Week 12 NFL Power Rankings Brought To You By B/R's Featured Columnists

With the help of the following featured columnists, I have compiled another installation of our NFL Featured Columnist Poll. 

Dan Van Wie

Eric Ball

Michael Gartman

Michael2 Keller

Jay Dee

Jeff Shull

Lou DiPietro

Jack Gorman

Mihir Bhagat

Chris Cluff

Elliot Pohnl

RM Herold

Brian DiTullio

JW Nix

George Anderson

Continue reading to view this week's top 10 rankings.

No. 10: New York Giants (6-4), 36 Pts.

Michael Heiman/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Tom Coughlin of the New York Giants reacts after a fumble by Eli Manning #10 late in the fourth quarteragainst the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 21, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (

Last Week: @ Philadelphia 17-27 L

Next Week: Sun, v. Jacksonville 1:00 PM ET

Rankings: No. 3 Total Offense

No. 2 Total Defense

The Giants are on a two-loss streak, and in danger of falling out of the playoff hunt. An injury to Hakeem Nicks hasn't helped matters, but turnovers have been the real killer lately.

No. 9: Indianapolis Colts (6-4), 51 Pts.

Elsa/Getty Images

FOXBORO, MA - NOVEMBER 21: Reggie Wayne #87 of the Indianapolis Colts reacts after he dropped a pass in the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots on November 21, 2010 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots defeated the Colt

Last Week: @ New England 28-31 L

Next Week: Sun, v. San Diego 8:20 ET

Rankings: No. 4 Total Offense

No. 20 Total Defense

A Peyton Manning interception thwarted what would have been either an overtime finish or a Colts win in their game at New England last Sunday. But Manning has not been the problem. The problem is that they cannot consistently move the ball on the ground. 

No. 8: New Orleans Saints (7-3), 165 Pts.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS - NOVEMBER 21: A fan of the New Orleans Saints holds up a sign for 'Saintsgiving' during the sign against the Seattle Seahawks at Louisiana Superdome on November 21, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Last Week: v. Seattle 34-19 W

Next Week: Thu, @ Dallas 4:15 PM ET

Rankings: No. 5 Total Offense 

No. 4 Total Defense

The Saints will play the Cowboys in Dallas this Thursday in a classic rematch of last year's upset. It seems like it could be a trap game, but the Saints will want revenge for the Cowboys' stunning upset last year. Either way, it will be a great game. 

No. 7: Green Bay Packers (7-3), 207 Pts.

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 21: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers throws against the Minnesota Vikings at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on November 21, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Last Week: @ Minnesota 31-3 W

Next Week: Sun, @ Atlanta 1:00 PM ET

Rankings: No. 13 Total Offense

No. 12 Total Defense

The Packers have forced the firing of two coaches in their last two games, beating down on the Cowboys and then their rivals, the Vikings. I doubt that the Falcons will fire Mike Smith regardless of the outcome, but hey—maybe they'll fire the ball boy. 

No. 6: Baltimore Ravens (7-3), 210 Pts.

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 21: Terrell Suggs #55 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts after a defensive play against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 21, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Last Week: @ Carolina 37-13 W

Next Week: Sun, v. Tampa Bay, 4:15 PM ET

Rankings: No. 12 Total Offense

No. 8 Total Defense

This might sound crazy, but the Ravens looked bad in their 37-13 win over the Panthers last week. The Panthers cut the lead to 20-13 in the fourth quarter, but their opportunistic defense prevailed. The coming weeks will tell us more though, as the Ravens take on Tampa Bay and division rival, Pittsburgh. 

No. 5: Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3), 273 Pts. (2)

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 21: James Harrison #92 of the Pittsburgh Steelers pumps up the crowd during the game against the Oakland Raiders on November 21, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Last Week: v. Oakland 35-3 W

Next Week: Sun, @ Buffalo, 1:00 PM ET

Rankings: No. 22 Total Offense

No. 5 Total Defense

There is some concern that the Steelers don't have their quarterback's back after they allowed Richard Seymour to shove Roethlisberger to the ground and hardly reacted the way one might expect. But if "Big Ben" keeps up his elite play, their will be some trust returned to the troubled quarterback. 

No. 4: Philadelphia Eagles (7-3), 300 Pts. (2)

Nick Laham/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 21: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on against the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 21, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Last Week: v. New York Giants 27-17 W

Next Week: Sun, @ Chicago 4:15 PM ET

Rankings: No. 2 Total Offense

No. 9 Total Defense

Mike Vick has made this offense possibly the most dangerous of all in the NFL. He has yet to throw an interception and is equally dangerous on the ground, where he is averaging about seven yards per carry. 

No. 3: New York Jets (8-2), 306 Pts. (3)

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 21: Santonio Holmes #10 of the New York Jets celebrates after his fourth quarter touhdown against the Houston Texans on November 21, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets defeated the

Last Week: v. Houston 30-27 W

Next Week: Thu, v. Cincinnati 8:20 PM ET

Rankings: No. 8 Total Offense

No. 7 Total Defense

The Jets escaped for the third straight week due to late game heroics by Santonio Holmes and Mark Sanchez. Cincinnati is hungry though, and they have the talent to pull off the Thanksgiving upset. 

No. 2: Atlanta Falcons (8-2), 343 Pts. (3)

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

ST. LOUIS - NOVEMBER 21: Michael Turner #33 of the Atlanta Falcons rushes against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on November 21, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Falcons beat the Rams 34-17. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Last Week: @ St. Louis 34-17 W

Next Week: Sun, v. Green Bay 1:00 PM ET

Rankings: No. 6 Total Offense

No. 17 Total Defense

The Falcons have quietly taken control as the supreme team in the NFC. Michael Turner and the running game has restored to its 2008 form and Matt Ryan is beginning to look like an elite quarterback. 

No. 1: New England Patriots (8-2), 366 Pts. (6)

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

FOXBORO, MA - NOVEMBER 21: Danny Woodhead #39 of the New England Patriots gains yards despite the defense Jerraud Powers #25 and Aaron Francisco #43 of the Indianapolis Coltsat Gillette Stadium on November 21, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriot

Last Week: v. Indianapolis 31-28 W

Next Week: Thu, @ Detroit 12:30 PM ET

Rankings: No. 17 Total Offense

No. 30 Total Defense

If you look at the statistics, the Patriots are one of the worst teams in the NFL. So why, you may ask, are they at the top of the rankings? The same reason they are 8-2 I suppose. That reason though, is very elusive. 

Others Receiving Votes

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

SAN DIEGO - NOVEMBER 22: A full moon above Qualcomm Stadium during the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers football game on November 22, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Chicago 24, Tampa Bay 18, San Diego 3, Oakland 3

Look for the Chargers to break the top 10 next week if they can beat Indianapolis in a huge game for their season. With Vincent Jackson returning, that does not sound too unlikely.