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The NFL is often praised for its parity and the level playing field it offers for any team to win each week. But it's important not to mistake parity for simultaneous awfulness, or a group of once-dominant teams regressing back to the pack.

Take, for example, the Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers. Both teams were perfect not long ago, and now the Packers have dropped three straight, while the Broncos have lost two in a row as their quarterback crumbles.

Quickly the Packers and Broncos are finding themselves in the New England Patriots' rear view, getting closer to a pile of other mediocre teams. As Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski was exchanging handshakes and/or hugs (shugs?) for his game-winning field goal Sunday, the teams occupying the vast middle grew.

There are now 11 teams that have four wins. Ten of them are two games behind the Packers and Atlanta Falcons, two teams that started with a 5-0 record. Some call that parity, while others call it regression.

Let's try to sort through the various ups and downs in our weekly power rankings.

These rankings aren't the standings, and instead what follows is an analysis of how each team stacks up based on performance, regardless of what its record says. It's subjective, sure, but agreeing on everything (or anything) isn't fun, right?

And remember, I probably hate your favorite team.