NFL Power Rankings after Week 10: Chiefs undefeated still, Lions and Ravens hang on, Top five stays the same

The top three teams in last weeks Power Rankings all won in Week 10, but they won their games by a combined six points. It hasn’t been easy for the top dogs in the league, even for the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs who could have a handful of losses if the chips fell a little differently in some of their games. Luckily for them they survive another week as the only undefeated team after a blocked field goal won them the game on a week in which the kicking game played a huge protagonist. The Lions hung on to win on a last second kick. The Bengals decided against a game tying PAT on Thursday night, the Niners and Jake Moody survived a scare from the Bucs and Deebo Samuel, and the Falcons got clipped by the Saints in New Orleans as their kicker missed three field goals. The Vikings only kicked field goals against the Jags, but that was enough to keep them in the win column, unlike the Rams on Monday night.

1) Kansas City Chiefs 9-0, last week 1

I’m getting tired of writing it, and I’m sure you’re tired of reading it (if you aren’t a Chiefs fan at least), but the Chiefs continue to find ways to win. It’s almost like they have a bingo board and are X-ing off different tasks week by week. This week it was the special teams turn to carry KC across the finish line. Not with the kicking game, or a run back, but with a game winning blocked field goal at the last second on a game that it would be hard to say they deserved to win. That’s what teams that win 15 straight games do. They pull out games they should have no chance of winning.

2) Detroit Lions 8-1, last week 2

Speaking of pulling out games you have no chance of winning, the Lions had no business beating the Texans in Houston. Goff got picked five times, and had nothing going on the offensive end. The defense was getting torn up by Joe Mixon and the Texans in the first half, but they stuck to the game plan and Dan Campbell manifested the comeback basically calling his shot like Babe Ruth during the halftime interview. Like a lot of games this week, it came down to the field goals. Houston’s kicking game fluttered in crunch time while Jake Bates showed that this team isn’t just offense and defense. They have a special teams unit capable of winning games, which I’m sure is exactly what the rest of the league wanted to see.

3) Baltimore Ravens 7-3, last week 3

The only time we see the Ravens struggle is when they go down early and can’t get Derrick Henry in the game. Cincy did their best to take Henry out of the game by controlling time of possession and building up a 14 point lead in the second half. The Ravens never looked like they were panicking. The defense got shredded which would have and should have been cause for panic, but with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry on your side you will always have a chance, and if you sprinkle in a little Tylan Wallace magic Baltimore is going to be able to hit you with the knockout blow like they did to the Bengals on Thursday night.

4) Buffalo Bills 8-2, last week 4

The boat started to rock for a moment in Indy as Josh Allen looked more like Clark Kent than Superman. His two INTs brought back flashbacks of Josh Allen of the past, but his team was able to lift him up thanks to a defense that forced four turnovers including starting the game off with a pick six. Josh Allen isn’t going to have a lot of these games in which he needs someone else to carry him to the finish line, but on the rare occasion that he does it’s nice to know he’s surrounded by players that have that ability. And then when it’s his turn to close the game out, he does what he did late in the fourth quarter against the Colts. He builds up a 13 play drive that took almost seven minutes off the clock and buried the Colts to improve the Bills to 8-2 for the first time since the Jim Kelly Super Bowl days.

5) Philadelphia Eagles 7-2, last week 5

Let’s not under sell this win just because the Eagles beat the depleted Cowboys in Dallas. This game, even though there was no Dak, wasn’t an easy game to dominat. Against a division rival, with their season on the line, and a change at QB which usually gives opponents trouble for a week or two until they see game tape on the back up. It all made for a tricky NFC North showdown, but don’t tell that to Jalen Hurts or Saquon Barkley who were posted up on the bench resting during the final 15 minutes as the second team finished off the Cowboys. Hurts ran in a couple TDs, passed for another couple and the defense held the Dallas pass game to just 49 yards between Rush and Lance. Beating the Cowboys is always great for Philly fans. Stepping on their heads while they are drowning is what Eagles fans wake up for in the morning.

6) Pittsburgh Steelers 7-2, last week 8

Are the Steelers really this good? Has Russell Wilson taken this team from a playoff hopeful to an actual contender? All signs point to yes so far. A dropped pass on a fake punt in the opening half, a fourth quarter fumble at the one yard line, down by six. These are plays that usually cost teams games. How did the Steelers respond? They battled back from 10 down in the 2nd half and took the lead with a Mike Williams TD catch immediately following their fumble on the 1. We talked about the possibilities of this team if their offense could lighten the defenses work load. This is what it looks like, and I’d be pretty happy if I was a Steelers fan. Watch out next week: Steelers @ Ravens. Hold on to your butts.

7) Green Bay Packers 6-3, last week 7

BYE

8) Washington Commanders 7-3, last week 6

If Jayden Daniels and the Commanders still needed to prove anything to you at this stage of the season, they gave you another reason to believe in a losing effort to the Steelers. It was a battle of top teams in the AFC and NFC, against one of the top defenses in the league, and they were about an inch away from converting a first down and setting up a game winning field goal. We talked last week about this team having seven wins, but none against really quality opponents other than maybe the Cardinals. So far their losses to the Ravens and the Steelers say more about how far this team can go in what’s been a remarkable turnaround season.

9) Minnesota Vikings 7-2, last week 9

No TDs, just 12 points, Darnold throwing three interceptions, and Aaron Jones getting hurt. You look at it like that and yea, that’s a pretty damn bad day for the Vikings. Let me propose it another way. The Vikings got through a tricky game, while playing terribly and staved off their collapse that everyone seemed to be waiting for since they lost their first game a few weeks ago against the Lions. Even better news for the Vikings, is it only gets easier over the next couple weeks. They have games against the Titans and the Bears and the Vikings can beat those teams even with Raygun lined up under center.

10) Atlanta Falcons 6-4, last week 11

The headlines will talk about the missed Younghoe Koo field goals but there’s a lot more to the story. Mishap after mishap killed Atlanta’s drives, none more than the Kirk Cousins interception with two minutes to go in the game. Atlanta had their chances, but on a day when Cousins didn’t throw for a fistful of TDs, the Falcons have to find a way to win. That would would have been with the kicking game, but the usually dependable Koo missed three of four field goals, and you just can’t do that in a three point game.

11) Arizona Cardinals 6-4, last week 13

A couple weeks ago we talked about this group of players developing into a team under a new coaching regime. They were going to need time, and luckily the rest of the NFC West has afforded them that time. In the time it took them to become the complete team we saw against the Jets, they were able to take and keep the lead in the division. A lot of people jumped off the Kyler Murray bandwagon a few years ago when he suffered that season ending knee injury, but I hope those same people are realizing it’s time to get back on the wagon.

12) San Francisco 49ers 5-4, last week 12

Maybe what the Niners need is a little drama. It’s all been going a little too smoothly since Brock Purdy took over as QB in the Bay. Jake Moody missing three field goals, Deebo Samuel taking a swipe at the long snapper and a late game winning drive was enough to fill our plates on Sunday afternoon from Tampa. It shouldn’t have been that close on a day that Christian McCaffery came back and made some monster plays down the stretch. On any other day Moody makes a few more of those FGs and the Niners win easy. But they haven’t been winning easy, when they win. That should change as they get a few more weeks to incorporate McCaffery back into rhythm.

13) Houston Texans 6-4, last week 10

Houston, you have a problem. There’s just no way you come up with five interceptions and lose the game unless you are in the midst of a calamity. The obvious problem is the one time favorites to knock off the Chiefs in the AFC have now lost three of their last four, but the deeper concern is this teams inability to score after halftime. They have scored more than 7 points in the second half just twice this season, against the Colts in Week 1 and against the Pats in Week 6, but that doesn’t count because they were playing the Pats. The Texans have been in the national spotlight all season, and it looks like it’s wearing on them. How do they hold up in the second half of the season? If their games are any indication, then Houston is in a whole lot of trouble.

14) Los Angeles Chargers 6-3, last week 17

As much as I want to hate this team, they won’t let me. Maybe it’s because this isn’t the Chargers team that we envisioned when John Harbaugh joined forces with Justin Herbert in LA. I wanted action. I wanted a block buster movie with explosive plays, flashy super stars and big explosions. The big explosions are about the only thing we have got for this team who has one of the top defenses in the game. They have given up 20 points just once this year, against the Steelers when they gave up exactly 20 points. They allow a league best 13.1 ppg which leaves their offense with plenty of margin for error. Hell, even Mac Jones and the Jaguars putrid offense could stay in games with a defense like that. Luckily they do have Herbert who has showed is just capable enough of wining games. The offense will start to click under Harbaugh, the question is how long will it take?

15) Cincinnati Bengals 4-6, last week 16

With little to no margin for error, the Cincinnati Bengals played like a team that had the season on the line in Baltimore. Joe Burrow had one of the best games we have seen from a QB this season and Ja’Marr Chase was just a couple yards short of a career high night. Even with their best players playing to the best of their potential, it wasn’t enough to beat the Ravens. There will be some doubts surrounding Zac Taylor’s decision to go for the Two Point Conversion, but if you lose the toss it’s more than likely you don’t see the ball again, so go for the win with the ball in your hands. No problems for me there. The Bengals can now only afford one more loss over the next nine weeks after their terrible start to the season.

16) Denver Broncos 5-5, last week 15

The Broncos schedule went from Candy Cane Lane to a house of horrors in the snap of the finger. They got blown out by the Ravens last week, and just when it seemed like the wheels might start to fall off, they go into Arrowhead and should have beat the Chiefs. Rookie Bo Nix outplayed two time MVP Patrick Mahomes. The defense held the Chiefs to just one TD, while forcing field goals on three out of four red zone trips. They did everything they had to do to win on Sunday in KC except block for the game winning field goal. The Broncos are now 5-5, and are coming back to earth after a surprising start to Bo Nix’s career.

17) Los Angeles Rams 4-5, last week 14

The Rams had a golden opportunity to keep their winning streak alive and keep up with the NFC West leading Arizona Cardinals on Monday night against the Dolphins. I think we forgot, and maybe they did too, that having Puca and Cooper back and healthy doesn’t guarantee you a win. You have to go to out and make plays and the Rams didn’t make plays against the Dolphins. Three trips into the red zone, three field goals. Countless mistakes that either cost LA the chance to kick a field goal, backed up a field goal attempt, or stifled drives in the red zone. For the first time since the return of the WRs, we saw the same problems that plagued LA in the first half of the season.

18) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-6, last week 20

Man, if you don’t like Baker Mayfield at this point you are just a hater. Since losing his top two WRs he has taken last years AFC and NFC Champions to the final bell in the last two weeks and come just short of pulling off what would have been season saving win. He wasn’t great for a lot of the game against the Niners, but when it mattered most he willed his team down field to tie the game with 41 seconds left. The Bucs go into their BYE week hoping to get Mike Evans back for the final stretch of the season. Remember this is a team that beat the Lions and the Eagles early in the season. They could make a run if they get and stay healthy.

19) Miami Dolphins 3-6, last week 26

The Dolphins had to have it in LA, and they got it. It wasn’t a textbook Dolphins win that lit up the score board. Instead it was the defense that locked down the Rams potent offense as Miami showed a bit of grit that we haven’t seen for a few seasons. Tua looks more and more comfortable moving around the pocket. OBJ is getting more involved in the offense. Achane and Mostert continue to create problems out of the backfield and Hill and Waddle will be much better than they were on Monday night. The Dolphins will essentially have to win out, which won’t be easy, but at least they snapped their skid and can start focusing on next week.

20) Seattle Seahawks 4-5, last week 19

BYE

21) Indianapolis Colts 4-6, last week 21

I don’t want to down play the heroism of Joe Flacco last year and in year’s past. His longevity has been the stuff of legends, and if you ask me Hall of Fame worthy. Having said that, it might be time for Flacco to hang it up. We talked about Flacco giving Indy the best chance to win now, but in the last couple of games he hasn’t had it. A 13 point performance on a disastrous night against the Vikings followed by a three pick day against the Bills might be the indication for the Colts to wave the white flag and start thinking about developing Anthony Richardson as their starting QB. I’ve gone back and forth on who should be the QB situation in Indy, and I’m sure it won’t be the last week I do so.

22) Chicago Bears 4-5, last week 18

Things are going backwards in the Windy City. We expected the Bears to maybe go through a few rough patches in the early part of the season and get progressively better, but things have spiraled out of control and hope has turned to despair as a familiar feeling sweeps through Chicago. Caleb Williams has been digressing since their BYE four weeks ago. The Bears have lost all three of those games since and have only scored two TDs since while averaging 9 ppg. That Jayden Daniels Hail Mary really took the wind out of Chicago’s sails and now the No. 1 overall pick has lost to the two QBs that were picked right after him in the Draft.

23) Cleveland Browns 2-7, last week 24

BYE

24) Jacksonville Jaguars 2-8, last week 25

It wasn’t a surprise seeing the Jags lose like they did late in the game after a 3rd down stop that would have made the Vikings punt the ball back to Jacksonville. Instead Travon Walker was called for a personal foul after the play and Minnesota was able to run the clock out. Walker wasn’t the only one responsible for the repulsive game the Jags played with Mac Jones under center, but he was responsible for shutting the door on his own team with a bonehead play. It was unlikely that the Jags, who had less than 150 yards of offense would have marched down the field and won the game. But the lack of discipline added on top of the despicable offense has been the downfall of the Jags season which is essentially over. It’d be better to let Trevor Lawrence heal his shoulder for next year because there is no reason to risk him in a lost season.

25) New York Jets 3-7, last week 22

The Jets season came crashing to an end in the desert as Aaron Rodgers forecast and warning to the rest of the league faded like an aging star. He was talking about if the Jets beat the Texans last Thursday, this team would have a chance to make a run. Like an idiot, I bought in. I figured Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson had linked up and were on the same page. I figured the defense that held CJ Stroud to 11/30 last week would be able to limit Kyler Murray. And I figured with the season on the line, Aaron Rodgers would back up what he was selling and come out and at least be competitive against the Cardinals. Shame on me for figuring the Jets would be anything other than the Jets. Shame on them for essentially being out of playoff contention after Week 10. And shame on the Jets who fired Robert Saleh in hopes of turning the season around. The only thing turning were TV channels as Jets fans are ready to wave the white flag.

26) New Orleans Saints 3-7, last week 29

The planets finally aligned for the Saints in New Orleans after the heavens have been awfully harsh on this team over the last couple months. Injury after injury ended up costing Dennis Allen is job at the Super Dome, but things finally came together for the first time in a long time against the Falcons. Marquez Valdes-Scantling exploded on to the scene in his NO debut in front of the home fans. Under the guidance of a new coach, who just happens to be a special teams specialist, he saw Atlanta miss three of their four field goals. With a three point lead and 16 minutes to go, the Saints went three and out for the rest of the night, but their defense and special teams finished off the Falcons to give the fans something to be happy about for the first time in a long time.

27) Las Vegas Raiders 2-7, last week 28

BYE

28) Dallas Cowboys 3-6, last week 23

The bigger the star, the more catastrophic the implosion. At the moment none of the Cowboys are deserving of wearing the star on their helmet. If I’m Jerry Jones I’m taking all the decals off the helmets of my players like it’s preseason. Obviously injuries have affected the Cowboys campaign, but even before that, this team was one of the biggest flops we have seen in a long history of flops for this franchise. Jerry is sticking with Mike McCarthy, or at least that’s what he says. Will that stance change after hearing Micah Parson’s take a shot at the Dallas head coach after the game?

29) Carolina Panthers 3-7, last week 30

What is this a dynasty the Panthers are building with Bryce Young as their QB? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, but the Panthers have won in back to back weeks for the first time since the opening weeks of the 2021 season. They did so in 2022, but there was a BYE week sandwiched in between so that doesn’t really count. The second half of the season is all about figuring out the direction this team and franchise wants to go. If Bryce keeps winning do they keep him? Does he even want to stay in Carolina? Plenty to figure out, but Carolina fans, enjoy this rare feeling. Not sure when the next time you’ll be able to celebrate two wins in two weeks.

30) New York Giants 2-8, last week 27

One of the only good things to happen to the Giants this year was the thing that cost them the game in Germany. In a game that they were chasing Bryce Young and the Panthers for all four quarters, New York somehow made up for a horrendous half of football from Munich. They tied the game up with a fourth quarter TD and a FG with 5 seconds on the clock. With the wind in their sails heading into OT, NY won the toss but Tyrone Tracy Jr. who had another 100 yard day for the Giants, fumbled the first snap of OT and the Panthers came out on top in the battle of bottom feeders.

31) New England Patriots 3-7, last week 31

It’s a process in New England. They have seen the extreme ends of the spectrum with their quarterbacks since the start of the millennium. Tom Brady needed no time to get used to NFL speed, physicality or schemes. Everyone else they have had since them needed too much time to sort that stuff out, if they ever did. Drake Maye is getting the conventional tutelage and each game this kid is getting better and better. Last week he led a two minute drive to tie up the game in Tennessee. It wasn’t enough for his first NFL win, but on Sunday in Chicago he beat the Bears and the No. 1 overall pick who seems to be regressing over the last few weeks. Had to feel good for Maye who has been the least talked about rookie QB of the 2024 class.

32) Tennessee Titans 2-7, last week 32

Tennessee brought back Will Levis returned under center as the Titans continue to put their young QB to the test. Statistically he had one of the better games in his short career. He hit 18 of 23 passes and had 175 yards and two TDs. It still wasn’t enough to beat the Chargers, who are a much better team than the Titans are. Tennessee continues to lose and continues to see bad teams around them at the bottom of the table win. That bodes well for their No. 1 overall pick aspirations that they will most certainly deny if asked about it.