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2012 NFL Power Rankings: SB Nation drops Patriots to No. 5

Sunday's disappointing 41-34 loss to the 49ers dropped the Patriots out of the SB Nation NFL Power Rankings' top spot.

By Jared Smith
Jim Rogash

The New England Patriots lost their top spot in the SB Nation NFL Power Rankings on Tuesday. The Patriots (10-4) lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 41-34, on Sunday and the result forced NFL Editor Joel Thorman to drop New England from No. 1 to No. 5.

The Patriots were outranked by the new top-ranked team the Denver Broncos, while the Atlanta Falcons (No. 2), 49ers (No. 3) and Houston Texans (No. 4) were slotted behind them.

Here's what Thorman had to say about the Patriots.

5. New England Patriots (LW: 1, 10-4): Don't feel bad for the Patriots. They're still one of the five best teams in the NFL and have as good of a shot as anyone to win the Super Bowl. Don't over think the occasional loss.

[Click here for the complete power rankings]

New England remains the highest-ranked team in the AFC East, as the Miami Dolphins (No. 19), Buffalo Bills (23) and the New York Jets (No. 24) are all slotted below them.

Next week's opponent, the Jacksonville Jaguars, are ranked the second-worst team in the NFL. That game is schedule to start at 1 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on CBS.