While most power rankings will fluctuate wildly, these should stay reasonably similar on a week-to-week basis.
Number 32: Miami Dolphins (ELO: 1256, +0)
The Dolphins nearly blew up their tank, but thankfully, Brian Flores remembered that the Dolphins are supposed to go 0-16. A screen call on a two-point conversion? This is a clear tank job.
Number 31: Cincinnati Bengals (ELO: 1277, +0)
The Bengals were not remotely competitive on Sunday. Despite only losing by six, the Bengals never posed a serious threat to the Ravens. The only threat that the Bengals look like they could make is a 1-15 season.
Number 30: Washington Redskins (ELO: 1290, +0)
The Redskins technically won on Sunday, but they nearly blew a 17-point lead to the worst team in NFL history. It was a pathetic performance. The Redskins are a horror show.
Number 29: Atlanta Falcons (ELO: 1300, -3)
The Falcons are hot trash. The defense sucks. It is a shameful football team to watch on a weekly basis. Congratulations on the 4-12 season that you are having.
Number 28: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ELO: 1329, -4)
Jameis Winston took his interception act to London, throwing a quintet of picks (I don’t get to type “quintet” often, so enjoy it). Shaq Barrett seems to have cooled off, but Chris Godwin is staking a claim as 2019’s best receiver. Godwin has been stellar. Sadly for fantasy owners, the Buccaneers are on a bye next week.
Number 27: New York Giants (ELO: 1330, +1)
The return of Saquon Barkley warrants a one-spot leap in the rankings. A win over the Cardinals would keep the Giants one game back from the NFC East crown. Is it possible for them to win the NFC East?
Number 26: Arizona Cardinals (ELO: 1377, +3)
The Cardinals are fun to watch. Kyler Murray has been electric. David Johnson is rounding into form. Patrick Peterson will return from suspension this week. The Cardinals stand at 2-3-1, but the return of their best defensive player (not named Chandler Jones) could move the Cardinals to the fringe of the playoff hunt in the NFC.
Number 25: Tennessee Titans (ELO: 1419, -4)
Marcus Mariota was benched for Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill likely will have a decent performance against the Chargers on Sunday, solidifying his starting position while officially ending the Mariota era in Nashville.
Number 24: Los Angeles Chargers (ELO: 1446, -6)
Yes, the Chargers only lost by seven. But they were a horror show for the majority of the game. Despite having loads of talent all over the roster, the Chargers have been the NFL’s biggest disappointment. They are terrible. Derwin James will help, but the Chargers could be out of the playoff picture before he comes back.
Number 23: Jacksonville Jaguars (ELO: 1448, -3)
The Jaguars had a tough loss to the Saints, dropping them to 2-4. The departure of Jalen Ramsey via trade contributes to the Jaguars falling an extra spot, but the haul for Ramsey will almost certainly be beneficial over the next two seasons.
Number 22: New York Jets (ELO: 1450, +5)
Sam Darnold is back. The Jets recuperated their lost points, flying up in the power rankings. They will likely lose Monday night, but the Jets have lots of winnable games down the stretch of the season.
Number 21: Denver Broncos (ELO: 1455, +4)
I am not bold enough to say that the Broncos will beat the Chiefs, but, unfortunately, the Broncos are only 2-4. A loss to the Chiefs likely ends the playoff hopes for Denver, so I expect the game to be awkwardly close on Thursday night.
Number 20: Pittsburgh Steelers (ELO: 1460, +3)
The Steelers have one of the better defenses in the NFL. Led by Devin Bush, the defense has pulled in some excellent performances since their 0-3 start. Any sort of offensive production found over the bye week could propel the Steelers to the top of the AFC North as the Browns and Ravens both see the Patriots in the coming weeks.
Number 19: Oakland Raiders (ELO: 1463, +3)
How did the Raiders move up after a bye week? The horrific play of the Jaguars, Chargers, and Titans helped the Raiders out. The Raiders come off their bye and will travel to Green Bay.
Number 18: Cleveland Browns (ELO: 1493, -4)
The Browns need to learn their identity … fast. They played well for three quarters, but a variety of questionable decisions from Freddie Kitchens contributed to the loss. The Browns head to a bye week.
Number 17: Detroit Lions (ELO: 1507, +0)
The Lions played another good game against a good team, but the referees thought that the face extends down to the chest of a lineman. Despite the shoddy calls, the Lions are still afloat in the NFC playoff picture.
Number 16: Dallas Cowboys (ELO: 1515, -7)
In all seriousness, I think this is an overreaction. Losing to the Jets is terrible, but the Jets are a different team with Sam Darnold at quarterback. In a greater sense, the Cowboys dominated many facets of the game, and they lost due to some questionable scoring decisions early in the game.
Number 15: Buffalo Bills (ELO: 1517, +1)
With the Cowboys imploding, the Bills are slowly moving up the power rankings. While a win over the Dolphins will not do much to push the Bills up, they can be penciled in as the No. 5 seed in the AFC.
Number 14: Indianapolis Colts (ELO: 1519, +1)
Despite the bye, the Colts move up a spot. The Colts return from their bye to host the Texans. As T.Y. Hilton licks his chops, the Colts can take control of the AFC South with a win.
Number 13: Los Angeles Rams (ELO: 1545, -8)
The Rams have lost back-to-back games to two of the five best teams in the NFL, but the 49ers decimated the Rams. Jared Goff looked more like Jared Goof, and the offensive line has turned into turnstiles. Jalen Ramsey is a fancy bandage, but he cannot fix the offensive line.
Number 12: Carolina Panthers (ELO: 1556, +7)
Nope, this has nothing to do with Kyle Allen. The Carolina front seven has woken up from an early-season slumber to shred opposing offensive lines. Of their four wins, they only have one big-time win (over the Texans), but the Panthers have not been threatened for the most part.
Number 11: Philadelphia Eagles (ELO: 1557, -4)
I am not ready to sell all of my Eagles stock quite yet, but they were dominated by the Vikings. A 3-3 record looks bad, but a win over the Cowboys next week would almost give the division to the Eagles.
Number 10: Chicago Bears (ELO: 1585, +1)
The Bears step back into the top 10 after the exoduses of the Eagles, Rams, and Cowboys out of the top 10. The Saints come to town next week, and that’s a chance for the Bears to return to the top quarter of the power rankings.
Number 9: Kansas City Chiefs (ELO: 1598, -5)
Patrick Mahomes has not been himself for the last couple of weeks. Yes, he is injured, but he has just looked worse. For the other 52 players, the offensive line has not helped Mahomes, and the defense has been eaten alive by Marlon Mack and Deshaun Watson.
Number 8: Green Bay Packers (ELO: 1602, +0)
The Packers had no adjustment to their Splash-ELO value after being gifted a win in Detroit.
Number 7: Minnesota Vikings (ELO: 1615, +6)
Minnesota is a truly weird team. They have clobbered the bad defenses they have played. They thoroughly dismantled the Eagles, but they have been subpar against teams that were not decimated in the secondary.
Number 6: Houston Texans (ELO: 1629, +4)
Deshaun Watson is the second-best quarterback in the NFL. The offensive line has started to play better, unveiling an MVP-level Watson. If DeAndre Hopkins remembers that he is DeAndre Hopkins, the Texans will be AFC finalists.
Number 5: Baltimore Ravens (ELO: 1633, +1)
The Ravens had a pretty systematic victory over the Bengals. The game was never in question. After the opening kickoff, all three units of the Ravens operated in perfect sequence. The acquisition of Marcus Peters contributed to a couple of points, pushing the Ravens over the Texans barely.
Number 4: San Francisco 49ers (ELO: 1643, +8)
Welcome to the top five, San Francisco. I was skittish on moving the 49ers up too much, but their win over the Rams had the double effect of moving the 49ers up and moving the Rams down. The 49ers are well-deserving of this position.
Number 3: Seattle Seahawks (ELO: 1655, +4)
Seattle had a fairly quiet victory in Cleveland. Russell Wilson has extended his lead as the best quarterback in the NFL. The defense was effective enough to force a trio of Baker Mayfield interceptions.
Number 2: New Orleans Saints (ELO: 1702, +4)
The Saints are the best team in the NFC. The defense has been elite in recent weeks as Marshon Lattimore has returned to his 2017 form. The offense has not been explosive under Bridgewater, a blessing in disguise as the Saints have no semblance of a quarterback controversy. The return of Drew Brees will launch the Saints into striking distance of the Patriots as the best team in the NFL.
Number 1: New England Patriots (ELO: 1829, +0)
The Patriots are the best team in the NFL. They may not be untouchable, but they are on the fast to winning their seventh Super Bowl.
