NFC power rankings: Cowboys, Seahawks above all

16. San Francisco 49ers

If there is one good thing to come out of this season for the 49ers, it is that a very high draft pick is on the way. This team is brutal.

15. Chicago Bears

After all of the injuries, it would be stunning if they win another game. The Bears are in for a very long winter.

14. Los Angeles Rams

Case Keenum or Jared Goff makes no difference. If Jeff Fisher and Les Snead are running this team, it’s over.

13. New Orleans Saints

The Saints are dangerous every Sunday, but you just never know what you are going to get from the defense. Typically, it is not a good performance.

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers pulled off a shocker in Kansas City. Will that be enough to propel them against Seattle this week? Hard to see that happening.

11. Green Bay Packers

At 4-6, it’s time to start thinking about next season for the green and gold. Aaron Rodgers is still great, but the players and coaching staff around him are not any longer.

10. Arizona Cardinals

What happened to the Cardinals? Everyone thought this was going to be a title contender, and here they sit at 4-5-1. Arizona has to go on a winning streak … now. Right now.

9. Carolina Panthers

Carolina got a season-saving win on Thursday. Now the Panthers have to go into Oakland and beat the 8-2 Raiders in the Black Hole. it’s not impossible, but it will not be easy.

8. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles started the season at 3-0, but Carson Wentz and Co. have crashed back to earth with a 2-5 mark since. Philadelphia has some pieces, but this team isn’t there yet.

7. Minnesota Vikings

Speaking of crashing to earth, the Vikings did just that before winning on Sunday. Can they keep it going on a short week at Detroit? If they can, it saves their shot at the North crown.

6. New York Giants

The Giants are 7-3 and going to play the winless Browns. So why only sixth? They have a negative scoring differential and look to need magic almost every week.

5. Washington Redskins

The Redskins are playing very, very good football. Since starting 0-2, Washington is 6-1-1 and could make a national statement on Thanksgiving at Dallas.

4. Detroit Lions

The Lions are flying well below the radar, but people will start to pay attention. Detroit is going to have its chance against the Vikings on Thanksgiving on Ford Field.

3. Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta is coming off its bye and will have a real test on Sunday against the Cardinals, who desperately need to win at the Georgia Dome.

2. Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys fans will be irate with this, but the Seahawks are more dangerous in the playoffs. Dallas is a great team at 9-1 and deserves a ton of credit, so let’s not lose sight of that.

1. Seattle Seahawks

At 7-2-1, the Seahawks look like the Super Bowl favorite in the NFC. Russell Wilson is playing great, the defense is loaded and the offensive line is improving.