NFL Power Rankings Week 13: Elite Teams with Dynasty Potential

"Dynasty" is not a word that is tossed around lightly in the sports world.

Nor should it be. Sports dynasties are few and far between, and they are particularly rare in the NFL, a league that prides itself on its parity. In recent seasons, only the New England Patriots of the 2000s truly qualify as a dynasty team.

Well, it's a new decade now and it's a good bet that a new dynasty team is going to emerge. The only real question is which team it might be.

I don't have a crystal ball, so I'm afraid I can't tell you for sure. However, here are a couple educated guesses.

Detroit Lions (No. 13)

I'm admittedly pretty hesitant about leading this humble little list off with the Lions. Since starting the season 5-0, they've come back to earth in a pretty big way and it's getting to the point where it's hard to root for them. They've gone from being young and likable to being young and immature.

However, what we have to keep in mind here is that there are few (if any) teams in the NFL that have as many young stars as the Lions do. Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson are going to be a formidable duo for years to come, and they have a defensive line based around two young studs in Ndamukong Suh and rookie Nick Fairley.

For the Lions to develop into a perennial contender, they're going to need to grow up. I have my doubts about their ability to do that under Jim Schwartz, but that doesn't mean the Lions couldn't grow up under someone else.

I'll say this: Whoever gets this team to play up to its capabilities is going to be greatly rewarded.

Houston Texans (No. 9)

The Texans' chances of winning it all this year have taken a huge hit with both Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart out for the year with injuries, but I think their future is still bright.

When healthy, Schaub is one of the most effective quarterbacks in the league. It helps that he has a still relatively young Andre Johnson and an outstanding running back tandem to rely on. If and when everyone is healthy, this is a Texans offense that has the pieces to be elite.

The Texans are also solid on the defensive side of the ball. In fact, even despite the fact they lost Mario Williams early in the season, the Texans have developed into one of the top defensive teams in the league. You can credit Wade Phillips and the shrewd moves the Texans made during the offseason for that.

In all likelihood, 2011 is going to go into the books as yet another disappointing season for the Texans. But if they manage to stay healthy in 2012, watch out.

Cincinnati Bengals (No. 8)

We've come to think of the Bengals as a model for NFL futility, but things are looking up for them right now.

All of us know everything there is to know about Cincinnati's pair of talented rookies. Quarterback Andy Dalton has been very good in his rookie campaign, and wide receiver A.J. Green has more than lived up to his billing as the No. 4 overall pick in the draft.

By the way, Cincinnati's defense is playing at a high level, too.

All this being said, I don't think the Bengals have enough punch to succeed in the playoffs this season. The thing to keep in mind, however, is that they are going to have two first-round picks in the 2012 draft, meaning they are going to get to add two very good young players to what is already a very good young team.

Assuming they use those picks wisely, the Bengals are going to be in very good shape heading forward.

Green Bay Packers (No. 1)

Including the Packers in this discussion is too easy. They're the best team in the NFL, they've already won one Super Bowl, and they could easily win a second this year.

The one thing you can't ignore when you look at the Packers is the play of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, which has been excellent this season. Elite quarterbacks are a staple of dynasty teams, and the Packers definitely have one. Better yet, Rodgers is only going to be 28 years old on Dec. 2.

In addition, Clay Matthews should get his just deserves. He probably should have won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2010, and he too is still in the early stages of his career. He's only 25.

Plenty of other Packers deserve shoutouts as well, which I think is a testament to their ability to draft and develop players. 

If any team is going to cement itself as the NFL's next dynasty team, it's the Packers.

Zachary D. Rymer's Week 13 Power Rankings

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