While most power rankings will fluctuate wildly, these should stay reasonably similar on a week-to-week basis.
Number 32: Cincinnati Bengals (ELO: 1178, +0)
The Bengals are still in a prime position to pick up Joe Burrow. They will likely stay glued to the bottom as the Patriots come to town.
Number 31: New York Giants (ELO: 1208, +0)
Despite a valiant effort from Eli Manning, the Giants fell in overtime to the Eagles. While it was not a particularly bad performance from the Giants, it leaves something to be desired after they blew a 14-point lead.
Number 30: Detroit Lions (ELO: 1263, -1)
The Lions are hot trash.
Number 29: Arizona Cardinals (ELO: 1273, +1)
Kyler Murray made a handful of rookie mistakes against a good defense in Pittsburgh. With a couple years of seasoning, Murray wouldn’t lose a game like this for the Cardinals. The future is bright, but Murray has plenty of room to grow.
Number 28: Jacksonville Jaguars (ELO: 1286, -2)
The Jaguars are hot trash.
Number 27: Carolina Panthers (ELO: 1305, -8)
The Panthers teased the world last season with a hot start before fizzling out after Pittsburgh slammed the door in their faces. This season, the Panthers have even done a better job of blowing it up as Kyle Allen might be the worst quarterback to ever breathe.
Number 26: Oakland Raiders (ELO: 1311, -4)
The Raiders have been clobbered in three straight weeks, and they are in freefall. As much as I like their offensive personnel, the defense leaves a lot to be desired. However, the Raiders should still have the opportunity to bolster the defense through the 2020 draft.
Number 25: Washington Redskins (ELO: 1317, +2)
Despite losing, the Redskins move up in the power rankings due to the flat-out ineptitude of the Jaguars, Panthers, and Raiders.
Number 24: Miami Dolphins (ELO: 1340, +0)
The Dolphins scored seven times on Sunday, but they were unable to find the end zone. The Dolphins do not have much in terms of talent, but they do play hard for Brian Flores. As soon as the Dolphins get an influx of talent, they should be able to compete.
Number 23: New York Jets (ELO: 1344, +2)
The Jets were able to lock in their fifth win on Sunday, but they were eliminated from playoff contention. The Jets face a tough task with a trip to Baltimore on a short week.
Number 22: Cleveland Browns (ELO: 1415, +1)
The Browns beat the Bengals. In a shocking turn of events, Baker Mayfield played like elephant dung, but the Browns still were able to beat the NFL’s worst team.
Number 21: Atlanta Falcons (ELO: 1416, +7)
The Falcons have been rolling in divisional play as they have swept the Panthers and beat the Saints once. The defense is still pretty awful, but the offense can put up enough points so that the 2020 Falcons could make a run at the playoffs.
Number 20: Indianapolis Colts (ELO: 1437, -5)
In an unfortunate series of events, the Colts have slipped below .500. After blowing a two-score lead to the Buccaneers, the Colts’ playoff chances are now on life-support.
Number 19: Los Angeles Chargers (ELO: 1443, +2)
The Chargers have managed to win a game. After dismantling the Jaguars, the Chargers are still eliminated from playoff contention.
Number 18: Denver Broncos (ELO: 1477, +2)
The Broncos clobbered the Texans for 2.5 quarters before the Texans made the score nicer with three touchdowns. The Broncos had one of their best performances in a long time as the defense stepped up and the offense played exceptionally well.
Number 17: Philadelphia Eagles (ELO: 1490, -1)
The Eagles maneuvered around their tripping hazard in the Giants. With the win, the Eagles have joined the Cowboys atop the NFC East. The teams will play in Week 16 in a de facto division championship game.
Number 16: Dallas Cowboys (ELO: 1493, -3)
One spot ahead of their rival Eagles, the Cowboys played a messy game against the Bears. While the final score was only a difference of seven points, the Cowboys were thoroughly crushed by the Bears for four quarters.
Number 15: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ELO: 1496, +3)
The Buccaneers are one of the hottest teams in football as the offense has found a rhythm, and the defense has been able to play well with the likes of Shaq Barrett and Vita Vea playing at a high-level. The loss of Mike Evans hurts, but the Buccaneers are still making progress into being a decent football team.
Number 14: Chicago Bears (ELO: 1522, +3)
The Bears had a critical win over the Cowboys on Thursday Night Football. Mitch Trubisky played like a real quarterback for the first time in his life. The defense played exceptionally well until they bled out a few points in the later stages of the fourth quarter. While the Bears are unlikely to make the playoffs, this resurgence might have saved Trubisky’s job in the NFL.
Number 13: Pittsburgh Steelers (ELO: 1539, +1)
Led by one of the best defenses in the NFL, the Steelers have a chance at earning the No. 5 seed if they are to beat the Bills on Sunday Night Football. While the offense is nowhere to be found, the defense has played lights out.
Number 12: Green Bay Packers (ELO: 1590, -2)
I’m not going to waste my time or your time. The Packers are overrated.
Number 11: Buffalo Bills (ELO: 1591, -2)
The Bills are one of the best-kept secrets in the NFL, according to Skip Bayless. While Bayless was wrong about the Bills beating the Ravens, he is right in saying that the Bills are an underrated team. Buoyed by a strong defense, the Bills just need a pulse out of Josh Allen before the fourth quarter for them to win games.
Number 10: Houston Texans (ELO: 1625, -3)
The Texans were down 35 points at home to a rookie quarterback. That is all.
Number 9: Tennessee Titans (ELO: 1636, +3)
One of the highest risers of the week, the Titans have won six of seven games fueled by the arm of Ryan Tannehill. Based on era-adjusted stats, Tannehill is having one of the best seasons of the decade as his numbers are comparable to the likes of MVP Aaron Rodgers in 2011, MVP Peyton Manning in 2013, 2013 Nick Foles, and 2016 MVP Matt Ryan.
Number 8: Minnesota Vikings (ELO: 1640, +0)
The Vikings played well on Sunday, but they were not particularly dominant against an inferior Lions squad. The Vikings are a significantly better team than the Packers, but I doubt that the Vikings will win a Super Bowl this season.
Number 7: Los Angeles Rams (ELO: 1651, +4)
The Rams come flying back into the top 10 after a clinical destruction of the Seahawks. The Rams are playing their best football as the offense began to return to its 2018 form, and the defense has begun to play at a high level. Moving forward, the Rams are a dangerous team and should not be taken lightly.
Number 6: Seattle Seahawks (ELO: 1667, -1)
The Seahawks laid an egg on national television as they were clobbered by the Rams. Russell Wilson looked human, and he slipped further behind Lamar Jackson in the MVP race. The Seahawks lack talent on defense, but they have a handful of stars to make up for lack of depth.
Number 5: New England Patriots (ELO: 1670, -1)
The Patriots are probably trolling all of us with their three losses in recent weeks, but it is eye-opening to see how putrid the offense has been at times. They will still likely win the Super Bowl.
Number 4: Kansas City Chiefs (ELO: 1817, +2)
The Chiefs had an awkward win over the Patriots. Despite the win, it appeared that the Chiefs were going to blow the lead. The Chiefs are dangerous moving forward, but the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill have been quieted in recent weeks.
Number 3: New Orleans Saints (ELO: 1833, +0)
The Saints are on a collision course with the 49ers in the NFC championship game. After one of the best games of the season, the Saints have an uphill battle to get to the number one seed, but they will likely get the No. 2 seed because the Packers are trash.
Number 2: San Francisco 49ers (ELO: 1854, +0)
While the elite defense of the 49ers was left in Santa Clara, the 49ers’ offense came to play on Sunday. George Kittle and Emmanuel Sanders had explosive performances as the 49ers came back and won the game in the dying seconds. San Francisco is probably the most complete team in the NFL offensively and defensively, and they are a serious threat to lift their sixth Lombardi trophy in February.
Number 1: Baltimore Ravens (ELO: 1873, +0)
Rinse, wash, repeat. The Ravens have been the best team in the NFL for the last few weeks. While I think they won’t blow out the Jets on Thursday, the Ravens will likely get their 10th win in a row and clinch their second consecutive AFC North crown. After the Jets, the Ravens have a pair of divisional opponents but wins over the Jets and the Browns would clinch the No. 1 seed for the first time in the history of the franchise.
