NFL Power Rankings Week 14: Division Leaders Who Will Dominate This Week

There are teams, like the New England Patriots, who are a division leader and have an opponent this week that they will overwhelm resulting in a victory. 

New England Patriots 9-3

New England is coming into their game this week against the Washington Redskins on a four-game winning streak. This streak has enabled them to break away from the rest of the teams in the AFC East to give them a nice two-game lead. 

The Redskins come into this game ranked 31st in rushing offense, while being ranked 18th in defending the run. 

In the Patriots' last four wins, the offense has put up 31 or more points, with a rushing touchdown in three straight games. You will see a lot of Patriots running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis in this game, as he will carry the Pats to their fifth straight win. 

San Francisco 49ers 10-2

The 49ers this week will see their record improve to 11-2, as they play an Arizona Cardinals team they decimated 23-7 earlier this year. That game saw Arizona only gain a total of 229 yards. The 49ers shut down the Cardinals rushing game, allowing only 80 yards between four running backs. 

While the defense took control of the offense, the 49ers passing game shined with 280 yards and two touchdowns. 

This week, will see a lot of the same from their first contest, as the 49ers will dominate the Cardinals offense. The only difference this time around will be an improvement in the 49ers rushing game. 

You should expect a big game from Frank Gore this week. The last time these two teams got together, Gore only rushed for 88 yards on 24 carries. This week, the 49ers will open up more holes for the punishing running back, as he rushes for over 100 yards. 

Baltimore Ravens 9-3

The Ravens are in a fight to hold off the Pittsburgh Steelers for the lead in the AFC North Division. Luckily for the Ravens, they play the 0-12 Indianapolis Colts this week. Also lucky for the Ravens, the Colts have one of the worst rushing defenses in the NFL.

In previous weeks, the Ravens have either played down to their level of competition, like in losses to Jacksonville, Tennessee and Seattle, while putting their entire game plan on the arm of quarterback Joe Flacco. 

Last week, against a bad Cleveland Browns team, they put the game plan on the legs of Rice. The end result was a perfect game from the Ravens offense. Rice rushed for 204 yards and the Ravens won 24-10. 

Rice will have another huge game this week, where he rushes for close to 200 yards again. The Ravens will improve to 10-3 with a blowout victory over the Colts. 

These three division leaders all have games where they will cruise to an easy victory. They will lengthen their lead in their division, while securing a bye in the first round of the NFL playoffs. 

T.J. McAloon's 2011 NFL Power Rankings

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

Follow @tjmcaloon