NFL Power Rankings - Week 14: Eagles finally give up No. 1 spot, Cowboys bounce back

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. New England Patriots (10-2)

Previous Rank: 2nd

Surprise, surprise. New England is holding down the top spot. The Patriots have overcome a relatively slow start to batter teams into oblivion. Would anyone be shocked if they repeat as champions after an identical 14-2 record? - Srinivasan

2. Minnesota Vikings (10-2)

Previous Rank: 3rd

In beating the Falcons in a scrappy, low-scoring affair, the Vikings proved they can get it done when Case Keenum is cold - a terrifying prospect for the NFC. - Browne

3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-2)

Previous Rank: 1st

The Eagles were bound to lose eventually and their matchup against the Seahawks could give them some insight ahead of a potential playoff showdown. - Srinivasan

4. Los Angeles Rams (9-3)

Previous Rank: 5th

Congrats to the Rams on earning their first winning season since 2003. Was it Sean McVay who said, "I'm not going 7-9, or 8-8, or 9-7"? - McClymont

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-2)

Previous Rank: 4th

The Steelers deserve a huge amount of credit for fighting back from being down 17 points while also reeling from the loss of Ryan Shazier, who is reportedly improving in hospital. - Browne

6. New Orleans Saints (9-3)

Previous Rank: 6th

How long before Alvin Kamara convinces everyone whose favorite team is eliminated from the playoffs to jump on the bandwagon? - Sanderson

7. Seattle Seahawks (8-4)

Previous Rank: 9th

It's December and the Seahawks are striking fear in the hearts of potential playoff opponents again. - McClymont

8. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4)

Previous Rank: 10th

The Colts are the only team that can make Blake Bortles look like a good quarterback. Imagine if he didn't get to play them twice a year. - Sanderson

9. Atlanta Falcons (7-5)

Previous Rank: 8th

This Atlanta team has been tough to figure out, but when it faces top teams such as the Vikings and Patriots, it looks to be showing its true colors. - Sanderson

10. Carolina Panthers (8-4)

Previous Rank: 7th

It seemed odd the Panthers and Saints had the same record headed into Week 13, and Carolina's bevy of mistakes showed why. - Sanderson

11. Baltimore Ravens (7-5)

Previous Rank: 13th

It's rarely pretty on offense, but the Ravens defense is championship caliber. If you take away the 44 points allowed to the Jaguars, Baltimore is giving up just 14.8 points per game. - Browne

12. Los Angeles Chargers (6-6)

Previous Rank: 12th

The Chargers are even avoiding trap games now! This is going to be the most exciting team to watch in the final four weeks of the season. - McClymont

13. Tennessee Titans (8-4)

Previous Rank: 11th

If the Titans keep stringing together close wins against weak clubs, the playoffs will be a rude awakening. - Sanderson

14. Dallas Cowboys (6-6)

Previous Rank: 20th

It wasn't a pretty stat line from Dak Prescott, but Dallas came alive Thursday during its 38-14 victory. Which Cowboys team will show up for the final four games? - Srinivasan

15. Oakland Raiders (6-6)

Previous Rank: 19th

How nice was it to see Marshawn Lynch explode up the middle for a long touchdown run on Sunday and rack up 100 yards on the ground in the process? The only thing better would be a Beast Mode playoff appearance. - McClymont

16. Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)

Previous Rank: 15th

Alex Smith did his best to quiet the haters and the Chiefs remembered they should probably throw the ball to Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. Too bad neither point helped them end their dramatic losing skid. - McClymont

17. Detroit Lions (6-6)

Previous Rank: 14th

The Lions aren't dead yet, thanks mostly to a reasonably soft schedule. But Jim Caldwell won't survive if Detroit falls apart down the stretch.- Browne

18. Buffalo Bills (6-6)

Previous Rank: 16th

There's no shame in losing to the Patriots, but the Bills will need to block out the white noise and win out to have a genuine shot at the No. 6 seed. - Srinivasan

19. Green Bay Packers (6-6)

Previous Rank: 22nd

After a season dominated by injuries and off-field controversies, the NFL world deserves to watch Aaron Rodgers tear through the remainder of the Packers' schedule and secure a wild-card spot. - Browne

20. Washington Redskins (5-7)

Previous Rank: 18th

The Redskins should officially focus on how they handle the upcoming Kirk Cousins showdown this fall, as the season is effectively over. - Srinivasan

21. New York Jets (5-7)

Previous Rank: 23rd

The Jets deserve some credit for fielding an anemic roster and surpassing expectations, all while putting themselves in a position to get a franchise quarterback. Truly astonishing. - Srinivasan

22. Arizona Cardinals (5-7)

Previous Rank: 17th

Arizona's playoff hopes were effectively dashed on Sunday. Now they can get a jump on preparing for another one-last-shot year in 2018. - McClymont

23. Cincinnati Bengals (5-7)

Previous Rank: 21st

The Bengals led for nearly the entire MNF matchup against the Steelers, but still found a way to lose the game - and with it, any remaining hope of a playoff spot. - Browne

24. Houston Texans (4-8)

Previous Rank: 24th

Tom Savage had the best game of his career and the Texans scored 13 points. Not great. - Sanderson

25. Miami Dolphins (5-7)

Previous Rank: 26th

There's not much stock to be put in a Dolphins' rout of a Broncos team that has given up. Next up: the red-hot Patriots coming to town on Monday Night. - Srinivasan

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-8)

Previous Rank: 25th

This team is so far removed from the group that was expected before the season. Something needs to be done about the leadership group in Tampa. - Sanderson

27. Chicago Bears (3-9)

Previous Rank: 27th

Thank God for Tarik Cohen. "The Human Joystick" is making Chicago's offense and special teams bearable. - Browne

28. Indianapolis Colts (3-9)

Previous Rank: 28th

Frank Gore is now the fifth all-time leading rusher. That's something special. Don't let the Colts' struggles take away from that. - Sanderson

29. San Francisco 49ers (2-10)

Previous Rank: 31st

The 49ers are undefeated in the Jimmy Garoppolo era. - McClymont

30. Denver Broncos (3-9)

Previous Rank: 29th

The Broncos lost their eighth straight and accused the Dolphins of trying to run up the score. The DOLPHINS! - McClymont

31. New York Giants (2-10)

Previous Rank: 30th

Ben McAdoo and Jerry Reese were fired on Monday, giving the Giants a chance to learn from their mistakes and secure the best candidates available. What a nightmare year. - Srinivasan

32. Cleveland Browns (0-12)

Previous Rank: 32nd

Hey, Hue, at least you won't be the first coach fired this season. That's a win! (Do the Browns still even remember what those feel like?) - Browne