The Power Rankings have experienced a major shift, with the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs now leading the pack after winning six consecutive games. Their most recent victory against the Los Angeles Chargers showcased their best performance this season. Meanwhile, San Francisco, the prior leaders, have suffered a minor setback, losing two consecutive games. This has coincided with KC’s surge to the top.
The Chiefs experienced a familiar scenario in their 31-17 victory over the Chargers. Patrick Mahomes passed for 424 yards and four touchdowns, with Travis Kelce receiving 12 for 179 and a touchdown. However, the defense, which achieved five sacks and two interceptions, also merits recognition. They have yet to allow over 21 points in any game this season.
The 49ers are currently undergoing a significant challenge in their season. Despite kicking off with a 5-0 winning streak, they have suffered consecutive losses against Cleveland and Minnesota – teams they could have easily defeated. Quarterback Brock Purdy is also under pressure, and the situation is not expected to lighten up with an impending Week 8 game against Cincinnati.
The Eagles leveraged their physical strength in the trenches to secure a victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday night, with Jalen Hurts executing some exceptional plays during their 31-17 triumph. However, Hurts is committing errors that could prematurely terminate a season in the playoffs. With 10 turnovers already, he exceeds his total of eight from the entirety of 2022.
The Ravens are beginning to appear formidable, having secured a decisive victory over Detroit. The 38-6 scoreline was absolutely representative of the game’s events. Lamar Jackson performed exceptionally well, throwing for 357 yards and three touchdowns, and even rushing for another. Moreover, the defense has achieved 11 sacks in the last two games. Intimidating!
The Dolphins discovered that they need to reach a few more levels before they can be counted among the NFL’s top tier. They were initially dominated by the Eagles and showed a lack of balance, only managing to rush for 45 yards. However, their defense put up one of their best performances of the year, which is a positive sign for the future.
Everyone in Florida, as well as the UK, is keeping a close eye on Trevor Lawrence’s knee. Any issue could quickly dissolve the current positive sentiment. However, as of now, the Jaguars are celebrating a four-game winning streak which has propelled them to the top of their division.
Similar to the Dolphins, the Lions realized they still have work to do. The most concerning part of a harsh defeat to the Ravens was Jared Goff’s quick collapse under stress. An initially successful year rapidly descended into disaster during three challenging hours in Maryland. The reaction
The Cowboys, coming off their bye, are set to take on a challenging Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Dallas has been alternating between wins and losses over the past month, with a heavy schedule on the road. However, as they return to Texas, the positive note is that Dallas has a streak of 10 consecutive home game victories.
Who exactly are the Buffalo Bills? If you subtract the sensational performances from Josh Allen, what’s their backup plan? Their heavy dependence on their star quarterback necessitates that other players also rise to the occasion. Additionally, the defense is grappling with the absence of the All-Pro linebacker, Matt Milano. With a 4-3 record, Buffalo has been a letdown in the early part of the season.
After their bye week, the Bengals are optimistic that Joe Burrow has fully recovered from his summer calf injury. If not, the issue could persist for the remainder of the season since Cincinnati has no more weeks off. They are preparing for a significant game against San Francisco and are a formidable team.
The Browns’ consecutive victories over San Francisco and Indianapolis would be more comforting if they had more information on the long-term health of their quarterback, Deshaun Watson. Regardless, whoever is playing quarterback will receive support from the outstanding defensive end, Myles Garrett, who delivered an impressive performance in Week 7.
The Seahawks may not frequently dominate an opponent or make national headlines, but with a 4-2 record, they are in a strong position to aim for the NFC playoffs again. Their defense has unexpectedly excelled in 2023, with rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon proving to be an indispensable player.
It makes sense that the Steelers are ranked just behind the Seahawks, considering their record surpasses what one might expect from their on-field performance. Despite their sluggish offensive beginnings this season, it’s puzzling how Pittsburgh has managed to secure a 4-2 record. However, this is somewhat typical for teams under Mike Tomlin’s leadership.
The Jets managed to maintain a 3-3 record despite facing a challenging start to the season without Aaron Rodgers. Now, the question is whether they can capitalize on this with upcoming games against the New York Giants, Los Angeles Chargers, and Las Vegas Raiders that appear to be winnable. NY is hoping to keep their chances alive in anticipation of number 12’s possible return.
Houston, currently standing at 3-3, owe their relevance to rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, who has the potential to humiliate the winless Panthers in Carolina this Sunday. It may be early days, but it appears as if Carolina may have made a mistake in backing the wrong rookie quarterback. The Texans might not make it to the playoffs this season, but they are certainly making progress.
The heat is mounting on coach Brandon Staley due to his defense’s ongoing concession of excessive yards and major plays. Although there was a defensive improvement in the second half against KC, the offense faltered and another game was lost. Justin Herbert’s skills, akin to Philip Rivers’, are being underutilized.
So, it appears Kirk Cousins has proven his Primetime abilities after a sensational defeat over San Francisco. Once Justin Jefferson recovers from his hamstring injury, the Vikings will possess a formidable offensive trio, with rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison showing promising potential. Despite initial setbacks, Minnesota is making a comeback.
The Rams’ defeat against the Pittsburgh Steelers encapsulates the initial half of their season. They’ve shown sparks of brilliance but also moments of extreme frustration. Their failure to secure a win in a game they could have easily won leaves them with a 3-4 record. However, a silver lining is the strong rapport between Matthew Stafford and receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua.
The Falcons secured a victory in Tampa, climbing to the top of the NFC South with a 4-3 record. Head coach Arthur Smith seems to have committed to Desmond Ridder, but is that a prudent decision? Just a week after throwing three interceptions against Washington, Ridder fumbled twice at the goal-line, making the game uncomfortably close.
Baker Mayfield has candidly criticized the Bucs’ scoring abilities, with Tampa only amassing 19 points in their previous two games. Mayfield is advocating for a shift from the running game to a more pass-oriented offense. It remains to be seen if this change can elevate the team from their current mid-table position.
The Colts may feel unfairly treated regarding the late-game officiating in their match against Cleveland. In my opinion, they put forth enough effort at the end of the game to secure a win and improve their record to 4-3. However, they currently stand at 3-4, yet still have the potential to bounce back. Their upcoming five games are against New Orleans, Carolina, New England, Tampa Bay, and Tennessee.
To rise from their sporadically dangerous, mid-league position to contender status, the Saints need to extract more from quarterback Derek Carr. Carr’s current strategy is overly cautious, with an average of just 229 passing yards per game, marking his lowest performance since his rookie year in 2014.
Jordan Love started strong, throwing six touchdowns in his initial two starts after ‘you know who’ relocated to New York. However, his recent performance, coinciding with three consecutive losses, is a cause for concern. Love has made four interceptions in his last two games, indicating a high number of errors.
As you say your nightly prayers, spare one for Sam Howell. Washington is doing little to safeguard their young quarterback, who is projected to break the record for the most-sacked passer in NFL history. Howell is estimated to be sacked an extraordinary 97 times, shattering the previous record of 76 set by David Carr of Houston in 2002.
Just hours after news broke of his signing a multi-year, lucrative extension with the Patriots, Bill Belichick engineered a victory over Buffalo on Sunday. However, subsequent reports indicate that the deal does not extend beyond the next season. Belichick still has work to do and needs to lead his team to a strong season ending.
Demands for the dismissal of a protege of Belichick, Josh McDaniels, are escalating daily in the desert. His game-to-game decision-making has been dubious, with this past week perhaps being the most questionable yet. It is unfathomable who thought that Brian Hoyer was the appropriate choice to start against Chicago.
The Titans have officially started their rebuild and by the time you’re reading this, we may already know who’s stepping in for the injured quarterback, Ryan Tannehill. This decision has been a closely held secret. There’s also a possibility that star running back Derrick Henry might be traded to a different team, following All-Pro safety Kevin Byard’s recent departure.
The heartwarming tale of Tyson Bagent is set to captivate Bears fans for a brief 13 minutes. Soon after, they’ll notice Justin Fields relegated to the sidelines yet again, signaling another fruitless season winding down without any tangible signs of progress or potential. It seems another bleak winter is on the horizon.
If Sean Payton expects to find true happiness in a “flawless performance” from the Denver Broncos, it’s hoped that he has a proficient therapist. This team has its shortcomings, and despite the coach’s acclaimed status, his influence hasn’t been as impactful. The victory from last week was commendable, yet the problems continue to stack up to a Mile High.
Even though it may seem like a typical media query, I’m keen to ask this – Could the New York Giants possibly fare better with Tyrod Taylor as their quarterback rather than Daniel Jones? Neither has proven to be the ultimate answer, yet despite Taylor demonstrating some grit, Jones continues to be the one with the substantial investment.
The Cardinals have initiated the three-week period to reintegrate Kyler Murray into practice and subsequently, into games. His return could potentially tip the scales in their favor in one or two games. Despite coming close in several matches, the Cards have consistently fallen short in the second half.
Frank Reich is experiencing a familiar situation. The team owner, dissatisfied with the outcomes, begins to express his displeasure publicly and starts to interfere in team decisions. Consequently, Reich is compelled to implement changes internally and has relinquished his play-calling duties. The next step for Reich, the head of a team yet to win a game, is not something he wishes to contemplate at this moment.
