NFL power rankings, Week 12: Browns move up to No. 29

The Cleveland Browns had a lot of things go right in Week 11, but they failed to best the Dallas Cowboys, and fell to 2-8 on the season. The Browns were so very close to getting a win, but injuries in their secondary held them back. Cornerback Joe Haden, who is one of the very best in the NFL, missed the game due to an oblique injury, and Buster Skrine left the game with a concussion.

Joel Thorman of SB Nation released his Week 12 power rankings, and he has the Browns all the way down at No. 29, which is actually one spot up from last week. The teams below the Browns are the Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs.

29. Cleveland Browns (LW: 30, 2-8): For an hour or two there, we were all Browns fans, rooting for them to beat the Cowboys.

Cleveland was nearing a win, but the issues in the secondary prompted Tony Romo to start picking them apart at the end. They managed to sack him seven times, thanks to a healthy defensive line with Ahtyba Rubin and Phil Taylor starting together for the first time this season. Still, it wasn't enough, and Dallas got the win.

But at least the Browns aren't in the bottom three. They're playing very close games and the progress is indisputable.