NFL Power Rankings - Week 12: Patriots unanimous No. 1; Packers, Chiefs move into top 5

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's NFL Editors, including David P. Woods, Michael Amato, Caitlyn Holroyd and Gino Bottero.

1. New England Patriots

Previous Rank: 1st

Jonas Gray. Wow. If the Patriots' new power running game is even half as good as it looked Sunday night, they have to be considered Super Bowl favorites. - David P. Woods

2. Green Bay Packers

Previous Rank: 8th

The Packers scored three non-offensive touchdowns in their rout of the Eagles this week, and that's a scary prospect for future opponents. If Green Bay's defense starts to contribute even moderately, this team is going to be impossible to slow down. - Michael Amato

3. Arizona Cardinals

Previous Rank: 3rd

Drew Stanton did enough to get the Cardinals into the win column against the Lions, throwing for a career-high 306 yards. At 9-1, Arizona has its best record through 10 games since 1948 and is in prime position for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. - Caitlyn Holroyd

4. Denver Broncos

Previous Rank: 2nd

The Broncos can only be faulted so much for losing what was their third consecutive road game - with an early kickoff, no less. More important than the loss itself is who they lost. Extended absences for Julius Thomas and/or Emmanuel Sanders would hurt the team, particularly with the Chiefs breathing down their neck. - Gino Bottero

5. Kansas City Chiefs

Previous Rank: 10th

The Chiefs continue to make inefficient use of their wide receivers, but it sure is working out for them. Kansas City is coming off a big win over the defending Super Bowl champions, and a mid-week game against the Raiders will give the team extra time to prepare for the Broncos. - Gino Bottero

6. Dallas Cowboys

Previous Rank: 9th

Tony Romo used a bye week to rest his ailing back, and he'll need to be at his best in the near future. The Cowboys face the Eagles twice in the next four weeks; matchups that will likely decide the division. - Michael Amato

7. Detroit Lions

Previous Rank: 5th

The Lions' defense has been excellent this year, but it's their normally explosive offense that isn't clicking on all cylinders. Detroit ranks 26th in points per game, and another late-season swoon may be in their future if that doesn't change. - Michael Amato

8. Philadelphia Eagles

Previous Rank: 6th

Philly looked like a far cry from one of the NFC's elite teams in a blowout loss to the Packers. It's clear Mark Sanchez is going to go through some growing pains in his return as a starting quarterback. - Michael Amato

9. Seattle Seahawks

Previous Rank: 7th

The Chiefs obviously did their homework ahead of their Week 11 matchup against the Seahawks, as Seattle was held without a rushing touchdown after scoring five a week earlier. With one of the most difficult schedules of any team down the stretch, the Seahawks need to get back on track fast to have any hope of winning the NFC West. - Caitlyn Holroyd

10. Indianapolis Colts

Previous Rank: 4th

Losing Ahmad Bradshaw really hurts. It's now or never for Trent Richardson. If you're the betting sort, put your chips on never. - David P. Woods

11. Pittsburgh Steelers

Previous Rank: 14th

Le'Veon Bell went off Monday night and single-handedly won the Steelers the game in Nashville. Now the team's coaching staff just needs to hone up on its math skills after curiously running a play with an opportunity to kneel out the clock. - Gino Bottero

12. San Francisco 49ers

Previous Rank: 12th

The 49ers' defense deserves most of the credit for Sunday's 16-10 victory over the Giants, intercepting Eli Manning five times and holding New York to 65 rushing yards. Up next is a home game against a beatable Redskins team, followed by a big Thursday night matchup against the Seahawks. - Caitlyn Holroyd

13. Baltimore Ravens

Previous Rank: 11th

The Ravens watched the Bengals and Steelers each pick up wins during their bye week. Now they return to visit New Orleans. The Saints have lost two in a row at home, and Baltimore has won two in a row on Monday Night Football. - Gino Bottero

14. Cincinnati Bengals

Previous Rank: 15th

The Bengals continue to be hard to read from week-to-week, following up a loss at home to Cleveland with a win in New Orleans. Seeing A.J. Green post a 6-127-1 line has to be a sight for sore eyes for Bengals fans. - Gino Bottero

15. San Diego Chargers

Previous Rank: 16th

The Chargers desperately needed to get back into the win column against the Raiders on Sunday, and while they did that, they certainly didn't earn any style points. Another cupcake matchup awaits Sunday against a Rams team due for a letdown. - Gino Bottero

16. Miami Dolphins

Previous Rank: 18th

The Rams' defensive front harassed Peyton Manning and stole a win from the Broncos. The Dolphins are capable of the same, but are they due for disappointment? - David P. Woods

17. Cleveland Browns

Previous Rank: 13th

A letdown was in order for the Browns after their big win in Cincinnati. Brian Hoyer can't afford many more duds like the one he had against the Texans, or the calls for Johnny Manziel will start up again. - Gino Bottero

18. Houston Texans

Previous Rank: 20th

Ryan Mallett's first career touchdown pass was caught by future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt. Even if Mallett doesn't pan out, at least he has that bit of trivia attached to his name. - David P. Woods

19. Buffalo Bills

Previous Rank: 19th

The Bills went to Miami for what was essentially an elimination game and failed to score a touchdown. Did anyone really believe Kyle Orton could take a team to the playoffs? - David P. Woods

20. New Orleans Saints

Previous Rank: 17th

One of the few things going for the Saints this season was their ability to dominate at home. That was far from the case Sunday, as Drew Brees and company were held to 10 points in a loss to the Bengals. New Orleans is still alive in the playoff race, but only because of how poorly the rest of the division is playing. - Caitlyn Holroyd

21. Atlanta Falcons

Previous Rank: 23rd

The Falcons have yet to defeat a team with a winning record this season. However, they're the best team in the NFL's worst division right now, and that counts for something. - Caitlyn Holroyd

22. St. Louis Rams

Previous Rank: 25th

The Rams are a good team when they want to be, which they showed Sunday by holding the Broncos to their lowest point total since Peyton Manning arrived on the scene in 2012. They may not make the playoffs, but the Rams could make things very difficult for opposing offenses down the stretch. - Caitlyn Holroyd

23. Chicago Bears

Previous Rank: 27th

The Bears returned to the win column, but not all is well in Chicago. Jay Cutler remains wildy inconsistent and the organization is likely stuck with him for at least another season because of his contract. - Michael Amato

24. Minnesota Vikings

Previous Rank: 21st

Minnesota's focus for the rest of this season should be on furthering Teddy Bridgewater's development. He's been average so far in his brief career, but it's hard to blame him with the limited talent the Vikings boast on offense. - Michael Amato

25. Carolina Panthers

Previous Rank: 22nd

Hope is fading fast in Carolina, with the Panthers riding a six-game winless streak. The opportunity is still there for them to win the division, they just have to figure out how to get their offense back in working order. - Caitlyn Holroyd

26. New York Jets

Previous Rank: 24th

All the Jets have to look forward to down the stretch is the chance to ruin the Dolphins' playoff hopes and perhaps cost the Patriots home-field advantage. - David P. Woods

27. New York Giants

Previous Rank: 26th

A five-interception performance for Eli Manning helped the Giants to a fifth-straight loss. With the 30th-ranked defense, this team isn't built to overcome that many mistakes. - Michael Amato

28. Tennessee Titans

Previous Rank: 29th

Zach Mettenberger looked about as good as you could realistically expect against Dick LeBeau's defense. We still can't rule out the possibility he's the answer in Nashville. - David P. Woods

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Previous Rank: 31st

The Bucs put an end to their five-game losing streak in Week 11, and did so in convincing fashion. Yes, their victory came against the struggling Redskins, but they now sit just two games out of first place in the NFC South. - Caitlyn Holroyd

30. Washington Redskins

Previous Rank: 28th

A loss to the lowly Buccaneers would have anyone frustrated, and Robert Griffin voiced his displeasure afterward. Head coach Jay Gruden wasn't impressed with Griffin's comments and one has to wonder how much longer he will be the quarterback of this team. - Michael Amato

31. Jacksonville Jaguars

Previous Rank: 30th

The Jaguars' bye came at the perfect time, as Blake Bortles badly needed a chance to take a deep breath and correct some of the mistakes he's beginning to make. - David P. Woods

32. Oakland Raiders

Previous Rank: 32nd

The Raiders are running out of time to pick up that elusive first win. Thursday games favor the home side, though the Chiefs are certainly in a different weight class than the Raiders at the moment. A trip to St. Louis the following week with some added prep time may be their best opportunity. - Gino Bottero