We’re down to our final five games of the NFL season, we’re past Thanksgiving and after this weekend every team will have taken its bye. The Power Rankings now officially serve three purposes; a playoff prediction, a momentum watcher and a 2017 NFL Draft order preview. On to the rankings.
1. Dallas Cowboys – (10-1) With a couple other games falling into place the Cowboys can officially clinch a playoff spot this Sunday. If they don’t, they’ll just do it next week. Either way the Cowboys are not only the front-runner in the NFC, they look like the frontrunner to win the Super Bowl all with a rookie quarterback. Unreal. Last week: 1
2. New York Giants – (8-3) The Giants continue to win and gain momentum aimed at the end of the season. Unfortunately the gauntlet begins Sunday with a trip to Pittsburgh, then the Cowboys. The Giants are on the way to the playoffs, but they might suffer back-to-back losses on the way. Last week: 3
3. Oakland Raiders – (9-2) For some reason the Raiders moved down in the NFL’s tie-breaking procedure last week and were jumped by the Patriots in the AFC home field advantage race. Derek Carr reacted by popping his dislocated finger back into place and beating the 2015 NFC Champions. Don’t worry about home field right now, Raiders. It’ll take care of itself. Last week: 4
4. New England Patriots – (9-2) The Pats are back in the driver’s seat in the AFC and with a home game against the hapless Jeff Fisher-coached Los Angeles Rams coming up Sunday, are in no danger of dropping. The fall comes next week thanks to Baltimore. Last week: 5
5. Kansas City Chiefs – (8-3) The Chiefs are in first place in the AFC Wild Card race and a game behind the Raiders in the AFC West. They’re also a game ahead of the Broncos and, fun fact, the Chiefs have beaten both of those teams already this season. Last week: 7
6. Atlanta Falcons – (7-4) The Falcons have the look of a team a year away from blasting through its Super Bowl window to participate in about three of them like the 1991 Cowboys or the 1996 Packers. It’s not happening this year. This team is obviously still raw with some holes. But a nice draft and a few key free agents and this team (along with the Dallas Cowboys), will be your early 2017 NFC favorite. Last week: 8
7. Seattle Seahawks – (7-3-1) That was an ugly loss, Sunday, Seahawks. It means one of two things; 1. The Bucs are for real or 2. Your offensive line is a tire fire. I think it’s a little of column “A” and a little of colmumn “B.” Last week: 2
8. Denver Broncos – (7-4) I don’t care what any NFL pundit sitting on his ass behind a desk or computer says about going for that 62-yard field goal to win the game in overtime against the Chiefs. It was the right call. The look on Von Miller’s face as the game ended proved that. And if it costs you a playoff spot, so be it. You’re not a Super Bowl team so take the lower mid-round draft pick and load back up. Last week: 5
9. Miami Dolphins – (7-4) Adam Gase is firmly in the NFL Coach of the Year conversation after opening the first month of the season on our Coach Ineptitude List. Quite a feat, but winning six straight games will do that for you. Last week: 10
10. Pittsburgh Steelers – (6-5) The Steelers can do a lot to help their playoff chances and wrap up the NFC East for the Cowbosy with a win over the Giants this week. Unlike some of our other matchups in weeks past, this one is a legitimate potential Super Bowl preview. Last week: 12
11. Washington Redskins – (6-4-1) A two-spot drop isn’t bad after a solid game against the Cowboys. The Redskins were destined to lose that game regardless, but coming in after a late Sunday game just four days before, there was no chance. Still Washington showed up and battled and could be a dangerous team to face in the playoffs if they make it. I still don’t think they will. Last week: 9
12. Green Bay Packers – (5-6) After every win the refrain is the same, “They looked like the old Packers.” No, they didn’t. They looked good for about a quarter and a half and then Mike McCarthy had to start making adjustments. Which made the game against the Eagles a hell of a lot closer than it needed to be. Last week: 14
13. Detroit Lions – (7-4) There isn’t a “Bad Coach of the Year” award, but, by God, there should be. If there were, Jim Caldwell would be running away with it hands down. Not only does he have the Lions in playoff contention, they control their own destiny in the AFC North. Two things unthinkable just a couple of months ago. Last week: 15
14. Philadelphia Eagles – (5-6) The Eagles aren’t going to make the playoffs, but the fact that they flirted with it for this long is a testament to how good Carson Wentz is going to be and how good a coach Doug Pederson already is. Last week: 11
To see the rest of the Week 13 NFL Power Rankings, click here.
