NFL Power Rankings Week 13: Latest Playoff Field Picture

In our Week 13 NFL power rankings, the current playoff picture looks as such:

NFC

1. Green Bay Packers (11-0): With their 11th win of the season secured earlier on Thanksgiving day, the Packers were awarded the privilege of watching the Ravens knock off the second seeded 49ers that night. Now, a two-game lead with five games to go looks pretty solid for the top spot in the NFC.  

2. San Francisco 49ers (9-2): If anything, the 49ers performance on Thanksgiving showed the NFL that this bunch isn't some fluke team. They matched the physicality of the Ravens, but just couldn't protect their quarterback down the stretch.

3. New Orleans Saints (7-3): The Falcons seventh win of the season puts the pressure on the Saints to win tonight at home against the New York Giants.

4. Dallas Cowboys (7-4): It wasn't the prettiest performance you'll see from this bunch, but the Cowboys got it done when it mattered against the Dolphins. For all the talk about Tony Romo lacking a "clutch gene," he's been pretty good done the stretch in recent games. 

5. Chicago Bears (7-4): The Caleb Hanie era got off to a rough start in Oakland, as Jay Cutler's backup threw three picks in the Bears eventual loss. Can Hanie keep this playoff ship afloat until Cutler can return?

6. Atlanta Falcons (7-4): Holding on to beat a 2-9 Vikings team is nothing to write home about, but the Falcons will gladly take their seventh win of the season. They now hold the cards for the final playoff spot in the NFC. 

AFC 

1. Houston Texans (8-3): The first game post-Matt Schaub was a roller coaster affair, but the Texans managed to hold on against Jacksonville. With Matt Leinart now looking at a season-ending injury, Houston will have to literally hold on for dear life down the stretch. 

2. New England Patriots (8-3): Don't look now, but here comes those same Patriots that many were quick to write off just a couple weeks ago. That much-discussed defense is playing better, but will they be able to stop an elite offense come playoff time? 

3. Baltimore Ravens (8-3): We all know the Ravens can play with any team in football, and they once again showed us how dominant they can be defensively. If they can finally show some consistency in the final five games, there's no reason that the Ravens can't go 13-3 and get the No. 1 seed.

4. Oakland Raiders (7-4): With Tim Tebow and the 6-5 Broncos nipping at their heels, Oakland simply won a game that they should have against Chicago. As long as there is no major slip up in the final five games, the Raiders should win the AFC West. 

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3): Credit the Chiefs for having a solid defensive game plan on Sunday night, but the Steelers made the kind of plays late in the fourth quarter that could make this team a 12-game winner this season.  

6. Cincinnati Bengals (7-4): You just never know how a young team like the Bengals would respond after losing two straight division games, and the Browns clearly had a mental edge early Sunday. But the cool-headed Andy Dalton brought the Bengals back at home with some big throws to keep Cincinnati's playoff hopes alive. 

Week 13 Power Rankings

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

*Play Monday night