rozomaldini NFL Power Rankings

Week 18 Power Rankings

By Conor Perrett 

This past week’s set of games have shaped up for many anticipated fixtures for the last week of the NFL season that is sure to leave us with final day dramatics. With two spots in the playoffs still up for grabs and a No. 1 pick in the draft to sort out, It’s set up to be a cracking finish.  

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (13-3)

Last Week – 1st

With the current state of the NFL, it’s all about offence and the Chiefs are the best in the league in that department. Patrick Mahomes just became the third player in NFL history to throw for 5k passing yards in multiple seasons, and looks set to win his second MVP trophy. It’s tough to bet against Mahomes and Andy Reid but the defence will need to be better if they want another Super Bowl.

Kansas’ defence is currently 23rd in defensive DVOA and great teams in the playoffs will take advantage of that. It’s also not a great sign that the underwhelming Russell Wilson has had his best two games of the season against the Chiefs’ defence.

Up next: at. Raiders, Saturday 9:30 p.m. GMT

  1. Buffalo Bills (12-3)

Last Week – 2nd

Buffalo had a juggernaut of a game planned against the Bengals this Monday night, but it was tragically stopped after safety Damar Hamlin collapsed with 5:32 minutes left in the first quarter.

With Hamlin’s health still unknown, out of respect we won’t talk about Bill’s football and send our prayers to him.  

Up next: vs. Patriots, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. San Francisco 49ers (12-4)

Last Week – 3rd

It wasn’t a perfect performance for the Niners this week, but they got the job done in the end. Before their game against the Raiders, San Fran would have been jumping at the chance of Jarrett Stidham as the new starting QB, but he showed flaws in their defence. 

Brock Purdy struggled to push the ball downfield at times, but he is yet to blow up or look flustered. With the weapons of Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk, they look deadly as ever and are still in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. All that’s needed is an Eagles’ loss to the Giants and a win for the 49ers in Arizona to secure a first-round bye.

Up next: vs. Cardinals, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Cincinnati Bengals (11-4)

Last Week – 4th

Similar to the Bills, out of respect for Damar Hamlin, his wellness is more important than what happened in the first quarter of this game.

Up next: vs. Ravens, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Dallas Cowboys (12-4)

Last Week – 6th

The Cowboys find themselves in an interesting position heading into Week 18, with their playoff seed still up in the air. Currently they sit fifth and have done so for the better half of the season. If Philadelphia were to have a late season collapse and results go their way, Dallas could see themselves at either of the top two positions in the NFC.

All that you could ask of this team late in the season is to cut down on the turnovers. Dak Prescott has had some questionable turnovers as of late, but their strong defence has them first in turnover margin in the NFL and by some distance.

Up next: at. Commanders, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)

Last Week – 5th

Philly were the best team in the NFL with Jalen Hurts on the field. But Hurts hasn’t played for the past two weeks, and the Eagles have dropped both games. While their Gardiner Minshew offence looked good against Dallas a week ago, it came up short against the Saints. Philadelphia’s only score came by way of a heroic effort by A.J. Brown, as they cannot afford to wait any longer for Hurts if they want to progress far in the postseason.

Up next: vs. Giants, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)

Last Week – 9th

It feels a bit weird having this Chargers team this high after things looked bleak just a month ago, but they’ve carried themselves up here. Suspect contenders falling also helps, but LA have been one of the better teams in the league over the past three weeks. Their defence ranks first in defensive DVOA over that time and Justin Herbert has started to get some weapons back on offence.

Now , the Chargers look set for the No. 5 seed, setting up a game against the winner of Jaguars vs Titans on Wild-Card weekend.

Up next: at. Broncos, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8)

Last Week – 10th

Similar to the Chargers, Jacksonville has been shot out of a cannon the past four weeks to climb this high. The emergence of Trevor Lawrence has been what’s got them to this point, but will their 27th DVOA ranked defence be strong enough to get them any further?

With a Saturday night clash against the Titans setting up a winner-takes-it-all matchup, the Jags will be favourites and if they can get past that, Jacksonville will be hosting a playoff game at a minimum.

Up next: vs. Titans, Sunday 1:15 a.m. GMT

  1. Detroit Lions (8-8)

Last Week – 12th

After getting absolutely dominated by the Panthers just a week ago, Detroit returned the favour to the Bears in a beatdown on Sunday. I mentioned last week that this young team can’t let all the work they have done over the past two months get undone because of one bad game, and they took that to heart.

Granted it was against the Bears, but apart from one big run, this defence contained the ‘new’ Justin Fields better than anyone else this season. Sacking him seven times on the day, Fields had just 30 net passing yards on the day, with five of Chicago’s six second half possessions being three-and-outs. When you then put that with an offence that is 5th in points per game, they are very dangerous. 

Detroit could also have an early playoff game this week when they take the trip to Lambeau field on Sunday Night. If the Rams can return the favour for Matthew Stafford and their Super Bowl by beating the Seahawks, it would mean the winner of Lions vs Packers would take the last wild card spot in the NFC.

Up next: at. Packers, Monday 1:20 a.m. GMT

  1. Green Bay Packers (8-8)

Last Week – 13th

Five weeks ago when Green Bay had a record of 4-8, it looked to be an unfamiliar lost season. But a second half of a season resurgence, that has seen them takedown playoff contenders Miami and Minnesota over the past two weeks, has got them back to what they know best. 

Entering the last week of the season, the Packers know their destiny. Win against Detroit and they are in the playoffs, while losing would mean they’re going to be watching it from the comfort of their home.

Up next: vs. Lions, Monday 1 :20 a.m. GMT

  1. Baltimore Ravens (10-5)

Last Week – 8th

Baltimore was one of the suspect contenders I mentioned earlier in the rankings. It feels wrong for them to be this low with the turnaround they have had on defence, but without Lamar Jackson at quarterback, it’s bad.

First half of the season the offence was carrying the defence, but during the second half, it’s been the other way round. Here’s to hoping they get a healthy Jackson back and can compete as one just in time for the playoffs.

Up next: at. Bengals, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Minnesota Vikings (12-4)

Last Week – 7th

With a 12-4 record and the NFC North wrapped up many weeks ago, the Vikings are probably the most wanted team to face in the playoffs. Their 20th ranked, -19 point differential on the season tells the story. Let me explain; despite winning eight more games than they have lost. When adding up having many points Minnesota have won or lost by, it tallies to -19 points.

They’ve feasted on one-score games, using some sort of dark magic to come out on top every time. But when faced with a true challenge, apart from their miraculous win in Buffalo, they have been stepped on like a piece of gum on the streets of London. When you look at their three losses to fellow NFC teams they could meet in the postseason. The Eagles, Cowboys and Packers have beaten the Vikings by a combined 78 whooping points.

Up next: at. Bears, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. New York Giants (9-6-1)

Last Week – 14th

The Giants punched themselves a ticket to the playoffs this week, when they took down the Colts 38-10 in dominant fashion. Completing this goal in the first year of their rebuild is a great accomplishment for Brain Daboll and his staff. They are turning this ship around quicker than anyone would have thought. 

Reports are also starting to come out with New York looking to extend both Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley. Extending Jones may be a risk with this being the first season where we’ve seen adequate play from him, but Daboll seems to have a skill in turning risky QB’s into greatness.

Up next: at. Eagles, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. New England Patriots (8-8)

Last Week – 17th

The Patriot’s offence may be concerning, but if their defence continues to not only stop teams but score for them as well.  It’s been an up and down season for New England in that sense, but it can end on a high if they beat Buffalo this Sunday. A win against the Bills would guarantee the Patriots the 7th seed in the AFC and book themselves into the playoffs. However, will the NFL let this game go ahead after the trauma faced by the Bills players on Monday night?

Up next: at. Bills, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8)

Last Week – 18th

Once again, it looked like Tom Brady and the Buccaneers’ offence was going to keep shooting themselves in the foot early on. However, they found a mismatch with Mike Evans late on and it resulted in them winning the NFC South division. 

If we’re being honest this team doesn’t belong in the playoffs discussion, but with how the NFC works they are. Now, Tom Brady gets to host a playoff game and no matter how bad his team is, it’s hard to bet against the GOAT.

Up next: at. Falcons, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Miami Dolphins (8-8)

Last Week – 11th

When we talk about a rollercoaster of a season, this Miami team should be the definition of that. After winning their first three games, the Dolphins followed that up with three losses. Things got back on track when they won five games straight, but now they are currently on a five game losing streak. On that run they have flown up and down our rankings and now find themselves slap bang middle. 

A playoff appearance is still viable, but they will need to beat a Jets team without their starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Up next: vs. Jets, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8)

Last Week – 19th

If you’ve been reading these rankings weekly, you would have known we have been following the Steelers streak of .500 season for the past few weeks. That streak is still alive after a late win against the Ravens on Sunday. Now, if Pittsburgh wins next week and the Dolphins and Patriots lose, not only will they have a winning record, they’ll also make the playoffs after a 2-6 start.

Up next: vs. Browns, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Seattle Seahawks (8-8)

Last Week – 22nd

Seattle’s win against the Jets this Sunday was huge and keeps their hopes of the play-offs alive. Their rushing attack averaged 5.2 yards per carry against a strong Jets defence, after many weeks of that department being underwhelming.

Despite currently sitting in the No. 7 seed, the Seahawks will need a few results to go their way to progress. A win against the Rams will be a good starter and then a Packers loss will cement their placing.

Up next: vs. Rams, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Carolina Panthers (6-10)

Last Week – 20th

Carolina had a chance to extend their hopes for the division title to next week, but slipped up against the Buccaneers. The loss eliminated them from playoff contention, but don’t let that take away the credit interim head coach Steve Wilks deserves. The job he has done over the last 11 weeks could earn him the permanent head coach job, after turning around Carolina’s 1-4 start. However, it has emerged they are one of the teams along with the Broncos who have talked with Jim Harbaugh about the position of head coach. 

Up next: at. Saints, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. New Orleans Saints (7-9)

Last Week – 23rd

The Saints got their most impressive win of the season when they took down the Eagles. Cowboys and 49ers fans will probably be more happy about the result, but New Orleans have started to look better after a rough start. With people in the NFL media starting to think a Sean Payton return could happen, it might mark the only good news the Saints will have this season.

Up next: vs. Panthers, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. New York Jets (7-9)

Last Week – 15th

The Jets were one of the more exciting teams in the NFL early in the season, however, their inability to find consistent production at QB position has been their downfall. It led them to miss the playoffs for a 12th consecutive year. 

A healthy Jets team in 2023 with competent QB play could be dangerous, but GM Joe Douglas must be smart about this decision or he could fall into the same trap Chris Ballard did in Indianapolis.

Up next: at. Jets, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Tennessee Titans (7-9)

Last Week – 21st

Tennessee still has a shot to win the AFC South division after a horrible last month of football. They will be beaten up going into the game, but a win against the Jaguars will be enough to host a playoff game. Their identity has almost solely been Derrick Henry and the NFL is built on the passing game. The Titans don’t have the quality at the wide-receiver position to be like that and unfortunately they will need a retune in the off-season to fix that.

Up next: at. Jaguars, Sunday 1:15 a.m. GMT

  1. Cleveland Browns (7-9)

Last Week – 24th

Deshaun Watson only threw the ball 18 times on Sunday, but in that time, he threw three touchdowns and finally started showing why the Browns decided to hand him a lucrative guaranteed deal. 

The Browns’ defence in the recent weeks has also seen improvement. Their defence has jumped from 21st to 13th in defensive DVOA over that span, with it feeling better late than never.

Up next: at. Steelers, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Washington Commanders (7-8-1)

Last Week – 16th

It may feel rational but the decision to start Carson Wentz this past Sunday could be a fire-able offence for head coach Ron Rivera. Just three weeks ago Washington were in pole position for one of the last two wild-card spots in the NFC and now they’ve been eliminated – Rivera didn’t even know the Commanders could have been eliminated until it was brought up during his post-game press conference.

Rivera made the decision to return Wentz to the lineup, and in a must win game he threw three interceptions to zero touchdowns. The consequences were missing out on the playoffs and just a few days later Washington dropped Wentz for the last game of the season.

Up next: vs. Cowboys, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Las Vegas Raiders (6-10)

Last Week – 25th

The Las Vegas Raiders weren’t supposed to have a chance against the 49ers but they at least put up a fight. With a new look Vegas side that had Jarrett Stidham taking Derek Carr’s place at quarterback, the offence scored 34 points against a Niners defence that felt impenetrable.

But still Josh McDaniel’s side blew a 10 point lead and found a way to lose games they stand a chance of winning. Fans will look at this game as a moral victory, but with pre-season expectations of playoffs at a minimum, the Raiders season has been nothing short of a failure.

Up next: vs. Chiefs, Saturday 9:30 p.m. GMT

  1. Atlanta Falcons (6-10)

Last Week – 27th

Atlanta ended a five-game losing streak this week with a 20-19 win against the Cardinals. The Falcons are in an interesting spot with Desmond Ridder. Ridder hasn’t been disastrous, but he also shouldn’t be the reason Atlanta pulls their hat out of the QB ring for the upcoming draft. 

Going into their third season under this regime, they will need to start competing more next season. With a Tampa team that is undecided at the QB position and the Saints about to experience cap hell, the division will be wide open for them.

Up next: vs. Buccaneers, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Los Angeles Rams (5-11)

Last Week – 26th

After their dominating win against the Broncos on Christmas, they came back down to reality this past Sunday. They suffered a 31-10 defeat where the Chargers ran over them. On the offensive side the Rams continued to try to run the rock and actually had some success. Akers topped the 100-yard mark on 19 carries at a 6.5 yard per carry pace. 

But the Rams season was lost many weeks ago and the big decisions that will need to be taken now, is what happens with the future of their superstar players and coach after an injury riddled season.

Up next: at. Seahawks , Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Denver Broncos (4-12)

Last Week – 30th

Denver have had an underwhelming season by all means this year, but their two most impressive games have come against our No. 1 ranked team in this rankings. In those two games Russell Wilson turned back the clocks and used his legs as a weapon more. It seems that is the way to get the best out of Wilson and something the next head coach of the Denver Broncos will need to consider.

Up next: vs. Chargers, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Arizona Cardinals (4-12)

Last Week – 28th

If there was a sim button for the Cardinals to skip the end of this season, they would be pressing it over and over again until it blew up. It feels the front office and head coach could be gone by this time next week with them needing to construct their roster again. Arizona does have what they think to be a franchise QB, but he will be needing another offensive-minded head coach to try and get the best out of him. What makes it harder is Kyler Murray looks set to miss the majority of his next season with his ACL injury.

Up next: at. 49ers , Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Chicago Bears (3-13)

Last Week – 29th

This Bears team right now may be the worst team on paper in the league. They can easily make an argument to have the worst offensive-line, wide-receivers and defence in the league. They do happen to have a game changing weapon in Justin Fields, but without any help it will be pointless having him. Chicago will hold a top-two pick in the draft but there doesn’t seem to be any offensive weapons viable for that pick. That may not be the end of the world though, as they can trade the pick for a king’s ransom.

Up next: vs. Vikings , Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Houston Texans (2-13-1)

Last Week – 31st

While the team is likely still some way away from contending, drafting a quarterback with the top pick in the draft should inject some life into a currently lifeless franchise. Head coach Lovie Smith has done some nice things with this team, but with an unpredictable front office, there’s a realistic chance this team could be looking for their fourth head coach in four years.

Up next: at. Colts , Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Indianapolis Colts (4-11-1)

Last Week – 32nd

No team’s futures look as dull if owner Jim Irsay is being serious when he gave a vote of confidence for head coach and general manager, Jeff Saturday and Chris Ballard. It is worth taking what owners say with a pinch of salt, but it seems he genuinely believes it. The Colts should have a top-6 pick in the upcoming draft and they must hit on that pick if they want to turn things around.

Up next: vs. Texans, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

rozomaldini Monday Night Football, Week 16

Bolts Beat Colts 

By David McDonnell 

The LA Chargers are into the play-offs for the first time in the Justin Herbert era, after a very comfortable win against the Colts. 

Jeff Saturday’s notions of keeping his head coaching position flew out the window after  surrendering a 33 point lead last week and they didn’t fly back in on Monday Night Football. 

This was as easy a win the Bolts could have expected against an Indy side that clocked it in and clocked it out. Unless they are that bad, which could just as easily be argued, and they need and will go another direction once they play their final game next weekend.

For the Chargers, things are looking up and they will give any team in the AFC all they want of it once the business end of the season begins.

They are a team loaded with talent who have gotten healthier as their season has progressed and their players and coaching staff deserve a lot of credit for making the playoffs, with a laundry list of injuries throughout the season and players lining out banged up. Including Justin Herbert, whose form has shot up after their bye week when he could rest his rib injury and he is undoubtedly one of the best players in the league.

Although he didn’t light it up against the Colts on MNF, he didn’t need to as he led his charges to a routine victory. 

While they still have Joey Bosa, Rashawn Slater and JC Jackson among others on injured reserve, they boast a host of first team talent able to mix it with the best. Also they are good to watch. Keenan Allen and Mike Williams continue to be an elite receiving duo, and the pair combined for 180 receiving yards against the Colts. 

Austin Ekeler opened the scoring with his first touchdown of the night. 

And in the fourth quarter he repeated his party trick. 

Nick Foles was starting under centre for the first time for Indy this season and the ring rust was evident, as he threw three interceptions on the night. The Colts fans must be counting down the seconds until the regular season is over and they can refocus on 2023. 

For the Chargers, it’s the play-offs baby! 

rozomaldini Monday Night Football, Week 16

Monday Night Football: Chargers @ Colts

By Conor Perrett 

A week on, after being on the wrong side of the largest comeback in NFL history, the Indianapolis Colts host another playoff challenger in the LA Chargers. 

The LAC have put themselves in a strong position to clinch a playoff spot this season, thanks to some close wins over the past few weeks. With an improved defence over the last two weeks, they will try carry into Monday Night Football.

Indianapolis Colts (4-9-1)

Power Rankings – 30th

DVOA Rankings: Offence – 32nd, Defence – 11th, ST – 19th: Overall – 31st

After suffering that embarrassing defeat last week, Matt Ryan has been benched for a second time this season. Ryan was given a second chance when the new interim coach Jeff Saturday came in, but after his second half performance that saw the Colts offence fall off a cliff and Nick Foles has been given the opportunity to start.

To be fair to Indy, they are trying everything to try to find some sort of spark in a lost season. It seems clear some major changes will happen in the off-season, with a new coaching staff most likely being in place. They also have a top five pick on the horizon in the draft. 

The Colts defence has been the only positive on display this season. Despite missing superstar linebacker Shaquille Leonard for the majority of the season. Their defensive line is one of their biggest positives and has been key to any sort of success they have.

Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)

Power Rankings – 11th

DVOA Rankings: Offence – 24th, Defence – 17th, ST – 10th: Overall – 23rd

The Chargers have won three out of their past four games to improve to 8-6 on the season, with each of those wins coming by less than a touchdown. It looked bleak for a period of time that this team would miss the postseason again, but they have put the odds in their favour over the last month.

The Bolts offence has been a bit of a disappointment this season, but after a slow start, Justin Herbert has started to perform to what we know he can over the past few weeks. He has topped the 310-yard mark in the past three games, while throwing zero interceptions in three of his past four starts. 

It is no surprise that things started clicking with the return of wide-receivers Keelan Allen and Mike Willaims. 

Los Angeles are starting to peak at the right time, as they can begin to get ready for the playoffs if they get past the Colts tonight. With three games left against teams with bottom seven records in the league, there’s a high chance they can improve their position in a stacked AFC.

Prediction

The Chargers enter the game as -4.5 favourites, despite being the away team. 

Indy’s offence is unpredictable with Foles now taking the lead, as it will be his first start of the season. It won’t be an easy matchup for him, with the Chargers defence ranking third in defensive DVOA over the past two weeks. 

On paper it’s easy to see why LA are favourites, but there’s always a chance the Colts can spring a Christmas surprise. While the end result is what matters, you have to remember Indy put themselves in a position to be up by 33 points. The  defence and special teams played amazing in that first half and they just lost it  towards the end from the glass half full point of view. 

Everything is just going right for the Chargers right now and it would be a shock if a four-win Colts team were the ones to stop them. 

Chargers 27-20 Colts

Monday Night Football: Chargers @ Colts

By Conor Perrett 

A week on, after being on the wrong side of the largest comeback in NFL history, the Indianapolis Colts host another playoff challenger in the LA Chargers. 

The LAC have put themselves in a strong position to clinch a playoff spot this season, thanks to some close wins over the past few weeks. With an improved defence over the last two weeks, they will try carry into Monday NNight Football.

Indianapolis Colts (4-9-1)

Power Rankings – 30th

DVOA Rankings: Offence – 32nd, Defence – 11th, ST – 19th: Overall – 31st

After suffering that embarrassing defeat last week, Matt Ryan has been benched for a second time this season. Ryan was given a second chance when the new interim coach Jeff Saturday came in, but after his second half performance that saw the Colts offence fall off a cliff and Nick Foles has been given the opportunity to start.

To be fair to Indy, they are trying everything to try to find some sort of spark in a lost season. It seems clear some major changes will happen in the off-season, with a new coaching staff most likely being in place. They also have a top five pick on the horizon in the draft. 

The Colts defence has been the only positive on display this season. Despite missing superstar linebacker Shaquille Leonard for the majority of the season. Their defensive line is one of their biggest positives and has been key to any sort of success they have.

Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)

Power Rankings – 11th

DVOA Rankings: Offence – 24th, Defence – 17th, ST – 10th: Overall – 23rd

The Chargers have won three out of their past four games to improve to 8-6 on the season, with each of those wins coming by less than a touchdown. It looked bleak for a period of time that this team would miss the postseason again, but they have put the odds in their favour over the last month.

The Bolts offence has been a bit of a disappointment this season, but after a slow start, Justin Herbert has started to perform to what we know he can over the past few weeks. He has topped the 310-yard mark in the past three games, while throwing zero interceptions in three of his past four starts. 

It is no surprise that things started clicking with the return of wide-receivers Keelan Allen and Mike Willaims. 

Los Angeles are starting to peak at the right time, as they can begin to get ready for the playoffs if they get past the Colts tonight. With three games left against teams with bottom seven records in the league, there’s a high chance they can improve their position in a stacked AFC.

Prediction

The Chargers enter the game as -4.5 favourites, despite being the away team. 

Indy’s offence is unpredictable with Foles now taking the lead, as it will be his first start of the season. It won’t be an easy matchup for him, with the Chargers defence ranking third in defensive DVOA over the past two weeks. 

On paper it’s easy to see why LA are favourites, but there’s always a chance the Colts can spring a Christmas surprise. While the end result is what matters, you have to remember Indy put themselves in a position to be up by 33 points. The  defence and special teams played amazing in that first half and they just lost it  towards the end from the glass half full point of view. 

Everything is just going right for the Chargers right now and it would be a shock if a four-win Colts team were the ones to stop them. 

Chargers 27-20 Colts

rozomaldini NFL Power Rankings, Week 16

Week 16 Power Rankings

Week 16 Power Rankings

By Conor Perrett

What a weekend of NFL football!

It kept on getting better and better during Week 15 of the season which included the biggest comeback in league history, two comebacks of 17 points and probably the dumbest last play we’ve ever seen in the NFL.

So without further ado, let’s get ranking everyone.

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (13-1)

Last Week – 1st

Just when you think Philly will have an easy path to the No. 1 seed with Dallas’ loss, a bit of drama struck at the end with QB and MVP frontrunner, Jalen Hurts expected to miss the next two weeks with a shoulder sprain in his throwing arm. 

The Eagles should be fine in the meantime and still hold their own fate, but it’s always a worry to see your quarterback go down with an injury to his throwing shoulder. It’s the most prized possession of any QB and when issues start popping up, it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Gardener Minshew has a chance to play a hero, similar to Nick Foles back during Philadelphia’s last Super Bowl run.

Up next: at Dallas, Saturday 9:25 p.m. GMT

2. Kansas City Chiefs (11-3)

Last Week – 2nd

The Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes still own the AFC’s No. 1 seed, but it got a bit shaky when they went to overtime with the Texans. Mahomes completed 36 of 41 pass attempts, good for the best completion percentage of his career at 87.7%. He started and finished the game, yet it got to squeaky bum time by the end, against the worst team in the league.

Why was that? Their 24th ranked defensive DVOA is why!

Kansas City has never had an amazing defence, but this season has been worse than normal. They’re currently on pace to have the worst defence in the playoffs, as Mahomes and the offence tries to carry this team further.

Up next: vs. Seattle, Saturday 6 p.m. GMT

3. Buffalo Bills (11-3)

Last Week – 3rd

Whether Josh Allen is 100% or not, it will never stop him going to the lengths of superman diving over the goal line in the snow to win for his team. Allen is the second-ranked quarterback in EPA per drop-back behind just Mahomes. 

This Bills team still doesn’t quite feel like its normal self with injuries stacking up, especially on defence, but they still boast the shortest odds of winning the Super Bowl.

Up next: at Chicago, Saturday 6 p.m. GMT

Tied 4.  Cincinnati Bengals (10-4)

Last Week – 4th

We have our first tied rankings of the season, with the Bengals and 49ers being too close to split in my opinion. In all honesty this could have been a triple tie along with the Cowboys, if they didn’t throw away a late lead.

We knew just how good this Bengals team could be when we saw them get to the Super Bowl last year. Since then, their young players have progressed and are starting to look even better. They had no easy path towards the end of this season to progress to the postseason after a slow start, but they’ve stepped up to the plate and now look like a serious Super Bowl contenders. 

Up next: at New England, Saturday 6 p.m. GMT

Tied 4. San Francisco 49ers (10-4)

Last Week – 5th

The Niners moved up half a spot his week, with me having them tied with Cincinnati.

If I was a betting man, part of me thinks this team could make it to the Super Bowl out of the NFC. Their defence is the best in the league with the aggression they come at offences with and they’ve done it before. There will always be question marks at the QB position, especially when the last pick of this past draft is starting, but Kyle Shanahan may be the offensive genius in the league. Not to mention San Fran are peaking at the right time and are currently on a seven-game winning streak. 

Up next: vs. Washington, Saturday 9:05 p.m. GMT

6. Dallas Cowboys (10-4)

Last Week – 6th

The recent Jalen Hurts injury news might be worse to hear from a Dallas fan than it actually is for Eagles fans. Philadelphia has maintained a two-win gap from the Cowboys for the majority of the year, but with the Cowboys collapse on Sunday to Jacksonville, that now grew to three with three games to play.

With the Eagles missing the engine to their machine and them playing each other on Christmas Eve, Dallas had a chance to cut the lead down to one and claim the top spot in the NFC. Now they are staring down the 5th seed and face many playoff games on the road, if they keep progressing to the Big Show.

Up next: vs. Philadelphia, Saturday 9:25 p.m. GMT

7. Miami Dolphins (8-6)

Last Week – 7th

“They look the business right now and we’ll find out how real they are in the next few weeks when they travel to San Francisco, LA for the Chargers and to Buffalo.” 

That quote is from my rankings three weeks ago about the Dolphins.

Back then they were ranked third and we found out how real they were, losing every one of those games. That was a really difficult set of fixtures and I still view them at the bottom of the contenders, but a blueprint on how to slow down this offence was created by San Fran, and showed the rest of the league how to do it.

The difficult run doesn’t end here, with their last three games still against teams in the playoff hunt. Two of which are divisional rivals in the AFC as well.

Up next: vs. Green Bay, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

8. Minnesota Vikings (11-3)

Last Week – 9th

Just when you think the Vikings have run out of luck and can’t keep coming back with these ridiculous comebacks, they prove you wrong and one up themselves. Being down 33-0 at halftime, Minnesota triumphed back and managed to get the win in overtime. It was the biggest comeback in NFL history, as the Vikings totaled for five second-half touchdowns.

Minnesota has been involved in 10 one-score games and has managed to win all 10 of them. It does speak to volume that the Vikings have only managed to win one game by more than one score, but if that’s how they want to get to the second best record in the league, then we cant really complain.

Up next: vs. New York Giants, Saturday 6 p.m. GMT

9. Detroit Lions (7-7)

Last Week – 11th

After starting the season 1-6 and holding the worst record in the league, the Lions have restored their roar and won six games in their last seven matches. That could have very easily been seven wins out of seven if it wasn’t for a Josh Allen wonder-throw, but Detroit are in full swing right now. Since Week 11, via DVOA, they rank the Lions as the 4th best team in that span, with Dan Campbell turning things around.

Their win in New York this past Sunday wasn’t any means of a classic, with a missed field-goal to tie the game by from the Jets. But they are showing they can win in a multitude of ways. Their offence has shown to be high powered and capable of scoring 30 points in a shootout manner, while Sunday’s win showed another side of them, winning a low scoring, sluggish affair on the road.

Up next: at Carolina, Saturday 6 p.m. GMT

10. Baltimore Ravens (9-4)

Last Week – 8th

Lamar Jackson is reportedly likely to return this week after a two-game absence from a knee injury. That’s good, because Baltimore managed just three points against the 26th-ranked DVOA Browns’ defence, with Tyler Huntley at the helm. If Jackson was healthy this team would be ranked higher, as the defence has improved over the second half of the season.

The offence does have question marks at the skill positions, with a lacklustre of talent. So keeping Jackson in the off-season will be ever so more important. 

Up next: vs. Atlanta, Saturday 6 p.m. GMT

11. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)

Last Week – 13th

The Chargers’ two-game winning streak gives them a 79.3% chance to make the playoffs, per Football Outsiders. It was starting to get a bit worrying for Brandon Staley and that coaching staff and with a closing schedule that looks relatively easy, they’ve pulled off some impressive wins of late.

The most impressive turnaround is on defence. We knew this defence under Staley could be great and they have, ranking 3rd in defensive DVOA over the last two weeks.

Up next: at Indianapolis, Tuesday 1:15 a.m. GMT

12. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-8)

Last Week – 17th

Trevor Lawrence has finally hit the NFL and he’s single-handedly helping Jacksonville have a legit shot at winning the AFC South. Since Week 9, Lawrence has been the 3rd ranked QB in EPA per dropback and developing into what we saw of him in college. 

The are level with Tennessee in the AFC South and have their Week 18 rematch with the Titans in Jacksonville still to come. It seems destined that the winner gets into the playoffs.

Up next: at New York Jets, Friday 1:15 a.m. GMT

13. New York Jets (7-7)

Last Week – 12th

The Jets playoff chances dropped -15.4% in their defeat on Sunday, as the offence still struggles under Zach Wilson. Their defence is for real, keeping Detroit’s offence quiet all day apart from a sneaky 4th & 1 which caught them off guard. With how that unit is playing it would feel disrespectful for them to miss out, but there’s a reason why the QB position is the most important in football and it’s showing in New York. 

Up next: vs. Jacksonville, Friday 1:15 a.m. GMT

14. New York Giants (8-5-1)

Last Week – 19th

With their huge win in Washington, the Giants playoff chances jumped up a whopping 39.4% to 89.6%. They now hold a one-game lead over the Commanders and a 1.5-game lead on Detroit and Seattle. Their matchup this week to Minnesota could be a potentially Wild-Card preview in a few weeks time, as Brain Daboll and company have pulled off a miracle in New York’s first season under the new regime.

Up next: at Minnesota, Saturday 6 p.m. GMT

15. Washington Commanders (7-6-1)

Last Week – 10th

Washington still remains in the No. 7 seed in the NFC, but a tricky last three games could see them slip out. Their game against the Giants couldn’t have been any bigger for both teams to make it into the postseason, as it felt the loser of that game was always going to have a tough time keeping that dream alive. 

Officiating calls will always be talked about, but in a must win game to score 12 points at home, is criminal in itself.

Up next: at San Francisco, Saturday 9:05 p.m. GMT

16. Green Bay Packers (6-8)

Last Week – 20th

If Green Bay can do the unlikely thing of winning out in their last three games, it would seem very likely they then sneak into the playoffs. The only thing stopping them, is those next three opponents all rank in the top-9 of these power rankings. With Miami next, who rank 4th in offensive DVOA, the Packers are 0-3 to teams in the top-10 of that statistic.

It won’t be an easy task and maybe will be one last effort from Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.

Up next: at Miami, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

17. Tennessee Titans (7-7)

Last Week – 14th

Things are really not going well for the Titans, with them losing four games on the bounce. With Jacksonville fast approaching behind them, starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill is slated to miss the end of the season with an ankle injury. It means they will have to fall back on rookie QB Malik Willis, who underwhelmed in his previous starts early in the season. 

With a rookie QB at the helm and not scoring more than 22 points in any of the last four games, Tennessee still has everything to play for in these last three games.

Up next: vs. Houston, Saturday 6 p.m. GMT

18. New England Patriots (7-7)

Last Week – 15th

It’s probably best we don’t speak about the dumbest last play ever, I mentioned in the intro for the sake of New England fans who might have only just started getting over it.

For the few that havent seen it, just watching it will explain everything.

Up next: vs. Cincinnati, Saturday 1 p.m. GMT

19. Tampa Buccaneers (6-8)

Last Week – 18th

Despite the underwhelming record, Tampa still leads the worst division in recent memory. They have three favourable games to finish the year, but it’s all still up in the air in the NFC South. One game separates the four of them, as maybe no one won in the long term of things in the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick divorce.

Except for the Super Bowl of course.

Up next: at Arizona, Monday 1:20 a.m. GMT

20. Seattle Seahawks (7-7)

Last Week – 16th

After a promising start to the season, the playoffs might be getting out of Seattle’s reach now with one win in their last five games. With the Chiefs next and wide-receiver Tyler Lockett needing hand surgery, it was still a successful season for the side. 

Their roster looks young and promising and they might not have to draft a QB after all, with the emergence of 2022 Pro-Bowler Geno Smith. The Seahawks currently hold the third pick in the draft thanks to Denver, with them waiting to run up to the podium for a defensive beast if the situation remains.

Up next: at Kansas City, Saturday 6 p.m. GMT

21. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-8)

Last Week – 22nd

The Steelers got an important win in Carolina to try and keep Mike Tomlin’s streak of a .500 season alive. It included an impressive 21-play touchdown drive to open the second half, which lasted nearly the entire third quarter. The season may be lost in terms of competing for things, but it wasn’t all failure as they transitioned away from the Ben Roethlisberger era.

Up next: vs. Las Vegas, Sunday 1:15 a.m. GMT

22. Cleveland Browns (6-8)

Last Week – 23rd

The expectation of Deshaun Watson’s play was hard to predict with his return, but I don’t think anyone thought it was going to be this bad. With QB’s that have started three games, he ranks 39th out of 43 quarterbacks. This is a player the Browns traded three 1st-round picks for, gave $230 million and their entire dignity for. With a run defence that is still historically bad, I can probably speak for many that are smirking to see this move not pay off.

Up next: vs. New Orleans, Saturday 1 p.m. GMT

23. Las Vegas Raiders (6-8)

Last Week – 24th

Entering Week 15, the Raiders were 0-4 in games when they led by double digits at the half and it should have dropped to 0-5 if it wasn’t for the Patriots embarrassing themselves. This keeps happening because Josh McDaniels is constantly getting out-coached with second-half adjustments. He has shown no ability to learn from it, as it’s no surprise a team trying to replicate the ‘Patriots Way’ is failing.  

Up next: at Pittsburgh, Sunday 1:15 a.m. GMT

24. Denver Broncos (4-9)

Last Week – 28th

I was one of the first to be down on the Broncos after their horrific start, and I will now put my foot forward to be one of the first to say this team should be this high up. The defence has been elite all year, yet the offence has let them down every stretch of the way. But over the last two weeks I’ve seen the improvement we’ve all been crying out for which is scoring points. 

After only scoring more than 17 points twice in their first 12 games, they’ve now scored 52 points over the last two games. Now, I don’t know if this improvement will keep Nathaniel Hackett his head coaching job at the end of the season, but it’s the improvement we needed to see at least.

Up next: at Los Angeles Rams, Sunday 9:30 p.m. GMT

25. New Orleans Saints (5-9)

Last Week – 27th

Believe it or not, these next three teams we are going to talk about in the bottom quarter of the rankings, all still have a shot at making the playoffs. Why do you ask? Because they all belong to the worst division in football, the NFC South.

This segment should be dedicated towards the changes the NFL should make to the playoff structure. The NBA found themselves in a similar situation a few years back and they scrapped the idea of divisional winners hosting and playing in the playoffs. It’s worse for everyone involved. One of these four teams will be unfit to compete, the fans have to pay and watch to see their team get battered and a worthy team is sat at home missing out.

Up next: at Cleveland, Saturday 6 p.m. GMT

26. Carolina Panthers (5-9)

Last Week – 21st

To further prove my point on why the NFC South division sucks, there is a realistic world where all fours teams in the division can finish with a record of 6-11 record and one of them make the playoffs. So yes, change this immediately please!!!

Up next: vs. Detroit, Saturday 6 p.m. GMT

27. Atlanta Falcons (5-9)

Last Week – 25th

How do you ask that a four way tie of 6-11 can come into play? Lemme set it out for you.

Buccaneers: Lose to Cardinals, Panthers and Falcons.

Saints: Lose to Browns, Eagles and beat Panthers.

Panthers: Lose to Lions, beat Buccaneers and lose to Saints.

Falcons: Lose to Ravens, Cardinals and beat Buccaneers.

So really apart from some 50/50 games against each other, if the Cardinals can revive their season late on, this could all come into play.

Up next: at Baltimore, Saturday 6 p.m. GMT

28. Arizona Cardinals (4-10)

Last Week – 26th

Back to the normal chatter now. After Kyler Murray suffered a torn ACL in the previous week, there are now reports of a change coming to the front office less than a year after both general manager Steve Keim and head coach Kliff Kingsbury received extensions. The Cardinals seem destined for a top-4 pick in the draft and with a potential new regime in place, anything could be on the cards (if you pardon the pun).

Up next: vs. Tampa Bay, Monday 1:20 a.m. GMT

29. Los Angeles Rams (4-10)

Last Week – 29th

Expectations came back down to reality for the Rams, after Baker Mayfield and the offence failed to capitalise on their momentum against the Packers on MNF. Now on Christmas Day, they host Denver. The game for most will be viewed as two bad teams against each other, but for the Seahawks and Lions it will be a must watch. 

Seattle and Detroit both own the rights to Denver’s’ and Los Angeles’ first-round picks, which currently stand as the 3rd and 4th picks in this upcoming draft. For the team that loses, the chances of a top-3 selection comes every closer. For the unlucky winner, a higher draft pick.

Up next: at Los Angeles Rams, Sunday 9:30 p.m. GMT

30. Indianapolis Colts (4-9-1)

Last Week – 30th

Similar to New England, what the hell were Indy thinking in that second half. How does one lose a game when they’re up by 33 points? Apparently hire a coach with no coaching experience and play him against the Minnesota Vikings. 

In all honesty the Colts were fortunate to be up by that much in the first place, with a lot of things going in their favour, but to then give up 36 points in a single half. Just scoring 30 points a game is an accomplishment for any team. In Indy’s last two fourth quarters, they have been outscored by 55 to 0. Safe to say Jeff Saturday most likely won’t be in-line for the permanent head coaching role now.

Up next: vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Tuesday 1:15 a.m. GMT

31. Chicago Bears (3-11)

Last Week – 31st

Chicago saw exactly what Justin Fields could be this past Sunday against Hurts and the Eagles. Both QB’s are very similar in playstyle, yet on one side you saw what happens when there is no talent to protect or pass to. Watching Fields, I still don’t know if he has a promising future as a passer, but if one thing is for sure, he may be one of the best quarterbacks I’ve seen when scrambling. Week in week out he has a spectacular play which leaves your jaw dropped, but until this front office puts pieces around him on offence, there won’t be much success for the Bears.

Up next: vs. Buffalo, Saturday 6 p.m. GMT

32. Houston Texans (1-12-1)

Last Week – 32nd

Though the Texans managed to take the Chiefs to overtime in Week 15, they’re still far out from doing that on a consistent basis. The two-quarterback approach with Davis Mills and Jeff Driskel is innovative, but there’s no reason to take them seriously until they’re starting one good QB rather than two bad ones.

Up next: at Tennessee, Saturday 6 p.m. GMT

rozomaldini Saturday Night Football, Week 15

Vikings make NFL comeback history

 

By David McDonnell

Holy Mother of God, What a comeback!!!!

The Vikings were 33-0 down against the Colts at half-time, but staged a miraculous second-half comeback to send the game to overtime, where they won at the death to complete the biggest ever comeback in NFL history.

It is difficult even now trying to comprehend what we witnessed. 

At half time, it had been all so different. 

In the first half the Vikings kept getting punished from largely self-inflicted wounds with the Vikes being roundly booed by their home support as they trailed 33-0.

The Colts first touchdown came from a blocked punt, their second after Dalvin Cook had fumbled which led to a successful touchdown drive, and a third score came after Kirk Cousins was intercepted by Julian Blackmon for a pick six. 

The Colts took at 33-0 into half-time. 

In the third quarter touchdown a touchdown from the impressive KJ Osbourne looked like a consolation score. 

Even when they added a second, there wasn’t much of a fuss from anywhere but when Justin Jefferson got a third touchdown at the start of the second quarter, the whole mood of the stadium changed.

It made a two-score game with 13 minutes remaining and there was certainly a belief that a comeback could be on the cards. The atmosphere was rocking but when Cousins threw an interception with eight minutes remaining, everyone took a breath.

However two minutes later, Cousins was one-yard out with a first and goal and two plays later found Adam Thielen for a touchdown.

Before the two minute warning, Minnesota made a big stop on fourth down when Matt Ryan tried the QB sneak. The chains showed him to be just short and with 2.19 left, Dalvin Cook broke free from a screen pass and went 64 yards for a touchdown that exposed some poor tackling by the Colts. 

Cousins found Hockenson through the middle for the two point conversion to tie the scores, 36-36. 

The game went to overtime and with time threatening to run out, Greg Joseph kicked over from 40 yards to make history as the Vikings completed the greatest comeback in NFL history.

There have been 1551 games in the NFL,  and these Minnesota Vikings are the only team to comeback from a 33 point deficit. 

The win secures the NFC North title for Minnesota, while at the same time probably ending Jeff Saturday’s chances of keeping his interim coaching job past this season. His side paid the price for thinking the game was over and terrible clock management and play calling.

This comeback will live long in the memory.

rozomaldini NFL Column, Week 15

It’s NFL Saturday 

By David McDonnell 

Somewhat surprisingly, there are three NFL games tonight. 

WIth the college football regular season finished, Saturday night is a great night to watch NFL matches as we sail into the business end of the year. In the NFC, the Eagles and the 49ers have already secured playoff berths, and tonight both the Vikings and the Bills can add their names to the postseason football list.

Dolphins v Bills

The late game sees the Dolphins play the Bills with a 1.15 kickoff. 

Miami currently sit sixth in the AFC playoff positions with a record of 8-4 but should they lose tonight, then they could be joined by the Chargers, Jets and Patriots on 8-4 by the end of the weekend.

The Dolphins are stuttering of late and have lost on their last two outings against the 49ers and the Chargers. Last time out they were competitive against the Bolts with their defence competing well for most of the contest.  It kept them in the game. Christain WIlikns was their standout player especially in the opening half. 

Where they struggled mightily was on offence, outside of Tyreek Hill. Their run game was very poor with Raheem Mostert their leading rusher with only 37 yards on 11 carries. The passing game wasn’t much better with Tua Tagovailoa clearly playing through injury. All he could muster was 145 yards, most of which went on one deep play to Hill for a touchdown. 

It is hard to be overly critical of a quarterback when they are not 100% healthy but the lack of a running threat is hindering their play-action game, which allows their receivers time to get down the field for big yardage.  

This week they came up against a Bills defence that played very well last time out. They limited the Jets rushing attack to 76 yards and hit Mike White so hard and so often, he is out this weekend with a rib injury. 

Josh Allen is back to ballin out every week and he is taking very little care with his body as he is steaming into tackles regularly to pick up first downs. I think his play has become a bit predictable recently and in the fourth quarter he is almost always opting to back himself to run with ball in hand to extend drives. I believe it is only a matter of when he is going to get hit and pick up a significant injury. I hope i’m wrong because he is brilliant to watch and i want to see him mixing it with Mahimes, Burrow and Jackson in the play-offs.

For tonight, I can’t see past a Buffalo victory and with it a guaranteed postseason appearance. Maybe then Allen will protect himself a bit more in the last three games in order to be fresh for the games that truly matter in their quest for a Superbowl. 

The other games tonight see the Vikings v Colts and the Ravens v Browns.

Of the two, I am more interested to see the AFC North divisional matchup. It will be the third start for Deshaun Watson under centre for Cleveland, but his first in a national broadcast. So far he has looked rusty but I haven’t had an opportunity to see him in a full game so that will be of interest to me. 

It’s a pity Lamar Jackson is still out. 

His replacement Tyler Huntley had to leave the field last week with a concussion and didn’t return but he is expected to start tonight with Anthony Brown waiting in the wings. Without Lamar the Ravens lack bite making Baltimore very predictable. They will try to run over the Browns and although Cleveland have little to nothing to play for, a divisional win is always a nice way to keep your supporters onside heading into the offseason. 

I think this Ravens defence is one of the best in the league and I expect this to be a low scoring affair. This is a toss of the coin for me, but without Lamar I think the Browns take this one.

In the 6pm kickoff, I expect the Vikings to score enough to beat the Colts who have been dismal in pass protection this season. Minnesota will be playing post season football but I remain unconvinced by the Vikings all season and I’m not changing my tune now. 

rozomaldini Monday Night Football, Week 12

MNF Colts v Steelers

By Conor Perrett 

Monday Night Football is back, as Jeff Saturday gets ready for his third game in his coaching career by hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Both teams have spent the majority of the season being underwhelming, but don’t let their records put you off as they have both looked on the rise recently.

Indianapolis Colts  (4-6-1)

Power Rankings – 24th

DVOA Rankings: Offence – 32nd, Defence – 10th, ST – 28th: Overall – 29th

At first glance Indy’s DVOA rankings are pretty awful. 

There’s no getting around how poor of a start they had to the season, but in the last two weeks under a new interim coach, they’ve seen improvement. The main reasoning for their turnaround is the lack of turnovers now. During the first half of the season the offence collectively had 16 total turnovers. 

Even though it’s a small sample size, under Saturday now the ball has only been turned over once. With a lot more mistake free football being played.

Off-season acquisition Matt Ryan is back in at quarterback and running back Jonathon Taylor is back to being utilised. Last year’s rushing leader Taylor couldn’t get anything going at the start of this season but now the Colts have had over 300 rushing yards the last two games.

Whether Jeff Saturday gets the permanent job at the end of the season is still a long way off, but he has definitely turned this team around for the best. 

With the NFL recently leaning towards the young offensive genius as head coach, the appreciation for motivational leaders in the same position shouldn’t go unnoticed. Mike Vrable started the trend a few years ago having a ton of success in Tennessee winning Coach of the Year. Detroit is seeing a turnaround with Dan Campbell leading the way. So it shouldn’t be a surprise Saturday is following their lead. 

It’s very early on but the Colts look like they’re in a lot better position than they did before his appointment. 

Injury Report: 

Ruled Out:

  • DE Kwity Paye (Ankle)

Pittsburgh Steelers (3-7)

Power Rankings – 27th

DVOA Rankings: Offence – 22nd, Defence – 14th, ST – 17th: Overall – 20th

The Steelers have followed a similar trajectory to the Colts, with a poor start to the season but improvement over the last two games. Their superstar player TJ Watt returned to the defence during that time and clearly it is showing the spark he brings to the team.

The offence has seen the most improvement over that span with rookie Kenny Pickett starting to put things together. With weapons such as George Pickens, Diontae Johnson and Pat Friermuth, there’s a lot to go around. The passing game has been ignored at times as Pittsburgh ranks last in passing yards and touchdowns but the run game is starting to come together.

Najee Harris has failed to repeat his standout 2021 season, but he was quietly playing with a steel plate in his shoe through the start of the season and may just now be healed. The last two games he’s got into the endzone twice, while getting over 90 yards on the ground in both games. His yards per carry is up as well and it’s helping the offence out massively. 

Indy is a great team at stopping the run, ranking 6th in EPA per rush, so we’ll see tonight how much this offence really has improved.

Injury Report: 

Ruled OUT:

  • CB Ahkello Witherspoon (Hamstring)
  • RB Jaylen Warren (Hamstring)

Prediction

These teams are very alike in their improvement over the last two weeks, but possess quarterbacks who have struggled over the whole of the season.

It comes down to which team can get pressure from their defence to make the quarterback crack and the Steelers may have both the better defence and pass rush to do that. TJ Watt’s return has been huge and adds a sense of impact to a game that very few in this league can do. 

I like the matchup for this Steelers’ D and think they could have a big impact on the way this game is won. Along with Pickett showing vast improvement scoring 30 points on a Bengals defence last week, I think the Steelers win this one on the road.

Steelers 19-17 Colts

rozomaldini NFL Power Rankings, Week 12

Week 12 Power Rankings

By Conor Perrett 

It’s Thanksgiving week in the land of America. That means with Week 12 of the NFL season fast approaching with roast dinners and football on Thursday, let’s see where everybody fairs after the action from Week 11.

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (8-2)

Last Week – 1st

When the Chiefs got the ball on their own 25-yard line, down four points with 1:46 to go Sunday night, it felt inevitable that they would score the go-ahead touchdown. It’s something that we have come accustomed to for Patrick Mahomes to pull off and this time against the Chargers it only took him six plays. 

Travis Kelce’s name can go under the radar sometimes being in an offence that has Mahomes as its quarterback and Andy Reid as his head coach, but the tight-end is making a claim to be a future hall of famer. Kelce has already tied his career high with 11 receiving touchdowns and is on track to set a career high in receiving yards this season as well. 

He just passed Rob Gronkowski for fifth in receiving yards among tight ends and is only 101 yards away from Shannon Sharpe for fourth. With a good few seasons still left in the tank, God knows what records he and Mahomes can break.

Up next: vs. Los Angeles Rams, Sunday 9:25 p.m. GMT

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (9-1)

Last Week – 2nd

In Weeks 1-9, Philadelphia led the league in turnover differential with 18 turnovers forced while committing just three turnovers of their own. In their last two games, they’ve turned their own ball over six times and rank 31st in turnover differential. Their reckless play got them their first loss last week against the Commanders and nearly another in Indianapolis last Sunday, if it wasn’t for a heroic fourth quarter. 

I made a comment in Week 7’s edition of our Power Rankings that talked about whether their turnover differential is sustainable. I wrote then: “It shows Philadelphia’s dominance through the first half of the season, but is it sustainable? For the time being there is no reason not to doubt that, but things can come crashing down fast. Just ask the Cardinals of last year.“

I made that Cardinals comment at the end as a joke, but could it  be heading that way? 

Up next: vs. Green Bay, Monday 1:20 a.m. GMT

  1. Miami Dolphins (7-3)

Last Week – 3rd

The Dolphins are coming off a bye week heading into Week 12 and could afford to take another, with a home matchup against Houston waiting for them.

Up next: vs. Houston, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Buffalo Bills (6-3)

Last Week – 5th

The snow that hit Buffalo last week must have changed something in their mentality when Devin Singletary and James Cook combined for 172 rushing yards on 29 carries. It’s the first time in a while the run game has looked any good, especially without Allen taking the load. It was against a historically bad Browns’ run defence, but they’ll be back in their home away from home on Thanksgiving, with a tummy full of turkey when they take on the Detroit Lions. A win could take them back on top of the competitive AFC East.

Up next: at Detroit, Thursday 5:30 p.m. GMT

  1. San Francisco 49ers (6-4)

Last Week – 7th

Everything went just as expected for the Niners in Mexico after their 38-10 blowout against the Cardinals. Jimmy Garoppolo is the fourth-ranked quarterback in EPA per dropback behind just Tagovailoa, Mahomes, and Allen. George Kittle is healthy and coming off a two touchdown game. A backfield of Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell and a sprinkle of Deebo Samuel might be the most dangerous in the league. 

Combine that with the top-ranked defence in points allowed, all while Philly and Minnesota hit a dip and the 49ers have entered the conversation as serious Super Bowl contenders.

Up next: vs. New Orleans, Sunday 9:25 p.m. GMT

  1. Baltimore Ravens (6-3)

Last Week – 6th

The trade Baltimore made to get Roquan Smith is looking like a hit for this defence. He recorded seven tackles and a sack this week as the Ravens held Carolina to a sad three points. Since his acquisition Baltimore are undefeated and have not allowed an opponent to score over 20 points. His play has rubbed onto others around him as well, with Patrick Queen shining. With a favourable schedule ahead for the Ravens, everything’s coming up Millhouse!!!

Up next: at Jacksonville, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Dallas Cowboys (7-3)

Last Week – 8th

The Cowboys took no prisoners in their 40-3 win over the Vikings on Sunday. Dak Prescott completed 22 of 25 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns in an offensive masterclass where he and running-back Tony Pollard couldn’t put a foot wrong.

It’s the kind of complete game we needed to see from Dallas after their defeat to Green Bay, with the defence getting in on the action as well. Micah Parsons added two sacks to his campaign with a pressure rate of 60 percent, the highest rate in a game this season. While corner-back Trevon Diggs allowed just two catches for 19 yards against Justin Jefferson.

Up next: vs. New York Giants Thursday 9:30 p.m. GMT

  1. Cincinnati Bengals (6-4)

Last Week – 9th

The Bengals’ win over the Steelers on Sunday kept their playoff hopes alive, and more good news flooded in Monday with Ja’Marr Chase returning to practice. Burrow ranks fifth in EPA per dropback and getting Chase back will only add to the heights we saw from both last season.

On a two-game winning streak, the Bengals now enter their hardest stretch. With seven games left in the season, they are scheduled to face six teams currently ranked 13th or higher in these Power Rankings. Perfect timing for the Chase return if you ask me.

Up next: at Tennessee, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Tennessee Titans (7-3)

Last Week – 12th

After starting the season 0-2 the Titans have since won seven of their last eight games, with their only loss coming in overtime at Kansas City. With the league’s No. 1 DVOA run defence and a grind-it-out style that drags opponents into the mud with them, Mike Vrabel has another case for Coach of the Year with the way things are going.

Tennessee is in a four-way tie for the second-best record in the AFC at 7-3, and we finally saw an element of a passing game on TNF when rookie Treylon Burks had seven receptions for 111 yards. That extra element on offence is a welcome sight to start putting them up there with the big dogs.

Up next: vs. Cincinnati, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Seattle Seahawks (6-4)

Last Week – 10th

On their bye with no game, Seattle sadly lost their top spot in the NFC West to the Niners this week. Though they still have a 84.5 percent chance of making the playoffs according to Football Outsiders.

Up next: vs. Las Vegas, Sunday 9:05 p.m. GMT

  1. Minnesota Vikings (8-2)

Last Week – 4th

I’ve been on top of Minnasota’s back all year and the minute I praise them with a 4th placed ranking last week, they suffer the most lopsided loss of the NFL season to date.

This team had been riding high after that insane win in Buffalo and it seems it caught up to them. I mentioned that Minnesota had been an overachiever and it’s important for them now to not let this free-fall. With a game against New England next which will see them play another top defence, they have to get their head back on straight,  otherwise things can start to come crashing down real fast.

Up next: vs. New England, Friday 1:20 a.m. GMT

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-5)

Last Week – 13th

There’s probably no better place to have a bye week than in Tampa, Florida. The sun, the beach, it all sounds so nice while I’m taking in 1 degree weather in Newcastle, UK.

Up next: at Cleveland, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. New England Patriots (6-4)

Last Week – 14th

Back in the Draft, Bill Belichick spent a third-round pick on a return specialist and it all paid off when Marcus Jones had a game winning 84-yard punt return.

However, there’s no denying that Mac Jones and the offence have been abysmal even in the team’s three-game win streak. Since Week 9, no offence ranks lower in offensive EPA per drive, and Jones ranks 32nd in EPA per dropback. That’s not going to cut it as they face the hardest remaining schedule in the NFL.

Up next: at Minnesota, Friday 1:20 a.m. GMT

  1. New York Jets (6-4)

Last Week – 11th

The Jets aren’t gone yet, but after Zach Wilson led them to just two offensive yards in the second half and answered “no” to a question about whether he let the defence down, New York has a big decision on their hands. For their next game, Robert Saleh refused to commit to Wilson and that’s going to lead to bigger talks about the QB in the off-season.

The Jets have the 6th ranked DVOA defence, they got weapons all over the offence, but their 2nd overall pick from last year is taking longer than expected to come good. Game It would feel rushed if the Jets were to change their plans at quarterback, but right now it feels the coaching staff don’t believe in the man and his recent comments won’t win over any of his teammates either.

Up next: vs. Chicago, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Washington Commanders (6-5)

Last Week – 16th

Ron Rivera’s decision to continue riding with Taylor Heinicke was an easy one from the outside. Washington was 2-4 before Carson Wentz was placed on injured reserve with a finger injury. The Commanders are 4-1 in games since, including a blowout win in Houston this Sunday. Heinicke, who’s been great, has not solely been responsible for that turnaround though as the defence ranks fifth in defensive EPA per drive over that span.

But when you have a defence as successful as that, not turning the ball over is simply enough to win a game. That’s exactly what Heinicke has over Wentz and the major reason why he gets to keep the job. Sure Wentz has the higher ceiling, that’s why he’s a former 2nd overall pick, but his erratic play can lead to mistakes. With a top defence now the Commanders will take less highlight plays if it means less mistakes.

Up next: vs. Atlanta, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Los Angeles Chargers (5-5)

Last Week – 17th

There’s no questioning Justin Herbert’s brilliance, especially after his effort against the Chiefs, but there will be questions surrounding head coach Brandon Staley, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and the rest of the Los Angeles coaching staff if this team misses the playoffs again.

The good news though is Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are both back and they only have to face two more teams with a current winning record.

Up next: at Arizona, Sunday 9:05 p.m. GMT

  1. Detroit Lions (4-6)

Last Week – 22nd

Three weeks ago after getting torched by Miami for a fifth straight defeat on the season and an overall record of 4-19-1 in the Dan Campbell era. A deflated Campbell stood on a press podium to say, “It’s frustrating. I know everybody’s tired of hearing it’s close, but I do know we’re close, and you just don’t know when it’s going to turn.”

At the time, frustrations were starting to grow among the Lions fan-base as this rebuild they were so hoping to work, looked to be failing like the ‘Same Old Lions.’

But it almost feels prophetic that since then, the Lions have put together a three-game win streak after dismantling the 7-2 Giants 31-18, on the road in a one sided event. With two teams with winning records left on their schedule the Playoffs might feel like a stretch, but more importantly this young team is starting to get wins under their belt and still might get a top-5 pick in the Draft due to the Stafford trade with the Rams.

Up next: vs. Buffalo, Thursday 5:30 p.m. GMT

  1. New York Giants (7-3)

Last Week – 15th

It feels harsh putting the Giants in the bottom half of the rankings when they have seven wins on the season, but it’s where they belong. That’s not taking anything away from Brain Daboll and his coaching staff. This New York side has overachieved and look amazing for a team in the first year of their rebuild, but they have a glaring weakness.

The Giants have won six of their games on one score wins, having been down by double-digits points multiple times before coming back. It’s a great talent to win close games and be perfect at the end of games, but this team functions on running the ball and when they get too far behind there’s no way back for them. That’s exactly what happened against the Lions, as a 24-6 deficit in the third quarter was too much to ask.

Up next: at Dallas, Thursday 9:30 p.m. GMT

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7)

Last Week – 20th

The Jaguars might not be overly happy after how they started the season, but what they can be happy about is how Trevor Lawrence looks significantly better this season compared to last year. He’s a top-10 quarterback in EPA per dropback, while Jacksonville has the same point differential as the 7-3 Dolphins and Titans. They just happen to be 1-6 in one score games.

Up next: vs. Baltimore, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Green Bay Packers (4-7)

Last Week – 18th

With games against the Eagles, Dolphins, and Vikings to come, there’s a world where the Packers are drafting in the top-10 of the 2023 NFL draft. It hopefully will allow them to get young and press restart on their team, but will Aaron Rodgers be there? 

With four years left on his contract you would think so, but with the rumblings of retirement for years and a less than ideal season, I wouldn’t count it out. It would leave the Packers in hell, hauling in $99.7 million in dead cap.

Up next: at Philadelphia, Monday 1:20 a.m. GMT

  1. Atlanta Falcons (5-6)

Last Week – 26th

Cordarrelle Patterson, who scored his ninth career kickoff return touchdown Sunday against the Bears and the tough offensive line are saving the Falcons right now. This team ranks sixth in EPA per rush and focuses heavily on it. However how the run game is going will determine how they do, and they’ll be tested this week against Washington’s strong run defence. Maybe Kyle Pitts and Drake London will get more of an opportunity this week.

Up next: at Washington, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Arizona Cardinals (4-7)

Last Week – 19th

That was an ugly loss in Mexico Monday night, and showed where this team is really at. San Francisco is a serious team and if Arizona wanted to make a late push for the play-offs, then being semi-competitive would have been a start. Instead they suffered a one-sided defeat and that win they got two weeks ago against the Rams, feels like one step forwards and two steps back now.

Up next: vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday 9:05 p.m. GMT

  1. Cleveland Browns (3-7)

Last Week – 21st

When the Browns traded the world to acquire Deshaun Watson it kind of felt like this was going to be the most realistic scenario. Knowing he would miss three months of the season without a backup plan felt foolish and they are paying the price. To be fair, the offence has been the better of the two units, but with such a poor defence this season kind of feels like a gap year for Cleveland.

Up next: vs. Tampa Bay, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Indianapolis Colts (4-6-1)

Last Week – 29th

Over the last two weeks since Matt Ryan has taken the reins back on the offence, the Colts passing attack ranks 19th in EPA per dropback over that span. It does beg the question to what was going on in that building at the start of the season?

In Frank Reich’s first year he looked like the real deal and it seemed he would be a head coach for a long time. But this season Indy’s offence ranked 32nd in the majority of metrics under his spell. At the time we assumed that Ryan had clearly ran out of steam in the tank, but since Jeff Saturday took interim head coach duties he’s got him looking five years younger again.

Up next: vs. Pittsburgh, Tuesday 1:15 a.m. GMT

  1. New Orleans Saints (4-6)

Last Week – 30th

The Saints feel like a yo-yo at the minute with their performances sending them up and down our rankings. Andy Dalton has surprisingly not looked too bad in a weak offence, ranking 10th in EPA per dropback after 11 weeks. 

But Chris Olave is the real star of this offence. His 760 receiving yards on 51 catches are 10th among all players and best among rookies. Micheal Thomas, Drew Brees and Sean Payton feel like a distant memory for Saints fans and it feels they’ve replaced at least one of those.

Up next: at San Francisco, Sunday 9:25 p.m. GMT

  1. Chicago Bears (3-8)

Last Week – 23rd

Chicago feels like they’re having a bit of a personality crisis right now. Realistically their first year in the rebuild is going well, with three wins and being competitive in many more. But they got to figure out what their identity is on offence.

Justin Fields when using his legs looks special, like elite special. There’s a reason why he ranks fifth in rushing yards from the quarterback position, but he is still so limited as a passer. When the Bears play the kind of offence they want to with Field’s legs, they look like a top offence. 

But in the last two games with the offence on the field needing to score in the dying minutes, they kept going to Field’s arm. That’s only normal to do so with a quarterback, but this passing scheme is clearly not working so trust what you have with the run game.

Up next: at New York Jets, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-7)

Last Week – 27th

TJ Watt has returned to this defence, but it feels to have lit a spark among the entire team. The offence has shown a sign of new life in his return, scoring a season-high 30 points in the loss to Cincinnati. Their two best performances of the season by EPA per drive have come over the past two weeks, as it feels they’ve figured some things out with this offence.

Up next: at Indianapolis, Tuesday 1:15 a.m. GMT

  1. Las Vegas Raiders (3-7)

Last Week – 31st

The Raiders’ defence held an opponent under 20 points for the first time all season in Sunday’s overtime win in Denver. Even against an awful Broncos offence it feels like a stepping stone for this defence which has let Vegas down this year. Maxx Crosby showed us he never went away by winning Defensive Player of Week 11 in Smashmouthing Football’s award, but he’s never been the problem. Vegas has the star players you need but the lack of play-makers elsewhere has hampered them out of the playoff race already.

Up next: at Seattle, Sunday 9:05 p.m. GMT

  1. Denver Broncos (3-8)

Last Week – 24th

Losing to the Raiders at home on Sunday all but secured the Broncos’ position as the league’s most disappointing team in 2022. In their pursuit of Aaron Rodgers, they ended up with Nathaniel Hackett and Russell Wilson. One of which looks broken and the other lost. I’ll leave you to decide which ones which. 

The path forward will be a rocky one after swinging and missing so badly, but something will have to change. For the next few weeks, look for Hackett’s seat to get even hotter if the Broncos don’t start showing offensive improvement late on.

Up next: at Carolina, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Carolina Panthers (3-8)

Last Week – 28th

So as bad as Carolina has been this year, their defence has remained promising. They have youngsters on all levels of the D and just held Lamar Jackson and company to their season low 13 points. The head coach in waiting will have a much more attractive job than it seemed a month ago, with a QB from their draft pick in May maybe making this team relevant again. 

Up next: vs. Denver, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Los Angeles Rams (3-7)

Last Week – 25th

Yikes, who would have seen this coming? Poor play from every position on offence led to a disappointing start but after years of good injury luck, it seems to have hit them all at once. First we had offensive linemen, then Cooper Kupp required surgery. But now their Super Bowl winning QB Matthew Stafford left Sunday’s loss to be evaluated for a concussion one week after missing a game for being in the concussion protocol.

Up next: at Kansas City, Sunday 9:25 p.m. GMT

  1. Houston Texans (1-8-1)

Last Week – 32nd

The Texans are a game and a half clear of the teams with the next-fewest wins, and they don’t exactly look on the verge of making up that difference any time soon. It’s never too early to start talking about the draft, so allow me to greet you with some names the Texans will be choosing between. 

First, out of Alabama QB Bryce Young looks like the top prospect with fellow five star recruit, QB CJ Stroud (Ohio State) just below. But if Houston feels like skipping that position again, then look no further to Young’s teammate, EDGE Will Anderson, who looks like a young Khalil Mack.

Up next: at Miami, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

rozomaldini NFL Power Rankings, Week 11

Week 11 Power Rankings

By Conor Perrett 

With another week of the NFL season ticked off the list, our rankings look like an iPod on shuffle with only three teams remaining in their same spot from last week. We had one of the craziest games in the last four years, an upset no one saw coming and an interim head coach who’s now undefeated in his coaching career.

So without further ado, let’s welcome our newcomers to the top spot of the Smashmouthing

Football Power Rankings. 

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (7-2)

Last Week – 3rd

The Chiefs lead the league in offensive EPA per drive with a mark of 1.23. For reference, that would be the highest mark in TruMedia’s database since the 2011 New Orleans Saints. The difference in EPA per drive between the Chiefs and the No. 2 team, the Dolphins, is the same as the difference between Miami and the No. 15 team.

Despite losing Tyreek Hill this off-season, Kansas City continue to light up the league as Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid adapt to their new cast. Kadarius Toney is the newest man to enter that bunch and his emergence on Sunday was promising. The 2021 first-round pick caught four passes for 57 yards and a touchdown, while adding two carries for 33 yards. He looks to be an exciting weapon that they happily took off the hands of the Giants.

Up next: at Los Angeles Chargers, Monday 1:20 a.m. GMT

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-1)

Last Week – 1st

Philadelphia’s run finally ended leaving us without an undefeated team in the league now. The turnover battle finally caught up to them on Monday Night, as crucial mistakes led to the upset loss versus the Commanders. It marked the first time this season the Eagles had trailed in the second half at any point and two costly late fumbles in the fourth quarter spoiled any chances of a comeback win.

While it’s easy to brush over uncharacteristic mistakes, this defence has really struggled to stop the run over the last two weeks. Nose tackle Jordan Davis has missed both games after being placed on IR and Philly has now given up 320 rushing yards in that time. This run defence got brushed over last week and it’s clear now it’s a problem. Today, the Eagles signed former Charger’s DT Linval Joseph to a one-year deal in a bid to address this issue. 

Up next: at Indianapolis, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Miami Dolphins (7-3)

Last Week – 7th

The Dolphins have been on a roller-coaster across these power rankings, flying up and down the board. On our first edition they started off 2nd but fell as low as 20th at one point during Tua’s concussion injury. Now they have their QB back and boy are they back to being electric. Over the last three weeks Miami have averaged 35 points per game and most recently dropped 39 points on the Browns, who we last saw shutdown the Bengals.

The run game looks dominant, the pass game looks unstoppable, they just need to fix up that defence and we might have a new Super Bowl contender on our hands.

Up next: Bye

  1. Minnesota Vikings (7-2)

Last Week – 10th

Before we get into my weekly Vikings rant, that Justin Jefferson catch might be one of the best I’ve ever seen.  It alone could earn that title but it was ridiculous when you account for the down and distance along with the stakes. 

As for whether the Vikings are actually one of the league’s four best teams, that’s up for debate. Their play up to date didn’t warrant having the tied best record in the league, but can they be taken seriously now that they beat what many thought to be the best team in football in their own backyard? I’m still skeptical but Sunday’s late rally did them many favours. Maybe they are for real?

Up next: vs. Dallas, Sunday 9:25 p.m. GMT

  1. Buffalo Bills (6-3)

Last Week – 2nd

The NFL season is a slog, and the Bills aren’t the first team to hit a mid-season bump after looking like the best team early on. There’s plenty of reason to believe they can get to that level again. They still rank No. 1 in overall DVOA, with a 1st and 5th defensive and offensive DVOA rankings respectively. But the road ahead won’t be easy.

For starters the real problem right now is they sit third in their AFC East division. With a 0-2 record in the division, that could come back to haunt them, if they have to win three road games to make it to a Super Bowl. If anyone can do it then Josh Allen would be a good choice, but his 13 turnovers on the year would worry you.

Up next: vs. Cleveland, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Baltimore Ravens (6-3)

Last Week – 5th

The bye week is in place to get teams healthy and so it did with Mark Andrews likely to return this Sunday. The doors have opened for Baltimore to fight for the AFC No. 1 seed now.

Up next: vs. Carolina, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. San Francisco 49ers (5-4)

Last Week – 6th

The 49ers still look good and one of my favourites out of the NFC, but Kyle Shanahan does do some weird stuff that puts questions in your mind. First, remember that trade they did for Christian McCaffery where they sent an entire draft class to earn his rights. Well he started off amazingly but this past Sunday he got out-carried by Elijah Mitchell. Next, San Fran decided to kick a field goal from the two-yard line with one minute remaining to extend the Niners lead to six points. What was that about?

Now it meant the Chargers had to score a touchdown to win, but if he was successful from the two, it would have ended the game and not allow Justin Herbert to get a chance to spoil the party. It was only one game and San Francisco won in the end, so we won’t overreact but late game management has been Shanahan’s Achilles heel in the past. 

Up next: at Arizona, Tuesday 1:15 a.m. GMT

  1. Dallas Cowboys (6-3)

Last Week – 4th

Dallas blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead in their loss at Lambeau Field, after their defence fell apart. But Dak Prescott’s turnovers can’t keep happening if the Cowboys are going to be a serious threat in the playoffs. Despite throwing for three touchdowns, Dak did not have a good game as he finished this week ranked 31st in EPA per dropback.

Sunday was a chance to get a game behind the Eagles and have fate back in their hands. Now they’re coming off an ugly defeat and have to play Minnesota this week, who are feeling a sense of high like no other team after the way they upset the Bills in Buffalo. 

Up next: at Minnesota, Sunday 9:25 p.m. GMT 

  1. Cincinnati Bengals (5-4)

Last Week – 9th

The bye week for Cincinnati didn’t make the look of their remaining schedule any easier, but they have a nice warm up fight against Pittsburgh this week to get ready for the seven difficult weeks after that.

Up next: at Pittsburgh, Sunday 9:25 p.m. GMT

  1. Seattle Seahawks (6-4)

Last Week – 8th

Things didn’t go great for the Seahawks in Germany, but overall this team is in a rebuilding year, yet are still 6-4 with rookies all over the place. Seattle are leading the league in offensive and defensive snaps played by first-year players, according to TruMedia.

The Seahawks rookie class includes a pair of starting tackles in Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas, an ascending star corner-back, who’s tied first for interceptions in the league, Tariq Woolen and a dynamic home hitter running-back in Kenneth Walker.  

Up next: Bye

  1. New York Jets (6-3)

Last Week – 11th

Defensive star Quinnen Williams has hit the quarterback on 6.5% of his pass-rush snaps this year. To put that into context Aaron Donald, who needs no explaining, has a single season high mark of 5.1%. The Jets have themselves a player on their hands and their defence is among the elite in the NFL this season. 

Up next: at New England, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT.

  1. Tennessee Titans (6-3)

Last Week – 12th

Barring a collapse, Tennessee looks to be hosting a play-off game come January. This defence has looked strong in the last few weeks but we will get to see who they really are in their next three-game stretch. First they travel to Green Bay for Thursday Night Football, and then follow that up with the Bengals and Eagles. If the Titans want to be serious in the playoffs then they can prove it here, but if not then the door might open slightly ajar for Jacksonville or Indianapolis.

Up next: at Green Bay, Friday 1:15 a.m. GMT

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-5)

Last Week – 16th

Tampa’s running game finally came into fruition when rookie Rachaad White ran for 105 yards on 22 carries in Munich. It’s the first time as a team they have topped 100 rushing yards since Week 1, as Tom Brady got some much deserved help.

The defence is looking better, ranking 7th in defensive DVOA as they take control of their NFC South division. The ball is in their court now as they hold a one game lead over Atlanta and only have to face two teams in their remaining seven games that rank higher than 18th in these Power Rankings.

Up next: Bye

  1. New England Patriots (5-4)

Last Week – 13th

The Patriots are the only team with a winning record that ranks in the bottom 10 of the league in offensive DVOA. It speaks to how well their defence have played this year, but also to the limitations they face with the ball in their hands. Their run game is strong but teams have caught onto that and they are packing the box to stop it. 

This theoretically should open up the passing game but right now, Mac Jones ranks 34th out of 35 qualifying quarterbacks in EPA per dropback. Whether the blame is to fall on Jones, his receivers, or Matt Patricia, whose offensive play calling is up for debate. One way or another things will have to change for a deep season for Pat’s run.

Up next: vs. New York Jets, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. New York Giants (7-2)

Last Week – 14th

Yes, the Giants have the third best record in the league, yet are 15th in these power rankings. While their play on the field creates their record, it also speaks to how good they are and you could also say they have had a bit of fortune.

In DVOA they rank 20th in overall, split between 15th on offence and 24th on defence. They’re 7-1 in one-score games, which says a lot about their mentality but is probably unsustainable and masks their overall quality. The Giants are probably going to be a playoff team, which would be an awesome accomplishment for Brian Daboll in his first year on the job. They just aren’t yet among the league’s best yet. 

Up next: vs. Detroit, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Washington Commanders (5-5)

Last Week – 22nd

Credit to the Commanders for fully committing to their run-heavy game plan in the first half of their 32-21 win over the Eagles. It hadn’t been a strength of theirs to date, but they played on the Eagles weakness and it worked out. They ended up holding the ball for 40:24, the second most lopsided time of possession in a game this season.

There was no bigger way for Washington to cement this kind of win, as they get back to .500 on the season and can push on for the playoffs.

Up next: at Houston, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Los Angeles Chargers (5-4)

Last Week – 15th

The Chargers can look to injuries for their failure this season so far, but they have the second easiest schedule in the league, per Football Outsiders. They’ve been poor offensively and defensively throughout the season and Sunday’s game against the Niners might have looked close, but should have been finished way before the last drive.

Before the season this Kansas City matchup looked really tasty. Let’s hope they can get Keenan Allen and Mike Williams back so we can see an exciting shootout.

Up next: vs. Kansas City, Monday 1:20 a.m. GMT

  1. Green Bay Packers (4-6)

Last Week – 26th

Christian Watson was a riser up the draft boards earlier in the year with his performances in the Senior Bowl and draft combine. He found himself land on the Packers and was instantly expected to make an impact in the Davante Adams-less wide-receiver room. 

Things didn’t start off great when he dropped a touchdown pass on his first NFL target and entered Sunday with only 88 receiving yards. But against the Cowboys he put his name on the scene with his three touchdown performance. With four catches for 107 yards and those touchdowns, it led the Packers back to a comeback win over the Cowboys and former coach Mike McCarthy.

The Packers offence in that fourth quarter was different to anything we had seen all season, but is it just an anomaly?

Up next: vs. Tennessee, Friday 1:15 a.m. GMT

  1. Arizona Cardinals (4-6)

Last Week – 23rd

Kyler Murray missed the game on Sunday due to a hamstring injury, as Colt McCoy took his place and excelled. He went 26 of 37 for 238 yards and a touchdown, as McCoy looked better than, dare I say, Murray. Colt also got rid of the ball quicker than Murray has all season, with a 2.08 second average time to throw, which caused the Rams all kinds of problems getting to him. Murray is day-to-day according to Kliff Kingsbury at the moment, but against another top defence this week, there is little reason why Colt can’t do it again.

Up next: vs. San Francisco, Tuesday 1:15 a.m. GMT

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7)

Last Week – 21st

The Jaguars opened their game against the Chefs this week with a successful onside kick! Sadly it went downhill from there. There’s no shame losing to Kansas City but this team has been playing better than their record suggests. Their first round picks Devin Lloyd and Travon Walker are looking solid, as their offence is coming together with Christian Kirk and Travis Etienne. Trevor Lawrence should continue to improve as the Jags add more talent around him, with a good foundation in place for 2023 and onwards.

Up next: Bye

  1. Cleveland Browns (3-6)

Last Week – 17th

That was not the kind of performance we were expecting out of the Browns this week. Granted they have been poor this season, but before their bye week we saw them put on an amazing performance both on offence and defence during a prime time game against the Bengals. It looked like their 31st ranked DVOA defence was about to turn things around and then they took a big defeat to the Dolphins. A playoff appearance continues to look out of reach, even when they get Desahun Watson back in two and a half weeks time.

Up next: at Buffalo, Sunday 1 p.m. GMT

  1. Detroit Lions (3-6)

Last Week – 27th

Woo-ah!!! The Detroit Lions won back-to-back games against divisional opponents for the first time in what feels like an eternity. This team showed exactly what Dan Campbell wants out of his team, with a 14-point fourth quarter comeback. 

Justin Fields continued to dominate with his legs until his old familiar Ohio State teammate, Jeff Okudah scored a pick-six. They proceeded to stop Fields again with two sacks to get the ball back on downs, as this team is starting to finish games they control. Now can Detroit continue this run and put an end to the surprising Giants on the road this week? I am optimistic they can. 

Up next: at New York Giants, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Chicago Bears (3-7)

Last Week – 24th

The Bears went from 30th in offensive DVOA over the first six weeks of the season to 5th in offensive DVOA over the last four weeks. Sunday against Detroit was no different, with the offence catering to Justin Fields’ legs more as he looks like one of the league’s best scramblers. 

They were up two scores but when Detroit came back and forced the Bears into a potential game winning drive, Chicago fell back into their bad habits of the first six weeks. With two minutes on the clock, three timeouts remaining and only needing 50 yards to get inside field goal range, the ball was put into Field’s arm instead of using his amazing legs. It led to exactly what we had been seeing at the start of the season with no one open and allowing the pass-rush to get in his face. Not surprisingly, it ended with a gut-wrenching home defeat.

Up next: at Atlanta, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Denver Broncos (3-6)

Last Week – 20th

Denver spent way too much to acquire Russell Wilson for the offence to still be this bad. The bye week is meant to be a time where teams review how things are going and change the things that aren’t working. Well Denver looked the same as they have every week and that’s not a good thing. There’s going to be a lot of pressure to make significant changes at the end of the season to ensure their bet on Wilson hits, which could mean first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett being given the old heave-ho if things don’t improve dramatically.

Up next: vs. Las Vegas, Sunday 9:05 p.m. GMT

  1. Los Angeles Rams (3-6)

Last Week – 19th

All is lost for the Rams this season. They were already a long shot to make the playoffs going into Week 10, and their odds only worsened with a loss to the Cardinals. Now they’re expected to miss their best offensive player Cooper Kupp for an extended period of time, possibly four weeks. Maybe a few players including Aaron Donald in Los Angeles might be wishing they had retired after that Super Bowl win last February. 

Up next: at New Orleans, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Atlanta Falcons (4-6)

Last Week – 18th

The season is still far from over but that loss last Thursday Night to the Panthers was ugly. Marcus Mariota is a big part of their successful rushing attack which ranks 5th in EPA per rush, but he’s not getting the ball out well and that’s not good when their best player is a pass catcher.

With Desmond Ridder waiting in the wings, his time may come sooner rather than later. It’s important to enter an off-season with a clear idea of what your team is and understanding if Ridder has a place in this league is a big question they will need to know.  If Ridder is not the answer, Atlanta may think of upgrading at that position.

Up next: vs. Chicago, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-6)

Last Week – 29th

Pittsburgh came out of their bye week last Sunday with a clear idea in mind of how they were going to beat the Saints. That idea was running the ball and boy were they successful, running it for 217 yards in that win. Just two months on from tearing his pectoral muscle, T.J. Watt returned to the field with the Steelers now looking on the rise. His presence allowed a season low 10 points against the Saints, and if their defensive performances can stay consistent, it will only make things easier on the other side of the ball for rookie quarterback: Kenny Pickett.

Up next: vs. Cincinnati, Sunday 9:25 p.m. GMT

  1. Carolina Panthers (3-7)

Last Week – 30th

The Panthers were a laughing stock at the beginning of the season, but their young defensive players are starting to look like stars out there. Derrick Brown is looking like the destructive nose tackle we saw from him in Auburn and Jaycee Horn currently leads all corner-back with over 200-plus snaps played in passer rating, with 23.1 yards allowed, according to PFF. Along with edge rusher Brian Burns and safety Jeremy Chinn, Carolina has the makings for a top defence. They just need to hire the right head coach for the job.

Up next: at Baltimore, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Indianapolis Colts (4-5-1)

Last Week – 32nd

Almost as stunning as Justin Jefferson’s catch this week was Jeff Saturday winning at his first time of asking on the sideline. Okay maybe a bit of a stretch, but Indy had been a mess this season before Sunday. 

Credit to Saturday and his gameplan, as this was the first time all season the Colts had jumped out to a double-digit lead and the first time since Christmas, they were leading at halftime. It won’t get any easier as Indy faces top of the NFC Philadelphia this week, but there’s still enough time to cement a culture change inside this organisation.

Up next: vs. Philadelphia, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. New Orleans Saints (3-6)

Last Week – 25th

Andy Dalton hasn’t been the main cause to New Orleans problems so far, but he does add limitations to this offence. With the run game not working out and Dalton struggling at times, why not throw Jameis Winston out there? There may be low times with Winston at the helm but at least he will have upside with that. In a way, this team has already hit rock bottom and with nothing to lose in terms of draft picks, they might as well look at the upside Winston offers.

Up next: vs. Los Angeles Rams, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)

Last Week – 28th

The Raiders season really is not going to plan and Derek Carr’s emotional post-game press conference made clear how much this season has already bottomed out. Josh McDaniels just got out-coached by a front-office personnel and they rejected the fifth-year option of Josh Jacobs before the start of the season, meaning it’s going to cost them more to keep him or they lose him entirely. 

The chances of playoffs ended a while ago for Vegas and now they have to make sure the culture doesn’t come crashing down, just like how every other Patriot head coach not named Bill Belichick has gone.

Up next: at Denver, Sunday 9:05 p.m. GMT

  1. Houston Texans (1-7-1)

Last Week – 31st

I doubt there are many loud Houston sports fans these days in Ireland and the UK with the worst record in the NFL and NBA. They might be enjoying touch days at the moment, but It looks like a talented draft to have the top draft pick.

Up next: vs. Washington, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

rozomaldini NFL Power Rankings, Week 10

Week 10 Power Rankings

By Conor Perrett 

Last weekend, we saw a ton of action and we had a reshuffle at the top of the board and plenty to get to after Week 9 of the NFL. 

Reaching the halfway mark of the season, we are starting to find out each team’s identity, so without further ado let’s get into our rankings.

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-0)

Last Week – 2nd

Philly takes their spot back at the top of the perch, after the Bills surprisingly stumbled this week. The Eagles have not put a foot wrong all season and continue to run away with the NFC as they remain the only undefeated team. Any team they have played has failed to find out where this team’s weakness is and by ESPN’S Football Power Index, they have the easiest schedule remaining. A perfect receipt for the No. 1 seed.

Up next: vs. Washington, Tuesday 1:15 GMT 

  1. Buffalo Bills (6-2)

Last Week – 1st

Well this wasn’t written in the script. The Bills fell this week to the New York Jets after their running game got exposed. For numerous years now the Bills have relied on Josh Allen. This year felt different with a new elite defence but also investment into James Cook and Nyheim Hines at running-back. 

Well the Jets showed there’s still work to do in that department and with the division looking tougher than usual, the jobs not done yet in Buffalo. The most important news that came out of the game Sunday was the elbow injury to Josh Allen. On the last drive of the game, Allen appeared to take a hit on the elbow which could come back to ruin the Bills season. As we head into the games this week, keep an eye out for the latest updates on that.

Up next: vs. Minnesota, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (6-2)

Last Week – 3rd

Should we have expected anything different from Patrick Mahomes this year? Just when everyone thought Allen was the new QB on the block, Mahomes has reminded us all that he remains the best player in the NFL. He’s the new favourite for the MVP award, after a ‘classic Mahomes’ performance in prime time, which saw him throw for 446 yards in their win against Tennessee.

The offence continues to thrive despite big decisions of trading away Tyrek Hill and demoting Clyde Edwards-Helaire, with Andy Reid continuing to adapt his philosophy. All that keeps them away from the top-2 spot is their defence, which ranks 23rd in defensive DVOA.

Up next: vs. Jacksonville, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Dallas Cowboys (6-2)

Last Week – 4th

The Cowboys had the week off this week and there might be a surprise in store with a potential Odell Beckham Jr rumour making the rounds. Could he find his way to the city of Dallas? 

Also it’s a Mike McCarthy revenge game against The Green Bay Packers this week.

Up next: at Green Bay, Sunday 9:25 p.m. GMT

  1. Baltimore Ravens (6-3)

Last Week – 5th

Baltimore got a few new pieces added to their defence this week, especially Roquan Smith and it looked the best it has all season. With four sacks on the day and an interception to add against a surprisingly decent Saints offence, it’s exactly what the Ravens needed with their recent injuries on offence. A bye week this week, we only allow the offence to heal up and the defence to gain familiarity, as they look to chase down the likes of the Bills and Chiefs in the AFC.

Up next: Bye week

  1. San Francisco 49ers (4-4)

Last Week – 6th

Positive news out of the Niners bye week with DT Arik Armstead, LB Dre Greenlaw, CB Jason Verrett, WR Deebo Samuel, RB Elijah Mitchell and FB Kyle Juszczyk all expected to return in Week 10. The team has a look of contenders about it again. 

Up next: vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Monday 1:20 GMT

  1. Miami Dolphins (6-3)

Last Week – 7th

If you missed out on any NFL content this week and are bored, then treat yourself to the Miami v Chicago game ,after you’ve read these rankings of course. Miami’s offence continues to flash, but their defence is getting left behind. They now join Denver with the largest gap between offensive or defensive DVOA with 2nd and 27th ranked units respectively.

The acquisition of Bradley Chubb will clearly take some time, but there’s potential for improvement this year at least.

Up next: vs. Cleveland, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Seattle Seahawks (6-3)

Last Week – 8th

The Seahawks entered the season with an over/under win total of 5.5. Well we just reached the halfway mark of the season and Seattle just topped that reaching six wins already. Pete Carroll looks like a new man on the sideline after the most surprising story in the NFL.

It just goes to show, Seattle and Green Bay were at the same crossroads with their veteran quarterbacks this past off-season and both went different ways. Now they are both at completely different spectrum of our NFL Power Rankings.

Up next: vs. Tampa Bay (in Munich), Sunday 14:30 a.m. GMT

  1. Cincinnati Bengals (5-4)

Last Week – 10th

Joe Mixon set a franchise record this week with five touchdowns in the Bengals 42-21 win against Carolina. Cincinnati continue their up and down roller coaster of a season, as they clear the .500 mark ahead of their bye week.

It will be an important second half of the season for Joe Burrow and Co, as they look to push on for a postseason appearance. But it won’t be an easy task with them having one of the hardest schedules remaining, facing each of the current AFC division leaders in the next two months.

Up next: Bye week

  1. Minnesota Vikings (7-1)

Last Week – 9th

Another game and another one-score win. Now, there’s no hiding I have been harsh on this Minnesota team, but I don’t see a 7-win calibre team when I watch them. I think they are very fortunate to have the record they possess but if they want to prove me wrong, they can do that in their next four games. 

We’re going to see if this team is real very soon, when they face the Bills, Cowboys, Patriots and Jets in the next four weeks.

Up next: at Buffalo, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. New York Jets (6-3)

Last Week – 16th

Before Robert Saleh took over the Jets he was in charge of the best defence in football. It’s a big reason why he got the job and he had them playing like that against the Bills this past Sunday. 

Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams have become pillars on that side of the ball, as they try to get their offence to the same place. Zach Wilson took a step in the right direction this week when he completed 18 of 25 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown, but more importantly he didn’t make any major mistakes. Right now that’s all New York needs him to do if they want to continue their charge up the rankings.

Up next: Bye week

  1. Tennessee Titans (5-3)

Last Week – 11th

Tip your cap to Derrick Henry and Mike Vrabel. Rookie QB Malik Willis completed 11 passes for 135 yards and a pick in the last two weeks, and the Titans still beat the Texans and nearly beat the Chiefs. On Sunday night, the Titans held Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to just 17 points in regulation and narrowly lost the game in overtime despite entering the game as 14.5-point road underdog. 

Up next: vs. Denver, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. New England Patriots (5-4)

Last Week – 14th

Mac Jones is the lowest-ranked quarterback in EPA per drop back but luckily for the Patriots, their defence is one of the best in the league. But that’s the way the Patriots have played this season, with solid defence and risk-averse offensive play calling. For the time being it’s working, but with the hardest remaining schedule according to ESPN’s Football Power Index, it won’t be easy to maintain.

Up next: Bye week 

  1. New York Giants (6-2)

Last Week – 12th

Coming off a bye week, who would have thought both the AFC and NFC East divisions would be the best mid-way through the season.

Up next: vs. Houston, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Los Angeles Chargers (5-3)

Last Week – 13th

The Chargers came back from the bye week with a win against the Falcons but they didn’t make it pretty. They continue to have a poor success rate on first and second down and are giving up a staggering 5.7 yards per carry in run defence. I mentioned last week that if they don’t improve in these departments, then the coaches are going to start to pay. They grabbed an away win this week, but sooner or later losses are going to pile up and pressure will immense. 

Up next: at San Francisco, Monday 1:20 GMT

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5)

Last Week – 15th

Somehow with a 4-5 record, the Bucs lead the NFC South division. It’s extremely fortunate that they play in one of the worst divisions in football, as their offence continues to be hamstrung by an inefficient running game. Luckily they have the Greatest of All Time playing quarterback for them and Sunday night’s comeback drive, looked like Tom Brady wound the years back to string together a classic Brady drive to win against the Rams.

Up next: vs. Seattle (in Munich), Sunday 14:30 a.m. GMT

  1. Cleveland Browns (3-5)

Last Week – 19th

The people of Cleveland were fortunate to have the week off this week, before they are thrown to the wolves in Miami. Can the Browns play as well as they did last time out in their win against the Bengals?

Up next: at Miami, Sunday 1 p.m. GMT

  1. Atlanta Falcons (4-5)

Last Week – 20th

Not much to report on in Atlanta as they narrowly fell to the Chargers this week. They looked graceful in defeat and Cordarrelle Patterson looked very good in his return from injury, but this team continues to be amazing running the ball but awful on defence.  

Up next: at Carolina, Friday 1:15 GMT

  1. Los Angeles Rams (3-5)

Last Week – 17th

The Rams’ hopes of making the playoffs seems to be fading, right in front of their own eyes. The offence continues to stink and games like Sunday where a win can turn to a loss in the snap of a finger won’t help morale. 

It seems that Sean McVay and Les Snead have spent so much time worrying about their own futures and of key players on the team, that they forgot to build the rest. The offensive line is a shambles and apart from Cooper Kupp they lack any weapons in the passing game. 

Up next: vs. Arizona, Sunday 9:25 p.m. GMT

  1. Denver Broncos (3-5)

Last Week – 23rd

Poor Russel Wilson, everybody forgot his plane antics after Kirk Cousins turned into Vanilla Ice on his flight back to Minnesota.

Up next: vs. Tennessee, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-6)

Last Week – 26th

The Jags comeback win against the Raiders, was a real kick start to get them back to where they were at the start of the season. Jacksonville’s 3-6 record is worse than their play has suggested, after they snapped their four game losing streak. Trevor Lawrence took some steps in the right direction, but it might be a little too late to get their season back. Even so, if he and Doug Pederson can continue to create a positive outlook for the 2023 season, then this young team could have a bright future in store.

 Up next: at Kansas City, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Washington Commanders (4-5)

Last Week – 24th

The Commanders are up for sale; Wahey!!! On the field, they continue to be competitive in almost every game. 

Up next: at Philadelphia, Tuesday 1:15 p.m. GMT

  1. Arizona Cardinals (3-6)

Last Week – 20th

Just this past off-season, Arizona made the call to give Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray a six and five year contract extension respectively, despite neither of them finishing the season as a top-10 ranked offence together. This year hasn’t been any better with them 20th in EPA per play and the constant public arguing on the sidelines. 

The Cardinals front office are in a big predicament, with the earliest realistic out for Murray’s contract being in 2028. They will have to turn over every stone to create this top-flight offence they dream about.

 Up next: at Los Angeles Rams, Sunday 9:25 p.m. GMT

  1. Chicago Bears (3-6)

Last Week – 29th

Wow, what a turnaround Justin Fields and this offence has made in the last three weeks. The Bears looked like one of he worst offences in football, then the coaches finally woke up and started playing to Field’s strengths. Despite losing to the Cowboys and Dolphins the last two weeks, they have looked great in both defeats and with a few favourable games ahead, Chicago could make a charge up these rankings if all goes well.

Up next: vs. Detroit, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. New Orleans Saints (3-6)

Last Week – 22nd

The Saints’ chances of making the postseason are slim, and their path forward in 2022 and beyond, isn’t pretty. They gave up a 2023 first-rounder to eventually draft WR Chris Olave earlier in the year and they rank 32nd in projected cap space next off-season at -$62 million. Olave has been super as a rookie, but he can’t also play quarterback or rush the passer. General manager Mickey Loomis might have to finally commit to what he has been putting off for years; a rebuild.

Up next: at Pittsburgh, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Green Bay Packers (3-6)

Last Week – 18th

The Packers embarrassed themselves on Sunday when they fell to the Lions and only managed to score nine points against the 32nd ranked scoring defence.  But how does Aaron Rodgers take the loss? He said the Lions got lucky and as a team the Packers made mental mistakes.

Rodgers’ ego is so big he can’t seem to see the massive red flag pointing straight at him. Josh Allen after his loss this week summed it up perfectly. With him saying you can’t win in this league when your quarterback plays bad. You saw what Rodgers’ said above, yet he forgets he threw three interceptions in the game.

Was it the team’s mental mistakes which caused you to under-throw a pass to a defensive lineman? Was it the team’s mental mistakes that caused you to throw two interceptions to a rookie safety? Was it the team’s mental mistakes which caused you to get stood up on the one-yard line four times, in RPO situations where you kept forcing passes that weren’t there. No it wasn’t!!!

Rodgers played one of his worst games of his career but instead of being the veteran leader he should have been, he blamed the rest of his team which held the Lions to only 15 points.

Up next: vs. Dallas, Sunday 9:25 p.m. GMT

  1. Detroit Lions (2-6)

Last Week – 31st

Beating Green Bay won’t save the season by all means for the Lions, but the win does bode well for Dan Campbell’s future in Detroit. With pressure increasing, Campbell made the call to fire well respected DB’s coach Aubrey Pleasant last Monday, after allowing at least 24 points in every game. His players responded this week when they held the Packers to single-digit points and three interceptions.

What this organisation will be most happy about is how General Manager, Brad Holmes’ draft picks played in the game. The Lions have committed to building through the draft and nothing better than seeing these young players develop right in front of their eyes, with splash plays that enable them to win a game. We’ll soon see if this was a horrible Packers side, or a new young Lion pride ready to roar.

Up next: at Chicago, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT 

  1. Las Vegas Raiders (2-6)

Last Week – 25th

I’ve tried and I’ve tried to back this Vegas team through their horrible start of a season, but I can’t any more. The Raiders are now 0-5 in one-score games this season, but three of those games have consisted of them leading by at least 17 points. Despite Derek Carr and Josh Jacobs, the front pins of this offence having good seasons, Josh McDaniels keeps losing the second-half adjustment battle. Combined with the 32nd ranked defensive DVOA, makes a recipe for disaster.

Up next: vs. Indianapolis, Sunday 9:05 p.m. GMT

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-6)

Last Week – 30th

Pittsburgh had their off-week, but climbed a spot thanks to the Colts theory of tanking.

Up next: vs. New Orleans, Sunday 6 p.m. GMT

  1. Carolina Panthers (2-7)

Last Week – 28th

The Bengals scored three more points, 35 than the Panthers had yards, 32 in the first half of their blowout loss on Sunday. P.J. Walker completed three passes for nine yards and threw two interceptions, before being benched for previous starter Baker Mayfield. 

Week 9 only reminded us that Carolina is still in one of the worst situations this season, but at least they get to add another quarterback into the mix with Sam Darnold returning for their Week 10 matchup.

Up next: vs. Atlanta, Friday 1:15 p.m. GMT

  1. Houston Texans (1-6-1)

Last Week – 32nd

The Texans climbed a spot thanks to another team’s misfortune, but their loss to the undefeated Eagles this week wasn’t as bad as people thought was going to happen. David Mills started the game well, with a first half performance of 8 of 9 on passes and two passing touchdowns. With another off-season of a potential head coaching change this team is a bit all over the place, but there are some bright spots that can flash.

Up next: at New York Giants, Sunday 1 p.m. GMT

  1. Indianapolis Colts (3-5-1)

Last Week – 27th

Do I think Indy is the worst team in the league; no, but with the state of their franchise right now especially at the top, there is no way they can be any higher. 

To get you up to date with things, two weeks ago they benched former MVP Matt Ryan and promoted 2021 sixth-round pick Sam Ehlinger to starter, despite also having former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles on the roster. Then last week they fired offensive coordinator Marcus Brady, who wasn’t even calling plays. 

Now, they fired Head Coach Frank Reich and made former player Jeff Saturday interim head coach, despite never having coached at any level before and having two former NFL head coaches on their staff in John Fox and Gus Bradley.

The Colts are just straight up tanking in broad daylight and owner Jim Irsay had a press conference that made the head coaching job even less attractive. If you’re a Colts’ fan you can click away now, as I list off some of his quotes to laugh at.

Jim Irsay on the Jeff Saturday promotion: “I’m glad he doesn’t have NFL experience.”

Irsay talking about how hard it is to win in this league “Do you know how many games Michael Jordan lost?”

And my favourite, GM Chris Ballard blaming the media for the O-Line’s bad performances  “Y’all been kicking the shit out of me for not drafting wide-outs and now we’re under-performing on the offensive line.

Up next: at Las Vegas, Sunday 9:05 p.m. GMT