2009 NFL Power Rankings: Week 12

Week 11 of the 2009 NFL regular season has come and gone, meaning it's time for some new power rankings. These power rankings as well as my recent NFL picks are for week 12 of the season.

It's Thanksgiving week and there are plenty of NFL teams that should be thankful at this point of the season. Giants fans can be thankful for the end of a losing streak, Colts and Saints fans can be thankful for lossless seasons thus far and Browns fans, well they can be thankful that the NFL season is just about over.

One thing I'm grateful for with two-thirds of the NFL season just about done? I'm thankful for all of you, of course. Without you, the most controversial NFL power rankings on Associated Content would just be some list of NFL teams. With that said, here are this week's NFL power rankings according to yours truly.

32. Cleveland(1-9): I don't even want to hear that the Bucs and Rams are worse than Cleveland. When you lose to the Detroit Lions like the Browns did on Sunday, you deserve to be at the bottom of any and all NFL power rankings.

31. St. Louis (1-9): Don't get me wrong. The Rams are still pretty horrible. Cleveland once again keeps St. Louis out of the basement of my NFL power rankings.

30. Tampa Bay (1-9): Look for the Falcons to keep the Bucs in the 30s in next week's NFL power rankings.

29. Detroit (2-8): The Lions went from last in my NFL power rankings to 29 in one play. A play that occurred with no time on the clock. Boy, the Cleveland Browns are a joke.

28. Buffalo (3-7): Give Buffalo credit. This is a football team that is very creative when it comes to losing football games.

27. Seattle (3-7): The Seahawks are just a mess right now. How low can they fall in NFL power rankings?

26. Washington (3-7): Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, Redskins fans.

25. Kansas City / 24. Oakland (3-7): Both teams had a big win against good AFC North teams this weekend. I still have every intention of keeping the teams joined at the hip in my NFL power rankings until further notice.

23. New York Jets (4-6): Mark Sanchez has been nothing short of turrr-ible this past month. The Jets are free falling down all NFL power rankings with no end in sight.

22. San Francisco (4-6): The 49ers may be the NFC West version of the Jets. Except Mike Singletary scares me to death.

21. Chicago (4-6): Much like Donovan McNabb, I've got some advice for Jay Cutler. Stop. Making. Stupid. Decisions. With the football.

20. Carolina (4-6): Panthers play the Jets this week. An historic NFL game for interceptions awaits us all.

19. Tennessee (4-6): A repeat of last week's NFL power rankings. I ain't sayin'. I'm just sayin'.

18. Houston (5-5): The Texans are right where I knew they'd be. A .500 team and middle of the road team in NFL power rankings.

17. Baltimore (5-5): The Ravens just can't get over the hump against good NFL teams. Baltimore will need to beat Pittsburgh in prime time in order to move up in these NFL power rankings (and save the season).

16. Miami (5-5): The Dolphins looked good even without Ronnie Brown. A win this week will set up a very important divisional showdown against the Pats.

15. Atlanta (5-5): Did you see the Falcons being 15 in NFL power rankings as this point of the season?

14. Denver (6-4): Denver is falling down NFL power rankings almost as fast as the Jets. Can the Giants take advantage?

13. Jacksonville (6-4): The Jags get the 49ers, Texans and Dolphins in the next three weeks. They could be in the top ten of NFL power rankings around Christmas.

12. Pittsburgh (6-4): Steeler Nation is going to be upset about their team being this low in NFL power rankings. They lost to the Chiefs, football fans. The Chiefs.

11. New York Giants (6-4): The win against the Falcons means not as much due to the overtime coin toss rule and the fact that Atlanta is such a disappointment.

10. Green Bay (6-4): A Thanksgiving victory against the Lions should keep the Packers right around this spot in next week's NFL power rankings.

9. Philadelphia (6-4): What can the Eagles be thankful for in these NFL power rankings? They get the pitiful Redskins this weekend.

8. Cincinnati (7-3): How are the Bengals so low in my NFL power rankings? They lost to the Raiders. Cincy fans can be thankful that their team plays the Browns this week.

7. Dallas (7-3): The Cowboys will be no higher in my NFL power rankings until they avoid struggling against a terrible football team.

6. Arizona (7-3): The NFL's most up and down team in 2009 will be tested against a revived Titans team this Sunday.

5. San Diego (7-3): The Super Chargers could be 10-3 three weeks from now after facing the Chiefs, Browns and Cowboys.

4. New England (7-3): Would the Patriots leap frog the Saints in NFL power rankings by beating them in New Orleans on Monday night?

3. Minnesota (9-1): The Vikings just can't get ahead in NFL power rankings due to the two undefeated teams.

2. Indianapolis / 1. New Orleans (10-0): You really could place either of these teams at the top of your NFL power rankings. I put the Saints slightly ahead of the Colts simply because they put 38 unanswered points on the board against the Bucs while Indy struggled to beat a "meh" Baltimore team.

For more info: Read my week 12 NFL picks and week 11 NFL power rankings