B/R Experts Week 7 NFL Power Rankings: Where Does Every Team Stand?
We're another week into the 2024 NFL season, and as has been the case all season long, Week 6 featured no shortage of big games and even bigger surprises, including a big trade as part of the weekend's fallout.
There are still two undefeated teams left in the NFL, but it was easy for the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings to avoid defeat—neither played in Week 6. The Houston Texans took care of business against an overmatched Patriots team. The Detroit Lions posted the week's most impressive outing, but their blowout victory over the Dallas Cowboys came at a potentially staggering cost.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens kept pace atop the AFC North, with the latter putting a stop to Washington's winning streak. The Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns continue to be terrible, with the latter posting yet another affront to modern offense by failing to score 20 points...again.
And with another win by the Chicago Bears, the NFC North's teams all have at least four wins this late in the season for the first time in the division's existence.
Never mind the two blockbuster trades on Tuesday that sent star receivers from tomato cans to playoff contenders.
The line is becoming clearer between the NFL's haves and have-nots. Between pretenders and contenders. And just as they have every week this season, Bleacher Report NFL Analysts Gary Davenport, Kristopher Knox, Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski have come together to break down which is which—by ranking all 32 NFL teams from worst to first.
The former is becoming a difficult call, because there are three truly terrible teams vying for the "honor" of being the first listed here.
32. New England Patriots (1-5)
1 of 32
Last Week: 32
Week 6 Result: Lost vs. Houston 41-21
The NFL is a results-driven business. And the results of Sunday's game were another lopsided loss by a bad Patriots team. But perhaps even more importantly, Week 6 marked the first start for rookie No. 3 pick Drake Maye at quarterback.
There was good from Maye in the form of three touchdown passes. There was bad from Maye in the form of two turnovers. All told, it was a somewhat encouraging NFL debut that looked like an NFL debut.
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo told reporters after the loss that he saw a lot he liked from the former North Carolina standout.
"I thought he showed a lot of poise. I thought he went out there and controlled the huddle, got those guys out of the huddle and once again, made some plays. It's definitely encouraging," Mayo said. "From a team-wide perspective right now, we let him down. It was his first game, and I feel like I let him down. I'm sure all the coaches feel like we let everyone down. We've just got to be better."
Analyst's Take
Patriots coach Jerod Mayo wasn't wrong when he said that rookie QB Drake Maye gives his team its best chance to win. Unfortunately, New England's "best chance" is unlikely to actually involve many victories this season.
Maye showed plenty of promise in his first start, but he's still saddled with an underwhelming supporting cast and a bad offensive line. It's not a situation any quarterback—rookie or otherwise—should envy. The good news is that New England has the rest of the season to prepare Maye for 2025. -- Knox
31. Cleveland Browns (1-5)
2 of 32
Last Week: 30
Week 6 Result: Lost at Philadelphia 20-16
Had you said before Sunday's matchup between the Eagles and Browns that Cleveland would hold Philly to just 20 points, one might think that the Browns would have a puncher's chance of winning the game.
Until, that is, you consider that the Browns haven't scored 20 points in a game all season long.
The Browns continued their pathetic offensive performance in 2024 against the Eagles. The team managed just 244 yards of offense and failed to score a touchdown against the NFL's 27th-ranked defense. Deshaun Watson was miserable again, throwing for 168 yards.
Despite the miserable outing, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters there will be no change at quarterback in Cleveland.
"I thought there were some good moments," Stefanski said. "You know, we need to protect. We need to keep him clean when we can. That's a good front. I thought the guys battled like crazy. Had some decent opportunities there, but got to find a way to be more explosive."
Making matters worse: Watson's top target is now moving to a new team. The Buffalo Bills announced Tuesday that they have acquired Amari Cooper and a 2025 sixth-round draft pick from Cleveland. The Bills are reportedly sending back a 2025 third-round pick and 2026 seventh-round pick.
Cooper's departure will undoubtedly hinder the Browns' quest to be more explosive.
Analyst's Take
The Browns are a dumpster fire, and it's not all Watson's fault—he was sacked five more times Sunday behind Cleveland's invisible offensive line. But Stefanski's stubborn refusal to sit Watson is either a proclamation from on high or a staggeringly stupid idea. Watson isn't solely to blame for the festival of suck that is the 2024 Clowns (Yep...the Clowns are back), but the offense needs a spark.
The Amari Cooper trade shows the Browns are throwing in the towel on 2024. Now it's time to throw in the towel on the worst personnel decision in NFL history.
Sit Watson and start Jameis Winston.-- Davenport
30. Carolina Panthers (1-5)
3 of 32
Last Week: 31
Week 6 Result: Lost vs. Atlanta 38-20
Earlier this week, first-year Panthers head coach Dave Canales insisted (via ESPN's David Newton) that despite a lack of success on the field, that Carolina could still turn things around if they worked hard and maintained a winning attitude.
"It's challenging," Canales said. "It's hard on all of us. I have to be sensitive to that part of it because they want to win. We all want to win right now. But if we can start it off with attitude, we can start it off with effort, the things that we can control, then we can continue to grow our football."
The problem with all that is that at some point the Panthers have to actually play a game. And as Sunday's loss to the Falcons showed, Carolina just isn't good. They don't have the offensive firepower or defensive stalwarts to hang with even average teams for 60 minutes. They might be able to keep things close for a while, but at some point, the dam bursts and any hopes of victory are washed away.
Analyst's Take
The Panthers aren't good. We knew that heading into the season. There doesn't appear to be any one thing that this team does well—aside from, perhaps running the ball with Chuba Hubbard—and Carolina's stunning Week 3 win over the Raiders feels like a lifetime ago. Looking at the schedule, it's hard to figure out where the Panthers can steal another win.
This season was expected to be about the development of second-year quarterback Bryce Young, but Young has spent the past four games on the bench. The rest of the season is now about evaluating head coach Dave Canales, determining whether Young deserves another chance in Carolina and deciding if the Panthers can find a new franchise centerpiece at or near the top of the 2025 draft.
I don't know if Carolina is the worst team in the NFL (again) this year, but it's not too early for the Panthers to be thinking about next season.-- Knox
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5)
4 of 32
Last Week: 29
Week 6 Result: Lost vs. Chicago 35-16 (London)
When the Jacksonville Jaguars got win No. 1 for the season last week against the Indianapolis Colts, it appeared that the team had finally established a little positive momentum.
It all evaporated Sunday in London.
The Jaguars got mollywhopped by the Bears in Week 6. The secondary was carved up by rookie quarterback Caleb Williams to the tune of four touchdown passes. The Jacksonville offense was completely one-dimensional, managing less than 70 yards on the ground.
After the loss, head coach Doug Pederson told reporters that the reeling Jaguars need to figure out a way to put a complete effort together on the field.
"We have to figure out how to just get out of our way and just play football," Pederson said. "I say that, and it sounds easy, but it's tough. It's a tough game to play. We didn't expect to be here in this spot, and, hey, now we have to find a way to get out of it."
Given the vote of confidence that Pederson received from owner Shad Khan on Saturday, he may also have to figure out how to put a complete resume together as well.
Analyst's Take
The Jets fired their head coach after a loss in London. Jaguars lead skipper Doug Pederson could be next if his squad loses back-to-back games in the United Kingdom.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has regressed, and Jacksonville's defense has allowed 34-plus points in three of the past four weeks. The Jaguars are a bottom-five team headed nowhere. -- Moton
28. Tennessee Titans (1-4)
5 of 32
Last Week: 28
Week 6 Result: Lost vs. Indianapolis 20-17
As Bill Parcells once said, "You are what your record says you are." And by that barometer, the Tennessee Titans are a bad team.
But after falling by three points at home Sunday, three of Tennessee's four losses this season have come by a touchdown or less. Titans first-year head coach Brian Callahan told reporters that Tennessee just needs to figure out a way to close games out.
"We also aren't making enough plays to win tight games, and we've got to find a way to do that," Callahan said. "And I got to find a way to help us get there because right now, losing games in one-score games is tough."
The offense needs to step up for the Titans. Tennessee came in among the NFL's leaders in yards per game allowed and gave up just 269 yards of offense to the Colts. But an anemic Tennessee offense couldn't even manage 250, with struggling quarterback Will Levis failing to hit 100 passing yards and throwing yet another interception.
Analyst's Take
Tennessee signed Calvin Ridley in free agency to be the squad's new WR1. So far, he's caught nine passes in five games. Ridley didn't have a single catch Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts despite being targeted a team-high eight times. The veteran is getting frustrated and rightly so. The Titans are trying to get him involved, but he hasn't built any kind of rapport with quarterback Will Levis. Furthermore, the play from the quarterback position can be described as erratic at best. Tennessee's game plan should involve feeding its $92 million wide receiver. -- Sobleski
27. Miami Dolphins (2-3)
6 of 32
Last Week: 27
Week 6 Result: Bye Week
The first month-plus of the 2024 season hasn't gone at all according to plan for the Miami Dolphins.
With quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve with yet another concussion, the Dolphins have struggled mightily to move the football. Miami is barely cracking 300 yards of offense a contest, and the 12.0 points per game the Dolphins are averaging ranks dead last in the league.
While speaking to reporters, Miami head coach Mike McDaniel said that he understands why some fans are frustrated by the team's lack of success given the expectations entering the season.
"I'm not really villainizing the people who are jumping off the bandwagon; it's more we gave them reason to," he said. "So that's to be expected. I don't think people pay what they pay to go to Hard Rock Stadium to watch us lose, so whatever results incurred by our game-day failure, we deserve."
It will be at least one more week before Tagovailoa is eligible to return, leaving the Dolphins in scramble mode as they attempt to scratch out a win at Indianapolis in Week 7 to get back to .500 for the season.
Analyst's Take
To be honest, given how bad the Dolphins offense has been, things could be a lot worse. Fortunately for Miami, the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets haven't been lighting it up either, leaving Miami within shouting distance of first place in the AFC East. If Miami can somehow get past a banged up Colts team next week and gets Tagovailoa back at 3-3, that would be just about a best-case scenario given everything that has happened. -- Davenport
26. Las Vegas Raiders (2-4)
7 of 32
Last Week: 25
Week 6 Result: Lost vs. Pittsburgh 32-13
After losing to the rival Broncos in lopsided fashion in Week 5, the Las Vegas Raiders made a switch at quarterback in Week 6. Gardner Minshew was replaced by Aidan O'Connell in the hopes that it would provide the team with a spark.
Um…about that.
The Raiders' showing in Week 6 was worse than the week before against Denver. Just 275 yards of offense. Three back-breaking turnovers. Just two third-down conversions in 11 tries.
A clearly frustrated head coach didn't make any excuses while addressing the media after the lopsided loss.
"Our record is what it [is] ... it's not good enough," Antonio Pierce said. "We're not coaching well enough, we're not playing well enough, and we're not detailing well enough. More importantly, when you turn the ball over, you don't give yourself a chance. It starts with discipline -- we [only] had four penalties, but they were at critical moments. The turnover thing is embarrassing. We don't respect the ball enough, so we don't even deserve a chance to put ourselves into position to win."
The Raiders are an NFL-worst -10 in turnover differential. It's just impossible to win that way. They understand where they are at as a franchise, hence their decision to trade Davante Adams to the New York Jets on Tuesday. Las Vegas needs all the assets it can obtain to position itself for a franchise quarterback next offseason.
Analyst's Take
The Raiders are currently the NFL's punching bag. They've lost four games by 12 or more points, two at home.
Antonio Pierce has found out the difference between being an interim head coach who saves a team from despair and a full-time lead skipper who has to run the entire show, going back to the offseason.
The Raiders have two wins, but they're one of the league's biggest dumpster fires and dropping like winter temperatures in these rankings. -- Moton
25. New York Giants (2-4)
8 of 32
Last Week: 26
Week 6 Result: Lost vs. Cincinnati 17-7
Last week in Seattle, the New York Giants were able to overcome the absence of No. 1 wide receiver Malik Nabers with a punishing ground game.
Sunday night against the Cincinnati Bengals, there would be no such success.
Rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. wasn't bad, necessarily—107 total yards on 23 touches. But quarterback Daniel Jones was the team's leading rusher, the passing game was ineffective (190 yards) and the Giants missed a pair of field goals.
Head coach Brian Daboll stated the obvious while speaking to reporters after the game—you aren't going to win in the NFL scoring just seven points.
"I thought our defense played very good football. They played winning football," Daboll said. "And then, didn't score enough points offensively. That starts with me. It's hard to win games when you score seven points. That's the reality of it."
It was an effort that leaves the Giants all alone in last place in the NFC East—and will no doubt start back up the conversation as to whether Jones is the answer under center long-term in the Big Apple.
Analyst's Take
Without Malik Nabers in the lineup, the Giants offense lacks explosiveness. While the squad was fine a week earlier against the Seattle Seahawks, it struggled against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals concentrated on slowing New York's run game, which it did.
Quarterback Daniel Jones failed to make his opponent pay in nearly every instance. All the while, the Giants are wasting one of the league's best defensive fronts. Sunday's effort is just another example of how much needs to change on the offensive side of the ball. -- Sobleski
24. Los Angeles Rams (1-4)
9 of 32
Last Week: 24
Week 6 Result: Bye Week
There isn't a team in the NFL that has been blasted more by injuries this season than the Los Angeles Rams. The team's offensive line has been decimated by injuries. Wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua have missed most of the season. And the Rams headed into their bye week a one-win team whose odds of getting back to playoffs are essentially nil.
It hasn't been all doom and gloom in Los Angeles—running back Kyren Williams has all but carried the Rams offensively, drawing praise from head coach Sean McVay in the process.
"I've been really proud of Kyren," McVay told reporters. "He's so competitive, his spirit [and] the way he goes about it. I love it. Obviously, he's such a great competitor. [If] we can get everybody to start playing like him, we'll be in good shape. I love what Kyren Williams has done."
There is some optimism that Kupp could return to action in Week 7, and the team needs him—a matchup with the undefeated Vikings looms after the Raiders visit SoFi Stadium next week.
Analyst's Take
The Rams are all but certainly done—the odds of a 1-4 team making the playoffs aren't good, and we still don't know when they will be close to 100 percent. Rumors have started flying that Matthew Stafford could be traded before the deadline, but even if he isn't, his future with the Rams past 2024 is cloudy. There probably isn't going to be a Hollywood ending for the Rams this year, and the team is going to face some tough decisions in the offseason. -- Davenport
23. Arizona Cardinals (2-4)
10 of 32
Last Week: 19
Week 6 Result: Lost at Green Bay 34-13
Some NFL games are "burn the tape" efforts. A team is outclassed on both sides of the ball, and the only thing that can be taken from the contest is "don't play like that again."
Sunday's game at Lambeau Field was that kind of day for the Arizona Cardinals.
The Redbirds fell behind 24-0, allowed 437 yards of offense, turned the ball over three times and committed 13 penalties for 100 yards. It was just a bad game, and while talking to reporters after the loss, quarterback Kyler Murray didn't try to hide his frustration.
"We play like that, we won't beat anybody," Murray said. "We can't shoot ourselves in the foot against a good team."
Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon echoed those sentiments.
"We can't play in a hole like that versus really good teams," Gannon said. "It's just too hard to overcome."
The Cardinals are still just a game back in the NFC West. But there's a lot to clean up ahead of next week's home date with the 3-2 Chargers. There's also the matter of the health of rookie wideout Marvin Harrison Jr., who suffered a concussion in the game.
Analyst's Take
As many expected, the Cardinals don't have the playmakers on defense to slow down high-powered offenses, which separates them from legitimate playoff contenders.
Kyler Murray can only do so much in comeback efforts. Until its defense shows improvement, Arizona will be an intriguing team you can count on to pull off an upset here and there but never confidently trust to win. -- Moton
22. Denver Broncos (3-3)
11 of 32
Last Week: 22
Week 6 Result: Lost vs. Los Angeles Chargers 23-16
The Denver Broncos entered Week 6 riding a wave of momentum after three straight wins. They left it down a defensive star after a loss in which their defense just could not get off the field.
Now, the absence of cornerback Patrick Surtain II (concussion) wasn't the only reason the Broncos allowed the Chargers to convert 11 of 18 third downs or possess the ball for over 37 minutes. But while speaking to reporters, Broncos quarterback Riley Moss admitted that Surtain leaving the game took some of the wind out of Denver's sails. The Broncos fell way behind early, and while they made a game of it, their comeback effort came up short.
"[Surtain's exit] is just something you feel, and we can't let that happen, we can't let adversity sway how we feel,'' Moss said. " ... We've got to be able to get through. We're a younger team, so being able to be more mature and getting over that adversity. [At halftime] we all looked at each other in the locker room and were like, 'Guys, we're better than this.'''
Analyst's Take
I'll give Denver a lot of credit for battling back after falling into a 23-0 hole against the Chargers. However, the Broncos' excruciatingly slow start led to a loss that should serve as a reality check.
The Broncos gained some momentum during their three-game winning streak, but that surge may have been misleading. While the win over the Buccaneers was impressive, Denver's other two wins came against a Jets team that just fired its head coach and a Raiders team that just benched its Week 1 starting QB. The Broncos could be wild-card contenders. However, I still view this as a team that should be more focused on developing Bo Nix than on any hypothetical postseason run. -- Knox
21. Indianapolis Colts (3-3)
12 of 32
Last Week: 23
Week 6 Result: Won at Tennessee 20-17
It was widely expected that after missing time with an oblique injury that second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson would return to action Sunday in Nashville. But Richardson joined running back Jonathan Taylor on the shelf Sunday, leaving the starting quarterback duties to Joe Flacco.
Flacco didn't pile up the style points. But thanks to a big catch from wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (who is himself injured), the Colts squeaked past the Titans and got back to .500 for the season.
Richardson told reporters after the game that all that matters to him is the win, but he hopes to be back out there against the Miami Dolphins in Week 7.
"Anything for the team," Richardson said. "If they feel like it's best for me to sit another week, I'm listening to them. If they feel like it's best for me to go out there and play, I'm going to listen to them. Whatever they feel is best for the team, that's what it is. I'm still healing. If they would have said I was rolling this week, I would've went out there and rolled. But I'm feeling good, though. Hopefully, I get back out there next week."
Analyst's Take
Indianapolis finds itself in an interesting position. What really matters? Long term, the organization must develop Anthony Richardson after drafting him fourth overall last year to be its franchise quarterback. Short term, veteran Joe Flacco can help the team win games, as they have in two of their last three contests. The Colts could take a hit by placing Richardson back in the lineup. Still, Richardson is the starter. He needs to be on the field. As soon as he's cleared, the Flacco era in Indianapolis should come to an end. -- Sobleski
20. New York Jets (2-4)
13 of 32
Last Week: 17
Week 6 Result: Lost vs. Buffalo 23-20
You may not have heard, but it was something of an eventful week in New York.
However, Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers insisted to reporters earlier this week that the firing of head coach Robert Saleh and the demotion of offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was a wake-up call for the Jets players.
"We all feel terrible about the opportunity that we had, that we squandered that led to Robert getting fired and Hack getting demoted. If I play better, this doesn't happen," Rodgers said. "If we're better on offense, this doesn't happen. I think it puts a spotlight on us. Now it's on us to do this. We need to be accountable to each other, and we've got to raise the level of play to the standard that we set during training camp."
Then the Jets came out and played like the Jets. Innumerable penalties. The lone turnover of the game at the worst possible time. Two missed field goals. One touchdown in four red zone trips.
It was a very Jets game that ended in very Jets fashion. One day later, New York finally traded for wide receiver Davante Adams in an attempt to turn the season around.
Analyst's Take
As just about everyone other than franchise owner Woody Johnson probably expected, making a coaching change after five weeks wasn't a quick fix. Trading for Davante Adams probably won't be, either.
Yes, the Jets seemed to have a better offensive game plan on Monday night. However, Robert Saleh was reportedly considering turning over play-calling duties to Todd Downing before he was fired anyway. Inserting Jeff Ulbrich as the interim coach and edding Adams will do nothing to bolster an offensive line that has struggled in recent weeks. The coaching change certainly didn't improve the team's discipline, as the Jets were flagged 11 times for 110 yards. I also have concerns about Ulbrich's ability to coach the team and serve as the defensive play-caller—against Buffalo, the defense surrendered the most yards it has since the Week 1 loss in San Francisco.
Overall, I don't view the Jets a whole lot differently than I did a week ago. They're a (now slightly more) talented but flawed team, and at 2-4, getting back into the AFC playoff race will be a challenge. I want to see how the Rodgers-Adams reunion pans out before I'm willing to move New York up the rankings. -- Knox
19. Dallas Cowboys (3-3)
14 of 32
Last Week: 13
Week 6 Result: Lost vs. Detroit 47-9
The Dallas Cowboys have a Texas-sized problem.
For the second time this season, the Cowboys were blown out at AT&T Stadium. A Dallas team that was undefeated at home a year ago is now 0-3 in their own building in 2024.
This was a demolition in every sense of the word. The Cowboys allowed almost 500 yards of offense and barely cracked 250 themselves. Dallas turned the ball over five times. Quarterback Dak Prescott was terrible, barely completing over half his passes and tossing two picks.
Prescott told reporters after the loss that the Cowboys aren't about to panic over their sudden inability to win at home.
"I'm not a guy to hit the panic button," Prescott said. "You never prepare for that or think that can happen the way it did today, here at home, again. Now dropping three at home, a place that we've been great."
But with a brutal schedule streak coming after the bye that includes home dates with the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles and trips to Atlanta and San Francisco, the Cowboys have to figure some things out during the off week.
Analyst's Take
The Cowboys' offensive line was a problem this offseason. It remains a problem that's only getting worse. Tyler Smith is now playing out of position while rookie left tackle Tyler Guyton is out of the lineup because of injury. Former undrafted free agent T.J. Bass is at left guard. Rookie Cooper Beebe is still making the transition to center.
Even All-Everything right guard Zack Martin struggled against the Lions, particularly Alim McNeill. Quarterback Dak Prescott has traditionally been good against pressure. But the Cowboys allowed too much pressure against the Lions, and Prescott couldn't overcome it. -- Sobleski
18. New Orleans Saints (2-4)
15 of 32
Last Week: 18
Week 6 Result: Lost vs. Tampa Bay 51-27
The New Orleans Saints have problems—plural.
Over the first two weeks of the year, the Saints scored 91 points in blowout wins. Since then? Nothing. And Sunday's lopsided loss at home was a new nadir.
The Chiefs were an absolute disaster defensively against Tampa, allowing nearly 600 yards of offense and over 50 points. Making his first NFL start in place of the injured Derek Carr, Spencer Rattler was shaky at quarterback, completing just over half his passes and tossing a pair of interceptions. Both of those interceptions (and five sacks) came in the second half, and head coach Dennis Allen told reporters that the Saints didn't execute well enough around their young signal-caller.
"I don't think we did enough around him to help him," Allen said. "It was hard for us to be able to run. They won the line of scrimmage. He did some things really well early in the game, but as the second half kind of went on, they started to pressure him a little bit more."
Injury was added to insult as well—No. 1 wide receiver Chris Olave left the game with a concussion, and with the Saints playing on a short week in Week 6, New Orleans will likely be without him against the Denver Broncos.
Analyst's Take
Spencer Rattler isn't ready to unseat Derek Carr as the starting quarterback, but he can help the Saints pull out a win or two as a fill-in starter.
Last week, Rattler showed pocket poise and willingness to improvise on the move, but he needs help and doesn't quite have it with wide receiver Chris Olave in concussion protocol. -- Moton
17. Cincinnati Bengals (2-4)
16 of 32
Last Week: 21
Week 6 Result: Won at New York Giants 17-7
The Cincinnati Bengals needed a win Sunday night in the worst way. After a 1-4 start in which the defense was among the worst in the NFL, Cincy was in jeopardy of joining the Cleveland Browns in the AFC North cellar and all but ending any chance they had of making the postseason.
It wasn't an especially flashy win, but thanks to the legs of quarterback Joe Burrow and the team's best defensive effort of the season, the Bengals came out on top.
Burrow lauded his team's performance while speaking to the media after the win.
"We really needed it," Burrow said. "I don't want to say we would have been out of it if we lost, but we'd be scratching and clawing for the rest of the year. We still really are but it was good to get a win. Great to see our defense step up like that. They've taken some heat the last couple of weeks. They played awesome tonight."
Analyst's Take
To understand just how important Cincinnati's defensive performance was during Sunday Night Football, the unit finally snapped the NFL's longest streak by allowing 10 or more points during the previous 75 games.
Quarterback Joe Burrow and his high-flying wide receivers can't carry the team at all times. Playmakers on the other side of the ball can help make the Bengals a more complete squad. Trey Hendrickson has always been one. Sunday night, defensive tackle B.J. Hill and cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt joined the party. An adequate defense can go a very long way when playing complementary football with Burrow and Co. -- Sobleski
16. Los Angeles Chargers (3-2)
17 of 32
Last Week: 20
Week 6 Result: Won at Denver 23-16
Sometimes, the bye week comes at the perfect time.
Heading into their Week 5 bye, the Los Angeles Chargers were riding a two-game skid with a banged-up quarterback. But a week's rest appears to have done wonders for quarterback Justin Herbert, who had his best outing of the season in a game in which Los Angeles raced out to a big lead before holding off a late charge.
For Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, who was sidelined for part of the first half with an irregular heartbeat, the game was a reminder that Herbert is one of the best in the game at what he does.
"I thought he was as precise as he could be, or a quarterback could be," Harbaugh told reporters. "There were some great throws, some great moves to avoid the pressure. He was just putting the ball in the appropriate spot throughout the entire game. I was super impressed. Hopefully this reminds everybody that Justin Herbert is really good at playing quarterback. He was putting it on the money."
Analyst's Take
The bye week did wonders for the Chargers, who snapped a two-game losing streak and earned a fairly convincing win over the rival Broncos—though Denver certainly made things interesting late. If this team can somehow manage to put its injury woes in the rear view, L.A. should be a relevant factor in the AFC playoff race.
While I'm still not fully convinced the Chargers are a legitimate contender, their schedule is favorable. None of L.A.'s next five opponents currently owns more than two wins. Jim Harbaugh's squad has, thus far, shown an ability to beat the teams it is supposed to beat. If that trend holds, the Chargers will have plenty to play for entering December. -- Knox
15. Seattle Seahawks (3-3)
18 of 32
Last Week: 11
Week 6 Result: Lost vs. San Francisco 36-24
The Seattle Seahawks started the season with three straight victories. The team has been in first place in NFC West from the jump. But while the Seahawks are still technically tied for first with the San Francisco 49ers, there are problems in the Pacific Northwest, because Seattle followed up three straight wins with an equal number of losses.
The Seahawks didn't do much well Thursday night. Seattle couldn't get anything going on the ground, managing just 52 yards on the ground and 2.6 yards per carry. Conversely, Seattle's run defense was savaged by a 49ers team that lost Jordan Mason in the game to the tune of 228 yards and almost seven yards a pop.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald acknowledged to reporters that Seattle isn't playing well while pledging to get to the bottom of the reason why.
"We're just not doing the things that good football teams do to win football games, and so we're going to attack it. We're going to take a breather here and really go back and dissect the heck out of this thing," Macdonald said.
Analyst's Take
I can save Macdonald some investigating time—Seattle's defense has been awful of late, including allowing a whopping 483 yards of offense to the 49ers. Seattle's three-game winning streak to open the season came against a rookie quarterback making his first career start, a woeful New England Patriots team and an injury-ravaged Miami Dolphins squad. Given what has taken place in the three games since, it appears to have been a mirage, and the Seahawks are looking more like the so-so team that went 9-8 a year ago. -- Davenport
14. Chicago Bears (4-2)
19 of 32
Last Week: 16
Week 6 Result: Won vs. Jacksonville 35-16 (London)
Caleb Williams appears to be figuring it out.
With each progressive game, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft has gotten better and better. Sunday in London, Williams put on a show—just six incompletions in 29 attempts, 226 yards and four touchdown passes.
Veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen caught two of those scores (his first two touchdowns with the Bears), and he told reporters that he has seen the growth from Williams on a weekly basis.
"When he's in a groove like that, and all the balls are catchable, it's pretty easier to play receiver," Allen said of Williams. "Week in, week out, he gets better. Obviously, when we pick up the tempo, he's a lot more comfortable. He's able to see things faster, and defenses can't do all the moving around."
It can be argued that Chicago's Week 7 bye actually comes at something of an unfortunate time. Because after peeling off back-to-back blowout wins, the Bears are on a roll.
Analyst's Take
The Bears had a rocky start to the season, but they have hit their stride as a complete team over the past few weeks.
Chicago has gained momentum with wins over one-win clubs, the Rams, Panthers, and Jaguars. Those victories have likely raised Caleb Williams' confidence, setting him up for a rookie quarterback showdown with Jayden Daniels in two weeks. The Bears are climbing the rankings as their stock rises. -- Moton
13. San Francisco 49ers (3-3)
20 of 32
Last Week: 14
Week 6 Result: Won at Seattle 36-24
After downing the Seahawks in Seattle, the San Francisco 49ers have reclaimed first place in the NFC West. But the Niners haven't looked like the defending NFC champions, largely because of injuries that have continually dogged the team.
Those injuries kept coming in Week 6.
Running back Jordan Mason, who has been a revelation in place of Christian McCaffrey, left the win over Seattle with what was diagnosed as a sprained AC joint. Rookie Isaac Guerendo and fourth-year pro Patrick Taylor Jr. combined for 89 yards on 14 carries with Mason out, and San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters the Niners are confident they can carry the load if Mason misses time.
"I thought they both did a really good job," Shanahan said. "We didn't really miss a beat with it. They kept the whole rhythm of the offense going. They hit the right holes, they ran hard and made some plays for us, so they were prepared and didn't hesitate when they got their opportunities."
Analyst's Take
San Francisco may be in first place, but they have yet to hit their stride—this is a team that blew two double-digit leads to division opponents this year and let the Seahawks hang around in this game after racing out to a 23-3 lead. The 49ers are moving the ball offensively and playing good defense at times, but to reclaim their status as a true power in the NFC San Francisco is going to need to play more consistently and start stacking some victories. -- Davenport
12. Philadelphia Eagles (3-2)
21 of 32
Last Week: 12
Week 6 Result: Won vs. Cleveland 20-16
The good news for the Philadelphia Eagles was two-fold in Week 6. The first was that the team got wide receivers DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown back coming out of the bye. The second was that the team gutted out a four-point win.
The bad news for the Eagles is that multiple prominent players exited the game with injuries, and the Eagles went down to the wire with a Browns team that has been mostly terrible this season.
The uneven performance drew some boos from the Eagles faithful—boos that head coach Nick Sirianni made clear he didn't appreciate by barking at some fans.
"We thrive off the crowd when they cheer for us. That's all I'll say," Sirianni told reporters. "We hear them when they boo. We don't necessarily like it. I don't think that's productive for anybody. But when they cheer for us and when we've got them rolling, we love it."
Quarterback Jalen Hurts said the players appreciated their head coach sticking up for them.
"It's a reassurance of, we trust who you are. We trust where you are as a coach, and we know we can build with you. It's about doing it together," Hurts said. "I'm excited for him and his growth and continue to see where he's going, and I think it will continue to help our football team."
Analyst's Take
Philadelphia's defense, which entered Sunday ranked 27th overall, may have turned a corner in Week 6. It's hard to put much stock in a good-not-great performance against a listless Browns offense, but the Eagles did seem to find a stronger effort and a functional pass rush coming out of the bye.
Unfortunately, injuries continue to be an issue. Just as the Eagles got A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith back in the lineup, they watched Dallas Goedert, Jordan Mailata and Darius Slay exit with injuries. I still feel like Philly can be a factor in the NFC race if it can ever field a fully healthy starting lineup. I don't know when or if we'll see one in 2024. -- Knox
11. Pittsburgh Steelers
22 of 32
Last Week: 15
Week 6 Result: Won at Las Vegas 32-13
It's the only topic of conversation in the Steel City, win or lose. It's not another scintillating performance from the NFL's best defensive player in T.J. Watt. Or the first 100-yard rushing game of the season from running back Najee Harris. Or even an emphatic 19-point win over a bumbling Raiders team.
No, it's the Steelers' situation at quarterback. Russell Wilson vs. Justin Fields. Wilson was active for the first time this season, but Fields once again drew the start. And while Fields scored twice on the ground, his day throwing the ball was uneven—14 completions in 24 attempts for 145 yards.
For his part, all head coach Mike Tomlin wanted to talk about was putting a stop to the team's two-game skid.
"Winning is our business," Tomlin told reporters. "We hadn't been handling business, so it's good to get back to taking care of business. This is a normal state for us. It needs to be."
But you can bet the rent that talk radio this week in Pittsburgh will be all about who will start under center next Sunday night against the New York Jets.
Analyst's Take
In Week 6, the Steelers ran for 183 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, which should be their winning formula going forward with one reliable but mercurial wide receiver in George Pickens.
That said, don't anoint the Steelers as a playoff contender until they beat a top-tier opponent with their physical play style. At this point, most teams can dominate the Raiders in the trenches. -- Moton
10. Washington Commanders (4-2)
23 of 32
Last Week: 7
Week 6 Result: Lost at Baltimore 30-23
There hasn't been a hotter offensive team in the league over the last month than the Washington Commanders, and that has been mostly due to the excellent play of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Daniels had another solid outing Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens—269 passing yards, two scores and a passer rating north of 110. But Washington's defense was gashed for 484 yards and 30 points, and those defensive deficiencies proved too much to overcome.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn was disappointed by the loss while addressing the media after the game. But he was proud of the way his young team fought back to make a game of it in the second half.
"It certainly was a tough game," Quinn said. "That's what we talked about in the locker room. As lopsided as it felt, [we] still in the fight at the end. We do have a tough crew with an attitude to battle. There is going to be a lot to learn from this game."
Analyst's Take
Recent drafting blunders haven't helped the Commanders, as they look to make dramatic improvement on the defensive side of the ball. Both cornerback Emmanuel Forbes and linebacker Jamin Davis were healthy scratches during Washington's loss to the Ravens. When two first-round picks from the last three draft classes aren't contributing at all. Yes, the Commanders are better so far this season than last, when Washington finished dead last in total defense. However, the unit remains on the fringe of the bottom 10. It'll take another offseason before the unit can really improve. -- Sobleski
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2)
24 of 32
Last Week: 10
Week 6 Result: Won at New Orleans 51-27
It was a rough week for everyone in Florida. And while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were better off than many, the team's game prep was thrown off—the Bucs flew into New Orleans Tuesday to escape the path of Hurricane Milton.
The Buccaneers and quarterback Baker Mayfield were choppy at times Sunday. Mayfield was picked off three times, and Tampa blew a 17-point lead at one point. But Mayfield also threw four touchdown passes and Tampa dropped a fitty-burger on the Saints.
For head coach Todd Bowles, it was an important win for both team and city.
"Our hearts pour out to the city. It's a tough city," Bowles told reporters. "We don't know what we're going back to, but in our small part, we wanted to win one for the city. We are going to try to help any way we can when we get back, so after going through a week like this and coming out on top, it made the guys feel special."
Tampa has struggled to run the ball this year, but even with lead back Rachaad White sidelined by injury that wasn't the case in Week 6. The Buccaneers racked up a whopping 277 yards on the ground, averaging almost eight yards a carry.
Analyst's Take
The Buccaneers offense has become a powerhouse with Liam Coen calling the plays and Baker Mayfield under center.
Mayfield is on pace to throw for more than 40 touchdowns. He's put the Buccaneers on his back, keeping them in the mix for their fourth consecutive NFC South title. -- Moton
8. Atlanta Falcons (4-2)
25 of 32
Last Week: 8
Week 6 Result: Won at Carolina 38-20
The Atlanta Falcons came into the 2024 season with more than a little hype after the arrival of quarterback Kirk Cousins. After a bumpy start, the Falcons are starting to live up to that hype—Sunday's decisive win in Carolina was Atlanta's third straight and fourth game in the last five.
Beating an overmatched Panthers team isn't exactly a Herculean feat, but the Falcons took care of business. Cousins was efficient through the air. The Atlanta rushing attack averaged over five yards a carry and flirted with 200 yards.
While speaking to reporters, running back Bijan Robinson said the team's offensive balance makes them tough to defend.
"That's where you want to go with the offense, where those guys don't know if they have to stop the run or the pass," Robinson said. "And then you're able to do both, it's just really hard for a defense because then they're like, 'OK, what do we do?'"
Head coach Raheem Morris also talked up the team's ability to beat defenses in different ways.
"Last week we threw it 58 times and threw it for 509 yards, and this week were able to were able to run for (198) and that is the sign of a good football team when you have to find ways to beat them," Morris said. "We are taking what you're giving us and going out there and dealing."
Analyst's Take
The Falcons just beat a Panthers team that has won three games since the start of the 2023 season. I'm not going to put a ton of stock into Atlanta's move to 4-2. What I did find impressive in Week 6 was the continued growth of Atlanta's offense.
This was a team that had the league's 11th-ranked overall defense in 2023 but was too often held back by poor quarterback play and a lack of offensive cohesion. Kirk Cousins has provided a significant upgrade under center, and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson has figured out how to unleash playmakers like Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson.
So far, Atlanta's plan for a quick turnaround in 2024 is working as scripted. The Buccaneers may prevent the Falcons from winning their first division title since 2016, but the playoffs feel practically inevitable at this point. -- Knox
7. Buffalo Bills (4-2)
26 of 32
Last Week: 6
Week 6 Result: Won at New York Jets 23-20
Week 6 was an important game for the Buffalo Bills. Coming off a two-game skid, the Bills were in danger of falling out of first place in the AFC East. But after last week's loss to the Houston Texans, Bills quarterback Josh Allen told reporters that the Bills were confident they would get the offense on track at MetLife Stadium.
"I know you guys are going to be wild this week, but I love my guys, and we're going to keep working," Allen said. This isn't a defining moment in our season. There's a chance to learn and grow from this, and that's what we're going to do."
It was by no means a flawless effort. But thanks to some timely plays from Allen and a big night from reserve running back Ray Davis, the Bills eked out a three-point win that gives Buffalo a stranglehold on the AFC East six weeks into the season.
And reinforcements are now on the way, as the Bills announced Tuesday that they acquired receiver Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for draft picks. The 30-year-old pass-catcher is coming off a Pro Bowl season in 2023 and should add another element to Josh Allen's receiving threats.
Cooper's big-play ability and experience will go a long way in the Buffalo receiving corps.
Analyst's Take
This game didn't alleviate all the concerns about the Bills, especially on the offensive side of the ball. They aren't as explosive on that side of the ball as in years past, and the team struggled to generate offense in the second half.
But the Bills have the best quarterback in the AFC East. They have the best defense in the AFC East. And the Bills are accustomed to success. They know how to win close games—and showed it against the Jets.
Now Buffalo gets a break of sorts against the lowly Titans before a trip to Seattle and a second meeting with the Miami Dolphins. By the time that game rolls around, the Bills may well have an opportunity to put the AFC East to bed by the first week of November -- Davenport
6. Green Bay Packers (4-2)
27 of 32
Last Week: 9
Week 6 Result: Won vs. Arizona 34-13
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love appears to be all the way back.
After missing time earlier this season with an MCL injury, Love had one of his best performances of the season in Sunday's waxing of the Arizona Cardinals—22 completions in 32 attempts, 258 passing yards and four touchdowns. Love connected with 10 different receivers in the game, finding wide receiver Romeo Doubs for a pair of scores.
The Green Bay defense also stepped up, allowing just 303 yards of offense and forcing three turnovers. It was an excellent all-around effort that drew praise from head coach Matt LaFleur.
"We talked about coming into this game just playing four quarters of complementary football, and thought that was about as good as we could've done it," LaFleur told reporters. "There's always stuff that we can clean up, but I thought all in all, just the effort from start to finish, the focus from start to finish, was exactly what is a great formula for winning football."
Analyst's Take
Quarterback Jordan Love is healthy, and he has four wideouts who can lead the team in multiple receiving categories in any given week.
The Packers can easily score 35-plus points against any opponent, and their defense has shown improvement under Jeff Hafley. Green Bay will soon be recognized as a top-five team. -- Moton
5. Baltimore Ravens (4-2)
28 of 32
Last Week: 5
Week 6 Result: Won vs. Washington 30-23
The Baltimore Ravens are rolling. After back-to-back losses to open the season, the Ravens have peeled off four straight wins. And there wasn't much of the offense that wasn't working Sunday against the Washington Commanders.
Running back Derrick Henry had another big game—132 rushing yards and two scores on 24 carries. Quarterback Lamar Jackson eclipsed 300 passing yards. And wideout Zay Flowers had a day—132 yards and a score on nine catches.
Tight end Mark Andrews, who had a touchdown of his own, told reporters that Baltimore's ability to spread the ball around makes the team awfully hard to stop.
"Guys are going to get their touches and get the ball and good things will happen, and that's what happened today," said Andrews. "We're extremely versatile in what we're doing, and we're going to take this game, get better from it week by week and become the machine that we can be."
Analyst's Take
Quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry have been playing so well that things are opening up for everyone else on the Ravens' rosters, specifically second-year wide receiver Zay Flowers. Jackson and Henry needed a little time to really get going as the offensive line jelled in front of them. Now, the dynamic duo is rolling. Flowers adds a different dynamic as a wide receiver with the ability to separate and create after the catch. Flowers set career-highs Sunday with nine receptions for 132 yards...in the first half.
The Ravens are getting better every week. Right now, they're playing as well or better than any other team in the league. -- Sobleski
4. Houston Texans (5-1)
29 of 32
Last Week: 4
Week 6 Result: Won at New England 41-21
The NFL's best teams do a couple things. They adapt to and overcome adversity. And they take care of business against inferior opponents.
A young Texans team still has some proving to do. But they handled an overmatched Patriots team with ease Sunday. Offensively, C.J. Stroud threw three touchdown passes and running back Joe Mixon surpassed 100 rushing yards in his return from a sprained ankle. Defensively, Houston held the Patriots under 300 yards of offense, forced four turnovers and edge-rusher Will Anderson Jr. logged three sacks.
Anderson was quick to credit his teammates for his big game while talking to reporters.
"You've got to keep chopping and going and keep getting better," Anderson said. "I have to give credit to the defensive linemen. Those guys are tremendous in what they do. I love those guys. The thing about this team is taking the ball away. If you get a lot of turnovers, you win the game."
Analyst's Take
While we didn't learn a whole lot from Houston's win over the lowly Patriots, we did see the Texans offense thrive without No. 1 receiver Nico Collins. The return of running back Joe Mixon was huge, and C.J. Stroud got plenty from Tank Dell, Stefon Diggs and Dalton Schultz.
The Texans obviously have a deep receiving corps, but their ability to adapt to Collins' absence is noteworthy. Elite teams like the Chiefs—and the Tom Brady-led Patriots before them—tend to stay in contention because of their ability to adjust to personnel changes. The Texans aren't on that level yet, but they may be getting close. -- Knox
3. Detroit Lions (4-1)
30 of 32
Last Week: 3
Week 6 Result: Won at Dallas 47-9
The Detroit Lions are rolling.
In destroying the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6's most emphatic victory, the Lions planted a Honolulu Blue flag as the best team in the NFC. It marked the first time in over half a century that the Lions scored 40 points in back-to-back games.
Needless to say, head coach Dan Campbell was pleased in the post-game press conference.
"I thought we really played the most complete game we've probably played here in a long time, if not the most since we've been here," Campbell said. "We applied pressure, we finally got a multiple takeaway game. We've talked about it. These things will come in bunches."
However, the victory came at a potentially staggering cost. Edge-rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who entered the game leading the NFL in sacks, suffered a broken tibia that required immediate surgery.
"He's a guy who's part of the heartbeat of this team, he's a leader, does everything right," quarterback Jared Goff said. "And to have him go down like that, and be visibly upset is tough for all of us. But knowing him, he will be fine. He will bounce back."
Analyst's Take
Aidan Hutchinson's injury sucked the air out of what should have been a glorious and dominant victory over the Cowboys. But Hutchinson suffered a season-ending broken tibia bone in his left leg. Now, Detroit is down both of their starting defensive ends since Marcus Davenport is also out for the season with an elbow injury. As talented as the team is, Hutchinson was a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate as the league-leader in sacks. He'll be sorely missed. -- Sobleski
2. Minnesota Vikings (5-0)
31 of 32
Last Week: 2
Week 6 Result: Bye Week
There hasn't been a more surprising team in the NFL this year than the undefeated Minnesota Vikings.
That's a whopper of an understatement. There were more folks who predicted Minnesota would finish last in the NFC North than first. But with quarterback Sam Darnold playing easily the best football of his career and the Vikings defense entering Week 6 among the league leaders in both sacks and takeaways, Minnesota has peeled off five wins a row to open the year.
While talking to reporters, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell insisted that the Vikings are going to come out of the bye week just as aggressively as they went into it.
"I just think it coincides with what I've been kind of talking about," O'Connell said. "Long before the first win, second, third or fourth win ever came… I'm just really stating the obvious inside that locker room, confirming to them that I believe in them, I love them and we're going to ride together and we're going to stay aggressive while being smart. There's always a line there, but I'm really proud of our guys."
Week 7 will bring a stiff test for the surprising Vikings—Minnesota's first game post-bye is a home tilt with the Lions.
Analyst's Take
Frankly, we've already seen a bit of the shine come off Darnold and the Vikings—he completed just 45 percent of his passes in London in Week 5 and had a passer rating that barely cracked 50. But so far this season, Minnesota has found a way every week to pull out a win. If they can do so against the Lions next week, the Vikes won't just be in first place—they'll have the NFC North in a choke-hold -- Davenport
1. Kansas City Chiefs (5-0)
32 of 32
Last Week: 1
Week 6 Result: Bye Week
The Kansas City Chiefs just keep on rolling.
Despite major injuries on offense, Kansas City is the AFC's lone undefeated team. With running back Isiah Pacheco out, Kareem Hunt has turned back the clock to his Kansas City heyday. With wide receiver Rashee Rice on the shelf with a knee injury, veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster stepped up with 130 yards on seven catches in last week's win over the New Orleans Saints.
While addressing the media, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes lauded his teammates for stepping up with big games when needed.
"Coach Reid knowing their skillsets and how to put them in great positions," Mahomes said. "Kareem just runs extremely hard. He gets every yard out there. He catches the ball and does whatever it takes in order to go out there and win. Then JuJu, even when he wasn't getting many reps, he was in the playbook and learning. The things that he had lost in one year, y'all saw him two years ago. He fits in well in this offense."
Analyst's Take
What can you really say about the Chiefs that hasn't already been said? After making multiple offseason upgrades offensively, the Chiefs watched as injuries ravaged that new-look offense—and haven't missed a beat. Patrick Mahomes hasn't posted especially gaudy numbers. Neither has veteran tight end Travis Kelce. But the Chiefs just keep winning. The Chiefs just play solid, complementary football on a weekly basis...and having the NFL's best quarterback doesn't hurt. -- Davenport
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