a weekly basis.
The Bears' turnover-happy defense got a couple more in Week 11. After Chicago blew a 13-point fourth-quarter lead, the special teams and offense did just enough in the final minute to finish back on top.
Sunday's victory wasn't pretty, but winning ugly is something good teams figure out how to do—and something Chicago has struggled with in recent years. This season, the Bears have come back in the final two minutes to win five times. -- Knox
9. Green Bay Packers (6-3-1)
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Last Week: 12
Week 11 Result: Won vs. Giants 27-20
The Green Bay Packers survived a scrappy Giants team and a shoulder injury that briefly knocked Jordan Love out of Sunday's game.
Getting back in the win column was big, but the Packers probably don't feel great about how they got there.
Love played well enough after returning, but Josh Jacobs didn't return after suffering a knee injury. The Packers defense also continued its trend of playing well at home and then underwhelming on the road.
The Packers feel a lot more vulnerable than their 6-3-1 record would suggest. -- Knox
8. Detroit Lions (6-4)
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Last Week: 6
Week 11 Result: Lost vs. Philadelphia 16-9
Dan Campbell took over the Detroit Lions' offensive play-calling duties two weeks ago. After Sunday night's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, he may want to consider giving some control back to John Morton.
To be clear, neither Detroit's play selection nor Campbell's insistence on repeatedly going for it on 4th down were the most concerning aspects of the Lions' latest outing. The offensive line isn't healthy and struggled to protect Jared Goff throughout the contest.
If the pass protection remains an issue, it'll be a huge problem. The offense will always be capable of generating the occasional big play, but any deep playoff push will be difficult if it can't sustain drives with consistency.
After losing three of their last five, the Lions have to figure out how to reach the postseason first. -- Knox
7. Seattle Seahawks (7-3)
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Last Week: 4
Week 11 Result: Lost 21-19 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Sam Darnold had his worst performance of the season in a crucial matchup. He threw four interceptions in the Seattle Seahawks' loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Yet still, the team lost on a missed 61-yard field-goal attempt.
There are no moral victories in the NFL this late in the season, but the Seahawks should feel encouraged that they were in a position to win the game despite Darnold's turnover-ridden outing. It didn't drop them too far in the rankings.
The Seahawks went down to the wire with the NFC's best team without much help from their quarterback. -- Moton
6. Buffalo Bills (7-3)
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Last Week: 8
Week 11 Result: Won vs. Tampa Bay 44-32
The Bills had a much better afternoon on Sunday than they had a week ago. Buffalo bounced back from that blowout loss in Miami to defeat a very good Buccaneers team.
However, the Bills' latest win isn't likely to settle fans' nerves. While Josh Allen's six-touchdown day was remarkable, the defense was tough to watch for much of Week 11.
The defense did make a couple of critical plays, including a late strip sack that secured the win. However, Buffalo is looking up at a far more balanced New England Patriots team in the AFC East—and the Bills can't expect Allen to play Superman every week. -- Knox
5. Denver Broncos (9-2)
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Last Week: 7
Week 11 Result: Won vs. Kansas City 22-19
The Broncos just know how to win late in games. Denver has won eight straight with Sunday's victory over the Chiefs. In doing so, Bo Nix led his fifth game-winning drive of the season.
If Denver could get its offense rolling early in game, it could be downright dominant. Instead, the Broncos defense is usually relied upon to slow opponents long enough until the offense finally gets rolling.
Whatever the case may be, Sean Payton's squad keeps winning and is tied for the league's best record. More importantly, Sunday's win gives Denver a two-game advantage in the AFC West and 3.5 games over Kansas City. -- Sobleski
4. New England Patriots (9-2)
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Last Week: 5
Week 11 Result: Won vs. Jets 27-14
The Patriots continue to ascend our power rankings, and Drake Maye continues to make his case for MVP.
New England has won eight straight, and there's been nothing fluky about its run. The Patriots' offense and defense both rank in the top 10 in terms of yardage and points.
With games against the Bengals and Giants on deck, New England could easily have 11 wins by its Week 14 bye.
The Patriots aren't just surprising front-runners in the AFC East; they also have a legitimate chance to claim the conference's top seed. -- Knox
3. Indianapolis Colts (8-2)
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Last Week: 3
Week 11 Result: Bye Week
The Indianapolis Colts have been the biggest surprise success story of 2025.
Daniel Jones is playing the best football of his career. Jonathan Taylor gained 200 more rushing yards and scored twice on his off week. And nobody in the AFC looks the part of a Super Bowl contender.
The Colts know it too—the team's blockbuster acquisition of Pro Bowl cornerback Sauce Gardner was an "all-in" moment—the guy no one expected to be at the final table pushing his chips into the middle first chance he gets.
Coming out of the bye, though, things are going to get bumpy for the Colts. In Week 12, they travel to face a desperate reigning AFC champion. After critical AFC South matchups with Houston and Jacksonville, the Colts then head to Seattle.
The first 10 weeks in Indy were a stunner. The next four could be a statement. -- Davenport
2. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2)
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Last Week: 2
Week 11 Result: Won vs. Detroit 16-9
The Eagles are the defending Super Bowl champions. They are dominating the NFC East. So, of course, folks want to find something wrong with them.
To be fair, Philly ain't perfect. The offense can be inconsistent. Some of Nick Sirianni's game management can be inconsistent. The tush push even failed a couple times in Sunday's win over the Detroit Lions.
But Howie Roseman (who never saw a pass-rusher he didn't like) went out and got Jaelan Phillips at the trade deadline, and his impact on the Eagles defense has been immediate and significant.
The Eagles have dominated the trenches in their last two games, including against a Lions team that's supposed to be one of their primary challengers in the NFC.
Philadelphia is a battle-tested team that knows the importance of peaking at the right time.
It also holds the head-to-head advantage over the Rams. -- Davenport
1. Los Angeles Rams (8-2)
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Last Week: 1
Week 11 Result: Won 21-19 vs. Seattle
The Los Angeles Rams have the NFC's best record. Therefore, they should be atop the power rankings for a third consecutive week.
Sure, the New England Patriots have the same record, but the Rams have gone through a tougher schedule through 11 weeks.
For as long as Matthew Stafford stays healthy, the Rams have a wide-open Super Bowl window and a premier spot in our power rankings. -- Moton



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