2017 NFL Power Rankings: Week 12
There were some big matchups in Week 11, leading to some changeups in the rankings. That excitement will continue in Week 12, but for now, here are the Week 12 NFL Power Rankings.
32. Cleveland Browns (0-10, Previous Ranking: 32)
Last Week: L, 19-7, vs. Jaguars
Next Week: at Bengals (4-6)
I’m running out of ways to spin the Browns’ painful 2017 season. The Browns had a chance to win this game, but somehow, it felt that they never really had a chance.
31. San Francisco 49ers (1-9, Previous Ranking: 30)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: vs. Seahawks (6-4)
The 49ers have built a little momentum after securing their first win of the season. Things won’t get easier with a matchup against the Seahawks.
30. New York Giants (2-8, Previous Ranking: 31)
Last Week: W, 12-9 (OT), vs. Chiefs
Next Week: at Redskins (4-6)
Don’t look now, but the Giants just secured a huge upset victory over the struggling Chiefs. Maybe all of this talk about firing Ben McAdoo and the message for his team this week lit a fire with this team? It won’t matter, though. He’ll likely be gone by February.
29. Indianapolis Colts (3-7, Previous Ranking: 28)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: vs. Titans (6-4)
The Colts are only as good as Jacoby Brissett will take them. Truth be told, Brissett has quietly been a decent quarterback this year and has a place in this league. Whether or not it’s with the Colts has yet to be seen.
28. Miami Dolphins (4-6, Previous Ranking: 26)
Last Week: L, 30-20, vs. Buccaneers
Next Week: at Patriots (8-2)
The Dolphins are not good. At all. There really isn’t much more to say. This team’s 4-6 record is not at all indicative of the painful performances they have put on this season. And honestly, I don’t know how much of a difference Ryan Tannehill would make for this team.
27. Arizona Cardinals (4-6, Previous Ranking: 23)
Last Week: L, 31-21, at Texans
Next Week: vs. Jaguars (7-3)
The Cardinals seem like a team that will limp to the finish line and hope to be 8-8. At this point, I don’t see that happening, though. This once promising team has been decimated by injuries which will always leave you wondering “what if?”
26. Denver Broncos (3-7, Previous Ranking: 24)
Last Week: L, 20-17, vs. Bengals
Next Week: at Raiders (4-6)
This was a chance for the Broncos to truly remain in contention, which is an absolute joke when you consider the current state of the AFC. With a loss, though, the Broncos are watching any playoff hopes drift away.
25. Chicago Bears (3-7, Previous Ranking: 22)
Last Week: L, 27-24, vs. Lions
Next Week: at Eagles (9-1)
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: even in the middle of a 3-game losing streak, the Bears are a better team than their 3-7 record would indicate. Week in and week out, they find a way to be competitive. If they can have a solid offseason, 2018 could be the beginning of a turnaround for Chicago.
24. Houston Texans (4-6, Previous Ranking: 29)
Last Week: W, 31-21, vs. Cardinals
Next Week: at Ravens (5-5)
Just when you think the Texans are down and out, they find a way to pull off a win against a fellow injury-riddled team. But it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Houston: rookie running back D’Onta Foreman is the newest Texan to be added to the season-ending injury list.
23. Green Bay Packers (5-5, Previous Ranking: 21)
Last Week: L, 23-0, vs. Ravens
Next Week: at Steelers (8-2)
The Packers are another team that is technically in the playoff hunt, but they are much further away from that happening than their record would indicate. Reality is a cruel thing.
22. Buffalo Bills (5-5, Previous Ranking: 16)
Last Week: L, 54-24, at Chargers
Next Week: at Chiefs (6-4)
After seeming like one of the surprise teams of the season at 5-2, the Bills made the change at quarterback from Tyrod Taylor to Nathan Peterman. After 5 interceptions, I think it’s safe to say that that experiment is officially over.
21. Oakland Raiders (4-6, Previous Ranking: 17)
Last Week: L, 33-8, vs. Patriots
Next Week: vs. Broncos (3-7)
Considering that the Raiders went 12-4 last year, this season has been a massive disappointment for Oakland. They’re still in the hunt, but this team needs answers and consistency on both sides of the ball. Until then, don’t hope for much.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6, Previous Ranking: 25)
Last Week: W, 30-20, at Dolphins
Next Week: at Falcons (6-4)
Don’t look now, but the Buccaneers are 2-0 since losing Jameis Winston. Unfortunately, that has more to do with Ryan Fitzpatrick‘s cupcake matchups than it does anything else. Winston is still the starter whenever he returns.
19. Cincinnati Bengals (4-6, Previous Ranking: 27)
Last Week: W, 20-17, at Broncos
Next Week: vs. Browns (0-10)
An important win by the Bengals on the road. But this team is still the same one we’ve seen all season. And as long as the Bengals do poorly but just well enough to get by, Marvin Lewis will yet again have a secure job. At some point, the Bengals are going to need to clean house.
18. New York Jets (4-6, Previous Ranking: 19)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: vs. Panthers (7-3)
The Jets have shown flashes this season, but have left too many games get away from them. The AFC Wild Card spots are still wide open, so the Jets could still sneak themselves into the conversation.
17. Baltimore Ravens (5-5, Previous Ranking: 20)
Last Week: W, 23-0, at Packers
Next Week: vs. Texans (4-6)
Night and day. The Ravens are only as good as their defense, which has shown periods of dominance this season. The scary part of the Ravens? They have been there and done that in the NFL playoffs, making them a potential nightmare if they are able to maintain their current seeding in the AFC standings.
16. Los Angeles Chargers (4-6, Previous Ranking: 18)
Last Week: W, 54-24, vs. Bills
Next Week: at Cowboys (5-5)
Just like all of the 4-6 teams in the AFC, the Chargers are in a position to do some damage if they can play some consistent football. When they’re on, they’re on. The key is to prevent games from going deep into the 4th and to stop the other team from securing a last-second victory.
15. Washington Redskins (4-6, Previous Ranking: 15)
Last Week: L, 34-31 (OT), at Saints
Next Week: vs. Giants (2-8)
Two weeks ago, Kirk Cousins put on some last-second heroics to lead the Cowboys to victory. Over the past 2 games, not so much. This isn’t all on him, as the Redskins are plagued by injuries. But you would like to see him put on some big stage performances to boost his status as a “top quarterback.”
14. Tennessee Titans (6-4, Previous Ranking: 11)
Last Week: L, 40-17, at Steelers
Next Week: at Colts (3-7)
The Titans came out swinging in this one, but the Steelers proved to be too much. They managed to get tons of pressure on Marcus Mariota, which helped lead the way to the young quarterback throwing 4 interceptions. The Titans are a decent team, but have been unable to put it all together.
13. Dallas Cowboys (5-5, Previous Ranking: 14)
Last Week: L, 37-9, vs. Eagles
Next Week: vs. Chargers (4-6)
I’m not going to blame this all on Dak Prescott. Losing Ezekiel Elliott and Tyron Smith have absolutely crushed the 2nd year quarterback and his ability to be productive. But at the end of the day, he has shown that he is not yet ready to be a quarterback that has the ability to truly take over a game and put the team on his back. Still has plenty of time, but the past 2 weeks have not been pretty, regardless of the situation.
12. Detroit Lions (6-4, Previous Ranking: 13)
Last Week: W, 27-24, at Bears
Next Week: vs. Vikings (8-2)
The NFC North crown is still not out of the question for the Lions. Having already won their first meeting with the Vikings, the Lions are in a position to bring the teams to within 1 game. The Lions schedule makes it seem that they could potentially win out, but if we’ve learned anything this year, it’s that nothing is a given in the NFL.
11. Kansas City Chiefs (6-4, Previous Ranking: 7)
Last Week: L, 12-9 (OT), at Giants
Next Week: vs. Bills (5-5)
The Chiefs are now losers in 4 of their last 5 games. That is a trend that they are hoping to get figured out before it continues. Luckily for them, the AFC West is still the Chiefs to lose.
10. Seattle Seahawks (6-4, Previous Ranking: 8)
Last Week: L, 34-31, vs. Falcons
Next Week: at 49ers (1-9)
This ending had a touch of irony… flashback to 2015 whenever Blair Walsh (then a Viking) hooked the would-be game-winning field goal against… the Seahawks. Now, when needed the most, Walsh was unable to force overtime, leading to a Seahawks loss. Funny how the world comes full circle.
9. Atlanta Falcons (6-4, Previous Ranking: 12)
Last Week: W, 34-31, at Seahawks
Next Week: vs. Buccaneers (4-6)
Really felt like this game was going to be another disappointing Falcons implosion leading to defeat. But thanks to Blair Walsh, that wasn’t the case. Still, the Falcons don’t have the feeling of a Super Bowl contender, but they are doing well enough at this point to be here on the power rankings.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-3, Previous Ranking: 10)
Last Week: W, 19-7, at Browns
Next Week: at Cardinals (4-6)
It wasn’t an exciting game, but the Jaguars found a way to win with their elite defense. The one thing that is going to hold this team back is if the defense doesn’t get the job done. I do not trust Blake Bortles to lead this team to victory in January. They need to hope that the defense holds up.
7. Carolina Panthers (7-3, Previous Ranking: 9)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: at Jets (4-6)
Which Panthers will show up for the remainder of the season? The ones that put on a clinic against the Dolphins? Or the ones that put up a pathetic showing against the Bears? Carolina is in a deceptively good position to jump up the rankings depending on how things shake out and are still knocking on the door for taking the NFC South lead away from the Saints.
6. Los Angeles Rams (7-3, Previous Ranking: 4)
Last Week: L, 24-7, at Vikings
Next Week: vs. Saints (8-2)
With the loss to the Vikings, the Rams come back down to earth and gave other teams a template to shut down arguably the best offense in the league. The road to the playoffs doesn’t get any easier with a pivotal matchup with the Saints in Week 12, a game that will go a long way in further sorting out the NFC seeding.
5. New Orleans Saints (8-2, Previous Ranking: 3)
Last Week: W, 34-31 (OT), vs. Redskins
Next Week: at Rams (7-3)
Props to the Redskins for keeping this one close, but the Saints did what all great teams should be able to do: pull off a win, no matter how ugly it was. A lot of the “ugliness” stems from their defense, which showed some vulnerability against Kirk Cousins.
4. Minnesota Vikings (8-2, Previous Ranking: 6)
Last Week: W, 24-7, vs. Rams
Next Week: at Lions (6-4)
Talk about a statement win. The Vikings needed a huge matchup to establish themselves and a legitimate threat to the Eagles. The Vikings can also take further control of the NFC North by beating the rival Lions, which helps them keep pace with the Eagles. The Vikings are better on both sides of the ball than a lot of people realize.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2, Previous Ranking: 5)
Last Week: W, 40-17, vs. Titans
Next Week: vs. Packers (5-5)
Finally, the 30+ point explosion fans have been waiting for. The scary thing? The Steelers left a lot on the field against the Titans. If they can hit their stride and play at this level consistently, the Steelers will be a team that no one wants to face in January.
2. New England Patriots (8-2, Previous Ranking: 2)
Last Week: W, 33-8, at Raiders
Next Week: vs. Dolphins (4-6)
This should come as a surprise to no one: the Patriots are maturing right before our eyes, just like always. And just like always, this is a team that is likely destined for yet another AFC Championship game.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (9-1, Previous Ranking: 1)
Last Week: W, 37-9, at Cowboys
Next Week: vs. Bears (3-7)
The Eagles firmly put their mark on the NFC East, finalizing the notion that this is the best team in the East, the NFC, and the NFL. The Eagles control their own destiny. No other team has looked this complete for this long this season. Still crazy to think that they were 1 score away from being undefeated.
