NFL power rankings: Breaking down where each team sits in Week 12

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DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 19: Quarterback Brock Osweiler #17 of the Denver Broncos walks off the field after a 20-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on November 19, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

45. . L, 20-17 vs. Bengals. Previous: . Denver Broncos. 21. team

Wow, the Broncos have fallen hard in our NFL power rankings. Not long ago, Denver was considered a serious playoff contender. After falling to the Bengals at home, and letting Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton work over their defense like he was an All-Pro, it’s safe to say the Broncos are cooked.

Week 12 marked the sixth loss in a row for Denver. And while the Broncos defense managed to hold Dalton and the Bengals offense to just 20 points, check out this unsettling stat from the previous three weeks:

at Kansas City in Week 8 — 29 points allowed
at Philadelphia Eagles in Week 9 — 51 points allowed
home versus New England Patriots in Week 10 — 41 points allowed

That stretch marked an average of 40.3 points allowed per game. While this loss drops that average down to 35.3, it’s not exactly a number you’d expect from a Denver defense one heralded as the best in the NFL.

Oh, and Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler is still terrible.