The Seattle Seahawks are a clear choice at the top of the AP Pro32 power rankings.
The pecking order behind them is much more jumbled.
The Seahawks backed up last week’s unanimous No. 1 vote by blowing out New Orleans and knocking the Saints from second to fifth in balloting from the 12-member panel that regularly covers the league.
“Pencil in the Seahawks as favorites for their first-ever Lombardi Trophy,” Rick Gosselin of The Dallas Morning News said.
Denver, New England, Carolina and the Saints got second-place votes, with the Broncos finishing 10 points ahead of a third-place tie between the Panthers and Patriots, who have won eight consecutive games.
New Orleans is another 11 points back in fifth after a 34-7 loss to Seattle.
No. 6 San Francisco switched places with Kansas City after the Chiefs lost to the Broncos for the second time in three weeks. Throw in a loss to San Diego, and Kansas City has lost three in a row after a 9-0 start.
Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Philadelphia rounded out the top 10 after all three won close games Sunday.
The Packers had the biggest drop at six spots to No. 21 after their fifth consecutive winless week. They have a tie with Minnesota mixed in there.
Cleveland remained at No. 26 and shared that spot with Tampa Bay, followed by Oakland, Jacksonville and Atlanta.
Washington dropped three spots to No. 31 after its fourth consecutive loss, and Houston remained in last place.
