NFL Week 13 Power Rankings and Playoff Predictions
By Adam Hughes
Nov 23, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass against the Detroit Lions during the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports
As Week 13 dawns, the NFL season is just about three-quarters of the way finished, as all teams will have played at least 12 games by the end of Monday Night Football. With that in mind and the end in sight, it’s time to hunker down and rank the 32 teams from top to bottom as the stretch run looms. As a bonus, we throw in our predictions for which teams will make the playoffs so that we can all have a good laugh a month from now when the landscape changes, as it inevitably does in the NFL.
The rankings …
32. Jacksonville Jaguars – The Jags are really bad, but at least they’re young.
31. Tennessee Titans – The Raiders have a worse record, but the Titans are a worse team.
30. Oakland Raiders – The Raiders got off the snide by beating a good Kansas City team. The 2008 Detroit Lions can rest easy.
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Lovie Smith not getting much love in first year in TB.
28. New York Jets – The only question for the Jets at the end of 2014 is whether or not Rex Ryan can keep his job.
27. Washington Redskins – It’s getting ugly in the capital for RGIII. Remember when we used to ask if he was better than Andrew Luck?
26. Carolina Panthers – The highlight of the Panthers’ season will be that tie with the Bengals. Blech!
25. Atlanta Falcons – The Falcons were once thought to be a playoff contender in 2014. Since they’re in the NFC South, they still are.
24. New York Giants – Eli Manning and company play hard, but they just can’t seem to get over the hump to another win.
23. Minnesota Vikings – The Vikes played relatively well against the Packers, but they’re still at least a year away from contention.
22. New Orleans Saints – With Drew Brees, the Saints CAN win most games … but they just choose not to. Prediction: NFC South Champions
21. Chicago Bears – Tough call between the Bears and Rams for this slot and the next, but Chicago is just too inconsistent.
20. St. Louis Rams – Inconsistent, too, but seem to play their best against good opponents.
19. Houston Texans – Didn’t play well against the Bengals, but a Arian Foster would have helped.
18. Buffalo Bills – Snow or no, the Bills can finish .500 this season.
17. San Diego Chargers – Promising start has fizzled in the cold, gray San Diego winter.
16. Kansas City Chiefs – Losing to the Raiders hurts a bunch.
15. Miami Dolphins – Best Dolphins team in awhile will come up short.
14. Seattle Seahawks – A win at home against the upstart Cardinals is not enough to convince that the Seahawks have fixed themselves.
13. Cleveland Browns – Behind Arizona, the Browns are the surprise of the league, but the AFC North is brutal.
12. Detroit Lions – The Lions have dropped two in a row and may have trouble staying in the playoff race.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers – Will Big Ben throw six touchdowns, or will the Steelers forget to show up? You never know from week to week. Prediction: AFC Wild Card
10. San Francisco 49ers – Don’t look now, but the Niners have won three in a row. Prediction: NFC Wild Card
9. Cincinnati Bengals – For all their faults, the Bengals still hold the keys to the division championship. Prediction: AFC North Champion
8. Philadelphia Eagles – The Eagles are flying high, but they need to figure out their quarterback situation. Prediction: NFC Wild Card
7. Dallas Cowboys – If Tony Romo can stay on the field, the Cowboys are going to be tough come January. Prediction: NFC East Champion
6. Baltimore Ravens – The Ravens are better than the Bengals, but the Bengals swept the season series. Go figure. Prediction: AFC Wild Card
5. Arizona Cardinals – Bruce Arians has worked his magic in the desert, and the Cards aren’t done by a long shot. Prediction: NFC West Champion
4. Indianapolis Colts – They’ve quietly put together another solid season in the muck of the AFC South. Prediction: AFC South Champion
3. Denver Broncos – Peyton Manning is not completely right physically, but a diminished Peyton armed with weapons is still dangerous. Prediction: AFC West Champion
2. Green Bay Packers – They’re the best team in the NFC, and rolling on a week-by-week basis. After a rough start, the Pack have relaxed. Prediction: NFC North Champion
1. New England Patriots – I hate the Patriots as much as the next Bengals/Colts/Peyton Manning fan, but Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are at it again, and the Pats have the steamrolling look of a championship team. Prediction: AFC East Champion