Welcome to Gridiron’s Week 12 power ranking, where we have one big mover and a re-entry as the race to make the playoffs heats up.

GRIDIRON POWER RANKINGS: WEEK 12

1 Detroit Lions (9-1) =

Beating the worst team in the league is hardly eye-opening, but beating up on them, to the tune of 48 points and 475 yards, sends the message that you’re going to be relentless and not take your foot off the gas. The Lions became the second team to top 50 points this season — after the Week 8 Lions — and have a deep offensive arsenal, especially when Jared Goff performs as he did in last weekend’s four-touchdown masterclass.

2. Buffalo Bills (9-2) +1

Their statement win over last week’s #2 team deservedly lifts the Bills into that spot, with Josh Allen rewarding head coach Sean McDermott for going for it on fourth-and-two late on. Even without key weapons, Buffalo hung 30+ points on a Chiefs team that hadn’t conceded anything like as many in a long time, and that should give them belief going forward. The Bills still sit behind KC in the AFC seedings, but for how long?

3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1) -1

A first defeat, not just in the 2024 season, but in 16 games might not be reason to demote the Chiefs one spot, but KC still do not look the force they have been of late. Patrick Mahomes added two more INTs to his league-leading tally and the defense conceded their biggest score in many months, so are the cracks again beginning to show despite the front office’s recent attempts to paper over them?

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2) +6

The biggest controversy of these rankings will be whether the Steelers deserve to be this high when they again had to rely on the boot of Chris Boswell for every single point as Russell Wilson and the offense stalled. The first mitigation is that the team they beat was AFC North rival Baltimore; the second that, with their defense playing the way it did on Sunday, Pittsburgh could be a match for anyone.

5. Philadelphia Eagles (8-3) +2

Philly extended their advantage in the NFC East with a win over closest rival Washington on Thursday Night Football, and remain in hot pursuit of the single postseason bye week. While last year’s collapse down the stretch remains a painful memory, this version of the Eagles now has a reborn Saquon Barkley running behind a fit-again O-line, and an improving defensive unit. Winning six straight, no matter the opposition, is noteworthy.

6. Baltimore Ravens (7-4) -2

Baltimore’s loss to Pittsburgh was their eighth in nine games, and could end up deciding the destiny of the divisional title. The defeat was largely self-inflicted, with fumbles, penalties and Justin Tucker’s inconsistent form combining with an aggressive Steelers’ D to undo the league’s second most potent offense. There is little time to reset before things get personal ahead of Sunday’s Harbaugh Bowl in Los Angeles.

7. Green Bay Packers (7-3) -1

In a game that could have gone either way prior to Cairo Santos’ walk-off field goal finding lineman Karl Brooks’ fingertips, the Packers somehow found a way to overcome lacklustre play on both sides of the ball. Jordan Love, despite joining Patrick Mahomes atop the list of most INTs this season, came through when it mattered, but it required a little Christian Watson magic too. Next up, facing down the ghosts of Santa Clara.

8. Washington Commanders (7-4) -3

The Commanders continue to slide after defeat against the Eagles in a game that wasn’t as close as the score suggests. The offense, which has struggled since Jayden Daniels’ rib injury, no longer masks a still-poor defense, but hope is at hand in the shape of a match-up with the forlorn Cowboys this weekend. Dan Quinn will take centre stage as he hosts his former employer, who must surely regret letting him go.

9. Arizona Cardinals (6-4) =

Without a game in Week 11 to affect their position, the Cards maintain a hold on ninth spot — and even strengthened their place in the NFC seedings thanks to Denver downing the Falcons. Next up, the Seattle team that beat expected NFC West pacesetters San Francisco last weekend in a game that could shape the destination of the divisional crown. Will rest or a morale boost win out? Expect a close one.

10. Minnesota Vikings (8-2) +2

Minnesota, once a top five team in these rankings, returns to the top ten courtesy of a road win over the lowly Titans which, while not exactly pretty, was just the tonic after struggling to beat Jacksonville in Week 10. Sam Darnold produced a confidence-boosting performance (for all concerned), but it was Brian Flores’ defense again stunting their opponents that keeps the Vikes in the playoff race.