NFL power rankings, post-Week 13 edition:
1. Rams (2): Only team with 11 wins. Only team to clinch playoff berth so far. Only team with two bona fide MVP candidates (Todd Gurley and Aaron Donald).
2. Saints (1): Absence of LT Terron Armstead an underrated story. New Orleans could be vulnerable without him against good defensive teams like Dallas.
3. Patriots (4): Tom Brady exposed as me-first guy. See his forward-leaning kneeldown in order to protect 1,000 career rushing yards? (We kid, we kid.)
4. Chiefs (3): Without Kareem Hunt, they ran for most yards (174) on road this season. But is committee sustainable with Pat Mahomes as leading rusher?
5. Chargers (5): Team so often vexed by special teams got 73-yard punt return for TD in fourth quarter, game-winning FG at gun in comeback at Pittsburgh.
6. Texans (7): Now hottest club in NFL, Houston not scheduled to face team with winning record rest of way … which could mean 13-3 mark and No. 1 seed.
7. Cowboys (14): Now hottest club in NFC after handling Saints, Dallas not currently scheduled to face team with winning record for rest of regular season.
8. Steelers (6): Only Sam Darnold has more INTs than 13 for Ben Roethlisberger, who also missed a lot of open guys Sunday. Rip yourself this time, Big Ben.
9. Bears (8): Helps when everyone else in NFC North is also losing. But they won't cruise to division crown, especially with Rams up next on Sunday night.
10. Broncos (11): Phillip Lindsay now leads AFC with 937 rushing yards. But Case Keenum's Broncos winning because he hasn't turned the ball over in last four games.
11. Seahawks (12): With three of final four at home (and road game at San Francisco), they're looking like solid playoff bet. Next up, Case Keenum's Broncos.
12. Vikings (9): They can't get going on ground. Defense isn't nearly as effective as 2017. And they're only half-game better than Case Keenum's Broncos.
13. Ravens (13): Lamar Jackson's 73.5 QB rating is ugly … but it's also better than all of his fellow 2018 first rounders with exception of Baker Mayfield.
14. Eagles (18): They face brutal finish, starting in Dallas. But it appears offense finally coming together as Josh Adams, Golden Tate integrate.
15. Colts (10): If they wind up barely missing playoffs, they'll surely look back on woeful performance against undermanned Jags as one that torpedoed them.
16. Panthers (16): Ron Rivera kicked two defensive assistants off riverboat and will assume play-calling for unit with one takeaway during four-game skid.
17. Dolphins (24): As low as their profile is, they're just waiting for Ravens to stumble. Ranked seventh in AFC, Fins have reasonable shot to finish 9-7.
18. Titans (17): As low as their profile is, they're also lurking. They have four winnable games on the docket. Offense woke up to hang season-best 461 yards on Jets.
19. Redskins (15): Unwise to entrust too much hope with Mark Sanchez under best of circumstances. Best thing he can provide now is needed continuity under center.
20. Browns (21): Buyer's remorse? Of 16 guys with at least 100 targets, Jarvis Landry has fewest receptions (66) and TDs (2), lowest catch rate (55 percent).
21. Falcons (23): Offense has evaporated during four-game losing streak, failing to break 20 points and 400 yards in each defeat. Turnovers also piling up.
22. Giants (25): With $65M in guarantees headed his way, Odell Beckham must understand why no Giants fan wants him making any more on-field business decisions.
23. Buccaneers (26): Efficiency-wise, Jameis Winston having best year of his career — aided by being turnover-free in past two starts. Bucs' dilemma grows.
24. Lions (19): Honolulu Blue and silver linings. Taylor Decker found dude who caught ball which left tackle chucked into stands after scoring first TD of his life.
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