NFL Power Rankings Week 13: Battle for the Byes

 

Only five weeks of regular season football remain and nothing has been set in stone.

The top contenders in the NFC and AFC have revealed themselves, but there’s still a loaded battle for teams looking to secure bye weeks in January.

Here are your Power Rankings for Week 13 of the 2019 NFL season.

Week 13 Power Rankings

1. Baltimore Ravens (9-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 1

Week 13 Opponent: vs. San Francisco 49ers (10-1)

The Baltimore Ravens offense looks untouchable.

Lamar Jackson continued his MVP run on Monday night, throwing for five touchdowns and rushing for 95 yards in the Ravens 45-6 mauling of the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night. Mark Ingram also added to the carnage, rushing for 111 yards and a score on 15 carries.

While Baltimore’s offense is receiving much of the praise, it’s the defensive unit that has helped put the ball into Jackson’s hands for most of the game. The Ravens defense has locked down opponents in recent weeks, allowing less than nine points per game over their last three outings.

In total, the Ravens defense is allowing 18.4 points per game this season, good for fifth in the league.

2. San Francisco 49ers (10-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 3

Week 13 Opponent: at Baltimore Ravens (9-2)

The Week 12 matchup between the 49ers and Green Bay Packers was supposed to highlight a potential January matchup in the playoffs.

Instead, it showcased what many already knew — San Francisco is the top dog in the NFC.

The 49ers suffocated Aaron Rodgers and the Packers en route to a 37-8 victory that widened the gap atop the NFC. San Francisco’s defense held Rodgers to a puzzling 104 passing yards on 33 attempts and a forced fumble that resulted in the 49ers first score of the game.

On the offensive side of the ball, Jimmy Garoppolo found success connecting with star tight end George Kittle, who caught six balls for 129 yards and one touchdown.

3. New England Patriots (10-1)

Last Week’s Ranking: 2

Week 13 Opponent: at Houston Texans (7-4)

The New England Patriots have only scored 30 points over their last two games, but it’s not time to panic.

While several in the media want to hold up their “The End is Nigh” sign to signal the end of the Tom Brady era, it’s not that simple.

In New England’s 13-9 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, the Patriots defense and special teams shined while the offense managed the game accordingly. It wasn’t pretty given the torrential downpour, but it’s the continued formula that seems to be working for New England in this portion of the season.

The Patriots offense will likely have to pick it up as they head into the postseason, but right now New England is weathering one of the worst offensive storms of the Brady-Belichick era.

4. Seattle Seahawks (9-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 4

Week 13 Opponent: vs. Minnesota Vikings (8-3)

The Seahawks extended their perfect road record to 6-0 with a 17-9 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

While Russell Wilson is still putting up league-best numbers behind center, this game was all about running back Rashaad Penny, who dashed for 129 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries. Penny’s 58-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter put the Seahawks up by two scores and put the game away for good.

Even without a dominating performance from Wilson, the Seahawks quarterback threw for one touchdown to put his league-leading total at 24 for the season.

5. New Orleans Saints (9-2)

Last Week’s Ranking: 5

Week 13 Opponent: at Atlanta Falcons (3-8)

The Saints were very close to opening the NFC South race back up with a home loss to the Carolina Panthers, but a missed field goal and game-winning drive by Drew Brees practically wrapped up their third-straight division crown.

Brees finished the game an impressive 30-for-39 with 311 passing yards and three touchdowns, finding star receiver Michael Thomas 10 times in the victory. The offense was clicking on both levels of the field, as Latavius Murray and Alvin Kamara combined for 118 rushing yards on 18 total carries.

While New Orleans was the receiver of some luck when the Panthers missed a 28-yard field goal with two minutes left to take the lead, a four-game cushion atop their division helps ease the stress as they try and push their way into one of the top two spots in the NFC.

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