NFL Power Rankings Week 10: Can an NFC Team Finally Overtake The AFC?
NFL Week 10 Power Rankings are out, and Baltimore is sitting pretty.
The Ravens (6-2) remain at No.1 for now, just slightly ahead of the Giants. But Joe Flacco and Ray Rice are about to get a huge test on Thursday when they travel to play at Atlanta (6-2) in a battle of divisional leaders.
There aren't any drastic changes in this week's rankings, but you may notice a team move up or down a spot or two. And for some teams like the Cowboys (1-7), all we can say is good luck on getting a good pick for the 2011 Draft.
Hopeless Causes
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32. Buffalo Bills: The Bills dropped to 0-8 with Sunday's 22-19 loss to Chicago. Longtime Sun-Times columnist Rick Telander put it perfectly: "Beating the Buffalo Bills is like beating up your little brother."
31. Carolina Panthers: The Panthers (1-7) now have nine players who are out with season-ending injuries, and it appears the John Fox era is drawing to a close.
Like Watching a Trainwreck
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30. Dallas Cowboys: Fans can at least celebrate that Wade Phillips was finally fired. Dallas (1-7) appears headed for alottery pick next year, and you have to wonder if Jerry Jones will do what it takes to snag Bill Cowher out of retirement.
29. Cincinnati Bengals: Ochocinco only had one catch for 15 yards against Pittsburgh. With the Bengals (2-6) season pretty much over, maybe he'll have more time to concentrate on that reality show of his.
Not a Pretty Sight
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28. Denver Broncos: When you're last in the league in rushing (67.2 yds/game) and you give up 359 yards per game, that is only going to lead to lousy football. Hang in there Broncos (2-6).
27. San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers (2-6) have continued their tailspin since a heartbreaking loss to the Saints early this season, and are in such bad shape at quarterback they're having to rely on Troy Smith.
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Nothing To Brag About
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26. Detroit Lions: As if things could get any worse for the Lions (2-6): Quarterback Matthew Stafford may now be done for the season with what looks to be a grade 3 shoulder separation suffered in Sunday's 23-20 loss in overtime to the Jets.
25. Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals (3-5) rank near the bottom of the league in total yards, and obviously have some issues on defense as Brett Favre showed in Sunday's loss to the Vikings.
Decent, But Nothing Special
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24. Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars (4-4) have one of the league's worst defenses, and it's about to be tested bigtime in the next two weeks against Houston and Cleveland.
23. Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks (4-4) have been outscored 74-10 in their last two games but somehow remain in a tie for first within their division.
Still Fighting
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22. Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins (4-4) have a long ways to go, and even Brandon Marshall admitted as much after Sunday's loss when he said, "Right now, we can't beat the great teams, we can't beat the good teams."
21. Washington Redskins: Anyone else still confused as to why Donovan McNabb was benched? Washington (4-4) obviously is still adjusting to first-year coach Mike Shanahan and his system.
20. San Diego Chargers
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The Chargers (4-5) have had their share of struggles but still have the league's top offense, which is average just over 420 yards per game, and Philip Rivers is the league's top passer (2,944 yards).
19. Cleveland Browns
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The Browns (3-5) already beat the Saints this year, and got another big win Sunday, with a 34-14 victory over New England, in which they finished with a season-high 404 total yards.
18. Minnesota Vikings
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The Vikings (3-5) got back on track with Sunday's dramatic 27-24 win over Minnesota. Brett Favre finished with 446 yards passing - just the second time he's thrown for over 400 yards in his career - and Percy Harvin had nine catches for 126 yards.
Minnesota could climb right back into things over the next two weeks as it travels to Chicago then hosts Green Bay. And to make things even better: Sidney Rice is expected to return soon as well.
17. St. Louis Rams
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Their numbers aren't all that impressive, but the facts are that the Rams (4-4) are in first in the NFC West.
Players say they know they can be better, and they'll get tested here in two weeks when they host
Atlanta.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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The Buccaneers (5-3) gave Atlanta a test, and converted 8-of-13 third downs in Sunday's 27-21 loss.
The offense is scoring just under 20 points a game, but Tampa Bay fans should feel optimistic with the upside of rookie quarterback Josh Freeman (1,722 yards) and rookie running back LeGarrette Blount (268), who was undrafted.
15. Oakland Raiders
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The Raiders (5-4) have one of the league's best ground games, and more importantly, they appear to be learning how to win again.
Oakland's Jason Campbell threw a beautiful 47-yard pass to rookie wide receiver Jacoby Ford in overtime against Kansas City to set up the game-winning field goal by Sebastian Janikowski.
14. Houston Texans
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The Texans (4-4) had such a promising start, but keep killing themselves with mistakes and penalties.
The parts are still in place, though, for a turnaround, and the offense is among the league's best.
Houston had better get back on track at Jacksonville this week, before heading up north to face the Jets on Nov. 21.
13. Philadelphia Eagles
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The Eagles (5-3) looked impressive in their 26-24 win over Indianapolis.
Quarterback Michael Vick completed 17 of 29 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown, and has now thrown no interceptions in his last 154 attempts.
12. Tennessee Titans
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On paper it seems the Titans (5-3) are taking quite a risk by picking up wide receiver Randy Moss.
But it may be worth the gamble for an offense that needs help with its passing attack, which is averaging just over 187 yards per game.
11. Kansas City Chiefs
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The Chiefs (5-3) are still in first in their division, but just by half a game.
If they can clean up some sloppy play and costly mistakes, things appear bright for a team that boasts the league's top ground attack, which averages 179.6 yards per game.
10. Chicago Bears
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Jay Cutler's completed over 60 percent of his passes, but also has seven interceptions on the season.
That's just one of the problems for the Bears (5-3), which are still somehow in the mix in the NFC North.
9. Green Bay Packers
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Clay Matthews already has 10.5 sacks, and appears to be right in line to win back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Green Bay (6-3) has a bye this week before traveling to Minnesota for a key divisional showdown.
8. New Orleans Saints
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The Saints (6-3) continued to ride off the momentum of a huge home win over Pittsburgh by blasting Carolina 34-3 to stay within a half game of Atlanta.
Quarterback Drew Brees currently is second among NFL quarterbacks in passing with 2,587 yards.
7. Indianapolis Colts
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The Colts (5-3) are struggling on the ground, but should get back on track against Cincinnati this week following last week's loss to Philadelphia.
After that it's New England, which has become arguably the league's best rivalry over the last decade.
6. Atlanta Falcons
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The Falcons (6-2) finished with 365 total yards in their 27-21 win over Tampa Bay.
Just as impressive was the defense, which held Bucs rookie running back LeGarrette Blount to 46 yards on 13 carries. Blount had totaled 192 yards rushing in his previous two games.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers
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For the third straight week the Steelers (6-2) allowed a team to score more than 20 points, a problem that must be fixed quickly with New England looming this week.
4. New England Patriots
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The Patriots (6-2) still have one of the league's best quarterbacks in Tom Brady, who finished with 224 yards passing in Sunday's loss to Cleveland.
New England, however, is just 2-2 on the road, something that could spell trouble with a road trip awaiting at Pittsburgh.
3. New York Jets
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The Jets (6-2) certainly didn't look like a Super Bowl team in Sunday's win over Detroit, finishing with 11 penalties and fumbling five times (with one loss).
But New York is in first in its division, and will get two big tests coming up against Cleveland and Houston.
2. New York Giants
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New York (6-2) is looking amazing.
The Giants have the league's second best offense (401 yds/game) and is first in total defense (250.6). If they can avoid overlooking Dallas this week, a big game with Philadelphia looms after that.
Keep an eye on the big game on Dec.26, when New York heads to Lambeau Field to face Green Bay.
1. Baltimore Ravens
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Baltimore (6-2) is looking very dangerous.
The Ravens won their seventh straight home game on Sunday, and now have to turn around and play at Atlanta on Thursday night.
Running back Ray Rice remains one of the league's bright stars. Against Miami, he finished with 83 yards rushing and seven catches for 97 yards.
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