NFL Power Rankings Week 12: Latest Playoff Field Picture

In our Week 12 edition of the NFL power rankings, here is how the current playoff picture looks:

NFC 

1. Green Bay Packers: The 10-0 Packers are the class of either conference, until a team finds a way to snap their current 16-game winning streak. Aaron Rodgers is still the MVP of the league, too. But, that defense is a scary proponent to their chances of repeating in 2011. 

2. San Francisco 49ers: Speaking of defense, the 49ers have no such problems. Outside of Baltimore—who San Francisco plays this week—there's no other defensive unit I'd rather have. 

3. New Orleans Saints: The Saints used their bye week to get rested up and healthy, but they also watched the Atlanta Falcons pull within a game by beating the Tennessee Titans. 

4. Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys finally got their breakthrough, as Dallas won by inches in Washington and the Giants couldn't hold off the Philadelphia Eagles' late rally. With the schedule the Giants have coming up, this should be the Cowboys' division to lose. 

5. Detroit Lions: Sunday's game with the Panthers was labeled a must-win by some, but the Lions rebounded from a tough start to get their seventh win of the season. With six games left, Detroit likely needs to go just .500 from here on out to make the NFC playoffs. 

6. Chicago Bears: The Bears kept on rolling against the Chargers on Sunday, but they were dealt a serious blow when Jay Cutler hurt his thumb on an interception return. They'll need some luck to get back into the playoffs, with Caleb Hanie set to start the rest of the season. 

AFC 

1. Baltimore Ravens: With a win over the Bengals, Baltimore re-established itself as the team to beat in the AFC. Now, they face the 9-1 49ers on Thanksgiving night, in one of the more anticipated games of the 2011 season.   

2. Houston Texans: The Texans' bye week granted Matt Leinart an extra week to get comfortable as the starter in Houston. Isn't there anyone out there who thinks he can keep the Texans' ship afloat? 

3. New England Patriots: The Patriots will face Tyler Palko and the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football tonight. Barring a big upset, New England should be 7-3.  

4. Oakland Raiders: They certainly made things interesting for themselves in Minnesota, but the Raiders got their sixth win and look like the clear team to beat in the AFC West. Just as long as that Tebow guy goes away soon.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers: The health of Ben Roethlisberger's thumb will be the talking point moving forward, but we're not talking about an injury as serious as Cutler's in Chicago. Looking at the schedule ahead, the Steelers should have a good shot at finishing 12-4. 

6. Cincinnati Bengals: Moral victories don't exist in the NFL, and the Bengals will tell you exactly that after losing back-to-back games by seven points to division rivals. There isn't much behind them in the AFC, but the Bengals will need to scratch and claw their way into the AFC playoffs down the stretch.  

Week 12 Power Rankings

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