NFL Power Rankings Post Week 13

1. Chargers 10-2 (+2) They get this spot mostly by default, because their winning games by slim margins against inferior teams, while others are losing to inferior teams.
2. Colts 10-2 (-1) Who would have thought that Peyton would throw for 350 yards in a loss. A fluke field goal led to this loss, but playing down to the Titans level--again--leaves questions for this team.
3. Patriots 9-3 (+1) Like the Chargers, they keep barely scraping by. Almost losing to Detroit leaves huge questions for this team, but with no other teams stepping up, they can't be penalized for a win.
4. Bears 10-2 (+1) Says something about the rest of the team when you can win with a 1.3 passer rating from your QB.
5. Ravens 9-3 (-3) Perhaps it's not fair to drop them so far for a loss to a very good team, but the timing of the first stagnant offensive display under Billick should be a source of worry.
6. Cowboys 8-4 (E) Had it not been for one pass, we'd be talking about Romo's coming to earth experience.
7. Saints 8-4 (E) Bush finally had his breakout game, even though his rushing average could still be better.
8. Bengals 7-5 (E) The third of a logjam of teams that won, but not impressively enough compared to other teams to move up.
9. Seahawks 8-4 (+1) The eight teams above them look like they have a chance of doing great things; Seattle is the first big drop from this, almost allowing Jay Cutler to beat them. Seattle's offense is back on track with Alexander and Hasselbeck back, so if they continue winning, they just might be a favorite in the playoffs.
10. Jaguars 7-5 (+3) This team only gets stranger and stranger. The Dolphins were hot coming in but Jacksonville cooled them off big time.
11. Jets 7-5 (+3) That was an impressive win. Nobody would have thought that the Jets could cause trouble, but Pennington is back and this team will be able to do some things.
12. Chiefs 7-5 (-3) Losing to the Browns is inexcusable, especially against Derek Anderson. This defense is going to be the weak link yet again.
13. Broncos 7-5 (-1) For a first start for Cutler, it could have been worse.
14. Eagles 6-6 (+8) I really didn't see them beating Carolina, and I definitely didn't see Garcia playing this well. They've gone from also-rans to contenders in just one week.
15. Panthers 6-6 (-4) Delhomme's first interception was absolutely inexcusable. As goes he the team goes.
16. Giants 6-6 (-1) Inexcusable is the word of the day, applying here to that coverage on the Witten catch, and that dumb fumble Kiwanuka committed. Manning came back strong, though, which can only encourage Giants fans.
17. Titans 5-7 (+1) A second team this season wins on a 60+ yard field goal. The Vince Young legend grows as an indirect result.
18. Falcons 6-6 (+6) After the first quarter, it looked like the Falcons would only tumble further down the rankings. Now, they are right back in the hunt.
19. Steelers 5-7 (+6) Can't say much, except they won handily, which is what you should expect against a struggling team such as the Bucs.
20. Browns 4-8 (+10) The big jump comes not just in the impressiveness of their win, beating a division contender, but also because the teams yet to be named all struggled this week.
21. Bills 5-7 (-4) They hung with the Chargers but LT was just too much.
22. Dolphins 5-7 (-6) It looked like they were going to finish strong, just like last year, but it came to a crashing halt against the Jags.
23. Rams 5-7 (-2) Right back to losing, this time to the Cardinals. Bulger has a reason to question his team's desire; a team with such talent at QB, RB, and WR should not struggle like this.
24. Vikings 5-7 (-5) So much for veteran leadership. We may have seen the last of Brad Johnson on Sunday. He's had a nice career.
25. Redskins 4-8 (-4) Ladell Betts was the only guy who showed up. Could Portis's injury-stained season lead to an RB controversy next year?
26. 49ers 5-7 (-3) Somehow you knew the euphoria from the 3-game win streak couldn't last.
27. Cardinals 3-9 (+4) They got very efficient play from the entire offense. This win could only provide hope for the future (of course, in the desert, it never solidifies).
28. Texans 4-8 (-1) Yeah, they won, but it was kinda... icky.
29. Packers 4-8 (-3) Ouch.
30. Lions 2-10 (+2) Almost beating the Pats was a nice enough showing to put them this high, when you look at the two teams below them.
31. Raiders 2-10 (-3) The offense is reaching new levels of ineptness. I'll give their defense's strong showing against the Chargers one more week to count in the rankings.
32. Buccaneers 3-9 (-3) The Gradkowski experiment has failed. Put their horrible offense together with a declining defense and you get a team that has lost its ability to win games.

Week 13 Predictions: 10-6