NFL Power Rankings 2014: Predicting Post-Week 10 Standings

Entering Week 10, a new NFL team has seized the No. 1 throne in the latest power rankings.

The Seattle Seahawks lost the top spot weeks ago, but the Denver Broncos had held it firmly since. After falling to the New England Patriots, that all changes.

Do the Pats inherit the top spot, or will someone else swoop in to make a case in a league in which no team is unbeatable? Can the Arizona Cardinals ride their NFL-best 7-1 record to top billing? Are the New York Jets on the cusp of Super Bowl contention?

No, the Jets are not. After so many tough questions open to interpretation, it seemed helpful to get everyone on the same page with an easy one.

From here on out, most people will have a gripe to make, as 31 teams have room to rise up the rankings.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-8)

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The Jacksonville Jaguars have been outscored by 110 points this year, but they can at least take solace in Denard Robinson's emergence. Since replacing the disappointing Toby Gerhart as the No. 1 running back, the former college passer has scooped up 329 rushing yards in the last three games.

Jacksonville still has gaping holes to address on defense, but at least the bottom-feeding squad is showing a glimmer of promise on the offensive end.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-7)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers no longer rank last in total offense and defense. After Week 9, they're now second-last in both categories. So that's progress.

30. New York Jets (1-8)

Entering Sunday's slate with the red-hot Pittsburgh Steelers, the Jets will have gone two months since their last victory. Rex Ryan told ESPN.com's Jane McManus that he understands how tough they are to watch at the moment:

In terms of a bizarre string of events perfectly embodying New York's disastrous season, grounded tight end Anthony Fasano catching a pass tipped to him by a defender tops the list.

29. Oakland Raiders (0-8)

The bottom four teams are so atrocious that the winless Oakland Raiders beat out the others solely by not losing in embarrassing fashion. Since their Week 5 bye, the Raiders have lost by a 7.5-point margin to four teams with winning records.

28. Tennessee Titans (2-6)

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If not for a two-point victory over the Jaguars, the Tennessee Titans would be returning from their Week 9 bye looking to snap a seven-game losing streak. Things are looking bleak, but Zach Mettenberger received two weeks to prepare for his second pro start.

27. Atlanta Falcons (2-6)

Matt Ryan was vilified for a baffling interception that highlighted the Atlanta Falcons' downfall two weeks ago in London, but the poor decision was out of character for an otherwise careful passer. Football Outsiders' Scott Kacsmar pointed out just how skilled Ryan is at avoiding turnovers:

Facing Tampa Bay's second-worst defense presents a golden opportunity for him to rebound.

26. St. Louis Rams (3-5)

Before the crazy Colin Kaepernick goal-line fumble that was impossible to call, the officials missed a clear safety on a Tavon Austin punt return. Sporting News has an image of the play in question:

Had the San Francisco 49ers received those two points, they would have run the clock down to kick a game-winning field goal rather than calling a quarterback sneak. Playing the butterfly effect on football games is dangerous, but the Rams have yet to win a game by more than three points.

25. Washington (3-6)

Don't look now, but Washington currently touts a top-10 passing offense and defense. It also has faced some sketchy quarterbacks and passing defenses, but teams in the bottom 10 need to settle for small victories.

24. Minnesota Vikings (4-5)

Sure, the Minnesota Vikings have won four games, but all four victories came against the few teams just as bad as they are. Their conquered opponents are a combined 9-25, all below them in these rankings. 

23. New York Giants (3-5)

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Is it possible Monday night's thumping against the Indianapolis Colts wasn't as bad as it appeared? Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith relayed some key stats:

Unfortunately for the New York Giants, most of that damage came in garbage time, when the game was already out of hand. As Odell Beckham Jr. shined with eight catches for 156 yards, Rueben Randle and Preston Parker combined for five receptions on 17 targets.

22. Carolina Panthers (3-5-1)

Even at 3-5-1, the Carolina Panthers can't be written off in the dreadful NFC South. They've endured a brutal schedule, but the Philadelphia Eagles and the Cleveland Browns are the only two teams with winning records left on the docket.

21. Chicago Bears (3-5)

A bye was just what the doctor ordered after tensions mounted during a 1-4 stretch. Too bad the Chicago Bears and their No. 23 passing defense must return to face the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

20. Houston Texans (4-5)

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Looking more and more like this year's Alshon Jeffery, DeAndre Hopkins now has 318 receiving yards in the past three games. The sophomore's breakout gives the Houston Texans a lethal pair of wideouts in Hopkins and Andre Johnson.

Now, they just need a quarterback who can optimize their talent.

19. Cleveland Browns (5-3)

Thursday night's game represents a turning point in Cleveland's season. Should they knock off the Bengals, the Browns will vault to playoff contention in a loaded AFC North. If they lose, they will be an afterthought that benefited from weak opponents in the Titans, the Raiders and the Buccaneers, which excludes their loss to the Jaguars. The latter seems more likely.

18. Buffalo Bills (5-3)

Buffalo's No. 8 rushing defense hasn't faced a potent foe in a while, but the Bills will face a stiff test this week in Jamaal Charles. As for their own ground game, they'll need more than the 2.1 yards per carry amassed during their first game without C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson.

17. San Francisco 49ers (4-4)

So much had to go wrong to lose to the Rams, but the 49ers' inability to break away from what should have been a decisively inferior opponent is troubling for San Francisco. A once-steady ground game has gone limp, as Frank Gore submitted 107 combined rushing yards in the past three contests.

16. San Diego Chargers (5-4)

What just happened? Losing to the Kansas Chiefs and the Broncos is one thing, but the San Diego Chargers got annihilated by the Miami Dolphins in a 37-0 shutout. Philip Rivers' MVP chances took a major hit with a 12-completion, 138-yard, three-interception performance.

15. New Orleans Saints (4-4)

Two impressive victories later, and the New Orleans Saints are steering their path to an NFC South title, leading the bleak field at 4-4. Mark Ingram made a major impact during those two wins, compiling 272 rushing yards and three scores on 54 carries.

14. Baltimore Ravens (5-4)

The Baltimore Ravens boast a plus-66 point differential, higher than any NFC squad. They're currently last in the AFC North at 5-4. All other last-place teams have collectively averaged 1.7 wins. 

13. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2-1)

Meanwhile, the Bengals lead the division with the grouping's worst point differential (+7). That mark, however, was deflated due to two convincing losses against elite adversaries in the Colts and the Patriots.

Mohamed Sanu and Jeremy Hill have both played up to heightened roles, but getting A.J. Green and Giovani Bernard healthy together gives Andy Dalton an incredible batch of skilled players.

12. Dallas Cowboys (6-3)

Before fearing a cataclysmic collapse without Tony Romo, the Dallas Cowboys get the Jaguars this Sunday, followed by a Week 11 bye. The team's biggest concern should lie in getting its star quarterback healthy in time for two pivotal NFC East clashes with the Eagles during Weeks 13 and 15.

11. Miami Dolphins (5-3)

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Not a fan of cheap victories, the Dolphins have collected all five of their wins by at least 13 points. Ryan Tannehill continues to utilize his athleticism outside the pocket, ranging from 47-49 rushing yards in each of his past four games. It's time to take Miami seriously.

10. Green Bay Packers (5-3)

Opponents are gashing Green Bay on the ground, compiling a league-high 153.5 rushing yards per game. Do the Bears have anyone good at running back?

9. Seattle Seahawks (5-3)

It's tough for a team to attain a less inspiring victory then the Seahawks' 30-24 win over the winless Raiders. The passing offense remains a major concern after Russell Wilson completed fewer than half of his attempts for 179 passing yards.

8. Kansas City Chiefs (5-3)

This one could draw some ire, but the Chiefs carry the league's fourth-best point differential and a premier passing defense. They also boast the league's top pass-rusher in Justin Houston, who has generated an NFL-best 12 sacks.

Following an 0-2 start, the Chiefs now look like ferocious playoff contenders who could make more noise than last year.

7. Detroit Lions (6-2)

Not having the opportunity to lose is sometimes the best way to preserve one's reputation in the always-changing NFL landscape. They didn't exactly impress in London two weeks ago, but the Detroit Lions will receive some much-needed reinforcement this weekend. Multimedia journalist Tori Petry reported Calvin Johnson's declaration to suit up for Week 10:

In three games without his star wide receiver, Matthew Stafford completed 58.3 percent of his passes while averaging 6.74 yards per attempt. It's safe to say he'll welcome Megatron back with open arms.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)

Overreacting to the most recent results? Perhaps, but the Steelers have now spanked two legit teams that rank second and third in point differential despite those defeats.

Scoring 94 points against two solid defenses is too incredible to ignore, even if it is unsustainable.

5. Indianapolis Colts (6-3)

In his third season, Andrew Luck is chasing a prestigious NFL record, as illuminated by NFL on ESPN:

Luck has produced over 300 passing yards in eight of Indianapolis' nine games this season, realizing the sky-high upside scouts forecasted upon his arrival. Unless everyone else follows Pittsburgh's path and scores 51 points, the Colts can ride their sensational passing game to a deep playoff run.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (6-2)

Although Mark Sanchez looked solid replacing the injured Nick Foles last Sunday, here's a friendly reminder from ESPN Stats & Info:

Can Chip Kelly work wonders with the formerly disgraced quarterback? Foles wasn't exactly Mr. Efficiency with a 59.9 completion percentage, so the Eagles can keep winning if their rushing attack returns to life.

3. Arizona Cardinals (7-1)

The Cardinals have yet to lose with Carson Palmer under center, scoring 24.8 points per game in those bouts. At the moment, they're the class of a conference in which no team has distinguished itself as the team to beat.

2. Denver Broncos (6-2)

Relax, everyone. The Broncos have now lost to the Seattle Seahawks in overtime in Seattle and to a Patriots squad firing on all cylinders. Despite the 43-21 loss, Denver outgained New England by 74 total yards. 

1. New England Patriots (7-2)

They were limping on their last leg. The wheels had finally fallen off after over a decade of dominance. A month into the season, the Patriots no longer looked like formidable Super Bowl contenders but more like an aging club with underwhelming talent.

Whoops. Four dominating wins—and a close call over the Jets—later, and the Pats are an AFC-best 7-2 with an NFL-high plus-83 point differential. Tom Brady has amassed 18 touchdowns and one interception over a stretch that has New England back atop the NFL hierarchy. For now.