NFL Power Rankings: State of Each Team Heading into Week 10

Records do not tell the entire story in the NFL.

That sounds strange, but power rankings are at their best when factors other than face-value traits are taken into account.

For example, the Carolina Panthers have won four straight and sit at 5-3, not to mention they're a sleeper playoff candidate. Yet the four teams the Panthers have beaten during the streak have a total of six wins combined.

Does that mean Carolina should be ranked in the top 10?

Like the NFL itself this season, rankings are difficult to figure out. We'll take our best shot below with Week 10 on the horizon. Enjoy.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-0)

One team that cannot be faulted for its record at this point in the season is the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs.

While a flirtation with the loss column against Buffalo in Week 9 was not pretty, the Chiefs still won. Wining nine straight in the NFL is no joke, and the team now has a much-deserved bye before a showdown with Denver.

2. Denver Broncos (7-1)

Denver has the second-to-last ranked pass defense, but that means little with the No. 1 passing attack and an offense led by Peyton Manning that averages over 40 points per game.

Unfortunately a loss two weeks ago to Indianapolis means the Broncos continue to sit at No. 2 behind the Chiefs, which sounds awfully familiar.

3. New Orleans Saints (6-2)

Despite a loss on the road to Rex Ryan's defense against the New York Jets, Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints continue to have the look of a Super Bowl contender.

Perhaps most encouraging is the discovery of a passing defense in Louisiana, which ranks No. 5 in the NFL overall with just 211.9 yards allowed per game.

4. Seattle Seahawks (8-1)

The Seattle Seahawks have not lost at CenturyLink Field since December of 2011, but Russell Wilson and Co. sure came close in Week 9 against lowly Tampa Bay.

If anything, the scare will serve as a wake-up call for a team that ranks in the top five on the ground thanks to Marshawn Lynch (726 yards, six scores) and No. 2 against the pass.

Seattle remains a contender.

5. New England Patriots (7-2)

Over 400 passing yards and four touchdowns against an elite pass defense in Week 9 is all the NFL needed to know about the New England Patriots—Tom Brady is once more a top quarterback.

As a result, the Patriots are once again contenders. 

The emergence of Aaron Dobson is great, but for New England to remain this high the health of Rob Gronkowski and Danny Amendola is key. 

6. Indianapolis Colts (6-2)

Indianapolis struggles with a thing called consistency and almost bit off more than it could chew in Week 9 against the Houston Texans.

Alas, Andrew Luck and the Reggie Wayne-less Colts remain one of the NFL's top squads and in the driver's seat in the AFC South.

Watch for second-year receiver T.Y. Hilton to blow up with even more targets his way. He'll be a household name sooner rather than later.

7. San Francisco 49ers (6-2)

San Francisco is in a great position thanks to a bye last week, which was preceded by a five-game winning streak behind the NFL's No. 1 rushing attack. 

That attack, namely the ageless wonder known as Frank Gore, needed time to rest, as the 49ers now have a nasty date lined up with the Carolina Panthers.

Sooner or later Colin Kaepernick needs to show NFL defenses his arm is legit.

8. Chicago Bears (5-3)

No Jay Cutler, no problem.

Backup Josh McCown has worked wonders for the Bears in recent weeks, including a win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Monday Night Football.

McCown has now thrown for over 470 yards, three scores and no interceptions with Cutler sidelined. The Bears are contenders.

9. Cincinnati Bengals (6-3)

It's hard to think of a more crushing way to lose than via a sack in overtime, which is exactly what happened to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9.

Marred by injuries, the Bengals have plenty of work to do on the defensive side of the ball. The unit is typically elite, but the losses of corner Leon Hall and now tackle Geno Atkins has the unit reeling.

An inconsistent offense has a lot of work to do.

10. Green Bay Packers (5-3)

Monday Night Football was not kind to Green Bay in Week 9. The Packers ended up losing, but more important is the fact Aaron Rodgers went down with a shoulder injury after the team's first drive.

Per the team's official Twitter, Rodgers suffered a broken clavicle:

This means Green Bay will move forward with Seneca Wallace under center. Expect a significant drop in the coming weeks.

11. Detroit Lions (5-3)

Thanks to Matthew Stafford, the Detroit Lions have the No. 2 ranked aerial attack and also have a major last-second win over Dallas to brag about two weeks ago. 

Coming off a bye, the Lions defense will ultimately decide just how far the team can go in 2013, especially in an ultra-competitive NFC North.

Detroit needs to keep playing at a high level and looking over its shoulder—Carolina is on the prowl for a playoff seed.

12. New York Jets (5-4)

Look at the Jets as an example of how quickly things can change in the NFL from week to week. 

New York has not strung together a streak of wins or losses, which is the definition of inconsistency. A major win over New Orleans last week was not surprising—Rex Ryan's defense remains a force to be reckoned with. 

As expected, the Jets will live and die by the play of rookie quarterback Geno Smith.

13. Miami Dolphins (4-4)

A four-game skid was halted in Week 9 for Miami via a sack in overtime, but the Dolphins remain one of the NFL's most maddening teams.

Cameron Wake, owner of the game-winning safety, and the rest of the defense are a stout group that managed three interceptions to help a sluggish offense.

Ryan Tannehill remains the NFL's most-sacked quarterback, but some positive gains on the ground against an elite defense are a great sign.

14. San Diego Chargers (4-4)

San Diego may be the most difficult team in the NFL to figure out.

Rookie receiver Keenan Allen is a nice surprise for the rejuvenated Philip Rivers, but San Diego remains a mediocre .500 and has failed to put together sound momentum in one direction or the other all season.

Thanks to a porous defense, every contest the rest of the way will be a shootout, which guarantees nothing.

15. Dallas Cowboys (5-4)

We could point to the team above as the perfect description of the Dallas Cowboys as well.

Dallas has the league's second-to-last pass defense but a star quarterback in Tony Romo who can keep the team in games.

Sunday Night Football against the New Orleans Saints will go a long way in telling fans whether or not the Cowboys are for real or not, but yet again they only have the look of a .500 team.

16. Buffalo Bills (3-6)  

Good news—EJ Manuel is on his way back for the Buffalo Bills, per ESPN's Adam Schefter:

Buffalo has remained competitive in recent weeks with Thad Lewis under center, but things hit a pathetic low with Jeff Tuel as the signal-caller in Week 9.

The Bills have a top-10 ground game with C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson, and a defensive line led by Mario Williams is not to be underestimated.

17. Carolina Panthers (5-3)

Here are the Panthers, winners of four straight against miserable teams.

It's hard to knock Carolina for doing what it's supposed to do, but at some point Carolina needs to show something against legitimate competition.

Carolina has an elite rushing attack and defense that can make some noise in the NFC South, and with the way Cam Newton has been playing, the Panthers may be on the way to the postseason.

However, let's hold on the overreactions until we see how Carolina fares in Week 10 versus San Francisco.

18. Cleveland Browns (4-5)

Another quarterback under center brings more shocking results in Cleveland.

This time the signal-caller is veteran Jason Campbell, who threw for over 250 yards and three scores against the once-elite Baltimore defense.

Cleveland resides in second place in the AFC North thanks to an elite defense and a solid offense with quality options. The only question has been at quarterback, and Campbell is clearly the right answer.

19. Tennessee Titans (4-4)

Don't sleep on the Tennessee Titans. 

Thanks to elite corner Alterraun Verner, the Titans have an elite pass defense and the offense is finally back on track with Jake Locker under center after injury.

Tennessee won't be beat in the trenches, and when Chris Johnson rumbles for 150 yards and two scores as he did in Week 9, the Titans are tough to beat.

20. Philadelphia Eagles (4-5)

Don't look now, but the Philadelphia Eagles remain in the thick of things in the horrible NFC East thanks to seven touchdown passes from Nick Foles in Week 9.

Chip Kelly has created a statistical monster in the NFL, but he forgot one thing—defense matters too.

Philadelphia won't go far with the league's worst pass defense, and Foles' production is not something to confidently rely on each week.

21. Baltimore Ravens (3-5)

Where in the world is Ray Rice? 

Eleven rushes for 17 yards and a 1.5 average is not going to cut it. Line woes or not, a superstar back is supposed to be better than that.

Joe Flacco has done little to justify his $100 million contract, and the Ravens now sit firmly in third place in the AFC North after a loss to Cleveland.

22. St. Louis Rams (3-6)

Zac Stacy is legit.

The Rams are not.

That was easy. But really, the St. Louis offense is neutered with Kellen Clemens under center, and 127 yards and two scores from Stacy does not equate to a win. Fans can just be happy the team has two first-round draft picks next year.

23. Houston Texans (2-6)

Well, fans can't say the Houston Texans have given up on the season.

Yet.

Houston lost a tough one to Indianapolis in Week 9, but the good news is Case Keenum appears to be the answer at quarterback.

Unfortunately, the Texans are just not very good and don't win games they should this year. That's simple, but sometimes that's all that is necessary.

24.  Arizona Cardinals (4-4)

An elite rush defense cannot save Arizona from its own miserable offense led by Carson Palmer.

Palmer has received little help from his offensive line, and that won't change moving forward. While the USC product was thought to be the answer in the desert, the Cardinals organization once again displayed a lack of fundamental understanding—football starts in the trenches.

Arizona can play with most, courtesy of its defense, just don't expect many wins.

25. Washington Redskins (3-5)

RGIII is slowly but surely looking better each week after rushing back from a knee injury suffered last postseason, and it may be just in time in what is a miserable NFC East.

The Redskins defense did little to stop San Diego in Week 9, but the team still pulled out the win.

If the Redskins want to make a serious push at the playoffs, RGIII will need to continue to play at a high level to make up for the less-than-average defense.

26. Oakland Raiders (3-5)

One historic whipping at the hands of Nick Foles and the Eagles later (that was seriously just sad), Oakland has finally turned into the horrible team everyone thought it would be.

When the Raiders pass rush doesn't apply hits on the quarterback, guys like Foles can toss seven touchdowns on the shoddy defense.

Terrelle Pryor is a nice surprise, but he's not going to put up enough points to overcome his defense.

27. Atlanta Falcons (2-6)

Matt Ryan looks like Carson Palmer as he attempts to overcompensate for an injury-riddled offense and a sinking defense.

Atlanta's season is over thanks to injuries, and at this point the boys are just going out and having fun.

Unfortunately the "fun" gets worse against Seattle in Week 10.

28. New York Giants (2-6)

Get this—the New York Giants are 2-6 and still have a chance to take the NFC East.

Yikes.

Time will tell if Eli Manning is over his interception problem, and the impending return of Andre Brown will help the ground attack.

Even better, New York gets Oakland in Week 10.

29. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-6) 

So much for one of the NFL's best pass defenses.

Pittsburgh allowed Tom Brady and New England to go off for over 600 yards of total offense in Week 9, and Ben Roethlisberger continues to get abused behind a shaky line.

Pittsburgh's season is over, and it's surprising that Roethlisberger's is still going.

30. Minnesota Vikings (1-7)

How can anyone dislike Adrian Peterson?

Peterson gives it his all regardless of a hopeless situation, which by definition is the 2013 edition of the Minnesota Vikings (and the two teams below).

Week 9 saw Peterson take 25 carries for 140 yards and a score. Hats off to him for even trying at this point.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-8)

Hey, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have not quit yet, but this may be more impressive than Peterson's feat as they have not quit on coach Greg Schiano.

Rookie Mike Glennon was impressive last week with 168 passing yards and two scores, as was rookie back Mike James with his 28 carries for 158 yards.

Alas, the Buccaneers remain winless with no end in sight.

 

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-8)

Jacksonville Jaguars star receiver Justin Blackmon will miss the remainder of the season after being suspended last week for yet another violation of the NFL's drug policy, per CBS Sports' John Breech.

Even on a bye week, the news is never positive for Jacksonville.

But hey, the NFL draft is just around the corner, and what could go wrong?

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