p>
NFL Power Poll
December 5, 2012
THE POINT: To rank each of the NFL’s 32 teams based on performance, perception and potential rather than merely by record.
THE PANEL: Our 10-man committee consists of:
Joe Bendel, 970 ESPN, Steelers Radio Network; Tim Benz, 105.9 The X, Steelers Radio Network; Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 970 ESPN, Steelers Radio Network; Rick Gosselin, Dallas Morning News; Jeff Legwold, Denver Post; Cole Pepper, Studio Host Jaguars Radio Network; Mike Prisuta, WDVE, 970 ESPN, Steelers Radio Network; Jon Saraceno, USA Today; David Todd, 970 ESPN, Steelers Nation Radio; Matt Williamson, ESPN.com.
THE PROCESS: Each panelist ranks the teams from No. 1 to No. 32. Teams receive one point for their spot in the rankings (the No. 15 team gets 15 points, etc.). An aggregate score is compiled from the 10 ballots and the teams are stacked in reverse order, with the lowest score achieving the No. 1 ranking and the highest score checking in at No. 32.
THIS WEEK’S POLL: And then there were two.
The Houston Texans retain a share of the top spot this week but have been joined at the top of the heap by the New England Patriots.
Both the Texans and the Patriots received five first-place votes.
This might not be settled until the Super Bowl.
The Denver Broncos are also charging hard and have climbed up another spot to No. 4.
At the other end, Kansas City’s emotional victory over the Carolina Panthers wasn’t enough to get the Chiefs out of the basement.
THE STEELERS’ STATUS: A big win in Baltimore was enough to get the Steelers back into the Top 10 at No. 10. The Steelers’ will take on our panel’s No. 23 team when the San Diego Chargers visit Heinz Field.
POSITION-TEAM (FIRST-PLACE VOTES)-POINTS
No. 1-Houston Texans (5)-20
-New England Patriots (5)-20
No. 3-Atlanta Falcons-31
No. 4-Denver Broncos-35
No. 5-San Francisco 49ers-52
No. 6-Green Bay Packers-65
No. 7-New York Football Giants-84
No. 8-Baltimore Ravens-86
No. 9-Chicago Bears-88
No. 10-PITTSBURGH STEELERS-96
No. 11-Indianapolis Colts-111
No. 12-Seattle Seahawks-116
No. 13-Cincinnati Bengals-119
No. 14-Washington Redskins-147
No. 15-Tampa Bay Buccaneers-151
No. 16-New Orleans Saints-155
No. 17-Dallas Cowboys-164
No. 18-Minnesota Vikings-173
No. 19-Miami Dolphins-196
No. 20-Detroit Lions-199
No. 21-St. Louis Rams-206
No. 22-Buffalo Bills-225
No. 23-San Diego Chargers-237
No. 24-Cleveland Browns-238
No. 25-New York Jets-249
No. 26-Tennessee Titans-262
-Carolina Panthers-262
No. 28-Arizona Cardinals-273
No. 29-Philadelphia Eagles-286
No. 30-Oakland Raiders-297
No. 31-Jacksonville Jaguars-307
No. 32-Kansas City Chiefs-312
