I really hope no one is looking for a new #1 in the power rankings this week. Or new teams at 3, 9, 14, 23, 31, or 32. I’M JUST NOT DOING IT. The Giant’s are the biggest fallers this week, and a bunch of teams popped up three spots. The biggest actual loser of week 10? The New Orleans Saints of course, who didn’t have a lot of wiggle room in the NFC bye race. The biggest winner is of course the Raaiiiderrrrs and their triumph over fellow AFC west hopeful, and longtime rivals, the Los Angels Chargers. Here’s how it all shakes out:

  1. San Francisco –
    • I can’t move the Niners down in good conscience. Yes. They finally lost a game. This puts them in a category with the other teams who have lost a game which includes… all of them. They lost to a great team, in OT, after missing a field goal that would have given them a win. Oh yeah, and without their starting TE and WR1. I get it, the losses still count. Let’s see them get thoroughly outplayed before we move them down though.
  2. Baltimore +3
    • Loved this conversation between Lamar Jackson and his Head Coach. Harbaugh is all of us who love to watch Jackson hit the circle button on opposing defenders. We are almost at a “what more do you want from this team” level after they make the Seahawks, Patriots, and Bengals look silly in successive weeks. A first-round bye might be dependent on the result vs Houston this week. I like their chances.
  3. New England –
    • Coming off the bye, the Patriots continue the rough part of their schedule, with a game in Philadelphia. He’s no Lamar Jackson, but the Eagles quarterback can still make plays with his legs, and escape pressure in the pocket. New England’s defense will have to get back to forcing turnovers as their bread and butter. A turnover differential of +16 is precisely why they are winning. That and a schedule that would make a power five conference’s homecoming week look like a championship game.
  4. Seattle +2
    • Russell Wilson played his worst game of the year statistically and may have helped his MVP case. Look, the Pete Carrol/Russell Wilson Era has had a lot of fun moments (and some not so fun), and in the OT period, I couldn’t help but root for the Seahawks to drive down the field and win the game. Then Wilson was picked. At that point, it seemed like we all knew where the game was heading. So when Chase McLaughlin missed the kick – and was slandered by the broadcast booth in the process – Wilson preformed his patented magic, and drove down again for a FG. Even if the Seahawks had to win this way every week, I would still expect if from the future Hall of Famer Wilson.
  5. Green Bay +2
    • The Packers get to the bye at 8-2, two games better than their finish last year. The remarkable turnaround has many people to thank, but if you’re looking to praise, the head man Matt LaFleur is deserving. The man off to the best star for a Packers head coach since Curly Lambeau should receive coach of the year votes, but wont with Aaron Rodgers still rostered. The practice of holding Rodgers’ and LaFleur’s relationship under a microscope has subsided until it is convenient for lazy takes-men to unveil the premise again. A date with San Francisco sits across the off week for Green Bay, and they’ll need a week to prepare. #1 seed dreams are still alive.
  6. Saints – 4
    • The biggest upset of the year must be the Saints no-show vs Atlanta. You can’t tank a home game in your division that badly and expect not to drop a few spots in the power rankings. New Orleans wasn’t able to do much of anything last Sunday, as Alvin Kamara was held to 74 yards of offense and no scores. Will Lutz was the only Saint that mattered, going 3/3 on field goals in the 26-9 sadness affair. This team is in the middle of four straight division opponents and could risk their stranglehold on the NFC South if they incur another loss within the stretch. Carolina swims in their wake.
  7. Minnesota +1
    • The Vikings may have shown the world that they are for real. After holding on for a 28-24 win over the Cowboys in front of Al, Chris, and America, is it safe to assume this team isn’t going away? This was a crucial possible tiebreaker for the Vikings, if they can’t catch the Packers in the division. Kirk Cousins’ efficient day (23/32 220YDS 2TD) buoyed Minnesota to 7-3 and one game out of first place, but let’s be honest, Dalvin Cook was the star in Dallas that night. 183 total yards and a score doesn’t do his performance justice. When he wasn’t making Cowboys miss, he was running through them. Adrian Peterson’s yards from scrimmage record is surely in reach.
  8. Kansas City -4
    • Maybe put Matt Moore back in? I kid, I kid, but seriously, this team needs to stop the bleeding. 4 losses might too many to accomplish the things the Chiefs had in mind when the season started. We know the problem isn’t the quarterback. Patrick Mahomes threw for 446 yards and three scores in his return, including this objectively amazing jump shot pass to Mecole Hardman for a touchdown. We are running out of words to describe Mahomes’ grand ability, but I can think of plenty words to describe this defense. Here’s one I particularly like: porous. Too many explosive plays given up by this unit. We figured Kansas City would probably play in a couple 35-32 contests, but not to Ryan Tannehill.
  9. Dallas –
    • It’s now that part of the season where we all look around and wonder why Jason Garret still has a job. He rightly took more of the blame for telling Tavon Auston to fair catch a punt that could’ve yielded 10+ more yards to one of the leagues most dangerous return men on the final drive of the night for the Cowboys. We consistently see the talent Dallas has acquired, and watch them bungle late game situation after late game situation. They are still more talented than 90% of the league, but they cannot keep beating themselves every week. The Eagles will catch them, and now they have losses to Minnesota, Green Bay, and New Orleans, with the Rams and a rematch with the Eagles still looming.
  10. Houston +1
    • The Texans get a good rest after coming back from London. The stretch run awaits in the form of Ravens/Colts/Patriots. We’re going to know this team pretty well by the time December rolls around. What do we know about them now? Their offense sits in the top ten in points per game, yards per game, yards per play, third down conversion, and red zone scoring. The defense? Bottom half of the league in all those categories. While I may be misleading you a tad, dear reader – They have been great against the run – we’ve been watching a truly mediocre pass defense in Houston.
  11. Philadelphia +2
    • Why haven’t the Eagles had the success many predicted 10 week ago? Could the offensive line be the issue? Football Outsiders ranks it 16th in pass protection, and 15th in run blocking. Not terrible numbers. How about their wideouts? The same website has Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor ranked 34 and 68 respectively out of 68 eligible receivers.  Wentz isn’t having very much success throwing to these guys. At least the ground game has been working. Philadelphia is the 11th ranked rush offense. All this means is that Philly might have to stat grinding people, instead of throwing it all over the yard. Easier said than done in 2019, unless you’re the Ravens.
  12. Oakland +3
    • The Raiders won a big primetime game and are now right in the middle of the wildcard race. Things are looking good for Jon Gruden’s Raiders after 10 weeks. Just don’t suffer a major letdown in the form of a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals this week. Listen, the Raiders have a slew of winnable games left on their schedule. Winnable for good teams, that is. If they can stack them up, they will be playing in January no problem.
  13. Buffalo -3
    • Tough loss for the Bills who looked to be cruising into the playoffs. Now that they lost to the Browns, can we really trust them to beat the Broncos, Steelers, or DOLPHINS? Yeah, they can probably beat the Dolphins. Maybe I’m overreacting here, and Buffalo is actually still a good team, but they can probably kiss any division hopes goodbye. Now it’s all about getting back on track and doing something about their gawd awful run defense.
  14. Carolina –
    • Great effort from Carolina on Sunday. On a snowy Lambeau Field, Kyle Allen held his own and put his team in position to tie in the final seconds. The Panthers even did the right thing and gave the ball to their best player on the final play. It just didn’t work out. We saw some reoccurring mistakes out of Allen (one fumble, one pick), but ultimately he showed some good things. The Panthers have to just keep Christian McCaffrey rolling and maybe they can increase their 18% playoff chances.
  15. Indianapolis -3
    • The Colts haven’t played themselves out of the playoffs these last two weeks, but you had to home the Miami game was a gimmie if you are a Colts fan. With Brian Hoyer in the lineup, this team suddenly looks like one of the worst in the conference somehow. And with all the talent, and their above average coaching staff. This is the weirdest Colts season in a while. Three division games in a row could remedy their ails. They need Jacoby Brissett though. Without him they can lose to anyone.
  16. Tennessee +3
    • What a win for the Tians, who really needed it to stay alive in the AFC South. Derrick Henry rushed for more yards than Ryan Tannehill threw for (188-181), but they both accounted for two scores, including the go-ahead touchdown pass to Adam Humphries with 23 seconds left in the game. The defense took the day off but remembered to show up on the final Kansas City field goal attempt, blocking the 52 yard attempt and getting Tennessee back to .500 on the year. All is right in Nashville this week, as they lock eyes with the Jaguars for a second time this year.
  17. Pittsburgh +3
    • What an afternoon for this Pittsburgh Steelers defense. Forcing four turnovers and holding the Rams offense to three points. I’m not sure how far Mason Rudolph and the offense can take this team, but I’m also not sure it even matters. Minkah Fitzpatrick is playing like the defensive MVP right now, and when you can hold a player like Cooper Cupp off the stat sheet, you are a special unit.
  18. LA Chargers -2
    • The Chargers basically blew their opportunity to salvage a lost season in Oakland last Thursday night. The game ending interception Phillip Rivers threw just seemed like it could sink their playoff hopes. While still technically in it, the path to January gets no easier. Playing host to a Kansas City team in need of a win seems like a recipe for disaster. Too many close losses seem to haunt this team every year.
  19. LA Rams -2
    • Last week will be one to forget for Los Angles fans all over the country. They were stuck in neutral seemingly all afternoon. The problems this team has faced all season still linger. Bad offensive line play, no running game to set up the play action pass, and a quarterback who is making worse decisions by the week. It may be getting too late for Sean McVey and co. to catch the Seahawks or the Vikings.
  20. Tampa Bay +2
    • What we do know about the Bucs at this point in the year is that they can hang with anyone. While that might mean the Seahawks, it also might mean the Cardinals, who have joined Tampa Bay with the dreaded six in the loss column. At least whoever they find themselves playing, it will be a fin affair. You know you’re usually good for two turnovers from Jameis Winston, but now you’re going to give up 100 yards to Mike Evans or Chris Godwin (or even both!).
  21. Jacksonville -3
    • Minshew Mania is over in Jacksonville, and now we can see what Nick Foles was meant to do with his time there. In eight and a half games, Gardner Minshew was able to post a 92.9 quarterback rating, 61% completion percentage, and most importantly, four wins including a divisional win against the Titans. The Jags now have an uphill battle to content with, but the fact that they even have a chance at the playoffs, is solely owed to what Minshew was able to do in Foles’ stead. We may be seeing the rookie passer again sooner than later.
  22. Chicago +2
    • No one will remember that the Bears beat Jeff Driskel last Sunday, as the history books will just read 20-13 Bears. That being said, no one may remember anything about what will inevitably be a hugely disappointing 6-10 campaign in Chicago. In what was a pretty much equal quarterback matchup, Driskel wasn’t able to keep the stat sheet clean, and Mitchell Trubisky was. That will be the difference. Unfortunately, they only get to play the 29th ranked defense one more time.
  23. Arizona –
    • You can’t get too up or down this season by the Cardinals win/loss results. They are clearly rebuilding, and the team we see this week does not fulfill the vison Kliff Kingsbury and Co. have in mind for this era of Cardinals football. Still, there are thing to take away, like the play of rookie first overall pick Kyler Murray. And it’s good! Murray’s stats are encouraging for a first-year passer, and he is the most fun Cardinal to watch since prime Larry Fitzgerald (who still has a bit left in the tank).
  24. Detroit -3
    • The flailing Lions had to turn to Jeff Driskel in their time of need Sunday, and it turned out just about how you would expect it to: with barely any offensive output in a loss to the rudderless Bears. Yes, yes, the 47-yard touchdown to Kenny Golladay was great (and won me my fantasy matchup), but other than this, you got what a first time starter is going to give you. I guess some teams’ seasons end in week one when an injury occurs, some end a few weeks later when they mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, and others end slowly in week 11, like the 2019 Lions have. RIP.
  25. Atlanta +2
    • I always use to say flippantly, that if the Packers would go 2-14, but beat the Bears twice, it would be a successful season. That’s obviously horseshit, but you get the point. Atlanta gets the win over their hated rival, in a real spot that might have spoiled their chances at a bye. And honestly it wasn’t even a close game. That must count for something as they wander through the 2019 season directionless. Matt Ryan is still good, as is Julio Jones. Devonte Freeman, not so much.
  26. Cleveland +2
    • Good for the Browns! Beating the Bills, a team that ultimately should matter in the AFC is a nice treat in a super disappointing season. Beating Pittsburgh, while it has its different challenges, might feel the same. Nick Chubb is having a pro bowl year, and Myles Garret still looks formidable. You have to get at least two more aspects of your team going, whether that be the QB and his accuracy issues, or getting the penalties controlled, or start forcing turnovers. With this coaching staff? Good luck with that.
  27. Miami +2
    • This is the highest the Dolphins have been the whole season in the rankings, and it’s because they are doing a pretty bad job of tanking. We may have a Major League situation on our hands here. Even still, Ryan Fitzpatrick will never die (in spirit), and head coach Brian Flores is looking to keep rolling. It’s starting to not be embarrassing to lose to these guys anymore. I don’t want to underestimate the superiority that a Jet fan might feel after kicking their in-city rivals when their down, but it’s sort of like when a kid from the debate club beats up a kid on the chess team. You don’t want to be either of them, but especially not the one who loses to the other nerd. It’s really meaningless satisfaction for the Jets, who have now worsened their draft standing, but hey, at least Sam Darnold looked alright. Hopefully most of the teams in front of them are in the market for a QB.
  28. NY Jets +2
    • I don’t want to underestimate the superiority that a Jet fan might feel after kicking their in-city rivals when their down, but it’s sort of like when a kid from the debate club beats up a kid on the chess team. You don’t want to be either of them, but especially not the one who loses to the other nerd. It’s really meaningless satisfaction for the Jets, who have now worsened their draft standing, but hey, at least Sam Darnold looked alright. Hopefully most of the teams in front of them are in the market for a QB.
  29. Denver -3
    • The Broncos are the NFL’s forgotten team this year, and probably won’t be favored in any of the rest of their games. GM and franchise legend John Elway has a lot of work ahead of him to return this team to past glory, but it all starts with the quarterback. Joe Flacco was never going to be the answer, and now we will get seven games to figure out if any combination of Brandon Allen/Drew Lock will stick. If not, look for Denver to be active in free agency, and even look into dealing for Cam Newton. Now that would be fun.
  30. NY Giants -5
    • Joke is on the Jets, who gave the Giant’s a better draft position next May. Who will be laughing when the blue New York team selects a defensive standout one pick before the green one annually blows it? In all seriousness, Pat Shurmur should never have been hired, and the Mara’s would be right to let him go in seven weeks’ time, but there’s not really an upside to firing a coach before then. Unless you are Jay Gruden, and coming into work is a daily sideshow, let the man stick it out until Jan 1 (or whenever the season ends).
  31. Cincinnati –
    • The Bengals are lucky for one thing: That a football team resides in Our Nation’s Capital. Otherwise, they would be last on this list. After one of the most uninspiring performances of the year so far, (I say so far because the Bengals have 7 more games) you hate to hear talk of “one-and-done for Head Coach Zac Taylor. Buy you gotta win a game. I know Miami is on the schedule guys but come on. Even they are starting to string together some meaningless wins. You may have to throw Andy Dalton back in just to avoid 0-16. Also, doesn’t it take away some of the inferiority of 0-16 if three teams might do it in an eleven year span? No, wait. It doesn’t.
  32. Washington –

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