Week Ten Power Rankings

The Chiefs won on a blocked field goal. Jared Goff threw five picks and still won. Football is kind of stupid sometimes. You’ve got to love it that way.

Out of Rankings: Los Angeles Rams

Honorable Mention(s): Atlanta Falcons & Denver Broncos

10. Minnesota Vikings (Previous ranking: 10)

The Jacksonville Jaguars defense has allowed 30 points on four separate occasions. They are literally the worst defensive EPA team in the entirety of the sport we love so much. No one worth their salt would agree that the Jags defense is any good. Kevin O’Connell is another one of the young offensive geniuses who has weapons like, oh I don’t know, the best receiver in football at his disposal. Minnesota scored 12. They won, but they scored as many points as Jesus had disciples against the defense God forgot about. Now, Brian Flores’ defense has allowed virtually no points in the last two weeks and the lead the Vikings set for themselves in the NFC North will probably be good enough for a playoff berth, but the midseason sits on souls.

9. Los Angeles Chargers (Previous ranking: NR)

The Chargers have put together one of the league’s best defenses despite firing a defensive coach in favor of an offensive one. Sure, Jim Harbaugh and Dan Campbell are in the closest race for who is becoming the president of toughness, but Harbaugh was a quarterback for more than a decade in the NFL (Campbell was a TE). Harbaugh’s quarterbacks have rarely had the gaudiest numbers and Justin Herbert is falling in line but has also been one of the few consistently efficient players at the position this year. JK Dobbins turned the hands on the clock back with the young offensive line. The staff for the Chargers should be highlighted, but none more than the defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.

(Chargers Wire)

8. Washington Commanders (Previous ranking: 5)

I am not upset with the Commanders whatsoever. I have found it fairly fitting to react rookie QBs like grade school students particularly in losses. Sure, things didn’t go well, stop crying, and let’s figure this thing out. The Commanders defense is still a bit of a problem, but they are currently working Marshon Lattimore in, so I’m not that worried on that front. Where my anxiety raises is that when games become shootouts, can the Commanders keep their head enough to let Jayden win. They essentially lost on a false start, and they aren’t good enough in the margins yet to get away with stuff like that.

7. Baltimore Ravens (Previous ranking: 4)

The fact is that the Ravens should have lost. Joe Burrow and the Bengals, despite having one the league’s best offenses, rarely had to run a play in the final two minutes of the game because of the yellow flags. Then, the referees missed more than one call on the game’s final play. As a neutral observer, financially and otherwise, it was hilarious to watch, but crucial for the Cincinnati metropolitan area. The offense is elite, and the defense is terrible, feels like an even crappier remake of Freaky Friday crossed with The Wire. Lamar very will might win an unprecedented third MVP without a Super Bowl, but this is definitively not a championship defense, which will hurt Baltimore before the divisional round if they make it that far. Frankly, the only difference between them and the Bengals are the games they have played against each other and those speak for themselves.

6. San Francisco 49ers (Previous ranking: 5)

The 49ers don’t look like how they looked last year, which isn’t the worst thing in the world. In 2021, they were a dropped interception away from going to another Super Bowl despite going 9-8. This team will be dangerous if this core is healthy together, but that has been the problem, this core has neither been healthy nor together until this cross-country trip. The 49ers still have a chance to win their division but have stiffer competition than last year. The timing of the natural come down and the competitions come-up may bite them in the tail, but typically, Shanahan has the coaching advantage in most games he coaches, so there is something to lay one’s confidence.

5. Philadelphia Eagles (Previous ranking: 8)

Frankly, I was not impressed by Philly beating a Dak-less Cowboys in Jerry World. Hopefully, they have begun the turn of Jerry Jones firing himself (I can believe in flying pigs if I want to). The Eagles look to be live with the other NFC contenders, but they have one within their division. They play them twice down the stretch including this Thursday. Their coach is still a problem, but that hasn’t hurt them yet. Yet.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (Previous ranking: 7)

This feels a bit high for a team who had a QB controversy this offseason. Most of the time, those things end with a Top 5 pick and a new coaching staff. Pittsburgh has only ever hired three coaches and Terry Bradshaw, who has been balding since his playing days, might be their last high draft pick. The Steelers just win. Through all eras and styles, the Steelers just find ways to win. The Tomlin stat of never having a losing season is a bit annoying these days, but that’s for good reason. They always find ways to win.

(The Seattle Times)

3. Detroit Lions (Previous ranking: 2)

My god, five picks still couldn’t convince me to take the Steelers over the Lions this week. The Lions have blown nearly everybody else out, but the moment DeMeco Ryans’ defense took the field, you knew the bloodbath that could begin with the two early turnovers, but they still won. This game was a microcosm of Dan Campbell’s press conference and succeeding tenure: wild but working. The word ‘culture’ has bled most sports television fans to death in regard to Detroit, but it is finding ways despite their quarterback’s biggest kryptonite making an ugly appearance. They still have just one loss and are making a B-line for the #1 seed in the NFC.

2. Buffalo Bills (Previous ranking: 3)

The middle of the season is starting to get to Josh Allen. He opened the season on an uncharacteristic turnover-less streak until these last few weeks and this week he didn’t even have the decency to add a passing touchdown to the log. And guess what? The Buffalo Bills still won. Some offseason writers and talking heads called for Sean McDermott’s head for the annual playoff loss to the Chiefs, but he deserves partial credit (along with Bobby Babich) for this defense who lifted two possessions off Joe Flacco early. The Bills are the most daunting contender to Kansas City because they can allow for a reckless, yet wildly dangerous, Josh Allen to be himself while being stingy on the other end.

1.Kansas City Chiefs (Previous ranking: 1)

I am a Chiefs fan, but I am also starting to think there’s something up. With a singular second on the clock, a 35-yard field goal is more of a guarantee than a result changer. Not against this team.

Biggest Mover(s): Steelers, Eagles (rose 3 spots) & Ravens (fell 3 spots)

New Appearance(s): Chargers