2010 NFL Power Rankings: Week 13 

The Jets and Falcons may be in first place in their respective divisions, but they’ll have some stiff competition down the stretch.

New York is obviously being pushed hard by the Patriots, and Monday night’s showdown may well determine the winner of the AFC East.

Atlanta is just one game ahead of the defending champion Saints, and will face New Orleans for the final time in week 16. Can the Buccaneers keep up?

Read on for the week 13 helping of NFL power rankings.

Garbage

32. Carolina Panthers (1-10, Last Week: 32)

Week 13: at SEA

Is Steve Beuerlein ready to step in as the Panthers’ quarterback yet?

31. Cincinnati Bengals (2-9, Last Week: 31)

Week 13: vs. NO

Cincy has talent, so why are they so bad?

Sounds like a Marvin Lewis swan song.

30. Arizona Cardinals (3-8, Last Week: 27)

Week 13: vs. STL

Laughing or not, Derek Anderson, as we knew, isn’t the answer in the desert.

It’s crazy how the departure of one player (Kurt Warner) can take a team from Super Bowl-caliber status and make them so ordinary.

Competitive, But Just Not Quite There Yet

29. Detroit Lions (2-9, Last Week: 30)

Week 13: vs. CHI

The Lions were competitive on Thanksgiving Day against the Patriots…in the first half, at least.

If Drew Stanton is the starter for the rest of the season, will they be able to get over the two-win plateau?

28. Buffalo Bills (2-9, Last Week: 29)

Week 13: at MIN

Buffalo was a Steve Johnson dropped TD pass away from a very impressive come-from-behind OT win over the Steelers.

Unfortunately, Johnson thinks God must be a Steelers fan.

Fatally Flawed

27. Denver Broncos (3-8, Last Week: 23)

Week 13: at KC

We used to call the Denver Nuggets the “Enver Nuggets” because they played no “D”.

Well, it’s safe to say that the same title now applies to the Enver Broncos.

26. Washington Redskins (5-6, Last Week: 22)

Week 13: at NYG

Despite an overall lack of talent on the offensive side of the ball, the Redskins have been fairly competitive in most of their games this season.

Safe to say they could use some of their upcoming draft picks on some offensive skill positions?

NFC West

25. San Francisco 49ers (4-7, Last Week: 26)

Week 13: at GB

The 4-7 49ers are just one game out of a playoff spot.

Maybe owner Jed York wasn’t crazy when he told us his previously 0-5 Niners would still make the playoffs.

24. Seattle Seahawks (5-6, Last Week: 24)

Week 13: vs. CAR

The Seahawks were yet again shellacked Sunday, this time by the Chiefs by a score of 42-24.

At least Mike Williams and Ben Obomanu seem to have the makings of a decent receiving corps. We all saw that one coming, right?

23. St. Louis Rams (5-6, Last Week: 25)

Week 13: at ARZ

The Rams have a golden opportunity to possibly take the lead in the NFC West as they travel down to Arizona to face the woeful Cardinals this week.

I’ll say it again…we all saw that one coming, right?

Interim Coach Division

22. Dallas Cowboys (3-8, Last Week: 19)

Week 13: at IND

Roy Williams fumbled away what would’ve been a huge win over the Saints on Thanksgiving, and now Jason Garrett and company will have to turn their attention to stopping the reeling Colts on the road.

I think he deserves the permanent job by now, no?

21. Minnesota Vikings (4-7, Last Week: 28)

Week 13: vs. BUF

The Redskins aren’t the most impressive team in the league, but a win is a win, right?

Despite all that’s gone on with the Vikings this year, they’re still not completely out of the playoff hunt…yet.

Rusty Smith!

20. Tennessee Titans (5-6, Last Week: 17)

Week 13: vs. JAX

The Titans looked like they already mailed in the season in during the 20-0 loss to the Texans Sunday, and it isn’t crazy to speculate that this could be Jeff Fisher’s final season as head coach of the Oilers/Titans franchise.

Lingering

19. Cleveland Browns (4-7, Last Week: 20)

Week 13: at MIA

Had Colt McCoy been able to play instead of Jake Delhomme Sunday, would the game against the Panthers have been close at all?

Breathing…Just Barely

18. Oakland Raiders (5-6, Last Week: 15)

Week 13: at SD

Remember when the Raiders were flying high at 5-4?

Yep. That seems like a long time ago.

17. Houston Texans (5-6, Last Week: 21)

Week 13: at PHI

The Texans got a much-needed win over the Titans, and were lucky that Andre Johnson wasn’t suspended for his role in the altercation with Cortland Finnegan.

Hello, NFL’s 32nd-ranked defense. I’d like you to meet Michael Vick.

16. Miami Dolphins (6-5, Last Week: 18)

Week 13: vs. CLE

Needless to say, this Miami-Cleveland matchup will be the second-most anticipated Miami-Cleveland matchup of the week.

15. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-5, Last Week: 16)

Week 13: vs. TEN

Jacksonville almost stole a game from the Giants, and are still very much alive in the suddenly wide open AFC South.

Eli Manning should take note of David Garrard’s running skills.

What Happened?

14. New York Giants (7-4, Last Week: 11)

Week 13: vs. WAS

Right when I started to buy into the Giants being the best team in the NFL, they reverted back to their 2009 ways.

Can a narrow win at home over the Jaguars serve as a springboard for the rest of the season?

13. Indianapolis Colts (6-5, Last Week: 10)

Week 13: vs. DAL

I still probably have the Colts ranked too high.

They looked awful in every way in the lopsided home loss to the Chargers Sunday evening.

Too Late to Call Them Overachievers?

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-4, Last Week: 12)

Week 13: vs. ATL

Tampa lost a tough one on the road in Baltimore, and this week’s matchup with the Falcons at home is the biggest game the Bucs franchise will have played in several years.

Can they continue to shock us?

11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-4, Last Week: 14)

Week 13: vs. DEN

KC completely dismantled the Seahawks on the road, led by the improbably-proficient combination of Matt Cassel and Dwayne Bowe.

Cassel has thrown just four interceptions on the season, and Bowe has a league-leading 14 touchdowns.

Can They Keep It Up?

10. Philadelphia Eagles (7-4, Last Week: 3)

Week 13: vs. HOU

It seemed as though they were dominated by the Bears, but the Eagles were in this game until the very end.

Fantasy players, your Eagles are facing a dream matchup Thursday night at home against the Texans.

Who Wants the NFC North?

9. Green Bay Packers (7-4, Last Week: 4)

Week 13: vs. SF

Green Bay lost a tough one on the road to the Falcons, but then again, nobody beats the Falcons in Atlanta, so how upset can they be?

8. Chicago Bears (8-3, Last Week: 13)

Week 13: at DET

Chicago hasn’t had the toughest schedule in the league to date, but 8-3 is 8-3.

As long as Jay Cutler can keep the turnovers under wraps, this team has the potential to go deep into the playoffs.

The Best?

7. San Diego Chargers (6-5, Last Week: 9)

Week 13: vs. OAK

The Chargers completely dismantled the Colts in Indianapolis, and now sit just one game behind the first-place Chiefs in the AFC West.

It just seems like a matter of time now, doesn’t it?

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3, Last Week: 8)

Week 13: at BAL

The Steelers will look to split the season series with the Ravens and get the inside track towards a division title.

Can Big Ben stay healthy enough down the stretch?

As we learned earlier this season: it may not even matter.

5. Baltimore Ravens (8-3, Last Week: 6)

Week 13: vs. PIT

Baltimore will look to improve on their perfect 5-0 home record when the Steelers come calling Sunday night.

Do they have what it takes to sweep the Steelers?

4. New Orleans Saints (8-3, Last Week: 7)

Week 13: at CIN

The Saints probably should’ve lost in Dallas on Thanksgiving, but a win is a win.

Amazingly, Drew Brees has already thrown 15 interceptions this season, after throwing just 11 all of last season.

3. New York Jets (9-2, Last Week: 5)

Week 13: at NE

The Jets just keep on winning, but face their stiffest test of the season as they head into New England Monday night.

Can they back up the nonstop talk?

2. Atlanta Falcons (9-2, Last Week: 2)

Week 13: at TB

A win for the Falcons in Tampa likely eliminates any dreams the Bucs may have had about stealing the NFC South.

1. New England Patriots (9-2, Last Week: 1)

Week 13: vs. NYJ

Think Brady and Belichick will let themselves be swept by the Jets?

Hmm….no.

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