NFL Power Rankings: Week 10 Expert Consensus from Around the Web

The NFL prides itself on its parity for a reason, which makes separating the teams in a power rankings format particularly difficult.

That is why you find different rankings across the web depending on your source of information. A certain 5-3 team may look completely different to one commentator than it does for another.

It is best to look across a few different sources for your power rankings needs. That will give you a cross section of different ratings, which will ideally provide the best idea about where the strongest teams in the league are in relation to each other.

With that in mind, here is a look at some of the expert power rankings from across the Internet.

Rank	Matt Miller	Justin Rogers	USA Today
1	New England Patriots	Arizona Cardinals	Arizona Cardinals
2	Arizona Cardinals	New England Patriots	New England Patriots
3	Denver Broncos	Denver Broncos	Denver Broncos
4	Green Bay Packers	Philadelphia Eagles	Philadelphia Eagles
5	Detroit Lions	Detroit Lions	Indianapolis Colts
6	Indianapolis Colts	Indianapolis Colts	Dallas Cowboys
7	Dallas Cowboys	Kansas City Chiefs	Green Bay Packers
8	Philadelphia Eagles	Cincinnati Bengals	Seattle Seahawks
9	Cincinnati Bengals	Green Bay Packers	Detroit Lions
10	Pittsburgh Steelers	Dallas Cowboys	Cincinnati Bengals
11	Kansas City Chiefs	Seattle Seahawks	Pittsburgh Steelers
12	Seattle Seahawks	Pittsburgh Steelers	Miami Dolphins
13	Baltimore Ravens	Miami Dolphins	Baltimore Ravens
14	New Orleans Saints	Baltimore Ravens	Kansas City Chiefs
15	Miami Dolphins	Buffalo Bills	San Diego Chargers
16	Buffalo Bills	San Francisco 49ers	San Francisco 49ers
17	San Diego Chargers	San Diego Chargers	New Orleans Saints
18	Cleveland Browns	Cleveland Browns	Buffalo Bills
19	New York Giants	New Orleans Saints	Houston Texans
20	San Francisco 49ers	Houston Texans	Cleveland Browns
21	Houston Texans	Carolina Panthers	St. Louis Rams
22	Carolina Panthers	Minnesota Vikings	Minnesota Vikings
23	St. Louis Rams	St. Louis Rams	Carolina Panthers
24	Minnesota Vikings	New York Giants	New York Giants
25	Chicago Bears	Chicago Bears	Chicago Bears
26	Atlanta Falcons	Washington	Atlanta Falcons
27	Washington	Atlanta Falcons	Washington
28	Oakland Raiders	Tennessee Titans	Tennessee Titans
29	Jacksonville Jaguars	Jacksonville Jaguars	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
30	New York Jets	New York Jets	New York Jets
31	Tennessee Titans	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Jacksonville Jaguars
32	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Oakland Raiders	Oakland Raiders

* Matt Miller's power rankings can be found here.

* Justin Rogers' power rankings can be found here.

* USA Today's power rankings can be found here.

Scott Polacek’s Power Rankings

32. Oakland Raiders (0-8)

The Oakland Raiders deserve some credit for keeping their game close against the Seattle Seahawks, but you have to win a game to move out of the last spot in these rankings. 

This season is all about getting Derek Carr much-needed experience under center because the future will be better in Oakland. Winning a couple of games at this point would be a success for 2014.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-7)

This is not what Lovie Smith signed up for at the beginning of the season. 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have lost four games in a row and are nowhere near the playoff contender many thought we would see when they brought in Smith and Josh McCown. Instead, Tampa Bay is one of the doormats of the league, and the Week 9 loss to the Cleveland Browns did nothing to change that.

30. New York Jets (1-8)

Well, at least Percy Harvin looked explosive in the New York Jets’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. 

While the lackluster play of Geno Smith and Michael Vick has drawn the most headlines, the New York defense has been anything but spectacular. Throw in a struggling offensive line and a lack of playmakers outside of Harvin, and it is no wonder that the Jets have disappointed yet again in 2014.

29. Tennessee Titans (2-6)

Remember when the Tennessee Titans beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1 and looked like a sneaky playoff contender? 

All they have done since is lose six of seven and fallen well out of postseason contention. They had a bye in Week 9, but there is little reason to expect improved play down the stretch of the season unless Zach Mettenberger catches on really quickly.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-8)

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Much like the Raiders should take solace in a close loss to the Seahawks, the Jacksonville Jaguars should be encouraged by their effort on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Blake Bortles is picking up important experience this season, and he should gradually improve along with his young wide receiver corps and offensive line. Good things will happen in Jacksonville after this talented but inexperienced group grows up together. 

The fans just need some patience.

27. Atlanta Falcons (2-6)

Things were supposed to be different for the Atlanta Falcons in 2014 with a healthy Julio Jones joining Matt Ryan and Roddy White. 

While the offense has been solid for much of the season, this team cannot win away from home and struggles to pick up any critical stops on the defensive end. The Falcons may have some solid fantasy football options, but they are not a good team on the actual field.

26. Washington (3-6)

By the time you finish reading through these power rankings, Washington will probably have another new quarterback.

Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy have all had their shots this season, and Griffin looked decent upon his return against the Minnesota Vikings. However, he didn’t do enough to win, and Washington appears destined for another losing season. 

At least it will have that victory over the Dallas Cowboys to fall back on after it is eliminated from playoff contention.

25. Carolina Panthers (3-5-1)

Cam Newton deserves a fair share of the blame in Carolina for the Panthers' 3-5-1 record, but he just doesn’t have much to work with this season.

The running game has been hampered by injuries all year, the wide receivers are nothing to write home about and the offensive line has been a patchwork group that struggles to open up holes for the backs or keep Newton clear from pressure.

The disarray in the NFC South is the only reason the Panthers are still alive in the playoff hunt.

24. Houston Texans (4-5)

J.J. Watt and Arian Foster have been impressive on an individual level, but the Houston Texans just aren’t playing consistent enough football in 2014.

A lot of that falls on the shoulders of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Perhaps that will change in the near future if coach Bill O’Brien’s comments, via Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle, are any indication:

"

I think we have to evaluate everything. I don’t think you can always – and I’ve said this along – I don’t think you can look at one position and put all the blame on that. 

I think we have to look at, as far as what we’re doing offensively, we have to look at … who’s playing what, what positions they’re playing, how we’re getting the ball, how we’re playing at every position, including quarterback — we have to look at all of that.

"

23. New York Giants (3-5)

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

The New York Giants never had a chance on Monday night against the Indianapolis Colts, and it highlighted just how far behind the NFL's elite teams Eli Manning and company truly are in 2014. 

That marked the third consecutive loss for the Giants, and now they have to face the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. Things are not going to get much better in the Big Apple this year.

22. Chicago Bears (3-5)

The Chicago Bears and Falcons are challenging each other for the title of team with the most fantasy football stars that cannot convert that to actual success on the field, and the Bears may just be winning.

They were on a bye in Week 9, but the recent blowout loss against the New England Patriots felt like a funeral procession for Chicago’s previously lofty 2014 hopes.

The defense was eviscerated by Tom Brady, the offense looked lost when it mattered and the outcome was never in doubt. The NFC North is a two-team race, and the Bears are not part of it.

21. Minnesota Vikings (4-5)

The Minnesota Vikings may not rank among the best teams in the NFL, but they deserve some credit for their 4-5 record.

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and running backs Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon led the offense to an impressive fourth-quarter comeback win against Washington, and the defense has been solid for much of the year. 

The Vikings won’t be catching the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions anytime soon, but they are not an easy out this season.

20. St. Louis Rams (3-5)

Ben Margot/Associated Press

You can call the St. Louis Rams lucky all you want for their Week 9 win against the San Francisco 49ers, but they did have the lead late in the game when Colin Kaepernick fumbled. That should count for something.

A resurgent Robert Quinn has breathed life into a defensive line that completely dominated San Francisco up front on Sunday, which make the Rams much more dangerous than they were when the front seven was struggling earlier. 

The Rams may not win a lot of games the rest of the season, but they will challenge every opponent that lines up across the field.

19. San Diego Chargers (5-4)

So much for that first-round playoff bye possibility.

The San Diego Chargers have fallen off the rails a bit with three straight losses, largely because of injuries. Still, poor health is not the only thing to blame when you lose 37-0 to the Miami Dolphins.

San Diego is now in danger of not making the playoffs after such a promising 5-1 start.

18. New Orleans Saints (4-4)

Mike McCarn/Associated Press

The New Orleans Saints are back, and they will force their way into the playoff picture in a weak NFC South. 

Drew Brees and company looked the part on Thursday night in a blowout win over the Carolina Panthers, and now they have to carry that momentum forward. A healthy Mark Ingram gives New Orleans an entirely different look on offense, and it should be easier to keep the ball on the ground and the porous defense off the field with a more consistent running game.

17. Buffalo Bills (5-3)

Overlook the Buffalo Bills at your own risk in the AFC East. 

The defense is formidable, the offense looks better with Kyle Orton under center and Sammy Watkins could be a star in the making. Even if Buffalo ultimately misses out on the playoffs, it should make life particularly difficult for the contenders that it faces down the stretch.

16. Cleveland Browns (5-3)

The Cleveland Browns are rolling, and there is absolutely no realistic and logical discussion about Johnny Manziel taking over at quarterback. 

Brian Hoyer has done enough to win five of the eight times he took the field this year, and the defense is starting to play better than it did early. Throw in a consistent running game with multiple weapons, and the Browns will make some noise in the AFC North in November.

15. San Francisco 49ers (4-4) 

SI NFL put it perfectly when discussing the San Francisco 49ers’ finish against the St. Louis Rams in Week 9:

"

Wow. Fumble 49ers, Rams win. What a complete debaclefest for San Francisco's coaching staff.

— SI NFL (@si_nfl) November 3, 2014"

Even with a disappointing record and that heartbreaking loss, the 49ers still have the talent to make a late-season charge. Kaepernick and Frank Gore need to re-establish the running game as the ultimate force that drives the offense, and the defense needs to play better when everyone returns. 

That is a lot of pieces that need to fall into place, but it’s not out of the realm of possibilities.

14. Baltimore Ravens (5-4) 

Two straight losses against division foes is not the right formula for the Baltimore Ravens heading into November, and the lack of consistency could ultimately prove costly for Joe Flacco and company down the stretch.

The offensive line and secondary both struggled during the Week 9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and that is indicative of larger problems within both units. If the pass defense and blocking isn’t more consistent in the season’s final two months, Baltimore could be in trouble.

13. Kansas City Chiefs (5-3)

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

The Kansas City Chiefs don’t receive a lot of recognition because Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers are in their division, but they are on an absolute roll right now.

Four of their five wins are by double digits—including the blowout victory against the New England Patriots—and Jamaal Charles is one of the best running backs in the league. If Kansas City gets consistency in the passing game and a formidable effort from its defense moving forward, it can be a playoff team once again.

12. Seattle Seahawks (5-3)

The Seattle Seahawks looked anything but dominant on Sunday against the Raiders and barely hung on for the victory. One crazy bounce on an onside kick could have completely changed the outcome.

Matt Miller of Bleacher Report noted just how up-and-down this team has been this year, which makes it difficult to peg them as a contender or pretender:

"

While everyone else was watching New England vs. Denver and San Francisco vs. St. Louis, the Seahawks nearly lost to the Oakland Raiders. The winless Oakland Raiders. While I'm a frequent subscriber to the "a win is a win" theory, this one was ugly. The Seahawks were outscored, 21-6, in the second half and were two Derek Carr interceptions away from losing. 

It's tough to get a read on Seattle right now, but stringing together two straight wins and entering the second half of the season at 5-3 does put it in good shape for a wild-card berth if it can keep this up.

"

11. Miami Dolphins (5-3)

Were it not for a heartbreaking loss to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in the final seconds of Week 6, the Miami Dolphins would be right there with the New England Patriots at the top of the AFC East (in the loss column). 

The Dolphins are on fire right now and have three straight wins under their belt since that Green Bay loss. They completely destroyed a potential playoff contender in the Chargers on Sunday and have as much momentum as almost any other team in the league.

10. Dallas Cowboys (6-3)

It is far too early to panic when it comes to the Dallas Cowboys, but two straight losses in a difficult NFC East race against the Philadelphia Eagles puts the team in a difficult position.

What’s more, the NFC wild-card race will likely feature at least one team from the NFC West and perhaps another team in the NFC North. It is not a foregone conclusion that the Cowboys will make the playoffs this year, especially if DeMarco Murray starts to slow down from wear and tear and Tony Romo is less than 100 percent. 

The upcoming game against the Jacksonville Jaguars feels rather important.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a statement on Sunday night in front of a national audience against the Baltimore Ravens and are officially in the thick of the AFC North race.

The trio of Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown is one of the most lethal offensive attacks in football, and the defense has played well enough to win even with a rash of injuries. 

This team will be even better when the defense is fully healthy again.

8. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2-1)

The Cincinnati Bengals have won two important games in a row after a three-game blip that saw two losses and a tie to the Panthers.

A.J. Green and Mohamed Sanu are a formidable one-two punch in the passing game, the running attack is hitting on all cylinders, even without a fully healthy Giovani Bernard, and the defense has been solid the past few weeks.

The Bengals will be in the playoff race the rest of the season.

7. Detroit Lions (6-2)

NFL fans in London may have been confused when the Detroit Lions won on a game-winning field goal against the Falcons in Week 8 after a delay of game call rescued the kicking game from a miss on the first try, but the Lions are still finding a way to win.

When a healthy Calvin Johnson rejoins that offense, it will look much better. Throw that on top of one of the stingiest defensive groups in the NFL, and the Lions will be a much more difficult out for the Packers than many think.

6. Philadelphia Eagles (6-2)

Nick Foles may be out with injury, but the Philadelphia Eagles have enough weapons at the offensive playmaker spots to overcome the setback in the short-term.

Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy, Jordan Matthews, Riley Cooper, Zach Ertz and Darren Sproles could beat a lot of teams on their own, and the Eagles will likely try to get their playmakers the ball in space without Foles.

However, if Philadelphia is going to stay this high in the power rankings, the defense will need to step up in Foles’ absence.

5. Indianapolis Colts (6-3) 

The Indianapolis Colts crushed the Giants on Monday night, and ESPN Stats & Info noted that Andrew Luck made some history in the process:

Luck has spearheaded one of the most impressive offenses in the league, one which could be a problem for mainstays like the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots when the playoffs roll around. 

The defense is also solid enough in Indianapolis to win plenty of games, especially since Luck and the offense will put up impressive point totals all year.

4. Green Bay Packers (5-3)

The Green Bay Packers enjoyed a bye in Week 9, but the offense is likely licking its chops in anticipation of a matchup with the archrival Bears in Week 10.

Rodgers, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb make up a potent passing attack, and they should put up enough points to win enough games down the stretch to challenge for a first-round bye in the playoffs. 

Still, the defense has to play better, especially against the run, if the Packers want to take home a Super Bowl title at end of the year.

3. Denver Broncos (6-2)

Save your hot takes about the Denver Broncos being done in terms of Super Bowl contention or Peyton Manning failing to come through in the clutch against the New England Patriots.

This team is still loaded with offensive talent, and Manning will find a way to utilize Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas, Wes Welker and Emmanuel Sanders down the stretch. The defense is better than it was a year ago, which will help come playoff time. 

It was one loss on the road against one of the league’s best teams. Denver is still very much alive in the race for the Super Bowl.

2. New England Patriots (7-2) 

SI NFL noted that the New England Patriots better enjoy their Week 9 win against the Broncos now because things are about to get tough:

"

As many have noted, this is just beginning of brutal stretch for #Patriots: at Colts, Lions, at Packers, at Chargers, Dolphins

— SI NFL (@si_nfl) November 3, 2014"

The blowout loss to the Chiefs from earlier in the season seems like a wake-up call in hindsight, and Brady and company are absolutely rolling on both sides of the ball. Rob Gronkowski is a brutal force at tight end, and Brady is finding him with deadly accuracy when he gets time in the pocket. 

If New England gets home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, it could be a problem for the rest of the AFC.

1. Arizona Cardinals (7-1)

The Arizona Cardinals have the best record in the NFL, and they are on top of the power rankings after an impressive win at Dallas in Week 9.

The Cardinals are yet to lose with Carson Palmer under center, and the defense has been excellent against the run. They will be underestimated all year until they prove their worth in the playoffs, but no team in the NFL has been as consistent this season. 

Arizona has a legitimate opportunity to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC this season and could have an inside track at a Super Bowl appearance in its own stadium.

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