JACKSONVILLE – Here are senior writer John Oehser's pre-Week 12 2015 NFL power rankings. And we all know how important these are:
1.New England Patriots (10-0) | 1 | Whatever it takes, whenever it matters
2.Carolina Panthers (10-0) | 2 | Closing in on home-field advantage
3.Arizona Cardinals (8-2) | 3 | If you don't think they can win it all you're not paying attention
4.Cincinnati Bengals (8-2) | 4 | Still the AFC's second-best team
5.Denver Broncos (8-2) | 5 | The Osweiler Era begins
6.Green Bay Packers (7-3) | 6 | Sunday's victory was just huge for the 'Pack …
7.Minnesota Vikings (7-3) | 7 | … and the loss was just as big for the Vikes
8.Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) | 8 | Big, big week during late-season bye
9.Atlanta Falcons (6-4) | 9 | Three losses in four weeks has them playing for wild-card spot
10.New York Giants (5-5) | 10| Maintained East lead through the bye
11.Buffalo Bills (5-5) | 11 | Made up ground on Pats – just not enough
12.Seattle Seahawks (5-5) | 13 | Do they have another late-season run in them?
13.New York Jets (5-5) | 12 | Midseason slide continues
14.Indianapolis Colts (5-5) | 18 | Comeback in Atlanta could wind up keying their season
15.Kansas City Chiefs (5-5) | 20 | This team's playoff chances are real. Really real
16.Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-5) | 23 | How for real are the Bucs? Realer by the week
17.Houston Texans (5-5) | 24 | Better and better by the week
18.St. Louis Rams (4-6) | 15 | Let a winnable one get away in Baltimore Sunday
19.Miami Dolphins (4-6) | 14 | Three and three under interim head coach Dan Campbell
20.New Orleans Saints (4-6) | 22 | Very consistent during the bye
- Jacksonville Jaguars (4-6) | 25 | Moving on up
22.Oakland Raiders (4-6) | 16 | Three consecutive losses after October surge
23.Philadelphia Eagles (4-6) | 17 | Struggling NFC East means they're still in it … for now
24.Washington Redskins (4-6) | 19 | See "Philadelphia Eagles"
25.Chicago Bears (4-6) | 21 | A lot better than anyone had the right to expect this season
26.Dallas Cowboys (3-7) | 26 | This ranking could be rising with Romo back … is there time?
27.Baltimore Ravens (3-7) | 27 | Disastrous season got worse with loss of Joe Flacco
28.San Francisco 49ers (3-7) | 28 | Blaine Train not enough for 49ers in Seattle Sunday
29.Detroit Lions (3-7) | 32 | Quietly beginning to play better
30.San Diego Chargers (2-8) | 29 | Struggling in a big way heading to the 'Bank Sunday
31.Tennessee Titans (2-8) | 30 | Defense could give them a chance in games down the stretch
32.Cleveland Browns (2-8) | 29 | Five consecutive losses got no better over the bye
