NFL Power Rankings: Panthers rise, Patriots fall in Week 13

Nov 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter of a NFL game on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

1. CAROLINA PANTHERS (11-0)

Last week: 2
Change: +1

And then there was one. The Carolina Panthers are the only remaining undefeated team in the NFL, and they take over first place in these power rankings. The New England Patriots held this spot all year long, and it would require perfection to take them down. Well, the Panthers are still perfect.

And just think about this: Carolina hasn’t lost a regular season game in a year. They entered December 2014 at 3-8-1 with any hopes of playoffs laughable. Nobody told them that. The Panthers won all four December games and rolled into the playoffs at 7-8-1. In the postseason, they beat Arizona before falling on the road to Seattle.

Maybe this will be the anti-2014 and the Panthers will lose every game for the rest of the year. For some reason I doubt that, though. Can they run the table? You would think not. But you would have also thought this time last year the Panthers were a million miles away from being an 11-0 team.