The NFL power rankings for Week 12 will be arriving soon, with teams continuing to make their push towards the playoffs and ultimately the Super Bowl in 2017. As for the current standings, several teams have revealed themselves as contenders, with one rising above the rest of the league so far. That team is the Dallas Cowboys, who have suffered just one loss so far this season. So how did the rest of the league fare after the latest weekend of action, and will it shake the rankings up?
On Sunday afternoon, the Dallas Cowboys continued to roll, recording the ninth-straight win. As ESPN reported in their post-game summary, it was a 27-17 Dallas victory over the Baltimore Ravens thanks to three touchdown passes from rookie quarterback Dak Prescott. The rookie has replaced Tony Romo in Dallas admirably, and that has led to a resurgence of the Cowboys. Prescott has been a key factor in the wins, but so has his fellow rookie at the running back spot.
On cloud nine… and one! #mannequinchallenge pic.twitter.com/fn4EVGFlBa
— Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (@DCCheerleaders) November 20, 2016
Add NFL MVP candidate Ezekiel Elliott to the mix, and this team has been a powerhouse in the 2016 NFL season. They’re currently at the top of the power rankings, and it’s no surprise, as they also are listed in the top three for most sports books in terms of future odds to win the Super Bowl. Only two teams rank above them at Vegas Insider. Apparently, not everyone is convinced that this is the team to beat.
Those two teams are the New England Patriots at 13 to five odds, and the Seattle Seahawks at five to one odds to win it all. Each of these teams also recorded victories on Sunday, keeping them within the top three for the power rankings. The latest list reveals how the top 10 teams should look, but keep in mind it’s subject to change based on Oakland’s Monday performance.
NFL Power Rankings Week 12 (projected)
- Dallas Cowboys (9-1)
- Seattle Seahawks (7-2-1)
- New England Patriots (8-2)
- Oakland Raiders (7-2)
- Denver Broncos (7-3)
- Washington Redskins (6-3-1)
- New York Giants (7-3)
- Kansas City Chiefs (7-3)
- Minnesota Vikings (6-4)
- Miami Dolphins (6-4)
In terms of the biggest surge into the top 10, according to Heavy , the team that made arguably the most noise after this weekend is the Miami Dolphins . They were able to take down the Los Angeles Rams on the road with a 14-0 shutout, which has them now at 6-4 in the AFC. The aspect of the victory that’s most important is it’s their fourth-straight and has them a game behind the Chiefs and the Ravens for a wild card spot in the postseason.
When it comes to the NFL playoff picture, not a whole lot really changed there. As mentioned, the Dolphins moved closer to contending for a spot but will need to keep that winning streak going. However, if the playoffs were to start today, it would be the Patriots as No. 1 seed in the AFC, with the Raiders the No. 2 seed. The Texans would be No. 3, while Baltimore would take the No. 4 seed. The fifth and sixth spots would go to Kansas City and Denver, respectively.
Over in the NFC, Dallas would take the top playoff spot, while Seattle would be the No. 2 seed. At No. 3 would be the surprising Detroit Lions, who are vying with the Vikings for the division right now. The Falcons would be No. 4, with the New York Giants and Washington Redskins in the final two playoff spots.
Many of the teams mentioned in the latest NFL power rankings have Week 12 matchups on the way this week. That includes the Oakland Raiders hosting the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football but at a neutral site. Both teams will need to add a win to continue their stay in the playoff picture. As of this report, Oakland was listed as a six-point favorite to get the victory in Mexico City.
There’s also three Thanksgiving Day games coming up. Matthew Stafford and the Lions will take on Sam Bradford and the Minnesota Vikings in a key game between NFC North contenders. A Cowboys vs. Redskins showdown will also be among the highlights of the triple-header schedule, with Pittsburgh and Indianapolis meeting in the late game.
Football fans, which teams in the current NFL power rankings and playoff picture do you think are in danger of dropping out during Week 12? Will all the teams currently in the playoff picture will be there when the season ends?
[Image by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images]