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Lou Landers’ NFL Power Rankings

NFL Power Rankings:

Welcome to the 2020 NFL Power Rankings. These are my personal rankings, based on my opinions of all 32 NFL teams. I go into detail only for the top 10 teams so come find me on Twitter @LandersTalks if you want further explanations, want to disagree with anything, or if you want to check out my weekly podcasts.

Week 10:

1 .Chiefs (8-1)

Week 9 was scary for a moment if you’re a Chiefs fan, but a win is a win and that’s what they got against the Panthers. It was the return of Christian McCaffrey and he along with QB Teddy Bridgewater and WR Curtis Samuel gave the Chiefs all they could handle. It wasn’t a pretty victory but it doesn’t have to be when you’re the defending Super Bowl champions and you lead your division. The running game is the one area where the Chiefs need to improve if they want to get back to the Super Bowl, however as long as Patrick Mahomes is healthy, this team is going places. They head into their bye week as one of only 2 teams in the NFL with 8 wins this season.

2. Steelers (8-0)

If you’re still in your NFL survivor leagues then you were probably paying very close attention to this game. I know that in 80% of mine the Steelers were the pick to beat the 2 win Cowboys. It was about as stressful a game as possible if you did in fact take the Steelers and although they came away with the win, it was by the narrowest of margins which makes you wonder just how good the Steelers are despite being undefeated. They were not only outplayed by the Cowboys but also helped by the refs in the final moments of the game. Had they beaten the cowboys by the large margin they were expected to, I might have even moved them up to the #1 spot on these rankings. Honestly, after their sad display on Sunday I was ready to move them down a spot. The only reason why they remain at #2 is their record.

  1. Ravens (6-2) ⬆️  1

It’s never easy to win a game on the road in the NFL, even in these Covid-19 times and not only did the Ravens walk into Indianapolis and come away with a 14 point win, they did it against one of the leagues top defenses. It’s true that Lamar Jackson hasn’t performed even close to what we saw him do a year ago, but the Ravens keep on winning anyways. Their only losses this season came at the hands of the 2 teams ranked ahead of them here; the Steelers and Chiefs. As one of the leagues top defenses, the Ravens are incredibly dangerous moving forward, especially as the weather starts to get colder. They will try for revenge vs the Steelers in a couple weeks on Thanksgiving night, a game in which they’ll either move closer to catching the Steelers and solidifying themselves as a contender or be swept by their division rival and find themselves as a likely wild card team come playoff time.

  1. Saints (6-2) ⬆️  2

Can you say statement game?! All the talk in the NFC South lately has been about how good the Bucs are. The Saints went into Tampa and not only beat Tom Brady and the Bucs, but they embarrassed them. The game was a laugher from start to finish. With the win the Saints took sole possession of first place in the division, beat the Bucs for the 2nd time this year and handed Tom Brady his first ever season sweep by a divisional opponent. Of course there is a lot of football left to be played this season but after what I saw in Week 9 there is no doubt in my mind that the Saints are the best team in the NFC… this week. It seems to change every week so you’ll have to come back to read next week’s version to see if they still remain atop the NFC rankings.

  1. Seahawks (6-2) ⬇️  2

Speaking of a new team being the elite in the NFC every week; meet the Seattle Seahawks. They’ve been great for most of the season and are still a force to be reckoned with. Problem is, they played a stinker in week 9 in Buffalo vs the Bills. Russell Wilson had by far his worst game of the year, turning the ball over multiple times and the Bills were able to score 44 points on the SEA defense. The SEA defense has been a problem for them most of the season, yet they have been able to overcome it thanks to  being the highest scoring team in the league. Clearly their porous defense finally caught up with them. If it continues this way they will definitely fall down these rankings.

  1. Titans (6-2) ⬆️  1

It wasn’t the toughest of opponents in the Bears and it wasn’t the prettiest of wins either. Nevertheless, the Titans got back into the win column following their embarrassing loss in week 8 to the Bengals. They also took over sole possession of first place in the AFC South thanks to their win and the Colts loss. It’s a quick turn around this week for the Titans who will host the aforementioned Colts on TNF. It’ll be a battle of a top offense vs a top defense; the winner will take the lead in the division.

  1. Packers (6-2) ⬆️  1

They are the best team in their division, however only one of their wins this season have come against a team with a winning record. They have also lost 2 of their past 4 games and are still looking for a weapon on the outside not named Devante Adams. Still, they sit atop the NFC North and have a cupcake matchup coming up this week against the 1 win Jaguars at home in Green Bay. In terms of yardage, this Packers team is also quite balanced. They are a top 10 offense both rushing and passing the football and defensively they rank in the top 10 in yards allowed per game. With no one establishing themselves as the top team in the NFC yet, the Packers could claim that title with a strong 2nd half and if RB Aaron Jones can stay healthy.

  1. Bills (7-2) ⬆️  2

Just as I was starting to write the Bills off as lucky due to their weak early schedule and inability to beat top teams, they took down an NFC powerhouse in week 9. The Bills jumped out to a 17-0 lead and then a 24-7 lead over the high powered Seahawks before winning the game 44-34. Although they allowed 33 points to Seattle, the Bills defense did force Russell Wilson to turn the ball over 4 times; 2 INT and 2 fumbles. They also held Seattle to just 57 rushing yards. Stefon DIggs continues to be one of the best offseason acquisitions in the NFL and QB Josh Allen silenced his critics with 415 passing yards, 3 pass TD and a rushing TD.

  1. Bucs (6-3) ⬇️  4

I’m still trying to wrap my head around what happened to the Bucs last weekend vs the Saints. By no means am I suggesting that the Saints don’t deserve credit, however, Brady and the Bucs looked to be the cream of the crop in the NFC South and were really clicking on both sides of the football. Instead, they let the Saints walk into their home building and dismantle them in prime time by a score of 38-3. Brady threw for just 209 yards, no TD while also throwing 3 INT. It was by far his worst game of the year and he will have to bounce back quickly as the Bucs head on the road to take on a Panthers team that despite their 3-6 record, they remain a very competitive team. In fact, the Panthers lost by just 2 points last week to the defending Super Bowl Champs. With a Bucs loss in week 10, they can find themselves going from the number 2 seed to the number 7 seed in a matter of 2 weeks. Not pretty, not pretty at all.

  1. Dolphins (5-3) ⬆️  2

Thanks to their big win over the Cardinals in week 9, the Dolphins find themselves in the top 10 for the first time all year and probably for the first time in over a decade. They have won 5 of their past 6 games, including 4 straight. The past 2 have been with rookie Tua Tagovailoa at QB and have come against the best division in the NFL; the NFC West. Statistically speaking, the Dolphins aren’t really good at anything, ranking as one of the worst passing and rushing offenses in the league and in the bottom 3rd in both pass and rush defense. They do however sit 4th in the NFL in points allowed per game. Regardless of what the stats tell us, this team is winning and based on their schedule, they should keep winning. Catching the Bills in the AFC East might be a big ask, but making the playoffs seems to be a real possibility for this up and coming squad.

  1. Colts (5-3)
  2. 12 .Cardinals (5-3) ⬇️  3
  3. Rams (5-3)
  4. Raiders (5-3) ⬆️  1
  5. Bears (5-4) ⬇️  1
  6. Eagles (3-4-1) ⬆️  2
  7. Browns (5-3) ⬇️  1
  8. 49ers (4-5) ⬇️  1
  9. Vikings (3-5) ⬆️  2
  10. Falcons (3-6) ⬆️  2
  11. 21 .Panthers (3-6) ⬆️  2
  12. Lions (3-5) ⬇️  3
  13. Broncos (3-5) ⬇️  3
  14. Patriots (3-5)
  15. 25 .Bengals (2-5-1)
  16. Chargers (2-6)
  17. 27 .Giants (2-7) ⬆️  1
  18. Texans (2-6) ⬆️  1
  19. WSH Football Team (2-6) ⬇️  2
  20. Cowboys (2-7)
  21. Jaguars (1-7)
  22. Jets (0-9)

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NFL Power Rankings: Week 9:

  1. Chiefs (7-1)

Last week the Chiefs did what all good teams should do – beat up on the bad teams. Mahomes threw for 5 touchdowns, the defense allowed just 9 points and they easily covered the 20 point spread. Looking at their schedule right now, this team has a legitimate chance to go 15-1, but are more likely to go 14-2 or 13-3 considering they do have to travel to Tampa and to New Orleans later in the season. They all but have their division wrapped up though and the only team that can challenge them in the AFC is the team that I have ranked next. The Chiefs have a top 5 offense in terms of points per game and a top 10 defense in terms of yards per game. They also are 2nd in the league in points per game and tied for 3rd in the league in points allowed per game. This is a complete team and could be the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champion since the Patriots in 2004 and 2005.

  1. Steelers (7-0) 

If there is anyone out there who didn’t believe in this Steelers team being elite, they better check themselves after the Steelers pulled out a massive win on the road in Baltimore. Not only are the Ravens the biggest threat to the Steelers in the division, but they are also considered to be a Super Bowl contender. No one had the Steelers being undefeated heading into week 9 but here we are and I can all but guarantee that they will be going to 8-0. They will be taking on the Cowboys this weekend and have 2 easy games after that vs the Bengals and Jaguars. It is not until week 12 on Thanksgiving night that they will be tested again and likely have to put their undefeated season on the line against the Ravens in the 2nd meeting between the 2 teams. The Steelers are 5th in the NFL in points per game this season and currently sit 6th in the NFL in both points allowed per game and yards allowed per game. What a difference it makes for them to have a healthy Big Ben at QB.

  1. Seahawks (6-1) ⬆️ 3

After their OT loss in week 7 to the Cardinals, I was beginning to doubt how good Seattle was due to an incredibly beatable defense. It still ranks as one of the worst in the NFL, but they did make strides in their week 8 victory and they are actually a top 10 run defense. This week they do have to go on the road to take on the 6-2 Bills which will not be an easy task, however, they have shown that no matter who their opponent is, they can out score them. Russell Wilson is playing like he’s going to win the MVP award and he has this offense leading the league in total yards per game and total points per game. Right now I am crowning them as the best team in the NFC, but there is still a lot to prove. They will have to beat the Cardinals the next time they play them, that’s a given, but they also have 2 more games upcoming vs the Rams who are very much alive in the NFC West race despite being beat up in week 8 by the Dolphins.

  1. Ravens (5-2) ⬆️ 1

Even with their loss to the Steelers I have the Ravens moving up a spot here. They played a great game that came right down to the wire and simply put they are a great football team with an explosive offense and a very good defense. The only bad thing I can say about this team is that they haven’t been able to beat the elite this season. Both of their losses have come against AFC elite. The defending champion Chiefs and the undefeated Steelers. Until this team beats a legitimate contender, they will remain outside of my top 3 on these rankings. This weekend they have a test on the road against a Colts team that has an identical 5-2 record. Although the Colts should not be considered elite, this game should tell us what we need to know about the Ravens moving forward.

5 and 6:  Bucs (6-2) ⬇️ 1 — Saints (5-2) ⬆️ 3

Although the Bucs came away with the win on MNF in week 8, it was far from pretty, especially considering they were up against a Giants team that has just 1 win on the season. Their lackluster performance in the win is the reason why they have moved down a spot, however they have an opportunity to maintain their top 5 placing and maybe even move up here with a win this weekend against the defending NFC South champion and division rival Saints. If you remember all the way back to week 1, the Saints beat the Bucs pretty handily and I have the 2 teams grouped together here because not only are they facing off on SNF this weekend, but the winner of the game will also be in first place heading into week 10. The Saints have had a very up and down season themselves and have dealt with not only injuries to Michael Thomas but also a disciplinary issue with him. His status for this weekend’s game will be a deciding factor I’m sure.  Both teams are elite at stopping the run which means we are more than likely going to see this game come down to which Hall Of Fame QB can make the last big play; Brady or Brees?

  1. Titans (5-2) ⬇️ 4

When you lose to a team that had one win all season entering the week, there is no where to go but down. Not only have they now lost 2 in a row, but losing to a Bengals team who has a rookie QB is not something that a top 5 team in the league does. They allowed over 30 points and struggled offensively against a defense that is ranked 27th in the NFL in yards allowed per game. As good as Henry, Tannehill, and the offense has been, the Titans defense is their Achilles heel and might even cost them a chance to win their division. They have a chance to rectify the situation this weekend vs a Bears team that despite their 5-3 record has struggled mightily to score points and move the football. I think the past 2 weeks have just been bumps in the road for this team, lets see how they respond.

  1. Packers (5-2) ⬇️ 1

Last week the Packers lost a game that they had no business losing. I know it was a division rival and that anything goes in those types of matchups, but heading into the week the Packers were a 1-loss team and the Vikings were a 1-win team. They were headed in opposite directions and to add insult to injury, the game was played in Green Bay. They have a fast turn around this week on TNF against the 49ers who are just riddled with injuries and covid related absences. If the Packers can’t come away with a victory here then they will find themselves outside of the top 10 altogether. They will be without their top 3 RBs in this game, but they do have Aaron Rodgers who is having a terrific season and WR Davante Adams has been a TD machine. The Pack currently sit at 3rd in the NFL in points per game and rank in the top 10 in both passing and rushing the football. They are a very balanced offense and when they do get their RB’s back and healthy, I expect them to take flight again and regain complete control of the NFC North.

  1. Cardinals (5-2) ⬇️ 1

There really is no reason for me to have the Cardinals moving down a spot besides the fact that they didn’t play last week. They also haven’t proven to me that they deserve to be ahead of any of the teams that are ranked above them. One win vs an elite team in SEA doesn’t automatically put you into elite company. I will say this though, they are trending in the right direction and still have 2 games remaining against the NFC East (least) and 4 against their own division. Kyler Murray has taken huge steps forward in his 2nd year under center and the offseason acquisition of DeAndre Hopkins has worked out even better than anyone could have imagined. This offense is tough to stop, Murray is a dual threat of course and although their defense is giving up a lot of yards this year, they are top 10 in terms of points allowed per game. They have been a bend-don’t-break unit which is working well for them and will continue to work well for them as they boast the leagues 2nd best rushing attack offensively. Keeping the ball on the ground and in the hands of Murray and the RB’s is the best defense the Cardinals have. They take on an up-and-coming Dolphins team this week, both teams have won 3 in a row, lets see who can make it 4.

  1. Bills (6-2) ⬆️ 2

Although I have my doubts about this Bills team, they have 6 wins and lead their division. In fact, only the Steelers and Chiefs have more wins than the Bills do; not just in the AFC but in the entire NFL. So based on that and really that alone, they have moved into my top 10. Now to why I have my doubts. They were handed their win vs the Rams by the refs, they only beat the Dolphins by 3 points and were lucky to get by the 2 win Patriots in week 8. Their losses came to the Chiefs and the Titans who are 2 of the better teams in the AFC. They haven’t beaten a top team yet and arguably could be 4-4 or even 3-5 with 2 of those 3 or 4 wins coming against the winless Jets. One thing is for sure, if the Bills are as good as their record says they are, we won’t need to wait much longer to find out. They are playing the Seahawks this weekend and if they can pull off the upset, they will get all the admiration and credit they deserve.

  1. Colts (5-2) ⬆️ 2
  2. Dolphins (4-3) ⬆️ 4
  3. Rams (5-3) ⬇️ 3
  4. Bears (5-3) 
  5. Raiders (4-3) ⬆️ 4
  6. Browns (5-3) ⬇️ 1
  7. 49ers (4-4) ⬇️ 6
  8. Eagles (3-4-1) ⬆️ 4 
  9. Lions (3-4) ⬇️ 2

 

  1. Broncos (3-4) ⬆️ 3
  2. Vikings (2-5) ⬆️ 6
  3. Falcons (2-6) ⬆️ 4
  4. Panthers (3-5) ⬇️ 5
  5. Patriots (2-5) ⬇️ 4
  6. Bengals (2-5-1) ⬆️ 4
  7. Chargers (2-5) ⬇️ 5
  8. WSH Football Team (2-5) ⬇️ 3
  9. Giants (1-7) ⬆️ 2
  10. Texans (1-6) ⬇️ 4
  11. Cowboys (2-6) ⬇️ 1
  12. Jaguars (1-6) 
  13. Jets (0-8)

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Welcome to the 2nd installment of the 2020 NFL Power Rankings. These are my personal rankings, based on my opinions of all 32 NFL teams. The Top 10 teams have explanations, but feel free to hit me up on Twitter @LandersTalks if you want to disagree with anything or get an explanation for a team that I didn’t go into detail about. I welcome it! 

NFL Power Rankings: Week 8:

  1. Chiefs (6-1)

The Super Bowl Champs just keep on keeping on. They are coming off another dominant win and most of the big plays came from their defense which makes this team all the more scary. We have come to expect big things from Mahomes and this offense, so when the defense racks up sacks, forces turnovers and finds the endzone like they have been, the rest of the league is in serious trouble. They get a cupcake matchup in week 8 vs the winless Jets. 

  1. Steelers (6-0) 

Their biggest test of the season came in week 7 and the Steelers were up to the task. They went on the road and beat a Titans team that entering week 7 was 5-0. Thus proving that heading into week 8 they are the elite in the AFC and deserving of the 2nd spot on the rankings. If they can pull off a win this week against the division rival and reigning AFC North Champion Ravens, they will have cemented 2nd place for weeks to come and will start to be considered as the number 1 team here, regardless of what the Chiefs do. The Steelers currently rank 6th in the NFL in both points scored per game and points allowed per game. 

  1. Titans (5-1)

The Titans have been making epic comebacks all season long and looked to be in position to do so again in week 7 against the undefeated Steelers. With just seconds left on the clock, kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed a game tying FG, resulting in the Titans first loss of the season. Their efforts in the loss coupled with their overall performance this season and dating back to last years postseason success still has them in the 3 spot entering week 8 where they get to take on a 1 win Bengals team. We may not know how good this Titans team really is until after week 12 though. Their toughest part of the schedule begins in week 9 with the Bears, Colts, Ravens and Colts again. They will need to win at least 3 of those 4 games if they want to even remain in the top 5.

  1. Bucs (5-2) ⬆️ 2

Tom Brady and company are on the rise once again this week after another dominant performance. The past 2 weeks they have beaten their opponents by a combined 53 points. The offense is firing on all cylinders, it’s incredibly efficient and the defense continues to play at a very high level. Sacks, INT, Fumbles and even defensive TD’s. Over the past 4 weeks, Brady has thrown 12 TD and 1 INT proving once again that age is just a number and that he is worth every penny the Bucs are paying him. This team is a legit contender and seems to only be getting better as the weeks go on.

  1. Ravens (5-1)

The Ravens remain in the number 5 spot for week 8, but they will surely be going up or down following this weekend’s game vs the Steelers. In their only real test of the season thus far, the Ravens looked rather pedestrian against the defending Super Bowl Champion Chiefs and their offense hasn’t been the unstoppable force that it was last season. They do currently rank 1st in the NFL in points allowed per game and they have an opportunity to prove that dominance against the undefeated Steelers; a team that is scoring over 30 points per game this season.

  1. Seahawks (5-1) ⬇️ 2

As good as this offense has been this season, primarily Russell Wilson and the passing attack, their defense has been equally as bad. They rank dead last in the NFL in yards allowed per game and teams are scoring just under 29 points per game against them. The struggles on defense finally caught up to them last week in their OT loss to the Cardinals. They now have another tough game vs the suddenly hot 49ers and if their defense doesn’t do its part this weekend, the Seahawks could not only lose again but also continue to slide down the power rankings. 

  1. Packers (5-1)

After suffering their first and only loss of the season; an embarrassing blowout loss to the Bucs in week 6, the Packers bounced back in fine fashion in week 7 on the road in Houston. They dominated the Texans from start to finish, holding Houston to just 7 points through the first 3 quarters before allowing 13 garbage time points. Aaron Rodgers looks fantastic, Davante Adams is one of the top WR in football and the ground game was still very effective in week 7 even without star RB Aaron Jones. The key to this team’s success will be their defense which for the most part has been solid. They are a bend, don’t break type of defense which is enough to win them the NFC North, however I look at the loss to Tampa in week 6 and worry about this Packers defense when it comes to facing elite teams. 

  1. Cardinals (5-2) ⬆️ 4

They only won 5 games all of last season so to see them at 5-2 and in the top 10 of these rankings might shock some people. Hey, they’re my rankings and I’m shocked by it too, boy do they deserve to be here right now though. What a week 7 it was for this Cards team; taking on a Seahawks team that was undefeated coming into the week, coming back from a double digit deficit in the game and then winning in OT. QB Kyler Murray has this offense buzzing right now, they are 3rd in the NFL in total yards per game, they are scoring 29 points per game and are a top 10 defense in terms of points allowed per game. This team is on the rise, don’t sleep on them. 

  1. Saints (4-2)

It’s been a weird 7 weeks for the Saints who have yet to win a game handily this season. They lost by 10 to the Raiders in a game that they were clear favorites in, they lost the next week to the Packers and then only beat the Lions, Chargers and Panthers by a combined 12 points the past 3 weeks. They have ongoing internal drama with star WR Michael Thomas, Drew Brees has looked too old at times and yet they are scoring 30 points per game and are 9th in the league in passing yards per game. They have way too much talent to be any lower on this list right now, yet they haven’t proven themselves to be good enough to be ranked any higher. The next 3 weeks (Bears, Bucs, 49ers) is arguably the toughest part of their schedule and we will find out just how good or bad they really are. 

  1. Rams (5-2) ⬆️ 1

Are the Bears good? I know this is about the Rams but until I see them beat a good team I just can’t rank them higher than 10th. The defense has been impressive, very impressive actually. They’re 2nd in points allowed per game and 6th in total yards allowed per game. Back to the Bears though and why I brought them up. They are the only team the Rams have beaten this season that doesn’t reside in the worst division in football; the NFC East. To be fair though, the Bears were looking good and were 5-1 and before the Rams beat them rather easily. The next 5 weeks will tell us everything we need to know; The Rams play the suddenly hot Dolphins, the 5-1 Seahawks, the 5-2 Bucs, the resurgent 49ers and then the 5-2 Cardinals. It’s possible that they go 1-4 in these games but just as possible that they go 4-1. That’s how little we really know about this team. 

  1. 49ers (4-3) ⬆️ 6
  2. Bills (5-2) ⬇️ 4
  3. Colts (4-2) ⬆️ 3 
  4. Bears (5-2) ⬇️ 4
  5. Browns (5-2) ⬇️ 1
  6. Dolphins (3-3) ⬆️ 3
  7. Lions (3-3) ⬆️ 5
  8. Panthers (3-4)
  9. Raiders (3-3) ⬇️ 6
  10. Patriots (2-4) ⬇️ 5
  11. Chargers (2-4)
  12. Eagles (2-4-1) ⬆️ 2
  13. Broncos (2-4) ⬇️ 3
  14. WSH Football Team (2-5) ⬆️ 7
  15. Texans (1-6)
  16. Falcons (1-6)
  17. Vikings (1-5)
  18. Cowboys (2-5) ⬇️ 5
  19. Bengals (1-5-1)
  20. Giants (1-6) ⬇️ 2 
  21. Jaguars (1-6) ⬇️ 1
  22. Jets (0-7)

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NFL Power Rankings: Week 7:

  1. Chiefs (5-1)

The reigning Super Bowl Champs will remain in this number 1 spot as long as they don’t have another melt down like they did vs the Raiders a couple weeks ago. After laying a beat down on the AFC East leading Bills, it appears that their meltdown is in the rearview mirror. The next 2 weeks should be easy pickings for them as well. They get the Broncos and the Jets. Expect them to improve to 7-1.

  1. Steelers (5-0) 3. Titans (5-0)

I am grouping these 2 together for a couple reasons. They are both undefeated and they happen to be matching up vs each other this weekend. I doubt I will be moving either of them out of the top 3, however, the winner of this game will be 2nd on next week’s rankings. The only way that I see either team not staying towards the top would be an injury to Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger or Titans RB Derek Henry. 

  1. Seahawks (5-0)

They are undefeated, Russell Wilson is playing like an MVP and he is dropping back to pass over 67% of the time. They could arguably be higher on this list considering they currently lead the best division in the NFL, but I want to see them play tougher opponents before handing them a top-3 spot.

  1. Ravens (5-1)

Baltimore is good, maybe even great, but in their only real challenge so far this season they failed miserably. The Chiefs had their way with them and QB Lamar Jackson was pretty pedestrian compared to what we have come to expect from him. They are still averaging about 30 points per game this season and have a very opportunistic defense that can impact a game at any moment.

  1. Bucs (4-2)

Prior to week 6, I had this Bucs team outside the top 10. Following their victory over the then undefeated Packers this past week, I now view them as a possible NFC South division champion. We knew they would score a lot with Tom Brady and all of these pass catching options. What we didn’t know was that their defense could be this good. If they continue to get pressure on opposing QBs and can force multiple turnovers, I give the Bucs a chance to beat anyone on “Any Given Sunday”.

  1. Packers (4-1)

Last week had I been making these lists, the Packers would have been in the top 2 or 3. After blowing an early 10 point lead, giving up 38 unanswered points and losing 38-10 to the Bucs, I had no choice but to move them down a bunch of spots. Rodgers completed under 50% of his passes and was even removed from the game in the 4th quarter. In week 6 this Packers squad was a far cry from the one we saw the first 4 games of their season.

  1. Bills (4-2)

The Bills started the season 4-0, Josh Allen was being mentioned as a possible MVP and the city of Buffalo was planning the Super Bowl parade for February 2021. Then the Bills came back to reality in week 5 and 6 when they ran into real teams and were no match for either one. The Titans and Chiefs both had their way with this Bills squad, calling into question how good they really are. They get to face the winless Jets this week, then have a big game vs a troubled looking Patriots team. The real test for this squad will come in week 9 when they host Russell Wilson and the Seahawks.

  1. Saints (3-2)

They haven’t played like a top-10 team this season, and quite frankly they are lucky that they aren’t 2-3 or even 1-4. Their only really decisive win this season came back in week 1 vs a Bucs team that was getting its first live game action with Tom Brady. The Bucs are 4-1 since then and the Saints have lost to the Raiders and Packers while struggling to beat the Lions and Chargers who have 3 wins combined this year. They do have Michael Thomas coming back, a HOF QB in Drew Brees, and one of the most dynamic RBs in the NFL; Alvin Kamara. So things should only get better from here, this weekend vs the division rival Carolina Panthers should be quite telling. 

  1. Bears (5-1)  11. Rams (4-2)

Most of the lists I have seen for week 7 have the Rams ranked ahead of the Bears. I don’t get why considering the Bears are 5-1 and have only gotten better since Nick Foles’ first game as a starter for them. They play great defense, they’re winning close games and they now have a QB who has a proven track record of being clutch when it matters most. They play the Rams this week which is why I have them grouped together. Speaking of the Rams, this might be the most overrated 4-2 football team. On the surface the record is good, now consider this; All of their wins this season have come against possibly the worst division in NFL history, the 2020 NFC East. Until they beat a good team, they will remain right where they are on my list. They have a chance to prove themselves this weekend, let’s see how they respond.

  1. Cardinals (4-2)
  2. Raiders (3-2)
  3. Browns (4-2)
  4. Patriots (2-3)
  5. Colts (4-2)
  6. 49ers (3-3)
  7. Panthers (3-3)
  8. Dolphins (3-3)
  9. Broncos (2-3)
  10. Chargers (1-5)
  11. Lions (2-3)
  12. Cowboys (2-4)
  13. Eagles (1-4-1)
  14. Texans (1-5)
  15. Falcons (1-5)
  16. Vikings (1-5)
  17. Giants (1-5)
  18. Bengals (1-4-1)
  19. Jaguars (1-5)
  20. WSH Football Team (1-5)
  21. Jets (0-6)

Recent News

Chiefs offense cruises past Saints in MNF as Kansas City moves to 5-0
The Saints struggled all night and saw QB Derek Carr leave the game with an oblique injury in the fourth quarter.
(Oct 8 -- ESPN)

Samaje Perine: Travis Kelce lateral not scripted, gotta keep your head on a swivel
Running back Samaje Perine hasn't been a member of the Chiefs for very long, but he's been around long enough to know that you can't take your eyes off the ball when it is in tight end Travis Kelce's hands.
(Oct 8 -- Yahoo Sports)

Shane Steichen: I have faith Gus Bradley can get defense turned around
The Colts defense gave up nearly 500 yards to the Jaguars in Sunday's 37-34 loss and the performance wasn't an outlier from what they've done in earlier games this season.
(Oct 8 -- ProFootballTalk.com)

Khalen Saunders on big man interception: Good return, wanted to take it all the way
Saints defensive tackle Khalen Saunders kept his team in the game on Monday night by intercepting a pass in the end zone that easily could have been a touchdown, and then showing off some surprising speed in returning it 37 yards.
(Oct 8 -- ProFootballTalk.com)

Spend a lot on wide receivers, or win a Super Bowl -- is it possible to do both?
Since 2017, only the '20 Chiefs and Bills invested a Top 5 cap charge for their wide receiver corps and made a conference championship.
(Oct 8 -- ESPN)

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