Week Thirteen Power Rankings

Scott Hanson's witching hour never fails to disappoint. The Cowboys, as a quarterback-less dumpster fire, accidentally scored 34 points on a team we now have a few questions about after Jayden Daniels set the league on fire. Caleb Williams dropped one of the most elite passes of the year but Eberflus still might lose his job. The Chiefs barely beat the league's smallest quarterback but Mahomes prevailed.

Week 12's oddities gave us one of the most entertaining weekends in football, but that failed to reflect (in my opinion) in Power Rankings: 

Out of Rankings: Arizona Cardinals

Honorable Mention(s): Miami Dolphins

10. Los Angeles Chargers (Previous ranking: 6)

The Chargers are more consistent under Jim Harbaugh than that have been since Air Coryell was invented. As much as that seems like a fallacy, it’s not a flamboyant extension from the truth. Harbaugh’s consistency reflects in his record against his brother. The reality of the matchup was that Baltimore has been swinging with heavier weights for longer than Los Angeles has. The Ravens have a toughness ingrained in them that the Chargers are currently building with their new head coach. They will be a tough out when the postseason comes, but there is still work to do until then.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (Previous ranking: 5)

When snow dives into your quarterback’s face in the midst of a drive, you ought to get a pass, but Russell Wilson and the Steelers lost to the Browns. No matter how many Jameis-isms are proclaimed in the pregame, losing to the Cleveland Browns in 2024 is a bit shameful. Wilson’s revolution of this offense stalled against the desperate Cleveland team, but the defense let Jameis look like the top pick he was drafted to be at times. Pittsburgh has been accused of “playing down” to their competition and it was true on Thursday night.

(Steelers-Browns game flow by Jackson Taylor)

8. Denver Broncos (Previous ranking: NR)

Bo Nix’s calling card ahead of this past draft was how high his floor was. Drafting the all-time leader in college starts, Sean Payton could start winning as soon as possible with as poor a roster as a coach could ask for from the outset. Denver, Bo, and Sean have proved each preseason notion wrong with the vast improvement of their defense and quarterback leading a surprisingly explosive offense. The window would be wide for Denver to make the playoffs if the Chargers and Chiefs hadn’t claimed such comfortable leads.

7. Minnesota Vikings (Previous ranking: 7)

Minnesota has been reduced to a constant, muted hum. Their hot start painted them as bona fide contenders, but the season has proven they are an improved, not great football team. The divisional matchup stretched to overtime, and the Vikings withstood a Throw-of-the-Year candidate from the right shoulder of Caleb Williams to leap to nine wins. A playoff win will spell an incredibly successful season for this team, but they have more work to do if they want to be considered elite.

6. Green Bay Packers (Previous ranking: 9)

With as many injuries on the San Francisco ledger, the Packers’ win shocked no one, but the efficiency might have. The Packers are a better version of the Broncos: they might be the best third place team in their conference. The turnover prone spirit of Brett Favre abides in Jordan Love without the X factor The Gunslinger accompanying it. The Hafley defense has tapered, but they are a team on the prowl with the youth and experience to make a real run at the conference title.

5. Baltimore Ravens (Previous ranking: 10)

The Ravens have the innate ability to disappoint even their strongest of believers yet disprove any of their remaining doubters with one performance to the next. There are two reasons for their buoyancy: their rushing attack and their defense. The balance (or lack thereof) in Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry dominating while the defense flails with yellow handkerchiefs flying through the air. The defense could legitimately be their undoing, but having an elite quarterback, even if his passing game isn’t traditional, his athletic ability is otherworldly, puts you in the elite team conversation. John Harbaugh still has a contingent of Ravens’ fans wanting his head on a stake, but they figure it out each and every year.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (Previous ranking: 4)

Saquon Barkley is the best running back in football. In a world where quarterbacks can afford the teams they play for and wideouts fall into the same tax bracket, the hipster’s favorite for MVP is a Penn State tailback. Saquon covers the major issues of Jalen Hurts’ turnovers, curbed by the box crowding, and Nick Sirianni’s overall silliness, hard to be a joke when your back is taking off for 70-yard scores. The Eagles look like a stronger version of their 2022 NFC Champion team, minus Jason Kelce. Losing Brandon Graham for the season and everyone knowing their propensity for falling apart down the stretch, the Eagles might actually miss their former bearded captain.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (Previous ranking: 3)

The Chiefs beat the Panthers by only three points, but they beat everyone by three (ish) points. Even when Bryce Young (playing his best NFL game yet) tied the game at 27, Patrick Mahomes getting the ball back at 1:46 was more inevitable routine than hurried emergency. The defense hasn’t been as strong in the last month as it has been in the last two seasons, but even when the defense was at its worst in the Mahomes era (2018-2019), Steve Spagnuolo had the same get-your-sh*t-together ability that the offense has shown. DJ Humphries could fix their blind side problems, Pacheco and Omenihu are on their way back, and Hollywood Brown might make his Chiefs debut before the regular season is over. The arrow is solidly up and to-the-right.

(Athlon Sports)

2. Detroit Lions (Previous ranking: 2)

The Lions look like they are here to stay. They have all sorts of streaks on both sides of the ball that show their consistent growth as a team and culture. Dan Campbell lets his coordinators do most of the strategic work while he can master his motivation tactics. Jared Goff’s efficiency levels are not matched in NFL history, which is complemented perfectly by Gibbs and Montgomery. The Lions are reminiscent of last year’s 49ers with their immense talent everywhere working for one common good: total domination.

1. Buffalo Bills (Previous ranking: 1)

Bye Week

Biggest Mover(s): Baltimore Ravens (up 5 spots), Pittsburgh Steelers & Los Angeles Chargers (down 4 spots)

New Appearance(s):  Denver Broncos