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Are we on the brink of witnessing a third Super Bowl clash between the Rams and the Patriots this NFL season?
Only the Steelers and Cowboys have met in the Super Bowl more than twice, having faced off three times.
The Rams and Patriots first squared off in 2002, marking the beginning of Tom Brady’s legendary career, and again in 2019, as his era with the Patriots was drawing to a close.
With preseason frontrunners like the Chiefs, Lions, and Bills faltering, the Rams and Patriots have risen to the top as the likely No. 1 seeds in their conferences. They are among just three teams with less than three losses this season.
Thus, it seems fitting to kick off The Post’s Week 13 NFL power rankings with these two formidable contenders:
1. Rams 9-2 (3)
Matthew Stafford threw three touchdown passes during the building of a 21-point halftime lead in a 34-7 blowout of the Buccaneers, who played without Baker Mayfield during the second half. Davante Adams caught a pair of scores to continue a growing rapport between two old NFC North rivals. Cobie Durant returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown.
2. Patriots 10-2 (4)
Drake Maye passed for 294 yards and a touchdown to Hunter Henry, who had a career-high 115 receiving yards in a 26-20 win against the Joe Burrow-less Bengals. The Patriots overcame a 10-point first-half deficit. The defense forced a fourth-down incompletion with 18 seconds remaining after also contributing a go-ahead pick-six by Marcus Jones.
3. Colts 8-3 (1)
An 11-point fourth-quarter lead disappeared as play-calling steered away from Jonathan Taylor to Daniel Jones, and the offense didn’t pick up a first down on any of its final four possessions. The Chiefs staged a comeback to sink the Colts, 23-20, in overtime. Jones was 8-of-18 for 83 yards in the second half after throwing two first-half touchdowns.Â
4. Broncos 9-2 (5)
For the first time in nine weeks, the Broncos didn’t win. They didn’t lose, either. It was a bye week that included taking care of business: Wil Lutz, who has three walk-off field goals this season, inked a three-year extension. Losing leading rusher J.K. Dobbins to a season-ending injury was a big hit.
5. Eagles 8-3 (2)
After scoring the first 21 points, the Eagles totally collapsed and lost, 24-21, to the Cowboys on Brandon Aubrey’s walk-off 42-yard field goal. Saquon Barkley and Xavier Gipson fumbled in the fourth quarter, but neither turned into points. Jalen Hurts rushed for two touchdowns, and the disgruntled A.J. Brown broke out with 110 yards and a touchdown.
6. Seahawks 8-3 (6)
The Seahawks jumped out to a 20-point lead before allowing two touchdowns and hanging on to beat the Titans, 30-24, in the final minute. Sam Darnold bounced back from a four-interception game to throw for 244 yards and two touchdowns — both to NFL receiving yards leader Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Jason Myers kicked three first-half field goals, and the defense added four sacks.
7. Lions 7-4 (8)
Jahmyr Gibbs totaled a career-high 264 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns to lead a come-from-behind 34-27 victory against the Giants. Gibbs’ 69-yard touchdown on the first play of overtime gave the Lions their first lead of the game. Aidan Hutchinson closed the game with a fourth-down sack. Jake Bates kicked a game-tying 59-yard field goal with 29 seconds left in regulation.
8. Packers 7-3-1 (10)
Filling in for Josh Jacobs, Emanuel Wilson rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns on a workhorse 28 carries in a comfortable 23-6 win against the Vikings. It was Wilson’s first career multi-touchdown game. Micah Parsons and Deonte Wyatt each had two sacks. The Packers hadn’t beaten the Vikings at home since 2022. A special teams takeaway broke the game open.
9. Bears 8-3 (11)
The Bears didn’t have to deal with longtime nemesis Aaron Rodgers, who was sidelined by an injury for the Steelers. Caleb Williams overcame a strip-sack that gifted a touchdown and showed Rodgers and everyone else that the new-look Bears are no pushovers with three touchdowns in a 31-28 victory. The Bears are 8-1 in their last nine games.
10. Bills 7-4 (7)
Josh Allen was sacked eight times, and the Bills committed at least three giveaways in a third straight game for the first time in a single season since 2006. It all added up to a 23-19 loss to the Texans that even a hook-and-ladder fourth-and-27 conversion couldn’t overcome. James Cook rushed for 116 yards and a score.
11. 49ers 8-4 (12)
12. Jaguars 7-4 (13)
13. Chargers 7-4 (14)
14. Buccaneers 6-5 (9)
15. Chiefs 6-5 (15)
16. Ravens 6-5 (16)
17. Texans 6-5 (18)
18. Cowboys 5-5-1 (20)
19. Panthers 6-6 (19)
20. Steelers 6-5 (17)
21. Dolphins 4-7 (21)
22. Falcons 4-7 (23)
23. Vikings 4-7 (22)
24. Cardinals 3-8 (24)
25. Bengals 3-8 (25)
26. Commanders 3-8 (26)
27. Browns 3-8 (31)
28. Giants 2-10 (28)
Another week, another fourth-quarter collapse. This time, the Giants let 517 yards of offense go to waste against the Lions. Jameis Winston threw for 336 yards and scored a touchdown on his first career catch. Wan’Dale Robinson scored a touchdown off another trick play. The Giants are an unfathomable 2-5 in games that they hold a lead of at least 10 points.
29. Jets 2-9 (27)
The Jets’ 23-10 loss to the Ravens marked their 10th straight defeat when scoring the game’s first points, which is tied for the second-longest such streak in NFL history. Tyrod Taylor threw a touchdown in his return to starting over the benched Justin Fields. Breece Hall’s fumble at the goal line with a chance to cut into a 20-10 deficit was a killer.
