Foxboro Blog Top 12: Week 13

So much for stability…  Week 13 sent teams scrambling all over the place, with only three of our twelve teams holding their positioning from last week.  Two of them are our top two teams, the Patriots and Falcons, who both continued their winning ways.   Another interesting tidbit is that the NFC, for all the talk of it being a “weaker” conference, holds six of the top ten spots.  

As far as the week’s “big riser” goes, we’ll have to pass on that honor as there was a four-way tie with no team moving up more than two spots.  The big faller?  None other than last week’s big riser, the Chargers, who came crashing back down to earth and .500 this week.   

Falling off the map are the tail-spinning Colts, who lost three straight.  This is the first edition of the Top 12 ever to not feature Indianapolis. Replacing them are the Chiefs, who are in good command of the AFC West and all but put the division away with a big win this coming week.

Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
1		1	N/A	10-2	@ Bears
		That was a Belichikean smack down of epic proportion on Monday Night.  The Patriots gave the New York  Jets 45 reasons why their still the team to beat in the AFC East.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
2		2	N/A	10-2	@ Panthers
		Tampa Bay was knocking on the door, but Atlanta slammed it shut.  They have one big NFC South test remaining.  Beat the Saints and they’ll all but wrap up a first round bye.  But first they have to avoid falling into the Carolina trap.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
3		4	1	8-4	@ Lions
		The Pack continued their streak of solid wins by downing the Niners.  I smell a potential upset coming from the Lions though.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
4		4	1	8-4	@ Texans
		Baltimore may very well end up on the road in the playoffs thanks to Flacco’s late game fumble.  Still, if there’s one team I don’t want the Patriots to see in the playoffs, its Baltimore.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
5		7	2	9-3	vs. Rams
		For the first time in weeks (seriously, Randy Moss may have still been a Viking) the Saints are not the #7 team in the standings.  New Orleans is poised for a late-season peak and may just give everyone a big run for the title.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
6		8	2	8-4	vs. Bengals
		Huge gutsy win by the Steelers, Roethlisberger in particular.  By shifting the balance of power in the AFC North, the Steelers may have just gone from likely “one and done” candidates to a spot in the AFC Championship.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
7		9	2	9-3	@ Bengals
		Chicago has earned my respect, and they’ll have the Patriots’ when they face off at Soldier Field.  A good showing by Chicago on Sunday could have them vaulting up these charts.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
8		6	2	9-3	vs. Dolphins
		The Jets are good at talking and beating up on sub .500 teams.  What they clearly aren’t good at, is besting the New England Patriots.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
9		11	2	8-4	@ Cowboys
		Philly needs to come up big against the suddenly streaking Cowboys to maintain position in the NFC East.  If either them or the G-Men can run the table down these last 4 games, it could mean a bye week.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
10		10	N/A	8-4	@ Vikings
		Solid wins over bad teams will only get you so far.  The G-Men hold tight at 10 after downing the Skins.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
11		5	6	6-6	vs. Chiefs
		The faster you rise, the fast your fall.  I bumped the Bolts six spots last week and they totally failed me.  Back down they go.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
12		N/A	N/A	8-4	@ Chargers
		The Chiefs are quietly playing some good footall.  I can tell you one thing, either the Chargers or Chiefs won’t be on the Top 12 next week.  Should be interesting…