2021 NFL Power Rankings – Week 12

1. Arizona Cardinals (9-2): The Cardinals are the only team in the NFL with less than three losses and with a bye this week, they will remain a two-loss team until December 5th, when they travel to Chicago to take on the Bears. Next: Bye – Following week: N/A at Chicago Bears - Sun, Dec. 5 – O/U N/A (ATS: 8-3 – O/U: 5-6)

2. Green Bay Packers (8-3): Quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for 385 yards and four touchdowns and that would usually be enough to win the game, but the Packer defense struggled to stop Viking quarterback Kirk Cousins, who threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns in the loss in Minnesota. Next: PK vs at Los Angeles Rams - Sun, Nov. 28 – O/U 47.5 (ATS: 9-2 – O/U: 3-8)

3. Dallas Cowboys (7-3): The Cowboys potent offense failed to score a touchdown against the Chiefs in a disappointing 19-9 loss. Quarterback Dak Prescott was sacked five times and threw two interceptions in the loss. Next: -7.5 vs Las Vegas Raiders - Thu, Nov. 25 – O/U 50.5 (ATS: 8-2 – O/U: 5-5)

4. Los Angeles Rams (7-3): The Houston Texans have released former Pro Bowl running back Phillip Lindsay, and it would make sense for the Rams to take a look at him if he clears waivers. Lindsay rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons, while catching 70 passes and collecting 17 touchdowns. Next: PK at Green Bay Packers - Sun, Nov. 28 – O/U 47.5 (ATS: 4-6 – O/U: 5-4-1)

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3): The Buccaneers needed a win, and the Giants were willing to oblige, losing 30-10 on Monday Night Football. The Bucs have one of the easier schedules for the remainder of the season and with a two-game division lead should be a strong favorite in the post-season. Next: -2.5 at Indianapolis Colts - Sun, Nov. 28 – O/U 51.5 (ATS: 4-6 – O/U: 5-5)

6. Tennessee Titans (8-3): The Titans lost the turnover battle to the Texans 5-0 and that ended up being the story of the game in their 22-13 loss at home. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw four interceptions in the game. Next: +6.5 at New England Patriots - Sun, Nov. 28 – O/U 44.5 (ATS: 7-4 – O/U: 6-5)

7. Baltimore Ravens (7-3): Former Utah star Tyler Huntley got his first start at quarterback in place of starter Lamar Jackson, and he did just enough to pull out a 16-13 victory in Chicago. Huntley completed 26 of 36 pass attempts for 219 yards and rushed for forty yards as well. Next: -4 vs Cleveland Browns – Sun, Nov. 28 – O/U 46 (ATS: 4-6 – O/U: 5-5)

8. New England Patriots (7-4): The Patriots are in first place in the AFC East after easily defeating the Falcons, while the Bills were being crushed at home by the Colts. The Pats look like the best team in the AFC East and who would have predicted that back in August? Next: -6.5 vs Tennessee Titans – Sun, Nov. 28 – O/U 44.5 (ATS: 7-4 – O/U: 5-6)

9. Kansas City Chiefs (7-4): The Chiefs have won four in a row and get a bye in Week 12. The next three weeks they play the Broncos at home, the Raiders at home and the Chargers at SoFi Stadium on December 16th. A sweep of the next three games would likely give the Chiefs a sixth consecutive division title. Next: Bye – Following week: N/A vs Denver Broncos - Sun, Dec. 5 – O/U N/A (ATS: 4-7 – O/U: 5-6)

10. Los Angeles Chargers (6-4): The Chargers, like the Chiefs, have a date with destiny on December 16th against the Chiefs at SoFi Stadium. But first, the Chargers need to win their next three games at Denver, at Cincinnati and at home against the Giants. Next: -2.5 at Denver Broncos, Nov. 28 – O/U 47.5 (ATS: 5-5 – O/U: 4-6)

11. Buffalo Bills (6-4): The Bills again struggled to score points, but in their loss to the Colts they got runover as well. The Colts rushed for 261 yards as they beat up the Bills and knocked them out of first place. Next: -5.5 at New Orleans Saints - Thu, Nov. 25 – O/U 45.5 (ATS: 5-4-1 – O/U: 5-5)

12. Cincinnati Bengals (6-4): The Bengals got back on track with the help of the Raiders, easily winning 32-13 in Las Vegas. Running back Joe Mixon rushed 30 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. Next: -4.5 vs Pittsburgh Steelers - Sun, Nov. 28 – O/U 45 (ATS: 5-5 – O/U: 4-6)

13. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4-1): The Steelers were without T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Joe Haden in their loss to the Chargers. Without those three stars, it was impossible for the Steelers to slow down the Charger offense. The 533 yards allowed by the defense were the most given up by the Steelers in more than eight years. Next: +4.5 at Cincinnati Bengals – Sun, Nov. 28 – O/U 45 (ATS: 4-6 – O/U: 3-6-1)

14. Cleveland Browns (6-5): Quarterback Baker Mayfield had another bad game, but fortunately for him he had a bad opponent in the Lions. Mayfield threw for just 176 yards and had two interceptions in the 13-10 win. "He is battling," coach Kevin Stefanski said on Monday. No coach, he is hurt, and he is getting worse every week. Next: +4 at Baltimore Ravens – Sun, Nov. 28 – O/U 46 (ATS: 5-6 – O/U: 6-5)

15. Las Vegas Raiders (5-5): The Raiders have lost three in a row and their playoff hopes are suddenly circling the drain. The play the Cowboys in the traditional Thanksgiving Day game in Dallas and they need a win if they hope to turn this already tragic season around. Next: +7.5 at Dallas Cowboys - Thu, Nov. 25 – O/U 50.5 (ATS: 4-6 – O/U: 5-5)

18. Indianapolis Colts (6-5): Running back Jonathan Taylor scored five touchdowns in the rout of the Bills. Taylor leads the NFL in rushing yardage with 1,122 and leads the NFL in touchdowns with 15. Next: +2.5 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Sun, Nov. 28 – O/U 51.5 (ATS: 7-4 – O/U: 7-4)

17. San Francisco 49ers (5-5): After beating the Rams by 21 points the week before, the 49ers followed that performance up with a 30-10 win over the Jaguars. This week's opponent will not be that easy to beat. Next: -3 vs Minnesota Vikings – Sun, Nov. 28 – O/U 48 (ATS: 4-6 – O/U: 5-5)

18. Minnesota Vikings (5-5): In every game they have played in this season, the Vikings have held at least a seven-point lead. That is in all ten games this season. The Vikings are not perfect, but they are well-coached and not easy to beat. Next: +3 at San Francisco 49ers – Sun, Nov. 28 – O/U 48 (ATS: 6-4 – O/U: 5-5)

19. New Orleans Saints (5-5): Running back Alvin Kamara missed his second straight game in the Saints 40-29 loss to the Eagles and he may miss the game on Thanksgiving Day as well. Kamara was originally diagnosed with a mild knee sprain and was only supposed to miss one game. Next: +5.5 vs Buffalo Bills – Thu, Nov. 25 – O/U 45.5 (ATS: 5-5 – O/U: 6-4)

20. Denver Broncos (5-5): The Broncos are coming off a bye in Week 11 and have had two weeks to prepare for the 21st Century version of the "Kardiac Kids," the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers have lost seven of their last eight games in Denver. Next: +2.5 vs Los Angeles Chargers - Sun, Nov. 28 – O/U 47.5 (ATS: 5-5 – O/U: 2-8)

21. Philadelphia Eagles (5-6): Running back Miles Sanders came off injured reserve to rush for 94 yards in the Eagles win over the Saints. The Eagles rushed for 242 yards and controlled the ball for 37 minutes of the 60 minutes in the game. Next: -3.5 at New York Giants – Sun, Nov. 28 – O/U 46 (ATS: 6-5 – O/U: 6-5)

22. Carolina Panthers (5-6): Cam Newton made his return to the Panthers as the starting quarterback but was unable to lift the Panthers to victory in the 27-21 loss to the Washington Football Team. Newton threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third in the loss. Next: -1.5 at Miami Dolphins - Sun, Nov. 28 – O/U 42.5 (ATS: 5-6 – O/U: 4-7)

23. Washington Football Team (4-6): The Washington Football Team has a two-game winning streak after defeating the Panthers in Carolina. The WFT can extend it to three at home on Monday Night when they take on the fading Seahawks. Next: -1 vs Seattle Seahawks – Mon, Nov. 29 – O/U 46.5 (ATS: 3-7 – O/U: 5-5)

24. Miami Dolphins (4-7): The Dolphins have a three-game winning streak after knocking off the hapless Jets. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is beginning to look like a starting NFL quarterback. Would the Texans trade Deshaun Watson for Tagovailoa? We don't think so, either. Next: +1.5 vs Carolina Panthers - Sun, Nov. 28 – O/U 42.5 (ATS: 5-5-1 – O/U: 4-7)

25. Seattle Seahawks (3-7): The Seahawks announced that their Week 13 home game against the 49ers has been flexed out of prime time. It was going to be the Sunday night game on NBC, but NBC decided to go with the Broncos-Chiefs matchup. Thank you, NBC. Next: +1 at Washington Football Team – Mon, Nov. 29 – O/U 49.5 (ATS: 5-5 – O/U: 1-8-1)

26. Atlanta Falcons (4-6): The Falcons were horrible against the Patriots in a 25-0 shutout loss at home. The offense had a total of 165 yards and never posed a threat to the defense of the Pats. Next: -1 at Jacksonville Jaguars – Sun, Nov. 28 – O/U 46.5 (ATS: 4-6 – O/U: 5-5)

27. Chicago Bears (3-7): The Bears now have a five-game losing streak, thanks to their late game choke to the Ravens. After the game, fans at Soldier Field chanted "Fire Nagy." The "Fire Nagy" chants continued Monday night at the United Center when the Chicago Bulls took on the Indiana Pacers. This is not going to end well for Bears head coach Matt Nagy. Next: +3.5 at Detroit Lions - Thu, Nov. 25 – O/U 41.5 (ATS: 4-6 – O/U: 3-7)

28. New York Giants (3-7): The Giants fired offensive coordinator Jason Garrett after another pathetic offensive performance in their Monday Night loss to the Bucs. Garrett deserved to be fired, but this team has a number of other issues, and they usually start at the top. Next: +3.5 vs Philadelphia Eagles – Sun, Nov. 28 - O/U 46 (ATS: 5-5 – O/U: 3-6-1)

29. Houston Texans (2-8): Former Charger quarterback Tyrod Taylor rushed for two touchdowns in the Texans stunning 22-13 win over the Titans in Nashville. Taylor only threw for 107 yards in the game, but they did not need his passing in this game. They needed an error-free game and Taylor provided that for the win. Next: -3 vs New York Jets – Sun, Nov. 28 – O/U 44.5 (ATS: 5-5 – O/U: 4-6)

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8): Last season, Jaguar went 1-15 as the won the "Tanking for Trevor" sweepstakes, getting the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL draft, quarterback Trevor Lawrence. This season, the Jaguars are "Tanking with Trevor," as the quarterback is one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL. Next: +1 vs Atlanta Falcons - Sun, Nov. 28 – O/U 46.5 (ATS: 4-6 – O/U: 2-8)

31. New York Jets (2-8): The Jets have beaten the Titans and the Bengals this season, the only two victories the team has this season. We cannot figure out what that says about the Titans and Bengals, and what that says about the Jets? Next: +3 at Houston Texans - Sun, Nov. 28 – O/U 44.5 (ATS: 2-8 – O/U: 6-4)

32. Detroit Lions (0-9-1): The winless and frankly, crummy Lions are still looking for that first victory of the season. This team plays hard for head coach Dan Campbell, which means this is really the best they can do. The Lions are 5-15 on Turkey Day since 2001, including having lost the last four. On tap are the Bears who won in Detroit in 2018 and 2019. Next: +3.5 vs Chicago Bears – Thu, Nov. 25 – O/U 41.5 (ATS: 6-4 – O/U: 3-7)

Against The Spread 5-game trends: The New England Patriots have a perfect 5-0 record against the spread in their last five games, followed by the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings at 4-1. 12 other teams each have a 3-2 record in their last five games.

Five teams tied for the worst record against the spread in their last five games at 1-4: Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, and New York Jets. The Buffalo Bills are right behind at 1-3-1.

Over/Under 5-game trends: The Los Angeles Rams have the best over/under record over the past five games at 4-0-1. Four teams tied with 4-1 records: Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, and New Orleans Saints.

The two worst over/under teams in their last five games are the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars, each with a 0-5 record. At 0-4-1, the Seattle Seahawks just avoided the cellar. Six teams followed with 1-4 records: Houston Texans, Detroit Lions, Washington Football Team, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, and Green Bay Packers.