NFL Power Rankings: Identifying the Top Dogs in Each Division

The season is slowly but surely winding down and that means the playoff picture that was so unclear just a few weeks ago is coming more into focus. Each division's top team has, for the most part, risen high enough to say definitively which one has secured the lead. Let's examine each one.

NFC East: Dallas Cowboys

Though the New York Giants are tied with the 6-4 Dallas Cowboys, one glance at the two teams' upcoming schedules seems to indicate that it's the Cowboys who will ultimately claim the division. With a loss yesterday to the lowly Philadelphia Eagles, the Giants don't look as dominant as we all had thought.

The Cowboys have dynamic players on both offense and defense and that, combined with a relatively easy schedule puts Dallas on top of the division this week and will keep them there through the end of the season.

NFC North: Green Bay Packers

With a Week 11 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Green Bay Packers have extended their 2011 undefeated streak to 10 straight victories. Though their defense is clearly still a liability, the offense has too many ways to win.

Now that the Chicago Bears' season is up in the air with quarterback Jay Cutler suffering a broken thumb that may sideline him until the postseason and the recently-inconsistent Detroit Lions ahead on Thanksgiving afternoon, the Packers look to have the division's top spot wrapped up. 

NFC South: New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints were on the bye in Week 11 while two of their three division-mates dropped their respective contests.

With a relatively easy schedule and a two-game divisional lead over the second-place Atlanta Falcons, the Saints shouldn't have much trouble remaining on the top of the NFC South in the weeks leading up to the playoffs.

NFC West: San Francisco 49ers

At 9-1, the San Francisco 49ers are clearly the top team in the NFC West, tallying as many wins as a team as the other three teams in the division have between them.

Though things don't get easy for the Niners as the season winds down, with contests against the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers up ahead, there's little doubt that San Francisco will end the regular season with the division title.

AFC East: New England Patriots

The Patriots have statistically the softest schedule over the remaining weeks of the regular season and with the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills suffering their own respective collapses, it's clear that the 7-3 Patriots not only lead the AFC East through 11 weeks but will retain that honor into the postseason.

AFC North: Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11 to once again clinch the top spot in the AFC North. Though the Pittsburgh Steelers have the same regular-season record, tiebreakers are in the Ravens' favor and, if all remains even, should secure their divisional win.

Only one difficult opponent remains for Baltimore, the San Francisco 49ers, who they face this Thursday night. While Pittsburgh has an easy schedule ahead as well (again, aside from those 49ers), the odds seem to be in the Ravens' favor to win their division this year.

AFC South: Houston Texans

Though starting quarterback Matt Schaub is potentially lost for the season with a foot injury, backup Matt Leinart has a good chance to redeem his reputation when he takes control of the 7-3 Houston Texans in Week 12.

The Tennessee Titans are the only team threatening to wrest control of the AFC South away from the Texans, and at 5-5, don't seem up to the task. The Texans look primed to win their division for the first time in franchise history.

AFC West: Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders just keep winning, proving that the acquisition of quarterback Carson Palmer wasn't a folly after all. Though the Denver Broncos also keep winning, their approach to offense is clearly unsustainable and the victories will dwindle. And yes, the San Diego Chargers are perennial playoff favorites, but it's not looking that way this year, with a 4-6 record after five straight losses.

That means that the Raiders rise to the top of the AFC West. At 6-4, they're a scary and unpredictable team dealing with a number of injuries to high-profile players. Once back at full health, they'll easily clinch their division and head into the postseason as one of the year's most surprising teams.

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

*These rankings are subject to change pending the outcome of Monday night's Patriots-Chiefs contest.