NFL power rankings Week 12: The Cowboys are back, but can anybody stop the Packers?

Mark Maske assesses the league’s top teams after Week 11.

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1. Packers (10-0)

Can they go unbeaten? Will they even try to go unbeaten if they face some meaningless games late in the regular season? That remains to be seen but the next two games are telling, Thursday at Detroit and then on the road Dec. 4 against the Giants.

Cory Dellenbach / AP

2. 49ers (9-1)

All the talk Thursday night will be about the Harbaugh brothers but the game itself should be intriguing, too.

Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP

3. Steelers (7-3)

hey’re chasing the Ravens again in the AFC North, at least for now, because of their two losses to Baltimore.

Don Wright / AP

4. Saints (7-3)

Their bye lasts even longer than most because they don’t play until Monday night, hosting the Giants.

Rich Addicks / AP

5. Patriots (7-3)

They pulled away in the second half Monday night against the Chiefs and now there might not even be a formidable challenger in the AFC East, with the Jets and Bills headed in the wrong direction at the moment.

Stephan Savoia / AP

6. Ravens (7-3)

The defense struggled against the Bengals with Ray Lewis sidelined by a toe injury. It will be interesting to see if he plays Thanksgiving night and, if he doesn’t, how the Ravens perform on defense against the 49ers.

Gail Burton / AP

7. Lions (7-3)

They don’t seem to be playing at the same level as they were playing early in the season. But they might have a chance to beat the Packers if it’s the sort of high-scoring, defenses-are-absent game to which Green Bay perhaps is vulnerable.

Rick Osentoski / AP

8. Bears (7-3)

They’re playing extremely well but now they must try to withstand the loss of Jay Cutler. Caleb Hanie, who nearly pulled out last season’s NFC title game, takes over at QB.

Nam Y. Huh / AP

9. Texans (7-3)

They had a bye week to ready Matt Leinart to take over for Matt Schaub at QB.

David J. Phillip / AP

Cowboys (6-4)

It appears, at least at this point, that the NFC East will be decided by their two games against the Giants in the season’s final four weeks

Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

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