NFL Power Rankings (After Week 13)




Suddenly, things have turned a bit topsy-turvy and a big reason why was the Houston Texans' win at home on Sunday night against the defending champion New England Patriots. The Patriots slip out of the Top 5 to No. 8 this week, while the Texans move up from No. 9 to No. 5. Buffalo moves up to No. 6, but two big tests lay ahead for the Bills with Baltimore (No. 1) and New England. No new teams in the Top 10. Here's what it looks like with four more weeks left:

1 (1 last week) Baltimore (10-2): The Ravens are really, really good. They keep proving it whether it's bad teams or really good teams, like the San Francisco 49ers, who the Ravens beat, 20-17, on Justin Tucker's last-second field goal. Looking more and more like the Ravens will be one tough out for the playoffs.

2 (2) Seattle (10-2): Seahawks spotted Minnesota a halftime lead, then cruised right past them without much of a fight in the second half. Seahawks will have another big test tonight against the Los Angeles Rams at the Coliseum.

 3. (3) San Francisco (10-2): No shame in losing to the No. 1 team in the league at this point, the Ravens. Technically, the 49ers are now the first wild card, but will remain where they are in this ranking despite the loss.

 4. (5) New Orleans (10-2): Boy, what will the Saints have to do now they have the NFC South locked up? Go after the best record in the conference. That drive toward that goal starts Sunday with the 49ers coming to town.

 5. (9) Houston (8-4): When you knock off the defending Super Bowl champions, people are going to pay attention to you. And after this win over the Patriots Sunday night, more attention should be paid to this team. They've probably driven coach Bill O'Brien nuts at times, but they're playing as they should be at this point.

 6. (7) Buffalo (9-3): The schedule tells you to go out and beat the teams put in front of you. The Bills beat the flailing Dallas Cowboys in Dallas on Thanksgiving Day. The next three games, though, are challenges -- home to No. 1 Baltimore Sunday, then away at up-and-down, but competitive Pittsburgh the next Sunday, and then away at No. 8 New England the following Sunday.

 7. (8) Green Bay (9-3): The New York Giants put a scare into the Packers for like 20 seconds. Then the Packers went about their business in a 31-13 win. Packers are home to Washington this Sunday.

 8. (4) New England (10-2): It's not the fact the Patriots lost to Houston on Sunday night. It's the way the Patriots looked losing that would bother some. After Tom Brady has finished yelling at each player who did wrong last Sunday night, the Patriots have to go back into battle to host rising Kansas City Sunday afternoon.

 9. (10) Kansas City (8-4): The Chiefs inflicted their will on the stumbling and fumbling Oakland Raiders, 40-9. Now Mahomes and Co. must take on the Patriots, who are at a crossroads in their season. Which team snaps out of it and wins Sunday afternoon/evening?

 10. (6) Minnesota (8-4): If the game had stopped after the first half, we'd have lauded the Vikings for a great effort. Then they had to play the second half. Whoops! The Vikings looked far from contenders against that Seattle team that is flying high. Time will tell what happens from here. Minny hosts NFC North rival Detroit Sunday.

 Adios!: No one. No one left!



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