NFL Power Rankings Week 10: Key Injuries Pile Up for Contenders

Week 10 in the NFL was defined as much by what happened in medical facilities as what occurred on the field.

The Houston Texans, which made a nice move up the rankings this week, learned Monday that quarterback Matt Schaub will miss the rest of the season after injuring his foot in the win at Tampa Bay on Sunday. Matt Leinart, who hasn’t thrown a pass in an NFL game since 2009, takes over as the starter.

The Kansas City Chiefs, still very much in contention in the mosh pit of mediocrity known as the AFC West, may be without quarterback Matt Cassel the rest of the way after he injured his throwing hand. Tyler Palko, who has never started an NFL game, takes over as the starter.

The Cincinnati Bengals not only lost a tough AFC North decision to the Pittsburgh Steelers but also lost cornerback Leon Hall for the rest of the year with an Achilles injury.

Meanwhile, the teams at the top of the rankings—the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers—just keep on keepin’ on.

These rankings are based solely on the body of work assembled thus far by teams and do not reflect any future projections. Which means, based on these latest major injuries, there could be more shakeups coming to this list in the near future.

32. Indianapolis Colts (0-10)

Last week’s ranking: 32

This week: Lost to Jacksonville 17-3

Next: Watching Andrew Luck game film

Strength-of-victory factor: Not hard to calculate

The Colts finished with 13 first downs and 212 total yards while posting their lowest point total since 1997 and their defense couldn’t stop Maurice Jones-Drew.

Indianapolis rushed for 58 yards in the first quarter but finished the game with just 84 yards on the ground. Curtis Painter was 13-for-19 for 94 yards and two interceptions and three sacks before he was pulled for the second straight week in favor of backup Dan Orlovsky.

At 0-10, the Colts are the NFL’s only winless team and they are already mathematically eliminated from contention in the AFC South. 

31. St. Louis Rams (2-7)

Last week’s ranking: 31

This week: Won at Cleveland 13-12

Next: vs. Seattle

Strength-of-victory factor: 10

Steven Jackson rushed for 128 yards for the Rams and Sam Bradford threw a touchdown pass in their win at Cleveland. Josh Brown kicked a 34-yard field goal with 7:42 left to give St. Louis a lead and the Rams survived a late field-goal try by the Browns thanks to a botched snap.

Bradford was 15-for-26 for 155 yards and was intercepted once and Jackson notched his third-straight 100-yard game on the ground.

The secondary, however, took another hit when cornerback Al Harris was lost for the season with a torn ACL. The Rams now have four corners on injured reserve and also lost tight end Michael Hoomanawanui for the season because of a knee injury.

30. Minnesota Vikings (2-7)

Last week’s ranking: 22

This week: Lost at Green Bay 45-7 (Monday night)

Next: vs. Oakland

Strength-of-victory factor: 5

The Viking offense never got moving at Lambeau Field as rookie quarterback Christian Ponder threw for just 190 yards and Adrian Peterson was held to 51 yards on the ground. Peterson did score Minnesota’s lone touchdown in the blowout loss.

The Vikings also lost cornerback Antoine Winfield, just back in the lineup after missing four games with a neck injury. Winfield broke his collarbone and could miss the rest of the season.

Ponder, who was blitzed on nearly half of his dropbacks, was just 16-for-34 and was intercepted once. 

29. Carolina Panthers (2-7)

Last week’s ranking: 23

This week: Lost to Tennessee 30-3

Next: at Detroit

Strength-of-victory factor: 6

The Titans baffled Cam Newton, recording five sacks and an interception and holding the rookie to just 209 yards passing. Steve Smith, Newton’s favorite downfield threat, was limited to just 33 yards receiving.

Coming into the game ranked first in the NFL in plays of more than 20 yards, the Panthers’ longest play of the day was just 19 yards and Carolina went three-and-out on seven of its 13 possessions.

The Panthers also surrendered their third punt return touchdown of the season, going down 7-0 after going three-and-out on their first possession.

28. Cleveland Browns (3-6)

Last week’s ranking: 27

This week: Lost to St. Louis 13-12

Next: vs. Jacksonville

Strength-of-victory factor: 5

Phil Dawson’s 22-yard field goal attempt was wide left after Pro Bowler Ryan Pontbriand bounced the snap back to holder Brad Maynard with just more than two minutes to play and the Browns again failed to score a touchdown at home.

Dawson made four field goals on a blustery day but his late miss capped a series of mistakes by Cleveland, which hasn’t scored a touchdown at home in more than two games.

Colt McCoy was 20-for-27 for 218 yards as the Browns again played without injured running back Peyton Hillis.

27. Miami Dolphins (2-7)

Last week’s ranking: 30

This week: Beat Washington 20-9

Next: vs. Buffalo

Strength-of-victory factor: 7

Reggie Bush scored two touchdowns and the Dolphins defense had two interceptions to get their first home victory in almost a year.

Miami had lost seven straight at home since a win on Nov. 14, 2010, and won for the second straight game after an 0-7 start.

Matt Moore had an interception and a lost fumble but was 20-for-28 for 209 yards and the Dolphins, entering the game last in the league in third-down conversions, were 8-for-14 in those situations against the Redskins.

26. Kansas City Chiefs (4-5)

Last week’s ranking: 25

This week: Lost to Denver 17-10

Next: at New England (Monday night)

Strength-of-victory factor: 11

Matt Cassel was 13-for-28 for 93 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game with an injury to his throwing hand that will require surgery that could be season-ending and the Chiefs managed just 258 total yards in another ugly loss.

Kansas City was unable to stop the Broncos’ running game, which went for 244 yards on 55 carries, and surrendered a long scoring pass in the fourth quarter that helped seal the decision.

The Chiefs’ only touchdown came midway through the third quarter when Cassel hooked up with Le’Ron McClain on a play-action pass from just outside the goal line.

25. Washington Redskins (3-6)

Last week’s ranking: 21

This week: Lost at Miami 20-9

Next: vs. Dallas

Strength-of-victory factor: 11

The Redskins lost their fifth consecutive game, the longest such streak of coach Mike Shanahan’s career, and haven’t led a game since Oct. 2.

Surprise starter Rex Grossman threw for 215 yards but was sacked three times and intercepted twice as Washington got inside the Dolphins’ 30 four times but managed just three field goals.

Graham Gano missed field goals from 50 and 49 yards and the Redskins had just 61 yards rushing.

24. Arizona Cardinals (3-6)

Last week’s ranking: 28

This week: Won at Philadelphia 21-17

Next: at San Francisco

Strength-of-victory factor: 7

John Skelton threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Early Doucet with 1:53 remaining and the Cardinals rallied for their second straight win since Kevin Kolb was injured.

Skelton threw three touchdown passes to lead Arizona and Larry Fitzgerald had two touchdown catches and a terrific over-the-shoulder catch to set up the go-ahead score.

Skelton was 21-for-40 for 315 yards and was intercepted twice while running his record as a starter to 4-2 in his two seasons with the Cardinals.

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5)

Last week’s ranking: 20

This week: Lost to Houston 37-9

Next: at Green Bay

Strength-of-victory factor: 14

Josh Freeman threw three interceptions and was sacked four times and the Buccaneers didn’t find the end zone until the fourth quarter for the second straight game. Tampa Bay also gave up 268 yards in the first half and surrendered 420 for the game.

The Buccaneers managed just 231 total yards against the NFL’s top-ranked defense and didn’t get into the end zone until Freeman—who was 15-for-33 for 170 yards—found Preston Parker for a nine-yard score early in the fourth quarter.

Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, claimed off waivers from New England on Wednesday, started for Tampa Bay and had five tackles and blocked an extra point.

22. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-6)

Last week’s ranking: 26

This week: Won at Indianapolis 17-3

Next: at Cleveland

Strength-of-victory factor: 12

Maurice Jones-Drew continued to gash the Colts, rushing for 114 yards and scoring a late three-yard touchdown run to give the Jaguars their first road win of the season.

It was Jones-Drew’s sixth 100-yard effort in 11 games against Indianapolis. It was not a stellar day for the offense, however, as Jacksonville mustered just 251 yards of offense. Blaine Gabbert was 14-for-21 for 118 yards and a touchdown.

Cornerback Rashean Mathis tore his ACL and will be out for the rest of the year and the Jags also lost guard Eben Britton and special teams standout Kyle Bosworth to season-ending injuries.

21. Seattle Seahawks (3-6)

Last week’s ranking: 29

This week: Beat Baltimore 22-17

Next: at St. Louis

Strength-of-victory factor: 15

Marshawn Lynch ran for 109 yards and scored the Seahawks’ only touchdown and Steven Hauschka tied a franchise record with five field goals as Seattle shocked the Ravens.

Hauschka kicked field goals of 22, 38, 39, 35 and 30 yards and Tarvaris Jackson was 17-for-27 for 217 yards as the Seahawks posted their second win this season over a division leader.

Seattle did lose guard John Moffitt to a season-ending knee injury.

20. Denver Broncos (4-5)

Last week’s ranking: 24

This week: Won at Kansas City 17-10

Next: vs. New York Jets (Thursday night)

Strength-of-victory factor: 17

Tim Tebow hit Eric Decker for a 56-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, one of his two completions on the day, and the Broncos humbled the Chiefs behind a relentless running attack.

Denver lost running backs Willis McGahee (hamstring) and Knowshon Moreno (knee) in the first half but third-stringer Lance Ball carried the ball 30 times for 96 yards as part of the Broncos’  244-yard rushing attack.

Tebow was 2-for-8 for 69 yards but added 44 yards and a touchdown on the ground as Denver moved into a tie with Kansas City and San Diego a game behind Oakland in the AFC West.

19. San Diego Chargers (4-5)

Last week’s ranking: 19

This week: Lost to Oakland 24-17 (Thursday night)

Next: at Chicago

Strength-of-victory factor: 12

The Chargers took their fourth straight loss, losing for the third time in 11 days. San Diego looked dismal most of the night and lost offensive linemen Marcus McNeill and Louis Vasquez to injuries.

Philip Rivers was just 23-for-47 for 274 yards and had two touchdowns and an interception as the Chargers hit their longest losing streak since an 0-5 start in 2003. The interception was Rivers’ NFL-leading 15^th of the season.

Rivers was also sacked six times as Oakland overwhelmed Brandyn Dombrowski, McNeill’s replacement at left tackle.

18. Philadelphia Eagles (3-6)

Last week’s ranking: 17

This week: Lost to Arizona 21-17

Next: at New York Giants

Strength-of-victory factor: 10

Michael Vick struggled after breaking two ribs on the game’s second play and the Eagles blew a fourth-quarter lead for the fifth time this season.

Asante Samuel returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown and LeSean McCoy had a one-yard touchdown run. Vick was 16-for-34 for 128 yards and two interceptions.

Philadelphia played without wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who was inactive after missing a special-teams meeting on Saturday and has now lost seven of its last eight games at home.

17. Oakland Raiders (5-4)

Last week’s ranking: 18

This week: Won at San Diego 24-17 (Thursday night)

Next: at Minnesota

Strength-of-victory factor: 23

Carson Palmer threw two touchdown passes and Michael Bush ran 30 times for a season-high 157 yards as the Raiders broke a two-game losing streak.

Palmer threw touchdown passes of 33 and 26 yards to Denarius Moore in his second start for Oakland. He was 14-for-20 for 299 yards and threw one interception. Bush also had 85 yards receiving and his 242 yards from scrimmage was the most for a Raider since the merger.

Oakland has won three straight against the Chargers after losing 13 in a row to San Diego.

16. Atlanta Falcons (5-4)

Last week’s ranking: 13

This week: Lost to New Orleans 26-23 (OT)

Next: vs. Tennessee

Strength-of-victory factor: 14

Mike Smith gambled and lost when Michael Turner was stopped on fourth-and-one from the Falcons’ 29-yard line in overtime. Four plays later, the Saints kicked the game-winning field goal.

Atlanta had rallied from 10 points down in the fourth quarter, tying the game on Matt Bryant’s 27-yard field goal as time expired in regulation. Matt Ryan was 29-for-52 for 351 yards and two touchdowns, connecting eight times with Harry Douglas for 133 yards.

Michael Turner rushed for 96 yards but couldn’t get the one that mattered in overtime.

15. Tennessee Titans (5-4)

Last week’s ranking: 16

This week: Won at Carolina 30-3

Next: at Atlanta

Strength-of-victory factor: 16

The Titans put a spy on Carolina rookie quarterback Cam Newton and recorded five sacks and an interception. Chris Johnson ran for a season-high 130 yards and scored a touchdown, with most of his yards coming in the second half.

Johnson came into the game with just 366 yards on the ground but had 174 yards from scrimmage and topped the 100-yard mark rushing for the first time since Oct. 2.

Tennessee ran for 172 yards on the day and Matt Hasselbeck was 15-for-27 for 219 yards and one interception, Marc Mariani also returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown.

14. New York Jets (5-4)

Last week’s ranking: 11

This week: Lost to New England 37-16

Next: at Denver (Thursday night)

Strength-of-victory factor: 19

The Jets lost for the first time at home after a 4-0 start, turning the ball over three times to the Patriots.

Mark Sanchez was 20-for-39 for 306 yards and a touchdown but was picked off twice and was sacked five times.

LaDainian Tomlinson passed Barry Sanders for fifth place on the career list for yards from scrimmage but left late with a knee injury.

A seven-yard touchdown reception by Plaxico Burress on the first play of the fourth quarter appeared to have gotten the Jets back into the game, but New England responded with a 13-play, 84-yard drive for an answering touchdown.

13. Buffalo Bills (5-4)

Last week’s ranking: 7

This week: Lost at Dallas 44-7

Next: at Miami

Strength-of-victory factor: 21

The Bills lost their second straight and third in four games and the homecoming was a bitter one for former Cowboys coach Chan Gailey and Arlington native Fred Jackson.

Ryan Fitzpatrick was 20-for-31 for 146 yards and a touchdown, a 3-yard strike to David Nelson. Nelson marked the occasion by giving the ball to his girlfriend, a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader. Fitzpatrick threw a season-high three interceptions, however, the second straight bad outing for the quarterback.

Buffalo also lost center Eric Wood to a season-ending knee injury.

12. New York Giants (6-3)

Last week’s ranking: 10

This week: Lost at San Francisco 27-20

Next: vs. Philadelphia

Strength-of-victory factor: 20

Eli Manning’s pass in the closing seconds was batted down and Big Blue’s latest comeback bid fell short. Manning had converted a pair of long fourth-down passes to get the Giants into the red zone with 1:53 to go.

Manning was 26-for-40 for 311 yards and two touchdowns but was also intercepted twice. New York ran for 93 yards and held Frank Gore to zero yards on six carries after Gore had topped 100 yards for five straight games.

Hakeem Nicks hauled in a 32-yard touchdown reception with 8:37 that got the Giants close.

11. Dallas Cowboys (5-4)

Last week’s ranking: 15

This week: Beat Buffalo 44-7

Next: at Washington

Strength-of-victory factor: 21

The Cowboys scored their most points since Sept. 9, 2007, and recorded their most lopsided win since Oct. 22, 2000. Tony Romo completed his first 13 passes before finishing 23-for-26, setting a franchise record for single-game accuracy, and had 270 yards and three touchdowns.

Rookie DeMarco Murray had 135 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries and also had 35 receiving yards on six catches.

Rookie kicker Dan Murray made three field goals and extended his streak of consecutive makes to 21, the third-best in Cowboy history.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-3)

Last week’s ranking: 8

This week: Lost to Pittsburgh 24-17

Next: at Baltimore

Strength-of-victory factor: 19

Andy Dalton threw two fourth-quarter interceptions and the Bengals had their five-game winning streak ended to lose their share of the AFC North lead.

Dalton also had two touchdown passes and his 14 TD tosses are the most by a rookie quarterback in his first nine games since the merger in 1970. He was 15-for-30 for 170 yards.

Cincinnati played much of the game without rookie wideout A.J. Green and lost cornerback Leon Hall for the season to a torn Achilles.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3)

Last week’s ranking: 14

This week: Won at Cincinnati 24-17

Next: Grabbing black-and-orange pompoms for the Cincinnati at Baltimore game

Strength-of-victory factor: 26

Rashard Mendenhall ran for two touchdowns and the Steelers had two fourth-quarter interceptions to hold on for the win and reclaim first place in the AFC North.

Ben Roethlisberger was 21-for-33 for 245 yards and a touchdown but was sacked five times and threw an interception off a deflection.

Pittsburgh has won eight of its last nine in Cincinnati, where Roethlisberger is 7-1 in his career.

8. Chicago Bears (6-3)

Last week’s ranking: 12

This week: Beat Detroit 37-13

Next: vs. San Diego

Strength-of-victory factor: 22

Charles Tillman and Major Wright returned interceptions for touchdowns early in the third quarter and the Bears had four picks in all to blow out the Lions in a heated game.

Chicago won its fourth straight thanks to a dominant defense and another punt return score by Devin Hester, who ran one back 82 yards, extending his NFL record for punt-return touchdowns to 12 and his combined kick-return scores to 17.

Matt Forte finished with 64 yards on the ground, 40 of them coming on one play.

7. New England Patriots (6-3)

Last week’s ranking: 9

This week: Won at New York Jets 37-16

Next: vs. Kansas City (Monday night)

Strength-of-victory factor: 26

Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes, two to Rob Gronkowski, and the Patriots took sole possession of first place in the AFC East.

New England responded to a Jets touchdown early in the fourth quarter when Deion Branch capped an 84-yard drive with an eight-yard scoring reception. Linebacker Rob Ninkovich sealed the win by returning an interception 12 yards for a score.

Brady was 26-for-39 for 329 yards, his 40^th career 300-yard passing game, breaking a tie with Joe Montana for eighth on the all-time list and joined Drew Brees as the only players with 3,000 passing yards in their team’s first nine games.

6. Detroit Lions (6-3)

Last week’s ranking: 3

This week: Lost at Chicago 37-13

Next: vs. Carolina

Strength-of-victory factor: 25

Matthew Stafford matched his season total entering the game by throwing four interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, and was involved in a fourth-quarter melee that led to the ejection of a Chicago player.

The Lions also fumbled the ball away twice and have lost three of four after a 5-0 start. Stafford, playing with a broken finger on his throwing hand, was 33-for-63 for 329 yards and any hope Detroit had of rebounding from a 20-6 halftime deficit was lost when Chicago recorded a pair of pick sixes early in the third quarter.

Calvin Johnson finished with seven catches for 81 yards and lost a fumble.

5. New Orleans Saints (7-3)

Last week’s ranking: 6

This week: Won at Atlanta 26-23 (OT)
Next: Sending thank-you gifts to Mike Smith

Strength-of-victory factor: 27

John Kasay kicked a 26-yard field goal in overtime four plays after the Falcons elected to go for it on 4th-and-1 from their own 29-yard line and the Saints took control of the NFC South race.

Drew Brees was 30-for-43 for 322 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Marques Colston had eight catches for 113 yards. Sean Payton returned to the sideline after coaching from the booth for two games following a knee injury.

Brees extended his NFL record, completing at least 20 passes for the 30^th straight game.

4. Baltimore Ravens (6-3)

Last week’s ranking: 4

This week: Lost at Seattle 22-17

Next: vs. Cincinnati

Strength-of-victory factor: 31
The Seahawks added another embarrassing flop to a Ravens’ season already marked by slip-ups at Tennessee and Jacksonville after important wins.

Baltimore got to within five points when Ed Dickson hauled in an 11-yard scoring pass from Joe Flacco with 5:52 remaining, but Seattle was able to piece together a time-consuming drive that chewed up most of the remaining clock.

Flacco was 29-for-52 for 255 yards and threw an interception. Ray Rice had just five carries for 27 yards and caught eight passes for 54 yards.

3. Houston Texans (7-3)

Last week’s ranking: 5

This week: Won at Tampa Bay 37-9

Next: Preparing to head down the stretch with Matt Leinart at quarterback

Strength-of-victory factor: 24

Matt Schaub threw for two long touchdowns and Arian Foster, Ben Tate and Derrick Ward each ran for scores while the top-ranked defense in the NFL delivered another strong effort.

The Texans won their fourth straight without wide receiver Andre Johnson, out with a hamstring injury, and head into their bye with their best-ever record through 10 games.

Schaub threw for 242 yards on 11-for-15 passing but was lost for the season after suffering a foot injury during the game. Matt Leinart, who hasn’t thrown a pass in a regular-season game since 2009, will take over as the starter.

2. San Francisco 49ers (8-1)

Last week’s ranking: 2

This week: Beat New York Giants 27-20

Next: vs. Arizona

Strength-of-victory factor: 34

Justin Smith batted down a fourth-down pass to end New York’s last drive and Carlos Rogers intercepted two passes as the 49ers won their seventh straight.

San Francisco won despite the Giants shutting down Frank Gore, who finished with six carries and no yards and left with a knee injury. Gore had run for 100 yards in five straight games prior to Sunday.

Alex Smith was 19-for-30 for 242 yards and completed at least three passes to four different receivers.

1. Green Bay Packers (9-0)

Last week’s ranking: 1

This week: Beat Minnesota 45-7 (Monday night)

Next: vs. Tampa Bay

Strength-of-victory factor: 34

Aaron Rodgers threw four touchdown passes against a fierce pass rush, Randall Cobb returned a punt 80 yards for a score and the much-maligned Packer defense contained Adrian Peterson and the Vikings.

Green Bay came into the game allowing nearly 300 passing yards a game but held Minnesota to 162 net passing yards while also limiting Peterson to 51 yards on 14 carries.

Rodgers was 23-for-30 for 250 yards and threw two touchdown passes to Jordy Nelson and also connected with Greg Jennings and John Kuhn for scores.