Methodology note: These rankings reflect which teams voters think would win head-to-head matchups. Higher-ranked teams would be favored against lower-ranked teams. Coming off a win doesn't guarantee a jump, and coming off a loss doesn't guarantee a fall.
Check out the rest of the league and where each team ranks.
Previous rankings: Week 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Preseason
ESPN Stats & Information contributed the following research.
1. Dallas Cowboys
2016 record: 10-1 | Week 12 ranking: 1QB Dak Prescott has now completed 30 of his past 33 pass attempts in the fourth quarter or overtime this season, as the Cowboys have won 10 consecutive games. Prescott has an NFL-best 89.8 Total QBR in the fourth quarter and overtime this season. The Cowboys take their show on the road Thursday against Minnesota.
2. Oakland Raiders
2016 record: 9-2 | Week 12 ranking: 4
The Raiders have clinched their first winning season since 2002, thanks to Derek Carr's late-game heroics. Carr has 13 game-tying or go-ahead touchdown passes in the fourth quarter or overtime the past two seasons, six more than any other QB, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
3. New England Patriots
2016 record: 9-2 | Week 12 ranking: 3QB Tom Brady is always the talk when it comes to the Patriots, but the defense has once again fallen under the radar. The Patriots have held opponents to fewer than 20 points seven times this season, tied with the Chiefs and Seahawks for most such games. The Rams and their low-powered offense are next for New England.
4. Seattle Seahawks
2016 record: 7-3-1 | Week 12 ranking: 2
The Seahawks have the third-best record in the NFC, so there's no need to panic. But Week 12 marked the third time this season that the Seahawks failed to score a touchdown. The Seahawks, with their 23rd-ranked scoring offense (20.4 points per game), host the Panthers in Week 13.
5. Denver Broncos
2016 record: 7-4 | Week 12 ranking: 5It's a pretty simple formula for the Broncos: win the turnover battle, and win the game (5-0 this season). Break even or worse in the turnover battle, and lose the game (2-4). Can Denver win the turnover battle this week at Jacksonville?
6. Kansas City Chiefs
2016 record: 8-3 | Week 12 ranking: 7Whenever you're the "first since Gale Sayers," you're probably doing something right. Tyreek Hill became the first since Sayers with rushing, receiving and kick return touchdowns in the same game, which was a very good thing for the Chiefs, as they improved to 8-3. The Chiefs head to Atlanta this week.
7. Detroit Lions
2016 record: 7-4 | Week 12 ranking: 10Who is the more valuable Matt in Detroit? Is it Matthew Stafford, who has seven game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime this season? Or is it Matt Prater, who has never missed a game-tying or go-ahead field goal in the fourth quarter or overtime in his career (25-of-25 and 6-of-6 this season). The division-leading Lions play at New Orleans this week.
8. Atlanta Falcons
2016 record: 7-4 | Week 12 ranking: 8The Falcons continue to fly high offensively, leading the NFL in points and scoring at least 30 in four of their past five games. The Chiefs, who have allowed fewer than 20 points in seven games this season, come to town Sunday.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers
2016 record: 6-5 | Week 12 ranking: 13Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown have accounted for 63 percent of the Steelers' yards from scrimmage since Bell's return to the lineup, the highest of any duo since Week 4. They'll look to continue racking up yards against the Giants in Week 13.
10. New York Giants
2016 record: 8-3 | Week 12 ranking: 6According to Elias Sports Bureau research, the Giants have played the fourth-easiest schedule so far this season, so that six-game win streak (which featured wins against the Rams, Bears and Browns) might need to be taken with a grain of salt. The Steelers should provide a tougher test this weekend.
11. Washington Redskins
2016 record: 6-4-1 | Week 12 ranking: 9The Redskins are 2-2-1 in their past five games, but QB Kirk Cousins is averaging 72.0 percent completion and 369.0 pass yards with 11 touchdowns and one interception in those games. Washington plays at Arizona in Week 13.
12. Miami Dolphins
2016 record: 7-4 | Week 12 ranking: 17The Dolphins have won six straight for the first time since 2005, Nick Saban's first year as head coach of the team. Think about that for a minute. The Dolphins look for their first seven-game win streak since 1985 when they play at Baltimore this week.
13. Baltimore Ravens
2016 record: 6-5 | Week 12 ranking: 14Is Justin Tucker the Ravens' MVP? He has made 34 straight field goals (27 this season), made three 50-yarders in a half and is the only kicker who has yet to miss a field goal or extra point this season. Tucker and the Ravens will look to halt the Dolphins' six-game win streak this week.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2016 record: 6-5 | Week 12 ranking: 22The Buccaneers have won three straight for the first time since 2013 (Weeks 10-12), and if they can win Sunday at San Diego, they will be two games over .500 for the first time since 2012, when they were 6-4.
15. San Diego Chargers
2016 record: 5-6 | Week 12 ranking: 25The Chargers might be in the wrong division. They are 3-1 against the AFC South this season and 2-5 against all other divisions, including 1-3 against the rest of the AFC West. The Chargers get a nondivision foe this week in the Buccaneers.
16. Houston Texans
2016 record: 6-5 | Week 12 ranking: 16Three qualified quarterbacks have thrown more interceptions than touchdowns this season: Case Keenum (lost his job), Ryan Fitzpatrick (fighting for his job) and Brock Osweiler (doesn't seem to be in much danger of losing his job). The host Packers await in Week 13.
17. Buffalo Bills
2016 record: 6-5 | Week 12 ranking: 17Not only are the Bills 6-5, but they also have the sixth-best point differential this season, better than the 8-3 Chiefs, the 7-3-1 Seahawks and even the 9-2 Raiders, whom Buffalo travels to play this week.
18. Minnesota Vikings
2016 record: 6-5 | Week 12 ranking: 12The Vikings are 1-5 in their past six games and have scored the fourth-fewest points per game (16.5) in that stretch. However, the Vikings are still given a 56 percent chance to make the playoffs, according to NFL FPI. A win Thursday against the Cowboys would go a long way toward helping the cause.
19. Tennessee Titans
2016 record: 6-6 | Week 12 ranking: 19Marcus Mariota has thrown multiple touchdown passes in eight straight games and has a league-leading 21 touchdowns since Week 5. Mariota and the Titans finally get a break in the form of a bye this week.
20. Philadelphia Eagles
2016 record: 5-6 | Week 12 ranking: 15Rookie QB Carson Wentz has certainly been hurt by the lack of weapons in the passing game. Eagles wide receivers rank 28th in yards this season and 30th in yards per reception. The Eagles play the Bengals and their A.J. Green-less wide receiver group this week.
21. New Orleans Saints
2016 record: 5-6 | Week 12 ranking: 23Let's take a second to appreciate Drew Brees, who has thrown 30 touchdowns in a season for the ninth time, tied with Brett Favre and Peyton Manning for most such seasons. Brees looks to pad his league lead Sunday against the Lions.
22. Carolina Panthers
2016 record: 4-7 | Week 12 ranking: 20QB Cam Newton has five touchdown passes in his past five games. Last season, he threw five touchdown passes in a game three times in a five-game span. The struggles continue for Newton, who will face the Seahawks on Sunday in Seattle.
23. Arizona Cardinals
2016 record: 4-6-1 | Week 12 ranking: 21Carson Palmer has already taken more sacks than he did all of last season, and he has equaled his interception total (11) from last season. The Cardinals are 1-3-1 in their past five games, and you have to wonder if the 36-year-old Palmer will be in Arizona much longer.
24. Green Bay Packers
2016 record: 5-6 | Week 12 ranking: 24The Packers stopped the bleeding following their four-game losing streak with a victory over the Eagles on Monday. They allowed 13 points, their second-fewest this season, after allowing at least 30 points in four straight. The Texans' struggling offense arrives in Green Bay in Week 13.
25. Indianapolis Colts
2016 record: 5-6 | Week 12 ranking: 18Backup QB Scott Tolzien was able to drive the Colts, but he wasn't able to finish, as they reached the Steelers' 1-yard line twice but failed to score either time in their Week 12 game on Thanksgiving. Andrew Luck could return for the Colts' game Monday at the Jets.
26. New York Jets
2016 record: 3-8 | Week 12 ranking: 28During the Jets' three-game losing streak, the defense has failed to force a turnover. The Jets have the second-worst turnover differential in the NFL this season (minus-13). The Colts, whom New York hosts in Week 13, don't turn it over very often (13 turnovers in 11 games).
27. Los Angeles Rams
2016 record: 4-7 | Week 12 ranking: 27Against the Saints, rookie QB Jared Goff's three touchdowns in the first half -- the first Rams quarterback to do that since Sam Bradford in 2010 -- were good. His throwing only 47 yards and a pick in a scoreless second half was bad. The Rams will need a lot more of the "good" to topple the Patriots this week.
28. Cincinnati Bengals
2016 record: 3-7-1 | Week 12 ranking: 26In his first game without A.J. Green this season, Andy Dalton completed a season-low 50 percent of his passes to wide receivers. Dalton and the Bengals are in must-win mode this week against the Eagles if they want to have any chance of making the playoffs.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars
2016 record: 2-9 | Week 12 ranking: 30Sunday's loss to Buffalo clinched a sixth consecutive losing season for the Jaguars, who have the fourth-worst point differential in the NFL this season. The Jags, who host Denver on Sunday, grabbed some notable former Broncos in recent offseasons (Julius Thomas, Malik Jackson, Zane Beadles).
30. Chicago Bears
2016 record: 2-9 | Week 12 ranking: 29Eight drops. Eight! That would be too much for any quarterback to overcome, let alone Matt Barkley in his first career start. Despite the drops, the Bears had a chance to beat Tennessee. This week's matchup with the 49ers will be big for the 2017 draft order.
31. San Francisco 49ers
2016 record: 1-10 | Week 12 ranking: 31Can you imagine the 49ers losing 15 straight games and not getting the No. 1 overall pick? It could happen. NFL FPI has the 49ers favored in only one of their remaining games, and it isn't the upcoming one at Chicago.
32. Cleveland Browns
2016 record: 0-12 | Week 12 ranking: 32The Browns enter their bye week 0-12, but let's focus on the positives. The Browns have converted a league-best 10 fourth downs. Terrelle Pryor Sr. is eighth in the NFL in receiving. The team is eighth in average yards per rush. Christian Kirksey is second in tackles. The Cavs are 13-2.
