With three months of season in the rearview mirror, December football arrived. The NFL continues to maintain its trend of games defined within two minutes and some more closed with the last possession of the game. Through Week 12, 25 games resolved their score with a field goal or touchdown when the clock expired, the most in all time in the NFL. It is a season of drama.
This week some stability came to the league so as not to alter too much the structure of the AS USA Power Ranking. Good teams beat bad teams, but the highlight to watch in the remaining six weeks of the schedule is the chance to see a matchup between Tom Brady and the Patriots. The golden dream remains
This year they already played in Foxborough, creating an atmosphere that no other game has had in NFL history, but now I mean watching this rivalry vying for the Vince Lombardi trophy.
For many it may be early to think about the playoffs, for me when I see the classification, it does not make me irreverent.
1.- Arizona Cardinals (9-2)
Last week: 1
The Cardinals are returning from a break in which the batteries were hoping to get back their starting quarterback Kyler Murray and catcher one, DeAndre Hopkins. The season reaches its cold months and having the largest number of starting players is essential
2.- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-4)
Last week: 2
The champions of the past Super Bowl begin to play as champions. They have two wins after their losing streak. They overcame a deficit against Indianapolis and little by little they start to step on the gas pedal. Tom Brady has the experience to find the moment to separate himself from the rest.
3.- New England Patriots (8-4)
Last week: 5
With six consecutive losses, the Patriots are the team of the moment, yes once again, but now if Tom Brady takes the balls below the center. They do it with rookie Mac Jones, a fact that increases Bill Belichick’s mastery of team management. Its defense remains as a firm and tight core that allows few points to the rivals. Many position New England in February playing the Super Bowl in Southern California, but before all that, they must travel north this Monday night for a big challenge against the Bills.
4.- Baltimore Ravens (8-3)
Last week: 4
This team has shown that it has stamina. They are far from playing perfect, but they find the ways to win. They have the best record in the AFC, but they need to be stronger when executing.
5.- Kansas City Chiefs (7-4)
Last week. 3
Week of rest for Patrick Mahomes and company in which they surely studied how unruly the American Conference is. In recent weeks they have played more like them.
6.- Green Bay Packers (9-3)
Last week: 7
Aaron Rodgers playing with a foot injury completed 28 of 45 passes for 497 yards, Green Bay enters bye week and that will serve for Rodgers to take a treatment, hopefully for the sake of the Packers fans, it is not as controversial as when he did it by preventing Covid.
7.- Cincinnati Bengals (7-4)
Last week: 13
The 41-10 victory over the Steelers fueled the Bengals’ first sweep of Pittsburgh for the first time since 2009. Cincinnati once again shone with weapons to fight not just for the AFC North, but the entire conference.
8.- Buffalo Bills (7-4)
Last week: 14
The beating of the Saints showed that Buffalo can play dominant as early in the season and establish a game that served many to position them as the favorite in the AFC to reach the Super Bowl. Josh Allen suffered multiple turnovers again and against higher caliber teams, that must weigh more.
9.- Tennesse Titans (8-4)
Last week: 8
The embarrassing loss to the Texans was now followed by a meltdown against the Patriots, postseason contenders in the AFC. Tennessee is quickly forgetting its 7-0 record against teams that made the postseason last year and are getting into a hole that could have a very long bottom for the organization. Mike Vrabel lost for the first time against Bill Belichick.
10.- Los Angeles Rams (7-4)
Last week: 6
The sun doesn’t shine like it used to in Southern California. The Rams posted their third straight loss and didn’t even look competitive against the Packers on Sunday. Mattew Staford has interceptions for a touchdown in all three losses.
11.- Dallas Cowboys (7-4)
Last week: 9
Two consecutive weeks with losses, it is not good news for any team and less for the Boys. If you include that one was at home on Thanksgiving, the crisis increases for the whole of Jerry Jones. They have a short week playing Thursday against the Saints, but they will do so without various pieces like coach Mike McCarthy who was placed on the Covid protocol list.
12.- San Francisco 49ers (6-5)
Last week: 17
The midseason streak that looked like it could derail the 49ers is past. San Francisco returned to a successful formula and now they have won three games in a row to look like contenders in the NFC.
13.- Las Vegas Raiders (6-5)
Last week: 20
The Raiders played well against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, but the remaining schedule is very complicated so they should not miss opportunities like this weekend against Washington.
14.- Denver Broncos (6-5)
Last week: 21
The Broncos remain in pursuit, they achieved an unexpected victory over the Chargers. Now they meet for the first time this year against the Chiefs.
15.- Minnesota Vikings (5-6)
Last week: 12
Kirk Cousins threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns to Adam Thielen for the Vikings. But he also had an interception that set up a short series of San Francisco touchdowns.
16.- Indianapolis Colts (6-6)
Last week: 11
The Colts had an advantage over the champions, Buccaneers, but for one reason or another, they missed the result. Running back Jonathan Taylor didn’t have the balls he would have wanted to set the pace like he did against Buffalo.
17.- Los Angeles Chargers (6-5).
Last week: 10
When you start to believe in them, they disappoint like Sunday against Broncos. A lot of talent in the Chargers who don’t know how to bring it to fruition.
18.- Cleveland Browns (6-6)
Last week: 15
Sunday night’s meltdown against Baltimore puts the Browns back at .500 in winning percentage, alternating losses with wins in their most recent seven games.
19.- Pittsburgh Steelers ( 5-5-1)
Last week: 16
Against Cincinnati, the Steelers once again looked like a tired team. Ben Roethlisberger looked like an unambitious quarterback and already a veteran for the NFL.
20.- Miami Dolphins (5-7)
Last week: 27
The Dolphins have four wins in a row after starting the season 1-7. An incentive for this organization that seems far from capturing a postseason berth.
21.- Washington Football Team (6-5)
Last week: 22
In a play of drama to the end, Washington agonized over Seattle. to get 5-6 and think they still have a chance to enter the postseason, total, Ron Rivera was divisional champion with Carolina by having a 7-8-1 record
22.- Atlanta Falcons (5-6)
Last week: 24
After losing two games in a row they defeated the Jaguars, a bit of credit to this team.
23.- Chicago Bears (4-7)
Last week: 29
They survived what would have been a catastrophe if they lost to the Bears. Matt Nagy is still the head coach.
24.- THE Giants (4-7)
Last week: 27
Winning cures everything.
25.- Philadelphia Eagles (5-7)
Last week: 19
Losing to the Giants is disappointing. They missed the opportunity to put pressure on the Cowboys.
26.- New Orleans Saints (5-6)
Last week: 18
Trevor Siemian cannot remain the quarterback of this team. However low due to injury they accumulate, their performances are disappointing.
27.- Carolina Panthers (5-7)
Last week: 23
Cam Newton returned, but to the bench. There is a lot of arrogance in the Carolina quarterback and little future. They were beaten up by Miami.
28.- Seattle Seahawks (3-8)
Last week: 26
They recovered a kickoff kick that could have put him in position to win the game, but the team misaligned. That situation is a reflection of how bad the Seahawks are.
29.- New York Jets (3-8)
Last week: 31
It’s not a great achievement to beat Houston, but they did it with rookie Zach Wilson, who returned to the team after overcoming an injury.
30.- Houston Texans (2-9)
Last week: 28
After surprising the Titans, they fell out of their dream by losing at home to the Jets.
31.- Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9)
Last week: 30
With three consecutive losses, the Jaguars are begging for the season to end.
32.- Detroit Lions (0-10-1)
Last week: 32
The rest of the NFL fans thank god they didn’t follow the Lions. Detroit fans are used to lousy years by now.
