2012 NFL Power Rankings: Week 16

Updated: December 18, 2012, 2:22 PM ET

ESPN.com

Week:

Being No. 1 doesn't seem to agree with the New England Patriots.

For the second time this season, Tom Brady & Co. couldn't hold serve after being handed the top spot. Their Sunday night loss to the San Francisco 49ers opened the door for several teams to potentially reach the summit. In addition to San Francisco, the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers were all victorious in Week 15.

So whom did our voters (ESPN.com's John Clayton, ESPN.com's Ashley Fox, NFC East blogger Dan Graziano, AFC North blogger Jamison Hensley and NFC West blogger Mike Sando) award? It wasn't unanimous, but San Francisco was given the nod over red-hot Denver and 12-2 Houston.

The Patriots dropped to No. 4, followed by the Falcons and Packers.

Can the Niners handle prosperity better than New England? It won't be easy. Their first challenge is navigating a trip to Seattle, where the surging Seahawks are 6-0.

Another Seattle home victory will likely mean more significant movement among the elite, which has been the norm in recent weeks.

2012 Power Rankings: Week 16
RANK	TEAM / RECORD	TRENDING	COMMENTS
1	49ers 10-3-1	3 Last Week: 4	Colin Kaepernick is the first 49ers QB since Jeff Garcia in 2003 to throw four TD passes in a game. (Sando)
2	Broncos 11-3	-- Last Week: 2	After nine consecutive wins and with the Browns and Chiefs remaining on the schedule, there's no reason the Broncos can't win out. (Fox)
3	Texans 12-2	-- Last Week: 3	The Texans' defense has to stop Adrian Peterson to clinch home-field advantage for the playoffs. Good luck. (Clayton)
4	Patriots 10-4	3 Last Week: 1	Tom Brady threw one touchdown pass and two interceptions Sunday night. He had 19 touchdowns and one interception in his previous seven games. (Hensley)
5	Falcons 12-2	-- Last Week: 5	Hammering the Giants by a 34-0 score sent a strong message with the playoffs approaching. (Sando)
6	Packers 10-4	-- Last Week: 6	They have rebounded from a tough start to win another division title. They're getting healthier, but can they get whole enough to make noise in the playoffs? (Graziano)
7	Seahawks 9-5	3 Last Week: 10	Amid Russell (Wilson) Mania, Marshawn Lynch has 241 yards rushing on his last 21 carries. (Sando)
8	Commanders 8-6	4 Last Week: 12	Go on the road in December with a rookie backup quarterback starting? No problem. This team is convinced it can win any game right now. (Graziano)
9	Colts 9-5	-- Last Week: 9	The Colts can lock up a playoff spot by beating Kansas City, but it would help if the Texans aren't playing for anything in the season finale. (Clayton)
10	Cowboys 8-6	3 Last Week: 13	It may not always look pretty, but the Cowboys are winning tough games with clutch play at the end. (Graziano)
11	Ravens 9-5	3 Last Week: 8	Baltimore lost two straight home games following a 15-game home win streak. The Ravens haven't lost three in a row at home in five years. (Hensley)
12	Giants 8-6	5 Last Week: 7	They have squandered their lead and are in danger of missing the playoffs. Something's just not there that was there before. (Graziano)
13	Bengals 8-6	1 Last Week: 14	While the Ravens and Steelers have slumped in December, the Bengals are the hottest team in the AFC North, winning five of their past six games. (Hensley)
14	Bears 8-6	3 Last Week: 11	They were 7-1. Remember that? 7-1. Guess this is what happens when you count on your defense to score two touchdowns every week. (Graziano)
15	Vikings 8-6	1 Last Week: 16	Adrian Peterson is making a stronger case every week for MVP, and Eric Dickerson's record is in trouble. (Graziano)
16	Steelers 7-7	1 Last Week: 15	The struggling Steelers are dealing with turmoil. Last year's leading rusher was suspended in Week 15. Ben Roethlisberger is questioning the play calling. (Hensley)
17	Rams 6-7-1	-- Last Week: 17	The Rams have somehow beaten the 49ers, and lost at home to Christian Ponder and Mark Sanchez. (Sando)
18	Saints 6-8	4 Last Week: 22	Somehow, some way, the Saints have a shot at avoiding their first losing season since 2007. (Sando)
19	Dolphins 6-8	2 Last Week: 21	The Dolphins are 5-1 this year when Ryan Tannehill completes at least 60 percent of his passes. (Hensley)
20	Buccaneers 6-8	2 Last Week: 18	Only four teams rank below the Buccaneers in strength of victory (.345) to this point in the season. (Sando)
21	Jets 6-8	2 Last Week: 19	The Jets' faint playoff hopes are gone but the questions about their quarterback situation continue. Mark Sanchez failed to inspire confidence with four interceptions Monday night. (Hensley)
22	Browns 5-9	2 Last Week: 20	Rookie QB Brandon Weeden keeps turning the ball over. His 17 interceptions are third-most in the NFL. (Hensley)
23	Panthers 5-9	3 Last Week: 26	The Panthers have won three of four and appear in position to match their 6-10 record from 2011. (Sando)
24	Chargers 5-9	1 Last Week: 23	That Week 14 win at Pittsburgh looks like an aberration. Up next: at the Jets. (Fox)
25	Bills 5-9	1 Last Week: 24	Where's the defense? The Bills became the first team since the 1986 Jets to allow at least 45 points in four games in one season. (Hensley)
26	Titans 5-9	2 Last Week: 28	Chris Johnson's contract isn't the only thing under review after the season. Bud Adams can't be happy with this season. (Clayton)
27	Cardinals 5-9	2 Last Week: 29	Beanie Wells' re-emergence with three TD runs against Detroit was a welcome sight for the Cardinals. (Sando)
28	Lions 4-10	3 Last Week: 25	Total meltdown. Blown out by the Cardinals? This is one of the teams in the league that appears, sadly, to have shut down. (Graziano)
29	Eagles 4-10	2 Last Week: 27	If they can play well in the final two games (vs. the Redskins and Giants), they can help decide who wins the NFC East. It just can't be them. (Graziano)
30	Raiders 4-10	-- Last Week: 30	The Raiders have been outscored 200-95 in six road games, losing five. They finish at Carolina and at San Diego. (Fox)
31	Jaguars 2-12	-- Last Week: 31	If I see any more Chad Henne checkdown passes, I might have to switch the channel. (Clayton)
32	Chiefs 2-12	-- Last Week: 32	The Chiefs have averaged 8.9 points in their last nine losses. Impossible to win that way. (Fox)
Biggest Jump: 4 Biggest Drop: 5 Make your own Power Rankings