NFL Power Rankings - Week 13: What each team should be thankful for

NFL Power Rankings takes stock of all 32 teams throughout the season.

Jump to:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SEA | SF | TB | TEN | WAS

1. Los Angeles Rams (9-2)

Previous rank: 1

Savvy veterans. The Rams have done an impressive job of building this roster through the draft in recent years, but experience remains a key piece of the puzzle at certain spots. That starts with Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams. Their growing connection, which is now virtually unstoppable in the red zone, has been a lot of fun to watch.

2. Seattle Seahawks (8-3)

Previous rank: 3

Mike Macdonald. Sam Darnold's four interceptions in a Week 11 loss to the Rams were a bit of a wake-up call for those of us getting a little carried away with Seattle's offense. But the Seahawks still had a chance to win it at the end - a testament to how quickly their second-year head coach has built one of the best defenses in the game.

3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-3)

Previous rank: 2

Howie Roseman. The Eagles can always count on their general manager to do what needs to be done. An aggressive midseason move for Jaelan Phillips has sparked a major defensive turnaround, giving Philly a chance to withstand the continued offensive struggles.

4. Detroit Lions (7-4)

Previous rank: 4

Jahmyr Gibbs. The Lions' offense hasn't been the same without Sam LaPorta. Gibbs saved the day against the Giants, going off for 264 total yards and three touchdowns to help Detroit avoid a disastrous loss.

5. Indianapolis Colts (8-3)

Previous rank: 5

Jonathan Taylor. A revitalized Daniel Jones has been a massive addition to the Colts' offense, but that passing game probably wouldn't look nearly as good without Taylor consistently keeping things on schedule. The NFL's rushing leader is averaging an absurd 4.6 yards after contact per carry, according to Next Gen Stats.

6. New England Patriots (10-2)

Previous rank: 6

Injury luck. The Patriots didn't have a starter hit injured reserve until Milton Williams last week. Although that good fortune certainly aided New England's hot start to the season, the roster depth could soon be tested with rookie offensive linemen Will Campbell and Jared Wilson going down Sunday.

7. Denver Broncos (9-2)

Previous rank: 7

Another elite defense. Sustaining high-level defensive play year over year is easier said than done. The Broncos have done so masterfully, allowing them to overcome some really frustrating stretches from the offense.

8. Kansas City Chiefs (6-5)

Previous rank: 9

Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs' season hung in the balance as they faced an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit against the Colts. While the comeback won't be enough to ease any lingering concerns about the state of this offense, it was a reminder that Mahomes almost always finds a way in the biggest moments of a game.

9. Green Bay Packers (7-3-1)

Previous rank: 11

Micah Parsons trade. Considering Green Bay hadn't traded a first-round pick for a player since acquiring Brett Favre, this deal was a complete departure from how the Packers typically do business. The immediate results support the bold move, as Parsons' 10 sacks lead the way for a top-five scoring defense.

10. Houston Texans (6-5)

Previous rank: 18

Davis Mills. C.J. Stroud missing three games at such a critical point in the year easily could have been the nail in the coffin for the Texans. The NFL's premier defense was particularly incredible Thursday night against the Bills, but Houston's season-saving 3-0 stretch doesn't happen without Mills doing his job in spot duty.

11. Buffalo Bills (7-4)

Previous rank: 8

Josh Allen. A few glaring roster weaknesses have the Bills relying on their superstar quarterback more than ever. Can Allen drag them on a deep playoff run?

12. San Francisco 49ers (8-4)

Previous rank: 13

Kyle Shanahan. The 49ers head coach wasn't about to let injuries get in the way of him fielding yet another efficient scoring attack. With most of his offensive stars now back in the mix, that unit has a chance to really take off down the stretch.

13. Baltimore Ravens (6-5)

Previous rank: 12

Kyle Hamilton. Moving Hamilton over to a problem area has sparked a midseason defensive turnaround for the second straight year. Baltimore ranks fourth in EPA/play and success rate since shifting the versatile safety down to the slot and around the line of scrimmage in Week 6, according to TruMedia.

14. Chicago Bears (8-3)

Previous rank: 14

Soft midseason schedule. The Bears are clearly heading in the right direction, but winning seven of their last eight contests becomes a lot less impressive when you look at the opponents they faced. They'll get a meaningful bump up this list if they can stay hot through upcoming matchups against the Eagles and Packers (x2).

15. Dallas Cowboys (5-5-1)

Previous rank: 20

George Pickens. The Cowboys getting the freakishly talented wideout from the Steelers for a third-round pick looks like highway robbery. Sitting second behind only Jaxon Smith-Njigba among the NFL's leading receivers, Pickens has really blossomed now that he finally has a quarterback who can get him the ball.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4)

Previous rank: 15

Travis Etienne. Trevor Lawrence is still struggling despite Liam Coen's arrival. However, Etienne's career year has kept the new head coach's offense productive anyway.

17. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)

Previous rank: 16

Justin Herbert. Key injuries on the offensive line have resulted in Herbert getting hit a league-worst 93 times this year. Unsustainable as that may be, he's one of the few quarterbacks capable of enduring through that constant chaos.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5)

Previous rank: 17

Struggling division. The Steelers sure don't feel like a playoff-caliber team, but the rest of the AFC North isn't exactly in top form, either. The pair of remaining matchups between Pittsburgh and Baltimore could decide this division.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5)

Previous rank: 10

Early season magic. The Bucs have lost four of their last five games, and now a shoulder injury could force Baker Mayfield to miss time. Tampa Bay's season might already be over if it weren't for a few of those last-second victories to open the year.

20. Carolina Panthers (6-6)

Previous rank: 19

A chance. The Panthers have flashed encouraging moments, but the inconsistency is maddening. Even so, the Bucs crashing down to earth gives them an opportunity in the NFC South anyway. Carolina plays Tampa Bay twice in the last two weeks of the season.

21. Minnesota Vikings (4-7)

Previous rank: 21

A tolerable investment. J.J. McCarthy may work out in the long run - he's still only six starts into his career, after all. But if the early results are a sign of what's to come, the Vikings can at least take comfort in knowing the cost to acquire him was relatively reasonable. It'd be much tougher to recover from a swing and a miss if they had traded multiple first-rounders to go up and get him.

22. Atlanta Falcons (4-7)

Previous rank: 22

Elite playmakers. Bijan Robinson and Drake London are two of the best players in the NFL. While we're still waiting for Atlanta's offense to make the most of its unique talents, things could have been a lot worse this year if not for the superstar tandem.

23. Cincinnati Bengals (3-8)

Previous rank: 25

Joe Burrow. The Bengals probably don't need to rush Burrow back from injury in a lost season, but it'll be nice to see one of the league's best quarterbacks on the field again on Thanksgiving night. Cincinnati losing eight of nine games without him demonstrates just how much he single-handedly alters this team's trajectory.

24. Arizona Cardinals (3-8)

Previous rank: 23

Jacoby Brissett. The Cardinals' offense operating at a higher level in contests started by Brissett (23 PPG) than under Kyler Murray (18.8 PPG) should give the organization the push it needs to make a change this offseason. It's time for a new era at quarterback.

25. Miami Dolphins (4-7)

Previous rank: 24

De'Von Achane. The Dolphins probably could have been a more aggressive seller at the deadline, but prying Achane away was always going to take a monster offer. The star running back is the key to everything Miami does on offense, putting up the best rushing season of his career while leading the team in receptions.

26. New York Giants (2-10)

Previous rank: 27

Exciting young QB. Although the final record will likely end up looking every bit as bad as last year, the future is finally bright for the Giants. Not only does Jaxson Dart give the organization hope at the most important position on the field, but his presence could attract top head coaching candidates.

27. Cleveland Browns (3-8)

Previous rank: 29

Myles Garrett. A $160-million deal probably had something to do with it, but Browns fans have to be thrilled that Garrett eventually stood down on his trade request last offseason. The superstar pass-rusher has 18 sacks in 11 games, putting him five away from breaking the single-season record.

28. Washington Commanders (3-8)

Previous rank: 28

Jayden Daniels. The follow-up to last year's NFC title game appearance raises major questions about this staff's ability to build a roster. Still, can you really rule out a quick turnaround with one of the league's brightest young stars at quarterback?

29. New Orleans Saints (2-9)

Previous rank: 26

Derek Carr. The quarterback who retired in May? That's right. Remember: Carr did the Saints an enormous favor when opting to call it a career, giving up $30 million in guaranteed money. That move should finally help New Orleans get out from under the salary-cap nightmare it's been battling for years.

30. New York Jets (2-9)

Previous rank: 30

Young OL talent. The Jets moving their two best defensive players at the deadline was a clear effort to load up on picks in pursuit of a franchise quarterback. Whoever that signal-caller ends up being, he'll at least know he's playing behind an impressive tandem of tackles in Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou.

31. Las Vegas Raiders (2-9)

Previous rank: 31

Chance at No. 1 pick. If you thought Sunday's 10-sack loss to the Browns was bleak, take a look at who the Raiders have left on the schedule. This team will have a hard enough time keeping games competitive, let alone finding another win. Finally ending up in a position to draft a quarterback would be the only possible silver lining in this nightmare season for Las Vegas.

32. Tennessee Titans (1-10)

Previous rank: 32

Cam Ward. Don't let the numbers fool you. Ward has produced some really impressive moments in a terrible situation with the Titans. The rest of the roster has a long way to go, but fans should at least be excited about the fact that Tennessee may finally have a passer worth building around.

Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.