NFL Power Rankings Week 10: Updated 2015 Analysis Before Thursday Night Football

At the midpoint of the NFL season, it is difficult for one result to truly change a team's outlook. This creates limited movement in the power rankings, although a dramatic shift is certainly still possible.

While the Green Bay Packers have lost two games in a row, the level of competition and previous results prevent Aaron Rodgers and company from falling. Conversely, the Atlanta Falcons finally see a bit of a slide after poor performances against mediocre competition over the last three weeks.

This difference can be seen in the middle of the pack with a few teams that were stagnant this week but are on the brink of big changes going forward. Here is a look at the latest power rankings along with a breakdown of a few squads with a lot to prove in Week 10.

Rank	Team	Record	Prev.
1	New England Patriots	8-0	1
2	Cincinnati Bengals	8-0	2
3	Carolina Panthers	8-0	4
4	Denver Broncos	7-1	3
5	Green Bay Packers	6-2	5
6	Arizona Cardinals	6-2	6
7	Minnesota Vikings	6-2	9
8	Pittsburgh Steelers	5-4	13
9	Seattle Seahawks	4-4	10
10	New York Jets	5-3	12
11	St. Louis Rams	4-4	7
12	Atlanta Falcons	6-3	8
13	Oakland Raiders	4-4	11
14	Philadelphia Eagles	4-4	14
15	Buffalo Bills	4-4	16
16	Indianapolis Colts	4-5	20
17	New York Giants	5-4	18
18	Miami Dolphins	3-5	15
19	Kansas City Chiefs	3-5	19
20	New Orleans Saints	4-5	17
21	Washington Redskins	3-5	21
22	Dallas Cowboys	2-6	22
23	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	3-5	23
24	Chicago Bears	3-5	26
25	San Francisco 49ers	3-6	28
26	Baltimore Ravens	2-6	24
27	San Diego Chargers	2-7	25
28	Cleveland Browns	2-7	27
29	Houston Texans	3-5	30
30	Jacksonville Jaguars	2-6	29
31	Tennessee Titans	2-6	32
32	Detroit Lions	1-7	31

Teams on the Brink of Big Changes

Buffalo Bills

Gary Wiepert/Associated Press

Injuries have been a big story for the Buffalo Bills this season, with key players Tyrod Taylor, LeSean McCoy, Karlos Williams and Sammy Watkins all missing games earlier in the year. While there are still bumps and bruises, this group might finally be healthy. Even McCoy, who was banged up Sunday, should play, per Mike Rodak of ESPN.com.

Although Taylor might not be a prototypical quarterback, he is getting the job done while in the lineup and is playing at a high level both as a runner and a passer. His Total QBR certainly told a great deal of the story in the win over the Miami Dolphins, as ESPN Stats & Info pointed out:

At full strength, this is a talented squad built the way head coach Rex Ryan likes it with rushing and a strong defensive front. If the Bills play to their ability, they certainly have a chance to compete for a playoff spot. The problem is we haven't seen all this group can do just yet.

Thursday will be a great chance for Buffalo to prove itself on the national stage. The prime-time battle against the New York Jets will be a hard-nosed defensive battle with the winning team gaining a huge advantage for an AFC wild-card spot. Additionally, a convincing win for Buffalo can send a message to the rest of the league that it is now 100 percent and ready to make a run.

New York Giants

A win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is nice, but not very convincing. As much as Jameis Winston has improved since the start of the year, slowing down the rookie doesn't really answer the questions about a team that is allowing the most yards per game in football.

At the same time, the four-headed running back committee hasn't inspired much confidence with just a 3.8 yards-per-carry average and three total rushing touchdowns. The Giants are 5-4 and in first place in the NFC East, but fans shouldn't start buying playoff tickets just yet.

This mindset could certainly change with an upcoming matchup against the New England Patriots. Tom Brady's squad has been the most dominant team in the NFL this season, but the Giants have had his number in recent years with three straight wins, including two in the Super Bowl.

Jason Pierre-Paul could make a big difference along the defensive line after returning to action last week. He is certainly confident in his squad heading into Week 10, as noted by the team's official Twitter account and the New York Daily News' Ralph Vacchiano:

A loss, especially if it's close, won't do much to impact the Giants or their standing in the division. However, a win could spring this group to a big second half of the season and a run at the playoffs.

Oakland Raiders

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

The Oakland Raiders could easily be higher in the power rankings, especially after beating the Jets in Week 8, but with little separating a number of teams, the recent loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers has set them back.

On the plus side, they can jump right back into the mix with a strong performance in Week 10 against the Minnesota Vikings.

Oakland might be young, but this group is ready to compete for a playoff spot thanks to the play of Michael Crabtree, Amari Cooper and especially quarterback Derek Carr. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com recently updated his scouting report on the second-year player:

After throwing 11 touchdown passes with just one interception over the last three games, it's hard to argue with this evaluation.

This makes the upcoming matchup against the Vikings so exciting. Minnesota has quietly excelled lately with four straight wins to get to 6-2, although the team hasn't been tested quite as much as the Raiders in recent weeks. This battle could be very telling for both teams as they try to contend with the best in the NFL.

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