PFT’s Week 12 2024 NFL power rankings

1. Lions (last week No. 2; 9-1): Dan Campbell says getting questions about whether to remove starters during garbage time for a blowout is a good problem to have. Here’s a not-so-good problem – getting a starter seriously injured during the garbage time of a blowout.

2. Bills (No. 3; 9-2): We know they can beat the Chiefs in the regular season. Can they do it in the postseason?

3. Bosses (No. 1; 9-1): They just shrug and carry on.

4. Steelers (No. 5; 8-2): The Steelers are fun to watch when they win.

5. Eagles (No. 7; 8-2): The Eagles are fun to watch when they win.

6. Ravens (No. 4; 7-4): The Ravens are fun to watch, win or lose.

7. Vikings (No. 8; 8-2): The Vikings are simply not fun to watch.

8. Packers (No. 9; 7-3): They would be 9-1 if they had beaten the Lions and Vikings.

9. Commanders (No. 6; 7-4): The offense is getting sluggish, and the coaching Thursday night wasn’t good enough.

10. Cardinals (No. 10; 6-4): Best evidence that Cardinals are legit? When they were on their farewells, I missed them.

11. Chargers (No. 12; 7-3): Could they catch the Chiefs for the division title?

12. 49ers (No. 11; 5-5): At some point, we just have to accept that something is missing — and that it’s not coming back this year.

13. Texans (No. 14; 7-4): Keep feeding Joe Mixon.

14. Broncos (No. 15; 6-5): Bo Nix may catch Jayden Daniels for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

15. Rams (No. 16; 5-5): If they get a little healthier, they could take the NFC West.

16. Falcons (No. 13; 6-5): Their hammerlock on the division crown is getting a lot looser.

17. Buccaneers (No. 17; 4-6): They’re still very much alive, despite a lot of recent struggles.

18. Seahawks (No. 19; 5-5): The season was about to be put to rest until Geno Smith scored the touchdown that made him say night-night to the Niners.

19. Dolphins (No. 20; 4-6): There is a realistic path to 9-8. Will it be good enough to get in?

20. Colts (No. 22; 5-6): Old tale, “You can’t bench a struggling young quarterback.” New Narrative: “Slowing down a struggling young quarterback may be the best way to get the most out of him.”

21. Saints (No. 29; 4-7): The Saints all have Rizz.

22. Bengals (No. 18; 4-7): How many heartbreaking losses can they take before they fold in 2024?

23. Bears (No. 21; 4-6): Bad news is they’re lost. The good news is that the offense is better. The worst news is looking at the upcoming schedule.

24. Jets (No. 23; 3-8): Would Aaron Rodgers retire before the end of the season? Would the Jets be relieved if he did?

25. Cowboys (No. 24; 3-7): The roof, the roof, the roof is not stable.

26. Browns (No. 25; 2-8): If it looks like a tank, it runs like a tank, thinks like a tank. . . .

27. Patriots (No. 26; 3-8): They have now had back-to-back 3-8 starts for the first time since before Robert Kraft bought the team.

28. Panthers (No. 27; 3-7): They’ve somehow made it two wins in a row. To get to three, they have to beat the Chiefs.

29. Raiders (No. 28; 2-8): Tom Brady is very happy that his second job keeps him from attending games played by the team he owns.

30. Giants (No. 31; 2-8): Let them eat chops.

31. Titans (No. 32; 2-9): The moments that spark are too short, too few and too far between.

32. Jaguars (No. 30; 2-9): How can any non-player other than ownership still be employed at this point?