This week’s Power Rankings are dominated by the NFC, with the Philadelphia Eagles topping the chart, followed by the San Francisco 49ers at second place, and the Detroit Lions holding the fifth position. In the AFC, the Denver Broncos are among the most improved teams, thanks to a four-game winning spree.
With an impressive 8-1 record, the Eagles are currently leading in the NFL. They have an opportunity to make a statement in Week 11 when they face off against the Kansas City Chiefs. Can Philadelphia exact their revenge when it’s time? Their pass rush, spearheaded by Josh Sweat, Haason Reddick, and Jalen Carter, is certainly heating up. Patrick Mahomes, be warned.
The 49ers have returned to their peak form and are set to challenge the Eagles at the top of the NFC. These two powerhouses of the conference are scheduled to clash in Philadelphia in Week 13. In addition, Brock Purdy is back in top form at his quarterback position.
The Ravens continue to be a formidable force, enduring major injuries. The most recent setback is the season-ending leg injury of tight end Mark Andrews. However, I believe Baltimore will maintain their momentum. They are genuine contenders.
The Andy Reid-Patrick Mahomes led Kansas City Chiefs have failed to score any points in the second half of their previous two games. Their average of 5.3 points per game in the second half this season is the lowest in the league, a surprising stat for this team.
The Lions deserve recognition for their determined win over the Chicago Bears. Despite being 12 points behind with only three minutes left, Detroit upped their game to secure a victory, improving their record to 8-2. However, their nearly defeat to the Bears prevents them from moving up in the rankings.
The Dolphins might not be reaching their previous offensive prowess, but is it possible they’re becoming a more well-rounded team? Their defense, with standouts like Jaelan Phillips and Jalen Ramsey, is certainly on the rise.
The Cowboys are dominating teams they are expected to defeat, recently exemplified by a 33-10 victory over Carolina last weekend. However, two out of their three defeats came at the hands of San Francisco and Philadelphia. They must overcome more challenging opponents in January.
Last weekend, the Jaguars intensified their passing game, yielding clearly visible results in a victory against Tennessee. Trevor Lawrence arguably had his best performance of the year, while Calvin Ridley surpassed 100 receiving yards and scored two times.
Despite a challenging second half, the Texans managed to clinch a victory against Arizona, pushing their record to 6-4. Despite throwing three interceptions, C.J. Stroud demonstrated resilience and finished the game with over 300 passing yards. The Houston team is confident about making the playoffs.
Just days post the dismissal of offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, the Bills exerted dominance over the New York Jets in a crucial match. Josh Allen reinforced the fact that he can single-handedly control games, but escalating injuries on the defense front pose a significant issue.
A tearful Dorian Thompson-Robinson celebrated his first NFL victory. The newbie Quarterback certainly relied on some support from his teammates. Though the Browns might face difficulty in scoring points in future games, they can expect help from a defense led by Myles Garrett.
On Sunday, the Seahawks lost a game they were expected to win against the Los Angeles Rams, largely due to losing momentum when Geno Smith was sidelined for a few drives due to an elbow injury. Now, they are preparing to host the 49ers in town on Thanksgiving.
In just one week, the Bengals have fallen six spots and the decline doesn’t seem to be stopping there. Even though they currently have a 5-5 record, I believe their season is practically over. This is the aftermath when a star player such as QB Joe Burrow is out for the remaining season. All optimism simply disappears.
The Vikings, with Josh Dobbs as quarterback, can be a formidable team, and their strength will be further boosted once Justin Jefferson recovers from his hamstring injury. However, this team can also pose a risk to itself, as seen in their Denver loss resulting from three late turnovers.
The Broncos have now discovered strategies to secure victory in the tight games that were slipping from their grasp earlier during what seemed to be a humiliating season. Denver has achieved four consecutive wins following their initial 1-5 start, and much of the credit must be given to head coach Sean Payton.
Following their bye week, the Colts have no on-field updates. However, a major off-field decision was made, with the Indianapolis team releasing three-time All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard, as they felt his contribution to their defense was no longer as necessary.
Matt Canada, the offensive coordinator for Pittsburgh, has been dismissed by the Steelers – a move rarely seen during the season. The decision became necessary as the team’s passing offense was so lackluster it barely managed to find any momentum, let alone become dominant.
After their bye week, the Saints are gearing up to potentially clinify the NFC South title. Their remaining games don’t seem too challenging, as they will be playing against Atlanta (two times), Carolina, New York Giants, LA Rams, and Tampa.
The strain on head coach Brandon Staley is starting to manifest. Following Sunday’s 23-20 defeat to Green Bay, he lashed out at the media. The loss, which was due to another defensive breakdown, has left the Chargers team 0-5 in games decided by three points or fewer this year.
Losing to the 49ers by 13 points in San Francisco is not a disgrace. Numerous teams have experienced a far more severe defeat. I admired Baker Mayfield’s unyielding determination till the finish line, and I am confident that this team still has the potential to conquer the NFC South.
It’s unlikely that the Packers will make it to the playoffs this season. Therefore, their focus for the rest of the year will be on maximizing the performance of Jordan Love and their team of wide receivers, all of whom are in their first or second year. Recently, Love has been showing promising performance.
Despite enduring a rough game against the Seahawks on Sunday, Matthew Stafford rallied the Rams towards the end and secured a victory. This is a testament to the impact a seasoned quarterback can have on a team, even one like L.A. that lacks talent in certain areas.
Last weekend in Miami, the Raiders slightly faltered as quarterback Aidan O’Connell threw three interceptions and the running game struggled to take off. Despite Patrick Graham’s defense performing well, the team’s prospects are currently in standby.
The Falcons are once again turning to Desmond Ridder to manage their offense as quarterback. It’s unclear how long this arrangement will last, especially considering his less than stellar performance so far. With no clear long-term solution on the team, Atlanta, much like the Raiders, are in a state of uncertainty.
Zach Wilson’s tenure had to end due to his persistent involvement in the offense which could potentially exacerbate divisions between both sides of the ball. The truth is, the Jets are prepared to endure their current difficulties and look forward to a potential Aaron Rodgers-led revival in 2024.
Last week, Sam Howell had one of his poorest performances of the year for the Commanders, throwing three interceptions in a loss to the New York Giants – their second defeat to the Giants in 2023. This likely hinted at the upcoming end of Ron Rivera’s tenure as head coach by the end of the season.
Will Levis at quarterback offers something of value and the Titans would do well to continue supporting him. However, evaluation of the rookie is challenging due to the absence of an effective offensive line and the underperformance of the Derrick Henry-led rushing attack.
When Justin Fields is playing quarterback, the Bears are certainly more entertaining and competitive. However, if he ends the season strongly and promisingly again in 2024, what action will the team take? They have experienced such a situation before and might decide to move on.
The Giants have had a truly dismal season, but kudos to head coach Brian Daboll for persistently eliciting energetic performances from his team. Saquon Barkley and Kayvon Thibodaux are putting up a strong fight every week.
The Cardinals remain highly inadequate and are among the poorest performers in the league. However, their performance improves with Kyler Murray as their quarterback. Having demonstrated his prowess in the past two weeks post his knee injury, he has proven to be a considerable threat.
The Bailey Zappe epoch begins this weekend in New England, yet it’s unlikely to extend beyond the current season. A significant reset is imminent for the Patriots, and I believe this will go beyond the quarterback, right up to the head coach.
The Panthers are set for yet another unsuccessful season which will undoubtedly try the patience of team owner, David Tepper, known for his proactive involvement. This spells trouble for Frank Reich. Might Bryce Young also be in hot water already?
