Bengals climb power rankings during bye week

Coming off their bye week, the Cincinnati Bengals saw a positive jump in Nate Davis’ latest power rankings for USA Today.

The Bengals moved up one spot to No. 15, thanks in part to the Saints dropping from 14 to 18 after their loss to the Tennessee Titans in Week 11:

Coming out of their bye, which followed brutal losses to the Jets and Cleveland, they draw a crucial contest at Las Vegas with potentially huge tiebreaker ramifications.

Interestingly enough, three AFC North teams all sit right next to each other in these rankings, with the Pittsburgh Steelers at 13 (down one after the Detroit tie), the Cleveland Browns at 14 (also down from last week after getting the doors blown off by New England) and then Cincinnati at 15.

The AFC North leaders, the Baltimore Ravens, check in at No. 9, dropping two spots from No. 7 after being upset by the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night.

Cincinnati’s Week 11 opponent, the Las Vegas Raiders, went from No. 15 to No. 20 after their embarrassing showing Sunday night against the Kansas City Chiefs.