The home stretch is now on for all the teams in the league, either seven or six games remaining in the schedule. Okay, we may not quite be at the home stretch, but we are at the point where we start to see who will make the playoffs and who will not.
There were some games last week that gave teams, such as the Steelers, huge leads in the division and there were also games that put playoff chances even further down like the Texans. These power rankings rely on recent games where some teams played great and others did not.
Who sits atop the most recent edition of the power rankings?
Rank Pittsburgh Steelers (9-0)
1 Prev. (1 ⏤)
Week 10 Result: 36-10 W against Cincinnati
You may get some arguments, but it is hard to say that the only undefeated team remaining in the NFL is not the best team this season. Sure, they’ve had some ugly wins, but if this most recent game means anything then it means they can still be as dominant as anyone. Roethlisberger had a great game including four touchdowns in the 36-10 victory and the defense was able to limit Burrow to barely 50% completion rate while holding the run game to under 75 yards. They had everything going for them in the game including pressure on the quarterback which sacked Burrow four times overall. Add on to that a Ravens loss and now the Steelers have a three-game lead over the Ravens and the Browns, they are sitting pretty right now.
Rank Kansas City Chiefs (8-1)
2 Prev. (2 ⏤)
Week 10 Result: Bye
Kansas City may easily be the best team in the NFL right now, but that one loss hurts them in the power rankings especially when there is an undefeated team left. There may be no better time for Kansas City to have had their bye as they prepare to play the only team that has beaten them on the season, the Raiders. The one question mark for the Chiefs before the season was their defense, well, for the most part their defense has been good at the bend not break strategy. Only two times this season have they allowed more than 20 points (one of which they lost), if they can keep that up to go along with their offensive ability then another Super Bowl run could be in their future.
Rank New Orleans Saints (7-2)
3 Prev. (4 ↑1)
Week 10 Result: 27-13 W against San Francisco
One of the Saints worst nightmares may have come true after this past game, Drew Brees is injured, and it is unclear for how long. While he may not be a future hall of fame quarterback, they have a more than competent backup in Jameis Winston. Of course, the Saints are wishing Brees a speedy recovery but as of now they will have to make do with Winston. Maybe the best news though is that their defense is playing the best they have all season. In their past two games they have allowed a total of 16 points, less than any other single game score from week one to week eight. If they can continue this type of play without Brees it is very possible that they continue this winning trend and capture the one seed in the NFC. Either way, the Saints are perfectly set up right now to make the playoffs even with an injury to their starting QB.
Rank Green Bay Packers (7-2)
4 Prev. (5 ↑1)
Week 10 Result: 24-20 W against Jacksonville
Every team has their games that they have no reason to be in for the better or the worst, this past game was that type of game for Green Bay. The Packers were supposed to steam roll the team with just one win on the season, instead the won by only four points in what easily could have been an upset by Jacksonville. Solely looking at the box score it wasn’t even a bad game for Green Bay, but this is a team that does not turn the ball over and in this game they did it twice which almost led to them losing. Of course, it’s just a bad game, but the Packers should also take this as a wakeup call to never overlook a team due to their record. The good news though is that the Bears lost last night which gives them an even bigger lead in the division, so they are in a good spot right now.
Rank Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3)
5 Prev. (8 ↑3)
Week 10 Result: 46-23 W against Carolina
How was Tampa going to bounce back after their embarrassing loss to the Saints in Sunday Night Football, with a 46-23 victory over the Panthers of course. This game was a great way to flip the momentum back in the Bucs favor and it included one of the best runs of the season when Ronald Jones took a run 98 yards to the house. Both the offense and the defense (even though they allowed 23) were in full force and the proved that. That type of win could not have come at a better time as the next two weeks they face the Rams and the Chiefs (luckily at home). They are currently in a great position to make the playoffs, but if they can come away with their next two games then they have a great shot to win the division as well.
Rank Los Angeles Rams (6-3)
6 Prev. (14 ↑8)
Week 10 Result: 23-16 W against Seattle
The Seahawks are in a bit of a slide right now, but that does not make the victory by Los Angeles any less impressive. In their most recent game before this they lost to the Dolphins on the road then they reached their bye. The bye seemed to have worked as it allowed them to not only refresh a little, but also come up with a game plan to take down Seattle. With this victory they are now in a three-way tie for first with Seattle and Arizona. While it looks all good now, they are about to reach the hard part of their schedule in which they still face the Seahawks and Cardinals a combined three times. There are still inconsistencies on the offensive side, but that win against Seattle is huge when looking at the playoff picture.
Rank Baltimore Ravens (6-3)
7 Prev. (3 ↓4)
Week 10 Result: 23-17 L against New England
Baltimore had the lowest scoring defense in the league entering the game against New England, the sad thing is though, they still do. They may still have the lowest scoring defense, but the problem areas were all but prevalent in the early going of the game. Injuries really hurt the team against the Pats, but the defensive line was getting man handled by the Pats offensive line. If there is one silver lining in the loss though it would be that Lamar looked very good throwing the ball (except for a few forces) and that even in a bad game as a team, they are still in the games. Losing Nick Boyle for the season hurts as that outs the Ravens down to one tight end and they are about to hit a two-game stretch against the Titans and Steelers in which they need both wins. There is a huge tie for the wild card slots in the AFC, but if they lose the next two then the division can be kissed away.
Rank Arizona Cardinals (6-3)
8 Prev. (11 ↑3)
Week 10 Result: 32-30 W against Buffalo
Arizona and Buffalo was easily one of the best games that will take place this entire season and it ended with one of the best plays in recent memory. In fact, it was the second half effort by the Cardinals that got them back in the game and eventually earned them a win. Though they did not score at will in the first half, the Bills offense and defense had their way, in the second half that changed. Arizona forced two interceptions in the second half and it completely changed the complexion of the game. Now with that victory the Cardinals sit at 6-3 tied atop the NFC West and they seemingly put that loss to the Dolphins the week before behind them. This win could do one of two things, propel them to more victories, or get a “high” after that victory and lose the next game. They sit in a good position, but next week against a Seattle Team who has lost two straight we will get to see what this game has done to them.
Rank Miami Dolphins (6-3)
9 Prev. (10 ↑1)
Week 10 Result: 29-21 W against Los Angeles Chargers
It’s finally time we start putting some respect on Miami’s name, they were an average team with Ryan Fitzpatrick as starter, finishing at a 3-3 record, but now since Tua took over they are 3-0 for a combined 6-3 on the season. Overall as a team they do not do anything special, they rank in the bottom third in yards on both the offense and defense, but games are won via points not yards. In points they rank top 10 in both offense and defense and that is what has carried them to their current record. It took some time for the Dolphins to get going this season but now they have won five straight and are only a half game back in their division behind the Bills. The Bills have a bye next week so if the Dolphins win they will be tied for the division win and the division could boil down to their week 17 matchup, either way Miami is a much better team then was thought and they are in a perfect position to make the playoffs.
Rank Buffalo Bills (7-3)
10 Prev. (7 ↓3)
Week 10 Result: 32-30 L against Buffalo
The Bills have had their issues this season on both the offensive end and the defensive end, but when they are both working together like they can they are great. The problem is that they don’t usually play great at the same time and that has caused their three losses. Their most recent game they are coming off a heart-breaking walk off loss against the Cardinals and the best news for them is that the loss carries them into the bye week. This bye week will hopefully give them an opportunity to become more consistent on both ends but it also gets them ready for the final six games of the season. It is very possible that the Bills win out in the second half so this bye could not have come at a better time. At the same time, they may have to deal with Miami in week 17 to decide the division, but no matter what the playoffs are almost locked up at this point.
Rank Indianapolis Colts (6-3)
11 Prev. (12 ↑1)
Week 10 Result: 34-17 W against Tennessee
The Colts got a huge divisional win on Thursday to give them a tie for the division lead with the Titans, they needed this win badly too because their next six games are no cake walk. The Colts do not have an easy road to the playoffs, but if they can continue playing like they did on Thursday night then they should be just fine. However, therein lies the problem, can they actually do that? The defense is one of the best in the league, but the offense is as inconsistent as they come. If they could ride this momentum on the offensive side then they can easily make the playoffs, but if they go in their inconsistent way then who knows how their season will turn out. They are in a good spot right now, but the next two games will really be what determines their fate this season.
Rank Seattle Seahawks (6-3)
12 Prev. (6 ↓6)
Week 10 Result: 23-16 L against Los Angeles Rams
Eventually not having a pass defense was going to catch up with them and thus far it has. This could be seen as either a good thing or a bad thing, let’s start with the good. They are getting the losses out of the way early and that will help them strengthen up and get stronger throughout the season. That is obviously the hope as to what will happen but how sure can we be that that will be the case. We can’t be certain which leads to the bad thing in which this completely derails the Seahawks season and leads them out of the division lead and possibly not even making the playoffs. Seattle has lost three out of four and next week they face the Cardinals for the division lead, if they can win that the division is still in reach, if not then they could be on a downward spiral that leads to at best a wild card spot.
Rank Las Vegas Raiders (6-3)
13 Prev. (13 ⏤)
Week 10 Result: 37-12 W against Denver
The Raiders have been playing better defense than they have all season long in these past three games and it could not have come at a better time. While they are currently tied for a wild card spot in the AFC, they have a very favorable schedule after next week where they play the Chiefs. No matter what happens in the upcoming game against the Chiefs they are still in a great position to make the postseason. They already defeated Kansas City once, so they know it is possible, if the win then the playoffs seem almost certain if not it is still up in the air even with the favorable schedule. However, if their defensive consistency they have proven over the past couple of weeks can remain then they should be there, if not then it could be a wild ride over the next seven games.
Rank Tennessee Titans (6-3)
14 Prev. (9 ↓5)
Week 10 Result: 34-17 L against Indianapolis
So far this season, Ryan Tannehill has proved that last season was an anomaly. That is not necessarily a bad thing as long as he can be a game manager, but in their bast four games he has proved that he can’t even do that. They have lost three out of four and next week they are going against a Ravens team hungry for a win. Luckily, they still have Derrick Henry and we know what he can do against weak defensive lines. The next three games for the Titans are not easy ones and if they can’t win at least two of them then the division could be out of reach and with the current picture in the AFC it will be tough to get a wild card spot. Of course, there are more issues than just Tannehill, but Tannehill has to prove he was worthy of that big contract if they are going to go anywhere.
Rank Cleveland Browns (6-3)
15 Prev. (15 ⏤)
Week 10 Result: 10-7 W against Houston
Even without Odell Beckham Jr., the Browns have an offense that should be able to put up points yet can’t. Sure, they may be tied for second in the division with the Ravens, but with the offense it’s either you’re getting all or nothing. In four games this season they have scored 10 or less points (winning one of those), in the other five games they have scored at least 30 points (winning all five of them). However, ever since OBJ went down they have scored a total of 16 points over two games. The worst part is, their defense has played some of their best ball in their past two games only allowing a combined 23 points. The Browns certainly have some inconsistency issues and if they can’t get them worked out soon then the playoffs could be out of reach even with a pretty favorable schedule.
Rank Minnesota Vikings (4-5)
16 Prev. (19 ↑3)
Week 10 Result: 19-13 W against Chicago
The Vikings have won three straight and are a completely new team since their 1-5 start. Their defense has been getting better every week over the past three games while their offense for the most part has still been efficient. Dalvin Cook did not have the best game against Chicago but that does not mean that he is the catalyst of the offense, when he does well the entire offense usually does well. If they can keep this momentum going then they are in a good position to make the playoffs, especially after defeating the Bears who were and still are ahead of them. Minnesota still has some tough games ahead of them, but over the next three weeks all of their games are very winnable and that could put them at 7-5. In a short season it is better to start off slow and get hot and that is where the Vikings currently are, if they continue to get better then the playoffs are easily attainable.
Rank San Francisco 49ers (4-6)
17 Prev. (17 ⏤)
Week 10 Result: 27-13 L against New Orleans
Even though the 49ers sit two games under .500 they are still in a decent position considering all the injuries they have. That does not necessarily mean they are in a good position to make the postseason this year (though it’s still possible), but they are in good position once the injuries are dealt with starting next season. The NFC West is either number one or number two when discussing the toughest divisions, so it will not be easy to make the postseason especially when you still face each team one time. The 49ers do not have a favorable schedule and would need to play some of their best ball in order to make the playoffs, so while it does not look like the playoffs are in reach they can still play spoiler if they fail to win in the upcoming weeks.
Rank New England Patriots (4-5)
18 Prev. (23 ↑5)
Week 10 Result: 23-17 W against Baltimore
New England got a huge win against Baltimore on Sunday night and now they are in a position where making the playoffs is still possible. The run game against Baltimore in the first half was great and if they can continue to utilize that then they could make another postseason run, but in the AFC East right now it will not be as easy as thought. The Bills are a very good team and the Dolphins are playing as well as anybody right now, they play each of those teams one more time. Outside of the AFC East they also have tough competition so unless their offense can get and stay hot then the playoffs may not be possible. You never know with them though; they just upset Baltimore and could do the same to sneak their way into the playoffs.
Rank Chicago Bears (5-5)
19 Prev. (16 ↓3)
Week 10 Result: 19-13 L against Minnesota
The Bears are not a good team right now, the defense is still very good, but the offense is down there as one of the worst in the league. Their most recent game they did not have their starting running back and were not able to do anything on the offensive end only amassing 149 offensive yards. Even with their starting running back they have not been great and currently they are in a massive downward spiral losing four straight games. They at least have a bye week coming up which will help them deal with some of their issues, but they still have the division leading Packers twice which could take them out of the playoff picture. The offense may not have the best weapons, but they need to do something so all of the pressure is not on the defense if they want to make it anywhere.
Rank Atlanta Falcons (3-6)
20 Prev. (20 ⏤)
Week 10 Result: Bye
Atlanta has finally been able to close out their opponents in recent games, they are on a two-game win streak and now get ready to play a Drew Breesless Saints team. The bye week is usually seen as a good thing, but when a struggling team gets on a hot streak they want to continue playing and the bye may have hurt them. Either way that is behind them and even without Brees, the Saints still have a good backup in Winston who could carry them to a win. If Atlanta wants to make the playoffs, they need to win every game from here on out, they do not have an easy road that consists of the Saints 2x, the Buccaneers 2x, and the Chiefs. While it’s entirely possible Atlanta has yet to prove they can win the big games so as of now they are not in a position to make the playoffs.
Rank Detroit Lions (4-5)
21 Prev. (26 ↑5)
Week 10 Result: 30-27 W against Washington
The Lions are an interesting team, they are not the most talented team, yet they find a way to stay in games. They did not start off the season on a hot note, blowing a lead to the Bears and then getting blown out against the Packers. Since that 0-2 start, they are 4-3 with only one win against a playoff caliber team in the Cardinals. Luckily for them, they don’t have the toughest remaining schedule in which they could win enough to make the postseason. That being said, they don’t have a playoff caliber team and while they are finally starting to put things together on the offensive end, they still have their issues on the defensive end. This season was always more about growth than winning, but if the Lions could continue to win this season even if they don’t make the playoffs then it may be enough to keep around Matt Patricia.
Rank Carolina Panthers (3-7)
22 Prev. (22 ⏤)
Week 10 Result: 46-23 L against Tampa Bay
The worst news for Carolina after having Christian McCaffrey return for one game was to then have him get injured again, being forced to miss more games. On top of that, now they will be without Teddy Bridgewater whose status is up in the air right now with a knee injury. If Bridgewater is out for more than one game, then the Panthers could easily reach double digit losses since he has been a major factor on the offensive end. The team all around is not good enough to win without these players so the playoffs will be missed once again. The worst thing they could do at this point would be to rush their key players back from injury potentially injuring them even more. This is a team built for the future, take the positives from the first half and carry them to the second half of the season.
Rank Philadelphia Eagles (3-5-1)
23 Prev. (18 ↓5)
Week 10 Result: 27-17 L against New York Giants
The Eagles (much like the entire NFC East) are a hot mess right now and in any just world would in no way see the postseason. However, that is not how the NFL works and every division leader has to make the playoffs and currently they are in that position. Sure, the Eagles still have injuries, but they had time over their bye to get healthier and they did and still ended up losing, they are just not that good. On top of that, their schedule over the next five weeks involves games against teams that are all currently in the playoff picture so not optimal. It’s honestly tough to say what the biggest issue is with the Eagles, but if they don’t fix it soon then the division could be grabbed by someone else and if there is no division then there is no playoffs.
Rank New York Giants (3-7)
24 Prev. (28 ↑4)
Week 10 Result: 27-17 W against Philadelphia
Take everything said about the Eagles and copy them to the Giants. Okay, it’s not quite the same, but the Giants are not a good team even though they are only one and a half games out of first place. The Giants do not have as tough of a schedule as the Eagles do, but they do not have a cakewalk either in games that include Seattle, Arizona, Cleveland, and Baltimore. The biggest problem with the Giants is their offense, they don’t know how to score. They aren’t great at marching down the field either, but they don’t score. The past two games though they have improved on the offensive end with having no turnovers and in response they won both games. Their defense is good enough to hold a lead, but the offense needs to get the lead, if this is any trend then we could see the Giants who are entering their bye week end up winning the division.
Rank Cincinnati Bengals (2-6-1)
25 Prev. (21 ↓4)
Week 10 Result: 36-10 L against Pittsburgh
Cincinnati just got absolutely blasted by the Steelers, that is exactly what the Steelers were supposed to do so it’s not a shock, but it is still a bit demoralizing. For the most part this season the offense led by Burrow has been good enough to keep them in every game, but the defense has not bee good and has lost them a ton of their games. Cincinnati does not have the toughest remaining schedule, but there is almost no hope for the playoffs this season, good thing that was not the goal. The goal for this season was to improve off last season and get growth out of the young players, both of which they have done. If Burrow and the offense can get back to playing well plus the defense steps up and helps win some games, then that is really all they can want at this point.
Rank Denver Broncos (3-6)
26 Prev. (25 ↓1)
Week 10 Result: 37-12 L against Las Vegas
Both the offense and the defense have issues on this current team, the defense is not as much of a worry since they are dealing with a ton of injuries, but the offense is a bit of an issue. Getting Drew Lock back was supposed to help this offense get back in the flow of things, but in their most recent game against a weak defense they did not prove anything to anyone. There is virtually no chance to make the playoffs for Denver, but they do have a roster that could potentially play spoiler. No one wants to play spoiler, but the Broncos are playing a lot of potential playoff teams, if they can get their offense to improve over the next seven games then they can, however, right now they are playing in a way where a top 10 draft pick is almost guaranteed.
Rank Houston Texans (2-7)
27 Prev. (24 ↓3)
Week 10 Result: 10-7 L against Cleveland
Like most people thought, the DeAndre Hopkins trade was not going to do the Texans any favor and that is exactly what happened. The Texans realistically had only one shot to make the playoffs and that was by winning out, that changed on Sunday with their loss to the Browns. While it is still possible to make the playoffs, the road is a lot tougher and it is highly improbable that they make it. Houston is not in a good state right now and this looks like a trend that will continue for them, Watson signed a long-term contract, but they do not have any draft picks after trading for Tunsil. The defense and the offense have had their issues and that is likely to continue for the remainder of their season, the best thing they can do is win games since they do not have a first round pick, but the way they have been playing they will have to get lucky.
Rank Los Angeles Chargers (2-7)
28 Prev. (27 ↓1)
Week 10 Result: 29-21 L against Miami
The Chargers have their issues on both sides of the ball, but the best thing that could have happened this season has happened, they found their long-term answer at QB in Herbert. Herbert has shown some great things in his rookie season and is likely to continue this trend (assuming they keep their weapons) over the next couple of seasons. The biggest issue with the Chargers though is that they have an issue at finishing teams off and that is likely to be an issue for the rest of the season. They have easily winnable games on their schedule, but they have made games a lot tougher than they need to be this season, if they can win the easy games in their final seven then the future looks bright.
Rank Washington Football Team (2-7)
29 Prev. (29 ⏤)
Week 10 Result: 30-27 L against Detroit
Washington made a good come back and had every chance to win their last game in Detroit, but in the end, they could not come back and that is just how their season has gone. They have a great pass defense, that if surrounded by a good offense could easily be a playoff team. The issue is they don’t have that offense that they need to make the playoffs and that has been what has plagued them for the past couple of seasons. Don’t expect the offense to change anything up this season, but if this season brought any good news then it is that the pass defense and pass rush could be set up for the future. It they combine that with an offense they could be a threat, but this season is a loss and they should get a top 10 pick.
Rank Dallas Cowboys (2-7)
30 Prev. (26 ↓4)
Week 10 Result: Bye
The Cowboys are still dealing with injuries and let’s see if the bye did anything that will help them out for the remainder of the season. However, with the loss of Prescott, this season is lost and there is almost no way they make the playoffs. Almost no way because the NFC East is not good, but the Cowboys issues and remaining schedule may be too much for them to overcome. They have talent on the offensive end, but the defense is where the biggest issues have come from, if they do not fix the defensive issues then they are not going anywhere. Currently they will get a high draft pick, use that to build the defense and make the team better.
Rank Jacksonville Jaguars (1-8)
31 Prev. (31 ⏤)
Week 10 Result: 24-20 L against Green Bay
Even when Gardner Minshew gets healthy, he may not have the starting QB job anymore, that role may now permanently belong to Jake Luton. Luton has led the team to two losses, but the team has been right in both of the games, the big reason they didn’t win either, the defense. The offense has their issues, but the defense is not playing well at all right now. Now this was expected, but that doesn’t mean it is fun to lose in the fashion they have been, no, they need to see improvement on that side of the ball and quick. Even if they lose as long as they get improvement, that is all that matters. Either way they will have a high draft pick and lots of them.
Rank New York Jets (0-9)
32 Prev. (32 ⏤)
Week 10 Result: Bye
The best thing that could have happened for the Jets happened last week; they had a bye. We have been taking shots at the Jets all season long and mostly for good reason, but the Jets having a bye week is extremely important. It is entirely possible that they did not get any better after last week, but this at least gives them more time to game plan for their upcoming game. Even if nothing happened over the rest of the season for them, they are in a great position to restock in the draft where the biggest question will be, what to do with Darnold? Other issues seem more important before QB, because a QB can’t work without weapons, but the Jets have a long time before that pick, let’s see what they do.