2012 NFL Power Rankings: Top 5 Super Bowl XLVII Contenders: Just three weeks remain in the NFL season, and the battle for playoff seeding is heating up. The latest installment of Power Rankings has a mixture of teams that have already clinched division titles and those that still have some work to do. However, one team that fell out of the top 5 is the Houston Texans. Despite being 11-2 and sitting tied for the best record in the NFL, two ugly losses and an overtime win against a terrible Jacksonville team have raised serious question about whether the Texans and real contenders. Houston’s tumble has opened the door for some other teams, and here is how the top teams stack up.
2012 NFL Power Rankings: Top 5 Super Bowl XLVII Contenders
1. New England Patriots (10-3)
The Patriots clobbered the Texans right out of the Power Rankings, and in the process, assumed the top spot themselves. Led by quarterback Tom Brady, New England’s offense has been a juggernaut all year despite some injuries to the receiving corps. Meanwhile, the defense keeps getting better, and the Patriots lead the NFL in turnover differential by a wide margin. Brady may be playing as well as he ever has, and this may be the most balanced team on both sides of the ball New England has had in several years. Brady could be looking at a sixth Super Bowl appearance.
2. Denver Broncos (10-3)
Since Peyton Manning shook off some early season rust, the Broncos have literally been unbeatable. Denver has reeled off eight straight wins and has already sewn up the AFC West. Overall, the Broncos have been one of the most balanced teams in the league. The offense currently ranks second in the NFL in points per game while the defense has allowed the fourth-fewest points and the fewest in the AFC. With Manning staking the Broncos to early leads on a regular basis Von Miller, Elvis Dumervil and the rest of the pass rushers have been free to attack on a regular basis, and Denver currently ranks second in sacks. A powerful offense and dominant pass rush has the Broncos looking like a Super Bowl contender.
3. San Francisco 49ers (9-3-1)
Although making the move to Colin Kaepernick at quarterback creates a bit of uncertainty, the 49ers’ recipe for success remains the same. San Francisco’s defense is still the stingiest in football, and Frank Gore heads the league’s second-best rushing attack. At the end of the day, the 49ers physically punish opponents on both sides of the ball, and come playoff time, there is never a substitute for a strong defense and reliable running game.
4. New York Giants (8-5)
At the start of the season, I said the Giants would win the Super Bowl as long as they could make the playoffs. As Eli Manning and company cling to a one-game lead in the NFC East despite having the third-best scoring offense and a top-10 defense, I still feel the same way. At their best, the Giants are the best team in the NFL, and they have dominating wins against San Francisco and Green Bay to prove it. Unfortunately, they take almost half of the regular season off, and it could end up costing them. New York probably has to win two of the final three games to secure a playoff spot, and if they do, the rest of the NFC needs to be worried.
5. Green Bay Packers (9-4)
The offense hasn’t been the thing of beauty that it was a year ago, but the Packers have been resilient and are leading the NFC North. Injuries have followed Green Bay all year, and whether it is Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings on offense or Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson on defense, the Packers have never really been 100 percent. The running game could definitely improve, but a stronger defense has Green Bay more well-rounded than it was a year ago. Assuming the Packers get all their parts back in time for the playoffs, they could make the Super Bowl run everyone expected last season.
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