Week 11 saw our number one team dominate a game that was hyped up all week, a 20-point halftime deficit overcame, and another ugly field in Mexico City. Oh, not to mention that event on Thursday night. It all added up to plenty of changes across the board in our Week 12 Power Rankings.
1. Baltimore Ravens (8-2, Last Week: 1)
Week 11 Result: Defeated Houston, 41-7
In case a 49-10 beatdown of the Bengals wasn’t enough to convince you how good the Ravens are, how about a 41-7 thumping of the Texans? Lamar Jackson is incredible, is now the favorite, per Caesars’ for the MVP award, and the Ravens are rolling. Baltimore began their season in Miami in September and they very well may finish the season there in February.
2. San Francisco 49ers (9-1, Last Week: 2)
Week 11 Result: Defeated Arizona, 36-26
The 49ers had to rally late to defeat the Cardinals, but found a way to win and stay atop the NFC at 9-1. Next Sunday night is going to be a fun one between the teams currently sitting as the one and two seeds in the NFC when the 49ers take on the Packers.
3. New Orleans Saints (8-2, Last Week: 4)
Week 11 Result: Defeated Tampa Bay, 34-17
There’s the Saints’ offense we know and love. The Buccaneers were the perfect get-right game for the Saints as Michael Thomas posted his fourth-straight 100-yard game and became the first receiver ever with 90 catches in the first ten games of a season. Thomas now has 1,141 yards this season, with Mike Evans next at 993. That’s how good Thomas has been this season and he is absolutely worth the $20 million average per year the Saints are paying him.
4. New England Patriots (9-1, Last Week: 3)
Week 11 Result: Defeated Philadelphia, 17-10
The offense may have been sluggish, but the defense continues to be excellent and the Patriots are 9-1 because of it. Even Tom Brady called out the offense on the radio, and if that doesn’t light a fire under the rest of the unit, nothing will. How crazy is that stat of 19 straight winning seasons for New England? The next longest active streak? Seattle with seven (soon to be eight). Their defense will be tested next week when Dak Prescott and the Cowboys come to town.
5. Seattle Seahawks (8-2, Last Week: 5)
Week 11 Result: Bye
The Seahawks had a week to enjoy their win over the 49ers and have to be feeling really good about their trip to Philadelphia on Sunday. This might sound crazy, but don’t count out the Seahawks as the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
6. Green Bay Packers (8-2, Last Week: 6)
Week 11 Result: Bye
Green Bay’s bye came at a very good time, as they had an extra week to prepare for the top team in the NFC in a game that could end up deciding home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs.
7. Minnesota Vikings (8-3, Last Week: 7)
Week 11 Result: Defeated Denver, 27-23
That was some comeback by the Vikings. Minnesota took quite a bit of time before their offense got rolling. However, when they did, they really were trucking, which helped erase a 20-point halftime deficit. Kirk Cousins has been quieting some detractors over the last few weeks. After finally getting their bye in Week 12, Cousins and Vikings face one of their biggest challenges of the season when they visit Seattle on Monday Night Football in Week 13, a game with huge playoff implications.
8. Dallas Cowboys (6-4, Last Week: 11)
Week 11 Result: Defeated Detroit, 35-27
Dak Prescott has been playing out of his mind this season. He went for nearly 450 yards against the Lions and is increasing his price tag by the week and is absolutely in the MVP discussion. He now gets a crack at the reigning champs next week in Foxborough in one of the highlight games of Week 12.