No more undefeated teams. We’re starting to see who the true contenders are.
The Rankings
1- Buffalo Bills (6-1)
Bills are still too sloppy at times, but Josh Allen is the best player in the NFL.
2- San Francisco 49ers (6-1)
Did the Niners get healthier during their bye?
3- Chicago Bears (6-2) +3
Jeffery Simmons has elevated the Bears defense to Super level.
4- Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2) +3
Jags have quietly become an elite team.
5- Denver Broncos (6-2) +3
Broncos are starting to look like the team that should have represented the AFC in last year’s Super Bowl.
6- Seattle Seahawks (4-4) -3
Seahawks have issues on offense, but the defense is championship level.
7- Kansas City Chiefs (5-2) -3
Chiefs have lost 2 in a row and slipped into second place in the AFC West.
8- Detroit Lions (5-2) +3
Lions are clicking on offense, perhaps an addition or two on defense can push them into the elite.
9- New England Patriots (5-3) +1
Pats should be looking for receivers to help elevate this offense.
10- Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) -1
Bengals tend to play down to their competition, but damn, are they explosive.
11- Minnesota Vikings (6-1) -6
Vikings suffered their first loss and the schedule doesn’t get easier.
12- Los Angeles Rams (4-4)
Rams are starting to put it together and Myles Garrett should be back soon.
13- Green Bay Packers (5-3) +1
Packers are in last place in the NFC North, but they’re lurking.
14- Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) +2
Steelers are looking like the most complete team in the AFC North.
15- New York Giants (4-2-1) +3
Giants come out of the bye in complete control of the NFC East.
16- Las Vegas Raiders (4-4) +4
Raiders ended their four game skid and kept themselves in the playoff mix.
17- Cleveland Browns (5-3) -2
The Browns got a reality check in Pittsburgh, how do they respond?
18- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5) +6
Bucs have two straight blowouts without throwing for 100 yards combined. Might be the favorites in the NFC South now.
19- Atlanta Falcons (3-5) -2
Falcons travel to Spain desperate to right the ship.
20- Baltimore Ravens (4-4) -7
Ravens season teeters on the brink as they’re down to their third quarterback.
21- Arizona Cardinals (3-5) +4
Cardinals are embracing Minshew mania. Overlook them at your own risk.
22- Dallas Cowboys (3-5) -3
Cowboys should have seized control of the NFC East, but they’ve fumbled it away.
23- Carolina Panthers (3-4) -2
Panthers have been flat since their bye, can they turn it around?
24- Houston Texans (2-5) -2
Texans come out of their bye with their playoff hopes on life support.
25- New Orleans Saints (2-5) -2
Saints are still alive because the NFC South is weak, but they’ve got to get it going.
26- Washington Commanders (2-4-1) +1
Commanders got a win, but they’re not going anywhere.
27- Philadelphia Eagles (2-6) -1
It’s been a long time since the Eagles were sellers at the deadline.
28- Miami Dolphins (1-6)
Dolphins are going to battle, but they have a serious talent deficiency.
29- New York Jets (2-6)
Jets are having another lost season, how much are they selling?
30- Tennessee Titans (1-7)
It was a loss for the Titans, but might have been Cam Ward’s best game as a pro.
31- Indianapolis Colts (2-6)
Colts have thrown in the towel, and it shows.
32- Los Angeles Chargers (0-7)
Chargers should be selling, but they stubbornly refuse, so far.
