Look for the giants

A hectic Week 12 on and off the pitch featured a continued carry over of COVID-19 – and three new first-place teams – to cause some notable changes to the Post’s weekly NFL Power rankings.

The Giants placed just outside the Top 20 with three straight wins, their highest position of the season, while Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell from the coveted top 10 spots.

1. Kansas City Chiefs, 10-1 (last week: 1)

Sunday’s explosive exposure for Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill might not be the Chiefs’ only appearance in Tampa this season if they keep rolling and return to Super Bowl LV. Next: Sunday Night vs. Denver

2. Pittsburgh Steelers, 10-0 (2)

The Steelers are hoping to finally put their perfect record on the line in a rare Wednesday game after their AFC North showdown with Baltimore was postponed for a third time since Thanksgiving due to the Ravens’ COVID-19 outbreak. Next: Wednesday vs. Baltimore

3. New Orleans Saints, 9-2 (3)

Taysom Hill threw for just 78 yards on Sunday, but he ran for two runs for a second straight start in place of Drew Brees. The Saints’ underrated defense kept Denver ravaged by COVID and fifth string quarterback (high practice team wide receiver) Kendall Hinton to 112 yards overall. Next: Sunday in Atlanta

4. Buffalo Bills, 8-3 (4)

AFC East executives turned over three straight possessions in the fourth quarter on Sunday, but still sidelined Justin Herbert and the Chargers to maintain their one-game lead over the Dolphins in their quest of their first division title since 1995. Next: Monday in San Francisco

5. Green Bay Packers, 8-3 (6)

Aaron Rodgers turns 37 on Wednesday, but the 16-year-old veteran threw scoring passes to four receivers on Sunday, giving him 33 touchdowns for the season against four interceptions. He’s now 20-5 in 25 career starts against NFC North rival Chicago. Next: Sunday vs. Philadelphia

6. Seattle Seahawks, 8-3 (7)

Russell Wilson and the Seahawks took care of Philadelphia for the first-place Giants and the rest of the NFC East on Monday night. They also returned to exclusive possession of first place in the West with their second consecutive impressive victory after losing three of their previous four. Next: Sunday Against the Giants

7. Tennessee Titans, 8-3 (8)

NFL leader Derrick Henry and the Titans shredded the Colts’ previously-ranked second-ranked defense for 45 points and 449 total yards in winning that first-place showdown on Sunday in the AFC South. Next: Sunday vs. Cleveland

8. Cleveland Browns, 8-3 (12)

The Browns have already won their first unbeaten season since going 10-6 in 2007, even though all of their eight wins but one have come against teams that currently have losing records. Next: Sunday in Tennessee

9. Indianapolis Colts, 7-4 (5)

The Colts were missing three defensive starters to get run over by the Titans, including Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (COVID-19). But the 35 points they spat out in the first half was more than they’d allowed in any full game during their 7-3 start. Next: Sunday in Houston

10. Los Angeles Rams, 7-4 (9)

The Rams’ defense brought them back from a 17-3 third-quarter deficit to the Niners with a key pick from Nick Mullens and a fumble for a touchdown, only to lose on a last-second Robbie Gould goal to fall out of a tie for first place in the NFC West. Next: Sunday in Arizona

11. Miami Dolphins, 7-4 (13)

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7-5 (10)

13. Baltimore Ravens, 6-4 (14)

14. Arizona Cardinals, 6-5 (11)

15. Las Vegas Raiders, 6-5 (15)

16. Minnesota Vikings, 5-6 (17)

17. New England Patriots, 5-6 (18)

18. San Francisco 49ers, 5-6 (19)

19. Chicago Bear, 5-6 (16)

20. Atlanta Falcons, 4-7 (24)

21. Giants, 4-7 (25)

The first-place Giants relied more on their running game and improved defense to win three straight games after a 1-7 start, and they’ll need both to be even better with Colt McCoy likely to replace Daniel Jones at the minus a part. Next: Sunday in Seattle

22. Houston Texans, 4-7 (26)

23. Denver Broncos, 4-7 (20)

24. Detroit Lions, 4-7 (21)

25. Washington Football Team, 4-7 (29)

26. Carolina Panthers, 4-8 (22)

27. Philadelphia Eagles, 3-7-1 (23)

28. Dallas Cowboys, 3 to 8 years old (27 years old)

29. Los Angeles Chargers, 3-8 (28)

30. Cincinnati Bengals, 2-8-1 (30)

31. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1-10 (31)

32. Jets, 0-11 (32)

Sam Darnold has done nothing to quell calls for the dismissal of Adam Gase or the arrival of Trevor Lawrence in his first start since Nov. 1 for the winless Jets, with almost as many interceptions (two) as he did. points (three) against the Dolphins. Next: Sunday vs. Las Vegas