NFL Power Rankings - Week 11: Pats pushed from AFC's top 3, Cowboys rebound

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors, including Mike Alessandrini, Jack Browne, Michael McClymont, and Arun Srinivasan.

1. New Orleans Saints (8-1)

Previous Rank: 1

The Saints' throbbing of the Bengals in Cincinnati shows that Who Dat Nation can dominate both at home and on the road. We're not sure who can stop Sean Payton's offense. - Alessandrini

2. Los Angeles Rams (9-1)

Previous Rank: 2

Damn you, injuries! Hopefully, the loss of Cooper Kupp doesn't derail what's been one of this season's most entertaining teams. - McClymont

3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1)

Previous Rank: 4

It felt wrong to have this one-loss outfit ranked fourth the past number of weeks. Consider this a correction. - McClymont

4. Los Angeles Chargers (7-2)

Previous Rank: 5

Quietly, the Chargers have won six straight, have only lost to the Chiefs and Rams, and have just three teams with a winning record left on their schedule. - McClymont

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2-1)

Previous Rank: 7

Don't look now, but Big Ben has quietly forced his way into the MVP race after his best performance of the season, drubbing the red-hot Panthers in prime time. - Srinivasan

6. New England Patriots (7-3)

Previous Rank: 3

Where did that performance come from? The Pats looked lost on offense against the Titans. Luckily, a trip to the free-falling Jets is next. - Browne

7. Minnesota Vikings (5-3-1)

Previous Rank: 8

Coming off their bye, the Vikings' time to pounce is now with a prime-time game against the division-leading Bears. - Srinivasan

8. Houston Texans (6-3)

Previous Rank: 9

Houston is getting healthier coming off its bye, which is bad news for future opponents. - Alessandrini

9. Chicago Bears (6-3)

Previous Rank: 10

The Vikings will be the ultimate test of whether the Bears are for real. If they win, the path to the playoffs seems clear; if they lose, they risk being lost in the deep mix of NFC playoff contenders. - Srinivasan

10. Carolina Panthers (6-3)

Previous Rank: 6

Cam Newton and the Panthers laid an egg on Thursday Night Football just as we thought they were for real. Even still, Newton is in the midst of a legitimate MVP-caliber campaign. - - Alessandrini

11. Washington Redskins (6-3)

Previous Rank: 13

The rest of the NFC East apparently has no desire to win the division. The Redskins lack sizzle, but they're the East's most consistent team this season. - Browne

12. Green Bay Packers (4-4-1)

Previous Rank: 16

It's been difficult to get a read on the Packers, but it's certainly promising that Aaron Rodgers hasn't thrown an interception since the last week of September. - Srinivasan

13. Seattle Seahawks (4-5)

Previous Rank: 15

Full credit to the Seahawks for being one of the NFL's most competitive clubs. Unfortunately, their minefield of a schedule will knock them out of the playoff picture before long. - McClymont

14. Cincinnati Bengals (5-4)

Previous Rank: 11

The Bengals' defense couldn't get off the field against the Saints. The team is now in serious danger of falling into a hole with the Ravens looming. - Srinivasan

15. Tennessee Titans (5-4)

Previous Rank: 19

Tennessee's bizarre season continued with an impressive win over the Patriots. Don't sleep on Mike Vrabel's squad, which owns the NFL's top scoring defense. - Alessandrini

16. Dallas Cowboys (4-5)

Previous Rank: 21

It wasn't pretty, but Dallas kept its head above water by taking down the Eagles on Sunday Night Football thanks to a star performance from Ezekiel Elliott. - Browne

17. Philadelphia Eagles (4-5)

Previous Rank: 12

Philly's fall is a stark reminder at how hard it is to stay at the top of the NFL. - Browne

18. Atlanta Falcons (4-5)

Previous Rank: 14

Julio Jones scored again, but the Falcons put up a dud in Cleveland. With a tough final seven games ahead, Atlanta's season looks all but lost. - Alessandrini

19. Baltimore Ravens (4-5)

Previous Rank: 17

Hopefully, the bye provided some much-needed rest and regrouping for the Ravens, who could be out of the divisional race, for all intents and purposes, with a loss to the Bengals. - Srinivasan

20. Miami Dolphins (5-5)

Previous Rank: 18

Miami has finally fallen back to .500 after overachieving to start the year. A wild-card spot is still technically in the cards, but the Dolphins don't look capable of staying in the race. - Browne

21. Indianapolis Colts (4-5)

Previous Rank: 24

Don't look now, but the Colts are rolling. Winning the AFC South isn't out of the question, and Frank Reich is a legitimate Coach of the Year candidate. - Alessandrini

22. Cleveland Browns (3-6-1)

Previous Rank: 27

Let's hope that Baker Mayfield continues to wake up "feeling real dangerous" on Sundays. - Srinivasan

23. Denver Broncos (3-6)

Previous Rank: 23

Denver's final stretch will determine the futures of both Case Keenum and head coach Vance Joseph. - McClymont

24. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-6)

Previous Rank: 20

Currently last in the AFC South, Jacksonville's shocking decline has been one of the top stories of the season. It doesn't look like things will get better anytime soon. - Alessandrini

25. Detroit Lions (3-6)

Previous Rank: 22

Nine games into his first year as head coach, is it too early to put Matt Patricia on the hot seat? - Srinivasan

26. Buffalo Bills (3-7)

Previous Rank: 31

Buffalo's season continues to be unpredictable, with Matt Barkley looking shockingly solid in a destruction of the Jets. - Browne

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-6)

Previous Rank: 25

Three points at home? This Bucs team is an utter mess. - Alessandrini

28. Arizona Cardinals (2-7)

Previous Rank: 29

Larry Fitzgerald now sits second in career receiving yards. There's no way he can put up 7,000 more yards and catch Jerry Rice, right? - McClymont

29. New York Jets (3-7)

Previous Rank: 26

New York reportedly intends to keep Todd Bowles for the rest of the season, the latest in a long list of mistakes by the downtrodden franchise. - Browne

30. New York Giants (2-7)

Previous Rank: 30

Eli Manning turned back the clock for the Giants' game-winning drive against the 49ers, but it was clear for 90 percent of Monday Night Football that the quarterback is done. - Browne

31. San Francisco 49ers (2-8)

Previous Rank: 28

The season was lost long ago, so might as well let Nick Mullens play out the string. He's proven to be competent enough after two prime-time appearances. - McClymont

32. Oakland Raiders (1-8)

Previous Rank: 32

The Raiders are averaging 10 points per game during their five-game losing streak. Those jokes about Jon Gruden being a dinosaur in today's NFL don't seem so cruel now, do they? - McClymont