Chiefs fall after loss, Lions now no. 1

On By Littum

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NFL power rankings entering Week 12 of the 2024 season (previous rankings in parentheses):

1. Detroit Lions (2): With KC finally falling from the ranks of the undefeated—as flimsy as the champions’ “perfection” was—there is no longer any doubt that Motown is currently the epicenter of the NFL universe. The Lions’ +159 point differential is more than 50 clear of anyone else. Their 46-point victory over Jacksonville on Sunday was the largest in the franchise’s 95-season history, and the 645 yards gained were also Detroit’s most ever. They are just the third team in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to win three of their first 10 games by at least 35 points and the second team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to score at least 50 points in back-to-back home games. Good luck, Indy.

2. Buffalo Bills (4): Their regular-season dominance of the Chiefs continued Sunday, for whatever it’s worth — and the Bills will tell you, not so much. But Buffalo is getting healthier and hotter, now winners of six straight while scoring at least 30 points in the last five games. The AFC East is basically in the bag – again – but the goal is to host the first AFC Championship Game in 31 years … and much, much more.

3. Philadelphia Eagles (5): If anyone other than the Lions are going to be kings of the NFC jungle, it might be these increasingly tough Birds – who remarkably have five winning streaks of at least five games over the past three seasons. They’ll likely continue to lean on their best player, RB Saquon Barkley (the first Philly back in a decade with at least 100 total yards in eight games) as this show hits a tough road that winds through LA next (Rams) and Baltimore.

4. Kansas City Chiefs (1): “The undefeated was cool. But it’s not our ultimate goal.” Well said, Mr. Mahomes. Home field advantage is cool, too, and three of the next four games are against teams that are at least four games under .500 — which should mean bonus tickets at Arrowhead in late January.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (6): Regardless of who is behind center, the problems in the red zone continue – the Steelers are the fifth team this century to win multiple games in a season without reaching the end zone.

6. Baltimore Ravens (3): Thirteen touches for RB Derrick Henry? None in the fourth quarter? Of a two point loss? Didn’t we learn this lesson last season?

7. Minnesota Vikings (8): They are a league-best 5-0 against the AFC. If only those wins didn’t count for so little in the tiebreaker department.

8. Washington Commanders (7): The team claims there is nothing wrong with rookie QB Jayden Daniels … even though he has played his least efficient (59.1% completion rate, 74.9 passer rating) and impactful (23 rushing yards, 1 TD generated) football during the current two-game losing streak.

9. Green Bay Packers (9): QB Jordan Love has thrown a pick in nine straight games, going back to the playoffs in 2023. But he’s also starting to get some production out of WR Christian Watson, which helps since the defense hasn’t played that well in a month.

10. Arizona Cardinals (10): The NFC West leaders come out of their bye with a one-game division lead, but two of their next three contests against Seattle, which has swept the Cards in five straight.

11. Los Angeles Chargers (13): Sunday night saw their best offensive performance of the season … and worst showing on defense. But the teammates are picking each other up, and defeating Cincy gives the Bolts an almost iron-clad grip on a wild-card spot.

12. Houston Texans (12): Officially the Lone Star State championship, they can all but lock up the AFC South championships by beating Tennessee and Jacksonville the next two weeks.

13. Denver Broncos (16): Perhaps the AFC version of the Vikes, the Broncos went 4-0 against the NFC South and outscored those teams by an average of 22 points.

14. Atlanta Falcons (14): Hardly ideal to enter your off week on a two-game skid further accentuated by a 32-point loss to a rookie quarterback (Denver’s Bo Nix). But the Dirty Birds better rest up and recharge with the Bolts and Vikes lurking on the other side of the break.

15. Cincinnati Bengals (15): Heartbreaking losses the past two weeks significantly reduce their chances of surviving into the postseason. But no one wants to see Joe Burrow and Co., the quarterback the first in the Super Bowl era to lose three games in a season when he throws for at least 300 yards, three TDs and zero INTs, according to NFL Media.

16. Miami Dolphins (18): QB Tua Tagovailoa has played awfully well since returning from his latest concussion, completing 77% of his passes for 960 yards with seven TDs and an INT. His passer rating in the four-game stretch is 112.2. A Finnish club that has yet to complete an ascent under HC Mike McDaniel must continue to swim against the tide, though a forgiving schedule should help.

17. Los Angeles Rams (19): After throwing three TD passes in the first six weeks, QB Matthew Stafford has posted 10 in the past four — coinciding with a 3-1 mark and return to relevance. Stafford is now 10th in league history with 370 career TD catches, and Stafford needs 12 more to pass Matt Ryan next.

18. San Francisco 49ers (11): TE George Kittle is injured. DE Nick Bosa is hurt. Their pride is hurt after a collapse in Seattle in the fourth quarter. And heading to Green Bay and Buffalo, it could inflict further pain on their already fading playoff prospects.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (17): They went into their bye with a four-game slide. They’ll come out of it with the NFC’s easiest remaining schedule and seemingly with WR Mike Evans back in the lineup.

20. Seattle Seahawks (20): Did you know that QB Geno Smith holds the franchise single-season record with 4,282 passing yards in 2022? He is on pace for 4,728 this year.

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21. Indianapolis Colts (21): Did you know that QB Anthony Richardson leads the league with 15.6 yards per carry? Or that WR Alec Pierce leads the NFL with 22.7 yards per carry. catch? Still, with an overall 79.4 passer rating, only one AFC team (Tennessee) is less efficient than Indy.

22. New England Patriots (22): Considering how poorly the offensive line has blocked, maybe it’s time to convert LT Vederian Lowe to a wideout?

23. Chicago Bears (23): Changing offensive coordinators ended their touchdown drought with 25 possessions dating to their Hail Mary loss at Washington. But Da Bears will need a Hail Mary to reach the postseason, as they play what is — by far — the toughest schedule (.729 opponent winning percentage) in the league over the last seven weeks.

24. New Orleans Saints (27): The interim coach is 2-0.

25. New York Jets (24): The interim coach is 1-5.

26. Carolina Panthers (25): Their three wins already exceed 2023’s total (2). And that good vibe should build Sunday with rookie RB Jonathon Brooks set to make his long-awaited debut in what’s shaping up to be a pretty good backfield alongside recently extended Chuba Hubbard.

27. Las Vegas Raiders (32): The newly installed Turner-and-son offense is the best the Silver and Black have employed all season.

28. Cleveland Browns (26): They had the league’s no. 1 defense in 2023. Now? It’s just a device that doesn’t have a prayer to stop Taysom Hill.

29. Dallas Cowboys (29): The sky is literally falling at AT&T Stadium, where “America’s Team” has now lost its last six games … trailing by at least 20 in all of them. Even worse Monday night? Houstonians pretty much took over North Texas.

30. Tennessee Titans (30): They don’t score much – their 18 TDs are the second fewest in the AFC – but they get their money’s worth. WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine’s 98-yarder Sunday was the longest touchdown reception in the league this season.

31. New York Giants (31): Will QB Daniel Jones ever play for this team again? He was basically fired coming off the bye week, demoted to third string and likely headed for the door in a few months.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (28): Will HC Doug Pederson ever work for this team again? Quite possibly he could be fired at some point under bye week after the 2-9 Jags suffered the worst loss of their 30-season existence. But he’s no doubt headed for the door…anytime.

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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis.