NFL Power Rankings Week 10: Predicting Post Monday Night Football Standings

We are now more than halfway through the 2014 NFL season, which means the sample size is large enough to start trusting the patterns.

However, in typical NFL fashion, the majority of the league is decidedly close with three, four or five losses. The parity is strong as ever this year, which makes distinguishing between the teams particularly difficult.

Week 9 did bring a vintage New England Patriots performance and a solid statement from the Arizona Cardinals, which shook up the power rankings. Read on to find out how much.

32. Oakland Raiders (0-8)

The Oakland Raiders may not be the actual worst team in the NFL, but these power rankings are all about results. 

Oakland is yet to win a game and will stay in the bottom spot until it does so. Still, the Raiders nearly shocked the defending champion Seattle Seahawks in Week 9 and will use the stretch run of the season to build some momentum heading into the future.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-7)

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

Remember when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were a dark-horse playoff pick before the season started?

After four consecutive losses, their record sits at an abysmal 1-7. They looked uninspired against the Cleveland Browns for much of the game and are one of the worst teams in the league. 

Josh McCown probably misses throwing the ball up to Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery on a weekly basis.

30. New York Jets (1-8)

Geno Smith may not be a good quarterback, but Michael Vick can’t move the ball in this offense either. At least Percy Harvin put up decent numbers for fantasy owners in Week 9. 

The New York Jets always rely on their defense, but that unit is dealing with injuries and has struggled to produce. Combining that with a middling offense is not a winning formula for the Jets.

29. Tennessee Titans (2-6)

The Tennessee Titans had a bye this week, but Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller described their situation perfectly:

"

The Titans have three rookies on offense worth finding out about—quarterback Zach Mettenberger, running back Bishop Sankey and left tackle Taylor Lewan. The coaches would be smart to roll with the three youngsters as much as possible throughout the remainder of the year. Lewan is getting valuable reps starting for Michael Roos at left tackle and should be a long-term starter there. Mettenberger has replaced Jake Locker, and it would be wise to pair he and Sankey often over the next eight games. 

"

Like so many other teams at this point, the Titans are looking toward the future. They may as well embrace it for the rest of 2014 and give the youngsters valuable experience.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-8)

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Like the Titans, the Jacksonville Jaguars are embracing a youth movement, although they looked like a decent team on Sunday in Cincinnati.

Blake Bortles connected with Allen Hurns for two touchdowns, Denard Robinson continued to make fantasy football owners who checked the waiver wire pleased and the offensive line held up. 

The Jaguars have eight starters on offense that are either rookies or second-year players, which means growing pains are to be expected. They are competing, though, and that is a good sign for the future.

27. Atlanta Falcons (2-6)

At least the Atlanta Falcons couldn’t lose during the bye week. 

This team has the tools on paper to be competitive but is simply not getting it done on the actual field. Blowing a 21-0 lead in London to the Detroit Lions was a bad look, and the defense has been a train wreck for much of the year.

26. Washington (3-6)

So much for the momentum that Colt McCoy helped secure in Dallas on Monday night. 

To Robert Griffin III’s credit, he played well in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings, but Washington’s porous defense couldn’t make plays when it needed to. Perhaps the best news out of Washington in Week 9 was that DeSean Jackson seemed to have a rapport with Griffin on the deep ball.

25. Carolina Panthers (3-5-1)

Quarterback Cam Newton discussed his team’s struggles after Thursday night's loss to the New Orleans Saints, according to The Associated Press (via ESPN.com): "We know we are better -- simple as that. It's nothing that someone has to say that hasn't already been said. It's a lot that hasn't been done yet." 

Newton has struggled this year, but the lack of quality options in the receiving game and a makeshift offensive line are more pressing concerns. What’s more, it’s difficult to hold the inconsistent play against Newton when he is behind that offensive line on a weekly basis.

24. Houston Texans (4-5)

Arian Foster has been excellent this season, although he got hurt on Sunday, and the front seven has been a terrifying force behind J.J. Watt. However, the lackluster secondary and middling quarterback play from Ryan Fitzpatrick has held Houston back. 

The Texans are 1-4 in their last five games. Perhaps it is time to finally make a change under center before the season slips away.

23. New York Giants (3-5)

The New York Giants play on Monday night in a game against the Indianapolis Colts. It is a chance for the Giants to prove themselves against one of best teams in the NFL on the national stage, but these power rankings envision a loss. 

The secondary simply isn’t good enough to contain Andrew Luck.

22. Chicago Bears (3-5)

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

What looked like a promising season before it actually began has turned into a nightmare for the Chicago Bears.

Jay Cutler’s inconsistency has reared its ugly head all year, the offensive playmakers aren’t dominating like they did in 2013, the injuries have piled up and the defense has struggled to establish itself as a fearsome unit. 

Things are only going to get worse before they get better too with a trip to Green Bay in Week 10 looming.

21. Minnesota Vikings (4-5)

It may be time to start paying attention to the Minnesota Vikings.

Teddy Bridgewater now has three comeback wins in the fourth quarter, and the team has a two-game winning streak going. The running back combination of Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon has played well (although McKinnon's fantasy owners are likely upset with Asiata for vulturing McKinnon’s touchdowns), and the defense has improved since Week 1. 

This is a dangerous team down the stretch.

20. St. Louis Rams (3-5)

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Give the St. Louis Rams some credit.

They knocked off the San Francisco 49ers at home when Colin Kaepernick fumbled the ball on a quarterback sneak at the goal line with seconds remaining in the game. Of course there was an element of luck involved for the Rams, but there was no luck in the eight sacks the front seven racked up. 

Many praised this team’s defensive line before the season began, and we finally saw just how dominant it can be when everything clicks.

19. San Diego Chargers (5-4)

At full strength, the San Diego Chargers are much better than the 19th-best team in the league, but it is hard to ignore what we saw on Sunday from this banged-up group. 

The Chargers were destroyed by the Miami Dolphins and now have a three-game losing streak on their hands. That early win against the Seattle Seahawks seems like a distant memory.

18. New Orleans Saints (4-4)

The New Orleans Saints are going to win the dreadful NFC South and could be a problem for some top-notch teams in the playoffs. 

Drew Brees has quarterbacked his team to two straight wins, while the defense has improved over the disaster we saw early in the season. Throw in a healthy and dangerous Mark Ingram and the always impressive Jimmy Graham, and the Saints are going to make the playoffs and scare some people once they get there.

17. Buffalo Bills (5-3)

The Buffalo Bills had a bye week in Week 9, but they are right in the thick of the AFC wild-card race with a 5-3 record. 

Kyle Orton and Sammy Watkins make a nice pair, and the defense has been impressive. That is an encouraging combination moving forward down the stretch.

16. Cleveland Browns (5-3)

The Cleveland Browns are 4-1 in their last five, Brian Hoyer is doing enough to win, the defense looked strong the past couple of games and the running game has been solid. 

Bottom line, the Browns have a chance at the playoffs and nobody is talking about them. That would change if they went into Cincinnati and came away with a road victory over a division contender.

15. San Francisco 49ers (4-4)

In terms of pure talent, the San Francisco 49ers are still one of the better teams in the NFL.

However, Kaepernick fumbled at the goal line and the 49ers lost again. With the Arizona Cardinals sitting pretty at 7-1 and the Seattle Seahawks a threat to rack up an extended win streak at any moment, things are looking precarious for the 49ers in the NFC West. 

Maybe they should have given the ball to Frank Gore at the doorstep of the end zone on Sunday.

14. Baltimore Ravens (5-4)

The Baltimore Ravens have looked like a playoff contender at certain points this year, but the Pittsburgh Steelers easily handled their rivals on Sunday. 

Joe Flacco didn’t get the protection he needs on a weekly basis, the running game struggled to get going and the defense couldn’t stop Antonio Brown or Le’Veon Bell. It is imperative for Baltimore’s fading playoff chances that it wins a couple more games sooner rather than later.

13. Kansas City Chiefs (5-3)

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

The Kansas City Chiefs made quick work out of the Jets on Sunday, and Jamaal Charles proved why he is still one of the league’s best running backs with a touchdown run. The secondary is also one of the stingiest groups in the NFL, which will help in the stretch run against quarterbacks looking to propel their teams into the playoffs. 

That dominating win over the Patriots from earlier in the year looks better each week as well.

12. Seattle Seahawks (5-3)

Yes, the Seattle Seahawks won on the scoreboard, but they did not look like the unbeatable force they were last year yet again. 

In fact, Seattle allowed the Oakland Raiders to climb within one score late and was actually outscored in the second half to the tune of 21-6. On paper, the Seahawks still have the defense to make life miserable for the opposition, but they just don’t look like the dominant Super Bowl favorites that so many expected before the year began.

11. Miami Dolphins (5-3)

The Miami Dolphins destroyed San Diego on Sunday and won their fourth game in a five-game stretch. Imagine the narrative around this team if it didn’t lose in heartbreaking fashion on the final drive to Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers earlier in the year.

Between the resurgent Ryan Tannehill, running back Lamar Miller (if he's healthy) and a stingy secondary, Miami could compete for a playoff spot this season.

10. Dallas Cowboys (6-3)

Things look a lot better for the Dallas Cowboys when a healthy Tony Romo is on the field directing the offense.

Brandon Weeden could not get the job done in Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals, and the days of being a 6-1 Super Bowl contender seem like a distant memory. Even the running game failed to get going with Weeden as a non-threat at quarterback.

There’s no way this team could finish 8-8 again, right?

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) 

ESPN Stats & Info noted that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger made some history on Sunday:

The Steelers have now won three games in a row and have completely flipped the narrative around their season. Suddenly, the playoffs seem like a realistic scenario if the defense can get back to full health. 

With Brown at wide receiver and Bell at running back, the offense should be fine. Pittsburgh is a legitimate threat to win the AFC North after being left for dead earlier in the year.

8. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2-1) 

One team that probably isn’t thrilled that the Steelers are back in the mix is the Cincinnati Bengals, but they need to worry about their own health over anything else.

A.J. Green finally returned to the field in Week 9 and formed a dynamic duo in the passing game with Mohamed Sanu. Throw in a rushing attack that should also thrive when Giovani Bernard returns alongside Jeremy Hill, and the Bengals offense will be ready to roll in the stretch run.

7. Detroit Lions (6-2) 

There is perhaps a bit of luck in that 6-2 record, but credit the Detroit Lions for winning games without Calvin Johnson.

The defense has been one of the best units in all of football this season and has helped the Lions overcome turnovers from Matt Stafford and lackluster play from the entire offense. However, if the offense starts to click when Johnson returns, this could be a very dangerous team.

6. Philadelphia Eagles (6-2) 

Adam Schefter of ESPN had some unfortunate news for Philadelphia Eagles fans on Sunday:

The Eagles are a solid 6-2, but it’s difficult to trust them moving forward without a healthy Nick Foles. For what it’s worth, Mark Sanchez looked all right trying to get the ball to his playmakers in the second half of the team’s win over the Texans on Sunday.

The question now is how much Sanchez has left in the tank after losing a former starting gig in the league.

5. Indianapolis Colts (6-3)

These power rankings are still high on the Indianapolis Colts, despite a blowout loss against the Steelers last time out.

Since these are the expected post-Monday night predictions, the Colts will move up to No. 5 after beating the New York Giants on Monday Night Football. Luck is a serious MVP candidate, T.Y. Hilton an emerging superstar, the defense has proved it is capable of carrying the load at times this year and the running game has been better than advertised. 

Don’t be surprised if you see the Colts in the Super Bowl this season.

4. Green Bay Packers (5-3)

The Green Bay Packers may only be 5-3 now, but they are going to be 8-3 rather soon.

Next up are games against the struggling Bears, the Foles-less Eagles and the Vikings. Aaron Rodgers may just be the best quarterback in all of football and will outgun teams the rest of the year with Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. 

The Packers could find themselves seizing a first-round bye before the season is done.

3. Denver Broncos (6-2)

Yes, the Denver Broncos looked completely overmatched on Sunday at New England, but the Patriots have made a number of teams look silly in that stadium.

All the goals are still in front of the Broncos, although a No. 1 seed in the AFC may be somewhat difficult after Sunday’s loss. There is no reason to panic with this veteran bunch, and Peyton Manning will have his offense ready to go come playoff time. 

An improved defense could be the difference in a charge for a second straight AFC title.

2. New England Patriots (7-2)

ESPN Stats & Info passed along some impressive numbers for Tom Brady and his Patriots in the aftermath of the blowout win over Manning and the Broncos:

The Patriots simply manhandled Denver, with Rob Gronkowski shedding defenders over the middle of the field and Shane Vereen picking his spots to make plays. Throw in the solid secondary, led by Darrelle Revis, and the attacking front seven, and it is no wonder that the Patriots are a Super Bowl contender and potential favorite at this point of the season.

1. Arizona Cardinals (7-1)

You can say the win against Dallas felt somewhat hollow because Romo did not play, but this is the NFL’s only one-loss team. 

The Arizona Cardinals are not flashy and are not going to put up a ton of points, but they continue to win behind a stout run defense that helped keep Murray in check on Sunday, as NFL on ESPN noted:

What’s more, Arizona counts wins over Dallas, Philadelphia, San Diego and San Francisco to its resume and is sitting on top of a division that features the defending champion Seahawks, 49ers and a dangerous Rams team.

As long as the Cardinals continue to win, they will find themselves at or near the top of the power rankings all year.