Another week led to another victory for the Houston Texans, which also means another stint at the top of KP’s NFL Power Rankings. The New England Patriots jumped up to second place, followed by the 49ers, Falcons and Broncos.
Elsewhere, the Green Bay Packers moved back into the top ten after a win over Minnesota, while Robert Griffin III and the Redskins sit in 14th after a Monday night win over the Giants.
Here’s where each squad sits in the NFL Power Rankings after Week 13, featuring some stats, notes, thoughts and figures for every team in the league.
NFL Power Rankings: Tom Brady and the Patriots can celebrate another division title
KP’s NFL Power Rankings: December 5, 2012
*Stats, records and information through Week 13 of the 2012 NFL season
1. Houston Texans (266 points)
The Texans are 6-0 on the road and the only team to be undefeated away from home.
2. New England Patriots (233 points)
The Patriots clinched the AFC East and have the inside track to a first-round bye.
3. San Francisco 49ers (216 points)
It appears that Jeff Fisher and Jim Harbaugh have sparked a great NFC West rivalry.
4. Atlanta Falcons (208 points)
The Falcons have clinched the NFC South division and have a 2 ½ game edge for home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
5. Denver Broncos (202 points)
The Broncos clinched the AFC West division and have won seven straight games.
6. Chicago Bears (159 points)
Brian Urlacher appears to be out for the rest of the regular season, which severely hampers Chicago’s defense going forward.
7. Baltimore Ravens (138 points)
The Ravens lead an AFC North division that is the only one that features three teams with winning records.
8. New York Giants (128 points)
New York’s once commanding division lead is now down to one game over the Redskins and Cowboys.
9. Cincinnati Bengals (126 points)
Cincinnati’s defense has allowed 42 total points over its last four games, all victories.
10. Green Bay Packers (126 points)
Aaron Rodgers’ 105.0 QB rating is the best in the NFL.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (116 points)
The Steelers hope to see Big Ben back in the lineup on Sunday
The Steelers appear as if they will have Ben Roethlisberger returning from injury this weekend.
12. Seattle Seahawks (107 points)
The Seahawks play at home for three of its last four regular season games.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (100 points)
Rookie Doug Martin has 1,106 rushing yards and 9 TD’s on the season.
14. Washington Redskins (81 points)
Rookie Robert Griffin III has nearly 3,400 total yards and 23 touchdowns on the season.
15. Indianapolis Colts (80 points)
Rookie Andrew Luck has nearly 3,600 passing yards and 17 TD’s through the air.
16. Dallas Cowboys (66 points)
In his first game back from injury, DeMarco Murray had 23 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown.
17. Minnesota Vikings (50 points)
Percy Harvin is out for the year, which likely will lead to a major decline in Minnesota’s offensive efficiency.
18. St. Louis Rams (34 points)
Daryl Richardson has just 85 rush attempts on the year, but is averaging 5.4 yards per carry.
19. Detroit Lions (31 points)
Six of Detroit’s eight losses this season are by a touchdown or less.
20. San Diego Chargers (27 points)
San Diego’s only four victories are over the Raiders, Titans and Chiefs (twice).
21. Miami Dolphins (25 points)
Brian Hartline and Davone Bess have combined for more than 1,600 receiving yards, yet have just one touchdown each.
22. New Orleans Saints (16 points)
Pierre Thomas is New Orleans’ leading rusher, with just 425 yards on the season.
23. New York Jets (8 points)
Jeremy Kerley (701 receiving yards) has more than twice the yards when compared to the second leading receiver on the Jets, Dustin Keller.
24. Buffalo Bills (5 points)
C.J. Spiller is 93 yards away from his first career 1,000-yard rushing season.
25. Carolina Panthers (-11 points)
How good have Carolina’s running backs been? Cam Newton (523 rushing yards) is the team’s leading rusher.
26. Cleveland Browns (-13 points)
The Browns are 4-3 after starting the season 0-5.
27. Arizona Cardinals (-19 points)
Larry Fitzgerald (56 catches, 650 yards) clearly needs another Kurt Warner in Arizona.
28. Philadelphia Eagles (-36 points)
Nick Foles will be the starting quarterback for the rest of the season, a smart move by the Eagles.
29. Tennessee Titans (-50 points)
Kendall Wright leads the team in both receptions (54) and targets (88).
30. Kansas City Chiefs (-71 points)
Brady Quinn’s performance last week (on the field and with the media) was easily the best we’ve seen from him in his NFL career.
31. Oakland Raiders (-85 points)
Carson Palmer is on pace to pass his career high for passing yards in a season.
32. Jacksonville Jaguars (-121 points)
Cecil Shorts has 15 catches of 20 or more yards and seven touchdowns.
* All stats per NFL.com
The Wife Hates Sports NFL Power Rankings system has a method to its madness, attempting to be different and not just rank by popularity and record. It mixes a secret formula of eight completely different categories, meshed into a points system. The categories don’t just include team results regarding record, but how each team has performed on the road, as well as incorporating some statistics on both a team’s offense and defense, too.
The Pats absolutely thrashed the Texans tonight. That game was a yawner. Houston shouldn’t have bothered getting off the team plane.
With a victory this week on Monday Night Football, I look for the Pats to overtake Houston in your top spot.
You heard it here first.