Foxboro Blog Top 12: Week 12

After a wild Thanksgiving Weekend, we have some new faces in the Top 12 and a lot of swapping up and down near the top of the board.  This week #6 plays #8 and #7 plays #9, so the middle of the board will be the place to keep your eye on.  Also a loss to a team like the Colts, Browns, or Rams could send one of our contenders tumbling…
 

Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
1		1	0	11-0	@ Giants
		The Pack are looking like prime candidates to match the Patriots’ 16-0.  I say let ’em have it.  Then the Pats can play the role of the Giants in Indy and make Green Bay feel the pain of 18-1.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
2		3	+1	8-3	vs. Colts
		The Patriots have learned to play defense while three of their arguably Top 6 defensive players are injured. (Chung, McCourty, Spikes).  If the D can hold, then the offense is diverse enough now, where I don’t believe they will stall out like the did in the playoffs the past two years.  It’s all about Gronk, Welker, Hernandez, and Branch staying healthy and giving Brady options to throw to.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
3		4	+1	8-3	@ Browns
		You could argue that the Ravens deserve to be #2 after knocking off the Niners.  However, their ugly losses continue to haunt them and the Patriots looked every bit as solid in dismantling Philly.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
4		6	+3	8-3	vs. Lions
		The Saints are making a serious case for Green Bay not being a total lock for the Super Bowl.  My only question is how Brees and Co. will fare in Lambeau in January.  Global warming anyone?
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
5		2	-3	9-2	vs. Rams
		A tight loss to Baltimore is no cause for a three spot drop, but things are so close in spots 2-6 that the slightest error can send you tumbling.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
6		5	-1	8-3	vs. Bengals
		Pittsburgh looked less than impressive in their win over KC.  They just haven’t been all that impressive since they rose to the occasion against the Pats.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
7		8	+1	7-4	@ Texans
		It’s not unreasonable to think the Saints could fall against the Lions.  So there could be more at stake than just the top wild card slot when the Falcons play Houston.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
8		7	-1	7-4	@ Steelers
		HUGE game for the Bengals here.  It’s time to prove they can play with the big boys.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
9		10	+1	8-3	vs. Atlanta
		Losing your QB for the season in back-to-back weeks is just brutal.  Still, Houston should be able to hang onto the South and be at home for their first playoff game ever.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
10		N/A	N/A	7-4	@ Dolphins
		The Raiders can play D, they can run, and week by week, Carson Palmer is improving their passing game.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
11		9	-2	7-4	vs. Chiefs
		The loss of Jay Cutler is just a killer for the Bears.  They were potential Super Bowl contenders and would be on the opposite end of this rankings board had he not gotten injured.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
12		N/A	N/A	6-5	@ Vikings
		Sorry Jets – Buffalo had every opportunity to beat you at the end and couldn’t execute.  Sorry Cowboys – you should have thomped Miami, not eeked out the win.  Sorry Giants – you’ve lost three games in a row.  Sorry Tebow Haters – there’s no denying that the guy just wins and has rightfully put Denver into this week’s Top 12.