NFL Week 10 Power Rankings

Week 10 of the NFL provided another slew of crazy, unpredictable results in the year which will be dedicated to the underdog.

This season is ridiculous. I don’t remember a season producing more blowouts or more surprising blowouts on such a regular basis. What’s disappointing, though, is the manner in which the upsets are occurring… they’re duds!

Every team has now shown the ability to look like one of the worst teams in the NFL on any given Sunday. Upsets always happen, but rarely do they so repeatedly happen in such a one-sided fashion.

The top of the NFC is pretty established, but only the Detroit Lions are more than one game out of a playoff spot. While in the AFC, the gap between the very top and the rest of the pack is marginal as each team keeps on stumbling. Never has it felt more apparent the importance of being hot at the right time.

So, as we approach Thanksgiving, let's see where the chaos and unpredictability of Week 10 leave the NFL’s power balance.

1.       Green Bay Packers (8-2) +1

The Packers are slugging their games out but they are finding a way. The defense, much-maligned until now, is on fire. They’ve pitched six straight scoreless quarters and are the third best scoring defense in the NFL, allowing just 18 points per game. With that level of performance, the Packers can afford to not be as prolific on offense, but I still trust them to turn it on when they need to – so long as they can stay healthy.  

2.       Arizona Cardinals (8-2) -1

The Cardinals finally conceded the one thing they had over the rest of the NFL – no horrible performances. The Cardinals were well and truly beaten by the resurgent Carolina Panthers this week. Though shorthanded, with Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins on the sideline, they were physically and fundamentally beaten. The Cards’ loss to the Packers means they need Green Bay to slip up at least once, while they remain perfect, to get back control of the NFC.

3.       Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3)

Keeping the Buccaneers at third despite a 10-point loss to the Washington Football Team may seem questionable, but you’re lying to yourself if you wouldn’t choose the Buccaneers in a one-off game against virtually every team in the NFL. Like every team this season, the Buccaneers had a relatively catastrophic afternoon. I have no doubt this coaching staff and roster will bounce back. We’ll soon forget this loss ever happened.

4.       Tennessee Titans (8-2)

A win is a win, and the Titans are now on a six-game win streak, but Tennessee has questions they need to address to keep up their pace. They are struggling on offense, and Julio Jones returning to IR is horrible timing – even if he has not been much of an addition so far. They need to find a way to move the ball reliably without Derrick Henry. Luckily, they’re as good as a lock for the playoffs, by which time they should get Henry back.

5.       Dallas Cowboys (7-2)  

The Cowboys assertively put last week’s blowout loss to the Denver Broncos in its place: it was an exception, not the rule. Dak Prescott was back to his usual self, Trevon Diggs got another interception – his eighth in nine games – and the rest of the team followed suit as Dallas put forth a total team performance.

6.       Buffalo Bills (6-3) +2

Back to normal in Buffalo. The defense was a force, as they have been much of this season, and put together another dominant performance. The offense, meanwhile, burst back into life with help from Stefon Diggs who went off for 162 yards and a touchdown on 8 catches. The Bills at their best are an elite force, now they have to show it weekly.

7.       Los Angeles Rams (7-3) -1

The Rams are clinging on to a ranking so high by virtue of the teams below them having had equally horrible performances. The Rams should never have lost this game. While the angle of bad Odell Beckham Jr juju is amusing, there is no actual causation. The Rams played very poorly and the 49ers made them pay. Emphatically. The Rams have to be better to justify their recent transactions.

8.       New England Patriots (6-4) +6

If you’re the Patriots, with how well he is playing right now, which quarterbacks, in their current form, do you take over Mac Jones to lead this team to the Super Bowl? In no particular order: Tom Brady, Lamar Jackson, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Kyler Murray, Dak Prescott, and Josh Allen. That’s the list. That’s how good Jones looked on Sunday. Bill Belichick is reminding everyone just how good he is.

9.       Baltimore Ravens (6-3) -2

Never has there been a more glaring failure to adjust in the NFL. The Ravens faced the same play all night and never came up with a response, nor did it really seem like they tried. This team was bailed out somewhat by a bad week for AFC North teams, but they have some serious issues which they can no longer allow to derail should-be-gimme wins.

10.   Kansas City Chiefs (6-4) +6

For the first time since October 3rd, the Chiefs’ offense got back to its old self. Patrick Mahomes was electric and he got more support from his cast of playmakers. What’s more, the defense has now turned in three progressively stronger performances. The Chiefs are right back in the mix.

11.   Los Angeles Chargers (5-4) -2

Consistency is key in Los Angeles. They have shown how talented they are, they have shown their ceiling, but they are failing to achieve that level of play anywhere close to regularly. The defense must play better as it is consistently giving up too much ground, while the offense must find more balance to open up their offense, and take some reliance from Justin Herbert. 

12.   Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3-1) -1

Oof. Can we finally agree that Mason Rudolph is 100%, absolutely, not ‘It’? Rudolph’s play and other moments of poor execution derailed the Steelers' offense as they slumped around the field throughout. They made it hard for Detroit’s offense, but were ultimately bailed out by a kicker having a very tough day. The Steelers are fortunate not to have lost and for how their AFC North rivals fared this week.  

13.   Cincinnati Bengals (5-4)

Cincy had their bye week. The Bengals now have to recover from back-to-back disappointing losses. Luckily for them, their entire division stumbled this week. The Bengals are positioned well if they can recapture the form of their opening six weeks.

14.   Las Vegas Raiders (5-4) -4

The promise of Rich Bisaccia taking over is wearing off. After opening with two wins, the Raiders have been upset by the Giants and blown out by the Chiefs. The defense was completely taken apart by Andy Reid and Mahomes and the Raiders made too many mistakes. Last week I mentioned I was excited to see DeSean Jackson in Vegas – let’s just say DeSean won’t be too happy about his start.

15.   Cleveland Browns (5-5) -3

The post-OBJ good juju didn’t last very long. As pointed out by Nick Shook on the Around the NFL podcast, this game came down to a good opening game script vs good in-game coaching. The Browns opening drive was efficient and smooth, but the Patriots quickly adjusted to everything the Browns did and completely silenced them for the remainder of the game. The Browns' defense was very poor, and the Patriots did a great job of eliminating the Browns' strengths. Baker Mayfield is a concern.

16.   New Orleans Saints (5-4) -1

The Saints' win over the Buccaneers feels a long time ago. New Orleans has subsequently lost two straight, in different but frustrating fashion, and is trending in the wrong direction. Without Alvin Kamara, the remaining skill position players couldn’t pick up the slack. Mark Ingram was a bright spot, and Trevor Siemian had moments, but I don’t feel good about this offense in crunch times and it will cost them when it matters most.

17.   Carolina Panthers (5-5) +5

He may have only played a few snaps but Cam Newton – along with Christian McCaffrey’s return – has buoyed this team and I think will be the spark to carry Carolina to a playoff spot. The defense is fierce and legit and has playmakers at every level. With Cam Newton setting up to start possibly as soon as this week, this team’s bright start may not be totally lost after all.

18.   Indianapolis Colts (5-5) -1

The Colts won a game they should have, but they struggled through it. Perhaps the Jacksonville Jaguars are better than we’re giving credit for, but the Colts' offense was horrible for much of this game. They started with a field goal then a touchdown, but followed with eight drives, gaining 108 yards, they punted seven times and earned just five first downs. It is a valuable win, but the Colts aren’t fooling anyone.

19.   Minnesota Vikings (4-5) +1

The Vikings overcame one of the bugaboos of their season: they won after having a halftime lead. This was a lot closer to the type of performance Zimmer is after across the board. Justin Jefferson showed why he has to be more involved every week, Dalvin Cook came up with big plays, and Kirk Cousins played a solid game. The Vikings need to get out of their own way to continue their Wild Card push.

20.   San Francisco 49ers (4-5) +3

Welcome back to the chat, San Francisco? I’m not certain yet, I need to see this type of performance again to trust it, but the 49ers served somewhat of a reminder of some of the talent on their team, and Kyle Shanahan shouted, ‘I’m haven’t gone anywhere!’ Deebo Samuel is one of the most slept-on players in the league. He is an elite threat.

21.   Denver Broncos (5-5) -2

No matter how impressive their win was last week over the Cowboys this week felt far more representative of the Broncos. They were poor. The defense was outmatched and the offense was lethargic. There don’t seem to be any immediate fixes, either.

22.   Philadelphia Eagles (4-6) +2

The Eagles are stacking some pretty impressive, or at least promising, wins. Having switched to a run-first offense they have completely unlocked their offense. Jalen Hurts is playing better with less pressure on him to throw, Devonta Smith is flourishing, and the run game is the strongest in the NFL right now. With the NFC field as-is, the Eagles are trending in the right direction.

23.   Seattle Seahawks (3-6) -5

Russell Wilson avidly denied it, but surely his finger/recovery from an injury was a factor in the Seahawks' offensive struggles. He didn’t look himself and was off-time. The defense actually played very well, and Jamal Adams had his first huge game of the season. Nevertheless, they’re fortunate the NFC’s Wild Card field is awful, so they’re not actually too far adrift.  

24.   Chicago Bears (3-6) -3

The Bears had a bye to recover from some of the frustration they may have felt with last week’s loss. More positively, Justin Fields looked good, and the rest of the team offered some additional reason to be optimistic.

25.   Atlanta Falcons (4-5)

Have you ever seen a bird fly into a window? If you haven’t, watch the Falcons game against the Cowboys. After a surprise, impressive win last week against the Saints, the Falcons were phenomenally poor against Dallas. Even worse, they may be without their biggest star, Cordarrelle Patterson, for a few weeks as they try to cling on to playoff contention.

26.   New York Giants (3-6)

The Giants had the week off after their upset win over the Raiders in Week 9. Big Blue is technically just a game behind a playoff spot, so a cleaner bill of health after the bye week could see the team make a surprising late push.

27.   Washington Football Team (3-6)

The bye week clearly treated Washington well as they produced yet another huge upset to add to 2021’s list. It came at a cost, though. Second-year star Chase Young tore his ACL, adding another sad chapter to Washington’s story. Nevertheless, the game was a gift for Washington fans, and their mammoth drive to end the game was a marvel.

28.   Miami Dolphins (3-6) +2

What a win for the Dolphins. I felt like I was watching myself play Madden as the game went on, calling cover-0 blitzes on every play and wreaking havoc in the backfield. The Ravens’ inability to adjust was flabbergasting, but the Dolphins found something that worked and ran it well. Tua Tagovailoa will surely take back over the starting role, and we’ll see if they can turn this win into a platform to get some joy from this season.

P.S. I don’t think I’ve ever cried laughing at a play before, but right guard Robert Hunt provided some much-needed and -appreciated comedic relief when he tried to take the game into his own hands. 

29.   Jacksonville Jaguars (3-6)

In consecutive weeks the Jaguars have played well. This week it didn’t end in a win, but the defense is showing a lot of improvement and the offense showed some signs of life. Maybe I was a little quick to completely bury Urban Meyer, but I still need to see more as the season wears on.

30.   New York Jets (2-7) -2

And just as quickly as he came, Mike White is likely to go away again. Against the Bills, the Jets were completely outclassed and White was bullied by a swarming Bills defense. The Jets fell behind early and were not in a position to fight back. The defense has been shredded in back-to-back weeks, further proving how fluky their two wins may have been.

31.   Houston Texans (1-8)

Houston had their bye. There isn’t much to be said about the Texans which hasn’t already been said. They just have to get through this season.

32.   Detroit Lions (0-8-1)

Well, at least the Lions didn’t lose. Going to Pittsburgh and coming away with a tie is still the most positive thing the Lions have done all season, but they found a way to make it painful. Detroit should have won in OT but Ryan Santoso missed his second kick of the game, a 48-yard field goal, in horrible fashion. It is a slight reprieve from the suffering, though.

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