Crowe - NFL Week #13 Power Rankings 2022: Patriots v. Buffalo Thursday Night Football

Crowe - NFL Week #13 Power Rankings 2022: Patriots v. Buffalo Thursday Night Football

Former Giants, Patriots, Jets, and Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells used to like pointing out to the media that the “real season” doesn’t start until after Thanksgiving Day. Up until that point, teams would just be jockeying themselves into position. Games after Thanksgiving would ultimately decide who makes the postseason tournament as The Tuna used to call it. Once you’re in the tournament, anything could happen he would say.

This season, teams like the Eagles, Chiefs, and Vikings are probably locks to make the playoffs with only two losses or less showing currently on their resumes. But with the league being so bunched up as of late, there’s no guarantee for teams like the Dolphins, Bills, and Cowboys with three losses that a bad month of December couldn’t ruin their chances. The Commanders, Chargers, and Patriots will all certainly try to spoil their playoff goals. As we head into week 13, there are only four teams with no real postseason hopes: Texans, Broncos, Rams, and Bears. Having the entire NFC South still in contention to win the division surely shakes that up as the Buccaneers sit in first place with a 5-6 record.

This quote from Parcells probably sums it up best. “There is winning and there is misery,” said Parcells. Fourteen teams will try to stave off misery for a while by making the playoffs in just over a month. In the end, there will be 31 teams that will feel that ultimate pain. For now, we’ll make these ten teams feel good about themselves by being a part of week 13’s power rankings.

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10. Washington Commanders (7-5, Last week not ranked)

Washington is now winners of six of its last seven games with backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke going 5-1 as the starter. He hasn’t exactly lit the NFL world on fire, tossing only seven touchdowns vs. five interceptions, but he’s done enough for them to win. Having a top 8 defense does help the cause, of course. Right now, the Commanders would have the seventh and final playoff spot in the NFC after their latest 19-13 victory over the Falcons.

 

9. New York Jets (7-4, Last week not ranked)

The Jets benched Zack Wilson and brought back Mike White as the team’s quarterback. For one week at least, it worked with a 31-10 beating of the Bears. White tossed a trio of TD passes, but just as important was the fact that he didn’t turn the ball over. Things will get tougher for the J-E-T-S with back-to-back road games at Minnesota and Buffalo in the next two weeks. New York is winning, its locker room is content, and they’re back in our power rankings.

 

8. Cincinnati Bengals (7-4, Last week not ranked)

No, Joe Mixon. No, Ja’Marr Chase. No problem for the surging Bengals. Coupled with the Ravens’ collapse in Jacksonville, the Bengals’ 20-13 win in Tennessee vaults Cincy back into a first-place tie with Baltimore in the AFC North. They’ve won three straight and after an 0-2 start, the defending AFC champions are poised for another long run in the playoffs as week 13 should bring the return of both Mixon (concussion) and Chase (hip injury). Cincinnati will need them both as it welcomes the Chiefs to town for an AFC Championship rematch.

 

7. San Francisco 49ers (7-4, Last week ranked 8th)

It wasn’t a blowout win of any sort, but for the fourth straight game, the 49ers held their opponent scoreless in the second half. San Francisco’s 13-0 shutout of the Saints cements them at 7-4, winners of four in a row, and with a firm hold of first place in the NFC West. The top-ranked Niners’ defense held New Orleans to only 260 total yards including just 63 on the ground. Up next by the bay comes a battle Sunday afternoon with AFC East leader Miami.

 

6. Minnesota Vikings (9-2, Last week ranked 6th)

Looking straight at a second home loss in just five days, the Vikings fired their best shot with Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen and came out with a 33-26 victory over the Patriots Thanksgiving Night. Even though he was often double and sometimes triple-teamed, Jefferson dominated with a nine catch, 139 yards, and a touchdown performance. It marked the ninth team this season the Vikings have won a one-score game. Now with ten days off to exhale, Minnesota hosts the upstart Jets this Sunday as the Vikings continue a stretch of five of six home games.

 

5. Buffalo Bills (8-3, Last week ranked 5th)

Just like the Vikings, the Bills, too, were faced with a Thanksgiving Day dilemma, tied with the Lions into the final seconds. Yet after Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs hooked up to give Tyler Bass a shot at a 45-yard game-winning field goal, Buffalo took home the victory, 28-25. The bad news for the Bills is that star pass rusher Von Miller had to leave the game with a sprained knee. He’s already been ruled out for Thursday night’s game at New England. Buffalo is hoping Miller only misses that one game with the Dolphins tied with them for the AFC East lead and the Jets lurking only one game behind.

 

4. Miami Dolphins (8-3, Last week ranked 4th)

Speaking of those Dolphins, the last two weeks have been like bye weeks with non-competitive home victories over the Browns and Texans. Miami will have to toughen up quickly, however, as three games on the road against the 49ers, Chargers, and Bills are on the horizon starting in week 13.

 

3. Dallas Cowboys (8-3, Last week ranked 3rd)

The Cowboys shook off two early Dak Prescott interceptions and held off the Giants, 28-20 on Thanksgiving Day. While racking up 430 yards of offense, Dallas kept it pretty balanced with 261 yards passing and 169 yards rushing, led by Ezekiel Elliott’s 92 yards and a score. The biggest problem for Dallas looking long-term is that they are two games behind the Eagles in the NFC East division race, and all second place gets them is a road game in the Wild Card round most likely at Tampa Bay against the Buccaneers and Tom Brady. The Eagles and Cowboys meet in Dallas on Christmas Eve.

 

2. Philadelphia Eagles (10-1, Last week ranked 2nd)

After an early 13-0 lead over Green Bay Sunday night, the Eagles thought they were in for an easy night against a four-win team. Instead, Philly had to grind out a 40-33 back-and-forth victory over the Packers after Aaron Rodgers left the game in the second half due to a rib injury. Quarterback Jalen Hurts outgained himself on the ground vs. the air, rushing for 157 yards while passing for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Miles Sanders also added a pair of running TDs for the NFC’s top team.

 

1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-2, Last week ranked 1st)

If you told the Chiefs they would still be battling Rams third-string quarterback Bryce Perkins into the fourth quarter with a relatively close game, KC may not have believed you. But that’s exactly what happened: Kansas City held only a 20-10 edge until two turnovers and a pair of Harrison Butker field goals sealed away a 26-10 victory. That’s what good teams do, though, they power through when necessary to make sure they get the win. Still, the Chiefs are tops in the league in overall offense, passing offense, and scoring offense. They’ll need all those weapons as week 13 brings a trip to Cincinnati and what should be an explosive AFC Championship rematch with the Bengals.

 

Week 13 games to watch:

Bills at Patriots (Thursday 8:20 pm Prime Video) – The Bills haven’t had to punt in two straight games against the Patriots.
Jets at Vikings (Sunday 1 pm CBS) – Sauce Gardner vs. Justin Jefferson is MUST SEE TV.
Titans at Eagles (Sunday 1 pm FOX) – This is wide receiver AJ Brown’s chance to show Tennessee what they’re missing after the offseason trade.
Dolphins at 49ers (Sunday 4:05 pm FOX) – Dolphins at 49ers (Sunday 4:05 pm FOX) – A Super Bowl XIX rematch that could be a possible Super Bowl LVII preview.
Chiefs at Bengals (Sunday 4:25 pm CBS) – Best game of the day as the Bengals try to make it three straight wins against the Chiefs.

Last week:

10. Giants
9. Titans
8. 49ers
7. Ravens
6. Vikings
5. Bills
4. Dolphins
3. Cowboys
2. Eagles
1. Chiefs