Foxboro Blog Top 12: Week 16

Things got a little bit crazy last week with Christmas and the Top 12 needed to get deferred.  You would never guess the amount of angry emails we received demanding that we bring it back this week (unless you happened to guess zero).  Anyway, without further ado, here is the most current edition of the Foxboro Top 12.
 

Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
1		1	0	14-1	vs. Lions
		If you think I wasn’t jinxing the Packers by saying that they had a 99% chance of beating the Chiefs, then you don’t know me.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
2		2	0	12-3	vs. Bills
		The Patriots survived a scare in Miami, but keep getting it done.   They are riding the longest winning streak in the NFL right now.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
3		4	+1	12-3	vs. Panthers
		The Saints are quietly becoming everyone’s sweet heart pick for the title.  I’m still trying to figure out if that’s a good thing or not.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
4		7	+3	12-3	@ Rams
		I have a feeling that San Fran is either going to get humiliated in the playoffs, or decimate everyone in the NFC en route to Indianapolis.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
5		3	-2	11-4	@ Bengals
		The Ravens have been extremely inconsistent on the road.  Needless to say, I will be very happy if they come to Foxoboro in the playoffs instead of vice versa.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
6		5	-1	11-4	@ Browns
		Big Ben comes up limping at just the wrong time.  That’s gotta be concerning for Steelers fans.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
7		N/A	N/A	10-5	@ Packers
		If we had a Top 12 last week, the Lions would have been on it.  They’ve come roaring back down the stretch.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
8		8	0	9-6	vs. Buccaneers
		The Falcons have clinched a playoff spot.  Don’t be shocked if they pull some upsets this post-season.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
9		6	-3	10-5	vs. Titans
		If the Pats lock up the top spot, I’ll be rooting hard for the Texans to fall to the #6 seed.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
10		12	+2	9-6	vs. Ravens
		Can the Bengals pull an upset against Baltimore, earn a playoff berth, and knock Baltimore back to the #5 spot?  It’s a tall order, but they just might be able to.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
11		11	0	8-7	vs. Cowboys
		You just knew it was coming down to Week 17 for the Giants and Cowboys.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
12		9	-3	8-7	vs. Chiefs
		Tebowmania isn’t running quite as wild as it was a few weeks ago.