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NFL Power Rankings: Cardinals return to No. 1; Chiefs, Patriots Rise as Cowboys, Bills Drop in Week 12


Week 11 in the NFL brought more unpredictable results. If the course of the games was predictable on the whole, it would be a story by now.

The wild, quirky 2021 parity season has taken “any Sunday” to a whole new level. Every week, disturbances and starts change the landscape of the league as it tries to separate the best teams from the worst.

Starting at #1 (again), there are bigger changes, more risky and more difficult, in this week’s Sporting News strength rankings. Here’s how SN sees teams stacked, 1-32, going into Week 12:

THAN: NFL rankings update, playoff images for Week 11

NFL Power Rankings

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1. Arizona Cardinals 9-2 (previous: 3)

The Cardinals won another game without Kyler Murray as Colt McCoy became a supersub in Seattle, helped greatly by the running and defensive game. Kliff Kingsbury’s team proved to be more complete than expected; it can enjoy Week 12 goodbye knowing Murray should be back on the other side of it.

2. Green Bay Packers 8-3 (2)

The Packers tried their best to knock the Vikings down when Aaron Rodgers competed with a painful toe injury. Running games have performed well with AJ Dillon replacing Aaron Jones, but the defense still lacks the juice to consistently slow opponents down.

3. Tennessee Titans 8-3 (1)

What is that? The roads depended on the Titans’ running with Derrick Henry catching them up against the Texans when they couldn’t make it through the rain and wind. Ryan Tannehill couldn’t play like that because the defense simply wasn’t good enough to get through it.

4. Los Angeles Rams 7-3 (6)

The Rams had to bid farewell to regroup after their defeat to the Titans and 49ers. They still look like the limited wild side of last season under Sean McVay. Recent results show that Matthew Stafford is not giving them a higher ceiling.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6-3 (7)

The Buccaneers have a big chance to be flexible Monday night after the Packers and Cowboys fell on Sunday. They will be pleased about the chance to recover at home with Tom Brady at the helm after losses to the Saints and Washington.

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6. Baltimore Raven 7-3 (8)

Crows don’t get any style points for beating Bears, but they do earn more street credits for winning a defensive slugfest. Last-minute replacement Tyler Huntley proved capable of substituting for Lamar Jackson. Credits to John Harbaugh’s coaching of the team through numerous injuries.

7. Kansas City Chiefs 7-4 (9)

The Chiefs racked up four straight wins, putting the stamp on their impressive November reign, by beating the Cowboys. The only thing that could slow their momentum with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid is their Week 12 goodbye.

CHIEFS PLAYOFF PICTURE: KC Becomes Super Bowl Favorite

8. Dallas Cowboys 7-3 (4)

The Cowboys were ripped apart in Kansas City without Amari Cooper and after losing CeeDee Lamb in a concussion. Dak Prescott was left to commit another offence. Dallas also showed a lot of dents even though the defense played quite well. They have a short challenge of the week with the next home Raiders.

9. New England Patriots 7-4 (10)

The Patriots used consistent training, a defensive foundation, and quick power to take advantage of attrition in the AFC. They are showing a lot of the familiar winning elements under Bill Belichick, now with only Mac Jones in control instead of Brady.

10. Los Angeles 6-4 (11) Charger

The charger needs all the dynamic play from Justin Herbert and Austin Ekeler to hold back the Steelers’ furious comeback on Sunday night. Their reward for Brandon Staley finding enough defense in the end was to get close to the knockout stages while staying close to the captains.

11. Buffalo Bills 6-4 (5)

The Bills had their own way to fight the Colts. The running defense suddenly withered and the attack led by Josh Allen was fundamentally broken. They reached an incredible turn at the end of the season after plummeting from “the new AFC favorite” to “near the AFC-favorite team”.

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12. Cincinnati Bengals 6-4 (15)

The Bengals have become strong after the goodbye, starting with defensive and operational play. Joe Burrow has been helping people settle down in a nice way as the second half of the season gets underway. Cincinnati now has a chance to make it to the knockout stages.

13. Cleveland Browns 6-5 (16)

The Browns weren’t quite right. Their offense is still finding more pop while Baker Mayfield plays the running game. His injuries are affecting him; they are making him a better leader as he tries to keep his team in the playoff race.

14. Minnesota Vikings 5-5 (17)

The Vikings could be a lot higher in the NFC rankings with better results from their first-time singles games, but all of that was quickly forgotten with near wins. here before the Panthers, Chargers and Packers. The key to reaching the knockout stages will always be consistent across four quarters per game over the last two months.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers 5-4-1 (13)

The Steelers came to Los Angeles with a shaky defense and an offensive pass that couldn’t keep up. They have to finish strong against the rest of the AFC North to return to the knockout stages after winning last season.

16. Indianapolis Colts 6-5 (19)

The Colts are riding Jonathan Taylor and the game is running, which is making things a lot easier for Carson Wentz and the defence. Frank Reich’s side are making a late surge for an AFC wild card and could soon have the Titans sweating in the South.

THAN: Five crazy stats from Jonathan Taylor’s TD year race on the Bills

17. Las Vegas Raiders 5-5 (12)

The Raiders did their best to make things work without Jon Gruden, but the adversity and weight of other issues became too much, especially with Derek Carr not playing well and the game being running doesn’t help much.

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18. San Francisco 49ers 5-5 (23)

Turns out Kyle Shanahan can train. The attack is causing a stir with better health and a Jimmy Garoppolo in place. The defense has begun to respond behind Nick Bosa. The 49ers aren’t all the way back, but they are on the verge of becoming a playoff team again.

19. Philadelphia Eagles 5-6 (22)

The Eagles started feeling it with Jalen Hurts and offense after a while feeling comfortable with Nick Sirianni. The defense is reacting to Sirianni’s bombastic approach. Do not sleep on them stealing a wild card.

20. New Orleans Saints 5-5 (14)

The Saints are retracing to averages after being overactive under Sean Payton. They’re missing Jameis Winston more than expected, and this version of the offense isn’t like that as Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill don’t have key contacts. The defense must also recover soon.

21. Denver Broncos 5-5 (20)

The Broncos didn’t play in Week 11 but there will be little confidence that they will return to the AFC playoffs with their shaky quarterbacks and crumbling defence. This could be it for Vic Fangio for the last few months.

22. Carolina Panthers 5-6 (18)

The Panthers get more spark from Cam Newton but their offense is still largely fueled by Christian McCaffrey. They looked better on that side, but unfortunately for them, the defense kept giving up on Matt Rhule.

THAN: Newton thanks Panthers fans for ‘good juju’, explains 50-yard TD celebration

23. Washington 4-6 football team (25)

Washington may need to rethink his future at QB because of how Taylor Heinicke is playing in Scott Turner’s system, especially given that he’s downed a key weapon in the hands of Curtis wide receiver Samuel and Logan Thomas. Heinicke is trying to end the season as a starter regardless of Ryan Fitzpatrick’s injury condition.

24. Atlanta Falcons 4-6 (21)

The Falcons didn’t score in Week 11 and any good feelings that might have persisted with Arthur Smith and Matt Ryan vanished following the limitations of offensive personnel. The defense also needs further overhaul.

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25. Seattle Seahawks 3-7 (24)

Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll no longer get what they need to win games. Attack and defense are still out of sync. Unless the Seahawks win six of their last seven games, their 500-plus-season streak in the Wilson era will end at nine.

26. New York Giants 3-6 (27)

The Giants saw the Cowboys lose in Week 11, but with Washington and the Eagles both winning, it’s even more difficult for them to hold onto their final spot in the league after finishing second a year ago. The Buccaneers game is like a big knockdown punch.

27. Miami Dolphins 4-7 (28)

The Dolphins are off the carpet and can now try to hit the mark for a disappointing follow-up season under Brian Flores. It’s a good sign that the defense is working as the backbone again.

28. Chicago Bears 3-7 (26)

The Bears lost Justin Fields and then tried their best to outlast Jackson-less Raven with Andy Dalton, but they simply lacked the firepower and experience as the likes of Allen Robinson, Khalil Mack and Eddie Jackson did not play. It’s all over for Matt Nagy and the rest of the coaching staff.

REGION UPDATE: Nagy ‘has no opinion’ on QB’s status

29. Houston Texans 2-8 (31)

The Texans showed up physically and fought hard to take down the Titans in their best performance under David Culley. Tyrod Taylor is a gamer and a leader; when he’s out there, they can’t be seen as promoters.

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30. Jacksonville Jaguars 2-8 (29))

The Jaguars were pulled down even further by a smart, well-trained 49ers team that also had plenty of their fans in Jacksonville. Trevor Lawrence’s setback and offense will lead to major changes for Year 2.

31. New York Jets 2-8 (30)

The Jets should have played a more inspired defense for Robert Saleh against the Dolphins but their limited talent has become difficult to overcome. Joe Flacco and Elijah Moore fouled a bit, but losing rookie quarterback Michael Carter hurt a lot.

32. Detroit Lions 0-9-1 (32)

The Lions once again put up a tough fight against an AFC North opponent along the way, but this time, they didn’t even get a draw to prove it. They will have a fighting chance in a happy Thanksgiving at home against the Bears.





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