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NFL Power Poll
December 12, 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: Alone at the top.
That’s where Tom Brady and the New England Patriots stand after capturing nine of a possible 10 first-place votes.
The only first-place vote keeping the Patriots’ status from being unanimous was cast for Denver by Gosselin, who had the Denver Broncos first and New England second.
At the other end, Arizona’s nine straight losses and the blowout suffered at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks earned the Cardinals six last-place votes. But Arizona still managed to stay a couple of points ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs, who remain last overall.
THE STEELERS’ STATUS: The Steelers fell to No. 12 in the wake of being beaten at home by the San Diego Chargers. Pittsburgh was voted as high as No. 10 and as low as No. 16.
POSITION-TEAM (FIRST-PLACE VOTES)-POINTS
No. 1-New England Patriots (9)-11
No. 2-Denver Broncos (1)-26
No. 3-Houston Texans-36
No. 4-Green Bay Packers-46
No. 5-San Francisco 49ers-47
No. 6-Atlanta Falcons-58
No. 7-New York Football Giants-60
No. 8-Seattle Seahawks-90
No. 9-Indianapolis Colts-93
No. 10-Baltimore Ravens-107
No. 11-Chicago Bears-111
No. 12-PITTSBURGH STEELERS-119
No. 13-Cincinnati Bengals-129
No. 14-Washington Redskins-133
No. 15-Dallas Cowboys-150
No. 16-Minnesota Vikings-156
No. 17-St. Louis Rams-176
No. 18-Tampa Bay Buccaneers-177
No. 19-New Orleans Saints-194
No. 20-Detroit Lions-209
No. 21-Miami Dolphins-222
No. 22-Cleveland Browns-224
No. 23-San Diego Chargers-228
No. 24-New York Jets-230
No. 25-Carolina Panthers-245
No. 26-Buffalo Bills-249
No. 27-Tennessee Titans-269
No. 28-Philadelphia Eagles-270
No. 29-Oakland Raiders-296
No. 30-Arizona Cardinals-308
No. 31-Jacksonville Jaguars-304
No. 32-Kansas City Chiefs-310
