Nolan Anderson’s NFL Power Rankings: Post Week Ten
This NFL season has been one of the wildest in years. This week the top team in the NFL fell, a coach with no prior experience got a win and Tom Brady one a game in Germany. Let’s see how the rankings broke down.
CONTENDERS
- Vikings (last week #2)
Wide receiver Justin Jefferson had the catch of the year. The Vikings got the win of the year. With a dominant win against the preseason Super Bowl favorites, the Buffalo Bills, the Vikings cemented themselves as a true contender.
- Eagles (last week #1)
Turnovers matter. The Eagles matched their season total in turnovers in just one against the Commanders. You can blame officiating, play calling, or special teams but you aren’t going to win games if you can’t hold onto the ball.
- Chiefs (last week #3)
The steadiest team in the league. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes had another 300+ yard 4 touchdown day and the Chiefs were in complete control against the Jaguars. With another loss by the Bills, Chiefs have a chance at the #1 seed.
- Dolphins (last week #8)
The Tua doubters have been awfully quiet as of late. According to NFL next Gen stats, Tua leads the NFL in EPA per drop back. In layman’s terms, that means Tua has been the most efficient quarterback in the NFL. Better than Mahomes, better than Allen. The MVP chants have been well deserved.
- Ravens (last week #6)
The bye came at a perfect time for the Ravens, allowing time for their oft injured backfield to get healthy for second half of the season.
- Bills (last week #4)
You just need to look at the win probability chart from Sunday’s game against the Vikings to know how crazy of an ending that was. With just over a minute to go, the Bills had a charted 100% chance of winning, and still lost the game.
- 49ers (last week #9)
Week over week, talent wins out. The 49ers may have the most top to bottom talented roster in the NFL.
PLAYOFF HOPEFULS
- Titans (last week 13)
Mike Vrabel should be in talks for coach of the year. A.J. Brown was traded, his starting QB has been injured, and this team just churns out wins.
- Bengals (last week #10)
Another well timed bye. The Bengals have a chance to see the return of Ja’Marr Chase this Sunday when they face off against the divisional rivals the Steelers.
- Jets (last week #11)
The Jets may have taken down big brother with their win against the Bills two weeks ago, but the Patriots are up next week, and they have owned the Jets over the last decade.
- Seahawks (last week #7)
Halfway around the world the Seahawks faced their worst loss since week two. They can take a little solace that it took the G.O.A.T. to take them down.
- Giants (last week #12)
The Giants had a bye, and saw the two teams ahead of them in the division take an L. Couldn’t ask for a better off week.
- Cowboys (last week #5)
Do the Cowboys ask Dak to do too much? With another multi-pick game, the Cowboys lost a close game at Lambeau. Maybe bringing in Odell will be the key to unlocking this offense.
- Commanders (last week #17)
Im not sure if there ever was a debate, but this is Taylor Heinicke’s team. Since he became the starter, this team has gone from plucky underdog to a team to be reckoned with.
PLAYOFF HOPEFULS (that I don’t feel good about)
- Buccaneers (last week #18)
A tough win deserves recognition. The Seahawks are a legit team in the NFL, and for the second week in a row, Brady led the Buccaneers to a victory. The ship may be righted down in Tampa.
- Chargers (last week #14)
The lack of healthy players at the receiver position is starting to be more than Chargers offense can overcome. Currently running back Austin Ekeler is the team’s top receiver, and it’s not even close. Hopefully the expected return of wideout Mike Williams isn’t too late.
- Patriots (last week #16)
The last time the Pats lost to the Jets in the regular season, Mark Sanchez was the opposition quarterback. With an extra week to set up a game plan, expect more of the same this upcoming Sunday when the Patriots face the Jets.
- Cardinals (last week #23)
Even after the win, I don’t feel great about this team. I am not sure it is a good sign when the backup quarterback (shout out Colt McCoy!) comes in and makes the offense look better over your young QB who just signed a long-term extension.
- Browns (last week #19)
The best news for the Browns was that quarterback Deshaun Watson was cleared by the NFL to start practicing with the team ahead of his return from suspension in week 11.
- Jaguars (last week #20)
The Jags seem to have hit the ceiling for this offense. Im not sure quarterback Trevor Lawrence is the generational prospect he was touted to be.
- Packers (last week #26)
A win is a win, but did it save their season? Four games back from the division, and at least a game and a half out of the wild card, it may be too little too late for the Packers to make a push.
MAYBE NEXT YEAR
- Falcons (last week #17)
Hopefully the Falcons used their bye to draw up something to get Kyle Pitts the ball!
- Lions (last week #28)
The story of the game may have been the plays the Lions gave up against the opposing quarterback Justin Fields, but the real story is the Lions are on the rise! The Lions won their first road game since Matthew Stafford was quarterback.
- Bears (last week #21)
Justin Fields may have lost the game for the Bears with a devastating pick six in the second half, but the Bears were only in that game because of Fields. After a year and a half of being stymied by playing calling, Fields has been unleashed, becoming one of the most exciting players to watch.
- Broncos (las week #24)
The Broncos have a top three defense in the NFL across almost every metric, and they have only mustered two wins on the season. The offense is broken.
- Rams (last week #22)
It might be time to put a bow on the season for the Rams. Stafford is hurt, wide receiver Cooper Kupp is going to be out multiple weeks, and the losses continue to pile up.
- Panthers (last week #30)
And the quarterback carousel continues. After going with PJ Walker as their starter, benching him, going back to him the next week, the Panthers have now announced Baker Mayfield will get the start this upcoming Sunday.
- Colts (last week #32)
Maybe the win for the Colts had more to do with the return of Jonathan Taylor and Matt Ryan, rather than the hiring of a coach out of the ESPN studio.
- Steelers (last week #27)
The Steelers got the win against the floundering Saints, but the real win for the team was the return of defensive end TJ Watt.
- Saints (last week #25)
The Saints ignored the writing on the wall this offseason, and made some aggressive win now moves. These have not panned out.
- Texans (last week #32)
The Texans lost again, but I am going to take a week off from piling on, this team is bad and there is not much more to say.
- Raiders (last week #29)
When your quarterback is so frustrated with your team that he is crying in the post-game press conference, you have officially earned “worst team in the league” designation.
