NFL Power Rankings entering Week 10
Halfway there...
The NFL season is heading past the midpoint of the 2023 calendar. What’s the picture for teams on the high and low end? Plenty of surprises have occurred, and don’t be shocked if they continue.
32. New York Giants (2-7, lost to Las Vegas Raiders)
The Giants were destroyed by a terrible team. And the fact Las Vegas had a new coach is no excuse. Big Blue is in deep trouble.
31. Arizona Cardinals (1-8, lost to Cleveland Browns)
Clayton Tune isn’t the answer. Kind of ironic Joshua Dobbs becomes a hero in Minnesota after being discarded by Arizona. So, if the Cardinals have the first pick, is Caleb Williams still all that? And now, the news Kyler Murray is likely to start in Week 10. Could he wreck the Cardinals’ draft plans? Of course he could …
30. Carolina Panthers (1-7, lost to Indianapolis Colts)
The Frank Reich revenge game didn’t turn out as planned. Not much in 2023 has been for Carolina. This team is weak and could wind up trading the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
29. Chicago Bears (2-7, lost to New Orleans Saints)
Turnovers will wreck you if you are a good team. The Bears are a terrible team and turnovers were aplenty in the loss to New Orleans.
28. New England Patriots (2-7, lost to Washington Commanders)
The Patriots are going through a terrible season. They lost at home to Washington. They have the worst record in the AFC. This is a franchise that won, won, won—seemingly forever—and is in major doldrums.
27. Los Angeles Rams (3-6, lost to Green Bay Packers)
Brett Rypien is no Matthew Stafford, and the Rams are nowhere near a contender. They are more of a bottom-feeder, and would be there in the NFC West … except the Cardinals own the rights to the cellar.
26. Las Vegas Raiders (4-5, crushed the New York Giants)
Let’s see Mark Davis pass up Antonio Pierce after the former NFL linebacker revives his dormant franchise.
25. Atlanta Falcons (4-5, lost to Minnesota Vikings)
The Falcons lost an exciting game. They were beaten by Joshua Dobbs, who barely spent a minute with the Vikings. It will be surprising if this team does not eventually undergo major changes.
24. Green Bay Packers (3-5, defeated Los Angeles Rams)
Don’t be fooled by the score; the Packers and Rams played an ugly game, one that Green Bay managed to win by doing less wrong. It was sloppy and uninspiring.
23. Denver Broncos (3-5, bye)
The Broncos had a week off and will come back to reality when they face the Bills in Week 10.
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5, lost to Houston Texans)
The Buccaneers appeared to have a marvelous victory… and it turned into a depressing loss. They are on a four-game losing streak and there are all sorts of cracks in the team’s foundation.
21. Washington Commanders (4-5, defeated New England Patriots)
The Commanders are 4-5 but it feels as if they are 2-7. Not sure why that is the case, but Washington isn’t exactly providing motivation for its fans to believe the team has a bright future as situated.
20. Tennessee Titans (3-5, lost to Pittsburgh Steelers)
Will Levis had the team in the game until the end. Against a staunch Steeler defense in his second start? It could have been far worse.
19. Indianapolis Colts (4-5, defeated Carolina Panthers)
Kenny Moore II had a huge game with a pair of pick-sixes as the Colts came up big against former coach Frank Reich.
18. Houston Texans (4-4, defeated Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
What is there not to love about the Texans? C.J. Stroud is a marvel and Houston is winning games in which it used to get clobbered. Don’t expect too much in 2023 but the Texans are showing great signs of building, finally.
17. New York Jets (5-3, lost to LA Chargers)
Zach Wilson was no match for Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack & Co. Just a tough road for the Jets to traverse without their actual No. 1 QB.
16. Minnesota Vikings (5-4, defeated Atlanta Falcons)
There was every way in the world for Minnesota to look at the Atlanta game as a lost cause. No Kirk Cousins. No Justin Jefferson. The rookie QB went out. Joshua Dobbs to the rescue! Kevin O’Connell is doing a nice job with this team.
15. New Orleans Saints (5-4, defeated Chicago Bears)
The Saints made what should have been a comfortable win look tense. They are in first place but they have to deliver better performances.
14. Los Angeles Chargers (4-4, defeated New York Jets)
Justin Herbert is gritty and the Chargers defense enjoyed wreaking havoc on Zach Wilson. It still feels like something is awkward on the Bolts’ offensive side. Just a weird rhythm, missing a beat.
13. Buffalo Bills (5-4, lost to Cincinnati Bengals)
Is it possible the Bills are this ordinary and in no, way, shape, or form are a Super Bowl contender? Something isn’t right as this team slipped to one game over .500.
12. San Francisco 49ers (5-3, bye)
The bye week came at the perfect time for a team that was 5-0 and now is 0-3 in its last three games.
11. Miami Dolphins (6-3, lost to Kansas City Chiefs)
The Dolphins fell behind 21-0 in Frankfurt, Germany, and rallied against the Chiefs. Don’t be fooled; this team has played games against three playoff contenders and has come up with nothing.
10. Cleveland Browns (5-3, defeated Arizona Cardinals)
The Browns are a menace on defense. They have a massive test in Week 10 against the Ravens in Baltimore. It will be fascinating to see how real this team is.
9. Seattle Seahawks (5-3, lost to Baltimore Ravens)
Burn the tapes to this game and move on, Pete Carroll.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3, defeated Tennessee Titans)
Mike Tomlin’s team has been outgained in every game and is still 5-3 and right in the AFC North mix. He’s a marvelous coach and there isn’t enough credit thrown his way.
7. Dallas Cowboys (5-3, lost to Philadelphia Eagles
A strong game from Dak Prescott and a big effort from the Cowboys came up short. They have to be thinking wild card now with the Eagles at 8-1. Dallas is a cut below the top teams in the NFL, no matter what its fans believe.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (5-3, defeated Buffalo Bills)
How would you like to be 5-3 and in last place in your division? That is the situation the Bengals currently face. That said, they are playing good ball and should move up in the standings … maybe.
5. Detroit Lions (6-2, bye)
The Lions come off a bye and head to LA to face the Chargers. The Bolts usually find ways to lose but they do enough to be annoying. Coming out of the bye, Detroit should put on a good showing in a tricky game.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (7-2, defeated Miami Dolphins)
The Chiefs leave you with an uneasy feeling, over and over. They went up big on Miami and had to hold on for the victory. They need to dominate, not just survive.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2, bye)
Now, this is a game to look forward to in Week 10: the Jaguars play host to the 49ers with both teams coming off bye weeks.
2. Baltimore Ravens (7-2, defeated Seattle Seahawks)
Baltimore is dominant, especially at home, where it will face the Cleveland Browns in Week 10. Another powerhouse victory and this team is going to be looked at as the one to fear in the AFC, and possibly overall.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-1, defeated Dallas Cowboys)
The Eagles held on against the Cowboys to improve to 8-1. They are a team to be feared no matter where or when they are played. Could Jalen Hurts & Co. be on the way to a second Super Bowl title for Philly?
