NFL Power Rankings Week 14: Building a Case for the NFC as the Best Conference

The NFC has clearly established itself as the NFL's premier conference this season, as it currently has three of the top four teams in my power rankings.

The 12-0 Green Bay Packers are easily the NFL's top team, thanks to their incredibly powerful offense that is led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers may be having the best season for a passer in NFL history, and his quarterback rating of 125.3 is an astonishing 19.4 points higher than the runner-up (Tom Brady, 105.9).

Green Bay is leading the NFL in scoring, averaging 35 points per game. While the Packers rank fourth in total yards (405.3 yards per game), it is hard to argue that Rodgers doesn't lead the league's top offensive unit.

The only team in Green Bay's league offensively is the New Orleans Saints. Led by quarterback Drew Brees, the Saints have been almost unstoppable on offense. The Saints lead the NFL in total yards, averaging 448.7 yards per game. They have the league's top passing attack (325.3 yards per game) and eighth-ranked rushing attack (123.3 yards per game). Meanwhile New Orleans also ranks second in the league in points per game (32.8).

The Saints rank fourth in my power rankings this week but could easily be No. 2 behind only the Packers. They are currently rolling and don't appear to look like they'll slow down any time soon.

The final team that clearly establishes the NFC as the better conference is the San Francisco 49ers, who are currently 10-2. The 49ers have been the NFL's biggest surprise this season as head coach Jim Harbaugh has turned the franchise's fortunes around in less than one full season.

San Francisco has done it with toughness, as the 49ers have the NFL's fourth-ranked defense, allowing just 303.4 yards per game. The Niners are also the league's top team at stopping the run, allowing just 71.8 yards per game on the ground.

While other teams may seem more dangerous, defense wins championships and San Francisco is allowing a league-low 13.4 points per game. The 49ers look to be headed for a first-round bye in the playoffs and could be extremely difficult to beat once they get there.

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