2025 NFL Week 12 Power Rankings
Just when you think the Buffalo Bills are falling out of the AFC conversation, Josh Allen makes history as the first player to throw and run for three touchdowns in a single game, multiple times. In the NFC, the Rams are establishing themselves as the team to beat and turning into the Super Bowl favorite. Last year, I picked the Rams to win the Super Bowl. You know what they say: “Never wrong, just early.”
Contenders Until They’re Not
1. Los Angeles Rams - The cream of the crop, not just in the NFC, but in the NFL. They are vicious offensively and defensively. Matt Stafford is playing at an MVP-level, with two #1 wide receivers in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Look for the playoffs to run through LA.
2. Denver Broncos - “What they gon say now?” Bo Nix outplayed Patrick Mahomes not just in 2025 but also in their lone 2024 matchup. Ja'Quan McMillian had an insane day, with an interception and two sacks on Mahomes. This team, led by its dominant defense, extends the win streak to 9, and is in 1st place in the AFC.
3. New England Patriots - Is it possible to give Coach of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year to the same person? I kid, and obviously know Mike Vrabel isn’t an active player, but he is the catalyst for this machine. The Patriots did what they were supposed to: Beat the bad team in front of them.
4. Seattle Seahawks - Sam Darnold threw four interceptions against the Rams in Week 11, and yet they only lost by 2 points. The margin of error for this team is massive, and they could legitimately win the Super Bowl. They have a stalwart defense to back up an (at times) incredibly efficient offense.
5. Indianapolis Colts - Don’t count out Indy, especially if they put the nail in the Chiefs’ coffin in Week 12. They had a bye week this week, and barely escaped the Falcons in an overtime win in Week 10, but they are a team looking to reestablish themselves as the best in the AFC, with Jonathan Taylor leading the charge as the NFL’s RB1.
6. Buffalo Bills - Josh Allen is doing Josh Allen things. This team will go as far as he can take them, with or without help from anyone else. It remains to be seen if this team can hang with the AFC teams above them, but beating the Buccaneers handily certainly helps.
7. Philadelphia Eagles - Recently, Vic Fangio’s defense has been playing lights out the last two weeks. The offense, for whatever reason, has still been struggling to put points on the board during that time. Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, Saquon Barkley, and Davonta Smith all have their moments, but can seemingly never put it all together. Despite that, they are 8-2 and are pretty much a lock for the NFC East again.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Tampa Bay needs to start panicking. They have dropped two straight games, and the Panthers are suddenly on their heels, aiming to steal the NFC South crown. Week 12 is a game against the best team in the league, the Rams, followed by the Cardinals, who have an incredibly stingy defense.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers - The Steelers make their way into the Top-10! After a commanding revenge-win over the Cincinnati Bengals in the Unc Bowl Part 2, Pittsburgh seems like it’s finally putting the pieces together. The defense has needed help all season, but looked decent on Sunday.
10. San Francisco 49ers - San Fran crushed what many consider a stingy defense in Arizona. It was a commanding victory that showed how far the Cardinals are from competing with the best in their division. Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle all had a day, reminiscent of their 2023 Super Bowl team.
Hopefuls
11. Chicago Bears - You don’t accidentally walk into a 7-3 record in the NFL. Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams are starting to click, and the world will soon see it come to fruition. I’m cautiously optimistic about their chances this year, but I was head over heels in the preseason. Maybe I was right back then?
12. Green Bay Packers - One of the most confusing teams in the NFL is the Packers. Their offense has looked elite at times, including a dime touchdown to Christian Watson on Sunday against the Giants, but has sputtered far too often for me to be convinced that they are a threat. I like what they’re building in Green Bay, and Jordan Love is the key right now.
13. Detroit Lions - The mighty are falling. Suddenly, the Lions are a 6-4 team on the outside of the playoffs, looking in. They are only one game behind the Bears in the NFC North, but they are in 3rd place. The race is tight, and it’s getting tighter with only 7 weeks left to play. Dan Campbell and Jared Goff need to figure out this offense quickly.
14. Jacksonville Jaguars - I read a YouTube comment that said the Jags are the most bipolar team in the NFL, and I couldn’t agree more. They lost to Jake Browning and Davis Mills but have beaten Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert. I’m here for the chaos!
15. Los Angeles Chargers - Technically, the Chargers are only two games out of 1st place in the AFC West, but it feels much further than that. The injuries are ravaging this team, and Justin Herbert has looked terrible lately (81 yards, 1 Int vs Jacksonville).
It’s Complicated
16. Kansas City Chiefs - You are what your record says you are. This team is the complete opposite of what they were last year. They were 12-0 in one-score games in 2024 but are 0-5 in 2025. With the division-leading Broncos 4.5 games ahead, Kansas City needs to focus on simply making the playoffs, not on hosting playoff games this year. It’s slipping.
17. Carolina Panthers - The Panthers have a better record than the Chiefs. Say that again. They do have a brutal schedule facing the 49ers, Rams, and Seahawks, plus the Buccaneers twice, but their 2025 playoff hopes are very much alive.
18. Baltimore Ravens - Baltimore didn’t look dominant, but they won a one-score game against a division rival in the Cleveland Browns. Their playoff push, if they can muster one up, will be for the AFC North crown, as there are several teams ahead of them in the Wild Card spots.
19. Houston Texans - Davis Mills and the Houston defense churned out an ugly win against the hapless Tennessee Titans. They desperately need C.J. Stroud back if they want any chance of competing this year.
You’re Saying There’s A Chance?
20. Dallas Cowboys - George Pickens had a massive day against a clearly lesser opponent, as he should. Dallas is still hoping it can make a playoff push, especially after the defensive midseason trade acquisitions. NFL.com says they have a 7% chance of making it to the dance… You’re saying there’s a chance?!
21. Minnesota Vikings - By now, the Vikings and their fans should all be questioning whether J.J. McCarthy will be on this team in 2026. He has looked terribly lately, and throwing prayer balls to Justin Jefferson isn’t cutting it. Kevin O’Connell has work cut out for him, as they are in 4th in their division.
22. Arizona Cardinals - Jacoby Brissett set a record on Sunday for the most regular-season completions in a game (47). The Cardinals still lost by three scores to the 49ers. In a loaded NFC and NFC West, there is little hope left for a postseason berth.
Maybe Next Year
23. Cleveland Browns - Holding Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and company to 23 total points is admirable; however, it doesn’t matter if your team can’t score 24 points. Shedeur Sanders came in and looked completely lost in his first real NFL action.
24. Cincinnati Bengals - The offense disappointed in more ways than one, including a one-game suspension for Ja’Marr Chase for an altercation with Jalen Ramsey. This team simply needed to wade in the water until Joe Burrow could return, but it seems Cincinnati is drowning.
25. Atlanta Falcons - A back-breaking loss to the Panthers, who now have swept that series, sets them up for sights on brighter futures. 2025 is all but wrapped up, and while they’re not technically out of the NFC South race, Michael Penix Jr. is out for the rest of the season. Let’s see if (Captain) Kirk Cousins can orchestrate a win streak.
26. Miami Dolphins - If only the Dolphins could win some games in Miami, or in the United States for that matter. A win against a QB2 and injury-riddled Washington team barely moves the needle, sadly.
27. Washington Commanders - 2025 is over for this team and every team below. With their next game coming Thanksgiving weekend, on Sunday Night Football, against the Denver Broncos, don’t expect great things. Anything can happen, but Washington’s mental state is probably already on vacation in Cancun.
28. New York Giants - I love Jameis Winston. This game ended in the most Jameis way, with an interception to seal the game. I do believe that was the receiver’s fault, but the history of that kind of thing seems to follow him wherever he goes. I want a Winston jersey, for real.
29. Las Vegas Raiders - The Raiders were dogwalked in Week 11, in front of the whole nation, after a disgusting Week 10 loss, also in front of the whole nation. This team is already looking at draft boards.
30. New York Jets - NY actually played well for the first portion of the game, before the wheels came off. A loss to a juggernaut was expected. Benching Justin Fields for Tyrod Taylor shows exactly where this team is.
31. New Orleans Saints - Bye Week. And I don’t have much more to say about this team. Maybe Week 12 will change my mind?
32. Tennessee Titans - If stacking losses were an Olympic sport, Tennessee would have a gold medal. Unfortunately, the only award for this team is being the league’s caboose. Prayers for Cam Ward’s 2026 breakout.
