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NFL power rankings, Week 11: Cowboys ascend, Vikings plummet

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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In Week 11 NFL power rankings, the Dallas Cowboys continue to prove they’re for real, while the NFC North goes downhill in a real way.

Cleveland Browns

0-10

Last week: L, 28-7, at BALLast rank: 32nd

Just win a game. One. Any time now. Come on, Cleveland, you can do it.31

San Francisco 49ers

1-8

Last week: L, 23-20, at AZLast rank: 31st

The 49ers might be worse than Cleveland. If these two teams got on a neutral field, I think the line is EVEN. San Francisco is rough to watch.30

Jacksonville Jaguars

2-7

Last week: L, 24-21, vs. HOULast rank: 30th

The Jaguars are terrible. Gus Bradley must have pictures of Shad Khan in embarrassing situations. How has Jacksonville not fired him, along with the general manager?29

Chicago Bears

2-7

Last week: L, 36-10, at TBLast rank: 29th

The Bears are in the midst of a horrid season, but there could be a real bright side. Chicago hasn’t had a franchise quarterback since Sid Luckman, but could get one come April.28

New York Jets

3-7

Last week: L, 9-6, vs. LALast rank: 26th

This is just a lousy team with losing attitudes across the roster. The Jets need to blow this thing up and start from scratch.27

Los Angeles Rams

4-5

Last week: W, 9-6, at NYJLast rank: 28th

Give the defense credit for winning four games, because it is getting no help from Case Keenum. Give Jared Goff a chance. If he’s worse than Keenum, you made the wrong pick.26

Carolina Panthers

3-6

Last week: L, 20-17, vs. KCLast rank: 21st

The Chiefs are a very good team, but blowing a 17-point lead at home? That is likely the swan song for the Panthers.25

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

4-5

Last week: W, 36-10, vs. CHILast rank: 27th

Tampa Bay can do some good things when the defense shows up and Jameis Winston doesn’t throw interceptions. Can he keep it up in Arrowhead this Sunday?24

Buffalo Bills

4-5

Last week: BYELast rank: 24th

The Bills haven’t made the playoffs since 1999, and it’s hard to see it happening in 2016. Might need to win out.23

Indianapolis Colts

4-5

Last week: BYELast rank: 23rd

The Colts face a huge game on Sunday against the Titans. Whoever loses is likely home for the winter, while the winner maintains hope.22

Cincinnati Bengals

3-5-1

Last week: L, 21-20, at NYGLast rank: 17th

The Bengals are likely going to end up missing the playoffs for the first time in six years because they can’t block, and the discipline is lacking.21

Green Bay Packers

4-5

Last week: L, 47-25, at TENLast rank: 14th

It’s all over in Titletown. The Packers might need to fire Mike McCarthy, who once looked like he would have a tremendous career. This is simply a lost team with too much talent to fail.20

Pittsburgh Steelers

4-5

Last week: L, 35-30, vs. DALLast rank: 13th

Four straight losses, and the Steelers are on the brink. Pittsburgh gets a layup this weekend against the Browns, but then it’s a Thanksgiving night showdown with the Colts in Indy.19

San Diego Chargers

4-6

Last week: L, 31-24, vs. MIALast rank: 15th

The Chargers are going to look back on this season and kick themselves. They have had so many chances to get into the playoffs, but they lose in asinine fashion time and again.18

Arizona Cardinals

4-4-1

Last week: W, 23-20, vs. SFLast rank: 20th

Beating the 49ers at home with a last-second field goal is nothing to write home about. Now they play Minnesota in a de facto playoff game.17

Tennessee Titans

5-5

Last week: W, 47-25, vs. GBLast rank: 25th

The Titans quietly have a very potent offense. Can Tennessee challenge the Colts and Texans for the AFC South title? It’s trending that way.16

New Orleans Saints

4-5

Last week: L, 25-23, vs. DENLast rank: 12th

You can’t lose on a blocked extra point getting returned for two points. Teams don’t do that and make the playoffs. New Orleans is likely cooked.15

Minnesota Vikings

5-4

Last week: L, 26-20, at WSHLast rank: 11th

The Vikings have completely derailed. Mike Zimmer is a very good coach, but the proverbial horse is out of the barn.14

Baltimore Ravens

5-4

Last week: W, 23-20, vs. CLELast rank: 22nd

The Ravens are not winning the North, mostly because they play an insane schedule moving forward. Still, Baltimore can enjoy this while it lasts.13

Philadelphia Eagles

5-4

Last week: W, 24-15, vs. ATLLast rank: 19th

Just when you think the Eagles are done, they rise up. Philadelphia is right in the mix in the NFC wild card picture, but face a very difficult game against Seattle on the road.12

Miami Dolphins

5-4

Last week: W, 31-24, vs. SDLast rank: 18th

The Dolphins are legitimately good. Miami picked off Philip Rivers four times in the fourth quarter on Sunday to win at San Diego. Now, the Rams.11

Washington Redskins

5-3-1

Last week: W, 26-20, vs. MINLast rank: 16th

Nobody talks about Washington, but this is a team that could get into the playoffs and win a game. The Redskins are a threat to win 10 games in a tough NFC East.10

Detroit Lions

5-4

Last week: BYELast rank: 10th

Who had the Lions winning the North before the season started? Show of hands. Nobody? Alright. Detroit is playing good football.9

Atlanta Falcons

6-4

Last week: L, 24-15, at PHILast rank: 5th

The Falcons continue to raise questions. Are they a very good team, a good team, or a mediocre, one-dimensional team in a horrid division?8

Houston Texans

6-3

Last week: W, 24-21, at JAXLast rank: 9th

Speaking of a potentially mediocre team in a horrid division, the 2016 Houston Texans! Houston should win the division, but Brock Osweiler will put a stop to any kind of playoff advancement.7

New York Giants

6-3

Last week: W, 21-20, vs. CINLast rank: 8th

The Giants continue to win ugly, but are starting to look really good for a playoff spot. Their next two games are against the Bears and Browns.6

Denver Broncos

7-3

Last week: W, 25-23, at NOLast rank: 7th

Denver might be the best third-place team in the history of the NFL. The Broncos don’t wow you offensively, but the defense and special teams are excellent.5

Oakland Raiders

7-2

Last week: BYELast rank: 4th

The Raiders are the story of the AFC this year, and have a chance to win the West. Still, tough games remain with trips to Denver and Kansas City waiting in the wings.4

Seattle Seahawks

6-2-1

Last week: W, 31-24, at NELast rank: 6th

Seattle had the single-most impressive win of the season on Sunday night, beating the Patriots in Foxborough. The Seahawks are starting to look like the Super Bowl contender so many believe they are.3

Kansas City Chiefs

7-2

Last week: W, 20-17, at CARLast rank: 3rd

The Chiefs now have two 17-point comebacks this season. Kansas City must improve offensively, but the defense is tremendous and with Justin Houston returning this week, could be even better somehow.2

New England Patriots

7-2

Last week: L, 31-24, vs. SEALast rank: 1st

The Patriots remain the team to beat in the AFC, but the loss of Jamie Collins was pronounced against the Seahawks. New England is a truly great team, but there are warts on the defense.1

Dallas Cowboys

8-1

Last week: W, 35-30, at PITLast rank: 2nd

The Cowboys are for real. Dallas has the best offensive line, running back and arguably defensive coordinator in the league. Could this be the year in Big D?