Crowe - NFL Week #13 Power Rankings 2022: Patriots' Monday Night Football Must Win
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Crowe - NFL Week #13 Power Rankings 2022: Patriots' Monday Night Football Must Win
For our hometown New England Patriots, we’re bringing them a brand-new set of offensive coaches and a healthy offensive line that can protect quarterback Mac Jones.
The San Francisco 49ers will be getting lots of bubble wrap for rookie quarterback Brock Purdy after season-ending injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn Minnesota, we’re giving the Vikings a full cup of respect. It seems that the national media still doesn’t believe in the 10-2 Vikings even after they’ve won nine straight one-score games.
For the Cowboys, Santa is sending them a “yes” from Odell Beckham Jr. as they hope to add the former Giants and Rams wide receiver to the Dallas offense in time for the playoffs.
In Los Angeles, we’re going to send the Chargers Sean Payton as their new head coach for 2023 to finally get the most out of the Bolts and quarterback Justin Herbert.
For the New York Giants, Santa will be sending them a compass to help them find their way back to a more functional offense and making Saquon Barkley more effective as he was earlier in the season.
Finally, for all NFL fans, jolly ol’ Saint Nick will be delivering a playoff schedule where Tom Brady and the Bucs host the Dallas Cowboys in the first round, the Lions and Jets both squeak into the postseason, and the last playoff team isn’t clinched until the final game of the regular season on January 8th.
Monday night, the 6-6 Patriots must win against the Arizona Cardinals, who are 4-8. The Patriots have big challenges still remaining-- Miami, Buffalo and Cincinnati.
Now while you’re putting your own personal Christmas lists together, we present to you our week 14 power rankings.
10. Seattle Seahawks (7-5, Last week not ranked)
For most of the season, Seattle’s been the top dog in the NFC West, yet now they find themselves one game behind the 49ers with five games left to play in the regular season. After stopping a two-game losing skid by beating the Rams, the Seahawks will have to get by running back Kenneth Walker III’s ankle injury to get by the Panthers this Sunday. Travis Homer and Tony Jones will fill his shoes as Seattle tries not to look ahead to a home date with San Francisco coming up Thursday night.
9. Baltimore Ravens (8-4, Last week not ranked)
Raise your hand if you’ve heard this story before. Quarterback Lamar Jackson will miss time due to an injury as the Ravens try to make a postseason push. Jackson injured his knee during Baltimore’s 10-9 victory over the Broncos, a win that was only earned when backup quarterback Tyler Huntley scored on a QB sneak late in the fourth quarter. You might remember Jackson missing the final four games of the 2021 season while the Ravens fell out of playoff contention. While Jackson is week-to-week according to head coach John Harbaugh, Baltimore will have to find more offense as they head to Pittsburgh for an AFC North scuffle with the Steelers, who’ve suddenly won three out of their last four games.
8. Miami Dolphins (8-4, Last week ranked 4th)
Last Sunday in San Francisco, the Dolphins took a step up in their opponents’ talent level and it showed. Miami, behind three Tua Tagovailoa turnovers, lost to the 49ers 33-17. After stunning San Fran with a 75-yard touchdown pass from Tagovailoa to Trent Sherfield on the game’s first offensive play, Miami struggled to just 10 points the rest of the way as they dropped out of a first-place tie in the AFC East with the Bills. Things won’t get any easier this Sunday night with a game at the Chargers, who are struggling to keep their playoff hopes alive. The eighth spot may be a bit low, but it will make more sense once you see who’s at number seven.
7. San Francisco 49ers (8-4, Last week ranked 7th)
As we mentioned above, the 49ers took care of former AFC East-leading Miami in week 13. The unfortunate news though is that quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is most likely out for the rest of the season with a broken foot. So now, the 49ers push towards the postseason is now in the hands of third-string QB Brock Purdy, Mr. Irrelevant as the final pick in this past NFL Draft. All Purdy did in his first pro action was go 25-37 for 210 yards and a pair of touchdowns. For an encore, Purdy and his Niner teammates will host 45-year-old, seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, fresh off his Monday night comeback over the Saints. San Francisco will need its vaunted top-ranked defense to step up once again if they want stay atop the NFC West.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (8-4, Last week ranked 8th)
Apparently, Joe Burrow is Patrick Mahomes’ kryptonite. After last Sunday’s 27-24 victory over the Chiefs, Burrow and the Bengals are now a perfect 3-0 over the past two seasons. Burrow threw for two scores and ran for another in rallying Cincy past KC. Samaje Perine has been more than a capable replacement for the injured Joe Mixon (concussion) the past few weeks, leading the Bengals with 154 yards from scrimmage against the Chiefs. After beating the AFC’s top seed, the Bengals hope to get Mixon back to provide another weapon to an already potent team. Ironically enough, Burrow faces a Browns team this Sunday, a team he’s never beaten (0-4) in his young career.
5. Minnesota Vikings (10-2, Last week ranked 6th)
Make it nine games this season in which the Vikings have won a one-score game. After holding the Jets to just one touchdown in six red zone trips, Minnesota held on for a 27-22 victory, keeping them one-game behind the Eagles in the race for the top spot in the NFC. Surprisingly, the Jets racked up 486 yards of offense against only 287 for the Vikes, who won the turnover battle over New York 2-0. Minnesota travels to Detroit Sunday to try and sweep the Lions.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (9-3, Last week ranked 1st)
At this point, the Chiefs might like to see someone other than the Bengals line up against them. For the third straight time in two seasons, Kansas City failed to put Cincinnati away and lost 27-24 as the Bengals turned a rare Travis Kelce fumble into the game-winning score. KC stays on the road this week with a trip to Denver against the offensively-challenged Broncos.
3. Dallas Cowboys (9-3, Last week ranked 3rd)
If you were surprised last Sunday night with the Cowboys holding only a two-point advantage over the Colts heading into the fourth quarter, you might have been REALLY surprised at the 33-point final period by the Cowboys to blow Indianapolis away 54-19. This week, Dallas is a 17-point favorite as the Texans, the NFL’s worst team (1-10-1) come calling to AT&T Stadium.
2. Buffalo Bills (9-3, Last week ranked 5th)
Domination. That’s what the Bills brought to Foxboro as they completely controlled the Patriots to the tune of a 27-10 victory. Buffalo nearly doubled New England in time of possession (38:08-21:52) in a game that never seemed to be in doubt. The Bills will be without their top pass rusher Von Miller the rest of the season though as what was thought to be a knee sprain has turned into a torn ACL. Buffalo hosts the Jets this Sunday afternoon.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (11-1, Last week ranked 2nd)
If there was any doubt who the top team in the NFL was in week 13, the Eagles certainly made the Titans know in no uncertain terms. In a revenge game for Philly wide receiver A.J. Brown, who was traded from Tennessee to Philadelphia in the offseason, Brown torched his former team to the tune of 119 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Jalen Hurts accounted for four total scores (3 passing, 1 rushing) as the Eagles rushed out to an early 21-10 halftime lead and cruised to a 35-10 win. Philadelphia, who ranks second in both total offense and total defense, looks to take out the Giants in week 14 in the first of their two meetings in the final five weeks.
Week 14 games to watch
Eagles at Giants (Sunday 1 pm FOX) – Philly can clinch a playoff spot while putting a crimp in the Giants’ hope for one.
Jets at Bills (Sunday 1pm CBS) – The Bills are still stinging from the Jets' week 9 upset.
Vikings at Lions (Sunday 1 pm FOX) – A rematch of week 3 where the Vikings narrowly escaped with a win.
Buccaneers at 49ers (Sunday 4:25 pm FOX) – Will home be sweet for Tom Brady?
Dolphins at Chargers (Sunday 8:20 pm NBC) – A pivotal game for both teams in the AFC playoff chase.
Patriots at Cardinals (Monday 8:15 pm ESPN) – The last time the Patriots played in Arizona; Jimmy G was beating the Cards with New England.
Last week:
10. Commanders
9. Jets
8. Bengals
7. 49ers
6. Vikings
5. Bills
4. Dolphins
3. Cowboys
2. Eagles
1. Chiefs