NFL Power Rankings, Week 13: Saints Are Now The Best Non-Green Bay Team

The North divisions in both the AFC and NFC continue to dominate SB Nation's 2011 NFL power rankings. Entering Week 13, we have six teams from the AFC and NFC North making up our top 12 teams including the Green Bay Packers, who are once again sitting at No. 1 in our power rankings.

The Saints surge up to No. 2 overtaking the 49ers who held that spot last week. New Orleans on Monday night hosted the Giants, a legitimate playoff contenders, and won by 25 points.

Here's how things shake out as we enter Week 13:

1. Green Bay Packers (11-0, LW: 1): Ho-hum. The only question remaining is whether they run the table on the regular season. Right now, it looks like they will.

2. New Orleans Saints (8-3, LW: 4): A 25-point win and nearly dropping 50 on an NFC playoff contender? Yeah, they deserve the No. 2 spot this week.

3. Baltimore Ravens (8-3, LW: 3): The Ravens have won four of their last five games, including one over the nine-win 49ers, and stand 3-0 in arguably the toughest division in football. Are they the best team in the AFC? I'd say they're the most tested.

4. San Francisco 49ers (9-2, LW: 2): No worries for San Francisco despite last week's loss. They played the Ravens tough in Baltimore and they're still on track to wrap up the NFC West.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3, LW: 6): The Sunday night game against KC was probably too close for comfort but they've won six of their last seven, including a big win over the team ranked right below them here.

6. New England Patriots (8-3, LW: 7): They're making a case for the best team in the AFC if it weren't for those pesky AFC North teams. The Pats are en route to another division title either way.

7. Houston Texans (8-3, LW: 5): Houston won last week but this is a preemptive drop from last week's No. 5 ranking as they now enter the T.J. Yates era, the team's third string quarterback.

8. Dallas Cowboys (7-4, LW: 10): Is this the same team that lost three of four games earlier in the year? They've won four in a row and have secured sole possession of first place in the NFC East. They control their own destiny with five games remaining.

9. Chicago Bears (7-4, LW: 8): Like the Texans (and Chiefs), the Bears are playing without their starting quarterback. They might need 10 wins to snag the wildcard. Can Caleb Hanie do it?

10. Detroit Lions (7-4, LW: 9): The game of the year on Thanksgiving didn't live up to the hype. Ndamukong Suh is stealing headlines after that game thanks to the Suh Stomp. Losing him for a game (or more) will hurt.

11. New York Jets (6-5, LW: 13): New York is one game behind Cincy in the wildcard battle. They've been in this position before -- 2009 -- before winning seven of their last eight games. Are they on that path again this year?

12. Cincinnati Bengals (7-4, LW: 11): After starting 6-2, the Bengals are now 7-4, but they control their own destiny as they lead the race for the final wildcard spot by one game.

13. Oakland Raiders (7-4, LW: 14): The first place Raiders won again on Sunday and maintain a one-game lead over the Broncos in the AFC West. As long as Carson Palmer continues playing well, the Raiders are going to be a tough out if they can clinch the division title.

14. Atlanta Falcons (7-4, LW: 15): The Falcons have won five of their last six with the one loss coming in overtime to the Saints. They're hot right now and they'll need to be with two more first place teams on their schedule.

15. Denver Broncos (6-5, LW: 16): The Broncos are now 5-1 under Tim Tebow. Every week, we ask how long they can keep this up but that question doesn't really matter as long as the defense keeps playing as well as they are.

16. New York Giants (6-5, LW: 12): The Giants' firm grip on the NFC East has lead has come apart with their third straight loss. Another late season collapse?

17. Tennessee Titans (6-5, LW: 20): The Titans are two games back in the AFC South with five to play but the first place team is down to their third string quarterback. Chris Johnson needs to keep playing like the old Chris Johnson for them to close the gap.

18. Buffalo Bills (5-6, LW: 17): Pulling at the hearts of Bills fans, Buffalo has now lost four in a row after starting the season 5-2.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7, LW: 18): You can't lose five in a row and expect to compete in a season.

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20. Philadelphia Eagles (4-7, LW: 19): And the playoff dreams are....dead. The Eagles would need help even if they ran the table from here on out.

21. Seattle Seahawks (4-7, LW: 23): They've lost some tough games this year but they need to beat teams like the Browns and Redskins if they're serious about making a run.

22. Cleveland Browns (4-7, LW: 24): Why your team loses: Sunday was just the second time this year the Browns have scored 20 or more points in a game. (And they still lost.)

23. San Diego Chargers (4-7, LW: 21): Sign of a frustrating team: Losing six straight games but only by more than seven points.

24. Miami Dolphins (3-8, LW: 25): The Dolphins had won three in a row before dropping their Thanksgiving game against the Cowboys but they played Dallas tough. Progress?

25. Kansas City Chiefs (4-7, LW: 22): And now the Kyle Orton era might be upon us. Tyler Palko's first two starts came against the Patriots and Steelers but he may not get another shot.

26. Carolina Panthers (3-8, LW: 29): The Panthers have proven they're not the worst team in the league by beating the Colts.

27. Washington Redskins (4-7, LW: 27): Kudos to the 'Skins for ending their six-game skid. Unfortunately, they're just affecting their draft position now.

28. Arizona Cardinals (4-7, LW: 28): A waste of a season for the Cardinals but Patrick Peterson is absolutely electric.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-8, LW: 26): Bad enough to get the head coach fired.

30. Minnesota Vikings (2-9, LW: 31): With games coming up against the Broncos, Lions and Saints, it's only going to get worse.

31. St. Louis Rams (2-9, LW: 30): Letting Patrick Peterson beat you on punt returns twice...ugh. What's up with St. Louis?

32. Indianapolis Colts (0-11, LW: 32): The Colts quest for 0-16 continues. Sunday might've been their best shot at a win this year.