While most power rankings will fluctuate wildly, these should stay reasonably similar on a week-to-week basis.
Number 32: Cincinnati Bengals (ELO: 1219, +0)
Miraculously, the Bengals escaped their bye week without taking another loss. The Bengals are now the frontrunners for the No. 1 pick in the 2020 draft. Congrats!
Number 31: Atlanta Falcons (ELO: 1224, -1)
The Falcons have been flat-out terrible. The defense is a colossal mess. The offense has underwhelmed. Should they blow it up?
Number 30: Washington Redskins (ELO: 1238, -1)
The Redskins saw a glimpse of the future in starting Dwayne Haskins. It could have been worse.
Number 29: New York Jets (ELO: 1253, -5)
The Jets lost to the Dolphins. That’s it.
Number 28: New York Giants (ELO: 1262, -1)
The Giants are trending up for the future. Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley should be competitive for years to come.
Number 27: Miami Dolphins (ELO: 1299, +4)
The Dolphins won! Sadly, the cost of winning was stud rookie wide receiver Preston Williams injuring his leg. The Dolphins have a decent shot at the No. 1 pick, but winning a game hurts their chances.
Number 26: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ELO: 1305, +0)
Ronald Jones and Vita Vea have turned corners in the NFL. This Bucs team will be interesting … in 2020. The secondary needs work, and Jameis Winston needs a serious wake-up call, but the Buccaneers are not as bad as their 2-6 record shows.
Number 25: Arizona Cardinals (ELO: 1325, +0)
The Cardinals were a couple of plays away from knocking off the undefeated 49ers. An offensive line would do wonders for Kyler Murray in the future. Watch out!
Number 24: Cleveland Browns (ELO: 1381, +5)
Ew.
Number 23: Denver Broncos (ELO: 1383, +5)
Brandon Allen was nothing special, but the Broncos were able to escape with a win over the Browns. Courtland Sutton is a stud, but it is time for Broncos fans to wonder if Drew Lock will get his time this season or if he has to wait until 2020.
Number 22: Tennessee Titans (ELO: 1448, -2)
The Titans ran up against a better team. The Titans sit two games out of the playoff race in the AFC. Ryan Tannehill is likely not good enough to keep the Titans afloat moving forward. Is it time for Joe Burrow or Jake Fromm?
Number 21: Oakland Raiders (ELO: 1449, +2)
The Raiders just need a couple of small pieces before they step up as a real contender. Josh Jacobs is a big-time stud. Darren Waller and Tyrell Williams are nice pass-catchers, but it seems like the Raiders are a piece away on offense and defense.
Number 20: Jacksonville Jaguars (ELO: 1457, -4)
Minshew Mania is over. The Jaguars looked putrid in London. Gardner Minshew turned the ball over repeatedly, and the decision for the Jaguars to switch to Nick Foles makes sense.
Number 19: Chicago Bears (ELO: 1459, -1)
The Bears are bad. Your local high school team runs a more effective offense than this squad. Mitchell Trubisky is a colossal mess. Matt Nagy needs to call more running plays. The defense has regressed.
Number 18: Detroit Lions (ELO: 1488, -4)
The Lions are the definition of mediocre. They have solid players on both sides of the ball. They have had their fair share of tough losses, but the Lions are difficult to beat on any given day.
Number 17: Los Angeles Chargers (ELO: 1490, +5)
The Chargers have worked their way back into the playoff hunt with back-to-back wins. A win over the Raiders on Thursday would push the Chargers into serious competition for the last Wild Cards spot in the AFC. It would be the perfect time for Derwin James to come back into this defense. Also, Melvin Gordon and Joey Bosa had huge games last week.
Number 16: Pittsburgh Steelers (ELO: 1499, +3)
The Steelers have won four of the last five, and they get their third straight home game next week. They were a tad lucky to escape with a win on Sunday, but the defense is legit. Minkah Fitzpatrick is a budding star, and the likes of Devin Bush and others have the Steelers back in the AFC playoff race.
Number 15: Buffalo Bills (ELO: 1521, +2)
Last week, I think I hit the nail on the head. Here is an updated statement: I would like you to find an impressive win for Buffalo. Of their six wins, they have beat a winless team (Cincinnati), two 1-7 teams, a 2-7 Giants team, and a 4-5 Titans team that missed four field goals). The Bills will make the playoffs, but they have not shown that they can beat a team with any talent.
Number 14: Carolina Panthers (ELO: 1525, +1)
Kyle Allen is not the answer, but he might be good enough to keep the Panthers from taking enough losses to knock them out of the playoffs. Christian McCaffrey is the favorite for Offensive Player of the Year, and the Panthers have been tremendous defensively.
Number 13: Indianapolis Colts (ELO: 1556, -4)
A dreadful shanked field goal kept the Colts from winning their sixth game. If Jacoby Brissett misses any time, the Colts could lose some games after dispatching the Dolphins next week.
Number 12: Philadelphia Eagles (ELO: 1591, +1)
After being slaughtered by the Cowboys, the Eagles have stormed back to win back-to-back games. They head into a bye week before facing the Patriots in Philadelphia. Is an upset brewing?
Number 11: Minnesota Vikings (ELO: 1597, -5)
Yeesh. The Vikings did not play particularly well, and their defense was abused by Matt Moore and Damien Williams. The road down the stretch suddenly looks more menacing as the Cowboys and Chargers have played better as of late. The Vikings must capitalize on their remaining winnable games to make the playoffs.
Number 10: Dallas Cowboys (ELO: 1598, +1)
It is only the Giants, but the Cowboys have put together back-to-back wins. The Cowboys get their third Sunday Night Football game of the season next week, and it will likely be a win considering how poorly Kirk Cousins and the Vikings play in primetime.
Number 9: Los Angeles Rams (ELO: 1610, -1)
The idle Rams were usurped by the Texans, knocking them out of the top eight. The Rams have a tough matchup in Pittsburgh next week, but then they have a run of high-profile matchups including three prime time games in four weeks. Can the Rams keep the train chugging?
Number 8: Green Bay Packers (ELO: 1611, -3)
The Packers were pitiful against the Chargers. Aaron Rodgers struggled. Aaron Jones struggled. The defense was blitzkrieged. If the Packers can take away one good thing, it was that they did not allow more points to the Chargers. The Packers welcome Kyle Allen and the Panthers into Lambeau Field next week.
Number 7: Houston Texans (ELO: 1628, +3)
Deshaun Watson is simply ridiculous. Watson makes the special play seem routine. Thankfully for Watson, the Texans head into their bye before a showdown between MVP candidates in Baltimore in Week 11.
Number 6: Seattle Seahawks (ELO: 1661, +1)
Seattle narrowly beat the Buccaneers, but Russell Wilson used the stage to solidify himself as the MVP of the league. Wilson was sensational. Despite a porous defense and a fairly quiet ground attack, Wilson masterminded a comeback to hijack the Buccaneers’ hopes of winning their third game.
Number 5: Kansas City Chiefs (ELO: 1704, +7)
Patrick Mahomes is not quite back, but I have restored the lost points in preparation for a potential return next week. The Chiefs played valiantly against the Vikings, eventually knocking through the game-winning kick. The defense has been playing significantly better over the last few weeks.
Number 4: Baltimore Ravens (ELO: 1741, +0)
Yes, the Ravens beat the Patriots. No, the Ravens will not move any higher than four. As impressive as the win was, the Ravens still turned the ball over twice and were the beneficiary of a conservative Bill Belichick. The Ravens should beat Cincinnati next week before they face Deshaun Watson and the Texans.
Number 3: San Francisco 49ers (ELO: 1743, +0)
Jimmy Garoppolo stepped up in a big way on Thursday night. The running game was stagnant, and the defense was a tad underwhelming, but Garoppolo put the team on his back to push the 49ers to 8-0. While logic would dictate that the 49ers should be the best team in the NFL, they still lag behind the Patriots and the Saints. The 49ers will have the opportunity to play the Saints in a few weeks.
Number 2: New England Patriots (ELO: 1833, -1)
Yes, it was a bad loss. Now is not the time to sell your Patriots stock, however. The Patriots faced their worst nightmare in a physical, run-based offense. In their final seven games, they will face two good running teams (Dallas and Buffalo), and both will be in the confines of Gillette Stadium. They should regain their mojo in Week 11.
Number 1: New Orleans Saints (ELO: 1902, +1)
The Saints are a virtual lock for 9-1 as they host Atlanta and travel to Tampa Bay in the next two weeks. Beyond that game, the schedule gets slightly more difficult with Carolina twice, San Francisco, and Indianapolis, but the Saints play three of those four games at home. 14-2 is their floor.
