Aaron Rodgers is playing at an MVP pace hoping to lead the Packers to a Super Bowl
The Saints and Chiefs have clinched their spots in the postseason already, but most of the league is still in the hunt for a playoff berth.
The Steelers had a chance to punch their ticket against Washington on Monday night but were upset by the Football Team 23-17. That allowed the Browns, who are currently sitting in the top spot for the AFC Wild Card, to draw within two games in the AFC North. The Bills picked up an important win over the 49ers to keep a slim one game lead over the Dolphins in the AFC East. The Titans and Colts are in a tight race for the AFC South, both with an 8-4 record but Tennessee holds the tiebreaker.
In the NFC there are two teams running away with their divisions in the Packers and the Saints who both hold at least a three game advantage over their nearest competition. The NFC East and West, however, should go down to the wire as virtually every team in those divisions still have a chance to finish with a division title.
As we start to see more teams secure their postseason spots, others will continue to be eliminated from contention. Let's take a look at the power rankings for Week 14 based on what we've seen so far this season.
32. New York Jets (0-12, Last Week 32 +/- 0) -Gregg Williams called an all-out blitz against the Raiders which resulted in cornerback Lamar Jackson being left on an island with Henry Ruggs III and got beat for the game-winning TD with 5 seconds left. That's so Jets.
2020 Jets Mood Ft. Bill Parcells #Jets #TakeFlight https://t.co/JeXbX4p5eb— NYJ Matt (@NYJ Matt) 1607552081.0
31. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-11, Last Week 31, +/- 0) - 11 game losing streak, and nearly caught a break as the Jets looked primed to get their first win of the season. But unfortunately for the Jags, the Jets lost in dramatic fashion keeping them one step ahead of Jacksonville in the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes.
30. Cincinnati Bengals (2-9-1, Last Week 28, - 2) - Outside of a 72 yard strike to Tyler Boyd for their lone score, the Bengals were smothered by Miami in a bad loss in Week 13. Without Joe Mixon they only accounted for 40 rushing yards in the game.
29. Dallas Cowboys (3-9, Last Week 26, - 3) - Zeke turned in an OK performance, but the Cowboys were handled easily by the Ravens on Tuesday evening 34-17.
28. Chicago Bears (5-7, Last Week 29, + 1) - Somehow the Bears move up a spot this week following their sixth straight loss. It's only due to the four teams behind them are in such a mess. David Montgomery turned in his second consecutive strong performance with over 100 yards of total offense and two touchdowns. Mitch Trubisky looked slightly better than Mitchell Trubisky.
Chicago Bears QB Mitch Trubisky understands the storylines about him, Mahomes, and Watson. Trubisky: "It's always… https://t.co/gxFWrEWlFK— Daniel Greenberg (@Daniel Greenberg) 1607552226.0
27. Denver Broncos (4-8, Last Week 27, +/- 0) - With Drew Lock, the Broncos looked like an NFL team again, but not a good one. 131 yards from Melvin Gordon in a losing effort was the lone bright spot.
26. Los Angeles Chargers (3-9, Last Week 24, - 2) - Officially eliminated from playoff contention with loss last week. Justin Herbert appeared to be human for the first time in his rookie campaign.
25. Philadelphia Eagles (3-8-1, Last Week 25, +/- 0) - Jalen Hurts has been announced as the starting quarterback for this week. Doug Pederson knows that his job is on the line, this move is going to determine a lot about the future of this franchise.
Fletcher Cox on liking Tweet that supports Carson Wentz starting for Eagles over Jalen Hurts: "Carson is my best f… https://t.co/Cbruk4Kt1u— Barstool Philly (@Barstool Philly) 1607560512.0
24. Detroit Lions (5-7, Last Week 30, + 6) - Interim coach, Darrell Bevell, got the W Week 13 v the Bears. Getting good performances from vets Matt Stafford (402 passing yards, 3 TDs) and Adrian Peterson (57 rushing yards, 2 TDs). With the win they draw even with Chicago T-3 NFC North.
23. Carolina Panthers (4-8, Last Week 23, +/- 0) - The Panthers are coming off a bye week and are hoping to get some players healthy for the home stretch in Christian McCaffrey and D.J. Moore.
22. Atlanta Falcons (4-8, Last Week 21, - 1) - With a loss in Week 13 the Falcons are all but mathematically eliminated from contention in a most disappointing 2020 season. Raheem Morris has made a case however to be retained as HC next season.
21. Houston Texans (4-8, Last Week 19, - 2) - Houston, like Atlanta, lost this past week and with that loss are virtually out of the running for a wildcard spot as the Titans and Colts have a significant lead for the top two spots in the division.
20. San Francisco 49ers (5-7, Last Week 20, +/- 0) - Lost Monday night to Buffalo, but didn't look bad in doing so. They're a much better team than their record indicates, and when healthy they're easily in the top 10.
19. New York Giants (5-7, Last Week 22, + 3) - The Giants have won four in a row and are positioning themselves to win the NFC East without Saquon Barkley.
Coach Judge is 'optimistic' about Daniel Jones, but his game status is still TBD 📰: https://t.co/noq6qBQdkd https://t.co/a6FNqC8h9C— New York Giants (@New York Giants) 1607560233.0
18. Arizona Cardinals (6-6, Last Week 11, - 7) - The third consecutive loss by the Cardinals see their playoff hopes slipping away. The 49ers' loss to Buffalo helped the Cards avoid falling into a tie for last place in the NFC West, but it's on Kyler Murray to get this team back on track with only four weeks to go.
17. Las Vegas Raiders (7-5, Last Week 18, + 1) - The Raiders got a last second win on a Derek Carr to Henry Ruggs connection to keep them in the Wild Card race in the AFC. Darren Waller has been spectacular again this year elevating himself to the level of Travis Kelce in the realm of fantasy tight ends.
16. New England Patriots (6-6, Last Week 16, +/- 0) - Winners of two straight and back in contention for a postseason spot. Winning boring is still winning.
"Let me get this goddamn smile out of the way because I'm going to joylessly destroy everyone for the next 30 years… https://t.co/OwjJVd4DEd— Super 70s Sports (@Super 70s Sports) 1607286909.0
15. Washington Football Team (5-7, Last Week 17, + 2) - The Football Team knocked off the previously undefeated Steelers on Monday night in one of the biggest surprises of the season! One thing is for sure. This Washington squad plays some great defense. I hope we can keep moving them up this list.
14. Baltimore Ravens (7-5, Last Week 15, + 1) - A much needed matchup against Dallas allowed the Ravens to get back on track with a win after a three game slide. Cleveland has done them no favors as they keep winning and creating more separation between the Ravens and a playoff spot.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5, Last Week 9, - 4) - Coming off a bye week, Tampa Bay benefitted from losses from Seattle, Arizona, Atlanta, and Carolina. We can't imagine a season where Tom Brady isn't in the playoffs, and the Bucs enjoy a soft schedule to end the year as they'll get the Falcons twice along with Detroit.
12. Minnesota Vikings (6-6, Last Week 14, + 2) - A two game win streak calls for a two position jump in our rankings this week. Still in the hunt for a WC spot. Justin Jefferson became the second rookie Minnesota wide receiver to eclipse 1,000 yards.11. Indianapolis Colts (8-4, Last Week 10, - 1) - The Colts picked up a division win over the Texans last week and gained valuable ground on Tennessee to draw even in record (8-4), but will need to pick up a win on them as the Titans hold the tiebreaker.
10. Los Angeles Rams (8-4, Last Week 13, + 3) - We spent the first half of the season wondering how good the Rams really were after a weak early season schedule. Now atop the best division in football, they should be questioning us.
9. Miami Dolphins (8-4, Last Week 12, + 3) - Whether it's Fitz or Tua, the Dolphins keep winning games and have closed the gap with Buffalo to the slimmest of margins. Maybe Tua should grow a beard to see if he can create some Fitz-Magic of his own.
Here's a look at Tua Tagovailoa from #Dolphins practice today. He's no longer wearing the tape/brace on his thumb. https://t.co/bNqls7oyur— Ruthie Polinsky (@Ruthie Polinsky) 1607541217.0
8. Seattle Seahawks (8-4, Last Week 5, - 3) -DK Metcalf stiff-arming the Giants' James Bradberry was a highlight play, but New York walked away with the win, and the lead in their division. Seattle lost the game and the division lead they entered Week 13 with. Another shaky performance from Russell Wilson, but the return of Chris Carson helped a struggling running game in his absence. Ultimately the Seahawks need to improve on defense if they have championship aspirations.
7. Tennessee Titans (8-4, Last Week 7, +/- 0) - Even with a loss and Indianapolis picking up a win to draw even in season record, the Titans still hold the tiebreaker advantage and maintain a small margin of error over the final four weeks of the season. Derrick Henry will be the key to how far Tennessee can go. Ryan Tannehill has played all-pro caliber football at times this season, and that's the guy they'll need if teams are able to put the clamps on Henry the way Cleveland did for most of the game in Week 13.
6. Cleveland Browns (9-3, Last Week 8, + 2) - Cleveland guaranteed their first winning season in over a decade with their win over Tennessee and also helped to silence some of their critics that have knocked their weaker schedule. They're currently holding the top WC spot in the AFC and have a favorable schedule to end the year before meeting Pittsburgh in Week 17.
The Dallas Cowboys are being replaced with the Cleveland Browns for a Primetime game... Only 2020. https://t.co/Tx7j1I10w9— NFL Memes (@NFL Memes) 1607568086.0
5. Buffalo Bills (9-3, Last Week 6, + 1) - Beat the 49ers on Monday to stay a game ahead of Miami and they lead the league in 3rd Down Conversions. The Bills will be a tough matchup for anyone in the playoffs.
4. Green Bay Packers (9-3, Last Week 4, +/- 0) -Aaron Rodgers tossed 3 TDs in an easy win over the Eagles on Sunday. Rodgers is now 5th in the NFL in passing yards (3,395) and first in passing TDs (36). Aaron Jones had a breakout game, his first since returning from injury a couple weeks back.
"Whoever catches Aaron's next [TD], keep the ball." It was destiny for @tae15adams to catch @AaronRodgers12's 400t… https://t.co/T2Wjc8GKpF— NFL (@NFL) 1607574600.0
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-1, Last Week 1, - 2) - Washington handed the Steelers their first loss of the season, but the Steelers are still a legitimate threat to beat anyone. They have the pedigree to make a deep playoff run, getting James Conner healthy will be key in just how far they go.
2. New Orleans Saints (10-2, Last Week 3, + 1) - The Saints keep winning and have clinched a playoff berth riding a nine game win streak. Taysom Hill has been excellent during Drew Brees' absence, but the future hall-of-famer is close to making a return. New Orleans can now be conservative about bringing him back to make sure he's ready for playoffs.
Taysom Hill https://t.co/EEWC2vN9mK— ⚜️Mook☃️ (@⚜️Mook☃️) 1607279112.0
1. Kansas City Chiefs (11-1, Last Week 2, + 1) - The Chiefs reassume the top spot in our rankings. Even though it's felt like they should've been here for a few weeks now, we simply couldn't disrespect the Steelers during an undefeated streak. Until further notice, the Chiefs are your Super Bowl favorites.
He was still in college. 🤯 https://t.co/J2xGEftbxZ— Arrowhead Pride (@Arrowhead Pride) 1607623260.0
Antonio Gibson ran all over the Cowboys on Thanksgiving
With only five weeks left in the regular season, we are now entering the witching hour as the league's best fight it out for playoff spots.
The Chiefs, Steelers, and Packers all hold comfortable leads in their respective divisions, but nobody has clinched their division crown quite yet. We see close races in virtually every other division, so while the season is nearing its end there will be plenty of important football over the next five weeks.
Football fans were treated to some spectacular fantasy performances in Week 12 from the likes of Derrick Henry, Tyreek Hill, and Nick Chubb who gave their fantasy owners a chance to know what it feels like to be the Kansas City Chiefs. Week 13 includes a few games with major playoff implications including a divisional matchup between the Rams and Cardinals as well as an AFC game between the Browns and Titans who are both fighting to climb to the top spot in their divisions.
Let's take a look at our Week 13 power rankings based on what we've seen so far this season.
32. New York Jets (0-11, Last Week 32 +/- 0) - While there are a few teams that could challenge for the number one spot on this list, nobody can compete with the Jets for the title of worst team in the NFL right now.
31. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-10, Last Week 31, +/- 0) - The Jags were competitive with a very good Browns team in Week 12. James Robinson turned in another great week with 159 total yards and a touchdown.
30. Detroit Lions (4-7, Last Week 30, +/- 0) - Head coach Matt Patricia and GM Bob Quinn were both fired this past week. The Lions should be thinking about Kansas City OC Eric Bieniemy for the position as he appears to already be linked to former Chiefs and Browns GM John Dorsey. It would be a an upgrade in a two for one deal.
Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia are fired. Lions fans rejoice. https://t.co/KAaVlpJSJS— Drunk Matt Prater (@Drunk Matt Prater) 1606593540.0
29. Chicago Bears (5-6, Last Week 29, +/- 0) - The Bears have lost five straight and even with a strong performance from David Montgomery they were trounced by Green Bay 41-25.
28. Cincinnati Bengals (2-8-1, Last Week 28, +/- 0) - Without Joe Burrow and Joe Mixon in the lineup the Bengals fell to the Giants last week in a close one. Their outlook isn't good without their rookie QB.
27. Denver Broncos (4-7, Last Week 27, +/- 0) - We question why the NFL decided to move the Steelers and Ravens game twice, but forced the Broncos to play with no quarterback on their roster.
There was a game today. The final score is what it is. Undrafted rookie WIDE RECEIVER @Kendall_Hinton2 came off… https://t.co/2fLnu2Ulab— Denver Broncos (@Denver Broncos) 1606693603.0
26. Dallas Cowboys (3-8, Last Week 26, +/- 0) - Now in the top five for next year's draft which may allow them to draft a quarterback, just not one named Trevor Lawrence.
25. Philadelphia Eagles (3-7-1, Last Week 23, - 2) - How quickly the NFC East division crown changes hands. Now sitting in third place after a loss to the Seahawks on Monday night.
24. Los Angeles Chargers (3-8, Last Week 22, - 2) - We were hoping for a shootout between Justin Herbert and Josh Allen but it was a ho-hum game that saw the Chargers drop to 3-8 on the year.
23. Carolina Panthers (4-8, Last Week 20, - 3) - The Panthers' playoff chances are about as good as Adam Gase being a head coach in the NFL next season.
22. New York Giants (4-7, Last Week 24, + 2) - The Giants now lead the NFC East, but we think that Washington is the better team and both are 4-7.
Saquon Barkley: "Sundays are the toughest days, but the last three weeks, they've been pretty good."— Art Stapleton (@Art Stapleton) 1607004976.0
21. Atlanta Falcons (4-7, Last Week 21, +/- 0) - The Falcons blew out the Raiders last week, so you'd think they would get a bump up the rankings. Unfortunately for them their path to a wild card birth isn't just about getting wins. They'll need a combination of collapses from multiple NFC West teams, the Bucs to lose a few, and/or needing the Vikings to lose a few key games.
20. San Francisco 49ers (5-6, Last Week 25, + 5) -Raheem Mostert helped spark the 49ers offense with a touchdown in his return. Somehow this team keeps themselves in contention for a playoff spot despite the injuries they've endured.
Raheem Mostert playoff schedule: Vs. WFT @ Dal @ Ari If Mostert gets back to his full strength he’s a league winner.— Christian Calatayud (@Christian Calatayud) 1606493357.0
19. Houston Texans (4-7, Last Week 19, +/- 0) - Houston moved up five spots after their Thanksgiving Day game win and haven't played another game since last week's rankings were released. They remain at 19 for this week's list.
18. Las Vegas Raiders (6-5, Last Week 16, - 2) - The Raiders got crushed by the Falcons and have now dropped two in a row. Not the time of year to go on a losing streak and give the Chiefs an even bigger division lead.
17. Washington Football Team (4-7, Last Week 17, +/- 0) - Washington held the division lead for just three days after their win on Thanksgiving. They still are ahead of the Giants in our power rankings which is a nice consolation prize for the second place Washington Football Team.
16. New England Patriots (5-6, Last Week 18, + 2) -Bill Belichick used some Jedi mind tricks to make the Cardinals' Isaiah Simmons take a bad unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for a hit on Cam Newton that setup the eventual game winning field goal for the Patriots in Week 12.
If isaiah Simmons did this to tom Brady he would be banned from the nfl lmao but since it’s cam newton he’s good https://t.co/47Oh3lzvgt— John (@John) 1606683938.0
15. Baltimore Ravens (6-5, Last Week 14, - 1) - The Steelers proved to be too much for the replacement squad Ravens team on Wednesday afternoon. The Ravens have lost three straight now and have allowed the Browns to establish a foothold on second place in the AFC North.
14. Minnesota Vikings (5-6, Last Week 15, + 1) - The Vikings escaped with a 28-27 win against the Panthers in Week 12 as Carolina missed a potential game winning field goal to end the game. It was Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson who led the offense as they connected for two scores on the day.
13. Los Angeles Rams (7-4, Last Week 12, - 1) - A loss to the 49ers not only allowed Seattle to take the division lead, but it allows San Francisco to remain within reasonable striking distance to overtake them later in the year.
12. Miami Dolphins (7-4, Last Week 13, + 1) - The Dolphins have kept pace with the Bills all season and are only a game out from a tie for the division lead. If Tua Tagovailoa is unable to play again next week they have Ryan Fitzpatrick who has proven he can lead this team to wins.
Here is Tua Tagovailoa at Dolphins practice today. You can see the tape around his wrist/thumb area. https://t.co/r0Y6oF1XwR— Clay Ferraro (@Clay Ferraro) 1606935170.0
11. Arizona Cardinals (6-5, Last Week 9, - 2) - Let's not forget that if not for the personal foul penalty they took at the end of the game, the Cardinals would likely be 7-4 right now. This is still a good team, but Kyler Murray has begun to struggle.
10. Indianapolis Colts (7-4, Last Week 7, - 3) - The Colts got blown out by the Titans in Week 12 and a typically good defense was gashed by Derrick Henry. The Colts hope to bounce back this week in another tough divisional matchup with the Texans.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5, Last Week 6, - 3) - The good news for the Buccaneers is that they've already built a nice buffer between themselves and the Falcons in their division for second place. The bad news is they can't afford to keep losing because the NFC West should be competing for two wild card spots with every team still in the hunt.
8. Cleveland Browns (8-3, Last Week 11, + 3) - Cleveland continued their winning ways against the Jaguars as they've won three in a row. Jarvis Landry had a breakout game and caught his first touchdown of the season. The Browns have a difficult game against the next team on our list in Week 13.
2020 has been quite a season for the Cleveland Browns. - Clinched a .500 season for the first time since 2007 - F… https://t.co/IUKGxmqJ06— NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) 1606685307.0
7. Tennessee Titans (8-3, Last Week 10, + 3) - The Titans moved back into the division lead in the AFC South and move up three spots in our rankings this week. Tennessee and Cleveland is a game of the week contender for Week 13.
6. Buffalo Bills (8-3, Last Week 8, + 2) - The Bills got a win over the Chargers last week, but nobody on looked particularly great offensively for Buffalo including Josh Allen. That will need to change as the AFC is going to be crowded with teams looking for playoff spots.
5. Seattle Seahawks (8-3, Last Week 5, +/- 0) -DK Metcalf is one of the most explosive weapons in the NFL and Russell Wilson continues to feed him the ball which is yielding positive results for the Seahawks.
Darius Slay every time he has to cover DK Metcalf https://t.co/ZJoDeo8b86— NFL Memes (@NFL Memes) 1606794789.0
4. Green Bay Packers (8-3, Last Week 4, +/- 0) -Aaron Rodgers threw four touchdowns to four different receivers against the Bears last week. They have the Eagles, Lions, and Panthers over the next three weeks.
3. New Orleans Saints (9-2, Last Week 3, +/- 0) - The Saints keep marching and it looks like it's going to be toward a first round bye and homefield advantage throughout most, if not all of the playoffs.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1, Last Week 2, +/- 0) - When watching the Chiefs it feels like they should be at the top of this list, and maybe they should be. They're FindBet's Super Bowl favorite as long as Patrick Mahomes continues to perform at an MVP level as he has been.
.@dwilson_6 had the mic against the Bucs 🎙 https://t.co/IGhTRyiit4— Kansas City Chiefs (@Kansas City Chiefs) 1606958100.0
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-0, Last Week 1, +/- 0) - The Steelers escaped with a win on Wednesday against the Ravens. Baltimore was without Lamar Jackson and their top two running back options. The Steelers remain at number one this week out of respect for what they've accomplished and still touting an unblemished record. But it really feels like the Chiefs are the better team right now.
Taysom Hill of the New Orleans Saints
Soon Christmas will be upon us and presents will be under trees, the smell of cookies will fill kitchens, and teams will begin to clinch playoff spots in this NFL season.
With so many close division races it's going to be an exciting end to an unusual football season and we're for it. Lamar Jackson and Myles Garrett were just a few of the players that have been added to the Covid-19 Reserve list this past week. The Ravens had enough players added to it that their game with the Steelers was moved from prime time on Thanksgiving to Sunday.
Hopefully we won't continue to see this trend increasing as it puts the season in jeopardy, but for now here are FindBet's power rankings for Week 12 (updated to account for the two Thanksgiving Day games) based on what we've seen so far this year.
32. New York Jets (0-10, Last Week 32 +/- 0) - Now that Thanksgiving has passed, Jets fans are hoping for a Christmas miracle before the end of the year. No team wants to finish 0-16, but it looks like there's a real chance.
31. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9, Last Week 31, +/- 0) - Nine straight losses and Mike Glennon is replacing Jake Luton at quarterback this weekend.
30. Detroit Lions (4-7, Last Week 20, - 10) - Detroit was picked apart by Deshaun Watson in the early Thanksgiving day game. Until the Lions' passing attack gets back on track they will have a hard time putting together wins.
QB's Deshaun Watson (Houston Texans) & Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) exercising Social Justice support during th… https://t.co/DiY8BY4qrJ— DEE SPORTS GUY (@DEE SPORTS GUY) 1606413421.0
29. Chicago Bears (5-5, Last Week 27, - 2)
28. Cincinnati Bengals (2-7-1, Last Week 21, - 7) - The loss of Joe Burrow for the rest of the season is a major blow. What's worse is that his status will be in question for the start of next season as well. Let's hope for a speedy recovery for the young QB.
27. Denver Broncos (4-6, Last Week 28, + 1)
26. Dallas Cowboys (3-8, Last Week 29, + 3) - It's time to stick a fork in the Cowboys season. Mathematically they're still in the hunt for the division, and thus the playoffs. But this team just looks like something is wrong and Ezekiel Elliott hasn't been a factor outside of a 100 yard rushing performance last week.
#Cowboys’ RB Ezekiel Elliott has lost 5 fumbles this season. Melvin Gordon has lost 4. No other RB has more than 2.— NFL Update (@NFL Update) 1606433603.0
25. San Francisco 49ers (4-6, Last Week 22, - 3)
24. New York Giants (3-7, Last Week 26, + 2)
23. Philadelphia Eagles (3-6-1, Last Week 18, - 5) - Washington moving ahead of the Eagles in the division dropped Philly five spots this week.
22. Los Angeles Chargers (3-7, Last Week 25, + 3)
21. Atlanta Falcons (3-7, Last Week 17, - 4)
20. Carolina Panthers (4-7, Last Week 23, + 3) - Not having a healthy Christian McCaffrey this season has been disappointing not only for fantasy managers, but the Panthers probably feel like CMC's typical production could've helped them to another win or two improving their playoff chances.
Christian McCaffrey has played in 3-games this season. Week 1 -28.5 Week 2 - 24.8 Week 9 -37.1 points in PPR He… https://t.co/ZvvwPJicpi— Ray G 🏁 (@Ray G 🏁) 1605815340.0
19. Houston Texans (4-7, Last Week 24, + 5) - Finally we got to see Deshaun Watson put on the cape and put up a Superman kind of performance. Houston smashed the Lions on Thanksgiving behind four touchdown throws from their quarterback. If they can continue to get this level of play from Watson, maybe they're not done just yet.
Deshaun Watson's last six games: 141/200 Comp/Att (71%) 1,750 Pass Yards 16 Total TD 0 Turnovers Lighting it up 🔥 https://t.co/sujRWdlIrB— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) 1606435629.0
18. New England Patriots (4-6, Last Week 24, + 5)
17. Washington Football Team (4-7, Last Week 30, + 13) - Washington picked up a convincing win on Thanksgiving against Dallas and has put themselves atop the NFC East.
16. Las Vegas Raiders (6-4, Last Week 11, - 5) - Even though the Raiders lost to the Chiefs last week, they kept it competitive and have played extremely well the past three weeks. Derek Carr has been very good this year and is developing a rapport with his deep threats in Nelson Agholor and Henry Ruggs.
15. Minnesota Vikings (4-6, Last Week 14, - 1)
14. Baltimore Ravens (6-4, Last Week 9, - 5) - Riding a two game losing streak the Ravens have allowed the Browns to jump ahead of them in the AFC North standings. Lamar Jackson was added to the Covid-19 Reserve list on Thanksgiving and will likely be unavailable for the rescheduled game with the Steelers on Sunday.
Breaking: Lamar Jackson has tested positive for COVID-19, per @RapSheet https://t.co/5oAEotR44A— Sports Illustrated (@Sports Illustrated) 1606437877.0
13. Miami Dolphins (6-4, Last Week 10, - 3)
12. Los Angeles Rams (7-3, Last Week 16, + 4) - The win over the Bucs on Monday Night Football is the Rams' best win of the season. It's moving them from the category off borderline playoff team into the realm of legitimate contenders.
11. Cleveland Browns (7-3, Last Week 15, + 4) - The Browns have moved into second place in the AFC North and continue to win by any means necessary. They boast one of the best one-two punches at running back now that Nick Chubb is back from injury to pair with Kareem Hunt. Myles Garrett was added to the Covid-19 Reserve list and his status is up in the air for now.
Tackling @nickchubb21 is hard, we get it. 📺: @NFLonFOX https://t.co/7ZJgXaJY5K— Cleveland Browns (@Cleveland Browns) 1606077448.0
10. Tennessee Titans (7-3, Last Week 12, + 2)
9. Arizona Cardinals (6-4, Last Week 6, - 3)
8. Buffalo Bills (7-3, Last Week 7, - 1)
7. Indianapolis Colts (7-3, Last Week 13, + 6) - The Colts have scored over 30 in wins over the Packers and Titans the past two weeks. On the defensive side of the ball Indianapolis is one of the best in the league. Only the Ravens, Steelers, and Rams have allowed less points by opponents on the year.
Take a deep breath. We're 7-3. https://t.co/53QNCR1rTA— Indianapolis Colts (@Indianapolis Colts) 1606092815.0
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-4, Last Week 5, - 1) - The good news for the Buccaneers is that Antonio Brown looks to be settling into the offense quickly. The bad news for the Buccaneers is that Tom Brady has been extremely inconsistent throughout the 2020 campaign and last week was one of the down weeks.
5. Seattle Seahawks (7-3, Last Week 8, + 3) - Russell Wilson and the Seahawks got a much needed win against the Cardinals to at least put a hold on a bad stretch in the season for them. Once Chris Carson is able to return to the backfield, the added stability at the RB position should help get the offense back on track.
Chris Carson in his first full practice since he sprained his foot a month ago. Big step for #Seahawks… https://t.co/UBcYTDPpNF— Gregg Bell (@Gregg Bell) 1606250901.0
4. Green Bay Packers (7-3, Last Week 3, - 1)
3. New Orleans Saints (8-2, Last Week 4, + 1) -Taysom Hill filled in for Drew Brees nicely last week, and with the suspected injuries being confirmed earlier this week it looks like Hill will need to keep up the good run of play for a few weeks more.
Leaving with leftovers #Thanksgiving https://t.co/8Vtck3Q13I— New Orleans Saints (@New Orleans Saints) 1606425241.0
2. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1, Last Week 2, +/- 0)
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-0, Last Week 1, +/- 0) - The Steelers remain undefeated after an easy win over Jacksonville. Their Week 12 game with the Ravens was supposed to headline on Thanksgiving in prime time, but Covid cases have forced the game to be rescheduled to this weekend. Without Lamar Jackson, the Ravens could struggle even worse than they did in the two teams' first matchup in Week 7.
Chase Claypool 31 yard TD from Ben Roethlisberger #Steelers https://t.co/xXY8czw2VJ— BlitzburghUSAVideos (@BlitzburghUSAVideos) 1606194662.0
Davante Adams of the Green Bay Packers
We're approaching the point in the season where the playoff picture starts to form, and soon we will know what teams are mathematically eliminated from contention as well as the teams vying for a first round bye.
There are plenty of teams in the middle right now whose season is teetering on the edge of success and failure. The next three game stretch will determine the destinies of many organizations. The Saints provided an exclamatory whipping on Tom Brady's Bucs on Sunday night, and the heroics of Patrick Mahomes got his team a win in a close game against the Panthers in Week 9.
Let's take a look at the Week 10 power rankings based on what we've seen so far this season.
32. New York Jets (0-9, Last Week 32 +/- 0) - The Jets nearly got their first win against New England this past week behind a throwback performance from veteran quarterback Joe Flacco. They blew a 10 point lead as the Pats won on a field goal to close out the game.
31. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-7, Last Week 31, +/- 0) - A notable debut performance for rookie QB Jake Luton in a loss and James Robinson continues his impressive season going for 99 yards and a TD.
30. Washington Football Team (2-6, Last Week 28, -2) - Alex Smith started for the Football Team and started to find rapport with Terry McLaurin and Cam Sims, however Antonio Gibson wasn't able to get much going on the ground and they lost to the Giants 23-20 in Week 9.
Alex Smith with his 1st TD pass since Nov. 11, 2018 🙌🏻 https://t.co/mAsGBIkokN— NFL Stats (@NFL Stats) 1604867579.0
29. New York Giants (2-7, Last Week 30, +1) - As just mentioned above, the Giants won for the second time this year in Week 9. Their outlook is still bleak however without their star running back Saquon Barkley in the backfield.
28. Dallas Cowboys (2-7, Last Week 29, +1) - The Cowboys get bumped up a spot after holding their own against the Steelers. Dallas' defense held Pittsburgh to just nine points through three quarters of play before a 15 point fourth quarter sealed the game for the league's only remaining undefeated team.
27. Chicago Bears (5-4, Last Week 25, -2) - Now losers of three straight, Chicago takes on Minnesota on Monday Night Football and has the task of stopping the league's best running back in Dalvin Cook. After that it's a date with Aaron Rodgers and the division leading Packers.
26. Detroit Lions (3-5, Last Week 22, -4) - The Lions have now dropped two straight and it appeared that Matt Stafford got a little banged up in Week 9. Detroit's offense isn't good enough to overcome the deficits their defense puts them in.
25. Denver Broncos (3-5, Last Week 21, -4) - Despite trailing by three touchdowns going into the fourth quarter, Denver almost completed a spectacular comeback against Atlanta in Week 9. The performances of Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler are noteworthy for the young offense, but Denver needs to find ways to get Phillip Lindsay and Melvin Gordon more involved regardless of the game script.
24. New England Patriots (3-5, Last Week 27, +3) - New England escaped with a win against the Jets. They only move up here because of other teams losing. Until they can get another good win against a team not named the Jets this seems like a good spot for them.
Cam Newton in 2 games since being benched vs 49ers: 🔹 87.7 Passing Grade (2nd among QBs) https://t.co/HHiVEG1Cwc— PFF NE Patriots (@PFF NE Patriots) 1605039595.0
23. Los Angeles Chargers (2-6, Last Week 23, +/-0) - Even though they took their second consecutive loss last week, the Chargers have to feel excited about how well their rookie QB continues to play. Justin Herbert fell just short in a comeback attempt, but still threw for 326 yards and two TDs against a good Raiders team.
22. Houston Texans (2-6, Last Week 26, +4) - The Texans finally got over the hump and picked up their second win of the season last week against the Jaguars. Deshaun Watson is still one of the most talented players in the league Will Fuller has developed into one of the league's best deep threats.
21. Carolina Panthers (3-6, Last Week 24, +3) - Although the playoffs are likely out of reach and Christian McCaffrey sustained another injury in his return, the Panthers have been a gritty team that has looked competitive every week.
20. San Francisco 49ers (4-5, Last Week 12, -8) - The biggest drop this week in the rankings comes from San Francisco. The injuries haven't ceased and at this point one would think that in a competitive NFC West, the 49ers have little chance of getting to the playoffs this year let alone making another deep run.
19. Cincinnati Bengals (2-5-1, Last Week 19, +/- 0) - Coming off their bye, the rookie Joe Burrow will lead his team against the undefeated Steelers. This is my upset of the week candidate.
18. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4-1, Last Week 16, - 2) - The Eagles also had a Week 9 bye week, but they are the hottest team in the NFC East riding a two game win streak. They look to be the favorite to win the division and are the only team trending in the right direction in the east.
17. Los Angeles Rams (5-3, Last Week 13, -4) - Four spots down from last week coming off a bye week seems excessive, but the Rams take on the Seahawks and Bucs over the next two games. Both will be looking to make up for bad losses endured in Week 9.
16. Atlanta Falcons (3-6, Last Week 18, +2) - The Falcons have won two in a row and have begun to look like the team we expected them to be at the onset of the season. It may be too late as they still have the Bucs and Saints ahead of them in the division, but they will still want to finish strong to bring momentum into next season.
Y'all want Julio to score more touchdowns. Here's what he has to say about that. 😂 https://t.co/a0wUJ71tiQ— Atlanta Falcons (@Atlanta Falcons) 1604622540.0
15. Indianapolis Colts (5-3, Last Week 11, -4) - The Ravens stifled a good Indy offense as Philip Rivers and the running game never got anything going and failed to score a point in the second half. The Colts are good enough to win this division, but need to avoid offensive production like this in the coming weeks.
14. Cleveland Browns (5-3, Last Week 15, +1) - Cleveland is the last team on the list coming off their bye week. It was a much needed one after a terrible loss to the Raiders. The good news for them is that running back, Nick Chubb is expected back and should provide a lift to a stalling offense.
13. Minnesota Vikings (3-5, Last Week 17, +4) - When you have Dalvin Cook on your team you're bound to climb the rankings at some point in the season and that time is now. Winners of two straight, and with the Bears, Cowboys, Panthers, and Jaguars next up, the Vikings would be right back in contention if they came out of that stretch 7-5.
DALVIN COOK 70-YARD TD 🚨 He’s special. (via @NFL) https://t.co/4NcgDJhsFQ— Bleacher Report (@Bleacher Report) 1604867658.0
12. Las Vegas Raiders (5-3, Last Week 20, +8) - Jon Gruden's Raiders have been a rollercoaster of a ride to follow this year. The offense seems ready to compete with anyone, if the defense can improve Vegas may have a contender.
11. Miami Dolphins (5-3, Last Week 14, +3) - If you need another example of how 2020 has been an episode from the Twilight Zone, the Dolphins are on the precipice of cracking our top 10 and there's little room for argument against it. Their only losses have come at the hands of the Patriots in the season opener along with the Bills and Seahawks. Their mid-season quarterback change amid a two game win streak seemed odd, but it resulted in impressive victories over the Rams and Cardinals. Brian Flores is obviously a good coach and has done amazing things with this young team. The AFC should be officially on notice.
.@Tua said SEE YA 📺 @NFLonCBS https://t.co/8oIoVSJse9— Miami Dolphins (@Miami Dolphins) 1604879827.0
10. Arizona Cardinals (5-3, Last Week 9, -1) - Kyler Murray is developing into one of the best weapons in the NFL and the offense is near unstoppable. The loss to Miami in Week 9 hurt though as the Cardinals will take on the Bills this week. They are going to want to avoid dropping two in a row in one of the most competitive divisions in football.
9. Tennessee Titans (6-2, Last Week 7, -2) - The Titans beat the Bears in Week 9 but have a more stout opponent on deck this week in the form of the Colts. This should be a better indicator of who the Titans really are after a 5-0 start.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3, Last Week 4, -4) - The debut of Antonio Brown and the return of Chris Godwin left many expecting a shootout in the matchup between Tampa Bay and the Saints in Week 9. Tampa never got the memo apparently, but the Saints sure did. Drew Brees administered a 38-3 blow out on Sunday night, and the Bucs need to figure it out with the Falcons starting to find their stride.
Antonio Brown was asked if there was strong interest from other teams and why did he choose to play with the… https://t.co/nIAHqZuhsv— Dov Kleiman (@Dov Kleiman) 1604518161.0
7. Baltimore Ravens (6-2, Last Week 10, +3) - The Ravens saw another lackluster performance from reigning MVP Lamar Jackson in a win against the Colts. While it may be troublesome to Ravens fans and especially to Lamar fantasy owners, the Ravens continue to win games. As long as they're able to keep winning it doesn't much matter how they accomplish it.
6. Seattle Seahawks (6-2, Last Week 3, -3) - The Buffalo defense showed that Russell Wilson is human for a whole half of football. Then Russ took off the suit and put on the cape and nearly brought his team back from a double digit deficit. If Seattle can't fix their problems on defense it will be a wasted year of phenomenal football from their QB.
5. New Orleans Saints (6-2, Last Week 8, +3) - The aforementioned beating that the Saints handed the Bucs is part of the reason for New Orleans' climb up the rankings this week. The other is that a healthy Michael Thomas back will only make them better.
Sean Payton leading the locker room dance party 😂 New Orleans with a 38-3 statement win tonight #Saints https://t.co/vj1pqKIm2t— Sideline Sports (@Sideline Sports) 1604896284.0
4. Buffalo Bills (7-2, Last Week 6, +2) - A statement win from Buffalo against the Seahawks will send them into a tough game against the Cardinals with a boost of confidence. Not only a signature win for the team, but for their young gunslinger Josh Allen as well. Allen should be seriously considered for MVP if he continues this level of play.
3. Green Bay Packers (6-2, Last Week 5, +2) - Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams are so good together that the NFL needs to start considering making it illegal for them to be on the same team. It's great to see A-A-ron letting it fly again and a fully healthy Aaron Jones and early season hero, Allen Lazard, should make this offense even better down the stretch.
Highest-graded QBs in the 2nd half: 1. Aaron Rodgers - 93.9 2. Cam Newton - 90.4 3. Tom Brady - 86.2 4. Russell Wil… https://t.co/i4Uftc6f16— PFF (@PFF) 1605105062.0
2. Kansas City Chiefs (8-1, Last Week 2, +/- 0) - The Panthers gave the defending champs a run for their money on Sunday, but Patrick Mahomes stepped up to put the Chiefs over the top. Throwing for four touchdowns on 372 yards, Mahomes did Mahomes things to fend off a scrappy Carolina squad.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-0, Last Week 1, +/- 0) - Although they looked shaky against the Cowboys, the Steelers came away with the W and when you're the only remaining undefeated team in the league you get the top spot.
