Yes, we know that every single game in the NFL counts, especially when teams are playing a 16-game schedule. But I love this time of year, when the playoff fields for each conference starts to take really shape and teams are scrapping for those division titles and wild-card spots.
Remember when the Steelers started the year off with a 1-4 mark and lost starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the process? Yeah, well, if the playoffs started today, Pittsburgh (6-5) would be in the playoffs as the No. 6 seed in the AFC.
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And how about those Cowboys? None of the six teams they've beaten currently have winning records yet they are holding the No. 4 seed in the NFC right now. How will it all shake out down the final stretch of the regular season? Who knows, but that's why I love this time of year in the NFL.
So, without further ado, it's time for the Week 13 edition of my Wildly Important NFL Power Rankings. Enjoy.
| 1. Ravens (9-2) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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Some questioned me when I put the Ravens atop these rankings a few weeks ago. No one is now. Lamar Jackson is dominating the MVP conversation right now, too. | 1 |
| 2. 49ers (10-1) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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They’d be the NFC’s top seed if the playoffs started today. That could change by the end of December with the Ravens, Saints, Falcons, Rams and Seahawks up next. | 3 |
| 3. Patriots (10-1) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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They knocked off the Cowboys and have a relatively manageable schedule down the stretch. They could very well end up with the AFC’s top seed when the playoffs start. | 2 |
| 4. Seahawks (9-2) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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They’re ahead of the Saints … for now. Like the 49ers, December is not going to be easy for the Seahawks. Tough stretch coming up. | 4 |
| 5. Saints (9-2) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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When it’s all said and done, I can see them ending up with the NFC’s No. 1 seed, and going through the Superdome won’t be easy for any team. | 6 |
| 6. Packers (8-3) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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They were clobbered by the 49ers, but things set up nicely for the Packers in December with the Vikings being their stiffest test. | 5 |
| 7. Vikings (8-3) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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I’ve said it all season and I’ll say it again: Watch out for the Vikings. This is a team no one wants to face in the playoffs. Right now, though, they’re clinging to the No. 6 seed. | 7 |
| 8. Bills (8-3) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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The Bills are sitting pretty at 8-3 and with the No. 5 seed in the AFC. Things could change drastically though with the Cowboys, Ravens, Steelers, Patriots and suddenly surging Jets on deck. | 8 |
| 9. Chiefs (7-4) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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The Chiefs should win the AFC West, but there’s little room for error with the Raiders breathing down their necks. | 9 |
| 10. Texans (7-4) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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They rebounded nicely from the beating the Ravens laid on them to beat the Colts. Another stiff test is coming up with the Patriots coming to town. | 13 |
| 11. Cowboys (6-5) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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The Cowboys have played well against the not-so-good teams and have consistently come up short against the better teams. That’s not going to cut it for Jerry Jones, not with all of that talent. | 10 |
| 12. Titans (6-5) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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The Titans have won four of their last five and can still win the AFC South with games against the Colts and two vs. the Texans still ahead. | 18 |
| 13. Eagles (5-6) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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They might have a losing record but they’re right in the mix in the NFC East. Don’t be surprised if they sneak into the postseason – and then make some noise. | 15 |
| 14. Raiders (6-5) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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They had a chance to catch the Chiefs but were whipped by the red-hot Jets. No time to panic, and the West can still be won. | 11 |
| 15. Rams (6-5) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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They have to be concerned out in LA. This team isn’t anything close to the one that won the NFC last year. They’re regressing. | 12 |
| 16. Colts (6-5) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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Three of the Colts’ final five games are (very) winnable. Big one against the Titans coming up. | 14 |
| 17. Steelers (6-5) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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How are the Steelers holding the sixth seed right now? Can they actually sneak into the playoffs with a third-string QB? Time will tell. Next is up a rematch against the Browns though. | 16 |
| 18. Browns (5-6) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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Speaking of the Browns, they have a chance to win the AFC North still and it’ll have to begin with completing the sweep of the Steelers first. | 25 |
| 19. Panthers (5-6) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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What is going on with the Panthers? This team looked playoff-caliber at one point. They’ve lost four of their last five and desperately need to turn things around. | 17 |
| 20. Jets (4-7) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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Don’t look now but the Jets have scored 34 points in three straight games – and won all three. Up next is winless Cincinnati, too. | 26 |
| 21. Bears (5-6) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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It’s been a disappointing season for the Bears and right now they’re on the outside looking in when it comes to the postseason. Up next: the Lions, Cowboys, Packers, Chiefs and Vikings. Ouch. | 24 |
| 22. Jaguars (4-7) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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It’s been a rough year for Florida’s NFL teams, including the Jaguars. They host the Bucs next and don’t have much to play for at this point. | 19 |
| 23. Cardinals (3-7-1) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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After winning three straight the Cardinals have dropped four in a row, some of them were tight games. They’re on the right track and could surprise some teams down the stretch. | 21 |
| 24. Chargers (4-7) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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Speaking of disappointing, things have not gone well at all for the Chargers this season. With games the Broncos, Raiders and Chiefs, they can still make things interesting in the AFC West. | 22 |
| 25. Buccaneers (4-7) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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The Bucs might not be in play for the NFC South crown but they could make things interesting in the tight AFC South with games against the Jags, Colts and Texans coming up. | 28 |
| 26. Falcons (3-8) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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The Falcons teased us with back-to-back dominating performances – and then reverted back to the team we saw for most of the first half of the season. A sweep of the Saints would go a long way with ATL fans though. | 23 |
| 27. Lions (3-7-1) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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It’ll be Jeff Driskel vs. Mitch Trubisky to kick off Thanksgiving. Someone pass the stuffing. | 20 |
| 28. Broncos (3-8) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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Is it Drew Lock time in Denver? The Broncos need to figure out what they’re doing at quarterback. | 27 |
| 29. Dolphins (2-9) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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Believe it or not, the Dolphins have not been mathematically eliminated from postseason play. Not yet. | 29 |
| 30. Giants (2-9) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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The G-men have three NFC East games remaining and how they play in those could affect some futures, including the head coach and GM. | 30 |
| 31. Redskins (2-9) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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The fact that the Redskins’ starting QB was taking a selfie and not in the game at the end sums up everything about this team right now. | 31 |
| 32. Bengals (0-11) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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The Bengals are the frontrunners for the first pick in April’s draft. Yet they’re going back to Andy Dalton. They might even screw this up, too. | 32 |
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