DTTWSB Week 12 NFL Power Rankings

I'd like to start by thanking all of you for being patient with me. I had been sick during the past week, but I'm feeling better now. Now that each team has played 10 games this season, we have an idea about who's going to make the playoffs. There aren't too many changes in my power rankings this week. I've started to get a good gauge on how good these teams are. Let me not waste anymore time, here are my power rankings for Week 12 in the NFL.

1. Green Bay Packers (10-0): The Pack have been the best team in the league all season. Offensively there is no team in the league that can do what they do. With a tough game on the road against the Lions, Green Bay needs to remain focused if they want to continue their perfection.

2. San Francisco 49ers (9-1): According to head coach Jim Harbaugh, nobody has it better than his 49ers. When you watch the tape, you begin to get that feeling as well. There isn't a team that plays more physical than them. They're built to win in the playoffs.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3): The bye week definitely did the Steelers well. They have a chance to build some momentum late in the season. I favor them over the other two AFC powerhouses to get homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.

4. New England Patriots (7-3): After back-to-back wins where the defense has looked good, the Pats won convincingly in both games. They have a tough match up this Sunday when they take on the Eagles in Philadelphia. Do the Pats have what it takes to end the "Dream Team"? We'll find out soon.

5. New Orleans Saints (7-3): This team has been quietly flying under the radar for some reason. Sean Payton and Drew Brees will have some new wrinkles in the offense coming off the bye week. Look out for New Orleans down the stretch.

6. Baltimore Ravens (7-3): Baltimore has a huge match up this Thursday. I'm not sure which team will show up. They seem to play to the level of their competition. I don't trust Joe Flacco down the stretch; we'll see if he can prove me wrong.

7. Dallas Cowboys (6-4): America's Team has been slowly rising through the rankings this month. With three more winnable games on tap, they can be 9-4 and in complete control of the NFC East. It may be only a matter of time before Tony Romo has another oh-no moment.

8. Chicago Bears (7-3): The Bears suffered a devastating blow this past Sunday when they found out that Jay Cutler is going to be out for the rest of the regular season with a broken thumb. They now rely on Caleb Hanie to get them to playoffs, should be interesting.

9. New York Giants (6-4): After starting the season 6-2, the Giants have started their annual mid-season collapse. For some reason when this team starts to get some credit they decide to wet the bed. It doesn't get easier for them because they're at New Orleans on Monday night and then host the Packers.

10. Atlanta Falcons (6-4): With a fairly easy schedule ahead of them, the Falcons have a chance to be a wild card team or maybe even win the NFC South. Matt Ryan has made enough plays to keep this team in contention. The one thing separating him from the other great quarterbacks is he hasn't had the postseason success.