NFL Power Rankings Week 12: Review and Reaction to 2015 League Standings

Entering Week 12, only seven NFL teams are more than two games above .500. 

Is that a sign of great parity in the league, or just the result of a lot of bad football?  

Either way, only a small handful of teams appear to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Those teams occupy the first seven slots in the power rankings, followed by a long list of teams hovering around the .500 mark and on the fringes of the playoff race. 

Just how tightly packed are the teams in the playoff race? The Dolphins, ranked all the way down at No. 26 in the power rankings, are just one game behind the Chiefs for the final AFC wild-card spot.

Rank	Team	W-L
1	New England Patriots	10-0
2	Carolina Panthers	10-0
3	Arizona Cardinals	8-2
4	Denver Broncos	8-2
5	Cincinnati Bengals	8-2
6	Green Bay Packers	7-3
7	Minnesota Vikings	7-3
8	Pittsburgh Steelers	6-4
9	Kansas City Chiefs	5-5
10	Seattle Seahawks	5-5
11	Buffalo Bills	5-5
12	New York Giants	5-5
13	New York Jets	5-5
14	Houston Texans	5-5
15	Indianapolis Colts	5-5
16	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	5-5
17	Dallas Cowboys	3-7
18	Oakland Raiders	4-6
19	Philadelphia Eagles	4-6
20	Jacksonville Jaguars	4-6
21	Atlanta Falcons	6-4
22	New Orleans Saints	4-6
23	St. Louis Rams	4-6
24	Washington Redskins	4-6
25	Chicago Bears	4-6
26	Miami Dolphins	4-6
27	Baltimore Ravens	3-7
28	Detroit Lions	3-7
29	San Francisco 49ers	3-7
30	San Diego Chargers	2-8
31	Tennessee Titans	2-8
32	Cleveland Browns	2-8

Notable Teams

2. New England Patriots

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

Rex Ryan's defense created some confusion early on, but Tom Brady figured things out and made just enough plays for the Patriots to pull away and stay undefeated. 

"

Since the beginning of the 2013/14 NFL and NBA seasons, the Patriots have won more games (38) than the 76ers (37)

— HSAC (@Harvard_Sports) November 24, 2015"

Now that New England has reached double-digit wins, it's time to start seriously discussing their ability to run the table. 

The Patriots toughest remaining test will come Sunday in Denver, as the Broncos' stifling defense will be the most formidable unit Brady has faced all season. 

If the Pats can get by Denver, it could potentially be smooth sailing to a 16-0 mark. The Broncos are the only team remaining on their schedule with a winning record. 

6. Green Bay Packers

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

With a healthy Eddie Lacy, the Packers once again looked like a threat in the NFC.

Lacy carried the ball 22 times for 100 yards, both season highs, and he appeared close to returning to his 2014 form after sitting out Week 10. 

Since Lacy joined the Packers in 2013, Green Bay is 13-3-1 in games in which he rushes for over 75 yards. 

While James Starks did a nice job keeping the seat warm for Lacy, the Packers are simply a different offense when their workhorse is healthy. If last week was a preview of the Lacy we'll see for the remainder of the season, the Packers should be considered one of the legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Like most rookies, Jameis Winston has had a roller-coaster season. But when he's been at his peak, the Bucs have looked like a legitimate playoff team, as they did in Sunday's victory against the Eagles. 

In the Bucs' five wins, Winston has posted an average Total QBR of 71.6, per ESPN.com. In their five losses, however, that number drops to a 41.5, including three games below 30. 

"

Highest graded QBs in Week 11: Jameis Winston +5.2 Russell Wilson +4.3 Marcus Mariota +2.5 Cam Newton +2.5 Matthew Stafford +2.4

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) November 23, 2015"

Sitting at .500, the Bucs are in the thick of the playoff race, and their schedule should allow for Winston to keep them in the hunt through December.

The Panthers and Falcons are the only remaining teams on the Bucs' schedule with a winning record.

27. Baltimore Ravens

Rob Carr/Getty Images

After a victory over the Rams, the Ravens rise a few spots in the power rankings, but it's likely all downhill from here.  

The Ravens lost Joe Flacco (torn ALC) and Justin Forsett (broken arm) to season-ending injuries, crushing any momentum they may have felt from their last-second victory. 

Veteran Matt Schaub will now take over at quarterback for the Ravens, leading them against Johnny Manziel and the Browns on Monday Night Football in his first start. 

"

Joe Flacco had started 122 straight games in his career, the 5th-longest streak in NFL history. pic.twitter.com/o7yPDtu0Bg

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 22, 2015"

The silver lining in this is the Ravens will have an opportunity to check out rookie running back Javorius Allen. 

Allen struggled after replacing Forsett against St. Louis, picking up just 67 yards on 22 carries. 

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