NFL power rankings: 49ers, Ravens, Saints rank high in Week 12

NFL Power Rankings, Nos. 10-1

W, 37-20 @ Dolphins

The Bills drop a spot in our NFL power rankings, although it’s no fault of their own.

Buffalo beating up on Miami isn’t surprising in of itself, although it’s good to see quarterback Josh Allen taking his next steps. And wide receiver John Brown continues to amaze as Allen’s No. 1 weapon.

W, 17-10 vs. Bengals

This is no drill: The Raiders are a mere half game behind the Chiefs for the top spot in the AFC West.

OK, so beating the Bengals was a nice gift this late in the season. But running back Josh Jacobs is no joke. Rather his performances during his rookie year have been one of the best gifts Oakland could ask for this season.

Oakland gets a road matchup against the Jets in Week 12, followed by a crucial showdown at Kansas City the following week, which could prove huge in determining the AFC West.

W, 27-23 vs. Broncos

Ideally, the Vikings wouldn’t have had to engineer a 20-point fourth quarter to turn around what had been an ugly first three quarters at home against the Broncos.

But Minnesota did just that, ensuring its eighth win and picking up half a game on the idle Packers.

That’s about the best-case scenario, as the Vikings head into their bye this week.

W, 24-17 @ Chargers

The Chiefs sure have to be happy they braved the thin air in Mexico City to upend the Chargers, who surged late, only to commit four turnovers to help improve Kansas City’s defensive standings.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes wasn’t emulative of an MVP candidate, rather a savvy veteran who knew not to make mistakes against his counterpart, Philip Rivers, who did so aplenty.

Kansas City head into its bye week now ahead of a crucial Week 13 showdown with the Raiders, which could have a massive impact on the AFC West.

BYE

The Seahawks stay put in our NFL power rankings, coming off their bye after closing the gap with their Week 10 win over the 49ers.

Seattle has a tough stretch of games ahead, though, starting off with a road contest against the Eagles before hosting the surging Vikings, then traveling to take on the desperate Rams over the next three weeks.

W, 34-17 @ Buccaneers

The Saints were successfully able to put their ugly loss to the Falcons in Week 10 behind them, soundly beating the Buccaneers by picking off Jameis Winston four times, while New Orleans’ quarterback, Drew Brees, countered with a three-touchdown performance of his own.

Getting running back Alvin Kamara back from injury sure helped, too.

BYE

No change in our NFL power rankings for the Packers this week, who’ll look to battle it out with the top seed in the NFC, the 49ers, in a prime-time Sunday Night Football showdown in Week 12.

That’ll be must-watch football, for sure.

W, 36-26 vs. Cardinals

The 49ers are dealing with some notable injuries as of late, particularly being without Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle the past two weeks. It hurt the Niners during their first loss of the season against the Seahawks in Week 10, yet quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo managed to bounce back with a four-touchdown effort against the feisty Cardinals in come-from-behind fashion.

Beating Arizona was arguably a must-win game for San Francisco, which has to host quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in Week 12 before taking to the road to face the Ravens and Saints in back-to-back weeks.

If the 49ers win two of three during this stretch, look out, NFC.

W, 17-10 @ Eagles

The Patriots got back to their winning ways after suffering their first loss of the season before their Week 11 bye.

Still no change for New England in our NFL power rankings despite being tied for the best record in the league. And while quarterback Tom Brady wasn’t exceptional in Philadelphia, the Patriots defense continues to be the best in the league.

That might have to be the ticket to another Super Bowl this year.

W, 41-7 vs. Texans

If someone was to say the Ravens wouldn’t lose another game this season, it would be believable.

Baltimore retains its hold at the No. 1 spot in our NFL power rankings heading into Week 12 following its lopsided beatdown of the Texans. And while the Ravens defense has been exceptional this year, all attention deservedly goes to Lamar Jackson, whose four passing touchdowns and 86 rush yards put yet another stamp on his campaign to secure the league’s MVP award when 2019 is said and done.

The next three weeks will say a lot about the Ravens, who’ll travel to take on the Rams before hosting the 49ers. Then, Baltimore wraps up this three-game stretch on the road against the Bills.

After that, the Ravens schedule looks awfully easy.