NFL Power Rankings: A Look at the Top Teams in Each Conference

With most of Week 12 behind us, the NFL's best teams are quickly separating themselves from the merely average and the clearly terrible. Here, I examine the top two teams in both the AFC and the NFC before providing you with my full power rankings headed into Week 13.

No 1: Green Bay Packers, NFC North

The Green Bay Packers handily defeated the Detroit Lions on Thursday, further cementing their status as both the best in NFC and in the NFL. While no team is without their weaknesses, the Packers seem able to cover and overcome them unlike any other team this season.

A difficult schedule is ahead for Green Bay, but at 11-0, it's hard to imagine a scenario in which they won't enter the postseason with the No. 1 seed in the conference as heavy favorites to repeat as Super Bowl champions.

No. 2: Baltimore Ravens, AFC North

The Baltimore Ravens aren't without their problems—mainly on offense—but after defeating the San Francisco 49ers on Thanksgiving night and taking sole control of the highly competitive AFC North, they've clearly earned the No. 2 spot on the power rankings headed into Week 13.

The remainder of the Ravens' schedule isn't all that difficult. In fact, they may escape the rest of the season without a loss. The real test for Baltimore will be the playoffs, where they've had minimal success over the years. Should their offense find their rhythm, they'll be tough to beat come January.

No. 3: San Francisco 49ers, NFC West

The San Francisco 49ers drop a spot in the power rankings this week after their Thursday night loss to the Baltimore Ravens, but they're still the second best team in the NFC. With two losses, their most recent coming to a very dominant team, the Niners have little to worry about when it comes to the remainder of the regular season.

Their playoff inexperience may prove a liability once the postseason begins, but for now, at 9-2, San Francisco has little competition in the conference, especially if they can keep quarterback Alex Smith protected.

No. 5: New England Patriots, AFC East

At No. 4, the New Orleans Saints are ranked higher, but the Patriots are the No. 2 team in the AFC, earning that honor by dominating the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12, to the tune of a 31-20 victory (with that final Eagles touchdown coming when the game was well out of hand).

Despite fielding a ragtag bunch of misfits and castoffs on defense—or it at least seems that way—the Patriots keep managing wins. With late-season and playoff experience in spades and an easy schedule ahead, New England should find themselves atop their division without much trouble.

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

*Subject to change pending outcome of Monday night's Saints-Giants contest