The teams at the top of The Dallas Express Power Rankings remain the same following an exciting slate of NFL games in Week 12, but the middle of the pack featured some serious movement due to many teams claiming victories against superior opponents.
Although the NFL playoffs are still six weeks away, nearly every team in the league is attempting to get hot at the right time and make a run to the postseason.
See where each of these teams rank in The Dallas Express Week 13 Power Rankings below:
1. Detroit Lions (Previous Ranking: 1)
Detroit continues to look the part of the best team in the league with a convincing win over the Colts in Week 12. The Lions beat teams up in the run game before moving to impressive passing play by Ben Johnson, allowing them to work the entirety of the field to stretch out an opposing defense. Combine the explosive offense with a defense that forces takeaways and is solid in the red zone, and that is an equation for one of the most dominant teams in the league.
2. Buffalo Bills (Previous Ranking: 2)
The Bills were on a bye and will now prepare to take on the San Francisco 49ers in Week 13, with this bye week providing valuable time to get healthier. The Bills have dealt with a plethora of injuries this season and have still looked like one of the best teams in the league. Buffalo now holds the tiebreaker over the Chiefs with a chance to claim the top spot in the league with more winning down the stretch.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (Previous Ranking: 3)
The Chiefs continue to win close games but a last-second victory over the Carolina Panthers does not instill a lot of confidence in this team. The Kansas City defense has struggled in the last two weeks, giving up its two highest-scoring games by the opposition. Luckily, the Chiefs still have the best coach and quarterback in the league and can sustain periods where the defense struggles.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (Previous Ranking: 4)
Saquon Barkley has cemented himself as the clear favorite to win the MVP this season following yet another explosion against the Rams. The Eagles defense has taken shape as the younger players find their rhythm, holding each of their last three opponents to 20 or fewer points. Philadelphia has all the pieces to compete for a Super Bowl this season and should be considered one of the favorites to win the NFC.
5. Baltimore Ravens (Previous Ranking: 5)
John Harbaugh continued his dominant run against his younger brother with the Ravens’ Week 12 win over the Chargers, moving John to 3-0 in all-time matchups against Jim. The Ravens will likely have to win every game this season in a shootout due to a defense that has struggled to get stops all season, but that should not be too much of an issue for a team featuring Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry.
6. Green Bay Packers (Previous Ranking: 6)
The Packers waxed the 49ers in Week 12 at Lambeau Field in the rematch of the divisional round of the playoffs. Green Bay has all of the pieces necessary to compete for a Super Bowl this season and in the future, but the biggest question will be whether this team is too young and inconsistent to make a deep run in the playoffs. A difficult schedule to end the season will show a lot about whether this team is prepared for these games.
7. Minnesota Vikings (Previous Ranking: 7)
The Vikings nearly collapsed in the final minute against the Bears in Week 12, but a win is a win and teams should not be punished for winning in the NFL. Minnesota still has some questions that could prove to be detrimental during a playoff run, with the biggest concern being whether Sam Darnold can lead this team deep against better opponents. Regardless, the Vikings are still 9-2 and feature some of the best weapons on both offense and defense.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (Previous Ranking: 9)
Teams that lose rarely move up in power rankings, but this was an odd week for the Steelers during a heavy snow game against a divisional opponent. Pittsburgh was also one of many favorites to drop games in Week 12, meaning very few teams had an opportunity to jump the Steelers in this week’s rankings. Pittsburgh is clearly limited on offense and the defense is unlikely to carry this team to a Super Bowl, but the Steelers could take down any team in a single-game matchup.
9. Houston Texans (Previous Ranking: 8)
Houston has looked off for the majority of the season, falling to just 7-5 this season after a disappointing loss to the Titans. The good news for the Texans is that Nico Collins looks completely healthy and Houston is in firm control over the AFC South, meaning a playoff spot is getting closer every week. Improvements to the offensive line will be incredibly beneficial for this team next season, but the current coaching staff must find ways to work around this weakness for the remainder of this season.
10. Washington Commanders (Previous Ranking: 10)
Washington is now the third straight team in these rankings that benefitted heavily from those below them losing as well, with the Commanders losing an exciting matchup against the Cowboys in Week 12. There are reasons to be concerned about Washington, especially with the massive step back the offense has taken over the past few weeks. The Commanders are currently 7-5 and are on track to make the playoffs this season, but sustained losing could mean Washington will be fighting for a playoff spot at the end of the season.
11. Denver Broncos (Previous Ranking: 13)
The Broncos’ climb up the power rankings continues following an easy win over the Raiders in Week 12, as Sean Payton continues to scheme up impressive game plans for the young team. Bo Nix and the offense look to be running more smoothly with every game and the defense continues to shut down many of its opponents. Denver now sits firmly in the seventh seed of the AFC Playoffs, but the remaining schedule begins to get difficult for the rest of the season.
12. Arizona Cardinals (Previous Ranking: 11)
The Cardinals had an opportunity to take a huge lead in the NFC West with a win over the Seahawks in Week 12. Instead, the loss makes the Cardinals just 6-5 and sitting on the outside of the playoff picture. Arizona will now have to string together wins if it hopes to make the playoffs as a wild-card seed, but that is unlikely since the Commanders hold the tiebreaker over Arizona if the two finish with the same record.
13. Los Angeles Chargers (Previous Ranking: 12)
The Chargers lost to a superior Ravens team in Week 12 that will be competing for a Super Bowl this season, but Los Angeles already looks formidable in the first season under Head Coach Jim Harbaugh. Los Angeles is now 7-5 this season and sitting in the sixth seed of the AFC playoffs, meaning there is a good chance they make the postseason this year. Justin Herbert is playing at a high level this season despite limited weapons around him, making the Chargers a difficult matchup for any opposing team in the first round.
14. Seattle Seahawks (Previous Ranking: 16)
Despite being fourth in the NFC West a few weeks ago, the Seahawks are now in first place in the division and control their own destiny en route to the playoffs. Seattle has a difficult remaining schedule that includes two divisional matchups but both the offense and defense have looked solid the past two weeks.
15. Atlanta Falcons (Previous Ranking: 15)
The Falcons desperately need a bye in Week 12 following two straight demoralizing losses. Atlanta has been unable to get consistent stops on defense due to disappointing performances from the defensive line. Offensively, Kirk Cousins has struggled when forced to leave the pocket and create outside of the scheme. Atlanta still has the tiebreaker over Tampa Bay for the division and should be safe for the playoffs, but the lack of production in recent weeks is concerning for a team that was hoping to compete for the Super Bowl.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Previous Ranking: 17)
Tampa Bay has dealt with significant injuries to many key players on the team, but their Week 11 bye allowed them to get healthier and come back prepared to take down the Giants. The Buccaneers are 5-6 this season and are on the outside of the playoff picture. Although the Buccaneers have an easy schedule to end the season, they will likely have to finish nearly perfect to have any hope of making the postseason.
17. Miami Dolphins (Previous Ranking: 19)
Despite losing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for multiple games early in the season, the Dolphins still have a chance to make the playoffs this year. Miami has won three straight games and still has many winnable games remaining on the schedule, but one or two more losses could end the Dolphins’ season before the playoffs start. A tough Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Packers in cold weather will be a good indication of whether this team can compete for the playoffs to finish the year.
18. San Francisco 49ers (Previous Ranking: 14)
The 49ers are quickly running out of time to avoid a complete disaster this season. San Francisco had the largest margin of defeat in the entire league in Week 12 and still has a difficult schedule remaining this season. While there is still a path to making the playoffs through a wild card seed, the most realistic scenario for a playoff run is by winning the NFC West. Another loss could end the 49ers’ hopes of making the playoffs this season, which grows increasingly likely with the massive number of injuries suffered throughout the team.
19. Los Angeles Rams (Previous Ranking: 18)
The Rams were looking dominant a few weeks ago when Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp returned from injury, but two losses in three weeks have the Rams at just third place in the NFC West and in real danger of missing the playoffs. The Rams’ secondary has struggled against the best receivers and the offense has looked disjointed at times. In a similar manner to every other team in the NFC West, the most realistic path to the playoffs will be collecting a few wins in a row and winning the division.
20. Cincinnati Bengals (Previous Ranking: 20)
The Bengals are likely going to continue an up-and-down season following a Week 12 bye due to an explosive offense and porous defense. Cincinnati must finish the remaining six games with a record of 5-1 or better to have a realistic hope of making the playoffs, and even that would not be guaranteed with the success of other teams over recent weeks. The Bengals are set to enter an offseason that could lead to significant changes to the roster and coaching staff, but the biggest changes should come with the addition of new defensive personnel.
21. New Orleans Saints (Previous Ranking: 22)
The Saints looked better in the two weeks leading into their Week 12 bye, but they are still only 4-7 with no hope of making the playoffs this season. New Orleans is stuck between a full rebuild and competing for a championship due to a disastrous cap situation, resulting in a very blurry plan for the future. New Orleans would likely benefit most from changes at many key positions, but contract agreements and recent signings seemingly indicate that the team is still looking to compete moving forward.
22. Chicago Bears (Previous Ranking: 21)
The Bears left Week 12 with yet another heartbreaking loss, squandering an opportunity for an incredible comeback against the Vikings. Caleb Williams looks vastly improved in recent weeks but made simple mistakes during crucial moments of the game, which is also not surprising from any rookie quarterback. The biggest issue for this team through the first 12 weeks has been coaching, but there has been no clear indication about whether Head Coach Matt Eberflus is on the hot seat with any more struggles.
23. Cleveland Browns (Previous Ranking: 25)
The Browns have almost no chance of making the playoffs this season, but the culture has looked increasingly solid since Jameis Winston took over at quarterback. While his play on the field is not always fantastic, Winston brings his teammates together and keeps the games interesting. Cleveland should look into potential quarterback options during the 2025 Draft, but many of the other positions on the roster are seemingly ready to compete at a high level.
24. Indianapolis Colts (Previous Ranking: 23)
The Colts have looked better on the field for a large portion of the season than the box score would indicate, and that is exactly what happened in Week 12 against the Lions. Although the Lions are clearly the better team, Indianapolis still had multiple breakdowns on defense and dropped passes that would have changed the trajectory of the game. Cleaning up the small mistakes could lead to massive improvements for this team in the future.
25. New York Jets (Previous Ranking: 24)
New York is now just 3-8 this season with a chance at a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which is a far cry from the Super Bowl aspirations the team had entering the season. New reports indicate that the Jets could place Aaron Rodgers on the season-ending injured reserve list and he may not return to the team next season. New York must begin evaluating ways to make this team competitive in the future, and that evaluation should start with finding a quarterback in the upcoming draft.
26. Dallas Cowboys (Previous Ranking: 27)
Cooper Rush and the Cowboys took down the Commanders in Week 12, with this win demonstrating how disruptive the Cowboys’ defense can be when playing at its best. In a similar fashion to many of the other teams at the bottom of the league, the remainder of this season must be used to determine which young players can play meaningful roles next year. Dallas will have to put together an impressive offseason to really compete next year, but the final portion of this season will be the key to whether this team has a competitive future.
27. Tennessee Titans (Previous Ranking: 29)
Will Levis has quietly put together a very solid stretch of games over the last three weeks, averaging 249.3 passing yards and helping the Titans beat the Texans in Week 12. There are still head-scratching moments during portions of the game, but the frequency of these moments has decreased and the Titans have looked much better in recent weeks. Deciding whether Levis is the solution for the future will be paramount to the Titans’ final six games, as this season will not result in a playoff berth for a team that is currently 3-8. Tennessee could look at multiple positions during the draft and free agency, but deciding whether to continue with Levis will be the most important decision for this franchise this year.
28. Carolina Panthers (Previous Ranking: 26)
Carolina moving down is based largely on the loss and not on the way the team played, with Bryce Young and the offense continuing to show improvement in the second half of the season. Young seemingly benefitted heavily from his time behind Andy Dalton and has looked much more impressive since returning, allowing the Panthers to play a more complimentary game when he is at quarterback. The Panthers are unlikely to start stringing wins together to end the season, but competing with the back-to-back Super Bowl champions is a good sign for the future.
29. New England Patriots (Previous Ranking: 28)
Drake Maye is still looking like the Patriots’ franchise quarterback, but the rest of the offensive personnel needs an overhaul. Although the defense allowed 34 points from the Dolphins in Week 12, there have been indications from other weeks that the personnel can get stops against solid teams. New England will have a lot to do this offseason and will likely have one of the top selections in the draft. The future is bright for the Patriots, but the rest of this season could be rough.
30. Las Vegas Raiders (Previous Ranking: 30)
Las Vegas desperately needs a significant change during the offseason, as the team has now lost seven straight games after starting 2-2 this season. The Raiders look solid on the defensive side of the ball, but the offense has been unable to consistently pick up yards until the game is out of reach. The Raiders must begin preparing for an active offseason that could include a wide variety of trades, signings, and other roster moves to bolster the offense.
31. Jacksonville Jaguars (Previous Ranking: 31)
The Jaguars were on a Bye in Week 12 and likely used this opportunity to help Trevor Lawrence and other key players recover from injuries. Lawrence is expected to play in Week 13 but the Jaguars are still one of the worst teams in the league. The good news for the Jaguars is that they will not have to worry about selecting a quarterback in the draft, which will allow them to pursue players at other positions with the opportunity to trade out of their high selection.
32. New York Giants (Previous Ranking: 32)
There is not much to say about the Giants. New York has been a disaster for the past few weeks as a result of the Daniel Jones contract, with the losses continuing to pile up in a season where the team has consistently looked outmatched. The Giants must begin to focus on ways to fix the offense for the remainder of the season while carrying that success into next season. But that is far from guaranteed for an organization that has been one of the most dysfunctional in recent memory.