NFL Power Week 12: Did the Rams win first place?

The 11th week of the NFL, rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson made his first start in the NFL, while quarterback veterans such as Drew Brees and Andrew Luck continue to play at a ridiculous level and Monday night football Thu between the chiefs and the rams who lived up to the hype, and then some.

Here is a glimpse of the impact of these and other issues on the NFL standings in Week 12.

The impact of the leaders against the rams on the ranking of power

We expected the leaders and rams to stage a show, and they did so while offering a glimpse of what might be coming (dare we say) in February. Monday night football included three ground defensive touchdowns, 10 ground touchdowns, one ground touchdown and 1,001 total offensive yards.

Can there be a tie to three in power rankings? Because after the Saints defeated the Rams and they only managed a three-point win over the Los Angeles Chiefs, it's clear that all three teams are excellent. Better than brilliant. But as incredible as the leaders and rams on Monday – and this all season – the Saints deserve to be ranked first after winning nine consecutive games, including a 10-point win over the Rams.

It is clear that these three teams committed significant mistakes (Monday was the first time a team scored more than 50 points in a defeat) and in the 12th week, the three teams saw their defense system progress also. Maybe the defense does not die in the NFL after all!

The biggest changes

The defeat of the Chargers against the Broncos propels them from four to eight in the ranking of power. They have a great opportunity to get back on track against Arizona next week. The Cardinals lost to the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, dropping them to the bottom of this week's standings.

The Bears have moved up one place this week – like the Steelers, Patriots and Texans – but they deserve to be hailed for having significantly changed their situation. Chicago has not won more than six games in a season since 2013 and already has seven wins in Week 11.

The Colts are on the rise thanks to Andrew Luck playing some of his best footballs to date. Luck has thrown at least three touchdowns in seven straight games, the third longest streak in a season in the history of the NFL. As long as luck continues to play at this level, the Colts will likely continue to win and increase their chances of participating in the playoffs. In Week 12, FiveThirtyEight gives the Colts a chance to win 23 percent of the playoffs.

The Ravens are also on the rise thanks to a victory over the Bengals. The victory allowed the Ravens to regain their place in the playoffs, at least for the moment. The Ravens then have games against the Raiders and Falcons, both of whom have a history of loss.

The Seahawks' victory over the Packers allowed them to climb the rankings and bring down the Packers. The Seahawks' defense in 2018 is not a legion of the boom, but it is once again becoming one of the best units in the league. They limited the Packers to just 48 yards on the ground while the Seattle attack race exploded with 173 yards rushing.

In his debut in the Bengals defense, Marvin Lewis seemed to be better than Teryl Austin, but Lewis' unit still allowed Lamar Jackson to beat the Ravens quarterback record for a quarter at his first match. Beginning of the NFL. The Bengals let Jackson face them in the Ravens victory. Cincinnati's chances in the playoffs are in free fall and even if they succeed there, you have to expect them to lose in the first round … again.

Alex Smith impact of the injury

Washington is leading the NFC East but after Alex Smith's injury, it's hard to imagine that the division will not change. Because of his injury, Washington has taken a slight dip in this week's power rankings. After recording two consecutive wins for the first time this season, the Cowboys are on the rise and seem to be in the best position to take the lead over Washington. Dallas and Washington play Thanksgiving afternoons and, due to a division record, the Cowboys can take advantage in the NFC East with a win. A victory in Washington would further complicate the strange NFC East in which the 3-7 Giants try to return to the division after a series of two consecutive victories.

What happens to the reigning Super Bowl champions? The Saints crushed the Eagles who continue to dominate week after week. Carson Wentz played one of the worst games of his career, finishing 57.5% of his passes with no points and three interceptions. He finished the game with a score of 31.9 against an average defender of the Saints. Although Smith's injury offers the Eagles an opportunity to get rich, Philly has given no reason to believe they will benefit.