data-mm-id=”_3cqxvkdz0″>The best time of year has arrived: the NFL playoffs. It's an extremely competitive field this season, top-to-bottom with quality teams. But not all are made equal. Here are your official NFL playoff power rankings. 12. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)Philadelphia Eagles v New York Giants / Steven Ryan/Getty ImagesThe Eagles are the kings of the steaming pile of garbage that is the 2019 NFC East. Carson Wentz is playing extremely well, but the Eagles are so depleted from injuries they're starting practice-squad guys at nearly every skill position offensively. The fact that they're even playing in January is an accomplishment itself, but it would be astonishing if they got to play more than one game. 11. Tennessee Titans (9-7)Jacksonville Jaguars v Tennessee Titans / Frederick Breedon/Getty ImagesThe Titans turned things around after they inserted Ryan Tannehill in place of Marcus Mariota. Derrick Henry is the 2019 rushing leader and can consistently make things happen. The defense is stingy. But ultimately, it's hard to take the combination of Tannehill and Mike Vrabel over Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, much less the gauntlet they'd face should they topple the Patriots in Foxboro on Wild Card Weekend. 10. Buffalo Bills (10-6)Buffalo Bills v New England Patriots / Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesThe Bills are a very well-coached team with a fantastic defense. Josh Allen has made strides this season. Are those strides big enough to trust him when every down matters? I don't think so. They're going up against a flawed team in Houston, but a deep playoff run may still be a few years away. 9. Houston Texans (10-6)Houston Texans v Tampa Bay Buccaneers / Julio Aguilar/Getty ImagesBill O'Brien has well-noted shortcomings as a head coach that only become more apparent in playoff football. The secondary is inconsistent, although a potential JJ Watt return seems likely at this point, which would be huge. It's hard to bet against Deshaun Watson and his cadre of wideouts. But Watson looked banged-up near the end of the year, and if he's not fully healthy, Houston is done. 8. Seattle Seahawks (11-5)San Francisco 49ers v Seattle Seahawks / Alika Jenner/Getty ImagesI'll probably regret doubting Russell Wilson, but the problems with Seattle, as always, lie with his supporting cast. The run game is extremely important to the Seahawks' offense; it keeps the defense guessing and opens up the play action, but without their top three running backs, the opposing team will sell out to make sure Wilson can't make his magic. They shouldn't have a problem taking down the Eagles in the wild card round, but after that, Wilson can only do so much. 7. Minnesota Vikings (10-6)Atlanta Falcons v Minnesota Vikings / Stephen Maturen/Getty ImagesIt's risky business to trust Kirk Cousins when the lights are brightest, but Dalvin Cook is the key to this offense, and he should be ready to go after resting the past two weeks with his shoulder injury. They drew a tough matchup against the Saints in New Orleans, but between Cook, their top-end pair of receivers, and a defense as stingy as expected from a Mike Zimmer squad, they're a tough out. 6. New England Patriots (12-4)Miami Dolphins v New England Patriots / Adam Glanzman/Getty ImagesThe Patriots look as vulnerable as they ever have. The offense is stagnant and their "historic" defense was just torn to pieces by Ryan Fitzpatrick, DeVante Parker, and a bunch of guys off the street with a playoff bye and homefield advantage on the line. It's still Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, and the Titans will have their work cut out for them, but it's very hard to believe this New England squad is built for a deep postseason run. 5. Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)Los Angeles Chargers v Kansas City Chiefs / Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesThe Chiefs have rounded into form at just the right time. Everyone important is healthy on offense, and the defense is much-improved from last season. They have homefield for whoever comes out of the wild card round. They aren't as well-rounded as the teams above them, but a Super Bowl run is in the cards. 4. Green Bay Packers (13-3)Green Bay Packers v Detroit Lions / Rey Del Rio/Getty ImagesGreen Bay managed to steal the second seed in the NFC, but they just don't scare anybody. The defense is the best they've fielded since the early years of this decade, and Aaron Rodgers remains Aaron Rodgers, but they've had more than a few duds on both sides of the ball over the course of the year, and Rodgers hasn't turned on the jets very often. It's always tough to play at Lambeau in January, but the offense needs to show more signs of life to get very far. 3. New Orleans Saints (13-3)New Orleans Saints v Carolina Panthers / Jacob Kupferman/Getty ImagesThe Saints got the short end of the stick with the third seed despite winning 13 games. But this squad is dangerous on both sides of the ball. They have a shutdown corner (Marshon Lattimore) and an elite edge presence (Cam Jordan) on defense. They have one of the best quarterbacks ever (Drew Brees) and 2019's best receiver (Michael Thomas) on offense– and that's not even to mention Alvin Kamara or their elite offensive line. They're more than motivated after two consecutive heart-shattering playoff exits. They don't have an easy road, but they match up well with anybody on the field. 2. San Francisco 49ers (13-3)San Francisco 49ers v Seattle Seahawks / Otto Greule Jr/Getty ImagesThe Niners squeaked out a tough win in Seattle to clinch both the NFC West and the first seed on Sunday night. Their defense has remained one of the best in the league over the course of the season, and Kyle Shanahan has once again engineered an effective and dangerous offense. Jimmy Garoppolo hasn't been tested under this kind of pressure yet, though, and has had more games than you'd like where he has been flat-out bad. They aren't a perfect team, but homefield gives them a slight edge over the other elite teams in the playoff bracket. 1. Baltimore Ravens (14-2)New York Jets v Baltimore Ravens / Scott Taetsch/Getty ImagesThe Ravens have played like the best team in the NFL for nearly the entire season, and there's no reason to think they won't continue to do so in the playoffs. Mark Ingram's health is paramount to the offense, but Greg Roman has masterminded an elite unit that perfectly utilizes the skillset of likely MVP Lamar Jackson. The midseason trade for Marcus Peters has already paid huge dividends for the defense. They won't have to leave Baltimore in January. Jackson hasn't been playoff-tested yet, but after the season he's had, everything is lining up for a Super Bowl run. As they have been all year, they're THE team to beat.
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Swansea attacker Michu must be all smiles after he received his first call-up to the Spain squad
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Recognition
The call-up is recognition of the superb form that the 27-year-old has produced in the last year or so for the side from south Wales.
Michu has scored 27 goals for the Swans in all competitions since his arrival in the summer of 2012 and has been outstanding playing as a striker or an attacking midfielder.
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Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has revealed that defenders Marcos Rojo and Paddy McNair will miss the League Cup third-round clash with Ipswich Town.
McNair replaced Rojo with 20 minutes to go during Sunday s Premier League win over Southampton, with the Argentina international picking up a hamstring injury.
However, McNair has also picked up a minor issue, according to Van Gaal, who has confirmed that Phil Jones will make a return to the matchday squad for Wednesday s tie.
Rojo has a hamstring injury and Paddy McNair has a minor injury, the Dutchman told MUTV.
I have to admit that because of the injury of three defenders [including Luke Shaw], I shall have [Phil] Jones on the bench but he is not fit.
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The European champions, who were ejected from last season s competition after fielding the ineligible Denis Cheryshev, will take on the Segunda B side who became a viral sensation in 2014 when they wore a kit designed to appear like a tuxedo in a pre-season charity match.
Holders Barcelona will take on Hercules, who overcame Cornella this week, while Atletico Madrid will meet Guijuelo and last season s beaten finalists Sevilla have been drawn against fourth-tier Formentera.
The first legs will be played on November 30, with the return matches scheduled for December 21.
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Club Statement | Robbie Williams |
— Port Vale FC (@OfficialPVFC)
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Aubameyang in high demand
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Europe s top sides have long ago taken notice of his performances, with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool reportedly leading the chase.
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