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Patriots-Packers is No. 1 vs. No. 2

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Not that it needed any more juice, but Sunday's Green Bay Packers-New England Patriots game at Lambeau Field -- a game some believe is a Super Bowl preview -- will be a matchup of No. 1 against No. 2 in the ESPN Power Rankings.

That's because the Packers moved up one spot from last week, when they were No. 3 in the rankings. They jumped over the former No. 2, the Arizona Cardinals. The Patriots have been atop the rankings for the past four weeks.

A win on Sunday, when the Packers are three-point favorites according to the online oddsmaker Bovada.LV, would no doubt put Green Bay on top of the Power Rankings for the first time since the 2012 preseason poll.

Although the Packers have just a one-game lead over the Detroit Lions in the NFC North, they are well ahead in these rankings. The Lions slipped six spots to No. 13 after losing to the Patriots on Sunday.

Here's what the top of rankings look like:

  • 1. Patriots (9-2)

  • 2. Packers (8-3)

  • 3. Broncos (8-3)

  • 4. Cardinals (9-2)

  • 5. Cowboys (8-3)

Click here for the full ESPN Power Rankings and see my ballot below:

Rob Demovsky's ballot

1. Patriots

2. Packers

3. Broncos

4. Cowboys

5. Colts

6. Cardinals

7. Seahawks

8. Eagles

9. 49ers

10. Bengals

11. Steelers

12. Ravens

13. Lions

14. Chiefs

15. Chargers

16. Browns

17. Dolphins

18. Bills

19. Texans

20. Bears

21. Vikings

22. Rams

23. Falcons

24. Saints

25. Panthers

26. Redskins

27. Buccaneers

28. Giants

29. Titans

30. Raiders

31. Jaguars

32. Jets