NFL Week 12 Power Rankings: Bills, Broncos and Bears on the rise after wild wins
The Week 12 Power Rankings find the Eagles still on top but the Broncos, Bills and Bears all on the rise after impressive victories.
www.nytimes.com
The NFL has reached peak NFL as we hit the Week 12 Power Rankings. Five teams — the Dolphins, Panthers, Bears, Texans and Broncos — won on the final play Sunday, which tied the league’s single-day record. Three more teams — the Bills, Packers and Ravens — erased fourth-quarter deficits on the way to victory.
For everyone who wants the NFL to be The Parity Product, it was a great day. But, we’ve got to tell you, it doesn’t make the power rankings any easier. Here’s our list, along with a thoughtful suggestion for each of the 32 teams.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2)
Last week: 1Sunday: Beat Lions 16-9
A suggestion: Be more interesting
Thank goodness for A.J. Brown. The wide receiver’s weekly passive-aggressive complaints about his role in the offense are the only things making this team worth watching anymore. Jalen Hurts completed 14 passes for 135 yards Sunday night. The sublime Saquon Barkley averaged 3.2 yards per carry and is 14th in the league in rushing (662 yards). Yet the Eagles and their smothering defense are marching joylessly back toward the Super Bowl.
Up next: at Cowboys, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
2. Los Angeles Rams (8-2)
Last week: 2Sunday: Beat Seahawks 21-19
A suggestion: Start scouting defensive coaches
The two greatest loves of NFL teams — coaches with famous names and coaches from the Rams system — are all wrapped up in L.A. defensive coordinator Chris Shula (grandson of Don), and the Rams defense is on the kind of run that gets assistant coaches head coaching jobs. Los Angeles intercepted Sam Darnold four times and is allowing 13 points per game during its five-game winning streak.
Up next: vs. Buccaneers, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET
3. Indianapolis Colts (8-2)
Last week: 4Sunday: Bye
A suggestion: Give Tyler Warren the ball more
The rookie is tied for fourth among tight ends with 50 catches, but he only has 54 touches (which ranks 74th in the league), and he looks like he could handle more, which would take some weight off Jonathan Taylor. The Colts running back is second in the league with 219 touches, which puts him on pace for 372 this season. That’s a worrisome workload.
Up next: at Chiefs, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
4. Denver Broncos (9-2)
Last week: 7Sunday: Beat Chiefs 22-19
A suggestion: Give Vance Joseph a raise
Denver’s defensive coordinator is not a hot name in the head coaching candidate conversations, but he should be. His first stint as a head coach didn’t go well (11-21 with the Broncos), but in a league of second chances, he ought to get one. The Broncos held a surging Chiefs team to 19 points Sunday and are fourth in the league in defensive EPA (9.8 per 100 snaps), according to TruMedia.
Up next: Bye
5. New England Patriots (9-2)
Last week: 6Thursday: Beat Jets 27-14
A suggestion: Buy a lottery ticket
There’s not a fan base in the country luckier than New Englanders in the last 25 years. The Red Sox have four titles. The Celtics have two. The Bruins have one. The Patriots had Tom Brady, and now they have Drake Maye, who is firmly in the MVP conversation after 281 yards and a touchdown last Thursday night.
Up next: at Bengals, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
6. Seattle Seahawks (7-3)
Last week: 3Sunday: Lost to Rams 21-19
A suggestion: Just run the ball next time
Sam Darnold wilted in the face of the Rams defense again, throwing four interceptions. For the day, Seattle lost the turnover battle four to one and scored just one touchdown on four red zone trips and still lost by only two points. This is still one of the best teams in the NFL. It just needs to keep the ball on the ground against Los Angeles the next time.
Up next: at Titans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/68...darnold-interceptions-rams-seahawks-pick-six/
7. Buffalo Bills (7-3)
Last week: 11Sunday: Beat Buccaneers 44-32
A suggestion: Let Josh cook
Who needs James Cook? Sure, a running game is nice, but watching Josh Allen go full Josh Allen — 317 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, two interceptions, 40 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns — is one of the best ways to spend a Sunday. He became the first player in NFL history to have three passing touchdowns of 25 yards or more and three rushing touchdowns in the same game.
Up next: at Texans, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET
8. Detroit Lions (6-4)
Last week: 5Sunday: Lost to Eagles 16-9
A suggestion: Deep breaths
It turns out that Dan Campbell with a play-call sheet in his hands is even more aggressive than regular Dan Campbell. In his second game calling plays for the Lions, the head coach went for it five times on fourth down. Detroit converted none. NFL teams have attempted at least five fourth downs in 145 games this century. Only one other time has the team failed to convert any of those attempts: the Lions against the Patriots in 2022 (0-for-6). Their head coach? Yep, Dan Campbell.
Up next: vs. Giants, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
The early-season MVP talk has died down, but Baker Mayfield has a chance to impress for the NFC South-leading Buccaneers over their final six games.
Timothy T Ludwig / Getty Images
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4)
Last week: 8Sunday: Lost to Bills 44-32
A suggestion: Don’t panic
The Buccaneers lost for the third time in four games Sunday, and they have the Rams coming up next. But they still lead the NFC South, and their last six games are against the Cardinals, Saints, Falcons, Dolphins and Panthers twice. Baker Mayfield may need to tighten things up, though. Since Week 6, he is 30th in off-target percentage (14.9 percent), according to Pro Football Focus.
Up next: at Rams, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET
10. Green Bay Packers (6-3-1)
Last week: 10Sunday: Beat Giants 27-20
A suggestion: Pray for Josh Jacobs
The Packers wide receivers proved once again Sunday that they can’t really be trusted, dropping three passes (if you’re judging generously). Meanwhile, Jacobs left with a knee injury after seven carries and 40 yards. If this is a serious injury, it’s a huge blow for Green Bay, which relies on the run game to power everything.
Up next: vs. Vikings, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET