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NFL Power Rankings - Week 13: Vikings join upper tier, Chargers making noise

Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's NFL Editors, including Jack Browne, Michael McClymont, Mitch Sanderson, and Arun Srinivasan.

1. Philadelphia Eagles (10-1)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
1st 1st 1st 2nd

Previous Rank: 1st

The Eagles are the first to 10 wins and can be the first to clinch their division with a victory in a prime-time test against the Seahawks. - McClymont

2. New England Patriots (9-2)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
2nd 2nd 2nd 1st

Previous Rank: 2nd

This is the team many believed could go undefeated this season. Since their last loss on Oct. 1, the Pats have won seven straight. Sign us all up for some recovery pajamas. - McClymont

3. Minnesota Vikings (9-2)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
3rd 4th 3rd 5th

Previous Rank: 5th

Case Keenum is showing the talent that made him the NCAA's all-time leading passer, completing 70 percent of his throws in three straight games. Is Teddy Bridgewater the QB of the future still? - Sanderson

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-2)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
5th 3rd 5th 3rd

Previous Rank: 3rd

The Steelers need to fix their habit of playing down to lesser opponents. Time to put the pedal to the metal the rest of the season. - Sanderson

5. Los Angeles Rams (8-3)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
4th 5th 4th 4th

Previous Rank: 6th

Sean McVay and the offense have received all the plaudits, but Wade Phillips showed why he's the best in the game, all but shutting down the dominant Saints offense. - Browne

6. New Orleans Saints (8-3)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
6th 7th 6th 6th

Previous Rank: 4th

The Saints' winning streak finally came to an end, but they should take solace in unearthing one of the best draft classes in recent memory with Alvin Kamara looking to capture Offensive Rookie of the Year. - Srinivasan

7. Carolina Panthers (8-3)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
9th 6th 8th 7th

Previous Rank: 10th

Don't look now but the Panthers are surging and could sneak up on the rest of the NFC, two years removed from a Super Bowl berth. - Srinivasan

8. Atlanta Falcons (7-4)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
7th 8th 7th 8th

Previous Rank: 8th

Finally, we all got the Julio Jones game we've been waiting for all year. Whether the Falcons have turned the corner offensively remains a mystery. - Srinivasan

9. Seattle Seahawks (7-4)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
8th 9th 9th 9th

Previous Rank: 9th

If the Seahawks get through this three-game gauntlet (Eagles, Jaguars, Rams) with their playoff hopes intact, Russell Wilson deserves serious MVP consideration. - Browne

10. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
10th 10th 10th 10th

Previous Rank: 7th

An unimpressive Colts team may be the perfect remedy for the Jaguars if they are to be taken seriously. - Srinivasan

11. Tennessee Titans (7-4)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
13th 12th 12th 11th

Previous Rank: 13th

The Titans may not be very fun to watch but their running game and underrated defense have the potential to seize the division. - Srinivasan

12. Los Angeles Chargers (5-6)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
11th 14th 11th 14th

Previous Rank: 17th

If Rivers and Allen stay hot, and Ingram and Bosa continue to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks, no one in the AFC will want to play the Chargers come playoff time. - Browne

13. Baltimore Ravens (6-5)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan  
12th 13th 14th 12th

Previous Rank: 15th

With nothing but northern outdoor games remaining on the schedule, this is the ideal time for the Ravens to lean heavy on their run game and defense. - Sanderson

14. Detroit Lions (6-5)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
15th 11th 13th 13th

Previous Rank: 12th

Marvin Jones is emerging as a star for the Lions with highlight-reel touchdown catches - just in time for the playoff push. - Sanderson

15. Kansas City Chiefs (6-5)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
14th 15th 16th 15th

Previous Rank: 11th

When the Chiefs were 5-0 and the Chargers were 1-4, you'd be insane if you thought Kansas City would be in danger of losing the division to L.A. Now, that's the Chiefs' reality. - Browne

16. Buffalo Bills (6-5)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
16th 16th 15th 17th

Previous Rank: 20th

The Bills are going to finish one game out of the playoffs, aren't they? That Nathan Peterman start will go down as one of football's biggest blunders. - McClymont

17. Arizona Cardinals (5-6)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
19th 17th 18th 19th

Previous Rank: 22nd

Who'd have thought a successful Blaine Gabbert revenge game would ever be a thing? - Browne

18. Washington Redskins (5-6)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
20th 21st 17th 16th

Previous Rank: 16th

Washington deserves all kinds of credit for remaining competitive despite a slew of injuries. Kirk Cousins' one-year, $23-million contract looks like quite the bargain. - McClymont

19. Oakland Raiders (5-6)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
17th 19th 19th 20th

Previous Rank: 18th

Hey, Raider Nation, at least your pass defense is good enough to stop Paxton Lynch! - Browne

20. Dallas Cowboys (5-6)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
18th 20th 20th 18th

Previous Rank: 14th

The Cowboys don't look like they can survive another three weeks without Zeke. A loss to the Redskins on Thursday would all but end their season. - McClymont

21. Cincinnati Bengals (5-6)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
21st 18th 24th 26th

Previous Rank: 25th

The fact this team is 5-6 speaks volumes about how bad the AFC is this season. - Sanderson

22. Green Bay Packers (5-6)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
22nd 23rd 21st 23rd

Previous Rank: 23rd

Hope exists! After Brett Hundley played the best game of his life against the Steelers, Mike McCarthy hinted Aaron Rodgers could be practicing this week. Fingers crossed. - Sanderson

23. New York Jets (4-7)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
23rd 22nd 23rd 21st

Previous Rank: 19th

For a team that was said to have the worst receiving corps in the league, Robby Anderson deserves serious Pro Bowl consideration. - McClymont

24. Houston Texans (4-7)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
26th 24th 22nd 22nd

Previous Rank: 21st

DeAndre Hopkins excels regardless of who's playing at quarterback, but you have to feel bad for one of the league's best wide receivers at this point. - Srinivasan

25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
24th 25th 25th 24th

Previous Rank: 24th

The Buccaneers are well-suited to tank for the rest of the year, with the rest of the division preparing for deep playoff runs. - Srinivasan

26. Miami Dolphins (4-7)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
25th 26th 29th 28th

Previous Rank: 27th

Miami's lost five straight and won't be favored in any game the rest of the season. Jay Cutler came out of retirement for this? - McClymont

27. Chicago Bears (3-8)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
28th 30th 26th 25th

Previous Rank: 26th

That Firefox sign was hilarious. Now it is time to see the grizzled coach really get the boot. - Sanderson

28. Indianapolis Colts (3-8)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
29th 28th 27th 27th

Previous Rank: 28th

Chuck Pagano's press conference on Monday had the feel of a man who knows that he'll be unemployed by the end of the year. - Srinivasan

29. Denver Broncos (3-8)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
30th 27th 28th 29th

Previous Rank: 30th

John Elway was a great quarterback, but he's showing that being a great quarterback doesn't necessarily mean you can identify them as a general manager. - Browne

30. New York Giants (2-9)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
27th 31st 30th 30th

Previous Rank: 29th

How bad are the Chiefs if they couldn't top this team? - McClymont

31. San Francisco 49ers (1-10)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
31st 29th 31st 31st

Previous Rank: 31st

Rarely does a one-win team have anything to get excited about in Week 13. But, 49ers fans will get to sample what 2018 could be like with Jimmy Garoppolo ready to make his first start. - Browne

32. Cleveland Browns (0-11)

Browne McClymont Sanderson Srinivasan
32nd 32nd 32nd 32nd

Previous Rank: 32nd

Hey, remember that one team the Browns beat last year? Guess who's up next on the schedule. - Sanderson

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