Week 10 NFL Power Rankings

Brad Curnow

November 17, 2016

schedule 10 min read

Photo by Mike Siegel/The Seattle Times

While the bottom-six teams of the rankings didn’t move, Tennessee made the biggest jump of the week by moving up seven spots. The Packers tumbled eight spots to 20, which was the largest fall of the week. Some teams were bumped a spot or two as victims of circumstance as the teams surrounding them were playing well or poorly. Enjoy these power rankings before Week 11 shakes things up again.

  1. Dallas Cowboys (8-1) +1

The Cowboys now have the best record in the NFL after eight straight wins. There’s a strong argument that they should be undefeated. They were dangerously close to Dan Bailey’s range when Terrence Williams inexplicably stayed in bounds Week 1. The scary thing about the Cowboys is they have no glaring weaknesses.

  1. Seattle Seahawks (6-2-1) +4

Beating the Patriots must be sweet. Russell Wilson is playing out of his mind and looking like a top-tier quarterback, which he very well may be at this point in his career. C.J. Prosise was an awakening in the running and passing game. With Thomas Rawls and Michael Bennett coming back soon, this team is only getting better.

  1. New England Patriots (7-2) -2

Losing on the one-yard line against the Seahawks may be ironic, but it’s only a small bump in the road. The Patriots lost to a really good football team in their stadium, so it’s hard to drop them far based off of that.

  1. Oakland Raiders (7-2) -1

A bye week followed by a Monday night game, the Raiders were given a huge blessing with this part of their schedule. While it’s easy to say the Raiders have gotten lucky in several of their wins, the point still remains… they’re winning. The road ahead is tough in the packed-tight AFC West, but the Raiders control their own destiny.

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (7-2) –

Don’t let the Raiders success distract you from the fact that the Chiefs have now mounted their second unbelievable comeback this season. They currently lead the AFC West and if the season ended today they’d have a first-round bye. Is there a team that’s been dominating as quietly as Kansas City has?

  1. Denver Broncos (7-3) +1

Ironically, the most routine play in football became the highlight of Sunday’s matchup between the Broncos and the Saints when Denver’s Will Parks returned a blocked PAT for two points in what ended up being the game-winning play. The Broncos are once again proving that an elite defense can make up for subpar quarterback play. Denver has a Week 11 bye.

  1. Atlanta Falcons (6-4) -3

After a strong start to the season, the Falcons have lost three of five yet their offense still ranks first in the league in points scored and total yards. Despite their recent losses, the Falcons find themselves firmly in the driver’s seat in the lowly NFC South. Atlanta has a bye this week.

  1. New York Giants (6-3) –

Few teams in the NFL have a group of receivers as talented as those in New York. As long as Eli Manning continues to find Odell Beckham Jr. in the end zone, the Giants will be a tough offense to beat. The Giants face off against one of the more exploitable defenses in the league this Sunday when they take on the Bears.

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) +1

Philadelphia once again provided one of the surprise upsets of the week as the Eagles beat the Falcons on Sunday by holding the NFL’s top offensive unit to a mere 15 points. If running back Ryan Mathews can continue to come through for the Eagles, they might be just good enough to beat the red-hot Seahawks in Week 11.

  1. Washington Redskins (5-3-1) +3

While Dallas is taking the NFL and the division by storm, Washington has quietly improved to a 5-3-1 record. Impressive to think about when it started out with an 0-2 record. Hosting the struggling Packers this week gives it a chance to build momentum for the second half of the season.

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-5) +3

The Steelers are on a four-game losing streak thanks to their defense giving up the game late against Dallas on Sunday. Good news for Pittsburgh? The streak will almost certainly end this week as it faces the Browns.

  1. Minnesota Vikings (5-4) -3

Sam Bradford and the passing game have been terrible and Minnesota has not won a game in over a month now, hard to believe for a team that started the season 5-0. Fortunately, no other team seems to want to win the division either.

  1. Arizona Cardinals (4-4-1) +5

Arizona has just one loss in its last five games, but that doesn’t sound too impressive when two of those games are against the lowly 49ers. Arizona still has five road games left on their schedule. However, they face Minnesota this week, a team that seems to have forgotten how to win football games.

  1. Detroit Lions (5-4) -3

The Lions have won four of their last five games with a bye in Week 10. Well rested with a stretch of four games against teams near or under .500 (looking at you Minnesota), expect Detroit to pull away from the rest of the pack in the NFC North.

  1. Houston Texans (6-3) –

At 6-3, there is such a thing as fool’s gold. With just two wins against teams over .500 at the time of the meeting, Houston heads into the meat of its schedule with the Raiders, Chargers and Packers in the next three weeks.

  1. Tennessee Titans (5-5) ­+7

The Titans are shooting up the power rankings, and deservedly so after Marcus Mariota threw for four touchdowns against the Packers in Week 10. Despite a tumultuous history against the Colts, it would appear this could be the year Tennessee finally gets its first win over Indianapolis since October of 2011. You read that correct.

  1. Baltimore Ravens (5-4) -2

Baltimore could be headed into a buzz saw in Week 11 as the Ravens are headed to Dallas to take on the Cowboys. Amid an eight-game winning streak, Dallas doesn’t seem to be slowing down, while the Ravens are scrambling to stay above .500.

  1. Buffalo Bills (4-5) -2

“You win some, you lose some,” seems to be the Bills’ mantra this season as they have gone on to lose three straight after a four-game losing streak. Buffalo could right the ship once again by hosting the Bengals in Week 11.

  1. Miami Dolphins (5-4) +1

The Miami defense showed up when it counted Sunday, forcing four Rivers interceptions in the fourth quarter. Jay Ajayi finally cooled off, rushing for just 79 yards Sunday, but Ryan Tannehill responded with his best game of the season, tossing two touchdowns. Miami is on a four-game win streak after starting 1-4.

  1. Green Bay Packers (4-5) -8

The good will of seasons past that Aaron Rodgers had accumulated may be running out. The Packers’ latest loss, a 47-25 drubbing in Tennessee, has rumors of coaching changes running rampant. There’s something to be said for the laundry list of injuries Green Bay is facing, but time is running out for a run at a playoff berth.

  1. Cincinnati Bengals (3-5-1) –

The Bengals’ season is wasting away and no one can really pinpoint why. Part of the reason is the tough schedule, as each of Cincinnati’s losses have come to probable playoff teams. The Bengals have been unable to close out close games this season and now Andy Dalton’s play is beginning to slip.

  1. New Orleans Saints (4-5) –

The Saints had the honor of being the first NFL team to lose a game on a returned extra point attempt. The white shoes white sideline controversy aside, New Orleans can’t afford to let the Broncos take that blocked kick all the way back. Regardless, the Saints seem to have arrived as an NFC South contender.

  1. San Diego Chargers (4-6) -6

The Chargers have almost no chance at getting a decent spot in the AFC West. It can be a daunting task when you are competing with the likes of the Broncos, Raiders and Chiefs. After a horrendous game against the Dolphins, Philip Rivers threw four interceptions in the last 15 minutes of the game. He looks to redeem himself against the Texans this Sunday.

  1. Carolina Panthers (3-6) +1

The Panthers’ season seems to be done, but playing in the NFC South has its advantages. This is a short week for Carolina, and it will face division rival New Orleans this Thursday night. With both teams looking for a win after a loss, this will be a matchup to watch.

  1. Indianapolis Colts (4-5) -1

After pulling off an upset against the Packers last weekend, Indianapolis looks to build on its momentum against bitter division foe Tennessee. In their last matchup, the Colts came away with the win, and if able to repeat the last outcome, the Colts move closer to clinching the AFC South.

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) –

Tampa Bay has lost against all the above-.500 teams it has faced this season. This trend looks to continue this Sunday when it faces the 7-2 Chiefs, a team that is well above .500 this season. A loss will open the door for the struggling Saints to take over the No. 2 spot in this weak division.

  1. Los Angeles Rams (4-5) –

With Case Keenum under center, the Rams have won only four games. With 191 completions on 313 attempts, 11 interceptions and nine touchdowns on the season, the Jared Goff era will begin this Sunday against the Dolphins. Fans have been chanting for Goff, and it looks like head coach Jeff Fisher has finally heard their cries.

  1. New York Jets (3-7) –

Although the Jets scored just six points and lost to L.A. in Week 10, they may have found their quarterback in Bryce Petty. The team will have a much-needed week off to prepare for New England in Week 12.

  1. Chicago Bears (2-7) –

Jay Cutler returned to his normal subpar self and the Bears were trounced by the Bucs in Week 10. Leading receiver Alshon Jeffery was suspended four games for PEDs and things are looking even more bleak in Chicago than before.

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-7) –

Once viewed as a trendy pick to make the playoffs, Jacksonville now sits in last place in the division. Blake Bortles has thrown the second-most interceptions in the league and with no real rushing threat, it could be a rough final few weeks for the Jags.

  1. San Francisco 49ers (1-8) –

The 49ers showed some signs of life in Week 10 against Arizona, but fell on a game-winning field goal as time expired. With the AFC-leading Patriots in town this week, head coach Chip Kelly’s time in San Francisco may soon also be expiring.

  1. Cleveland Browns (0-10) –

The Browns find themselves in a familiar place, fighting for the first pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Searching for a victory, they host the struggling Steelers in Week 11, a place where the two teams have split the last four meetings.