NFL 2012 Week 14 power rankings

For the first time in many weeks, we have a new Number One!  These rankings are reflective of how a team has played throughout the season (thus, the Bears remain in the top half despite abyssmal performances in the last five weeks), and the Patriots stunk early in the season, but no team has been so dominant in the last six weeks as the Patriots.  If they keep this up (and given Bill Belichick's December record, I see no reason they couldn't), the Patriots should finish 13-3 and capture the top seed in the AFC.

Top half of the league [Last week's position]
1.  New England Patriots (10-3) [3] : They completely destroyed the previous Number One team
2.  San Francisco 49ers (9-3-1) [5] : For any team not from St Louis, this team is a nightmare to play
3.  Houston Texans (11-2) [1] : They didn't look like a Top Ten team on Monday night
4.  Denver Broncos (10-3) [4] : They could capture the second seed in the AFC
5.  Atlanta Falcons (11-2) [2] : Looked confused against Carolina
6.  Seattle Seahawks (8-5) [10] : With Chicago's collapse, this team is practically guaranteed a playoff spot
7.  Chicago Bears (8-5) [6] : Jason Campbell attempted to engineer a comeback after two Cutler turnovers put them behind 21-7, but poor use of timeouts jeopardized that
8.  New York Giants (8-5) [8] : Whoa!  Who woke up that offense?!
9.  Baltimore Ravens (9-4) [7] : How the mighty have fallen.  The Ravens will likely capture the AFC North, but now they will get the fourth seed, when just three weeks ago they seemed a lock for the second seed
10. Green Bay Packers (9-4) [9] : They sputtered a bit against Detroit
11. Cincinnati Bengals (7-6) [11] : Tough loss against Dallas (they relaxed too much), but still a strong playoff contender
12. Washington Redskins (7-6) [13] : Even with RGIII out, Kurt Cousins ran the offense to score the game tying touchdown and 2-point conversion.  The Redskins are happy that the Ravens special teams failed to show up in overtime
13. Tampa Bay Bucs (6-7) [12] : They slacked off late in the fourth, allowing Nick Foles and the Eagles to beat them
14. Indianapolis Colts (9-4) [15] : They still win close games, remaining the only top half power team with a negative point differential, but Andrew Luck and company continue to find ways to win
15. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-7) [14] : Their defense couldn't hold back San Diego, and may have given up a playoff spot
16. Minnesota Vikings (7-6) [16] : They are a one-sided offense, as Adrian Peterson is the only consistent player, but Peterson still posts 100+ yard games

Divisional Power Rankings: [Last week's position]
1 (tie). AFC North [2] : I warned of this last week, and it's starting.  The AFC North is surpassing everyone, as even Cleveland finds their footing.
1 (tie), NFC North [1] : If Chicago doesn't regain their power, this division could fall to fourth place before the season ends.
3.  NFC West [4] : Except for Arizona (who stunk badly), this division showed up strongly this weekend
4.  NFC South [3] : Collapses by all but Carolina has this division on a downward spiral
5.  NFC East [5] : Surprise wins by most of the division keeps them bolstered
6.  AFC East [6] : While the Patriots are the only team with a winning record, their Number One position keeps this division afloat
7.  AFC South [7] : Houston and Indy continue to compensate for the poor showings of Tennessee and Jacksonville
8.  AFC West [8] : Division with the overall worst winning percentage

Divisional races
No new division titles crowned this week, and some races just got more interesting.

AFC North:  Cincy couldn't close the gap between them and Baltimore.  The Ravens need only a win or a Bengals loss to clinch.

AFC South:  New England's beatdown of Houston makes this interesting.  The gap is only two games, and the division leaders (Indy and Houston) play each other twice in the next three weeks.  The Colts could capture the lead, but they must win on the road this week in Houston.  A Texans win and Colts loss awards the division to Houston.

NFC East:  The contenders remain within a game of each other.  The Giants lead, and they had the most impressive performance on Sunday.  They have to go on the road to the Falcons, though, and Dallas and Washington face opponents with losing records.  This division could knot up after this week.

NFC North:  The Pack leads Chicago by one.  Minnesota has gotten firmly the race, only two back.  The Pack travel to Chicago.  If Green Bay exits with a win, they capture the division.  If the Bears win and the Vikings beat the Rams, it becomes quite interesting.

NFC West:  San Fran leads Seattle by a game and a half and leads the Rams by three.  The 49ers have to play the Patriots in Foxboro, so Seattle can gain ground.  The Rams play the Vikings -- they lose, they're out of contention.  Seattle plays Buffalo, so a likely win puts them in close proximity to the 49ers.

AFC seeds:  Although still a game ahead of both New England and Denver, Houston's hold on the top seed is slipping.  The Patriots now hold the tiebreaker over both, having beaten Denver in Week 5.  I think the Patriots are the likely top seed.  Houston will probably capture Number Two, and Denver is a strong Number Three.  Baltimore, as AFC North winner, will be Number Four.  Indianapolis needs one more win or a Bengals loss to capture Number Five.  Cincy should capture Number Six.  Pitt and the Jets still have a chance, but they'd need to win out. 

NFC seeds:  The Falcons hold a strong game and a half lead over San Fran and two games over Green Bay.  A win this week against the Giants, or a 49ers loss to New England and a Packers loss to Chicago, clinches the top seed.  Number Two is a close race between Green Bay and San Fran.  The NFC East winner will be fourth seed.  The Bears are reeling, which gives Seattle the inside track for fifth seed.  Chicago could capture sixth if they right themselves, otherwise a surging Redskins have a shot.  Dallas and Minnesota are also possibilities.