NFL Week 12 Power Rankings: Still doubting the Broncos? Sunday's win over the Chiefs should have changed that
Pete Prisco shares his Power Rankings heading into Week 12, including Kansas City falling out of the top 10
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Pete Prisco
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1 min read
The Denver Broncos sent a loud message to their doubters Sunday.
The dreaded Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes came to town, and the Broncos pushed aside any notion they weren't for real by beating the Chiefs 22-19 on a last-second field goal.
That win ups Denver's record to a division-leading 9-2, gives it the top seed right now, and almost certainly ends the Chiefs' chances of winning the AFC West. Denver has ripped off eight straight victories, seven of those being one-score games.
Thanks to a nasty defense, one that leads the league in sacks with 49, and timely fourth-quarter play by Bo Nix and the offense, the Broncos have staked a claim as one of the league's best teams.
In his third season with the Broncos, coach Sean Payton has Denver as a real Super Bowl threat. The offense may be inconsistent at times, but that defense is special.
And we know the old adage: Defense travels in the postseason -- and this one might not need to hit the road until the Super Bowl if it gets the top seed in the AFC.
The Broncos' two losses came on field goals in the final seconds early in the season. Turning that around and winning close games is a great way to prepare for the postseason. They are battle-tested.
The Broncos are now up to fifth in my Power Rankings this week as they head into the bye. After the bye, their schedule has road games against the Washington Commanders and Las Vegas Raiders, then home games against Green Bay and Jacksonville before finishing up at Kansas City and home against the Chargers. The last four will decide if they are the top seed in the AFC.
We know Nix has been inconsistent at times and the running game needs to be better, but Payton has this team believing in the fourth quarter that they can win games, even when behind. That, coupled with the dominant defense, will make them a threat come playoff time to win it all.
They've played the last three games without reigning Defensive Player of the Year cornerback Patrick Surtain II. He is expected back after the bye, which will make them even better.
If you didn't believe in this team before Sunday, you should now. Slowing Patrick Mahomes and beating the Chiefs on Sunday is proof of that.
Biggest Movers
6
Jaguars
6
Seahawks
Rk | Teams | Chg | Rcrd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | The defense came up big in the victory over the Seahawks. The secondary was outstanding. For now, they are the best in the NFC. | 1 | 8-2-0 |
| 2 |  | They just keep on winning. Soft schedule or not, they have the look of a team headed for the top seed in the conference. | 1 | 9-2-0 |
| 3 |  | The offense still isn't great, but they are winning games. The defense has really stepped up the past two weeks. | 1 | 8-2-0 |
| 4 |  | They come off their bye with a huge game at Kansas City against a desperate Chiefs team. That will be a big challenge for this group. | 1 | 8-2-0 |
| 5 | | The fourth-quarter magic is real. They have a true shot to be the top seed in the AFC. | 4 | 9-2-0 |
| 6 |  | They set Josh Allen free against the Bucs. That's the right way to play considering the defense is so bad against the run. | 2 | 7-3-0 |
| 7 |  | Was that a one-game aberration for this version of Sam Darnold against the Rams? Or is it something to worry about? | 6 | 7-3-0 |
| 8 |  | Winning ugly on the road against bad teams is OK when you've lost to the Browns and the Panthers earlier this year. But at some point this team has to play better. | 3 | 6-3-1 |
| 9 |  | Two straight losses have this team in a bit of a free fall as they head to Los Angeles to play the Rams on Sunday night. Baker Mayfield has to get it back going again. | 3 | 6-4-0 |
| 10 |  | The offense didn't do enough in the loss to the Eagles. At 6-4, they have to get it going. One more thing: It's OK to kick field goals once in a while. | 3 | 6-4-0 |
| 11 |  | At 7-3, they lead the division. Ben Johnson has done an impressive job in his first year. But now the schedule toughens up. | 2 | 7-3-0 |
| 12 |  | It wasn't pretty at Cleveland, but they found a way. They have to be better on offense going forward. | 2 | 5-5-0 |
| 13 |  | Coach Liam Coen deserves a lot of credit for leading his team to a blowout of the Chargers after the devastating loss to the Texans. This team would be in the playoffs if they started right now. | 6 | 6-4-0 |
| 14 |  | The division title is probably out of their reach, so it's time to focus on winning games and getting into the playoffs. Right now, they would be out. | 4 | 5-5-0 |
| 15 |  | Getting Brock Purdy back is big for this team. Kyle Shanahan has done an amazing job with this group. | 1 | 7-4-0 |
| 16 |  | What the heck happened in Jacksonville? They head to their bye with a lot of questions. They have to get the offensive line figured out. | 4 | 7-4-0 |
| 17 |  | The Aaron Rodgers broken wrist could wreck their chances of winning the division. Then again, the Ravens are coming. | -- | 6-4-0 |
| 18 |  | They've won two straight without C.J. Stroud, which keeps them alive in the playoff chase. The defense is special. | -- | 5-5-0 |
| 19 |  | Give Bryce Young credit. He came up big in the victory over the Falcons. They are one game behind the Bucs heading into a big road game at San Francisco. | 1 | 6-5-0 |
| 20 |  | Dak Prescott was on fire in the victory over the Raiders to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. The defense also looked much better with Quinnen Williams playing for the first time. Now here come the Eagles this week. | 5 | 4-5-1 |
| 21 |  | J.J. McCarthy isn't good enough right now, and it's why they probably won't make the playoffs. It's hard to believe they won 14 games last year, but that was with Sam Darnold. | 6 | 4-6-0 |
| 22 |  | The preseason optimism has faded as they have lost seven of their last eight. Now they have to start thinking about the future. | -- | 3-7-0 |
| 23 |  | The Dolphins have won two straight, and it might be the start of saving Mike McDaniel's job. The schedule isn't daunting after their bye either. | 5 | 4-7-0 |
| 24 |  | They are going in the wrong direction, and now it looks like Michael Penix Jr. is gone for the season. This has been an epic failure for a team with big expectations going into the year. | 3 | 3-7-0 |
| 25 |  | There is some talk that coach Pete Carroll could be in trouble. I don't buy it, even if they are struggling in a big way. | 1 | 2-8-0 |
| 26 |  | Their season is done. The defense isn't good, and without Jayden Daniels they can't overcome it. It's hard to believe this group was in the NFC Championship Game last year. | 3 | 3-8-0 |
| 27 |  | So firing the coach really didn't matter. They still aren't winning games. On to 2026. | 1 | 2-9-0 |
| 28 |  | Why bother bringing Joe Burrow back? They are done. Just play out the season and reboot next year. | 1 | 3-7-0 |
| 29 |  | The rest of this season has to be about Tyler Shough's growth. They have to find out if he's their guy. | -- | 2-8-0 |
| 30 |  | They were back to being the Jets in the loss to the Patriots. Hope they are spending a lot of time scouting quarterbacks. | -- | 2-8-0 |
| 31 |  | It's a shame this team isn't good because Myles Garrett puts on a show every week. The quarterback situation is bad. | -- | 2-8-0 |
| 32 |  | The offense just doesn't do enough. And now receiver Calvin Ridley is lost for the season. Ouch. | -- | 1-9-0 |
