Touchdown Dance: NFL Power Rankings & Week 12 Re-Cap

A little shuffling at the top where it looks as if the NFC has the two best teams in the league right now. The top AFC team I think at some point in time will fall due to injuries, but their quarterback makes them a threat every week. The AFC is stronger threw the middle which will make the playoffs very interesting and harder to predict. Through the middle in the NFC is a jumbled mess of mediocre and if any of those teams are going to compete late into the playoffs they must start getting hot soon. Here's a breakdown of Week 12 in the NFL and the Power Rankings as we see it here at Touchdown Dance.

1. Minnesota Vikings (10-1) (-) The Vikings easily handled the visiting Bears behind Brett Favre's best performance of the season. The 36-10 win keeps them in the top spot with a balanced effort on both offense and defense.
2. New Orleans Saints (11-0) (3) The Saints came hard for their toughest match-up thus far this season. The beat down of the Patriots 38-17 was very impressive in how physical they played on both sides of the ball.
3. Indianapolis Colts (11-0) (2) Peyton Manning is very rarely out of a game no matter how poorly they play for a half. The second half comeback in Houston was propelled both by Manning and the under maned defense which maybe even more impressive. The 35-27 victory clinched a playoff spot for the Colts.
4. San Diego Chargers (8-3) (5) The Chargers did what they should do with a very bad team in the Kansas City Chiefs, beat them down 43-14. This team could be the scariest team in the AFC come playoff time.
5. Cincinnati Bengals (8-3) (8) The Bengals have played lackluster the past couple of weeks, but have now swept the AFC North for the season, beating Cleveland 16-7. An AFC team that must start playing better to make a long run deep into the playoffs.
6. Dallas Cowboys (8-3) (7) It's hard to determine which team will show up come crunch time, but with the Thanksgiving Day victory over the Raiders 24-7 keeps them a top the NFC East.
7. New England Patriots (7-4) (4) The genius that is Bill Belichick has a ton of work to do both on his defense and his 4th down decision making. The whooping they took in New Orleans 38-17 showed America this team is far from complete.
8. Arizona Cardinals (7-4) (6) Kurt Warner missing the game in Tennessee could have been the difference in the team winning or losing. Matt Leinhart gave the team a chance to win, but the defense came up short in the very end losing to the Titans 20-17.
9. Philadelphia Eagles (7-4) (11) How long can this team survive playing offense the way they do? The comeback at home versus the Redskins 27-24 could have cost them a chance at the playoffs. Injuries are starting to pile up and a little more ball control will be necessary to stay in contention for the division or wildcard slots.
10. Green Bay Packers (7-4) (14) Aaron Rodgers isn't talked about much, but should be in the talks for league MVP for what he has done behind that porous offensive line. The Thanksgiving day win in Detroit 34-12 showed further that the Packers defense is grabbing firm hold of the 3-4 scheme.
11. Tennessee Titans (5-6) (17) Forget Adrian Peterson right now, Chris Johnson is the best running back in the league. Lets not forget Vince Young who just doesn't lose and has improved as a passer. The thrilling last second win at home over the Cardinals 20-17 could propel this team even further.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) (10) The Steelers the better team on Sunday night, but came up short in Baltimore losing 20-17. Playing with the third string quarterback didn't help the Steelers, but they must get it together in order to defend their title.
13. Denver Broncos (7-4) (19) The Broncos got back on track against the Giants 26-6, getting back to playing great defense and efficient offense. Still on track for a playoff spot the team must avoid falling back into offensive identity crisis in order to keep it that way.
14. Atlanta Falcons (6-5) (15) The injuries on offense screams big problems for weeks to come for the Falcons. The win at home versus the Buccaneers 20-17 wasn't impressive and doesn't bode well for the near future.
15. Baltimore Ravens (6-5) (18) The Ravens defense is falling deeper into mediocrity and Joe Flacco has slowed from his good start, but the win at home versus division foe Steelers 20-17 keeps them in the running for a playoff spot.
16. NY Giants (6-5) (9) The Giants look like a team that just doesn't have it this year. The team looked totally uninterested in playing Thanksgiving night in losing to the Broncos 26-6. Maybe they ate too much turkey during the day?
17. Miami Dolphins (5-6) (12) This weekend was the first in awhile where the Dolphins really didn't compete. The loss came against the Bills 31-14 who is another try hard team who came out a little harder.
18. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-5) (13) The Jaguars are a team that is improving, but with some key missing parts and youth at key position this what you'll get which is inconsistency. The cross country trek to San Francisco showed those weak links in the 20-3 loss.
19. Houston Texans (5-6) (16) So much for ever getting out of the bubble of mediocrity. The Texans looked like world beaters in the first half against the Colts, but the second half collapse and eventual 35-27 loss will cost the Texans a playoff spot and more than likely some people their jobs.
20. Buffalo Bills (4-7) (24) Where could the Bills be if they fired Dick Jauron a few weeks earlier? Probably with the same record, but with the offensive performance on Sunday makes one wonder. The win over the Dolphins 31-14 looked more like a offense I thought they would show early on this season.
21. San Francisco 49ers (5-6) (22) Up and down, up and down. Much like their coach's pants. That is the way of the 49ers right now a young team that shows inconsistencies and this week were on the good side with a 20-3 win over the Jaguars.
22. Washington Redskins (3-8) (21) This team would be pretty good with some tweaks on offense, but right now it just isn't happening. They blew another lead and lost to the Eagles 27-24 in Philadelphia.
23. NY Jets (5-6) (-) This is what you get from a rookie quarterback, but with this experience the Jets will be much better for it in the future. The Jets will be on the rise in years to come and this weekend home win over the Panthers 17-6 keeps their playoffs hopes alive for at least another week.
24. Carolina Panthers (4-7) (20) Still unbelievable that it takes a injury for coach John Fox benching quarterback Jake Delhomme. Maybe now they'll get back to what they're good at, running the ball and defense. The defense has been hit hard by injuries so the playoffs are far from realistic which was ensured by the loss to the Jets 17-6.
25. Seattle Seahawks (4-7) (26) It's not impressive beating a bad team like the Rams 27-17, but just maybe they found the running back of the future in Justin Forsett.
26. Chicago Bears (4-7) (25) Two offensive yards in a half is not just embarrassing, it almost seems impossible. That ineptitude along with a horrible defense lead the way to another loss in Minnesota 36-10. The fans in Chicago are now wielding torches to have Bears coaching and management to be burned at the stake.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-10) (31) Josh Freeman should have been starting from day 1, but at least the Bucs have some promise. The tough loss in Atlanta 20-17 hurts, but at least there is something solid to build on.
28. Kansas City Chiefs (3-8) (27) Which team is the real Chiefs? The team that beat the Steelers or the one that got beat down in San Diego 43-14. I still have no idea if Matt Cassell is the answer at quarterback which is the most important position on the field.
29. Oakland Raiders (3-8) (28) Another case of too much turkey before their Thanksgiving Day loss to the Cowboys 24-7. The team has shown toughness and heart, but that doesn't equal wins. At least they're not force feeding us JeMarcus Russell right now.
30. St. Louis Rams (1-10) (-) Another week another loss, this time it was the Seattle Seahawks 27-17 handing out the loss.
31. Detroit Lions (2-9) (29) The original Thanksgiving football tradition decided not to show up once again for the turkey day game. This year it was the Packers giving the beating 34-12.
32. Cleveland Browns (1-10) (-) They played the battle of Ohio toughly as usual, but like most weeks come up short losing to the Bengals 16-7.