the Seahawks left little doubt which is the best team in the NFL

With their pummeling of the Saints on Monday, the Seahawks left little doubt which is the best team in the NFL. Holding the leagues best record at 11-1, Seattle claimed the top spot Tuesday in all major NFL power rankings.

In this weeks ratings from ESPN, the Seahawks retained their spot at No. 1 despite wins from the Denver Broncos (No. 2) and Carolina Panthers (No. 3). But that comes as no shocker to those who watched Monday nights game at CenturyLink Field.

Richard Sherman Seahawks Saints
Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman tells the Saints which team is No. 1 on Monday. (Jordan Stead/seattlepi.com)
Russell Wilson completed 8 of 9 attempts against five or more rushers Monday, ESPN said of the Seahawks. That 88.9 completion percentage is tied for the worst the Saints have allowed in a game since 2006.

The Associated Press said Seattle is a clear choice for No. 1, and in the process knocked New Orleans down from second to fifth in the AP Pro32 ratings.

Pete Prisco of CBS Sports kept Seattle in his top spot and, interestingly, pushed the New England Patriots into second despite their loss thanks to their win last week over Denver. The Broncos moved up from fourth to third, edging the Saints at No. 4.

That was a brutal beating they gave the Saints, Prisco wrote of the Seahawks. It will be tough to beat them in Seattle, which somebody will have to do.

Meanwhile, the Seahawks remained the leader in Fox Sports weekly power rankings. Analyst Brian Billick moved the Panthers up to No. 2, with the Broncos, Patriots and Saints rounding out his top five.

The Seahawks become the first team to clinch a playoff berth this season and did so in a very impressive manner, Billick wrote.

Meanwhile, on NFL.com, Elliot Harrison ate crow for picking New Orleans over Seattle on Monday. The Seahawks remained at No. 1 ahead of Denver, Carolina, New England and New Orleans.

What a statement game for Pete Carroll and the Seahawks, who dominated Monday night from stem to stern, Harrison wrote. David Lee Roth circa 1982  in all of his spastic glory  couldnt compete with the Seattle head coach. Telling you right now, the only team that would have a chance to beat Carrolls squad in Seattle is Carolina  and even that might be a stretch.

We find it important to note that the Seahawks beat the Panthers 12-7 in Carolina in the first game of the regular season.

Seattle was No. 1 even in the not-so-major NFL power rankings, including those from Yahoo Sports, Bleacher Report, SB Nation, the New York Daily News and just about every other news organization with the ability to make numbered lists.