NFL.com ranks them 1st

Don Banks ranks them 1st:  Given the way New England sliced up Gang Green at the Big Razor Blade on Monday night, I'm feeling pretty good about my decision to move the Patriots atop these here power rankings three weeks ago, when there were other more trendy choices out there, like the Falcons, Jets or even Packers. The stat for me that absolutely defines New England's dominance in the Belichick era is this: The Patriots still haven't lost twice to a division opponent in the same season since 2001, the year before realignment. This makes it nine consecutive years that New England will not be swept by anyone in division play. Remarkable.

SB Nation ranks them 1st:  Wow. You wanted this team to prove they're the best in the NFL? They did that with ease against the Jets on Monday night. Who can stop the Patriots?

NFL FanHouse ranks them 1st:  Any questions left? New England's now beaten Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and the Jets in a four-week span, with a Thanksgiving rout of Detroit sprinkled in. If the defense plays like it did Monday, considering how balanced and potent the offense is, the Patriots may be unstoppable.

WEEI ranks them 1st:  The Patriots are in first place because they continue to win the turnover battle. Tom Brady hasn’t thrown an interception in his last seven games. The Pats are also atop their conference with a plus-14 in the giveaway/takeaway differential category. If the Pats can lock up home-field advantage and a first-round bye, it’s tough not to like their chances of reaching yet another Super Bowl. The Brady-Belichick combination is just too difficult to beat when playing in Foxboro during the playoffs.

Pro Football Weekly ranks them 1st:  Beat their two previous NFC North competitors handily.

National Football Post ranks them 1st:  Tom Brady put on a clinic against the Jets’ defense in the 45-3 Monday night win.

Cold Hard Football Facts ranks them 1st:  Only three men have won Coach of the Year more than twice, Don Shula (four times), Chuck Knox (three) and Paul Brown (three). Anyone want to bet against two-time winner Bill Belichick joining that list this year?

Yahoo! Sports ranks them 1st:  Will their next loss be next autumn?

The Sporting News ranks them 1st:  They've already beaten the Steelers, Ravens, Jets, Chargers and Colts. Their reward? The Bears and Packers.

Pro Football Talk ranks them 1st:  The best team that everyone talks about could be putting together its fourth NFL title.

Fox Sports ranks them 1st:  That was a pretty convincing win over the visiting Jets. I was so impressed with their performance that I had to watch it again just to see how dominant they really were. New England is starting to play with the kind of dominance reminiscent of the 2007 season. However, they have two really tough games coming up against the NFC North's best in the Bears and Packers.

Peter King ranks them 2nd:  Hate to be so bottom-line here, but what a break the Patriots got when the Jets lost Jim Leonhard to a broken leg in practice Friday for tonight's veritable AFC East title game. Leonhard was the kind of smart safety who wouldn't buy what Tom Brady will be selling with his pre-snap reads, and he was also the kind of safety to be able to knock heads with the three-headed tight-end monster (Hernandez-Gronkowski-Crumpler) the Pats will throw at the Jets all night.

ESPN ranks them 2nd:  The Patriots look unbeatable at home, which bodes well for the playoffs.

USA Today ranks them 2nd:  In AFC driver's seat with Tom Brady playing like an MVP.

CBS Sports ranks them 2nd:  They showed the rest of the AFC Monday night which team is the best right now.

AVERAGE RANK: 1.25