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NFL Playoffs 2012: Patriots No. 3 In SI.Com's Power Rankings

According to SI.com's Don Banks, the New England Patriots are the third-best team in the 2012 NFL Playoffs as he published his Wild-Card round Power Rankings Wednesday. Do you agree?

By Jared Smith
FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 1: Aaron Hernandez #81 of the New England Patriots gaining yards against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on January 1, 2012 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 1: Aaron Hernandez #81 of the New England Patriots gaining yards against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on January 1, 2012 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
Getty Images

The New England Patriots are the third-best team entering the 2012 NFL Playoffs says SI.com's Don Banks, who Wednesday published a Wild-Card round Power Rankings feature. The Patriots (13-3) finished the year with the best record in the AFC and earned the No. 1-overall seed, which comes with a first-round bye, but despite all the accolades Banks believes that the NFC's Green Bay Bay (ranked No. 1) and New Orleans Saints (No. 2) are better than the Pats.

It's almost time to throw out the book when it comes to the Patriots," says Banks, "because logic says we should not be taking a team seriously that gave up the second-most passing yards in NFL history (trailing only this year's Packers). But they're the AFC's top seed, and they can routinely overcome deficits of 17 to 21 points in the time it takes to spell Rob Gronkowski's last name."

Meanwhile, SB Nation's Joel Thorman ranked the Patriots No. 4, behind the Packers, Saints and Ravens, respectively, his Wild-Card round NFL Power Rankings.

To see what else Banks had to say about the Pats and the rest of hist rankings on the 2012 NFL Playoffs, click here.

For more New England Patriots coverage, visit our team page and blog, Pats Pulpit. For all your NFL Playoff material, check out the SB Nation NFL homepage.