Arizona Sports Week 13 NFL Power Rankings: Cowboys still on top
Nov 29, 2016, 5:41 PM | Updated: Nov 30, 2016, 7:02 am
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) and Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman (24) have a heated exchange on the field after their NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
(AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
They got a scare, but the Dallas Cowboys hung on for a Thanksgiving Day win over the rival Washington Redskins. As a result, they hold on to the top spot in the Arizona Sports NFL Power Rankings for Week 13.
The New England Patriots moved up a spot after struggling with the New York Jets, while the Oakland Raiders inch up to number three after winning a shootout against the Carolina Panthers.
For the Arizona Cardinals, their descent continued after dropping a 38-19 decision on the road against the Atlanta Falcons.
And if you like movement, stay away from the final five teams in the pecking order. The Jets, Bears, Jaguars, 49ers and Browns are stuck in NFL quicksand. At least the Bears and Niners have a chance to graduate from the group of death this week as those two teams play each other at Soldier Field.
Here’s the way our panel voted this week
Here’s each member’s individual ballot
1. Dallas Cowboys (10-1) —
Being led by a pair of rookies makes this team all the more worrisome. They’ll be good for a while. — Green
Next: at Minnesota
2. New England Patriots (9-2) ▲1
Struggled without Gronk, but I still think they’re the best in the AFC. — Burns
Next: vs. Los Angeles
3. Oakland Raiders (9-2) ▲ 1
Khalil Mack ate Cam Newton for lunch…and dinner. — Grialou
Next: vs. Buffalo
4. Kansas City Chiefs (8-3) ▲ 2
Cairo Santos’ 34-yard field goal avoided a third NFL tie for the first time since 1973. — Morgan
Next: at Atlanta
5. Seattle Seahawks (7-3-1) ▼ 3
Third game without a TD this season in most recent loss to Tampa Bay. — Marotta
Next: vs. Carolina
6. New York Giants (8-3) —
JPP can beat Cleveland with one hand — or at least a few less fingers than everyone else. — Grialou
Next: at Pittsburgh
7. Atlanta Falcons (7-4) ▲ 2
Their offense has replaced the Cardinals’ as the NFC’s best freak show. — Burns
Next: vs. Kansas City
8. Denver Broncos (7-4) ▼ 3
Can we really fault Gary Kubiak from saving us from another tie? — Lapinski
Next: at Jacksonville
9. Detroit Lions (7-4) ▲ 1
The best team in the NFC North. I can’t believe I just typed those words in relation to ‘Detroit.’ — Dimakos
Next: at New Orleans
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) ▲ 2
They’ve beaten Cody Kessler, Josh McCown AND Scott Tolzien in the last two weeks! — Lapinski
Next: vs. NY Giants
11. Miami Dolphins (7-4) ▲ 2
A six-game winning streak is a six-game winning streak. — Burns
Next: at Baltimore
12. Washington Redskins (6-4-1) ▼ 4
Hoping the Cardinals win Sunday so I don’t have to see Daniel Snyder dance. — Dimakos
Next: at Arizona
13. Baltimore Ravens (6-5) ▲ 4
Still uninspired by this bunch. — Burns
Next: vs. Miami
14. Buffalo Bills (6-5) ▲ 2
Lose two. Win four. Lose three. Win two. Streak much? — Green
Next: at Oakland
15. Minnesota Vikings (6-5) ▼4
Remember when Sam Bradford was an MVP candidate? Yeah, me neither. — Marotta
Next: vs. Dallas
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5) ▲ 5
5-2 in their last seven games and just held Russell Wilson to five points. — Burns
Next: at San Diego
17. Houston Texans (6-5) ▼ 3
“I didn’t play very well.” — Brock Osweiler’s go-to quote in 2016. — Marotta
Next: at Green Bay
18. Green Bay Packers (5-6) ▲ 5
Aaron Rodgers says the Pack can run the table. Doubtful, but he’s the guy that could to it. — Morgan
Next: vs. Houston
19. Tennessee Titans (6-6) ▲ 1
Next two games are tough. If the Titans split them, they could be a playoff team. — Green
Next: Bye
20. New Orleans Saints (5-6) ▲ 4
Scored 49 points without targeting Brandin Cooks once. Odd. — Lapinski
Next: vs. Detroit
21. Philadelphia Eagles (5-6) ▼ 6
Not enough receivers in Wentzlyvania yet. — Lapinski
Next: at Cincinnati
22. San Diego Chargers (5-6) ▲ 4
Hanging around. — Burns
Next: vs. Tampa Bay
23. Arizona Cardinals (4-6-1) ▼ 5
It’s called a football. Catch it, Michael Floyd. — Grialou
Next: vs. Washington
24. Indianapolis Colts (5-6) ▼ 5
That was a mulligan without Andrew Luck. — Dimakos
Next: at NY Jets
25. Carolina Panthers (4-7) ▼ 3
The Panthers have a slight edge on the Cardinals for the title of the NFL’s most disappointing team. — Morgan
Next: at Seattle
26. Cincinnati Bengals (3-7-1) ▲ 1
They’ve won once since September. And that was against the Browns. — Lapinski
Next: vs. Philadelphia
27. Los Angeles Rams (4-7) ▼ 2
The Rams should ban Jeff Fisher from the sideline, not Eric Dickerson. — Burns
Next: at New England
28. New York Jets (3-8) —
Maybe Todd Bowles will end up back in Arizona after all. — Dimakos
Next: vs. Indianapolis
29. Chicago Bears (2-9) —
Will there be a parade to help escort Jay Cutler out of town? — Grialou
Next: vs. San Francisco
30. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9) —
If you ignore their record and their performance, they might be ranked higher. — Green
Next: vs. Denver
31. San Francisco 49ers (1-10) —
Trent Baalke caught on LinkedIn after the game. — Burns
Next: at Chicago
32. Cleveland Browns (0-11) —
They’re going to finish 0-16, and a crying Hue Jackson knows it. — Marotta
Next: Bye
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