NFL Power Rankings: Colts approaching the top ten after 25-12 victory

The Indianapolis Colts did something on Sunday that they hadn't done all season: win a game by more than one score.  Outscoring the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19-0 in the second half, the Colts won 25-12 to improve to 6-5 on the season.

Matt Hasselbeck played his best game of the season, completing 26 of 42 passes for 315 yards and two touchdowns without a pick, while the defense stepped up in a big way during the second half, shutting out a good Buccaneers offense.  Adam Vinatieri hit four field goals on the day to continue his impressive season, and the coaching staff made several nice adjustments.  All in all, it was a big win for Indy and it kept them atop the AFC South, a half of a game ahead of the Texans.

After one of their most impressive victories of the season, let's take a look to see where the Colts are at in this week's power rankings:

NFL.com's Elliot Harrison ranks the Colts number 12, up four spots from a week ago:

Hey, sports broadcasters, everyone gets it: Matt Hasselbeck is 40. We're starting to slide intoTom Brady was a sixth-round draft pick and Did you know Antonio Gates played basketball?territory with the constant talk of Hasselbeck's age. Brett Favre got an MVP vote at 40. Vinny Testaverde started an entire season at 40. Sonny Jurgensen posted the highest passer rating in the NFC at 40. Enough already. What's important is that the Colts play the Texans in Week 15. #football

ESPN ranks the Colts number 14, actually dropping them four spots after their win (just a friendly note: if you're dropping a team four spots after a 13-point win, either these rankings are bad or your previous rankings are bad, but either way, you screwed up somewhere along the line):

The Colts defense deserves some love for the recent turnaround. Quarterbacks have completed 55.9 percent of passes with just as many interceptions as touchdowns (6) the past three games against the Colts.

CBS Sports' Pete Prisco has the Colts at number 10, the same as last week:

Matt Hasselbeck is doing a nice job filling in for Andrew Luck. Can he keep it rolling against the Steelers? It won't be easy.

CBS Sports' Pat Kirwan ranks the Colts at number 10 as well, up one spot:

I have to say it. This team is better with Matt Hasselbeck at QB right now. He spreads the ball (eight different receivers), doesn't turn the ball over, gets the offense in and out of plays at the line, and is poised in the clutch.

Shutdown Corner's Frank Schwab ranks the Colts number 11, up two spots from a week ago:

Chuck Pagano shot down any notion that Matt Hasselbeck could keep the starting quarterback job when Andrew Luck is healthy. But what about this scenario: Hasselbeck leads the Colts to a 10-6 record, with the team winning nine of his 10 starts, and Luck gets healthy the week before Indianapolis' first playoff game. Are we positive you can't think about starting Hasselbeck over Luck, who hasn't played since Nov. 8?

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio has the Colts at number 11 also, up three spots:

4-0 is the new 40.

The MMQB's Peter King has the Colts at number 11 in his Fine Fifteen, up one spot from last week:

Matt Hasselbeck is older than the coach of the Miami Dolphins. Hasselbeck has out-won Dan Campbell this year, too.

FOX Sports ranks the Colts number 12, up four spots:

Matt Hasselbeck, 40, is now 4-0 as the starter this season. In Week 12 he went from game manager to game winner, pushing the ball down the field for 315 yards passing and two touchdowns against a Tampa Bay defense that had been playing well.

SB Nation's Danny Kelly has the Colts ranked 13th, up one spot.