Welcome to Week 12 of the Pro Football Network company-wide NFL Power Rankings. While Dalton Miller ably provides his own power rankings following the conclusion of each Sunday’s action, we’ll be polling each of PFN’s NFL contributors to assemble our list.
Each week, we’ll combine rankings from yours truly, Chief Content Officer David Bearman, NFL Director Adam Beasley, Betting Director Brian Blewis, Audience Engagement Director Mike Gambardella, COO Matt Infante, NFL Analyst Dalton Miller, Bengals Reporter Jay Morrison, Cowboys Reporter Jess Nevarez, and Fantasy Director Kyle Yates.
Which teams are too high or too low as we enter Week 12 of the 2023 NFL season?
Pro Football Network’s Week 12 NFL Power Rankings
Week 11 rank listed in parentheses.
32) Carolina Panthers (32)
31) New England Patriots (30)
30) New York Giants (31)
29) Arizona Cardinals (29)
28) Chicago Bears (28)
27) Tennessee Titans (26)
The Giants were the only team in this tier to post a win on Sunday, taking down the Washington Commanders behind Tommy DeVito’s three-touchdown effort. New York has just three victories this season, and two of them have come against Ron Rivera’s club.
In Chicago, Justin Fields picked up right where he left off before dislocating his right thumb on Week 6, eclipsing 100 yards rushing for the fifth time in his career while posting a 73.9 QBR, the fifth-best mark of the week. The Bears frittered away a 12-point lead to the Detroit Lions with four minutes remaining, keeping their draft positioning in order.
26) Washington Commanders (23)
25) Atlanta Falcons (25)
24) Las Vegas Raiders (22)
23) Green Bay Packers (27)
22) New York Jets (T-20)
21) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (18)
20) Los Angeles Rams (24)
19) Indianapolis Colts (19)
18) Los Angeles Chargers (16)
The Packers and Chargers both made this tier and played each other on Sunday. Neither club seems likely to make the postseason in 2023, but these two teams appeared to be on very different trajectories in Week 11. Matt LaFleur is leading a reset in Green Bay, and growing pains are to be expected. But Brandon Staley is coaching for his job every week.
The Jets barely moved in our power rankings despite a 32-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Does that mean PFN’s staff writers are bullish on new starting quarterback Tim Boyle? Probably not. More likely, it’s respect for New York’s defense, which can keep them in most games (just not this week).
17) Denver Broncos (T-20)
16) New Orleans Saints (17)
15) Cincinnati Bengals (10)
14) Minnesota Vikings (15)
13) Pittsburgh Steelers (14)
In the midst of a five-game win streak, Sean Payton’s Broncos are making noise in the AFC. Russell Wilson hasn’t averaged fewer than six yards per attempt or thrown an interception since Week 6. And Denver’s defense — the same unit that gave up 70 points to the Miami Dolphins in Week 3 — ranks ninth in EPA per play during the Broncos’ win streak despite facing Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen during the stretch.
Denver is on its way up, but Cincinnati is on its way down. It’s hard to get too excited about the Bengals’ playoff hopes now that Joe Burrow is out for the season with a wrist injury. Backup Jake Browning will make his first NFL start on Sunday against the Matt Canada-less Steelers, who desperately need a win to stay in the postseason mix.
12) Seattle Seahawks (12)
11) Houston Texans (11)
10) Buffalo Bills (13)
9) Cleveland Browns (9)
8) Jacksonville Jaguars (8)
The Texans didn’t move in our power rankings after a close win over the Cardinals on Sunday, but no team has risen further since Week 1. Houston ranked just 30th heading into the regular season — now, they might be a playoff team. Asked if he’ll try to rein things in after throwing three picks in Week 11, rookie QB C.J. Stroud said, “Man, Steph Curry don’t ever stop shooting.”
Elsewhere in the AFC, the Browns now have an 86% chance to make the playoffs after eking out a 13-10 win against the Steelers. Cleveland’s defense was elite (as usual), but the Browns can’t ask Dorian Thompson-Robinson to drop back 43 times, especially when he’s averaging just 3.8 yards per attempt. Joe Flacco lurks on Cleveland’s practice squad.
7) Detroit Lions (6)
6) Dallas Cowboys (7)
5) Miami Dolphins (5)
The Cowboys were the only team in this tiny tier that looked like something close to an elite club on Sunday. Every Dallas game is seemingly a blowout (one way or the other), and Week 11 was no different in the Cowboys’ 33-10 win over the Panthers. Cornerback DaRon Bland might be unable to inch his way into the Defensive Player of the Year conversation, but he and his four pick-sixes have been incredibly entertaining.
MORE: NFL Week 12 QB Power Rankings
The Lions beat the Bears, but Jared Goff tossed three interceptions and had to lead a frantic comeback. The Dolphins won, too, but their 20-13 victory over the Raiders was much closer than it needed to be.
4) Kansas City Chiefs (2)
3) San Francisco 49ers (4)
2) Baltimore Ravens (3)
1) Philadelphia Eagles (1)
The Chiefs held a 10-point halftime lead on the Eagles and might have defeated Philadelphia on Monday night had Marquez Valdes-Scantling been able to haul in a perfect would-be TD pass from Patrick Mahomes late in the fourth quarter.
Mahomes remains the NFL’s best QB, Kansas City’s defense is still elite, and the Chiefs were those close to taking down Jalen Hurts and Co. But MVS’ drop only highlighted K.C.’s ongoing wide receiver issue, and the Chiefs have averaged just 19.4 points per game since Week 6.
Meanwhile, the Ravens have watched the Browns and Bengals lose their starting quarterbacks and the Steelers fire their offensive coordinator. Baltimore is firing on all cylinders, but a brutal Jaguars-49ers-Dolphins stretch awaits in Weeks 15 through 17.