JACKSONVILLE -- Here are senior writer John Oehser's Week 12 2014 NFL power rankings. And we all know how important these are:
1.Arizona Cardinals (9-1) | 1 | Rock solid no matter who's at quarterback
2.New England Patriots (8-2) | 3 | Maybe they shouldn't bench Tom Brady after all
3.Green Bay Packers (7-3) | 5 | Looking more and more like Super Bowl favorites
4.Philadelphia Eagles (7-3) | 2 | Blown out in Green Bay, but teams could play again
5.Denver Broncos (7-3) | 4 | Even the Broncos can't always overcome injuries
6.Dallas Cowboys (7-3) | 8 | Made it through bye strong and true
7.Detroit Lions (7-3) | 6 | Will need strong finish in tough NFC
8.Kansas City Chiefs (7-3) | 14 | Better and better with each passing week
9.Cincinnati Bengals (6-3-1) | 12 | When they're good, they're very, very good …
10.Indianapolis Colts (6-4) | 7 | In control of AFC South, but barely
11.Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4) | 13 | Looking like one of AFC's toughest end-of-season outs
- Miami Dolphins (6-4) | 11 | Strong, but still need a solid finish for postseason
13.Seattle Seahawks (6-4) | 9 | Setting themselves up for a fight to get into postseason
14.Cleveland Browns (6-4) | 10 | Young, growing teams struggle for consistency
15.San Diego Chargers (6-4) | 15 | A game out of first place in tough AFC West
16.Baltimore Ravens (6-4) | 16 | Don't count them out for division title
17.San Francisco 49ers (6-4) | 18 | Not as consistent as they want, but still dangerous
- Buffalo Bills (5-5) | 17 | As up again, down again as any NFL team this season
19.New Orleans Saints (4-6) | 19 | Gave up sole possession of first place Sunday
20.Atlanta Falcons (4-6) | 24 | Your (tied-for) first-place … Atlanta Falcons?
21.Houston Texans (5-5) | 20 | Still hanging onto playoff hopes
22.St. Louis Rams (4-6) | 26 | Continuing to play their best against the best
23.Carolina Panthers (3-7-1) | 21 | The surprising, hard-to-explain slide continues
24.New York Giants (3-7) | 22 | Five consecutive losses turning this into another lost season
- Minnesota Vikings (4-6) | 23 | Not bad, but just not enough to compete this season
- Chicago Bears (4-6) | 28 | Looked better Sunday, but too late?
27.Washington Redskins (3-7) | 25 | Ground looking shakier and shakier for RGIII in DC
27.New York Jets (2-8) | 27 | Solid bye week for Rex and Co.
29.Tennessee Titans (2-8) | 29 | Had the Steelers down and let them get away
30.Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-8) | 31 | Got out of No. 2 draft position for now
- Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9) | 30 | Looking for similar post-bye surge as last season
32.Oakland Raiders (0-10) | 32 | Sixteen consecutive losses
