1. Carolina Panthers
Record: 10-0
Week 12 opponent: at Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving
Week 11 MVP: Cam Newton is heating up. He went 21-34 in Week 11 for five touchdowns and no interceptions.
One thing to know: The Panthers are legit. They have a top-10 offense, a top-five defense, and an easy schedule the rest of the way.
2. New England Patriots
Record: 10-0
Week 12 opponent: at Denver Broncos
Week 11 MVP: Danny Amendola had 9 catches — while being guarded by 8 different defenders — and 117 yards receiving. That's amazing considering he injured his knee in the third quarter and only saw limited action in the second half.
One thing to know: The injuries keep on coming for the Patriots. The offensive line is finally getting healthier, but now they may be without Amendola for a while. If so, Tom Brady would be without his top two wide receivers and his starting running back.
3. Arizona Cardinals
Record: 8-2
Week 12 opponent: at San Francisco 49ers
Week 11 MVP: Rookie wide receiver J.J. Nelson shredded the Bengals for 142 yards and a touchdown on four catches.
One thing to know: The Cardinals have a safe lead on their division, but they have a tough schedule after this week: Rams, Vikings, Eagles, Packers, Seahawks to finish the year.
4. Cincinnati Bengals
Record: 8-2
Week 12 opponent: vs. St. Louis Rams
Week 11 MVP: Andy Dalton was solid on the road against a good team in prime time. He threw for 315 yards and 2 touchdowns with no interceptions. It is not his fault the defense gave up 34 points.
One thing to know: The Bengals have now lost two in a row after starting the season 8-0. However, there is no shame in losing on the road to the Cardinals by three points. The loss to the Texans the week before now looks more like the exception than a developing rule.
5. Green Bay Packers
Record: 7-3
Week 12 opponent: vs. Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving
Week 11 MVP: Eddie Lacy finally got on track with a 106-yard outing while playing more snaps than James Starks, who had jumped him on the depth chart.
One thing to know: The Packers offense put up 30 points, but perhaps more impressively, they held Adrian Peterson to just 45 rushing yards.
6. Denver Broncos
Record: 8-2
Week 12 opponent: vs. New England Patriots
Week 11 MVP: Brock Osweiler was not bad, throwing for a conservative 250 yards (on 20 completions) with two touchdowns. More importantly he did not throw an interception and was good enough to let the defense beat the Bears.
One thing to know: Osweiler will start against the Patriots. That is not surprising, but it is also the best thing for everybody involved.
7. Minnesota Vikings
Record: 7-3
Week 12 opponent: at Atlanta Falcons
Week 11 MVP: Tight end Kyle Rudolph had 106 receiving yards and a touchdown for the quiet Vikings.
One thing to know: The Vikings and Falcons are currently the NFC's two wild card teams. A loss by either could have big ramifications in the NFC's playoff standings.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers
Record: 6-4
Week 12 opponent: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 11 MVP: Nobody — they had a bye!
One thing to know: The Steelers may have a caught a break as it looks like Marshawn Lynch will not be ready to play this weekend.
9. Seattle Seahawks
Record: 5-5
Week 12 opponent: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 11 MVP: Running back Thomas Rawls filled in for Marshawn Lynch and ran for 209 yards and a touchdown.
One thing to know: Marshawn Lynch might need surgery, potentially ending his season and his time in Seattle.
10. Kansas City Chiefs
Record: 5-5
Week 12 opponent: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 11 MVP: The Kansas City Chiefs demolished the Chargers 33-3. The defense allowed just 52 rushing yards. Tamba Hali was a big part of that and he also had seven quarterback pressures.
One thing to know: The Chiefs have suddenly won four in a row and they have done it dominating fashion, outscoring their opponents 130-39 in those games.
11. Indianapolis Colts
Record: 5-5
Week 12 opponent: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 11 MVP: The midseason addition of Ahmad Bradshaw paid off as he totaled 54 yards for two touchdowns.
One thing to know: 40-year-old Matt Hasselbeck was far from perfect, throwing two interceptions, but the Colts are 3-0 with Hasselbeck under center. If he can keep them afloat until Luck returns, the Colts' hopes of winning their division are very much alive.
12. Atlanta Falcons
Record: 6-4
Week 12 opponent: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 11 MVP: Matt Ryan should probably give half of his paycheck each month to Julio Jones, who had his fourth straight game with at least nine catches and his third straight game with at least 135 yards receiving.
One thing to know: After starting the season 5-0, the Falcons have lost four of their last five and now sit just one game ahead of the Buccaneers and Seahawks for the final Wild Card spot. And things don't get easier with four of their next five games — including two against the undefeated Carolina Panthers — against teams in the playoff hunt.
13. New York Giants
Record: 5-5
Week 12 opponent: at Washington Redskins
Week 11 MVP: Nobody — they had a bye!
One thing to know: The Giants can strengthen their tenuous grip on the NFC East with a win over Washington.
14. Buffalo Bills
Record: 5-5
Week 12 opponent: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 11 MVP: Sammy Watkins was only targeted twice in the first 53 minutes of the game, but did come through with one of the best catches of the year, and then made another catch that should have given the Bills one last shot if not for a bad call.
One thing to know: Near the end of their Monday night loss to the Patriots, Tyrod Taylor appeared to injure his shoulder. It is unclear how bad the injury is and he did stay in the game.
15. Houston Texans
Record: 5-5
Week 12 opponent: vs. New New Orleans Saints
Week 11 MVP: J.J. Watt was all over the field in Week 11, recording two sacks, five tackles for a loss, and five QB hits.
One thing to know: The Texans have only given up two touchdowns in their last 16 quarters. The playoffs are a real possibility for a team that looked out of it three weeks ago.
16. New York Jets
Record: 5-5
Week 12 opponent: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 11 MVP: Defensive tackle Damon Harrison had 10 stops against the run, the most by a defensive tackle since Pro Football Focus began tracking the stat in 2007. The previous record was seven.
One thing to know: Muhammad Wilkerson said head coach Todd Bowles — who typically has a quiet personality — "went off" on the team following their loss to the Texans.
17. St. Louis Rams
Record: 4-6
Week 12 opponent: at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 11 MVP: DT Aaron Donald dominated again, finishing with a season-high +12.3 grade from ProFootball Focus to go with a sack, two tackles for losses, and five hurries.
One thing to know: The Rams appalling decision to let a concussed Case Keenum stay in the game was the worst of the week in the NFL.
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Record: 5-5
Week 12 opponent: at Indianapolis Colts
Week 11 MVP: Jameis Winston started his rookie season a little slow out of the gate. But on Sunday he tied the rookie record with five touchdown passes in one game. Winston suddenly looks like a legit NFL quarterback.
One thing to know: The Bucs are suddenly a playoff contender with their game in two weeks against the Falcons looming large.
19. Washington Redskins
Record: 4-6
Week 12 opponent: vs. New York Giants
Week 11 MVP: In his third game of the season, DeSean Jackson showed a glimpse of his old self with 87 receiving yards and a touchdown.
One thing to know: Washington's run game is in shambles and they just lost tight end Jordan Reed for the season.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars
Record: 4-6
Week 12 opponent: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week 11 MVP: Wide receiver Allen Robinson has become a dependable target in the continued growth of Blake Bortles. On Thursday the pair hooked up on five catches for 113 yards.
One thing to know: Their Thursday night uniforms were as bad as advertised.
21. Oakland Raiders
Record: 4-6
Week 12 opponent: at Tennessee Titans
Week 11 MVP: Linebacker Kahlil Mack put in a strong performance, earning the best PFF grade on the Raiders while getting two tackles for losses, a QB hit, and six run stops.
One thing to know: Amari Cooper seems to have hit the rookie wall. He hasn't topped 100 receiving yards since Week 6, has only topped 80 yards once in the last four games and has one touchdown in that same span. He had four yards in Week 11.
22. Chicago Bears
Record: 4-6
Week 12 opponent: at Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving
Week 11 MVP: The Bears lost, but it wasn't cornerback Tracy Porter's fault as he did not allow a catch while the receivers he was covering were only targeted three times.
One thing to know: Porter doesn't sound thrilled about playing on Thanksgiving in Green Bay: "It's not good. You're sore from the games before. Your body's used to having more days in between, but it's part of the game and you learn to adjust to it."
23. Dallas Cowboys
Record: 3-7
Week 12 opponent: vs. Carolina Panthers on Thanksgiving
Week 11 MVP: Tony Romo's presence changes the team. Though he went 18-28 for 227 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, the Cowboys looked much better in Week 11 with Romo back.
One thing to know: The Cowboys basically have to win out to make the playoffs, and they get the unbeaten Panthers in Week 12. Side note: it's Greg Hardy's first time playing the Panthers since they let him go in free agency.
24. Philadelphia Eagles
Record: 4-6
Week 12 opponent: at Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving
Week 11 MVP: The Eagles looked terrible against the Bucs, but Brent Celek was the lone bright spot, catching 7 passes for 79 yards.
One thing to know: As the Eagles continue to struggle and with a number of high profile jobs in college football already available or expected to be available, many are predicting that this will be Chip Kelly's final season in the NFL.
25. Miami Dolphins
Record: 4-6
Week 12 opponent: vs. New York Jets
Week 11 MVP: Olivier Vernon has bolstered the Dolphins pass rush, coming up with a sack, two tackles for losses, and four QB hits.
One thing to know: After a brief resurgence, the Dolphins are basically back to where they started before the Dan Campbell takeover.
26. New Orleans Saints
Record: 4-6
Week 12 opponent: at Houston Texans
Week 11 MVP: Nobody — they had a bye!
One thing to know: Drew Brees could be an off-season target by the New York Jets if the Saints make him available. Unless his contract is restructured, Brees will be available.
27. Detroit Lions
Record: 3-7
Week 12 opponent: vs. Philadelphia Eagles on Thanksgiving
Week 11 MVP: Theo Riddick has become a useful running back for the Lions — he had 14 rushing yards with 72 receiving yards in Week 11.
One thing to know: The Martha Ford magic continues — the Lions are on a two-game win streak!
28. Tennessee Titans
Record: 2-8
Week 12 opponent: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week 11 MVP: Marcus Mariota has gone two straight games without throwing a touchdown pass, but did show off his running skills against the Jaguars with a pretty 23-yard touchdown run.
One thing to know: The Titans look like they are going to be in the market for a new head coach this off-season. However, several defensive players are hoping that the new head coach will keep the same defensive coaches.
29. Baltimore Ravens
Record: 3-7
Week 12 opponent: at Cleveland Browns
Week 11 MVP: Running back Javorius Allen stepped up in Justin Forsett's absence with 105 yards.
One thing to know: The Ravens are a disaster. Continuing an onslaught of injuries, Forsett broke his arm and is out for the season and Joe Flacco tore his ACL, ending his season too.
30. San Diego Chargers
Record: 2-8
Week 12 opponent: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 11 MVP: The fans for continuing to support this team when it seems there is no hope for this season or the future.
One thing to know: The Chargers have now lost six in a row and suddenly a 2-14 or 3-13 season looks realistic.
31. Cleveland Browns
Record: 2-8
Week 12 opponent: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week 11 MVP: Nobody — they had a bye!
One thing to know: Johnny Manziel may be demoted again after a video of him partying during the bye week surfaced.
32. San Francisco 49ers
Record: 3-7
Week 12 opponent: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week 11 MVP: In an ugly season, Arik Armstead, the 49ers first-round draft pick, has been solid. On Sunday he had four hurries and six tackles and looks like a legit NFL defensive end.
One thing to know: Colin Kaepernick had season-ending shoulder surgery which could end his tenure with the 49ers. However, Jay Glazer suggested that the 49ers may fire head coach Jim Tomsula and that it would be up to the new coach as to whether or not they want to keep Kaepernick.