For the third straight week, there's a new No. 1 in our power rankings as the 49ers drop after their humbling experience in Seattle and the Raiders settle in among the bottom third of the league.
| 1 (2) | Denver Broncos (12-3) | Ten straight wins and a season-high in passing yards for Peyton Manning. Are the Broncos peaking too soon? |
| 2 (3) | Atlanta Falcons (13-2) | The previous two times they clinched the NFC's No. 1 overall seed, in 1980 and 2010, the Falcons lost their first playoff game. |
| 3 (5) | Seattle Seahawks (10-5) | This is no misprint - the Seahawks have won their last three games by a combined score of 150-30. |
| 4 (1) | 49ers (10-4-1) | Refit. Refocus. Reorganize. In any order. Got it? Good. |
| 5 (6) | Green Bay Packers (11-4) | Dropping 55 points on Titans one thing, keeping it rolling in playoffs another challenge entirely. |
| 6 (7) | New England Patriots (11-4) | Pat's hangover from Niners game nearly cost them against lowly Jags. |
| 7 (4) | Houston Texans (12-3) | Anyone else getting that sinking feeling from the Texans as the postseason approaches? |
| 8 (14) | Baltimore Ravens (10-5) | Shocking as it sounds, team revolves around Joe Flacco as Ravens are 12-1 when he throws for 300 yards. |
| 9 (10) | Minnesota Vikings (9-6) | Bigger goal for Vikings - Adrian Peterson surpassing Eric Dickerson, or beating Packers? |
| 10 (8) | Indianapolis Colts (10-5) | Interim coach Bruce Arians a legit NFL coach of the year candidate. |
| 11 (9) | Washington Redskins (9-6) | Wait, didn’t Mike Shanahan throw in the towel back in October? |
| 12 (12) | Cincinnati Bengals (9-6) | In last six wins, Bengals have given up an average of just 10.8 points per game. |
| 13 (11) | Dallas Cowboys (8-7) | Dez Bryant, nine catches for 224 yards and two TDs, realizing his potential as top three WR. |
| 14 (15) | St. Louis Rams (7-7-1) | Rookie CB Janoris Jenkins scores his fourth TD of the season, furthering his case for defensive ROY. |
| 15 (16) | Chicago Bears (9-6) | Is pouncing the Cardinals a matter of too little, too late? |
| 16 (13) | New York Giants (8-7) | About to join 2009 Steelers as last defending Super Bowl champ to miss playoffs. |
| 17 (18) | New Orleans Saints (7-8) | Drew Brees first player in NFL history with three consecutive 4,500-yard passing seasons. |
| 18 (20) | Miami Dolphins (7-8) | Real Hard Knocks - Fish have only been in playoffs once in past 11 seasons. |
| 19 (21) | Carolina Panthers (6-9) | Kickin' and Bumpin' Icon and Entertainer Cam Newton flashes equal parts shiny smile and ugly true colors. |
| 20 (17) | Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8) | Five of Steelers' losses by a mere three points. |
| 21 (26) | San Diego Chargers (6-9) | Sunday just has to be Norv Turner's finale in San Diego, right? RIGHT?!? |
| 22 (19) | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-9) | That nice feel-good midseason story replaced by five-game losing streak. |
| 23 (22) | Tennessee Titans (5-10) | Bud Adams is not happy. Not by a longshot. |
| 24 (23) | New York Jets (6-9) | NFL player most in need of a fresh start? Paging Mark Sanchez. |
| 25 (24) | Cleveland Browns (5-10) | Here's a far-fetched theory - Nick Saban leaves Alabama for Cleveland then trades for Rolando McClain. Hey, a lonely Raider Nation can dream, right? |
| 26 (25) | Buffalo Bills (5-10) | Canisius hoops a hotter commodity than Bills football? Say it ain't so, Joe Ferguson. |
| 27 (27) | Arizona Cardinals (5-10) | Brian Hoyer. 'Nuff said. |
| 28 (29) | Philadelphia Eagles (4-11) | So, about that whole Dream Team thing again… |
| 29 (30) | Detroit Lions (4-11) | Ndamukong Suh just HAD to like "Scam" Newton's excuse for kicking Tommy Kelly in the grill. |
| 30 (28) | Oakland Raiders (4-11) | TP Time? Even if he only has a handful of plays, Terrelle Pryor should get some run in San Diego. Unless staff has already decided on position switch or to cut him in offseason. |
| 31 (31) | Jacksonville Jaguars (2-13) | Are the locals waiting in joyful hope for the return of Tim Tebow next year, or is Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst a more favored prodigal son? |
| 32 (32) | Kansas City Chiefs (2-13) | Lose to the Broncos Sunday and the Chiefs "clinch" the No. 1 draft pick. |
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