NFL Power Rankings Week 10: Houston Texans Enter Elite Territory

With every NFL team having finished at least half of its schedule, the league looks a bit different than many of the experts expected.

The Philadelphia Eagles—declared a “dream team” by newly acquired backup quarterback Vince Young in training camp—lost to the Chicago Bears Monday night and find themselves at 3-5. That’s three games behind the New York Giants in the NFC East and Philadelphia is also looking up at the Detroit Lions, Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the two wild-card spots in the conference.

The Houston Texans are three games over .500 for the first time in franchise history and have cracked the top Five of the rankings for the first time, as well.

The New England Patriots have lost two straight to fall to 5-3, part of a three-way tie atop the AFC East with the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.

On the other end of the surprise spectrum, there are the San Francisco 49ers, 7-1 in the first half. The Cincinnati Bengals at 6-2 are also unexpected and the Lions, also 6-2, appear to be ready to win now rather than later.

The Miami Dolphins escaped the winless ranks with a 31-3 beatdown of the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, leaving the Indianapolis Colts at 0-9 as the lone team without a victory.

On the other end, the Green Bay Packers remained the last unbeaten team in the NFL, hanging on for a wild win at San Diego on Sunday.

The rankings, from No. 32 to No. 1, follow:

32. Indianapolis Colts (0-9)

Last week’s ranking: 32

This week: Lost to Atlanta 31-7

Next: vs. Jacksonville

Strength-of-victory factor: A great big zero

The collapse of the Colts seems to continue to crater. Fans at Lucas Oil Stadium were lustily booing the Colts after the offense went nearly 30 minutes between first downs and the crowd left early, with the stadium about 80 percent empty by the end of the game.

Indianapolis isn’t even competitive right now. The Colts have been outscored 75-14 in the first half of their last three games and 120-24 overall over that stretch.

The Colts have lost five straight games at home for the first time in 10 years and are in danger of matching the 0-10 start posted by the 1997 Indianapolis squad.

31. St. Louis Rams (1-7)

Last week’s ranking: 30

This week: Lost at Arizona 19-13 (OT)

Next: at Cleveland

Strength-of-victory factor: 6

Josh Brown’s 42-yard field-goal attempt at the end of regulation was blocked and then the Rams surrendered just the second punt return touchdown in NFL overtime history to snap their one-game winning streak.

The Rams never found the end zone against the Cardinals, getting three Brown field goals and a pair of safeties. Stephen Jackson had 130 yards on 29 carries for St. Louis and Sam Bradford returned after missing two games with an ankle injury to go 23-for-36 for 255 yards.

The Rams may have also lost rookie wide receiver Greg Salas for the season after he suffered a broken leg in the loss.

30. Miami Dolphins (1-7)

Last week’s ranking: 31

This week: Won at Kansas City 31-3

Next: vs. Washington

Strength-of-victory factor: 4

The Dolphins got their first win in convincing fashion by hammering the Chiefs. Matt Moore threw for 244 yards and three touchdowns, Reggie Bush ran for 92 yards and a score and Anthony Fasano caught two TD passes in the first half.

The three-touchdown performance by Moore was the first for a Miami quarterback since Chad Pennington did it in 2008. And Brandon Marshall continued to torment the Kansas City secondary, finishing with eight catches for 106 yards and a touchdown, running his career total against the Chiefs to 52 catches and seven touchdowns in eight games.

The blowout win also helped erase the two come-from-ahead losses the Dolphins suffered in the last two weeks, when they lost a 15-point lead against Denver and an 11-point bulge to the New York Giants.

29. Seattle Seahawks (2-6)

Last week’s ranking: 27

This week: Lost at Dallas 23-13

Next: vs. Baltimore

Strength-of-victory factor: 8

The Seahawks were still within reach of the Cowboys, trailing 13-6, when Tarvaris Jackson threw interceptions on consecutive passes. Dallas turned the turnovers into 10 points to put the game away.

Jackson was 17-for-30 for 221 and three interceptions against a defense that was missing two starters. It was Seattle’s third straight loss in the first game Jackson and running back Marshawn Lynch started together since their win a month ago against the Giants.

Lynch ran for 135 yards on 23 carries, his first 100-yard game in the regular season since 2008, when he was with the Bills.

28. Arizona Cardinals (2-6)

Last week’s ranking: 28

This week: Beat St. Louis 19-13 (OT)

Next: at Philadelphia

Strength-of-victory factor: 3

Patrick Peterson returned a punt 99 yards for an overtime touchdown and the Cardinals stunned the Rams to dramatically snap their six-game losing streak.

It was Peterson’s third punt return touchdown in his first eight games, the first player in NFL history to pull off that feat. Peterson had put the Rams in field-goal range at the end of regulation with a pass-interference penalty, but Calais Campbell blocked the 42-yard attempt.

John Skelton, starting in place of the injured Kevin Kolb, surrendered safeties on consecutive plays in the third quarter, but connected with Larry Fitzgerald on a 13-yard touchdown pass to tie the game with 4:51 left in regulation.

27. Cleveland Browns (3-5)

Last week’s ranking: 25

This week: Lost at Houston 30-12

Next: vs. St. Louis

Strength-of-victory factor: 3

The Browns totaled 10 first downs and 172 yards of total offense while surrendering 261 yards rushing to the Texans. Colt McCoy was under constant pressure, absorbing four sacks and completing just 14 passes for 146 yards. He also threw an interception.

Cleveland’s running game, slowed by injury and controversy recently, was utterly ineffective. Chris Ogbonnaya, who was on Houston’s practice squad less than a month ago, fumbled on his first carry and had just 28 yards in place of injured backs Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty.

Hillis, who has missed games this year with strep throat and most recently a hamstring injury, has been vocal about wanting a new contract. He’s in the final year of his rookie deal.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6)

Last week’s ranking: 26

This week: Showing Blaine Gabbert his receivers aren’t (a) eight feet tall or (b) wearing grass jerseys

Next: at Indianapolis

Strength-of-victory factor: 10

In disappointing season, the Jaguars can’t be disappointed with the performance of their defense, specifically the rebuilt group of linebackers.

Jacksonville is ranked fifth in the league in defense thanks to the additions of Clint Session from Indianapolis and Paul Poslusny from Buffalo to join with Daryl Smith, who was rated by some as a top-10 linebacker in 2010.

Posluszny has been a huge addition in the middle. He’s come off the field for all of one defensive snap in the Jags’ first eight games (because of a lost shoe) and leads the club with 100 tackles.

25. Kansas City Chiefs (4-4)

Last week’s ranking: 21

This week: Lost to Miami 31-3

Next: vs. Denver

Strength-of-victory factor: 10

The Chiefs had made a historic comeback, winning four straight after starting 0-3, but it all came crashing down at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City looked much more like the team that went 0-2 by a combined score of 89-10 than the club that had climbed into a share of the AFC West lead.

Matt Cassel was 20-for-39 for 253 yards, pedestrian numbers against a Miami secondary that was short one starting cornerback and had a backup limited by a hamstring problem. But Cassel was pressured heavily, sacked five times and forced to scramble another nine.

The Chiefs also struggled to run the ball. Jackie Battle had 40 yards on 14 carries. Cassel had 38 yards on his nine attempts.

24. Denver Broncos (3-5)

Last week’s ranking: 29

This week: Won at Oakland 38-24

Next: at Kansas City

Strength-of-victory factor: 11

Tim Tebow threw two touchdown passes and ran for 117 yards and Willis McGahee ran for 163 yards and two more scores.

Tebow was just 10-for-21 for 124 yards but took only one sack after being sacked 13 times in his first two starts.

Denver came back for the win in the second half, scoring the last 24 points of the game after falling behind 21-14.

23. Carolina Panthers (2-6)

Last week’s ranking: 23

This week: Resting Cam Newton’s back after a first half of carrying the franchise

Next: vs. Tennessee

Strength-of-victory factor: 5

The Panthers came back from their bye with a full-pad practice as they prepare for a brutal closing eight games.

Carolina has seven of its last eight games against teams that are .500 or better—Detroit (6-2), New Orleans (6-3), Houston (6-3), Atlanta (5-3), Tennessee (4-4) and Tampa Bay (4-4) twice. The Panthers' other second-half game is against winless Indianapolis.

Cam Newton has been a big part of an offensive renaissance in Charlotte. After ranking dead last in the league in offense in 2010, the Panthers are ranked in the top five this season in both total offense and passing offense.

22. Minnesota Vikings (2-6)

Last week’s ranking: 24

This week: Listening to Donovan McNabb complain to the press

Next: at Green Bay (Monday night)

Strength-of-victory factor: 4

Percy Harvin has had a week to rest his sore ribs after playing through the pain to help the Vikings get a win at Carolina.

Christian Ponder got his first NFL victory in his second start two weeks ago but now gets to face the Packers for the second time in just his third start.

The drama off the field has been intense as well, with Minnesota governor Mark Dayton challenging the Minnesota legislature to come up with a financing plan for a stadium for the Vikings. Time is of the essence because if no plan is in place by the time the team’s lease at the Collapsidome ends at the end of next season, the franchise would effectively become a free agent, free to move anywhere.

21. Washington Redskins (3-5)

Last week’s ranking: 22

This week: Lost to San Francisco 19-11

Next: at Miami

Strength-of-victory factor: 9

The Redskins’ fourth straight loss was another adventure in offensive ineptitude. A week after being shut out by the Bills, Washington’s only points came on a franchise-record 59-yard field goal by Graham Gano at the end of the first half and a touchdown reception by Jabar Gaffney with 1:10 left in the game.

Three rookies made their first starts on the offensive side of the ball for the Redskins. Running back Roy Helu, wide receiver Leonard Hankerson and guard Maurice Hurt.

John Beck fell to 0-7 in his career as a starter and will get another week. Beck was 30-for-47 for 254 yards and a touchdown. He was also intercepted once and 116 of those yards came during desperation time in the fourth quarter.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4)

Last week’s ranking: 20

This week: Lost at New Orleans 27-16

Next: vs. Houston

Strength-of-victory factor: 13

The Buccaneers struggled to contain Darren Sproles in the loss at New Orleans and surrendered 195 yards rushing to the Saints.

Josh Freeman threw for 281 yards and a late touchdown to Kellen Winslow but he was under a lot of pressure and was plagued by overthrows.

Tampa Bay was hoping to get a boost from the return of running back LeGarrette Blount, who had missed two games with a knee sprain. Blount had 72 yards on 13 carries but also got hit with a drive-changing facemask penalty that pushed the Bucs back 15 yards.

19. San Diego Chargers (4-4)

Last week’s ranking: 18

This week: Lost to Green Bay 45-38

Next: vs. Oakland (Thursday night)

Strength-of-victory factor: 10

Philip Rivers’ run of turnovers continued with three interceptions against the Packers, including two that were returned for touchdowns in the seven-point loss.

San Diego has lost three in a row, including a road collapse at the Jets and the Monday night loss at Kansas City and now will be playing their third game in 11 days when they host the Raiders Thursday night.

Rivers did tie his career high with four touchdowns, three of them to Vincent Jackson, and was 26-for-46 for 385 yards. The three interceptions, however, were also a career high.

18. Oakland Raiders (4-4)

Last week’s ranking: 15

This week: Lost to Denver 38-24

Next: at San Diego (Thursday night)

Strength-of-victory factor: 17

The Raider defense was shredded for a franchise-record 298 rushing yards and the special teams surrendered a game-changing 85-yard punt return.

Carson Palmer looked much better in his first start for Oakland than he did in a relief appearance against the Chiefs two weeks ago. But he threw three more interceptions, which took a lot of the luster of a day when he was 19-for-35 for 332 yards.

The Raiders lost despite leading 24-14 with 6:41 left in the third quarter by allowing Denver 24 unanswered points to close the game.

17. Philadelphia Eagles (3-5)

Last week’s ranking: 17

This week: Lost to Chicago 30-24 (Monday night)

Next: vs. Arizona

Strength-of-victory factor: 8

It was a crushing loss for Michael Vick and the Eagles, who squandered a fourth-quarter lead for the fourth time this season. It was over when Jeremy Maclin fell down and was tackled a yard short of a first down on a 4th-and-10 play with less than two minutes to go.

The defending NFC East champions with all the preseason hype now trail the Giants by three games.

LeSean McCoy gave Philadelphia a 24-17 lead in the third quarter with a 33-yard touchdown run after a Chicago fumble. But the Bears responded with 13 unanswered points.

16. Tennessee Titans (4-4)

Last week’s ranking: 16

This week: Lost to Cincinnati 24-17

Next: at Carolina

Strength-of-victory factor: 12

The Titans lost two of three on a three-game homestand despite 110 yards from scrimmage from embattled Chris Johnson. Tennessee blew a 10-point halftime lead because the offense imploded in the second half.

The Titans managed just 95 yards in the second half—30 of those on the final play that came up well short of a potential tying touchdown. Tennessee had the ball for just 4:28 in the fourth quarter.

Johnson looked more like his old self at times, finishing with 64 yards rushing and 46 yards receiving.

15. Dallas Cowboys (4-4)

Last week’s ranking: 19

This week: Beat Seattle 23-13

Next: vs. Buffalo

Strength-of-victory factor: 13

Tony Romo bounced back from a flop at Philadelphia and a terrible first half to throw two touchdowns after intermission and the defense was solid throughout their win over the Seahawks.

Three of Dallas’ next four opponents have losing records and the Cowboys are hoping to be able to put together a run at the Giants, who lead the NFC East by two games.

Romo was 19-for-31 for 279 yards and rookie DeMarco Murray had 22 carries for 139 yards and caught four passes for another 47.

14. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)

Last week’s ranking: 10

This week: Lost to Baltimore 23-20

Next: at Cincinnati

Strength-of-victory factor: 15

The Steelers appeared to be in control after rallying from 10 points down to take a 20-16 lead with less than five minutes to go when Ben Roethlisberger connected with Mike Wallace for a 25-yard touchdown.

James Harrison returned from an eye injury to record three sacks but the pass rush disappeared on the Ravens’ final drive. The Steelers trailed by 10 going into the fourth quarter. Rashard Mendenhall scored from a yard out to get Pittsburgh within 16-13 and Harrison forced a fumble that was recovered by Rudy Gay on Baltimore’s next possession to set up the go-ahead score.

Roethlisberger finished with 330 yards passing to become the first Steeler with three consecutive 300-yard games.

13. Atlanta Falcons (5-3)

Last week’s ranking: 14

This week: Won at Indianapolis 31-7

Next: vs. New Orleans

Strength-of-victory factor: 14

Rookie wide receiver Julio Jones scored twice to lead the Falcons past the league’s only winless team. Coming back from a hamstring injury, Jones scorched the Colt secondary with touchdown grabs of 50 and 80 yards.

Jones had three catches for 131 yards and two rushing attempts for another 33. Atlanta won its third straight game to remain a half-game behind the Saints in the NFC South.

Matt Ryan was 14-for-24 for 275 yards and three touchdowns and Michael Turner ran the ball 19 times for 71 yards.

12. Chicago Bears (5-3)

Last week’s ranking: 11

This week: Won at Philadelphia 30-24 (Monday night)

Next: vs. Detroit

Strength-of-victory factor: 16

Jay Cutler threw a go-ahead five-yard touchdown to Earl Bennett and Matt Forte rushed for 133 yards despite losing a pair of fumbles, and the Bears rallied to beat the Eagles.

Chicago won its third straight game but it still in third place in the NFC North behind Green Bay and Detroit.

Cutler was 18-for-32 for 208 yards and two touchdowns.

11. New York Jets (5-3)

Last week’s ranking: 13

This week: Won at Buffalo 27-11

Next: vs. New England

Strength-of-victory factor: 16

The Jets are back in the AFC East race thanks to a stifling effort by its defense, which forced three turnovers and twice stopped the Bills on fourth down.

The offense finally hit its stride in the second half as Gang Green won its third straight game to catch Buffalo and the Patriots in the division standings.

Mark Sanchez shook off two first-half turnovers to finish 20-for-28 for 230 yards and a touchdown. LaDainian Tomlinson and John Conner added short touchdown runs to hand the Bills their first home loss of the season.

10. New York Giants (6-2)

Last week’s ranking: 12

This week: Won at New England 24-20

Next: at San Francisco

Strength-of-victory factor: 17

Eli Manning capped a decisive drive that evoked memories of Super Bowl XLII, throwing a one-yard touchdown pass to Jake Ballard with 15 seconds left to give the Giants the win.

It was the teams' first meaningful meeting since that Super Bowl and Manning had another over-the-middle completion to an unheralded receiver wearing No. 85, hitting Ballard for a 28-yard gain on third down to keep the final drive alive.

The Giants kept their two-game lead in the NFC East and snapped a couple of impressive streaks for New England, ending Tom Brady’s run of 31 consecutive regular-season wins at home and the Patriots’ 20-game regular-season home winning streak.

9. New England (5-3)

Last week’s ranking: 8

This week: Lost to the New York Giants 24-20

Next: at New York Jets

Strength-of-victory factor: 18

The Patriots stand tied with the Bills and Jets in the AFC East after getting burned again by a late drive engineered by Eli Manning.

The loss to the Giants was the just the third time since 2003 that New England has lost consecutive games. The Patriots took a late lead when Tom Brady hit Rob Gronkowski with a 14-yard touchdown pass with 1:36 to go.

After a scoreless first half, the Patriots took their first lead on Stephen Gostkowski’s 45-yard field goal with 7:08 to play.

8. Cincinnati Bengals (6-2)

Last week’s ranking: 9

This week: Won at Tennessee 24-17

Next: vs. Pittsburgh

Strength-of-victory factor: 16

Andy Dalton threw for 217 yards and three touchdowns and the Bengals rallied from 10 points down for their fifth straight win, their longest streak since 1988—the last time Cincinnati went to the Super Bowl.

The Bengals are also 4-1 on the road behind a rookie quarterback who led them to 17 unanswered points. Cincinnati’s defense had a big role in the second half, holding the Titans to 95 yards in the second half.

The Bengals got two sacks from Carlos Dunlap and Nate Clemens forced the game’s only turnover that set up Cincinnati at the Tennessee 20 with a four-point lead.

7. Buffalo Bills (5-3)

Last week’s ranking: 4

This week: Lost to the New York Jets 27-11

Next: at Dallas

Strength-of-victory factor: 19

The Bills fell into a three-way tie for the AFC East lead after losing at home for the first time this season. Buffalo has lost four in a row and six of seven to the Jets.

Ryan Fitzpatrick was just 15-for-31 for 191 yards and threw two interceptions. The Bills had as many turnovers—three—as they did first downs on their first eight possessions and were held under 20 points for the first time this season.

The loss was a big letdown for a packed Ralph Wilson Stadium, decked out in white to match the team wearing all-white uniforms at home for the first time in 25 years.

6. New Orleans Saints (6-3)

Last week’s ranking: 7

This week: Beat Tampa Bay 27-16

Next: at Atlanta

Strength-of-victory factor: 19

Drew Brees passed for 258 yards and two touchdowns and the Saints ran for 195 yards in a physical win over the Buccaneers.

New Orleans played without linebacker Jonathan Vilma and lost cornerback Tracy Porter to a neck injury early in the game, but held Tampa Bay without a touchdown until late in the fourth quarter.

The defense set the tone early, dropping Buc running back LeGarrette Blount for a loss on 4th-and-short and forcing a fumble to preserve a scoreless tie.

5. Houston Texans (6-3)

Last week’s ranking: 6

This week: Beat Cleveland 30-12

Next: at Tampa Bay

Strength-of-victory factor: 16

Arian Foster rushed for 124 yards, Ben Tate ran for 115 and both scored touchdowns to lead the Texans to three games over .500 for the first time in franchise history. Houston set a new franchise record with 261 yards rushing and had two 100-yard runners for the second time in three games.

Houston’s top-ranked defense held the Browns to 10 first downs and 172 yards, its third straight game holding an opponent to under 200 yards. The Texans also had four sacks.

Houston scored on its opening possession for the sixth time this season. Matt Schaub was 4-for-4 on the drive and Tate scored on a 27-yard run to cap it.

4. Baltimore Ravens (6-2)

Last week’s ranking: 5

This week: Won at Pittsburgh 23-20

Next: at Seattle

Strength-of-victory factor: 26

Five plays after dropping a potential go-ahead touchdown pass, Torrey Smith held onto a 26-yard throw from Joe Flacco to lift the Ravens to a season sweep of the Steelers.

Smith also atoned for a holding call on the game’s first play, a call that erased a 76-yard touchdown run by Ray Rice. Flacco finished with 300 yards passing and Baltimore secured its first sweep over Pittsburgh since 2006.

Flacco made up for a lost fumble midway through the fourth quarter that set up a go-ahead drive by the Steelers by engineering a 13-play, 92-yard drive to get the game-winner.

3. Detroit Lions (6-2)

Last week’s ranking: 2

This week: Showing Ndamukong Suh “what-not-to-do” videos

Next: at Chicago

Strength-of-victory factor: 22

Kevin Smith is back with the Lions, re-signed after being released in training camp. Smith was a third-round draft pick by Detroit in 2008 and flirted with the 1,000-yard mark as a rookie.

His career was derailed by a torn ACL suffered late in the 2009 season. He came back slowly last season, playing just six games with a high of 51 yards in a win over Washington before suffering a season-ending thumb injury in November.

Running back Jahvid Best has been having concussion problems and it’s not clear when he will be able to return to the lineup.

2. San Francisco 49ers (7-1)

Last week’s ranking: 3

This week: Won at Washington 19-11

Next: vs. New York Giants

Strength-of-victory factor: 27

Frank Gore had 107 yards on 19 carries—his fifth straight 100-yard game—and the 49ers took command of the NFC West with their sixth straight win. San Francisco leads the division by five games with eight to play.

Alex Smith found rookie fullback Bruce Miller for a touchdown and David Akers kicked four field goals for the 49ers. The defense forced three turnovers and didn’t allow a touchdown until the final minutes.

San Francisco has its longest winning streak since 1997 and are 4-0 on the road for the first time since 1992.

1. Green Bay Packers (8-0)

Last week’s ranking: 1

This week: Won at San Diego 45-38

Next: vs. Minnesota (Monday night)

Strength-of-victory factor: 28

Aaron Rodgers completed 21-of-26 passes for 247 yards and four touchdowns, running his league-leading total to 24. Charlie Peprah and Tramon Williams returned interceptions for touchdowns six plays apart in the first quarter and Peprah sealed the win with another pick in the closing seconds.

The Packers led by 21 points early in the fourth quarter before the Chargers came back with a pair of touchdowns in a span of 1:07 midway through the period.

Green Bay still has a lot of work to do on defense. The Packers gave up 460 yards of offense, 375 of it through the air, and are still ranked 31^st in the league in defense.