Everything is starting to come into focus, in the NFC that is. We pretty much know who the six playoff teams will be, with only the qualifier from the NFC East seeming uncertain. We even got some clarity as to how the top teams stack up with the 49ers thrashing the Packers in primetime. There is a two-game gap though between the Vikings, who currently hold the second wildcard spot in the conference, and everyone else chasing them. There is still lots to play for down the stretch, but I feel confident in saying that collection of seven teams will make up the six who feature in the postseason.

On the AFC side of things, this is absolute anarchy. There are four teams tied at 6-5 right now, and honestly none of them even feel all that deserving of the second wildcard spot. The Steelers currently hold that position, but given how shaky that offense is, they might not have it for long. Even the current division winners feel a little murky, as Kansas City and Houston both own the same record through 11 games. I say it all the time, but these rankings have truly felt like guesswork this year. There has been a reshuffling of the top five and some heavy movement in the middle of the rankings so let’s dive in.

1. Baltimore Ravens: 9-2 (Last Week: 1)
Won 45-6 at Los Angeles
There really are not enough adjectives to describe how dominant the Ravens look right now. Baltimore outscored the two teams that featured in last year’s Super Bowl 92-26. That is astounding. Lamar Jackson was on fire again, this time throwing five touchdown passes. The defense swallowed up Jared Goff and kept this Rams team from ever getting into a rhythm. This is a confident outfit that is clearly out to prove it is the best in the league. I can’t think of a team that coaches want to face less right now than Baltimore.

2. Seattle Seahawks: 9-2 (Last Week: 3)
Won 17-9 at Philadelphia
Is it just me, or is this team starting to feel a little bit like those Seattle teams from around 2013. The Seahawks rode their ground game and smothering defense to a gritty road win. It was far from perfect, as Russell Wilson was sacked six times. The defense more than made up for it though with five forced turnovers. There are several reasons why this season has been impressive for Seattle, but its 6-0 road record might top the list. That bodes well for a team currently holding a wildcard spot. (It is ridiculous that Seattle is currently in a wildcard spot, but that’s the NFL for ya.)

3. San Francisco 49ers: 10-1 (Last Week: 4)
Won 37-8 vs. Green Bay
San Francisco is not messing around. I don’t know if Jimmy Garoppolo heard all the questions being raised about his ability to show up against teams that weren’t the Cardinals, but he sure answered a lot of them with this performance. It was truly a full team effort, but Garoppolo had 253 yards passing and two touchdowns on just 20 attempts. The 49ers were also very happy to get George Kittle back, who had a monster game. This firmly puts San Francisco in the driver’s seat in the NFC, but they can hardly afford a slip up with Seattle holding the head-to-head tiebreaker.

4. New England Patriots: 10-1 (Last Week: 2)
Won 13-9 vs. Dallas
It is officially time to panic for this Patriots offense. Tom Brady threw the ball 37 times and failed to crack 200 yards passing. The Cowboys defense he faced on Sunday is not good enough for that to be happening. New England’s defense is more than capable of bailing the offense out from time to time, but this team is going to need to start scoring more points. After all, it is heading into big games down the stretch with Houston, Kansas City and Buffalo all on tap.

5. New Orleans Saints: 9-2 (Last Week: 5)
Won 34-31 vs. Carolina
That was entirely way too close for comfort for Saints fans. New Orleans had this game all but wrapped up, but kept finding ways to let Carolina back into it. The talent for this group is undeniable, but it needs to find more consistency. That is going to start with the defense based on this game. Drew Brees and company played about as well as you could’ve hoped. Cameron Jordan and friends need to do more after allowing Kyle Allen to toss three touchdowns against them.

6. Minnesota Vikings: 8-3 (Last Week: 7)
Bye Week
Minnesota has to like how the cards have fallen in recent weeks. The Vikings now control their own fate and could even earn a home playoff game with a win over the Packers later in the year. With a week off to get Adam Thielen back to full strength, Minnesota has to feel very good about where it stands in a loaded NFC. A litmus test against Seattle is the first thing this team will get coming off the bye. While the focus for both teams will be on winning their respective divisions, this game could decide the seeding of the two NFC wildcard teams come the end of the season.

7. Kansas City Chiefs: 7-4 (Last Week: 8)
Bye Week
This hasn’t been how the Chiefs wanted the follow up season to go after reaching the AFC Championship. Injuries have knocked them off course a bit, but Kansas City is still very much in control of it’s playoff fate and lurking in the AFC. While much has been made about the Patriots defense and MVP-favorite Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes still commands what can be the most explosive offense in the league. Fans just have to hope Andy Reid was able to fix the defense on the bye week. An important meeting with Raiders, who sit just a game back in the division despite their meltdown against the Jets, is next. A rematch of that AFC title game with the Patriots follows that divisional clash.

8. Green Bay Packers: 8-3 (Last Week: 6)
Lost 37-8 at San Francisco
Relax? This is the type of game that we could look back on as a turning point in the Packers season. Falling to 8-3, that actually drops Green Bay behind San Francisco, New Orleans and Seattle record wise, meaning that the climb to a first-round bye in the playoffs is steep. The Pack also suddenly find themselves level with the Vikings in the divisional standings. It was a failure to launch across the board, as the offensive line fell apart and the defense got pulled apart by Jimmy Garoppolo. Aaron Rodgers also had the least efficient game of his career. This team has the talent to rebound and finish strong, but this was a clear barometer for the contender status of two elite NFC teams. Clearly, San Francisco has the edge.

9. Houston Texans: 7-4 (Last Week: 11)
Won 20-17 vs. Indianapolis
This was a gutsy win for the Texans as they reclaimed their spot atop the AFC West. The defense showed up in a big way, shutting down the Colts pass attack and doing just enough to protect a slim lead in the late stages of the contest. Houston showed it could move the ball all night, but that only translated to two touchdowns. Given how leaky the defense can be, Deshaun Watson will have to lead the offense on more drives that finish in the end zone.

10. Dallas Cowboys: 6-5 (Last Week: 9)
Lost 13-9 at New England
In likely the ugliest game of the weekend, and that’s saying something, Dallas really could not find a way to get into gear. The defense played fairly well, holding the Patriots to just 13 points. Given how explosive the offense can be, the Cowboys should have had no problem rolling to a victory. Give New England’s defense (and the refs) some credit for shutting down Dallas’ offense, but Jerry Jones made it very clear the expectations are higher for this group. The caliber of defense the Cowboys face won’t get any easier either with the Bills up next.

11. Buffalo Bills: 8-3 (Last Week: 15)
Won 20-3 vs. Denver
Lost in the incredible seasons we are seeing in San Francisco and New England, Buffalo boasts one of the best defenses in the league. The Bills held Brandon Allen and the Broncos to just 148 yards of total offense on Sunday. It was a stellar day running the ball as well. As a team, Buffalo racked up 244 yards rushing and saw Frank Gore pass Barry Sanders on the all-time rushing list. The Bills have benefited from a soft schedule, but they will get a chance to prove themselves with the Cowboys, Ravens and Patriots all left to play before the season is over.

12. Tennessee Titans: 6-5 (Last Week: 17)
Won 42-20 vs. Jacksonville
Every once in a while, particularly against the Jaguars, Derrick Henry turns in one of the best performances we will see during a given season by a running back. He shredded Jacksonville again on Sunday, this time for 159 yards and two touchdowns. That included a 74-yard rumble as well. Ryan Tannehill also put together a stellar statline with 259 yards and two touchdowns on just 18 throws. The former Dolphin averaged an outrageous 14.4 yards per attempt. The biggest challenge facing the Titans is playing at this level consistently, but their last two games have been impressive.

13. Philadelphia Eagles: 5-6 (Last Week: 13)
Lost 17-9 vs. Seattle
It was another rough offensive outing for the Eagles, who finally got into the end zone in garbage time in a losing effort. Honestly, the ultimate frisbee exhibition that took place at halftime was more entertaining than most of the game. (Seriously, check it out.) Without Alshon Jeffrey or Jordan Howard, Carson Wentz struggled to get the ball moving. For as much as he has struggled this year, Wentz really has not had a whole lot around him. If this season has shown anything, its that Philly really lacks depth at some key positions on both sides of the ball. The schedule gets a whole lot easier going forward. Win out, and the Eagles are in the playoffs, no matter what.

14. Los Angeles Rams: 6-5 (Last Week: 12)
Lost 45-6 vs. Baltimore
I don’t think too many people expected the Rams to actually beat the Ravens, but I was among those who thought they might at least be competitive. This looked like a college game between a Power-5 school and a team playing in the FCS. Los Angeles had absolutely no answer for Lamar Jackson or really anyone on the Baltimore offense all night. Jared Goff continued his killer impression of a helpless rookie quarterback as well. The Super Bowl hangover doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon for this group.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers: 6-5 (Last Week: 14)
Won 16-10 at Cincinnati
How in the world do the Steelers keep winning games? It is almost inconceivable that Pittsburgh has a winning record. JuJu Smith Schuster and James Conner both sat out due to injury. Mason Rudolph turned in a dud against the Cincinnati, so Mike Tomlin elected to bench him for Delvin Hodges. Hodges threw the go-ahead touchdown in Rudolph’s place and has the inside track to start next week against the Browns. All of that should be a recipe for disaster, but it wasn’t. Maybe that’s just how bad the Bengals are. It was far from pretty, but they don’t award style points in the NFL.

16. Oakland Raiders: 6-5 (Last Week: 10)
Lost 34-3 at New York
On Sunday, the 2019 Raiders looked like the 2018 Raiders. Oakland’s defense laid an egg and there was little life from the offense. Overall, Jon Gruden’s crew was undisciplined and unprepared. This was a major setback for a team that had been trending in the right direction of late. The loss will ultimately prove inconsequential if the Raiders can get back on track and beat the Chiefs this week. There is still plenty for Derek Carr and company to play for.

17. Indianapolis Colts: 6-5 (Last Week: 16)
Lost 20-17 at Houston
Indy’s playoff chances and hopes of winning the division took a major blow with this loss, as Houston now controls the AFC South. There probably should have been a review at the end of this game as to whether or not Darius Leonard recovered a loose ball that would’ve given the Colts another chance to complete their comeback. That said, Jacoby Brissett needs to play better than he did on Thursday considering how well the run game and defense performed. He did have a rushing touchdown, but only managed 152 yards through the air against one of the worst secondaries in the league.

18. Carolina Panthers: 5-6 (Last Week: 18)
Lost 34-31 at New Orleans
This was a much better performance from Carolina after having the doors blown off by Atlanta last week. Close only counts in horseshoes, but hopefully this can help this group build some momentum for the home stretch. The Panthers came an inexplicable missed field goal away from taking a late lead against the Saints. They clearly need to finish the job, but as long as Christian McCaffrey keeps playing like a beast, this team is going to have a chance to win.

19. Cleveland Browns: 5-6 (Last Week: 19)
Won 41-24 vs. Miami
And just like that, the Browns are one game out of the playoffs. It is incredible how this team has begun to turn things around. Beating Miami is nothing particularly impressive, but Cleveland did it in convincing fashion. Half the battle is beating the teams you should beat. Baker Mayfield finally seems to be settling into the offense this year. Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. both had great games and the running back duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt has been extremely productive. With a weak schedule remaining, the postseason is in reach.

20. Chicago Bears: 5-6 (Last Week 22)
Won 19-14 vs. New York
If someone finds the Bears offense from last year, I think Matt Nagy might be willing to pay a lot of money to get it back. The running game was ineffective, managing just 2.5 yards per carry. Mitchell Trubisky struggled again, but Chicago gritted out a win to stay in the playoff conversation, kind of. It would take something of a miracle for the Bears to reach the postseason given that the Vikings are holding down the final wildcard spot with an 8-3 record. While everyone wants to blame Trubisky for the team’s woeful offense, the complete disappearance of a running game is playing a huge part. That Jordan Howard trade is looking worse by the week.

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4-7 (Last Week: 25)
Won 35-22 at Atlanta
There has been no quarterback as polarizing as Jameis Winston this year. In one moment, he is throwing two early interceptions. The next, he is playing flawless football and leading the Buccaneers to a win over a division rival. Winston far and away leads the NFL in interceptions, something he is going to have to change if he is going to remain the long term starter in Tampa Bay. It does not seem like Bruce Arians has any plans to move on from him though, so the Bucs will ride it out with the gunslinger.

22. Atlanta Falcons: 3-8 (Last Week: 20)
Lost 35-22 vs. Tampa Bay
The bad Falcons defense is back. Atlanta came up with two early interceptions of Jameis Winston, but it was all downhill from there. Winston had a ridiculous 11.2 yards per attempt as he finished with 313 yards and three touchdowns. Without a running game, the Falcons put a lot of faith in Matt Ryan, and he really didn’t deliver. He spent much of the game running for his life, as the Bucs brought him down six times, hitting him 13 times in total. This team has been one of the most frustrating ones in the league this year. With Ryan, Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley, expectations were much higher than a 3-8 start.

23. Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-7 (Last Week: 21)
Lost 42-20 at Tennessee
It has been two weeks since Nick Foles has returned and the Jaguars played their worst football of the year. Now, it isn’t fair to blame this all on Foles because it has been the defense that has disappeared. Jacksonville’s once vaunted unit has given up 75 points over the past two weeks. Playoff hopes have all but disappeared on this three game losing streak. Doug Marrone’s seat is definitely getting a bit warmer as well. The only real positive is the continued emergence of Leonard Fournette as a complete back. He had 97 yards and two touchdowns rushing, but also accounted for 62 yards receiving on nine catches.

24. Arizona Cardinals: 3-7-1 (Last Week: 26)
Bye Week
Despite the less than stellar record for Arizona, this team has taken major strides from where it was a year ago. Kyler Murray has looked the part of a franchise quarterback and the offense has a lot more depth at the skill positions than it did last season. That opens up the Cardinals to focus on shoring up the offensive line and adding to a middling secondary. Despite the offensive successes, Arizona has one of just three defenses giving up over 400 yards per game. There is still a ways to go, but the foundation is in place.

25. Los Angeles Chargers: 4-7 (Last Week: 27)
Bye Week
A week off for the Chargers was much needed after Philip Rivers’ Monday night meltdown in Week 11. Los Angeles has a shot at the playoffs simply because it is not mathematically eliminated yet. While it might not be possible for Anthony Lynn to get all the way to the postseason, the defense will finally get Derwin James back. That should be a much-needed boost to help stabilize what has been an underperforming unit all season long. If the Chargers are going to run the table, they will have to start by beating the Broncos in Denver.

26. New York Jets: 4-7 (Last Week: 28)
Won 34-3 vs. Oakland
Games like this are why I am not a gambling man. The Jets had been playing better in recent weeks, but I don’t think anyone saw a 31-point beatdown of the Raiders coming. Sam Darnold played lights out and the defense battered Derek Carr. They might have only sacked Carr once, but they hit him six times. What was more shocking was actually the offensive line on the other side of the ball. New York has surrendered the third most sacks in the league this year, but only allowed Darnold to be hit once on Sunday. With the hapless Bengals on tap, the Jets have a real shot to stretch this streak out to four in a row.

27. Denver Broncos: 3-8 (Last Week: 24)
Lost 20-3 at Buffalo
The Drew Lock era is drawing near. In what has been a lost season for the Broncos, Joe Flacco and Brandon Allen have both tried, and failed, to spark a lifeless offense. There is a possibility the rookie from Missouri will make his first appearance against the Chargers. He has spent the entire season on injured reserve. Lock can’t be expected to solve all this team’s offensive woes, but anything has to be better than the pathetic 134 yards Denver managed in Buffalo.

28. Washington: 2-9 (Last Week: 31)
Won 19-16 vs. Detroit
Dwayne Haskins got his first NFL as a starter and he was so excited he forgot to come back on the field for the final snap. Instead, he was taking a selfie with a fan. Haskins actually didn’t play very well, completing just 13 of his 29 passes and committing two turnovers. He turned it up on the final two drives, but it was another lackluster outing. Defensively, Washington came up with four takeaways to make up for the offense’s poor play. It wasn’t confidence inspiring and all this win really does is hurt the team’s draft position.

29. Detroit Lions: 3-7-1 (Last Week: 23)
Lost 19-16 at Washington
It has been a trying season for Detroit. After an impressive start, the Lions have gone 1-7. Matt Stafford is working through a serious back injury and far from certain to return this year. Kerryon Johnson is on the shelf as well. However, the bigger problem is the struggling defense that is giving up nearly 400 yards per game. Matters weren’t helped by Jeff Driskel having his worst game to date in Washington,  as he tossed three interceptions. If Detroit continues to spiral, Matt Patricia’s job will be in danger.

30. New York Giants: 2-9 (Last Week: 30)
Lost 19-14 at Chicago
Expectations that Daniel Jones would turn this franchise around were outlandish, but this has been a humbling season. Saquon Barkley looks nowhere near as explosive as he did a year ago and injuries have decimated the receiving core. Jones did throw two touchdowns on Sunday, but managed a paltry 4.2 yards per attempt and finished with 150 passing yards. Defensively, this team is relying on two rookies at corner, who have both had very tough seasons. New York has to focus on developing those young players to build a foundation for the future.

31. Miami Dolphins: 2-9 (Last Week: 29)
Lost 41-20 at Cleveland
The hope Miami built during that two-game stretch has completely vanished with noncompetitive losses to Buffalo and Cleveland. The Dolphins defense has given up 78 points in the past two games. Ryan Fitzpatrick has had no support in the running game, leading the team with 45 yards. This roster has been stripped down to the bare bones, so it should come as no surprise Miami is struggling, but there is still a laundry list of offseason needs the front office will have to attempt to fill.

32. Cincinnati Bengals: 0-11 (Last Week: 32)
Lost 16-10 vs. Pittsburgh
Rock bottom just keeps getting lower for this group. Somehow Devlin Hodges came in to lead the Steelers to a win. If you are looking for positives, the Bengals lost by six points after losing by seven the week before. The defense has actually played alright, but the offense has had the wheels fall off even worse than usual. Andy Dalton is going to be back under center against the Jets this week.

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Every team in the NFL could learn something from the Ravens at this point. Baltimore has committed to running the football on a regular basis, and it’s working. Actually, the best teams in the league right now rely heavily on their ground games. San Francisco, Minnesota, Seattle all run the ball well week in and week out. In fact, none of the top 11 teams in rushing yards per game are below .500. There are a few teams that could really use a good dose of ground and pound, like Rex Ryan used to say. The Bears, Rams and Chargers all have quarterbacks clearly struggling right, yet keep throwing the ball way more than they should.

All that being said, everyone is looking up at the Ravens once again. It was a pretty drab week in the NFL in terms of upsets and the like. A few came close, but Arizona, Cincinnati and Denver could not pull off the stunning result. Speaking of results, none of the top eight teams moved due to the expected outcomes of these games. Teams 9-32 saw a fair about of movement though. The middle of the NFL continues to feel like a mess right now. The level of parity in the NFL is certainly at an all-time high. Let’s dive in to all the action from this weekend.

1. Baltimore Ravens: 8-2 (Last Week: 1)
Won 41-7 vs. Houston
It was another dominant performance for the MVP front-runner and company. Lamar Jackson accounted for four more touchdowns en route to a blowout victory over the Texans. Baltimore looks like the most complete team in the league by a mile. The offense is clicking and seemingly unstoppable, while the defense continues to get better as the year rolls on. Shutting down Deshaun Watson is not an easy task, but the Ravens had no problem doing it. This looks like a clear challenger to the Patriots’ AFC reign.

2. New England Patriots: 9-1 (Last Week: 2)
Won 17-10 at Philadelphia
It wasn’t pretty. In fact, the offense was pretty ugly once again. For the third time this season, Tom Brady failed to throw a touchdown pass. Now it doesn’t really matter because style points don’t win games, but there is some growing concern about this group’s ability to contend down the stretch given the lack of proven playmakers. Mohamed Sanu has integrated himself well, but New England desperately needs someone to step up during it’s final six games of the regular season.

3. Seattle Seahawks: 8-2 (Last Week: 3)
Bye Week
Seattle is undoubtedly focused on itself, but it had to be hoping for a Cardinals upset of the 49ers to give the Seahawks the division lead. Russell Wilson will get a chance to play the San Francisco again, this time in Seattle, but that will have to wait until after matchups with the Eagles, Vikings, Rams, Panthers and Cardinals. This is going to be a tough final stretch for the Seahawks to reach the playoffs, despite how good they’ve already been.

4. San Francisco 49ers: 9-1 (Last Week: 4)
Won 36-26 vs. Arizona
For a while there, San Francisco seemed headed for a second straight loss after an 8-0 start to the year. The 49ers rallied to avoid an upset, but this was not a feel-good win. Despite the final scoreline, this was actually a one-score game. The Niners recovered a fumble in the end zone on the final play of the game to stretch out their margin of victory. Jimmy Garoppolo remains a big concern. In two games against the Cardinals, he averaged 370.5 passing yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions. In his other eight games, Garoppolo averages 217.1 yards per game with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He needs to step up against better competition.

5. New Orleans Saints: 8-2 (Last Week: 5)
Won 34-17 at Tampa Bay
New Orleans proved last week’s loss to Atlanta was just a fluke with a get-right win over Tampa Bay. The Saints leaned into the best wide receiver-running back duo in the league, feeding Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara. Four interceptions of Jameis Winston made the offense’s job a lot easier as well. It seems like this team is back on track after a wake-up call in the form of that stunning loss, but Sean Payton has to make sure the Saints don’t slip up again with playoff seeding coming into play.

6. Green Bay Packers: 8-2 (Last Week: 6)
Bye Week
A late-season bye week for Green Bay comes at a time when the team is finally coming together. The outlier obviously still stands after that head-scratching loss to the Chargers, but on the whole, this group seems headed in the right direction. Aaron Jones is tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns and Davante Adams finally looks like he is at full strength. Matt LaFleur still needs to find a way to patch up a mediocre run defense, but the Packers have a shot at a first-round bye. Green Bay faces San Francisco on Sunday night with massive playoff implications on the line.

7. Minnesota Vikings: 8-3 (Last Week: 7)
Won 27-23 vs. Denver
The first half of Sunday’s game was very reminiscent of Minnesota shocking loss to Buffalo last year early in the season. In some bizarre fashion, the Vikings trailed 20-0 at halftime on Sunday, and it could have been worse. Andrew Sendejo intercepted a pass in the end zone just before half to keep it a 20-point margin. Kirk Cousins led a furious comeback as Minnesota outscored Denver 27-3 the rest of the way. While it would be easy to point and say this was a terrible start, Cousins has struggled to lead comebacks throughout his time with the Vikings. This was actually a huge confidence boost.

8. Kansas City Chiefs: 6-4 (Last Week: 8)
Won 24-17 at Los Angeles (Mexico)
Los Angeles outgained Kansas City by 128 yards, but KC’s defense picked off Philip Rivers four times, including in the end zone to seal the victory. This was one the Chiefs had to have in order to stay atop the AFC West. Andy Reid’s team finally gets its bye week now in Week 12 with a chance to get some nagging injuries taken care of. Damien Williams and Tyreek Hill exited with injuries on Monday night. Kansas City doesn’t quite look like the team that pushed New England to the brink last year in the AFC Championship game, but they are still going to be a tough out with Patrick Mahomes under center.

9. Dallas Cowboys: 6-4 (Last Week: 10)
Won 35-28 at Detroit
It was not quite as convincing as most Cowboys fans probably would have preferred, but it was still a win over an NFC opponent. Dallas now opens up a one-game lead on Philadelphia as well. Dak Prescott was masterful yet again with 444 yards and three touchdowns. However, Ezekiel Elliott went missing in action and the defense struggled to shut down Jeff Driskel. Elliott managed 45 yards on 16 carries, but did reel in a receiving touchdown. Driskel had 209 yards through the air and two touchdowns. He added 51 yards on the ground and another score. It was a win, but the Cowboys also have a few troubling trends.

10. Oakland Raiders: 6-4 (Last Week: 14)
Won 17-10 vs. Cincinnati
In easily the worst game of the week, the Raiders edged the Bengals in an uninspiring showing. Given how well Derek Carr and Josh Jacobs played, it is hard to figure out how the offense only managed 17 points. Give the defense a ton of credit though for making Ryan Finley’s life miserable. He completed just 13 of 31 passes and suffered five sacks. Oakland’s defense has been trending up in recent weeks. Assuming this was just an off week for Jon Gruden’s offense, the Raiders seem like a real threat to the Chiefs for the division title.

11. Houston Texans: 6-4 (Last Week: 9)
Lost 41-7 at Baltimore
We learned on Sunday that the Texans are not contenders in the AFC. In a game between two of the the top three teams according to record heading into the weekend, Houston got steamrolled by Lamar Jackson and company. Deshaun Watson had his least effective game of the year. The Texans have to do some soul searching following this loss. They lost control of the division again and the defense was exposed without J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney. Bill O’Brien has a ton of work to do to right the ship here.

12. Los Angeles Rams: 6-4 (Last Week: 13)
Won 17-7 vs. Chicago
It wasn’t perfect, actually far from it, but there is a lot to like about how the Rams played on Sunday night. Sean McVay finally ran the ball. Los Angeles actually moved away from its traditional zone scheme and tried more of a power run approach. The initial returns seem positive. Todd Gurley had 97 yards even if he wasn’t the most effective in the process. Asking Jared Goff to throw the ball only 18 seems like a better plan going forward, but he has to stop making the backbreaking mistakes and throw the ball away if the Rams are going to keep winning.

13. Philadelphia Eagles: 5-5 (Last Week: 12)
Lost 17-10 vs. New England
Injuries continue to plague the Eagles as Jordan Howard, Alshon Jeffrey and Nigel Bradham all missed the game for Philly, and it showed. Doug Pederson still is not running the ball enough, forcing Carson Wentz to throw the ball 40 times in this loss. Defensively, this was about as good of a performance as anyone could have hoped for. The Patriots might not be as prolific as they once were, but holding Tom Brady without a touchdown is impressive and holding the ground game to 3.4 yards per carry is a good sign of what’s to come. The biggest issue here is the lack of a complete game from the Eagles. Very rarely have we seen them put it all together in the same week.

14. Pittsburgh Steelers: 5-5 (Last Week: 11)
Lost 21-7 at Cleveland
In a weird way, Mason Rudolph was the luckiest player on the field despite being hit in the head with a helmet. He was not suspended for his part in the brawl that broke out Thursday night, he did not suffer a serious injury from the helmet hitting him and the focus was shifted away from his miserable performance. Rudolph threw four interceptions in a total meltdown against the Browns defense. His constant turnovers derailed the Steelers’ postseason chase. An easy schedule still gives Pittsburgh a chance, but this was a huge mistake.

15. Buffalo Bills: 7-3 (Last Week: 17)
Won 37-20 at Miami
After a rough offensive showing in Cleveland, Josh Allen turned in the best outing of his young career. He had three passing touchdowns and added another one on the ground without turning the ball over. John Brown continues to look like one of the best free agent signing in the league, posting nine catches for 153 yards and two scores. It was against a team lacking talent, but this was the exactly the type of performance needed to quiet some of the doubts creeping in about the Bills.

16. Indianapolis Colts: 6-4 (Last Week: 18)
Won 33-13 vs. Jacksonville
In the on-again, off-again saga that is the Indianapolis Colts. One week after an embarrassing loss against the Dolphins, the Colts bounced back with a thorough thrashing of the Jaguars. With Jacoby Brissett coming off a knee injury, Indy gave him plenty of help. With Marlon Mack and Johnathan Williams topping the century mark, the Colts had two 100-yard rushers for the first time since 1985. It’s not all good news though, as Mack fractured his hand. He will likely miss some time. That blow could be softened if T.Y. Hilton ever returns from injury. Despite all the adversity, Indy leads the division.

17. Tennessee Titans: 5-5 (Last Week: 15)
Bye Week
This is the definition of an average team. Tennessee has dominant wins over Cleveland and Atlanta with close wins over the Chargers, Buccaneers and Chiefs. However, the Titans are 0-2 in the division and were shutout by the Broncos earlier this year. What comes next is anyone’s guess. Derrick Henry has shown signs of being the feature back many hoped he could be and Ryan Tannehill has offered a bit of stability, but this team still doesn’t look like a true playoff contender. This will be an interesting team to watch over the final six games. It could end up in the postseason or in the top 10 of the draft.

18. Carolina Panthers: 5-5 (Last Week: 16)
Lost 29-3 vs. Atlanta
Oh boy. Cam Newton needs to come back. I will admit I was wrong when I said Carolina could move on from Newton in favor of Kyle Allen. One game doesn’t dictate a season or a career, but Allen has shown he has a very low floor. He laid an egg Sunday against the Falcons in a game the Panthers needed to win to keep pace in the postseason hunt. It looked a lot like the dud he produced when facing the 49ers a few weeks back. Christian McCaffrey can continue to be the best player in the league, but he needs a bit of help for Carolina to win games.

19. Cleveland Browns: 4-6 (Last Week: 24)
Won 21-7 vs. Steelers
Make it two in a row. Cleveland’s defense has come to play in the past two weeks. Unfortunately, that was all over shadowed by Myles Garrett’s ridiculous decision to rip Mason Rudolph’s helmet off his head and hit him with it. What we would’ve been talking about would be the Browns beating the Steelers and Ravens for the first times since the franchise started back up again in 1999. Instead, Cleveland must find a way to keep this momentum going without arguably its best player.

20. Atlanta Falcons: 3-7 (Last Week: 27)
Won 29-3 at Carolina
I have no idea what has gotten into this Falcons defense, but they are on a roll! After no signs of life for about eight weeks, Atlanta has roared to life. The Falcons have 11 sacks over the past two weeks, which is ridiculous when you consider they had only seven through their first eight games. Whatever changes Dan Quinn is making are clearly working. With four interceptions of Kyle Allen, his defense is suddenly playing like one of the best in the league. That’s also back-to-back games without a touchdown allowed. This looks like the Falcons team I expected coming into the season.

21. Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-6 (Last Week: 19)
Lost 33-13 at Indianapolis
That wasn’t quite the welcome back I’m sure Nick Foles was hoping for. The veteran quarterback was fine in his return from injury, but the defense got gashed by the ground attack. Leonard Fournette could not get going and Foles simply did not make enough plays to make up for all of that. Jacksonville is slipping away from the playoff race, but still just sits two games back of Indianapolis in the division. There is no game remaining on the schedule that feels like the Jags are going to be overmatched in, but there also isn’t one that you feel confident in them one winning. Foles will need to channel some magic if hopes of another run are going to live.

22. Chicago Bears: 4-6 (Last Week 20)
Lost 17-7 at Los Angeles
We might be nearing the end of Mitchell Trubisky’s time in Chicago, at least as the starter. He suffered a non-specific hip injury on Sunday, exiting in the final stages and never returning. He might have genuinely been hurt, but it wouldn’t be a shock if Matt Nagy just pulled him. The Bears have been one of the biggest let downs of the year. The offense still can’t break out of its funk and the defense isn’t good enough anymore to carry them. Chicago’s playoff hopes are all but dead at this point.

23. Detroit Lions: 3-6-1 (Last Week: 21)
Lost 35-27 vs. Dallas
Jeff Driskel played better in his second week of action, but this team still really missed Matthew Stafford. Defensively, the Lions took Ezekiel Elliott out of the equation, holding him to just 45 yards rushing. Unfortunately, they forgot to account for Dak Prescott, who torched the secondary over and over again. Detroit’s defense is a real problem, which makes Matt Patricia a candidate to lose his job at the end of the year. He was supposed to be a defensive specialist coming from the Patriots, but has failed to make his mark on the unit.

24. Denver Broncos: 3-7 (Last Week: 23)
Lost 27-23 at Minnesota
For one half, it looked like the Broncos were finally putting together all the pieces to beat one of the top teams in the league. Then Denver suffered one of the worst collapses we’ve seen this side of Atlanta’s Super Bowl debacle. Defensively, there is a lot to like about shutting down Dalvin Cook, but Kirk Cousins went off after halftime. Brandon Allen struggled to make plays in the late stages. The focus can officially shift to next season now as this team evaluates young players and veterans alike to determine the best path forward.

25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 3-6 (Last Week: 22)
Lost 34-17 vs, New Orleans
Jameis Winston continues to show his incredible talent mixed with maddening inconsistency every week. He is setting himself up to be on a different roster next year as a backup. Four more interceptions on Sunday against the Saints see him distance himself from the pack. He has 18 on the season. Philip Rivers is next with 14. Now, he got no help from the run game. He accounted for 23 of the team’s 36 rushing yards. It also might have helped to run the ball more than eight times. There are a lot of team that need to commit to the run more often to take pressure off some of these struggling quarterbacks.

26. Arizona Cardinals: 3-7-1 (Last Week: 26)
Lost 36-26 at San Francisco
Arizona looked competitive with San Francisco once again, but ultimately came up short again. Defensively, the Cardinals shut down what has been an unstoppable ground game from the 49ers. However, they got carved up in the secondary once again by Jimmy Garoppolo, even without George Kittle. Arizona has been much more of a challenger than its record would indicate and of all the first year coaches, Kliff Kingsbury is probably the one I feel second-most optimistic about, behind Matt LaFleur. It will be interesting to see how the Cardinals fair after a full offseason under their belts with Kyler Murray.

27. Los Angeles Chargers: 4-7 (Last Week: 25)
Lost 24-17 vs. Kansas City (Mexico)
Pull the plug on everything in Los Angeles. I know every one of the Chargers losses this season have been by one possession, but it’s time to rebuild and restructure. Philip Rivers is in the midst of the downturn of his career. He threw four interceptions to bring his season total to 14. His touchdown percentage has plummeted and he simply looks uncomfortable making plays from the pocket, frequently pumping before actually throwing to his target. Injuries have played a role, but Rivers’ poor play is a growing issue.

28. New York Jets: 3-7 (Last Week: 29)
Won 34-17 at Washington
New York goes back-to-back with wins of the NFC East cellar. Sam Darnold put up a career-high four touchdown passes against a struggling Washington defense. These are the types of things that will help Adam Gase keep his job at the end of the year. If Darnold is showing signs of progression, that is going to make a world of difference. Weirdly enough, the Jets are 3-1 against the NFC East and 0-6 against everyone else. Not exactly a great sign of the success this team has had, but this was the type of game where a loss would’ve felt catastrophic. At least the defense is looking stellar. Jamal Adams is making a legitimate case to be an All-Pro.

29. Miami Dolphins: 2-8 (Last Week: 28)
Lost 37-20 vs. Buffalo
This was coming back down to Earth in a way. It might be an odd way to explain a 2-7 team dropping to 2-8, but the loss Sunday against Buffalo snapped a two-game win streak for Miami. It was a good reminder about how far this group still has to go. There is no question the Dolphins are putting a much better product on the field now than they were at the beginning of the season. Turning this roster around will take some time. On top of that, there are some small things to get excited about, like the play of DeVante Parker and scoring at least 20 points for the third time this year.

30. New York Giants: 2-8 (Last Week: 30)
Bye Week
A week off hopefully gives Saquon Barkley, Sterling Shepard and Evan Engram a chance to get healthy. The offensive line has been a bit banged up as well. Thankfully, the offense has looked okay despite the injuries. Defensively, the Giants are a mess. The trade for Leonard Williams still doesn’t make any sense and the back end looks hopeless. If New York is going to win games the rest of the way, it will be by outscoring opposing offenses.

31. Washington: 1-9 (Last Week: 29)
Lost 34-17 vs. New York
It was another lackluster start for Dwayne Haskins. He made some strides late in the game, but it was well out of reach by that point. It was certainly not a good week either for the Washington offensive line, which gave up six sacks and paved the way for a pathetic 2.7 yards per carry. The defense wasn’t much better, giving up four touchdown passes to Sam Darnold. Washington needs tons of help across the board. On the bright side, Derrius Guice finally came back and showed some of the promise he had in college on a 45-yard screen pass he scored. The focus is on next year and possibly even beyond for this group.

32. Cincinnati Bengals: 0-10 (Last Week: 32)
Lost 17-10 at Oakland
The world brutal comes to mind when reflecting on the Bengals game with the Raiders. Despite a decent effort defensively to hold Oakland to 17 points, Cincinnati turned in a woeful performance on offense. Rookie quarterback Ryan Finley spent much of the game running for his life and certainly does not look like the solution at the position. Barring an unexpected resurgence or some kind of otherworldly performance from A.J. Green when he finally gets back on the field, this team is going to have the first overall pick.

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Consistency. It’s what every NFL team hopes to achieve. It’s what each coach wants from his players. It’s what fans count on every week of the season. Turns out it’s also very hard to find these days. After two months with the Patriots atop the power rankings, we have a new team taking over the top spot for the second time in as many weeks. The Saints suffered a shocking loss to the Falcons. The 1972 Dolphins can finally pop their champagne following the 49ers’ loss on Monday as there are no more unbeaten teams. That turned out to be one of the all-time great contests between Seattle and San Francisco, resulting in a game-winning field goal in overtime as time expired.

It was truly a bizarre week, as the Falcons, Browns, Dolphins and Jets all won. Miami is actually on a winning streak right now, as hard as that is to believe. Possibly lost in all of this is the fact the Titans stunned the Chiefs. There is a ton to unpack from this weekend of action. All the chaos led to a massive overhaul of these very power rankings, as you can see below, starting with a completely reordered top five.

1. Baltimore Ravens: 8-2 (Last Week: 3)
Won 49-13 at Cincinnati
Welcome to the top spot Baltimore. After dismantling the Patriots in primetime, the Ravens battered the Bengals to continue their dominance in the AFC North. Lamar Jackson looks like something out of a video game as he accounted for four more touchdowns on Sunday, including potentially the best run of the season. Champions aren’t crowned in November, but that has to be the mindset of this team right now given the current level of play.

2. New England Patriots: 8-1 (Last Week: 4)
Bye Week
Giving New England a bye week almost feels unfair considering who it has at head coach. Bill Belichick is the king of midseason adjustments, which is why he has six Lombardi trophies hanging out in his facility. The Patriots have a tough stretch upcoming with the Eagles, Cowboys, Chiefs and Texans all on the schedule. There is a very good chance the Pats go 3-1 in that span and cruise to another number-one seed in the conference thanks to changes made by this coaching staff during the week off.

3. Seattle Seahawks: 8-2 (Last Week: 6)
Won 27-24 (OT) at San Francisco
For the second straight week, Seattle needed overtime to come out on top. The Seahawks survived a 12-round heavyweight thriller with the 49ers on Monday Night Football to slay the final unbeaten team in the league. Russell Wilson spent a good chunk of the game running from the San Francisco defensive line and very nearly cost Seattle the win with an interception in overtime. In the end, it was the defense who made some critical plays to put Pete Carroll’s crew in position to come out on top. Don’t look now, but the Seahawks are perfect this year on the road.

4. San Francisco 49ers: 8-1 (Last Week: 2)
Lost 27-24 (OT) vs. Seattle
Undefeated no more, the 49ers can put history behind them and refocus after a bitter loss to their division rival. This defense is the best in the NFL, led by clear Rookie of the Year candidate Nick Bosa. However, that is not the area most critics are worried about with this team. It was another rocky performance from Jimmy Garoppolo. He was not on target with a number of throws, including a few passes that should have been intercepted. Losing Emmanuel Sanders certainly did not help matters, but Garoppolo does not look like a quarterback capable of leading this team to a championship at the moment.

5. New Orleans Saints: 7-2 (Last Week: 1)
Lost 26-9 vs. Atlanta
This is what I get for moving the Saints to the top of the power rankings. New Orleans turned in by far its worst performance of the year. The offense was an absolute dud against Atlanta, giving up six sacks and failing to find any sort of rhythm. Drew Brees looked like a quarterback past his prime trying to carry an undermanned offense. They completely abandoned the run as well with just 11 attempts on the ground. All of the concerns people had about the Saints showed up at the same time, resulting in a resounding flop. One divisional loss far from sinks hopes of a title chase, but it provides a reality check for Sean Payton and company.

6. Green Bay Packers: 8-2 (Last Week: 7)
Won 24-16 vs. Carolina
Green Bay bounced back in the snow by stymieing Christian McCaffrey on the goal line as time expired. Aaron Jones had another ridiculous day with three touchdowns on just 13 touches. The defense came up with a pair of takeaways to preserve the lead. This does not feel like the Packers we are used to seeing with Aaron Rodgers at the helm, but they are winning a lot of games with this new style of play. In crunch time, we have seen how dominant the former MVP still can be when needed.

7. Minnesota Vikings: 7-3 (Last Week: 9)
Won 28-24 at Dallas
Kirk Cousins won a big game for the Vikings! He might not have had gaudy numbers, but the Michigan State product turned in one of his better showings off the season. Dalvin Cook took on a massive workload, despite a lack of overall efficiency. The defense deserves some praise too after making Ezekiel Elliott feel like an afterthought. With Adam Thielen and Trae Waynes out, this was a massive win for a Minnesota team currently controlling the wildcard conversation.

8. Kansas City Chiefs: 6-4 (Last Week: 5)
Lost 35-32 at Tennessee
It may be time to start wondering how much of a Super Bowl contender these Chiefs really are. Losing to the Packers without Patrick Mahomes is one thing. Falling to the Titans in the MVP’s return is another. Defensively, Kansas City seemed to regress after all the progress is had made in recent weeks. Derrick Henry tore apart the interior of that line on the ground. Mahomes is now capable of working his magic once again, but he needs some help from that floundering defense.

9. Houston Texans: 6-3 (Last Week: 11)
Bye Week
With Indianapolis losing to Miami, Houston can once again breathe easy atop the AFC South. Deshaun Watson has been playing lights out, even if he is being overshadowed by some of the other great quarterbacks around the league. We will get a chance to see him go up against one of those great quarterbacks in Lamar Jackson when the Texans take on the Ravens this week. With the Colts and Patriots to follow, this is a crucial stretch for Bill O’Brien’s team.

10. Dallas Cowboys: 5-4 (Last Week: 10)
Lost 28-24 vs. Minnesota
No matter how many toe-tapping grabs Amari Cooper comes up with, the Dallas defense needs to play better in order for the Cowboys to win. Dak Prescott looked sharp, but Minnesota completely shut down Ezekiel Elliott. In fact, Dallas as a team managed just 50 yards on the ground. For as good as Prescott has been playing, the Cowboys need to be able to run the ball and keep their defense well rested. They also might want to consider covering Kyle Rudolph in the red zone if these two teams meet again.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers: 5-4 (Last Week: 16)
Won 17-12 vs. Los Angeles
If the Steelers somehow reach the playoffs, Mike Tomlin should be a lock for Coach of the Year. Without Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh has channeled the Steelers of old with stifling defensive play. Minkah Fitzpatrick is making a real case for Defensive Player of the Year after an interception, a fumble recovery and a touchdown on Sunday. Pittsburgh has climbed over the .500 mark and continues to rise to whatever challenge comes its way. After winning five of its last six, with the lone loss coming to the Ravens, this is one of the hottest teams in football.

12. Philadelphia Eagles: 5-4 (Last Week: 13)
Bye Week
Philly had to enjoy watching Dallas fall on Sunday Night Football to bring those two teams level in the division standings once again. While that is an encouraging sign, the Eagles still have a lot to be concerned with. This offense has struggled to find consistency this year, in part because of injuries, but also due to uneven play from key players. The backfield duo of Jordan Howard and Miles Sanders has been better in recent weeks, but Carson Wentz has not looked like the big-money quarterback Philadelphia was hoping for when it signed him to that massive extension. Coming off the bye, this group needs to start scoring points more frequently.

13. Los Angeles Rams: 5-4 (Last Week: 8)
Lost 17-12 vs. Pittsburgh
The offensive struggles continued for the Rams as Jared Goff cost this team a chance at winning. It was one of his worst performances in a season full of disappointment. The offense managed just 12 points and failed to rely on Todd Gurley when he clearly was in a groove. He finished with 73 yards on just 12 attempts while Goff threw the ball 41 times. Defensively, Los Angeles is playing well enough to win games. For a team and a head coach in Sean McVay that made it’s name last year as an offensive juggernaut, this year continues to be the ultimate letdown.

14. Oakland Raiders: 5-4 (Last Week: 17)
Won 26-24 vs. Los Angeles
Far from the most reassuring win of all time, the Raiders move within a game of the Chiefs for the AFC West lead. Derek Carr is playing his best football in years and Josh Jacobs looks like the clear frontrunner for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Defensively, this is more of a bend, but don’t break group. However, the improved pass rush and defensive scores go a long way to making Oakland look like a team to watch as the playoff picture comes together.

15. Tennessee Titans: 5-5 (Last Week: 19)
Won 35-32 vs. Kansas City
Of all the surprising success stories this season, Ryan Tannehill’s resurgence as a NFL quarterback might be the best one of them all. Tennessee put its hope in the Miami castoff when it decided to move on from the Marcus Mariota experiment. After taking down the Chiefs to reach .500, the Titans have hopes of making a playoff run. While I am praising Tannehill, it is really Derrick Henry who deserves recognition. The fourth-year back powered the offense with 188 yards rushing, including a 68-yard touchdown. Tennessee is going to be a tough team to beat down the stretch.

16. Carolina Panthers: 5-4 (Last Week: 14)
Lost 24-16 at Green Bay
Christian McCaffrey played like the MVP once again, but a lack of offensive support saw the Panthers fall. This game was a lot more than just a goal line stuff on the final play. Carolina did exactly what it should have done in giving it to its best player. This team relies so heavily on McCaffrey to carry them. Considering that it does not seem like Cam Newton is coming back, it will have to find a way to win close games with Kyle Allen at the helm.

17. Buffalo Bills: 6-3 (Last Week: 12)
Lost 19-16 at Cleveland
This could be a sign of things to come for a Buffalo team that has had so much unexpected success this year. The Bills took a tough loss to the Browns and looked like the offensively inept team they were last year in the process. Buffalo once again put the Ball in Josh Allen’s hands too many times, failing to lean into its strength of running the football. With a challenging stretch ahead in the schedule, this team will have to find some stability on offense.

18. Indianapolis Colts: 5-4 (Last Week: 15)
Lost 16-12 vs. Miami
The rudder has completely fallen off the boat in Indy. Despite some early success, this team looks extremely average. It even has a score differential of plus-one to help underline that point. Jacoby Brissett’s knee injury held him out of the contest and the offense could not recover. Miami has been playing better in recent weeks, but this was an inexcusable slip up from a team with hopes of winning the division. Brian Hoyer and Adam Vinatieri cost the Colts this game with a number of mistakes. Defensively, Indianapolis has a lot to hang its hat on, but this team needs a lot of help to get back on track offensively.

19. Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-5 (Last Week: 20)
Bye Week
Despite the bye week, this is a week of massive change for the Jaguars. Nick Foles is slated to take over as quarterback, replacing Gardner Minshew. Foles went down with a collarbone injury during the season opener and Minshew has been in the role ever sense. Jacksonville has an unexpected quarterback controversy on its hands and could end up in a very awkward situation if Foles struggles. With chance still to make a run at a wildcard spot, the Jags need Foles to channel some of his late-season heroics.

20. Chicago Bears: 4-5 (Last Week 24)
Won 20-13 vs. Detroit
Chicago played their best offensive game in weeks, but still did not impress with their level of play. Mitchell Trubisky took real strides with three touchdowns and no turnovers, but still only managed 173 yards passing. Progress is progress though and the Bears defense took advantage of a missing Matthew Stafford. This was a game Chicago had to win, but it far from quiets its critics. A Sunday night visit to the Rams is on tap.

21. Detroit Lions: 3-5-1 (Last Week: 18)
Lost 20-13 at Chicago
With the unexpected absence of Matthew Stafford on Sunday, the Lions offense ground to an absolute halt. Jeff Driskel did not do much to fill the void. With Kerryon Johnson already out due to injury, Detroit found itself unable to get going. When healthy, this team has the chops to compete with the best in the NFC. We saw what it could do earlier this year at full strength against the Packers. However, this all but ends the Lions’ playoff hopes, especially if Stafford is not back next week. I think the front office will be investing a bit more in a backup quarterback this offseason.

22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 3-6 (Last Week: 25)
Won 30-27 vs. Arizona
Tampa Bay is one of the most unpredictable teams in the league from week to week. However, this two-week stretch has been the best the Buccaneers have played this season. After pushing Seattle to the brink, Tampa edged out a hard-fought victory against Arizona. If the Bucs could ever find a way to avoid turnovers, this team might just have the potential to get on a real winning streak and create some optimism for next year.

23. Denver Broncos: 3-6 (Last Week: 23)
Won 24-19 vs. Cleveland
Here is a team struggling to find its way with a couple of extremely talented players. Denver is lacking a clear direction forward, but with names like Von Miller, Chris Harris Jr. and Bradley Chubb, the talent is there for a quick turnaround. There is some hope with Drew Lock near a season debut for the offensive side of things and the emergence of Courtland Sutton as a true number one receiver. Vic Fangio is going to need a stronger second half to convince the Broncos brass he is the long-term solution at head coach.

24. Cleveland Browns: 3-6 (Last Week: 26)
Won 19-16 vs. Buffalo
It was ugly, but that really doesn’t matter. Cleveland got a much-needed victory to essentially save their season. The Browns are still a long way from even thinking about the playoffs, but dropping to 2-7 might have genuinely led to coaches losing their jobs. Baker Mayfield and the offense finally took care of the football. Nick Chubb had 116 yards on the ground and Kareem Hunt looked promising in limited action. If Cleveland can lean on its run game the rest of the way and avoid turnovers, this team is good enough to make a playoff push.

25. Los Angeles Chargers: 4-6 (Last Week: 21)
Lost 26-24 at Oakland
The roller coaster season continued for Los Angeles with a troubling road loss in Oakland. Philip Rivers threw three interceptions and the offensive line gave up five sacks. Defensively, the Chargers did not make enough plays to compensate. On the bright side, Melvin Gordon finally showed up with his first 100-yard performance on the ground since Week 8 last year. The season is not over for LA, but the climb towards a playoff spot just got a lot steeper.

26. Arizona Cardinals: 3-6-1 (Last Week: 22)
Lost 30-27 at Tampa Bay
This was a good reminder to everyone that the Cardinals still have a ways to go before they are anything resembling a complete team. There are tons of positives to take away from this loss and it is clear that the combo of Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray can be a winning one. Christian Kirk finally showed up after a sluggish first half of the year with 138 yards and three touchdowns. Arizona has a lot of the pieces in place to compete well in the future, but lacks the depth to win tight games like this on a consistent basis.

27. Atlanta Falcons: 2-7 (Last Week: 28)
Won 26-9 at New Orleans
While the Dolphins winning two straight is unexpected, the Falcons’ road win against the Saints was the most stunning result of the weekend. After weeks of non-existent pass rush, Atlanta came up with six sacks of Drew Brees and shut down what had previously looked like a good New Orleans offense. Keeping the Saints out of the end zone is truly remarkable given how banged up the defense is at this point of the season. This win might just save Dan Quinn’s job.

28. Miami Dolphins: 2-7 (Last Week: 30)
Won 16-12 at Indianapolis
What in the world is happening? The Dolphins have shockingly won two straight games. Brian Flores took down a team who had legitimate aspirations of winning its division. This Miami defense has stepped up well in recent weeks, with three interceptions of Brian Hoyer on Sunday to show for it. The offense is still a massive work in progress, but there is a lot to like about what the Dolphins have started to build this season.

29. New York Jets: 2-7 (Last Week: 31)
Won 34-27 vs. New York
If nothing else, the Jets can point to the Giants and say that maybe their rebuild is going better than the team they share a stadium with. Or not. It’s hard to really how much a win over a two-win team means. Sam Darnold is talking about the playoffs, which is laughable considering the level of inconsistency New York has displayed on a week-to-week basis. Give the defense a ton of credit though for the plays it made to win this game. Jamal Adams was the best player on the field and no one else even came close.

30. New York Giants: 2-8 (Last Week: 27)
Lost 34-27 at New York
This brutal season continues for New York as it failed to maintain control of the city during the battle for Gotham. Daniel Jones played very well in the eventual loss, but failed to get the offense going in the fourth quarter. A lot of that has to do with some terrible play along the offensive line, as the group allowed six sacks. Saquon Barkley also had by far the worst game of his NFL career. He managed just one yard on 13 carries. Barkley’s struggles actually makes Jones’ performance even more impressive, but this Giants defense has a long way to go after giving up 34 points to arguably the worst offense in the league.

31. Washington: 1-8 (Last Week: 29)
Bye Week
And just like that, there is only one one-win team in the NFL. Washington got a week off and saw a lot of teams in the lower part of the standings pick up victories. This group has looked a bit more competitive in recent weeks, but will be continuing to break in a rookie quarterback in Dwayne Haskins. It will probably be a long rest of the season for Washington, but the prospect of drafting Chase Young or picking up a ton of assets in a trade with a team desperate for a quarterback has to be appealing.

32. Cincinnati Bengals: 0-9 (Last Week: 32)
Lost 49-13 vs. Baltimore
Sitting all alone as the final winless team in the league this season, Cincinnati was embarrassed by Baltimore at home. It was a rocky start to the Ryan Finley era. The rookie quarterback from North Carolina State could not get into a rhythm and committed a pair of costly turnovers. Putting a positive spin on things would be looking at Joe Mixon’s most productive game of the season and the possibility of an A.J. Green return next week.

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