This week saw two of the top teams in the Power Rankings struggle and their games and another one lose their game. Entering this week’s action, I was convinced the NFL was becoming a three-team race and the NFC East was irrelevant to think about. Now we see the playing field open and the Power Rankings should reflect that slightly. Once again, I will rank the top five teams in each conference in my Power Rankings. Once again, these rankings aren’t grading a team on how they are rather how they will look.
AFC
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs may have struggled in their victory to the Denver Broncos. Yet, in the win, we saw once again a bias exposed. The Chiefs have a good defense. The offense is historic, but the defense is 6th in scoring (21.2 points per game) and tied for 2nd in interceptions (14). The Chiefs will have a tough schedule ahead as they travel to Miami and New Orleans in the next two weeks. These two games will be telling but the Chiefs are expected to win both games.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers lost their first game of the season on Monday night to the Washington Football Team. Many will knock the Steelers for losing to an inferior team at home. We have to give them two benefits; One, they were playing on five days rest, two, Washington is better than many people give them credit for. The Steelers have many questions with their offense struggling. If they lose to Buffalo on Sunday night, then we have to question if this team can win the Super Bowl.
Indianapolis Colts
Last week, I placed the Colts in the third spot in the AFC Power Rankings and it felt odd. The Colts were coming off their worst loss of the season with Derrick Henry running all over their defense. This week, we saw why the Colts needed Deforest Buckner as he was a gamechanger against the Texans. The only reason to pump the breaks on the Colts is Philip Rivers. It’s hard seeing Rivers having three or four straight great games to lead the Colts to a Super Bowl. Honestly, the Colts are a Super Bowl team other than the quarterback position.
Miami Dolphins/Buffalo Bills
I placed the Dolphins on the Power Rankings numerous times despite the reasons to be nervous. While I kept leaving the Bills off the Power Rankings, they kept winning and Josh Allen keeps playing at an elite level. The Bills and Dolphins are going to remain neck and neck as the regular season concludes. The AFC East might come down to the final week when the two play each other. The Bills’ offense can shred any defense and the Dolphins’ defense gives every offense problems.
Cleveland Browns
It feels weird having the Browns on this list. The Browns are known as the laughing stock of the NFL, yet this season they are 9-3. The playoffs are close yet so far for Cleveland and this is the team to sneak in. This Browns’ team has proved they can run on anyone and Baker Mayfield has proven he can make the big throws. Meanwhile, the defense is surprising many as they have shut down many of their opponents this season. The Browns have been an interesting team to watch this season and should be fun to follow (one way or another) as the season wraps up.
NFC
New Orleans Saints
The Saints keep winning and keep reminding us why they are the best team in the conference. Many point to Taysom Hill as being overrated and the Saints winning in spite of his play. What people fail to credit Hill with is his ability to not lose the game. He knows the Saints have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL and the only way they can lose is if he turns the ball over. As the Saints inch closer to the top seed, they continue to impress refuse to let any game be a trap game.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers didn’t have a tough game this week. They played a hapless Eagles team at home and won by two scores. The Packers are an interesting case since they should finish with the second-best record in the division, but feel like they are still distant from a Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers is having a great year, the offensive line is playing great with the running game taking off, Davante Adams continues to master the route tree. The defense isn’t great but can make the big play when needed whether it be a Jaire Alexander pass-breakup or a Za’Darius Smith sack. The problem is, this Packers team looks similar to last year’s, good but not Super Bowl-caliber.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks were embarrassed at home. The Giants might be better than we gave them credit for but not scoring a touchdown with the offense they possess is a travesty. The Seahawks still have a few easy games they can take advantage of before playing the Rams and 49ers to cap off the season. It is more important than ever for this team to figure out what they want to do on both sides of the ball and align themselves for a Super Bowl run. Seattle have the talent to do it but they have to step up in the final weeks.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers were on a bye this week and by default didn’t improve or worsen in the Power Rankings. The Bucs should still make the playoffs and possibly win a game or two once they are in. However, based on how they have been playing recently, that seems to be the ceiling.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams played another great game this past week, this time by controlling most of the game against the divisional rival Cardinals. The Rams have this odd consistency about them that makes them a viable option as a Super Bowl contender. Tied with the divisional lead with the Seahawks, the Rams are going to have a telling schedule ahead of them. What’s interesting about the Rams is that we almost know what we are going to get every week. Jared Goff isn’t going to make any big throws or turn the ball over, the run game will continuously gash the defense, Aaron Donald will continue to be a force up front, and Jalen Ramsey will eliminate the top receiver. All this praise will feel useless if the Patriots dominate on Thursday night but that’s how the NFL works.
