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Week 13 NFL Power Rankings: Packers tread water after Vikings win
Alright, let's break down where the Green Bay Packers stand after their Week 13 scrap with the Minnesota Vikings, because the national power rankings are telling a story that feels a bit like getting a participation trophy after you just won the big game. The Packers secured the W, but across the board, analysts seem to be giving them about as much credit as you'd give someone who beat a team led by a rookie quarterback making his first start—which, let's be real, is totally fair when you're talking about J.J. McCarthy.It’s the NFL equivalent of your friend saying 'good game' after you beat them in Madden when they were using the worst team on the roster. So, where does that leave the Pack? Stuck treading water in the rankings, floating around that magical number seven like it's some kind of destiny.I mean, look at this: NFL. com, ESPN, CBS Sports, The Athletic, FOX Sports, Bleacher Report, and Yahoo Sports all slapped a '7' next to Green Bay's name.It’s almost comical, like the entire sports media world had a group chat and decided that was the vibe. The only real believers are over at USA Today, who have them sitting pretty at fifth overall and third in the NFC, behind the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks, which is a serious show of faith.Their take highlighted a brutal seven-week stretch where the Packers face five NFC North foes, including three on the road, starting with a Thursday night showdown in Motown. And speaking of Detroit, the debate over who's the top dog in the North is heating up—it's a back-and-forth battle between Green Bay and the Lions, with everyone still side-eyeing the Chicago Bears, who are sitting at 8-3 but have a negative point differential that makes you wonder if they're for real or just getting lucky bounces.Then you've got The Ringer at eight and Pro Football Talk at nine, with PFT pointing out that Green Bay has a chance to sweep the Lions for the first time since 2020. Wait, 2020? That feels like forever ago, especially when you remember the Packers' legendary 24-game winning streak against Detroit at Lambeau Field—that kind of dominance is the stuff of legends, and sweeping them now would be a huge statement.On the lower end, Sports Illustrated dropped them to tenth, but they gave a shout-out to Yahoo's Nate Tice for spotting a key detail: Jordan Love was handing off with his off-hand all game to protect his separated shoulder against Brian Flores' aggressive defense. That’s next-level grit, and it shows how this roster can weather storms, especially with Emanuel Wilson stepping up in the run game.Love’s injury is a big deal—he couldn’t execute some of the usual run alerts because he’s limited to his right hand for handoffs, which messes with his positioning and cuts off pass options. Getting him healthy is crucial, because this team has the pieces to make noise, but they need their QB at full strength to climb out of that seventh-place purgatory and prove they're more than just a middle-of-the-pack contender.
#featured
#Green Bay Packers
#NFL Power Rankings
#Minnesota Vikings
#Jordan Love
#NFC North
#Detroit Lions
#Josh Jacobs
