NFL Power Rankings (Week 11): Colts Gold Horseshoe; Chargers Charge; Bengals Definitely for Real

The NFL Power Rankings for Week 11 see little change from Week 10 in the three major lists (ESPN, CBS, Fox Sports). In fact, the Top 3 remained the same in all three NFL Power Rankings lists. CBS stills clings to the notion that the Indianapolis Colts are the best team in the nation, while ESPN and Fox Sports are stuck on the New Orleans Saints. Even after New England literally gave Sunday night's game to the Colts, CBS still believes, for whatever reason, that the Colts are the best team.

But you have to hand it to the Indianapolis, the horseshoe isn't just on their helmet, it's where the sun doesn't shine and it is polished gold. After two turnovers on the goal line that cost them 14 points, New England still found themselves up by six points near game's end. With less than two minutes left, they were faced with a fourth down and short yardage situation. Easy decision -- punt. But that's when the other horseshoe dropped and apparently on Patriots head coach Bill Bellichick's head. He went for it.

And didn't make it. Of course, Indianapolis, with two minutes to drive 29 yards, did just that and won the game. How does that old joke go? Bill Bellichick is the best ballplayer Indianapolis has ever had...

Minnesota won again. They're stuck at #3 in the NFL Power Rankings.

The second biggest game of Week 11 was the Bengals/ Steelers game. Cincinnati proved that they are now the dominant force to be reckoned with in the AFC North. They have now taken out the Baltimore Ravens twice, the Pittsburgh Steelers twice, and the Cleveland Browns once. They solidified their position at #4 in all three power rankings. They also acquired Larry Johnson, the star running back that Kansas City released after his Twitter scandal.

Philadelphia went into their game against the San Diego Chargers hoping to stay even with the Cowboys. They did. The Dallas Cowboys fell to the Green Bay Packers. And the Eagles fell to the Chargers. With the Denver Broncos losing to the Washington Redskins, the Chargers find themselves now tied for first place in the AFC West. The San Diego Chargers also found themselves launched back into the Top 10 in the NFL Power Rankings, where they should have been most of the year.

Only in the Fox Sports NFL Power Rankings was there a second team that broke into the Top 10 -- Baltimore (#7). CBS has no faith in the Ravens, leaving them mired in the #15 spot for another week. (ESPN ranks them at #11.)

Otherwise, the Top 10 of the NFL Power Rankings remained pretty stable for Week 11.

Games that might shake up the NFL Power Rankings for Week 12 start off with Indianapolis at Baltimore. The Ravens need a win to stay in the Wild Card hunt, especially after losing to the Bengals twice in their division. Another game of note is the Atlanta Falcons at the Meadowlands against the New York Giants. Both teams are 5-4. New York is still only one game out of first place in the NFC East. Atlanta is still in the hunt for a wild card (there is no chance, unless New Orleans completely self-destructs, that Atlanta will win the division). The New York Jets could pull within one game of the first place Patriots if they win Sunday. The San Diego Chargers have a chance to take first place in the AFC West, but the Denver Broncos have the same chance (and the game is in Denver).

But the big game of the week will be the Washington Redskins against the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas needs to win to stay in first place in the NFC East. Washington just wants to get back on track, having won only three games. The Washington Redskins/ Dallas Cowboys rivalry may be the most heated in the NFL and a win is never guaranteed, no matter how much better one team may appear as opposed to the other.

NFL Power Rankings (Week 11)

ESPN NFL Power Rankings (Week 11)

1. (1) New Orleans Saints
2. (2) Indianapolis Colts
3. (3) Minnesota Vikings
4. (4) Cincinnati Bengals
5. (6) New England Patriots
6. (5) Pittsburgh Steelers
7. (10) Arizona Cardinals
8. (12) San Diego Chargers
9. (7) Denver Broncos
10. (8) Dallas Cowboys

CBS NFL Power Rankings (Week 11)

1. (1) Indianapolis Colts
2. (2) New Orleans Saints
3. (3) Minnesota Vikings
4. (5) Cincinnati Bengals
5. (4) New England Patriots
6. (6) Pittsburgh Steelers
7. (7) Dallas Cowboys
8. (8) Denver Broncos
9. (12) San Diego Chargers
10. (10) Arizona Cardinals

Fox Sports NFL Power Rankings (Week 11)

1. (1) New Orleans Saints
2. (2) Indianapolis Colts
3. (3) Minnesota Vikings
4. (4) Cincinnati Bengals
5. (7) New England Patriots
6. (5) Pittsburgh Steelers
7. (11) Baltimore Ravens
8. (6) Denver Broncos
9. (12) San Diego Chargers
10. (8) Dallas Cowboys

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Compare to NFL Power Rankings in Week 10.

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Sources:

ESPN.go.com
FoxSports.com
CBSSports.com