1. Green Bay Packers (Previous Rank: 3)
Aaron Rodgers returned and did his thing, but this one was all about the Packers’ defense. Who held Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks offense to zero points. They have vastly improved since last season, proving to everyone that they are at a super bowl caliber team. They currently hold the top spot in the NFC and don’t look to be slowing down. Their next task comes against the Vikings in Minnesota.
2. Tennessee Titans (Previous Rank: 2)
The Titans just keep on rolling, despite losing their best player a few weeks ago. They defeated yet another playoff caliber team as they beat the Saints 23-21. Ryan Tannehill continues to do his job and the defense has stepped up big time. This team is very well coached, led behind one of the most respected coaches in the league, Mike Vrabel. They will have a fairly easy matchup this week when they face the one-win Houston Texans at home.
3. Buffalo Bills (Previous Rank: 8)
The Bills bounced back in a big way after that embarrassing loss to Jacksonville last week. The Bills put up a season-high 45 points, as the Josh Allen to Stefon Diggs connection was in full effect this week. Diggs had his best game so far this season ending with eight catches for 162 yards and a TD. The defense continues to prove why it is amongst the best in the league as they picked off New York Jets QB Mike White four times. The Bills will have a tougher task this week as they face tar RB Jonathan Taylor and the Indianapolis Colts.
4. Arizona Cardinals (Previous Rank: 1)
The Colt McCoy magic ran out this week as the Cardinals were beaten down 34-10 by the Carolina Panthers. The Cardinals are desperate to get back starting QB Kyler Murray as they look to continue their quest to win the NFC West. It was an overall ugly loss for the Cards, as both sides of the ball were basically non-existent. The Cardinals look to get healthy and bring back their reinforcements on offense, as they will go against Seattle on the road.
5. Dallas Cowboys (Previous Rank: 6)
The Cowboys took last week’s loss personally as they came back in a huge way against the Atlanta Falcons. They annihilated the birds 43-3 as both the offense and defense were nothing short of amazing. For starters QB Dak Prescott had a great game throwing for 296 yards and totaling three TDs. He also managed to complete 77% of his passes. The defense was phenomenal as breakout CB Trevon Diggs snatched his league leading 8th interception of this season. The Cowboys looked like a true Super Bowl contender this past Sunday and will look to continue their run this week at Kansas City.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Previous Rank: 4)
The Bucs looked awful as they were upset by a weak Washington team this past Sunday. QB Tom Brady started the game off with two early interceptions as throughout the whole game they could not seem to get any rhythm on offense. The defense looked just as bad as they have looked nowhere near the level that they were on last season. The Bucs currently sit at 6-3 and there could be more upsets similar to this one if they don’t sharpen up on defense. They will take on a weak Giants team at home on Monday night.
7. Baltimore Ravens (Previous Rank: 5)
The Ravens offense was completely shut down by a struggling Miami defense. Lamar Jackson could not get in his usual flow as he and the rest of the offense put up a measly 10 points. It was an overall ugly game for the Ravens as their defense allowed 22 points to a below average Miami offense. The Ravens are now 6-3 and still atop the very competitive AFC North. They will look to remain in control of their division in a very winnable matchup against the Chicago Bears this Sunday.
8. Los Angeles Rams (Previous Rank: 7)
The Rams were outplayed in every aspect of the game on Monday night. The defense had absolutely no answer for WR Deebo Samuel and the rest of the San Francisco offense as they could not stop either the pass nor the run. The offense was not its usual self as newly acquired WR Odell Beckham Jr. was no help, totaling two catches for 18 yards. QB Matthew Stafford threw two interceptions as they were both to safety Jimmie Ward. The Rams will look to bounce back this week in a very tough matchup against the Packers.
9. Kansas City Chiefs (Previous Rank: 13)
Somehow after their horrid start to the season, the Chiefs found themselves atop the AFC West at the end of week 10. Patrick Mahomes put up his best performance of the season as he ended with 406 passing yards to go along with a season high five TDs. The Chiefs looked like their former self in this one as the defense was much better than it’s been all season, as it limited the Raiders to 17 points and forced two turnovers as well. They look to remain at the top of their division as they face a strong Cowboys team this Sunday.
10. New England Patriots (Previous Rank: 12)
The Patriots are playing great football as of late. They picked up their fourth straight win this past Sunday as they tore apart the Browns 45-7. Mac Jones has put together one heck of a rookie campaign as he added nearly 200 passing yards and three TDs to it Sunday. The Patriots defense is proving to be one of the league’s best this season as they held QB Baker Mayfield to less than 100 passing yards and the Browns offense to seven total points. They are right next to the Bills in the AFC East as they look to make it five straight this Thursday against Atlanta.
11. Los Angeles Chargers (Previous Rank: 9)
The Chargers have been very inconsistent this season as they lost a close 27-20 matchup against the Vikings. QB Justin Herbert wasn’t great in this one as he threw for under 200 yards and added a pick. The Chargers defense has been a weak spot this season for them allowing 24 points per game. The Chargers are currently 5-4 and still in position to win their division and make the playoffs, they will have to be a better team on defense and play more consistently on offense. They will look to do that this week against the Steelers.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers (Previous Rank: 11)
The Steelers, even given that they were without starting QB Ben Roethlisberger, were the first team this season not to beat the Detroit Lions. The Steelers were in charge most of this game as they had countless opportu
nities to win this game. The biggest mishap being the fumble by TE Pat Freiermuth in overtime. The Steelers were playing much better until Ben went down, they hope to get him back soon as it seems backup QB Mason Rudolph will start this Sunday against the Chargers.
13. Indianapolis Colts (Previous Rank: 17)
The Colts have been playing much better as of late. Mostly in part due to RB Jonathan Taylor, who finished Sunday with 126 total yards and a TD. The RB has been a huge part of the offense this season leading all running backs in scrimmage yards. The defense however has not been strong and definitely nowhere near the level they were at last season. They will need to strengthen up on that side of the ball if they want to make the playoffs. They have a tough task with a strong Buffalo offense this Sunday.
14. New Orleans Saints (Previous Rank: 14)
The Saints dropped a close one to the Titans this past Sunday. The defense played well enough to keep them in the game, and the offense was good. They played an overall pretty good game that just did not fall in their favor. On the bright side QB Trevor Siemian is proving to be a great fill-in replacement for the injured Jameis Winston, Siemian ended Sunday with nearly 300 passing yards and two TDs. The Saints are proving to still be a solid playoff contender with all their injury issues. They will take on the Eagles in Philly this weekend.
15. Cincinnati Bengals (Previous Rank: 15)
The Bengals currently stand at 5-4 and similar to other AFC teams are playing very inconsistent football at the moment. WR Ja’Marr Chase has looked like the front runner for offensive rookie of the year and a future WR1 for years to come. Joe Burrow has looked good and has picked up from where he left off last season. Also, as a surprise, the Bengals defense has looked much better than last season. This Bengals team is definitely a threat to make the playoffs and who knows might even make a run. They will travel to Vegas for a matchup with the Raiders this Sunday.
16. Cleveland Browns (Previous Rank: 10)
The Browns were beaten down by a formidable Patriots defense this Sunday as their playoff hopes continue to diminish. Questions around QB Baker Mayfield continue to surround the franchise into year four, as they are still trying to figure out if he’s their future at the quarterback position. The Browns are not out of it yet as they sit at a respectable 5-5, but things will have to change quickly in Cleveland if they want any hope at a postseason run. They will face the still winless Lions in what they hope to be a bounce back game.
17. Minnesota Vikings (Previous Rank: 21)
The Vikings have been a very good and competitive team all season, the only reason people have not recognized that is because most of those games have not fallen their way. This week it did though as they defeated the Chargers 27-20, to pick up their fourth win on the season. Their defense has been their main issue thus far, giving up 20+ points in six games so far. The offense has been great so far, as this Sunday star WR Justin Jefferson totaled nine catches for 143 yards. The Vikings will face another powerhouse offense with the Packers this Sunday.
18. San Francisco 49ers (Previous Rank: 24)
The 49ers kept their season alive in a very formidable way, defeating a Super Bowl contending Rams squad 31-10. WR Deebo Samuel would not be stopped both on the ground and in the air, the breakout star totaled 133 yards and two TDs. TE George Kittle also added five catches for 50 yards and a TD. The offense which has been somewhat lackluster looked great. The Niners sit at 4-5 in a very competitive NFC West, this team could get hot at the right time and look to make a playoff push. They will try to build momentum off this win when they face the Jags in Jacksonville this week.
19. Carolina Panthers (Previous Rank: 25)
Cam Newton turned back the clock as he returned to the Panthers against the same team his first ever game was. The QB did manage to get in the end zone twice with his very limited role. Star RB Christian McCaffery looks like his same old dominant self, totaling 161 yards in the game. The Panthers defense picked apart QB Colt McCoy, allowing him to do basically nothing the whole game. The Panthers could very well still make a late playoff push as they currently sit at an even 5-5 they will face Washington this week at home.
20. Philadelphia Eagles (Previous Rank: 23)
The Eagles dominated the Broncos on the ground this past week, totaling a whopping 214 rushing yards. QB Jalen Hurts once again did his thing throwing for nearly 180 yards and two TDs as he led the offense to a 30 piece. The Eagles defense was a huge factor, getting a lot of crucial stops in key moments. The Eagles are still in the playoff race as they hold a 4-6 record. They will look to gain back more ground this week when they play the Saints on Sunday.
21. Denver Broncos (Previous Rank: 16)
After a very impressive victory over a very good Cowboys offense last Sunday, The Broncos came out and did the complete opposite this past Sunday. The defense looked horrible allowing 30 points to a mediocre Eagles offense and Teddy Bridgewater and the rest of the offense could not get any rhythm. The Broncos have been one of the league’s most inconsistent teams this year starting off 3-0, and now just 2-5 in their last seven. The Broncos will look to fix their issues during their bye week.
22. Las Vegas Raiders (Previous Rank: 18)
The Raiders had their chance on Sunday night to finally stick it to the Chiefs and make a statement that the division was theirs to lose this season. Instead their secondary got torched by QB Patrick Mahomes who also managed to lead the offense to a 27-point blowout against them. After this team’s significant amount of off the field issues, QB Derek Carr has done his best to try and lead them to the wins. It looks like after their 3-0 start the chemistry and confidence in this team has completely deflated. They will attempt to stay above 500 this week when they face the Bengals at home.
23. Seattle Seahawks (Previous Rank: 19)
The Seahawks were hoping for a little bit of Russ’s magic in their matchup with the Packers this past Sunday, but instead they laid a goose egg, losing 17-0. The Seahawks played their worst game by far this season, getting absolutely nothing to go their way on offense. The defense was able to hold off Aaron Rodgers and the Packers for a little but eventually it proved to be too much. The Seahawks now sit at an unplann
ed 3-6 as their playoff hopes are slowly diminishing. They need to secure a win this Sunday against the Cardinals if they want any shot at the playoffs.
24. New York Giants (Previous Rank: 22)
The Giants are currently 3-6 and as bad as that is, it could be a lot worse due to their injury problems. The Giants, unlike other teams, are not completely out of it yet as they are currently 3-6. They have had some impressive wins so far this season, but have also taken some tough losses. QB Daniel Jones in his supposed to be prove it year has looked alright not great but also not horrible. The Giants look to keep their season alive this week against a struggling Bucs team on Monday night.
25. Atlanta Falcons (Previous Rank: 20)
The Falcons are a very confusing team at the moment. One week they look like a playoff team and the next they look like a one win team. This week, they looked like a no-win team, taking one of the worst beat downs in franchise history to the Cowboys, 43-3. Nothing went well for them in this one as both QBs Matt Ryan and Josh Rosen combined for three interceptions. The defense could not stop a rock as the Cowboys put up 36 in the first half alone. They will try to forget this one as soon as possible as they head into this week’s matchup against the Patriots.
26. Washington Football Team (Previous Rank: 28)
The Football Team gained their most impressive victory on the season as they got revenge on the Bucs from last year’s Wild Card game. QB Taylor Heinicke was dealing as he made some very impressive throws in key spots. The quarterback ended with 256 passing yards and a TD. This win is bittersweet, as directly after the game it was announced star d-lineman Chase Young tore his ACL and is out for the season. This is a big blow to a defense that already was struggling this season. They will go into this week’s matchup against Carolina without their best player.
27. Miami Dolphins (Previous Rank: 29)
The Dolphins defense this past Thursday is exactly what HC Brian Flores envisioned it to be at the end of last season. They were able to hold QB Lamar Jackson and a high-powered Ravens offense to 10 points. Tua even came in to finish it off on the offensive end. The QB ended with a very respectable 158 yards and eight completions on 13 attempts. The Dolphins season has been a train wreck so far, but this is a very encouraging win for this group of guys going into the rest of this season and next season. They will go on the road and face a weak Jets team in week 11.
28. Chicago Bears (Previous Rank: 26)
The Bears are coming off their bye week at a disappointing but predictable 3-6. Everyone in football and everyone that follows football know that Matt Nagy is not the right guy to lead this team. The offense has struggled for years under his play calling. Even though rookie QB Justin Fields, who has been playing better under late, struggled early on with Nagy’s system. The Bears will not succeed until they move on from Nagy. They will try and salvage their season this week against the Ravens.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (Previous Rank: 27)
The Jaguars played another overall solid game on Sunday, losing to the Colts 23-17. This young and promising defense led by up and coming LB Josh Allen could be a serious problem for teams in a few years. First overall pick Trevor Lawrence is still trying to find his footing in the league as each week he keeps improving and gaining experience. The Jaguars could be positioned to make a playoff push in a few years. They have a lot of great young pieces to make it work. They will face the Niners at home this Sunday.
30. Detroit Lions (Previous Rank: 32)
The Lions finally did not come out of the week with a loss, but in true Lions fashion they did not win either. Instead they decided to tie with Pittsburgh in what was a very capable game for them to win. QB Jared Goff continued his struggles as he threw for a pathetic 114 yards. The Lions only positive this season has been RB D’Andre Swift who rushed 33 times for 130 yards. The Lions currently sit at 0-8-1 and still seek their first win of the season. They will face the Browns this Sunday.
31. New York Jets (Previous Rank: 30)
The Jets were absolutely and utterly horrible this Sunday as they were handed yet another beat down, this time by the Bills. Backup QB Mike White ran out of gas as he threw a miserable four interceptions before being benched for third string Joe Flacco. The Jets made a great hire in the off-season acquiring HC Robert Saleh. He has tried and will continue to try and build this franchise back up. The Jets will try to gain some momentum towards next season as they face the Dolphins on Sunday.
32. Houston Texans (Previous Rank: 31)
The Texans are 1-8 and are on an eight-game losing streak, needless to say they have not been very good this season. Not only are they not very good, but unlike other teams who were expected to be bad and rebuilding, they have no future to look forward to. The only bright spot this year has been 28-year-old WR Brandin Cooks, who is about the only vet they haven’t cut. Their HC hire in David Culley this season was amongst the worst hires in all of football. It’s a dark time for Texans fans, they will face the AFCs top team in the Titans which should line up to be a sure-fire blowout.
Photo Courtesy of Mark Hoffman
