NFL Power Rankings: Sliding Teams That Will Save Their 2014 Season in Week 10

Time is running out for NFL teams to salvage a season that is slipping away. With everyone having played at least eight games, there's plenty of evidence to back up what one thinks of a team. 

However, given the week-to-week nature of the NFL, there are enough games left for teams to build a playoff resume. The sand is running out in the hourglass, so anyone with legitimate playoff aspirations can't wait too long before making a move. 

As Week 10 gets set to kick off on Thursday night with a huge AFC North showdown between Cleveland and Cincinnati, here's how each team stacks up in the power rankings, with a closer look at teams poised to make a big statement this weekend in italics. 

32. Oakland Raiders (0-8)

The Raiders may not be the worst team in the NFL, but as the only winless team they belong at the bottom of this list. At least they are still playing hard and have lost half their games by seven points or less. One of these days the ball will bounce their way, just not this week against Denver. 

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-8)

No one expected greatness from Jacksonville in 2014, so this isn't a surprise. There was hope for progress in certain areas, though having the worst point differential (minus-110) and most points allowed (251) isn't a positive sign for a head coach whose specialty is defense. 

30. New York Jets (1-8)

Orlin Wagner/Associated Press

There are stats that can be misleading when you actually watch a team play. For New York, that's not the case. The Jets rank third in rushing yards, seventh in rushing yards allowed and 12th in passing yards allowed. Those would seem to signal a quality team, one that can at least flirt with .500, except they rank last in passing yards per game, yards per attempt and next to last in touchdown passes. 

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-7)

Looking back now, Tampa Bay's win over Pittsburgh in Week 4 looks even more baffling. The Buccaneers keep flirting with victory, losing three of their last four games by six points or less. Until they get a real quarterback on offense, the tough luck will continue. 

28. Tennessee Titans (2-6)

In a lost season for the Titans, there have been positive things to take away from a 2-6 start. Bishop Sankey and Shonn Greene have been a solid running back tandem; Delanie Walker is averaging 13.6 yards per reception with four touchdowns; Justin Hunter is averaging 17.6 yards per reception. 

The problem is that Ken Whisenhunt went all-in on Jake Locker, who has predictably struggled when healthy enough to play, this season. Charlie Whitehurst has been a career backup for a reason. That's going to be the area of need to address this offseason. 

27. Washington (3-6)

The bye couldn't come at a better time for Washington. This team had to endure more reports, via ESPN.com, of a locker room divide between Robert Griffin III and his teammates. Just being able to step out of the spotlight for a week can be therapeutic for everyone. 

26. Atlanta Falcons (2-6)

The bad news is Atlanta has gone 0-4 on the road this season and allowed 31 points per game in those losses. The good news is the Falcons travel to Tampa Bay in Week 10. The Bucs are 0-4 at home this season, so something has to give. 

25. St. Louis Rams (3-5)

Ben Margot/Associated Press

There is no win in the NFL that teams shouldn't celebrate, but the Rams can't feel great about their win over San Francisco. Their defense deserved to win that game with eight sacks, yet they were still a bad snap by the 49ers away from losing that game because Austin Davis was bad. 

This week will be the real test because the Rams are traveling to Arizona. 

24. Minnesota Vikings (4-5)

Don't be fooled by Minnesota's 4-5 record. This team is a mess but has been able to hide it with wins over teams like Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Washington. Give the Vikings credit for winning the games, but don't expect them to keep playing around .500 the rest of this season. 

23. Houston Texans (4-5)

It would be tempting to say the Texans will salvage their season after making a change at quarterback with Ryan Mallett taking over. He's never started a game in the NFL before but is working with an excellent quarterback coach in Bill O'Brien. 

However, since the Texans are on a bye this week, we have to wait and see what Mallett has to offer this team. 

22. Chicago Bears (3-5)

Steven Senne/Associated Press

Things are getting worse for the Bears, even when they don't play. After having a bye last week, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported head coach Marc Trestman could be on the hot seat ,depending on what happens the rest of this season:

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The Bears are in a state of crisis, according to several sources with knowledge of the locker room, with a leadership void further fueling their downward spiral. Players are tuning coach Marc Trestman out, according to numerous sources, there has been increased in-fighting in recent weeks and the team's dedication has been called in to question at times by players and coaches alike, sources said.

"

Now, as a reward or punishment, depending on your perspective, the Bears travel to Green Bay for a Sunday night game in Week 10. Jay Cutler is 1-10 in his career against the Packers. Good luck. 

21. Carolina Panthers (3-5-1)

Here's how bad the NFC South is: Carolina has lost three straight games, sits two games under .500 and is only one game behind New Orleans in the division. The Falcons and Buccaneers also have longer losing streaks. 

No one expected another 12-4 season after all the roster turnover, but this year is turning into a disaster quickly. The Panthers are still alive and can make things interesting with a Week 10 game against a Philadelphia team starting Mark Sanchez at quarterback. 

20. New York Giants (3-5) 

Remember when the Giants won three straight games and had figured this new offensive system out? Nevermind the fact the wins came against Houston, Washington and Atlanta.

This murderers' row schedule that's already put New York against Philadelphia, Dallas and Indianapolis continues for three more weeks with games against Seattle, San Francisco and Dallas before letting up in Week 13 against Jacksonville. 

19. Buffalo Bills (5-3)

Is there a quieter 5-3 team in the NFL than the Bills? They aren't sexy like New England, nor do they have a huge statement win like Miami's 37-0 beatdown of San Diego, but they keep taking care of business and have found more consistency on offense with Kyle Orton at quarterback. 

This week's showdown with Kansas City is critical for playoff positioning, though since the Bills aren't italicized you can guess which way I believe things are going. 

18. Cleveland Browns (5-3)

David Richard/Associated Press

While others might want to buy in, it's hard to believe Cleveland's hype. Despite a 5-3 start, the Browns seem like a house of cards waiting to topple over at any moment. It happened three weeks ago against Jacksonville, and their last two wins have come against Oakland and Tampa Bay. 

Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer told Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan, via CBS Cleveland, that they know what's on the line against Cincinnati:

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We know what’s at stake. We know what’s going on, and we’re not taking this lightly at all. I think not much more needs to be said than division opponent, Cincinnati, on the road, Thursday Night Football. That’s what you come here to play in these type of games for.

...

Every year I was in New England, every game was meaningful all the way through December, January and February so it’s nothing that’s new to me.

"

There is a slight difference this time for Hoyer. He's being asked to lead a team instead of watching Tom Brady do all the work. The veteran signal-caller has been erratic in the last three weeks, completing 41.7 percent of his passes against Jacksonville and throwing two picks against Tampa Bay. 

While the Bengals are flawed in their own right, they have more firepower than anyone Cleveland has played recently. It's a nice story the Browns have created thus far, though not one likely to continue. 

17. Miami Dolphins (5-3)

Things are going great in Miami with three straight wins and better quarterback play from Ryan Tannehill. While they aren't sliding, therefore ineligible to be saved in Week 10, their forward momentum does make them look like a sexy upset pick against a 6-2 Detroit team. 

16. San Diego Chargers (5-4)

The Chargers definitely would have made my list of teams to save their season in Week 10 if not for the fact they are on a bye.

Their roster is still loaded with talent and going through a funk, which happens when playing good teams like Kansas City, Denver and Miami, but with consecutive games against Oakland and St Louis, they will get back on track after the bye. 

15. Baltimore Ravens (5-4)

Joe Sargent/Getty Images

In contrast to the previous discussion about the NFC South, here's how good the AFC North is right now. The Ravens are 5-4 and have a better point differential (plus-66) than six of the eight division leaders, yet they are last in the division. 

Two consecutive losses against division opponents Cincinnati and Pittsburgh have opened up spots on the Ravens bandwagon. This team has a toughness and physical style that few teams can match, which is best exemplified from their star right tackle, Ricky Wagner. 

According to Pro Football Focus, Wagner hasn't allowed an opponent to touch Joe Flacco since Week 1 against the Bengals:

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#Ravens Ricky Wagner, our midseason All Pro RT, hasn't allowed a sack or hit on Joe Flacco since Week 1 https://t.co/JVHoZKOSXY

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) November 6, 2014"

C.J. Mosley looks like the Defensive Rookie of the Year with 85 tackles and two interceptions. The Ravens have foundation pieces at key spots all over the field but haven't found the consistency to put things together. They will get their swagger back against a bad Tennessee team before heading into the bye. 

14. San Francisco 49ers (4-4)

Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, the 49ers still feel like a team capable of rattling off five straight wins or six in seven weeks to make the playoffs and be one of the most dangerous teams in the NFL. The discouraging thing is how they are losing games against inferior teams. 

For instance, against the Rams last week, their defense was terrific, allowing only 193 total yards. St. Louis' last two scoring drives came deep in 49ers' territory thanks to a turnover by Colin Kaepernick and a shanked punt by Andy Lee. 

The offense was supposed to take a step forward this year while the defense waited for Aldon Smith, NaVorro Bowman and Glenn Dorsey to return. Instead, the defense remains among the best in the league while the offense has lost its identity. 

So why are the 49ers going to straighten things out on the road against a New Orleans team that doesn't lose on its home turf? Simply put, this is a game where their offense can and should run all over the place. 

Kapernick, as noted by Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com, is capable of great things but needs to find consistency from drive to drive and week to week:

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I would not say he's regressed, per se, but he has not progressed as much as many observers thought he would by now, or as much as the 49ers hoped he would, so to speak. He put on a show on "Monday Night Football" at St. Louis last month, but then seemed out of it against the same team despite the Niners coming out of their bye week. 

"

Yet those struggles last week came against a team that, while it hasn't shown most of this season, has a great defensive line. The Saints don't have that kind of talent on the defensive line.

The Saints have also been eaten alive through the air this season, allowing 268.4 passing yards and 7.9 yards per attempt. We know the 49ers have weapons in the passing game like Anquan Boldin, Stevie Johnson, Brandon Lloyd and Michael Crabtree. 

This is the last week where the 49ers deserve some semblance of faith that their tremendous talent on paper can turn into results on the field. A loss in this spot effectively ends their playoff hopes since the NFC is so deep. 

13. Kansas City Chiefs (5-3)

Does anyone have an idea how good or bad the Chiefs are? That win over New England is impressive now even though it's clear the Patriots were still adjusting to things. The win over San Diego three weeks ago doesn't look as impressive now, while their last two victories have come against the Rams and Jets. 

Let's wait until after Week 13 before assessing this Chiefs team. They have games against Buffalo, Seattle and Denver in that span, with Oakland sprinkled in just for fun. 

12. Philadelphia Eagles (6-2)

Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images

The Eagles are like the Chiefs in that they keep winning despite everything working against them. The defense isn't good. Nick Foles was mediocre before getting hurt. Now, Mark Sanchez is being asked to lead a team for the first time in two years. 

While Sanchez certainly has more weapons in Philadelphia than he ever had in New York, no one can say what the Eagles will get from him. They have another winnable game on Monday night against Carolina, so maybe it doesn't matter how bad the defense looks. 

11. New Orleans Saints (4-4)

Even though the Saints have proven to be a great home team throughout Sean Payton's tenure, this year hasn't shown much. Their win over Green Bay is solid, though the Packers have had their issues on the road against teams not from Chicago. They got a fluke win over Miami and scored 23 total points against Seattle and Detroit. 

New Orleans' other home wins have come against Minnesota and Tampa Bay. Let's see how Drew Brees and Co. look against a quality defense from San Francisco before jumping back on the bandwagon. 

10. Seattle Seahawks (5-3)

It would be tempting to say the Seahawks will get their groove back this week against a bad Giants team, but we just saw them struggle to beat Oakland at home. Russell Wilson was a mess against the Raiders defense, completing 48.6 percent of his passes for 179 yards. 

There's still plenty of talent in Seattle to think it will make the playoffs. It would just be nice to see Pete Carroll's team look like the defending Super Bowl champions again. 

9. Green Bay Packers (5-3)

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

The game at New Orleans before the bye was a disaster for the Packers. Aaron Rodgers was hobbled, at least to some extent, with a hamstring issue. Everything broke down in the second half and they allowed 28 points, derailing their four-game winning streak in grand fashion. 

What better way for the Packers to get back on track than a prime-time matchup with their biggest rivals from Chicago?

Rodgers is 12-1 against the Bears in his career and was masterful in Week 4. John Mullin of Comcast SportsNet Chicago made an excellent observation after that game about the Bears' defensive strategy:

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Rodgers was 13 for 18 in the first half, two touchdowns, 150.1 rating, zero sacks or hits on him.

But rather than alter course in the second half, perhaps sell out with more blitzing and trying man-to-man — possibly Kyle Fuller on Jordy Nelson, Jennings on Randall Cobb — against a quarterback who was destroying them anyway, the Bears stayed their course.

"

The problem for Chicago is it just doesn't have enough defensive talent to keep Rodgers at bay, regardless of how the team attacks him. The Packers will get back on track and effectively end whatever playoff hopes the Bears still have. 

8. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2-1)

Following a three-week lull that included blowout losses against New England and Indianapolis, with a tie against Carolina sandwiched in, the Bengals have gotten back on track. They squeaked out a tough win against a quality Baltimore team and had an easier time against Jacksonville. 

More importantly, A.J. Green returned against the Jaguars and will work his way back to elite status with time. The Bengals shouldn't have many problems against Cleveland on Thursday night, so the surge will continue. 

7. Dallas Cowboys (6-3)

Even though the Cowboys have dropped thanks to two straight losses and an injury to Tony Romo, it's not time to say they are in a spot where their season needs saving. If they lose to Jacksonville in Week 10, then there are problems to talk about. 

As long as Romo is able to return—whether it's this week or after the bye—and stay healthy, this is still a playoff team with two games left against Philadelphia. 

6. Indianapolis Colts (6-3)

They are ranked sixth in the power rankings, but the Colts are in a tenuous spot. We have seen enough to know that the defense isn't very good. Andrew Luck is making a case for MVP with 3,085 yards and 26 touchdown passes. 

But look at the teams Indianapolis has beaten. The Bengals are a quality team but played that game without Green. The Colts looked bad against Baltimore, yet found a way to win. Their other wins are against the Jaguars, Titans, Texans and Giants. 

They have lost to the three best teams they've played (Denver, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh) and have a prime-time game against New England next week. You want to be elite? Beat an elite team. 

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)

The Steelers are a lot like the Colts, so it's only fitting they occupy consecutive spots on the power rankings. By virtue of a head-to-head win, the black and yellow get the edge. They are also playing at another level on offense with 124 points scored in the last three weeks. 

Ben Roethlisberger has been unreal with 12 touchdown passes in the last two weeks, joining a very exclusive club along the way, per ESPN Stats & Info:

While Big Ben will slow down this week, the Steelers should have no problems stretching their winning streak to four games with a matchup against the lowly Jets. 

4. Detroit Lions (6-2)

It hasn't always been sexy, but the Lions are 6-2 through eight games. More importantly, Calvin Johnson says he will play on Sunday against Miami, per SportsCenter on Twitter:

Megatron hasn't played since Week 5, and the results have shown for the Lions. They have sputtered on offense, scoring just 63 points against Minnesota, New Orleans and Atlanta. Those teams aren't conjuring up memories of the 1985 Bears defense. 

The fact that the Lions are winning games ugly is a huge step in the right direction for a franchise that's so accustomed to finding the banana peel. 

3. Arizona Cardinals (7-1)

The Cardinals are going to be that team that doesn't completely get anyone's trust until the playoffs. They have the best record in the NFL, only losing to Denver with a backup quarterback, but their raw stats are terrible. 

If you were to hear that a team ranked 16th in passing offense, 28th in rushing offense and last in pass defense, the assumption would be it is mediocre at best. Somehow, the Cardinals are winning with those numbers. Their run defense has been terrific, becoming the first team to contain DeMarco Murray in 2014. 

It's easy to see the holes with the Cardinals when you look at them, yet they just keep rolling along. You can't ask for more than that. 

2. Denver Broncos (6-2)

Don't underestimate what that loss to New England meant for Denver. It can be spun as a blip on the radar in an otherwise stellar season, which it very well might be looking back on things. But we thought this team had moved past what we saw in the Super Bowl against Seattle. 

The defense has been great this season and gave the team some new swagger. Then, in the biggest game of the year, the Patriots score 43 points and Tom Brady goes off for 333 yards and four touchdowns. 

Now, the Broncos have lost the tiebreaker with New England for home-field advantage in the playoffs. Manning doesn't want to play in Foxborough if these two teams meet in the playoffs. There's still a lot of football to go, but that was a bad loss by Denver for many reasons. 

1. New England Patriots (7-2)

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

When will we learn our lesson? The next time anyone doubts whether Brady and/or the Patriots are still great, just let it go. It happens at least once year, yet this team pretty much always wins at least 11 games and makes the playoffs. 

This year is the Patriots' best chance to make the Super Bowl since losing to the Giants three years ago. Rob Gronkowski is back and playing up to his full potential. Brandon LaFell has been one of the best signings of the offseason with 514 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Julian Edelman remains as reliable as ever. 

Defensively, the stats look skewed because Manning threw for 438 yards in Week 9, but they have been tremendous against the pass. Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner look like one of the best cornerback duos in football. 

All of this is a prelude to say that while the moves don't always seem to make sense, Bill Belichick knows what he's doing. 

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