At this point in the season we know who the playoff contenders are, and each game becomes more important to determine who makes it in.
The Colts and Cardinals came away with wins that put them both tied for the lead in their respective divisions. With their Week 10 wins, the Buccaneers and Dolphins drew to within a one game striking distance for their divisions' top spot. The Bills, Ravens, Seahawks, Eagles, and Titans took losses giving up valuable ground for playoff positioning.
Drew Brees suffered fractured ribs and a collapsed lung in a win over the 49ers, and is expected to miss at least two weeks. Jameis Winston will fill in during Brees' absence and will have a great opportunity to raise his value in free agency by keeping the razor thin division lead the Saints have over Tom Brady and the Buccaneers.
Let's take a look at FindBet's Week 11 NFL Power Rankings based on what we've seen so far this season.
32. New York Jets (0-9, Last Week 32 +/- 0) - Trevor Lawrence seriously needs to consider going back to Clemson next year to avoid being a part of this train wreck under Adam Gase.
31. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-8, Last Week 31, +/- 0) - Have lost eight in a row and get the Steelers this week. They still have the Titans, Colts, Vikings, Browns, and Ravens on their schedule. Yikes.
30. Washington Football Team (2-7, Last Week 30, +/- 0) - Alex Smith threw for 390 yards in a close loss to Detroit. Smith's comeback has been a great story out of Washington after a preseason name change fiasco and a dud of a season.
What a journey it's been for Alex Smith. So inspiring 🙏 (h/t @FieldYates) https://t.co/JCaeXK4CtO— ESPN (@ESPN) 1605453142.0
29. Dallas Cowboys (2-7, Last Week 28, - 1) - Coming off their bye week the Cowboys get a tough matchup against the streaking Minnesota Vikings and Dalvin Cook. Their defense will be tested as Cook has run all over everyone he's faced this year.
28. Denver Broncos (3-6, Last Week 25, - 3) - Denver dropped their second game in a row in an embarrassing 37-12 loss that saw Drew Lock toss four interceptions. Jerry Jeudy has settled into the offense though, and should be a nice pairing with Courtland Sutton when he returns from injury next season.
27. Chicago Bears (5-5, Last Week 27, +/- 0) - Chicago has now lost four straight and is giving Minnesota the window they needed to make a move for second place in the NFC North. The Bears must have thought between Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles that they had a starting quarterback, but over this stretch it's clear they need to be looking for other options in 2021.
26. New York Giants (3-7, Last Week 29, + 3) - The Giants enter their bye week riding a two game win streak. They'll get Cincinnati in Week 12, and have positioned themselves to unseat the Eagles for top spot in the NFC East. That's an accomplishment right?
Daniel Jones' 34-yard TD marks his third rush of 30+ yards this season. Just as many as Lamar Jackson 😮 https://t.co/KvT0wL40Hh— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) 1605465367.0
25. Los Angeles Chargers (2-7, Last Week 23, - 2) - Another one score loss for Justin Herbert and the Chargers. With a banged up running back group, Kalen Ballage has been productive in the primary role.
24. Houston Texans (2-7, Last Week 22, - 2) - The Texans were smothered by the Cleveland defense with Deshaun Watson only being able to throw for 162 yards. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt ran the Houston defense into the ground as both went for over 100 yards rushing. We won't be seeing a return to the playoffs for this group in 2020.
23. Carolina Panthers (3-7, Last Week 21, - 2) - Now losers of five games in a row, the Panthers have played themselves out of contention in a division looking up at the Saints and Bucs. Christian McCaffrey will be out again this week and that doesn't bode well for a team struggling to get a win.
Panthers officially ruled out RB Christian McCaffrey for Sunday's game against Detroit.— Adam Schefter (@Adam Schefter) 1605722017.0
22. San Francisco 49ers (4-6, Last Week 20, - 2) - Even though they've dropped three straight, it's still impressive what this team has been able to do with all the injuries they've sustained. The NFC West is just too competitive this year and the 49ers have run out of tricks to keep their season afloat.
21. Cincinnati Bengals (2-6-1, Last Week 19, - 2) - The Bengals got beat up by the Steelers in Week 10, but they get Washington this week and have the Giants the following week. A couple of opportunities for Joe Burrow to put on a show.
20. Detroit Lions (4-5, Last Week 26, + 6) - The Vikings look like the more serious contenders, but Detroit gets Carolina, Houston, and Chicago over the next three weeks.
19. New England Patriots (4-5, Last Week 24, + 5) - Say what you will about the Patriots and Bill Belichick, but they've now won two straight and are just a game below .500. One thing we've learned over the past two decades is to never count out a Belichick coached Patriots team.
18. Philadelphia Eagles (3-5-1, Last Week 18, +/- 0) - They lost to the Giants in Week 10 which moved the G-Men into second place in the East behind Philly. It's anyone's division to win, but right now it's Philadelphia's to lose.
17. Atlanta Falcons (3-6, Last Week 16, - 1) - The Falcons are coming off their bye and get a gift from the football gods as they'll take on a Drew Brees-less Saints team in Week 11. Atlanta looks like they're getting on the right track under interim head coach Raheem Morris, and a win over New Orleans would give them a boost heading into the home stretch.
16. Los Angeles Rams (6-3, Last Week 17, + 1) - Okay L.A. you got your first good win beating the Seahawks last week. Even though Russell Wilson and Seattle are on a little slide and not playing their best football, it's a big win for the Rams.
15. Cleveland Browns (6-3, Last Week 14, - 1) - Nick Chubb ruined bettors' day running out of bounds at the end of the game instead of running it in for the touchdown. Anyone who had Cleveland laying four points, we feel for you here at FindBet.
Nick Chubb fantasy owners crying right now https://t.co/RtKWXutbdw— Barstool Sports (@Barstool Sports) 1605474806.0
14. Minnesota Vikings (4-5, Last Week 13, - 1) - Dalvin Cook had a pedestrian 112 total yards and no touchdowns in a win over Chicago. I guess we have been a little spoiled by his recent fantasy performances.
13. Indianapolis Colts (6-3, Last Week 15, + 2) - The Colts took the division lead with their victory over the Titans last week. They did it in convincing fashion and could run away with the AFC South if the Titans' recent run of play continues.
12. Tennessee Titans (6-3, Last Week 9, - 3) - No team is falling from grace faster than the Titans right now. They're 1-3 in their last four games and have the Ravens, a rematch with the Colts, and the Browns over the next three.
11. Las Vegas Raiders (6-3, Last Week 12, + 1) - Following the Raiders this season has been like a high school romance. Right now Vegas is on a three game winning streak and everything is looking great, but they get the Chiefs this week and the break up could get ugly.
10. Miami Dolphins (6-3, Last Week 11, + 1) - In Tua we trust. Now 3-0 as a starter and beginning to get it done with his arm as he had 2 TD passes last week outdueling Justin Herbert. Salvon Ahmed burst onto the scene with 85 yards and a TD.
AFC East point differential: 1. Miami Dolphins +69 2. Buffalo Bills +7 3. New England Patriots -28 4. New York Jet… https://t.co/3RSOxHdAo8— Adam Beasley (@Adam Beasley) 1605488162.0
9. Baltimore Ravens (6-3, Last Week 7, - 2) - Lamar Jackson was unable to lead his team to a game winning drive in the fourth quarter. Doubt has begun to set in on one of the preseason favorites to win it all. Cleveland is right on their heels and a Thanksgiving Day matchup with the Steelers is ahead of them.
8. Seattle Seahawks (6-3, Last Week 6, - 2) - It's hard to believe it but Seattle is on a two game slide and losers of three of their last four. Russell Wilson has looked human over the past couple weeks, and they're at the bottom of a three way tie for the NFC West division lead.
7. Buffalo Bills (7-3, Last Week 4, - 3) - It took a miracle Hail Mary to be beaten by Arizona in Week 10. The Bills have become one of the must-see teams in the NFL this year. Josh Allen has done it all for the Bills this season including catching a touchdown from Isaiah McKenzie against the Cardinals.
JOSH ALLEN IS WR1 😱 (via @NFL) https://t.co/9s7qgWJYt5— Bleacher Report (@Bleacher Report) 1605475419.0
6. Arizona Cardinals (6-3, Last Week 10, + 4) - Kyler Murray's Hail Mary to DeAndre Hopkins may have taken the lead for play of the year in the NFL. A great game overall was capped off by one of the most exciting plays in sports. The Cardinals are looking more and more like a Super Bowl contender rather than just a playoff contender.
Hail Murray on repeat. @K1 @DeAndreHopkins (by @WilsonFootball) https://t.co/MUuskOjaat— NFL (@NFL) 1605749426.0
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3, Last Week 8, + 3) - That's more like it. Antonio Brown, Chris Godwin, and Mike Evans all had at least six catches and Ronald Jones had a 98 yard touchdown run. Tampa Bay cruised to a win over Carolina in Week 10.
RONALD JONES GOES 98 YARDS! @rojo | #GoBucs 📺: #TBvsCAR on FOX 📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: … https://t.co/vKrV2Pmpt9— NFL (@NFL) 1605470781.0
4. New Orleans Saints (7-2, Last Week 5, + 1) - The Saints beat the 49ers last week but lost Drew Brees for at least this week. The good news for them is that they have Jameis Winston to step in while Brees recovers which should give them a shot at maintaining their slim division lead over the Bucs.
3. Green Bay Packers (7-2, Last Week 3, +/- 0) - The running game was ineffective in Week 10 but Aaron Rodgers willed them to victory over the Jags throwing for 325 yards and two touchdowns. Packers take on the Colts this week in a matchup of division leaders.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (8-1, Last Week 2, +/- 0) - The Chiefs are coming off their bye and get a chance to avenge their only loss on the season as they get a rematch with the Las Vegas Raiders. Patrick Mahomes has been spreading the ball around to all of the weapons in his offensive arsenal which has made defending Kansas City nearly impossible.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-0, Last Week 1, +/- 0) - Playing in the AFC North guarantees Pittsburgh some difficult games left on the schedule, but the Steelers have never been intimidated by a challenge. They have won close games, shown the ability to overcome deficits to win, and the defense is elite. Until someone can put a number in their loss column the top spot is theirs.
After we saw a handful of upsets in Week 8, teams enter the back half of their schedules some are vying for playoff positions while others are struggling to keep their season alive.
Week 8 saw the Titans, Packers, Browns, and Rams get upset by their opponents. The Seahawks and Steelers picked up impressive victories to keep their foothold among the top teams. Tom Brady and his Buccaneers barely escaped with a Monday Night Football win over the Giants. Dallas' woes continued on Sunday night as they lost to the Eagles and failed to score a touchdown for the second consecutive week.
Let's take a look at the Week 9 power rankings based on what we've seen so far this season.
32. New York Jets (0-8, Last Week 32 +/- 0) - Gross.
31. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-6, Last Week 31, +/- 0) - Should have traded Gardner Minshew at the deadline.
30. New York Giants (1-7, Last Week 30, +/- 0) - Looked competitive against Tampa Bay in Week 8, but the outlook for the season still looks bleak.
29. Dallas Cowboys (2-6, Last Week 29, +/- 0) - Should have traded for Gardner Minshew at the deadline.
28. Washington Football Team (2-5, Last Week 28, +/- 0) - Football Team gets the Giants coming off their bye week and will hope to get continued production from Antonio Gibson to put a win streak together.
Highest-graded rookie RBs: 1. Antonio Gibson - 80.5 2. Clyde Edwards-Helaire - 75.8 3. James Robinson - 75.1 4. Jon… https://t.co/5SSkm62TGu— PFF (@PFF) 1603895462.0
27. New England Patriots (2-5, Last Week 26, - 1) - The Pats fell just short against Buffalo in a game that could've gotten their season back on track, at least from a record standpoint. Instead they're at the bottom of the division looking up and in unfamiliar territory at this point in the season.
26. Houston Texans (1-6, Last Week 24, - 2) - The Texans come out of their bye week with the Jaguars, Browns, Patriots, and Lions on their schedule. This stretch could put them back in the playoff picture if Deshaun Watson can will them to some wins.
25. Chicago Bears (5-3, Last Week 18, - 7) - The Bears lost in OT to the Saints in Week 8, and they slide down seven spots this week. Although they looked better offensively in this game, we need to see it on a more consistent basis.
24. Carolina Panthers (3-5, Last Week 17, -7) - The potential of Christian McCaffrey this week may reverse the drop the Panthers took in the rankings this week. They managed to go 3-3 while McCaffrey was injured behind good play from Teddy Bridgewater and Mike Davis. Their division is competitive, but they're within arm's length of a wildcard spot once they get CMC back.
23. Los Angeles Chargers (2-5, Last Week 21, - 2) - The Chargers lost a close one in Week 8 to the Broncos 31-30. Justin Herbert continues to impress however, and Mike Williams appears to be getting in sync with the rookie QB.
22. Detroit Lions (3-4, Last Week 14, - 8) - After looking better with Kenny Golladay in the lineup, the Lions got blown out 41-21 by the Colts in Week 8 knocking them down a few spots this week.
21. Denver Broncos (3-4, Last Week 27, + 6) - A good comeback victory against a surging Chargers team behind the play of Justin Herbert caught our attention. Resulting in Denver being a big mover on the list this week in the right direction.
20. Las Vegas Raiders (4-3, Last Week 19, - 1) - The Raiders dominated the Browns offense and really should have won by a lot more. The Raiders lose a spot this week due to their average performance against a flat Cleveland team in Week 8.
19. Cincinnati Bengals (2-5-1, Last Week 25, + 6) - The Bengals had an impressive win over the Titans last week and resulted in them jumping up six spots this week. They're on a bye this week and have the Steelers in Weeks 10 and 15. But in between those games Cincinnati plays Washington, the Giants, Miami, and Dallas. While the playoffs are probably out of the question in a competitive AFC, what Joe Burrow and the Bengals have done this year at least makes you wonder Who Dey?
Love my team #WhoDey https://t.co/iTwpZ0UOHq— Billy Price (@Billy Price) 1604276906.0
18. Atlanta Falcons (2-6, Last Week 23, + 5) - The Falcons seem higher on this list than they should be, but their potential has been close to the surface all season and they seem poised to breakout. Their five spot jump is preemptive to what we expect to see from them the rest of the way out.
17. Minnesota Vikings (2-5, Last Week 20, +3) - It looks like Dalvin Cook is healthy and he has been the most explosive runner in the NFL when healthy. He is leading the league in rushing touchdowns and has been the focal point of that offense that includes a developing Justin Jefferson opening up the passing game. Like Atlanta, the Vikings benefit from the direction we see them going in.
Anyone playing against Dalvin Cook in fantasy @brgridiron https://t.co/OjpIqLnp4F— Bleacher Report (@Bleacher Report) 1604259911.0
16. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4-1, Last Week 22, + 6) - Speaking of teams making big jumps we see the Eagles(!) making a six spot jump up our rankings this week. They have won two in a row and appear to be the clear favorites to win the NFC East. Even if they finish under .500 they still project to be a division winner.
15. Cleveland Browns (5-3, Last Week 11, - 4) - After throwing for five touchdowns in Week 7, Baker Mayfield fell flat on his face in an awful loss to the Raiders in Week 8. The Browns are now without Odell Beckham and need Nick Chubb to return from IR to help boost the running game to the level we saw earlier in the season. This is a good spot for them as they're season is teetering and could go either way depending on the next few weeks.
14. Miami Dolphins (4-3, Last Week 15, + 1) - Tua Tagovailoa got his first NFL win in the first start of his professional career but the Dolphins' defense and special teams helped out adding a fumble returned for a touchdown and a punt return for a touchdown to beat the Rams in Week 8.
13. Los Angeles Rams (5-3, Last Week 13, +/- 0) - The Rams five wins are against the Eagles, Cowboys, Redskins, Giants, and Bears. Their three losses have come against the Dolphins, 49ers, and Bills. Something is askew and we should know who the real Rams are after the next couple weeks.
12. San Francisco 49ers (4-4, Last Week 12, +/- 0) - Jimmy Garoppolo and George Kittle went down with injuries in Week 8 and it looks like Kittle will be gone for at least eight weeks. Why do they remain at 12 this week in the rankings? Kyle Shanahan has done an extraordinary job with this team through injuries so far, and until he proves unable to keep up, I'm keeping the faith in him.
Put Kyle Shanahan on the QB depth chart 😂 @49ers https://t.co/Rj7mE1ZQLi— The Checkdown (@The Checkdown) 1603992274.0
11. Indianapolis Colts (5-2, Last Week 16, + 5) - The Colts trounced the Lions last week and hope to keep that offensive momentum going as they'll have Baltimore this week.
10. Baltimore Ravens (5-2, Last Week 8, - 2) - This seems like a really low spot for Baltimore and it is. But keep in mind they dropped a few spots the prior week just because they were on a bye and they took a loss in which Lamar Jackson looked pretty bad. They don't drop further though because that bad loss was to the undefeated Steelers and that nasty defense.
Lamar Jackson vs Steelers: 2 starts, 3 Pass TD, 5 INT Lamar Jackson vs everyone else: 27 starts, 50 Pass TD, 8 INT https://t.co/8dBEc74MoH— NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) 1604266685.0
9. Arizona Cardinals (5-2, Last Week 7, - 2) - Arizona coming off the bye drops a couple spots, but are riding a three game winning streak into their Week 9 matchup with the Dolphins.
8. New Orleans Saints (5-2, Last Week 10, + 2) - Winners of four straight, the Saints will hope to keep the momentum going against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers this week.
7. Tennessee Titans (5-2, Last Week 4, - 3) - Losers of two straight, the Titans want to avoid a mid season slide after starting out 5-0. The loss to the Steelers wasn't alarming, but dropping a Week 8 game to the Bengals certainly raises a flag.
6. Buffalo Bills (6-2, Last Week 9, +3) - Even though they haven't looked their best the past two weeks in division matchups against the Jets and the Patriots, the Bills have managed to win. They will have the Seahawks, Cardinals, and Chargers over their next three games with a bye scheduled for Week 11.
5. Green Bay Packers (5-2, Last Week 6, + 1) - The Packers dropped their second game in three weeks as they lost to the Vikings in Week 8. They don't lose much ground in the rankings though because of what we've seen out of Aaron Rodgers this season. Once they get healthy we expect the Packers to finish the season as NFC North champions.
Aaron Rodgers is really, really good... Since 2018, Rodgers has thrown for 68 TD and 8 INT for a TD/INT ratio of 8… https://t.co/qhfud65RfE— CBS Sports HQ (@CBS Sports HQ) 1603906683.0
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2, Last Week 3, - 1) - The Bucs drop a spot here because of the struggle they had closing out the Giants on Monday night. They shouldn't have been in a position where they were needing to come back and it feels like they were overlooking this game and their opponents.
3. Seattle Seahawks (6-1, Last Week 5, + 2) - The Seahawks had an impressive win over division rival, San Francisco last week. Russell Wilson had four touchdown passes while Seattle was without their top two running backs in Week 8.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (7-1, Last Week 2 +/- 0) - KC took care of business against the Jets handling them easily. They have Carolina this week before their bye and they're in the driver's seat to win the AFC West.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-0, Last Week 1, +/-0) - The Steelers had an important division win against the Ravens in Week 8 allowing them to remain undefeated. Turnovers made the difference in that game and the Pittsburgh defense continues to be one of the most feared in the league. The Steelers have the Cowboys, Bengals, and Jaguars over their next three games before taking on the Ravens for the second time. The path for them heading into that game 10-0 is pretty clear.
JuJu and Chase had the Steelers locker room lit after staying undefeated 🔥😂 @TeamJuJu @ChaseClaypool @steelers (… https://t.co/QsGK0ZktdV— The Checkdown (@The Checkdown) 1604269160.0
The NFL has reached the halfway point in the season, and we have a clearer picture of who are contenders and who should be turning their attention to 2021 already.
The Chiefs, Ravens, Seahawks, and Packers have justified being favorites to win the Super Bowl going into this season. Drew Brees and Tom Brady have the Saints and Buccaneers positioned to be in a battle for the NFC South title all year. The Bills and Cardinals have gotten MVP caliber performances from Josh Allen and Kyler Murray, which has resulted in both teams exceeding expectations in 2020. The Steelers look damn near unbeatable so far, and head coach Mike Tomlin made it clear that "we do not care" about anything standing between them and a championship.
Let's take a look at the Week 8 power rankings based on what we've seen so far this year.
32. New York Jets (0-7, Last Week 32 +/- 0) - For the second week in a row there isn't a lot to say about the Jets. Until they fire Adam Gase this franchise has no chance to turn things around.
Adam Gase Insists It Way Too Early To Think About Destroying Trevor Lawrence https://t.co/JX8aXuF7XR https://t.co/nzmdunocoQ— The Onion (@The Onion) 1603401604.0
31. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-6, Last Week 29, -2) - Three bad losses in a row and they just don't seem to have enough players on the current roster to win. Still have Packers, Steelers, Browns, Titans, and Ravens on their schedule.
30. New York Giants (1-6, Last Week 30, +/- 0) - Daniel Jones continues to show flashes of what could be next year when Saquon Barkley returns from injury.
29. Dallas Cowboys (2-5, Last Week 25, -4) - Jerry Jones this past week reinforced that Mike McCarthy is their guy which should tell you where this season is going for the Cowboys. Time to jump ship on all Dallas players in fantasy including Ezekiel Elliott.
WANTED: Three men for robbery, stealing a total of $259,000,000 from the Dallas Cowboys. https://t.co/jChAXy2Al6— Fake SportsCenter (@Fake SportsCenter) 1603926956.0
28. Washington Football Team (2-5, Last Week 31, +3) - Antonio Gibson and Terry McLaurin are really good position players for Washington. They cut up a porous Dallas defense in a Week 7 win, and once the Football Team has a new name and quarterback their fortunes could be changing in D.C.
27. Denver Broncos (2-4, Last Week 21, -6) - Denver has been ravaged by injuries this year most notably with Von Miller and Courtland Sutton sidelined for the season. They don't have the depth on their roster to compensate and should continue to fade even with starting quarterback Drew Lock back with the team.
26. New England Patriots (2-4, Last Week 23, -3) - New England is coming off an embarrassing 33-6 loss to the 49ers one of the worst in Bill Belichick's tenure, and things look bleak for the Patriots for the first time in nearly two decades. Cam Newton was benched in the whooping, but Belichick has confirmed that Newton is still the starter there. Unless Julian Edelman can wind the clock back five years there simply isn't enough left in the cupboard for chef Bill to cook with.
Belichick's "magical system" offense, without Tom Brady, currently has the most INTs thrown in the NFL with 11 and… https://t.co/JEaJ9qVQzO— Dov Kleiman (@Dov Kleiman) 1603912338.0
25. Cincinnati Bengals (1-5-1, Last Week 26, +1) - All the Bengals need is a defense because Joe Burrow is already a bona fide stud. He's thrown for 300 or more yards in five of his seven career games and thrown for three touchdowns now twice. Cincinnati is much better than their record indicates and adds yet another team in the AFC North you don't want to face.
Joe Burrow BALLED out today despite the loss: 🔥 440 Total Yards 🔥 4 Total TDs https://t.co/9znwVgeZqK— ESPN (@ESPN) 1603658964.0
24. Houston Texans (1-6, Last Week 22, -2) - Should get on track this week against Jacksonville although the playoffs may be out of reach already for Houston.
23. Atlanta Falcons (1-6, Last Week 24, +1) - The Falcons should've came out of Week 7 with a win, instead their strange season rolls on as it feels like a matter of time before they start to add some games in the wins column.
22. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4-1, Last Week 28, +6) - A big jump by Philadelphia this week as any resemblance of a football team playing football should be enough to win the NFC East this year. Travis Fulgham has settled into a good chemistry with Carson Wentz and has them looking better going into Week 8.
21. Los Angeles Chargers (2-4, Last Week 27, +6) - Justin Herbert gave the Chargers over 400 yards of total offense and four touchdowns last week. They have a favorable schedule the rest of the season and could surprise us by grabbing a wild card spot.
Justin Herbert was electric in the Chargers' win vs. the Jaguars ⚡️ ⚡️ 412 total yards ⚡️ Four total TDs ⚡️ First… https://t.co/4rtcJruEK6— ESPN (@ESPN) 1603669076.0
20. Minnesota Vikings (1-5, Last Week 20, +/- 0) - Coming off a bye week, unfortunately for them they'll be welcomed back by Green Bay this week.
19. Las Vegas Raiders (3-3, Last Week 17, -2) - The Jekyll and Hyde for me the in the first half. They've beaten the Saints and Chiefs, but got crushed by the Patriots, who we thought were good, and the Bucs, who we know are good. Should know more after this week. TBD for Gruden's Raiders.
18. Chicago Bears (5-2, Last Week 11, -7) - I was looking for a reason to fade the Bears this week and I got it with another flat performance by them against the Rams in Week 7. Expect them to continue to trend down until their offense looks like they have a pulse.
17. Carolina Panthers (3-4, Last Week 18, +1) - Christian McCaffrey a longshot to comeback this week, but is back from IR and should be back on the field in the next few weeks. Teddy Bridgewater has kept them competitive picking up a few wins and adding in CMC could turn them into legit playoff contenders.
Christian McCaffrey has been designated to return from the reserve/injured list.— Carolina Panthers (@Carolina Panthers) 1603814799.0
16. Indianapolis Colts (4-2, Last Week 15, -1) - Coming off a bye week, they get a surging Detroit team this week.
15. Miami Dolphins (3-3, Last Week 13, -2) - Tua Tagovailoa will make his first NFL start against the Rams this week. A head scratching move by head coach Brian Flores not only to replace Ryan Fitzpatrick who had the offense clicking, but to put a rookie in front of Rams' defensive superstar Aaron Donald in their first start is asking a lot of the young prospect.
14. Detroit Lions (3-3, Last Week 19, +5) - The Lions look like a different team with Kenny Golladay in the lineup. His long reception setup the eventual winning touchdown in Week 7 against the Falcons.
13. Los Angeles Rams (5-2, Last Week 12, -1) - The Rams have beaten every NFC East team and the Bears to comprise their five wins on the year. YOU'RE STILL ON NOTICE RAMS at least until you get a good win.
12. San Francisco 49ers (4-3, Last Week 16, +4) - The 49ers have dealt with more injuries than anyone this year and coach Kyle Shanahan has done an excellent job keeping his team focused on winning. If they can get healthier down the stretch the division crown isn't out of the question.
11. Cleveland Browns (5-2, Last Week 14, +3) - A career performance from Baker Mayfield who tossed five touchdowns against the Bengals in their Week 7 win made up for the fact that they lost receiver Odell Beckham for the season. Beckham tore his ACL on the team's first drive and will join Nick Chubb on IR.
Baker Mayfield started 0/5 with an INT, then went nearly perfect: 22-23 297 Yards 5 TDs His only incomplete pass… https://t.co/iDSPbl1XEE— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) 1603657787.0
10. New Orleans Saints (4-2, Last Week 10 +/- 0) - The Saints have been playing great in the absence of Michael Thomas. New Orleans gets the Bears this week before two tough matchups against the Buccaneers and 49ers.
9. Buffalo Bills (5-2, Last Week 8, -1) - Tyler Bass made six field goals against the Jets, but those were the only points the Bills could muster against the league's worst team. Josh Allen has played like an MVP at times this season, but needs to reduce the turnovers for them to make a deep playoff run.
8. Baltimore Ravens (5-1, Last Week 5, -3) - The Ravens drop three spots here, but only because they're coming off their bye. Lamar Jackson is going to have to be great over the next five weeks as they play the Steelers twice, the Colts, Patriots, and Titans. This will be a true test of whether Lamar is the same guy we saw last year or if he has in fact regressed.
NFL Twitter when Lamar Jackson makes a bad play or has a bad game https://t.co/azyfqYuCt9— 🃏 (@🃏) 1603419425.0
7. Arizona Cardinals (5-2, Last Week 9, +2) - It feels like Arizona should be moving up more than two spots here, but the competition at the top of this list is fierce. Kyler Murray is one of the most exciting players to watch in this league, and although they will be missing Kenyan Drake for a couple weeks Chase Edmonds has proven to be a reliable fill in.
6. Green Bay Packers (5-1, Last Week 7, +1) - Even without Aaron Jones the Packers continue to put up points. Jamal Williams filled in admirably with 77 yards and a TD. Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams stole the show though. Adams finished with 196 yards and 2 TDs against the Texans. They get the 1-5 Vikings in Week 8.
That @AaronRodgers12 to @tae15adams connection was 🔥 #HaveADay | @Packers | #GoPackGo https://t.co/ra9pEca3hP— NFL (@NFL) 1603657347.0
5. Seattle Seahawks (5-1, Last Week 4, -1) - The Seahawks' schedule does them no favor coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Cardinals. They will play another tough divisional game against the 49ers this week, but that might be just what Russell Wilson needs to get his team refocused and back on track.
4. Tennessee Titans (5-1, Last Week 2, -2) - In the battle of the undefeated in Week 7, the Steelers appeared to be on track to blow out the Titans jumping out to a big first half lead. Tennessee came roaring back however and nearly completed a comeback, falling just short. Pittsburgh has the best defense in the league and did an adequate job of limiting Derrick Henry throughout the game. The Titans will continue to be the favorite to win the AFC South.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2, Last Week 6, +3) - Coming off a convincing win against the Raiders, they will get the Giants on Monday night. Antonio Brown has agreed to terms with the team and could make his debut Week 9. The Bucs are for real and Tom Brady could be raising a Lombardi trophy again, and not for the Patriots. Sooo 2020.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (6-1, Last Week 3, +1) - The Chiefs are so good that Patrick Mahomes can throw for 200 yards and a touchdown and they still put up 43 points in Week 7. Le'Veon Bell made is Kansas City debut and he will add yet another weapon to that offense to give defensive coordinators nightmares far past Halloween.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-0, Last Week 1, +/-0) - They're a team that just looks the part. Along with the Packers, Chiefs, Seahawks, Bucs - they just look like a SB contender in all aspects of the game. Well coached, talent at every position group, next man up mentality. Best defense in the league. The AFC North will be a gauntlet, but everyone else adopted the dark, the Steelers were born in it.
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES - Bane Blows Up A Football Stadium www.youtube.com
Sacked coaches, benched quarterbacks, coronavirus outbreaks and Tom Brady pulling a JR Smith...
It's been a wild and unpredictable week in the NFL, and we're here to take shots at the biggest headlines in this week's collection of Intentional Fouls.
Tom has a deflating loss to the Bears
Last night's ugly matchup between the Bears and Bucs came out with an unexpected loss for the Bucs—mostly because Tom Brady forgot it was fourth down.
As expected, the Internet showed up Friday morning ready to clown the best quarterback of all time, speculating as to whether the 43-year-old is still (mentally) in it to win it. Has Father Time come for Father Tom?
Honestly, probably not. Brady's one of the best deep throwers of 2020, and that's with an offense that still hasn't clicked like New England clockwork. With Chris Godwin sidelined, Mike Evans nursing an injured ankle and injuries dotting the offensive roster, the Bucs are struggling when they have the talent to be a leading NFL team.
But none of that excuses Tom's faux pas on that crucial fourth down—how the hell did he not know what was going on? It's impossible to imagine not knowing the down on a game-changing play, and especially for someone who's been playing the game almost as long as Justin Herbert's lifespan. Maybe he was too caught up in the moment, or maybe he was trying to get one over on the refs to compensate for the 100+ yards lost from penalties.
Streamable Video streamable.com
While Tom didn't deny his forgetfulness and opted for the usual "we've got to execute better" in his postgame presser, Bruce Arians straight-up lied and said that Tom knew it was fourth down. Everyone knew that if anyone can do it in 1:30, it was Tom—but in the words of RoJo, the Bucs beat themselves.
Belichick is deliciously evil, but is he capable of biowarfare?
The NFL COVID Outbreak has finally arrived, and it came straight for the jugular of the team you love to hate: the New England Patriots.
Before anyone yells out, "Cheaters!", the fates are actually conspiring against the dynastic team this time: quarterback Cam Newton missed a key Chiefs matchup due to COVID, and now shutdown corner Stephon Gilmore tested positive for the debilitating illness.
https://t.co/CLrVeCzqPD— The Gilly Lock (@The Gilly Lock) 1602094512.0
In one week, the Patriots have lost the best players on their offense and defense, and it was clear on Monday that the Patriots could have easily won that Chiefs game if Newton was healthy.
But before Gilmore left the field and discovered his diagnosis, he hugged Patrick Mahomes after the game, which begs the question: Did Bill Belichick do this on purpose to wipe out the unstoppable Mahomes for a few weeks?
Via NFLReddit
Via NFLReddit
Of course not, but it's hilarious to think that Belichick could do something this evil...or, at least, the NFL could try to punish him for doing this "intentionally."
Meanwhile, there's a full-on outbreak on the Titans, where nearly half their roster has tested positive so far at 23. Apparently, the Titans haven't been exactly following COVID protocol, which could result in severe punishments by the league in order to set an example.
Despite Gilmore's recently positive test, there are no new tests reported for the Titans or Patriots, and both teams are scheduled to play their Week 5 matchups. But if this coronavirus/injury trend continues, few teams will have all 22 active players standing by the end of the season—not even Bill can outsmart his way out of that.
Bill O'Brien finally sacked for the dumpster fire that is the Houston Texans
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Just as power-hungry Bill O'Brien sought to slurp up play calling duties on an 0-4 Texans, he was finally fired this week, meaning that someone thought he was worse than Dan Quinn and Adam Gase.
But O'Brien is worse than Quinn or Gase, if for nothing other than his secret plot to take over the entire Texans organization. That's right: O'Brien proclaimed that the offensive coordinator would be calling plays for the first three games of the season, which is a weird thing for the head coach to state because… of course the OC calls the plays. The whole point of his statement was so that when the Texans lost back-to-back to three of the NFL's toughest teams, O'Brien could swoop in and pick up the play calling duties as well, knowing full well that no one could survive those games after he traded away their most valuable passing asset, Deandre Hopkins, in March.
Texans Trade DeAndre Hopkins www.youtube.com
It gets worse: apparently JJ Watt called out BOB for his coaching ability and started a player revolution that ended up getting the head coach fired.
A source tells me that JJ Watt and Bill O’Brien had a heated exchange on the practice field the week of the Steeler… https://t.co/wDH1avNqLS— John Granato (@John Granato) 1602089653.0
Bill tried to emulate his former boss, Bill Belichick, but if we've learned anything over twenty years, it's this: no one can be Bill Belichick, not even a Bill that's frequented the playoffs. As former Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel steps up and becomes the new oldest head coach in NFL history, Week 5 will offer a glimpse into how the once-lofty Texans will hobble through the rest of the year.
The Washington Team is doing the most in 2020
It's been a whirlwind few months for the Washington Football Team, an NFL franchise that is doing its best to salvage a reputation that went up in flames when their creepy, illegally-taken cheerleader footage scandal leaked.
The next thing they're doing to salvage their reputation? Sending Dwayne Haskins to the back ahead of Week 5 as they promote former Panthers QB Kyle Allen to starter.
What has Dwayne done to deserve this? Well, everything, but also nothing.
The Dwayne Haskins Experience: 🔸 Get drafted 15th overall by a HC on the hot seat 🔸 Play for three HCs in 13 games… https://t.co/Ew41uOLvd9— Kimberley A. Martin (@Kimberley A. Martin) 1602077621.0
Haskins hasn't been the best QB by any means, but he's also on an incredibly dysfunctional team that's still in flux—not to mention he stands behind a bottom five offensive line unit while taking orders from a new offensive coordinator.
Pat McAfee Reacts To Dwayne Haskins Being Benched By The Washington Football Team www.youtube.com
If you don't think that a team can make the difference for a quarterback's career, just look at Andrew Luck's tragically short run due to a lacking offensive line, the brilliant Tony Romo's shortened career due to the exact same issue, or how Sam Darnold is now tripping over himself the way Mark Sanchez used to run into butts.
NFL: Denver Broncos at New York Jets Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Well guys it’s all come full circle for my guy Sam Darnold... last year he saw Ghost & this year he got sacked by o… https://t.co/6IO7mYHmDw— Ryan Clark (@Ryan Clark) 1601607498.0
Via Tenor
Maybe Haskins isn't it, but it's equally possible that he's a young quarterback that hasn't been developed properly and had a chance to thrive in Washington. Whether Haskins stays on this Football Team or joins another, here's to hoping that the quarterback is able to keep his NFL dreams alive and show his true capabilities, whatever they may be.
Sometimes I hate it here https://t.co/3ggfriITG1— Joe cardoso 📝🎙🗣 (@Joe cardoso 📝🎙🗣) 1602279128.0
Sometimes I hate it here https://t.co/3ggfriITG1— Joe cardoso 📝🎙🗣 (@Joe cardoso 📝🎙🗣) 1602279128.0