Arizona Sports NFL Power Rankings Week 12: Eagles hold, Saints creep up
Nov 21, 2017, 3:55 PM
After 11 weeks of the 2017 NFL season, it’s looking more and more like there’s only six-to-eight good teams in the entire league.
There’s no debating the top two. The Philadelphia Eagles marched into Dallas and dismantled the fragile Cowboys 37-9 Sunday night. The New England Patriots proved their dominance in another country, beating up on the Oakland Raiders in Mexico.
The New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings also stayed red-hot with wins.
Here’s a look at our 1-32 NFL pecking order heading into Week 12.
Ties will go to the team that receives the majority of higher rankings from our panel.
Biggest Fallers: Green Bay Packers ▼6
1. Philadelphia Eagles (9-1)
Shift: —
Hi: 1
Lo: 2
Comment: Carson Wentz is the leader for the MVP, balance on offense and defense. — Jurecki
Next: vs. Chicago
2. New England Patriots (8-2)
Shift: —
Hi: 1
Lo: 2
Comment: Tom Brady is the first QB to pass for 300-plus yards in three countries: U.S., Great Britain and Mexico. — Morgan
Next: vs. Miami
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2)
Shift: —
Hi: 3
Lo: 5
Comment: Barely beat the Colts… and then put up 40 on the Titans. Makes total sense. — Lapinski
Next: vs. Green Bay
4. New Orleans Saints (8-2)
Shift: ▲2
Hi: 3
Lo: 5
Comment: Down 15 late in the 4th and still win. Charmed life. — Burns
Next: at LA Rams
5. Minnesota Vikings (8-2)
Shift: —
Hi: 3
Lo: 5
Comment: QB Case Keenum hasn’t been sacked in six straight games. — Morgan
Next: at Detroit (Thursday)
6. Carolina Panthers (7-3)
Shift: ▲2
Hi: 6
Lo: 8
Comment: Greg Olsen ready to return, giving Panthers another weapon. — Marotta
Next: at NY Jets
7. Los Angeles Rams (7-3)
Shift: ▼3
Hi: 6
Lo: 9
Comment: Robert Woods out for a couple of weeks with a shoulder injury, first big injury this year. — Jurecki
Next: vs. New Orleans
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-3)
Shift: ▲2
Hi: 7
Lo: 8
Comment: Hungry defense has forced three or more turnovers in a game four times this year. — Marotta
Next: at Arizona
9. Atlanta Falcons (6-4)
Shift: ▲3
Hi: 8
Lo: 9
Comment: The Falcons moved ahead of the Seahawks and Lions into the final wild card spot with a win over Seattle on Monday. — Morgan
Next: vs. Tampa Bay
10. Seattle Seahawks (6-4)
Shift: ▼1
Hi: 10
Lo: 10
Comment: Pete Carroll’s decision to go for a fake field goal might ruin Seattle’s playoff chances. — Marotta
Next: at San Francisco
11. Kansas City Chiefs (6-4)
Shift: ▼4
Hi: 11
Lo: 14
Comment: They scored nine points vs. the wretched Giants. Ed Rooney approves. — Burns
Next: vs. Buffalo
12. Detroit Lions (6-4)
Shift: ▲2
Hi: 11
Lo: 13
Comment: Three straight wins! (over the Aaron Rodgers-less Packers, Browns and Bears). — Lapinski
Next: vs. Minnesota (Thursday)
13. Tennessee Titans (6-4)
Shift: ▼2
Hi: 11
Lo: 15
Comment: The AFC Wild Card teams will be lousy teams this season. The Titans lead that pack with a minus-31 point differential. — Morgan
Next: at Indianapolis
14. Dallas Cowboys (5-5)
Shift: ▼1
Hi: 13
Lo: 16
Comment: Clearly the Cowboys miss Zeke Elliott, Tyron Smith and Sean Lee. — Jurecki
Next: vs. LA Chargers (Thursday)
15. Baltimore Ravens (5-5)
Shift: ▲4
Hi: 12
Lo: 16
Comment: The last time Baltimore had three shutouts in a season was the Super Bowl-winning team (4) in 2000. — Morgan
Next: vs. Houston (Monday night)
16. Washington Redskins (4-5)
Shift: ▲2
Hi: 14
Lo: 21
Comment: That’s pretty much the definition of a demoralizing loss. — Lapinski
Next: vs. NY Giants (Thursday)
17. Los Angeles Chargers (4-6)
Shift: ▲4
Hi: 15
Lo: 19
Comment: Right now, the 4-6 Chargers are arguably the best team in the AFC West. — Marotta
Next: at Dallas (Thursday)
18. Oakland Raiders (4-6)
Shift: ▼2
Hi: 18
Lo: 22
Comment: Oakland’s defense has gone 10 straight weeks without an INT. The 1976-77 49ers are the only other team to do that. — Morgan
Next: vs. Denver
19. Cincinnati Bengals (4-6)
Shift: ▲8
Hi: 18
Lo: 25
Comment: Started the season with three running backs, yet they’re the worst rushing team in football. — Lapinski
Next: vs. Cleveland
20. Buffalo Bills (5-5)
Shift: ▼5
Hi: 15
Lo: 24
Comment: Peterman sounds like a super hero who has the power to give an opposing defense turnovers. — Marotta
Next: at Kansas City
21. Houston Texans (4-6)
Shift: ▲3
Hi: 18
Lo: 23
Comment: The Tom Savage redemption tour started vs. Arizona. — Burns
Next: at Baltimore (Monday night)
22. New York Jets (4-6)
Shift: —
Hi: 19
Lo: 23
Comment: Maybe the Todd Bowles watch is back on? — Burns
Next: vs. Carolina
23. Green Bay Packers (5-5)
Shift: ▼6
Hi: 17
Lo: 26
Comment: Unless Aaron Rodgers returns sooner vs. later, they won’t win many games with Brett Hundley. — Jurecki
Next: at Pittsburgh
24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6)
Shift: ▲2
Hi: 21
Lo: 26
Comment: Tampa Bay Times columnist Tom Jones: “It’s troublesome to wonder if the face of your franchise is a really bad guy.” — Morgan
Next: at Atlanta
25. Arizona Cardinals (4-6)
Shift: ▼5
Hi: 21
Lo: 26
Comment: Embarrassing performance by the defense and the receiving corps (again) in Houston. — Marotta
Next: vs. Jacksonville
26. Chicago Bears (3-7)
Shift: ▲2
Hi: 25
Lo: 28
Comment: Getting there, but John Fox won’t be around to see it. — Burns
Next: at Philadelphia
27. Miami Dolphins (4-6)
Shift: ▼2
Hi: 25
Lo: 29
Comment: Career in a nutshell: Jay Cutler threw 3 first-half INTs, got booed and didn’t play in the second half due to a concussion. — Morgan
Next: at New England
28. Denver Broncos (3-7)
Shift: ▼4
Hi: 27
Lo: 28
Comment: I guess John Elway couldn’t fire himself? — Marotta
Next: at Oakland
29. Indianapolis Colts (3-7)
Shift: —
Hi: 29
Lo: 31
Comment: Indy got a week off from this mess. — Burns
Next: vs. Tennessee
30. New York Giants (2-8)
Shift: ▲1
Hi: 28
Lo: 31
Comment: The Giants bounced back with a quality win over the Chiefs, still think McAdoo and Reese will be gone. — Jurecki
Next: at Washington (Thursday)
31. San Francisco 49ers (1-9)
Shift: ▼3
Hi: 31
Lo: 30
Comment: So… Garoppolo anytime soon or… no? — Lapinski
Next: vs. Seattle
32. Cleveland Browns (0-10)
Shift: —
Hi: 32
Lo: 32
Comment: The Browns are 4-43 since Nov. 30, 2014 — the worst 47-game stretch in NFL history. — Morgan
Next: at Cincinnati
