NFL Power Rankings Week 12: Projecting Best Teams of Both Conferences

There are few surprises as to which are the best teams in both the AFC and NFC through 11 weeks of the NFL. They've managed to stay in the top 10 of the power rankings week after week, racking up wins and finding themselves at the top of their respective divisions.

The Green Bay Packers, at 10-0, are clearly not just the best team in the NFC, but also in the entire NFL, with quarterback Aaron Rodgers' career year leading the Packers to win after win. With 31 touchdowns to just four interceptions to his name, Rodgers' stellar play has made up for deficiencies in the run game and on defense.

While the credit isn't solely Rodgers' alone, considering the great number of extremely reliable and speedy receivers catching his passes, it's clear that his excellent play has translated to an equally excellent year for the defending Super Bowl champion Packers.

But hot on their heels are the San Francisco 49ers, sitting at 9-1 on the year and comfortably taking up residence as the No. 2 team on the power rankings.

They've parlayed an excellent ground game, workmanlike but efficient passing by quarterback Alex Smith and dominant defensive play into taking the team from a 6-10 record in 2010 to the very tops of the league in 2011.

The Niners defense hasn't allowed a rushing touchdown all season, nor has any opponent run for over 100 yards against them—in fact, they're holding teams to an average of just 74 rushing yards per game. They have the most takeaways in the league and a combined 25 sacks.

That defense will face quite a test this Thursday night when they meet the undefeated-at-home Baltimore Ravens in one of the most anticipated contests of the week.

If they can dispatch the Ravens just as they have nine out of their 10 opponents thus far, they stand a great shot not just against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16, but against any team they meet in the postseason.

One of those teams is the New Orleans Saints, who boast the league's most productive passing offense. Much like the Packers, the Saints have issues both running the ball with consistency and stopping big passing plays, but quarterback Drew Brees is having a career year of his own that has propelled his team to a 7-3 record.

With the New York Giants up ahead, the Saints certainly don't have time to enjoy what they've already accomplished. The Atlanta Falcons are threatening to cut down the Saints lead in the NFC South, and with the playoffs just a few short weeks away, New Orleans needs to keep on winning to maintain their status as one of the league's best teams.

In the AFC, things are a bit more murky. Three of the best teams in the conference come from the AFC North, but the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, having both defeated the Cincinnati Bengals once, have emerged as tops both in the conference and in their division.

Tied for wins at 7-3, the Ravens have the edge over the Steelers on the merit of having beaten them twice this season. Pittsburgh has been more consistent on offense, able to pass the ball with ease behind quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and his deeply talented receiver corps.

Running has come easier to the Ravens, with a stronger offensive line to block for talented running back Ray Rice. But where both teams shine is on defense.

Baltimore boasts the top defense in the entire NFL, stopping the run and sending a brutal pass rush successfully nearly every chance they get. The Steelers are better at defending the pass, however, allowing only 183 passing yards per game on average and holding opponents to an average of 17.9 points scored.

The Ravens have a tougher go of things in Week 12, hosting the 49ers on Thanksgiving night, while the Steelers travel to Kansas City to take on the woeful Chiefs on Sunday night. However, the Steelers will be seeing San Francisco in Week 16, and it should prove as tough for them as it will be for Baltimore this week.

Defense is the biggest weakness for the New England Patriots, but, like the Saints and Packers above, have mitigated this deficiency by performing well on offense. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has in tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez a powerful tandem that can confound opposing defenses and make big plays.

And of course, there's wide receiver Wes Welker, generally Brady's most reliable target and has the most yards of any receiver in the NFL this season, with 1,060. On paper, the Patriots have one of the easiest remaining schedules of any team in the league, which should secure their spot at the top of the AFC as they head into the postseason.

That doesn't mean they aren't at risk of losing, however. The Philadelphia Eagles are next up for the Patriots, and they're quite the unpredictable team. If the Patriots want to prove their dominance, they need to dispatch a team as shaky as Philadelphia this week.

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. Jacksonville Jaguars
24. Kansas City Chiefs
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