2018 NFL Power Rankings: Week 12
Teams Ranked 22nd to 13th
| Rank | Team | nERD | Rec | Playoff Odds | Off. NEP Rank | Def. NEP Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Jacksonville Jaguars | -3.46 | 3-7 | 0.7% | 28 | 9 | +2 |
| 21 | Atlanta Falcons | -2.58 | 4-6 | 7.7% | 6 | 32 | 0 |
| 20 | Philadelphia Eagles | -2.3 | 4-6 | 15.4% | 19 | 18 | -6 |
| 19 | Dallas Cowboys | -1.59 | 5-5 | 31.5% | 23 | 12 | 0 |
| 18 | Cincinnati Bengals | -1.56 | 5-5 | 19.5% | 17 | 20 | +4 |
| 17 | Washington Redskins | -1.24 | 6-4 | 69.4% | 24 | 7 | +3 |
| 16 | Cleveland Browns | -0.38 | 3-6-1 | 1.8% | 29 | 1 | +1 |
| 15 | Carolina Panthers | 0.01 | 6-4 | 48.1% | 11 | 25 | 0 |
| 14 | Houston Texans | 1.49 | 7-3 | 90.1% | 18 | 11 | -1 |
| 13 | Green Bay Packers | 1.67 | 4-5-1 | 26.5% | 10 | 22 | -1 |
Carolina rebounded from Week 10’s debacle by thoroughly outplaying the Lions on both sides of the ball on Sunday -- yet they lost anyway.
The Panthers performed well on offense (0.24 NEP per play; the league average is 0.09) and defense (holding Detroit to 0.04) but were done in by the third phase of the game.
Graham Gano missed a 34-yard field goal and one of his two extra point attempts, while Detroit kicker Matt Prater made all four of his kicks (with a pair of field goals and PATs apiece).
The Panthers also lost a yard on their only punt return of the game, while the Lions got a 10-yard return on theirs. Detroit punter Sam Martin also pinned them inside the 20 three times on six punts, including a beauty that was downed at the two and another that was downed at the six.
Carolina’s starting field position after kickoff returns was their own 19.6, compared to the 26.0 for Detroit (not including Carolina’s failed onside kick in the fourth quarter). These factors all combined to negate the advantage Carolina had built up from scrimmage, dealing the Panthers the loss.
Incidentally, on the year as a whole, special teams have been net positive for the Panthers, who rank 13th in Special Teams NEP. Detroit, though, is second in the league here, and while special teams tend to be inconsistent in small samples, its edge here was evident on Sunday.
