NFL Power Rankings Week 10: Breaking Down Each Team Headed into Home Stretch

Well, what a week it's been in the NFL. Between the Miami Dolphins saga, the medical issues for John Fox and Gary Kubiak, the Aaron Rodgers injury, not to mention some big-time performances, it's hard to imagine a more eventful time for the league in the last few years.

You can't escape it, which, for NFL fans, is a very, very good thing. We are in the throes of an absolutely fascinating season.

Even though it doesn't seem like it, we are headed into the home stretch. We're past the midway point, and every game has massive playoff implications. Most teams—save the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars and maybe the Minnesota Vikings—are still in the hunt. We could be in for an absolutely wild month-and-a-half.

Each team has established an identity, and we have a pretty good feel of each team and their strengths and weaknesses. We can, with relative certainly, break down each team headed into the home stretch. 

Read on to find out how each team is doing and what the home stretch holds for them.

1. Kansas City (9-0)

They escaped against Buffalo. Their big test comes next week against Denver. If they win, I think everyone will get on board with the Chiefs as Super Bowl favorites. If they lose, I think things will need to be re-examined.

2. Indianapolis Colts (6-2)

Remember when some were calling for the Colts to draft RG3? Yeah, they made the right decision. Andrew Luck has thrown for 1,322 yards, 12 touchdowns and only one interception in victories. T.Y. Hilton is making up for the loss of Reggie Wayne, and I think the Chiefs need to be worried about a potential playoff matchup against Indy.

3. Denver Broncos (7-1)

It's impossible to say, with any certainty, how the John Fox medical situation is going to affect the team. This is a veteran team, and Peyton Manning is essentially a coach out there. That said, it will be interesting to see how Jack Del Rio will do as interim coach. Will he change anything? Will the defense improve under his leadership? A lot of questions for a 7-1 team.

4. Seattle Seahawks (8-1)

The game against Tampa Bay was both awful and amazing. Awful, because there's no way a team this good should get that far behind a team that bad. Amazing, because they came back. That won't fly against the elite teams—in fact, Tampa Bay is one of the few teams that Seattle could've come from that far behind to win. I don't think it's troubling—any given Sunday, right?—but they need to know that has to be a one-time thing.  

5. San Francisco 49ers (6-2)

They have a hold on the Wild Card, and the playoffs are practically a lock. I'd like to see them open up the offense a bit. They are first in rushing offense, but last in passing defense. I think if they want to win a Super Bowl, they need to up their passing output. 

6. New England Patriots (7-2)

Tom Brady is a machine. There is no other explanation. What a virtuoso performance by the legend, throwing for 432 yards and four touchdowns against the Pittsburgh Steelers. I'm beating the drum for Brady as MVP. Yes, Peyton has been great. No question about it. But Brady has done just about the same with much, much less.

7. New Orleans Saints (6-2)

A bad loss against the New York Jets, and the blueprint to beat Who Dat Nation is clear—if you stop Jimmy Graham, you win. In wins, Graham has caught eight touchdowns and averages 15.8 yards per catch. In losses? He has just two touchdowns and averages 12.9 yards per catch. 

8. Chicago Bears (5-3)

It's hard to imagine a 5-3 team ranked in the top-10, but here they are. Jay Cutler should be coming back, and the offense was explosive without him. Marc Trestman has something special here on offense. The combination of Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Martellus Bennett and Matt Forte is really dangerous.

9. Detroit Lions (5-3)

This is a huge game against the Chicago Bears. A win would catapult them in the NFC North Standings, but it would also prove that they can compete with the big boys. Matthew Stafford is having a career year, throwing for 16 touchdowns and just seven picks. He's realizing his full potential, finally.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-3)

An absolutely awful loss against Miami, but they should be able to rebound against Baltimore. The biggest question is whether or not they can overcome the Geno Atkins injury. On paper, I'm not so sure they can.

11. New York Jets (5-4)

What a big-time win against the Saints. Geno Smith is absolutely horrible at quarterback, but man, can this defense play. The run defense gives up a paltry 73.8 yards per game, which is best in the league. And the pass defense gives up 251.4 yards per game. Yes, Smith needs to pick up his play. But it seems like the defense can overcome whatever mistakes the youngster makes.

12. Carolina Panthers (5-3)

I'm on the bandwagon. They are in the top-10 of every major category except passing yards. If Cam Newton could be more consistent, then the Panthers could cause some real damage. In wins, Newton has thrown for 10 touchdowns and only three picks. In losses, he's thrown for three touchdowns and four picks.

13. Green Bay Packers (5-3)

The Aaron Rodgers injury is an absolutely devastating blow, but it might not be for the reason you think. Yes, losing Rodgers is tough. He's one of the best in the business.

But Seneca Wallace cannot make up for the defense, not in the way that Rodgers did. The Packers give up 23 points per game, and they made Josh McCown look like a star. Rodgers is good enough to win in a shootout. Seneca Wallace, unfortunately for Packers fans, is not.

14. Dallas Cowboys (5-4)

Dallas should be running away with the NFC East, but they're keeping each team alive. You have to love what Tony Romo has done this season, but their pass defense is porous, and they have yet to beat a good team. Their best win? Probably over Philadelphia. That doesn't inspire too much confidence.

15. San Diego Chargers (4-4)

If the Chargers had a defense, and if the Chargers did not play in the AFC West, I firmly believe that the Chargers would be squarely in the postseason hunt. But their defense is awful, and they do play in the AFC West—hence, 4-4.

16. Tennessee Titans (4-4)

Had Jake Locker not gotten injured, I think there's a real chance that we would be talking about the Titans as a playoff team. Best laid plans, though. Still, I think Titans fans have a lot to look forward to. Locker, in my opinion, is a future star, and they're anchored by a young and talented defense.

17. Cleveland Browns (4-5)

Speaking of what-ifs, what if Brian Hoyer had stayed healthy? I'll concede that Jason Campbell has provided a modicum of stability for the Browns, but I think Hoyer has more potential as a big-play QB. This defense is legit, though, and they will be contenders if the offense can improve just a little bit.

18. Arizona Cardinals (4-4)

The Cardinals have half their losses against the Seahawks and 49ers, and they still have to face those teams once more each. I've said this before, but I think the Cards are the definition of mediocrity. Yeah, they'll win a few good games, like they did against Detroit, but they'll lose badly to St. Louis. I feel confident saying they'll finish 8-8.

19. Miami Dolphins (4-4)

It's hard to imagine that all the drama won't affect the Dolphins on the field. It's a circus right now, and there are real questions about the team's organizational structure and their leadership philosophy. It may take a long time for all the answers in the Jonathan Martin case to come out, but everything we've seen so far does not look pretty. 

20. Philadelphia Eagles (4-5)

Is Nick Foles a fluke? Or was his seven touchdown masterpiece a sign of things to come?

I'd reckon it's somewhere in the middle. There's no way he becomes Peyton Manning, but there is obviously a lot of talent here. I think the Eagles would be foolish to not start Foles the rest of the way, no matter how healthy Michael Vick gets. Foles has a better chance of being the future. Might as well start the future now.

21. Buffalo Bills (3-6)

Is C.J. Spiller back? He rushed for 116 yards and had 155 yards from scrimmage in Buffalo's almost-upset over Kansas City. Let's not forget that Kansas City has a tremendous defense.

If Spiller can keep this up, the Bills will be better. They've been waiting for him to break out, and it looks like it's finally here.

Even better, it looks like E.J. Manuel is coming back, as per the SportsCenter Twitter account:

I think the game against Kansas City could be a real boost. They didn't win, but they put together a good performance against a great team with their third-string quarterback. Not too shabby.

22. Baltimore Ravens (3-5)

It sounds simplistic, but I really think the loss of leaders like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed have hurt this team. To lose those veterans, those integral players, I don't think that's easy to overcome. There's a leadership void, and no one has filled it yet.

23. Oakland Raiders (3-5)

Poor D.J. Hayden. He was absolutely burned by Riley Cooper. Tough start for the first-round cornerback. He should still be a fine player, but that was a "Welcome to the NFL, rook" moment if there ever was one.

24. Washington Redskins (3-6)

That's a bad loss, and the Redskins seem to be floundering. No real direction on offense, and an absolutely awful defense. They're not out of the playoff picture. But either RG3 picks up his play, or they continue their downward slide to mediocrity.

25. St. Louis Rams (3-6)

Have to give credit to Kellen Clemens, who has thrown for 387 yards and a touchdown in relief of the injured Sam Bradford. Clemens hasn't really played meaningful snaps since 2009.

But I think the most important thing to take away from the Rams is the play of Zac Stacy. In the last two weeks, Stacy has rushed for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Assuming Bradford comes back healthy, the Rams should have a well-balanced offense next season.

26. Atlanta Falcons (2-6)

Hard to say where the Falcons would be if they stayed healthy. On the bright side, Matt Ryan has thrown for 15 touchdowns and a 67.8 completion percentage. Next year, with Julio Jones healthy, I imagine that the Falcons will be better.

27. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-6)

Time to switch defenses? Dick LeBeau has been a fantastic defensive coordinator, but he's presiding over a unit that gives up 131.3 rush yards per game, 31st in the league. That's not the Steelers we know. An infusion of youth, talent and perhaps a new philosophy is needed.

28. New York Giants (2-6)

Maybe the Giants will finally break out against the Oakland Raiders woeful pass defense? If you have Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz and Rueben Randle on your fantasy team, they are must-starts. Look, the Giants are not exactly out of the NFC East race here. It's an uphill climb, for sure, but if they string together a few wins, there may be, somehow, a chance to make the playoffs for Big Blue.

29. Houston Texans (2-6)

We're hoping that Gary Kubiak gets better soon. On the field, the defense is a mess, but have they found a potential quarterback in Case Keenum? He's thrown for 621 yards, four touchdowns and, most importantly, zero interceptions.

The biggest decision for the Texans is whether or not they should go forward with Keenum or draft a quarterback. It's a rich quarterback draft class. Would, say, Marcus Mariota be a better fit than Keenum?

30. Minnesota Vikings (2-7)

That's a big-time win for the Vikes, and certainly something to build on. Adrian Peterson rushed for two touchdowns, but I loved how the defense stiffened up and held the Redskins to three-straight incompletions on the 4-yard line. That's how defenses build characters, and that's how teams string together wins. This could be a momentum-builder.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-8)

The Greg Schiano watch is on, and I would really be shocked if he lasts the season. If he comes back next year, then I will be floored. It just seems like he's lost this team. The Bucs may have been better off sticking with Raheem Morris.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-8)

Depressing stat of the week, as per ESPN: The Jaguars have scored seven touchdowns this season. That's as many as Nick Foles had last week. Major changes needed here. But we all knew that.