NFL Power Rankings Week 12: Who Is the 2nd Best Team in the NFC?

The NFL is entering Week 12 and it's time for some power rankings.

The Green Bay Packers remain unbeaten and atop all power rankings. The 1972 Dolphins will have to keep the champagne on ice for at least a few more days.

With the Pack locked in at No. 1 who comes next?

Despite a 10-0 record, Aaron Rodgers can't let up with another NFC team nipping at his heels.

1. Green Bay Packers

The undefeated Green Bay Packers easily claim the top spot in the Week 12 power rankings.

A Thanksgiving showdown with the Detroit Lions is sure to be a holiday treat.

2. San Francisco 49ers

The second best team in the NFC also happens to be the second ranked team in the league. 

The San Francisco 49ers claim the No. 2 spot as they continue to impress.

Entering the Week 12 "Harbaugh Bowl" Patrick Willis and his teammates have not allowed a single rushing touchdown. 

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

The third position in the power rankings begins the run of 7-3 teams and leading the way for this bunch are the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The defense, led by Troy Polamalu and James Harrison, is starting to get healthy while Ben Roethlisberger leads the newly pass-happy offense.

4. New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints earn the No. 4 spot.

Sean Payton's team is fresh off a bye and ready for their Monday night showdown against the New York Giants. 

The Saints are the 49ers' greatest challenger for the position of second best NFC team.

5. New England Patriots

The New England Patriots' secondary has been ravaged by injury, but Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski are in sync and dominating the offensive side of the ball.

6. Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens would be challenging for a top spot if not for inexplicable losses to Jacksonville and Seattle.

On the other hand, Ray Lewis and company swept the Pittsburgh Steelers and have a chance to take down the one-loss 49ers this week.

7. Houston Texans

Coming off their Week 11 bye, the No. 7 Houston Texans will start life without Matt Schaub.

Expect to see a heavy dose of Arian Foster and Ben Tate as the Texans ease Matt Leinart into the starting role.

8. Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears will also have to face the stretch run without their starting quarterback. The status of Jay Cutler's season is up in the air as he undergoes surgery on his thumb.

Do-it-all man Matthew Forte and the stout Bears defense will have to carry this team to the playoffs.

9. Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions are ranked No. 9  after a shaky outing against the Carolina Panthers.

Calvin Johnson and the Lions will have a chance to make a huge statement during their Thanksgiving matchup with the undefeated Green Bay Packers.

10. Atlanta Falcons

Head coach Mike Smith's controversial overtime call may eventually come back to haunt the Atlanta Falcons.

However, the Falcons did a nice job of putting the tough loss behind them by holding off a scrappy Tennessee Titans team.

Moving forward, the Falcons have a relatively favorable schedule and a chance for revenge in New Orleans on December 26th.

11. Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys survived a tight battle with their arch-rival, the Washington Redskins.

Tony Romo is playing well of late and the Week 11 win pushes the Cowboys to the top of the NFC East.

12. Cincinnati Bengals

Who could have predicted that the Cincinnati Bengals would be battling for the top spot in the AFC North as late as Week 11?

Rookies Andy Dalton and A.J. Green have developed impressive chemistry while the Bengals defense has proven itself.

Cincinnati will need Green to come back fully healthy if they want to challenge for a playoff spot.

13. New York Giants

The New York Giants have slipped from 6-2 down to 6-4 as their brutal schedule begins to take its toll.

Eli Manning will have to be at his best if this team is going to win against New Orleans, or Green Bay in the coming weeks.

14. Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders sit alone atop the AFC West and at No. 14 in the power rankings.

Injuries at quarterback and running back could have derailed the Raiders' season, but Carson Palmer and Michael Bush have stepped in and performed well.

15. New York Jets

Rex Ryan's New York Jets are 5-5 and come in right in the middle of the Week 12 power rankings.

If the Jets are going to make good on Ryan's preseason prediction, the offense will need to be far more consistent.

16. Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos have surged up to the No. 16 slot.

You have all heard and read more than enough about Tim Tebow from both sides, so there is no need to belabor those issues.

The Denver defense has been fantastic and the team is starting pile up some wins.

17. Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans come in at 17th in the Week 12 power rankings.

The Titans are 5-5 and don't do anything spectacular. They are just a steady team that scraps for wins.

Quarterback Matthew Hasselbeck was forced out of their last game with an elbow injury, but expects to be ready for Week 12.

18. Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles are entering the "too little too late" portion of their season.

Even with a critical win over the New York Giants in Week 11, the Eagles dug themselves a hole that is too deep to climb out of.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Coming in at No. 19 are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Bucs have fallen on hard times, dropping their last four games. It's not fun to face the Bears, Saints, Texans and Packers in consecutive weeks.

20. San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers continue to frustrate under head coach Norv Turner.

Quarterback Philip Rivers is having his worst season as a pro and the Chargers sit behind the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders in the AFC West.

21. Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills are still 5-5, but have slid all the way down to No. 21 in the Week 12 power rankings.

The Bills have dropped three straight games and have looked miserable in the process.

Ryan Fitzpatrick has fallen back to earth and now running back Fred Jackson is banged up.

22. Kansas City Chiefs

The No. 22 Kansas City Chiefs are a team of runs.

The Chiefs started 0-3 before rattling off four straight wins.

Now they are mired in another three-game losing streak and their remaining schedule is not an easy one.

23. Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks are riding a two-game win streak.

Pete Carroll's team beat division rival St. Louis a week after taking down the mighty Baltimore Ravens.

Weeks 12 and 13 should be interesting as they take on the free-falling Washington Redskins and enigmatic Philadelphia Eagles.

24. Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns are the No. 24 team in the Week 12 power rankings.

Colt McCoy and the Browns don't put together the prettiest wins, but there are no style points in the NFL.

25. Miami Dolphins

Don't look now, but the Miami Dolphins have won three straight.

Reggie Bush is running as well as he ever has and Matt Moore has played very well during the streak.

26. Washington Redskins

Rex Grossman is back under center, but "Sexy Rexy" hasn't been able to fend off the losses.

The Washington Redskins have suffered six straight losses; none more painful than the Week 11 defeat at the hands of the hated Dallas Cowboys. 

27. Arizona Cardinals

Larry Fitzgerald is still searching for a quarterback who can get him the ball.

Kevin Kolb has been underwhelming to say the least and John Skelton seems to have lost the "magic" that he showed against the Eagles.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars' Week 11 loss to Cleveland was indicative of their season: A low-scoring, ugly affair.

Rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert has a lot of growing to do before this team can truly be relevant.

29. Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton looks like a star.

The Carolina Panthers have to feel good about their future with Newton at the helm.

Unfortunately his impressive rookie campaign hasn't translated to wins in 2011.

30. Minnesota Vikings

The 2-8 Minnesota Vikings are No. 30 in the power rankings and might have to face Week 12 without their star back, Adrian Peterson.

The Vikings have turned their eyes to the future and handed the team over to rookie Christian Ponder.

31. St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams have been a major disappointment in 2011.

The No. 31 team was a trendy preseason pick, but quarterback Sam Bradford is struggling through a sophomore slump.

32. Indianapolis Colts

What is there to say?

The Indianapolis Colts are 0-10 and showing no signs of life.