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THE SUPER BOWL FAVORITES
1. Kansas City Chiefs (6-1) | 1st last week (+0)
Offense: 5th, Defense: 9th, Special Teams: 29th
Last week: beat Broncos 43-16
This week: home vs Jets, Sunday 1:00 Eastern
The first snow game of the year proved no match for a Chiefs team that may be more dominant than last year. Patrick Mahomes passed for just 200 yards, the team rushed for only 101, and they still put up 43 points on the road. A Daniel Sorensen pick-six got wiped off, or they’d have dropped a half-century. The defense and offense are both top nine, and still not at peak form. Le’Veon Bell had 6 totes for 39 yards in his KC debut.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-0) | 2nd last week (+0)
Offense: 6th, Defense: 7th, Special Teams: 7th
Last week: beat Titans 27-24
This week: at Ravens, Sunday 1:00 Eastern
Big Ben threw 3 interceptions. They scored just 3 points in the second half, all on their first drive. They still led wire-to-wire on the road, against an undefeated Titans team that’s less than 9 months removed from the AFC Championship game. Sure, they benefited from a missed field goal at the end of the game, but that’s why you play all four quarters. They did their damage early and the defense was able to hold on. Ladies and gentlemen, the last remaining perfect record.
3. Baltimore Ravens (5-1) | 3rd last week (+0)
Offense: 8th, Defense: 1st, Special Teams: 1st
Last week: BYE
This week: home vs Steelers, Sunday 1:00 Eastern
Getting the bye week to prepare for the only team with a better record than you is exactly what the Ravens would have asked for. And the game is at home. We’ll see how ready this team is on Sunday, in what is the heretofore matchup of the season.
Thoughts last week:
They were smacking the Eagles 24-6 and then took their foot off the gas, and narrowly escaped a tie ball game with two minutes left. I was hoping the Eagles tied so we could see Lamar Jackson try a game-winning 2 minute drill. This was their first win of the year to not be by 14+ points. Them and the Steelers are 2a and 2b right now.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2) | 6th last week (+2)
Offense: 3rd, Defense: 8th, Special Teams: 17th
Last week: beat Raiders 45-20
This week: at Giants, Monday 8:15 Eastern
They took care of the Raiders on the road no problem. The offense looks more and more like the most lethal version we imagined on paper. Maybe Tom Brady, age 43, season 21, really hadn’t fallen off at all. Seeing New England struggle so mightily could reinforce the notion that Brady actually has multiple seasons left. This ranking is as-is, but they could be tops here soon with the addition of Antonio Brown, a legitimate all-time great.
THE SUPER BOWL CONTENDERS
5. Tennessee Titans (5-1) | 4th last week (-1)
Offense: 4th, Defense: 16th, Special Teams: 26th
Last week: beat Texans 42-36 in OT
This week: at Bengals, Sunday 1:00 Eastern
Tough way to go out after an incredible effort against Pittsburgh. They clawed back and showed how good they are instead of caving in down 24-7, and missed a field goal that would have forced overtime. They were the more complete team a lot of the game, but the stomping they got in the first half outweighs that. They proved they’re good enough while simultaneously not being ready enough. They’ll remember this game.
6. Green Bay Packers (5-1) | 7th last week (+1)
Offense: 2nd, Defense: 19th, Special Teams: 8th
Last week: beat Texans 35-20
This week: home vs Vikings, Sunday 1:00 Eastern
What do good teams do? Take care of business. Beat everyone you’re supposed to beat and don’t play down to the competition. The Texans don’t belong with the Packers, and the Packers made that clear for four quarters. They didn’t take them lightly, and the egg they laid in Tampa Bay coming out of the bye showed no signs of lingering. Aaron Rodgers knows the right way around all these things by now. Hopefully the wake up call courtesy of Tom Brady was the only one they needed.
7. Seattle Seahawks (5-1) | 5th last week (-2)
Offense: 1st, Defense: 23rd, Special Teams: 4th
Last week: lost to Cardinals 37-34 in OT
This week: at Cardinals, Sunday 4:05 Eastern
I know the Cardinals typically have their number, but the defense concerns grow by the week. No sacks in an overtime game against last year’s third-most sacked quarterback. Despite a large lead, it felt like the defense was just hanging on the entire time. They couldn’t shut the door and couldn’t get big stops in the second half/OT. Russell Wilson magic won’t be there every week - he had three picks on Sunday night - but he is good enough to win three/four straight playoff games if this defense can get to even slightly above average.
8. Los Angeles Rams (5-2) | 10th last week (+2)
Offense: 19th, Defense: 2nd, Special Teams: 27th
Last week: lost to 49ers 24-16
This week: at Dolphins, Sunday 1:00 Eastern
The defense was playing the Bears, but the defense did everything we’ve been seeing it do. Aaron Donald is the best defensive player on the planet, let alone best d-lineman, and Jalen Ramsey may be the best cornerback on the planet. Those are the two best positions you would dream for your defensive cornerstones. The offense has solid talent and the brilliance of Sean McVay. If Jared Goff is a consistently high-end quarterback, they could keep returning to their Super Bowl form.
CAN WIN A PLAYOFF GAME
9. Indianapolis Colts (4-2) | 8th last week (-1)
Offense: 14th, Defense: 4th, Special Teams: 2nd
Last week: BYE
This week: at Lions, Sunday 1:00 Eastern
Two teams above them lost this week, but the Colts represent a tier drop from the eight best teams. Still, nothing suggests they don’t belong. Defense and running the ball translate well and have lower week-to-week variance.
Last week’s thoughts:
The Colts came back from 21-0 to beat the Bengals last Sunday. Is it more impressive to dig out of that hole than it is worrisome that they were down 21-0 to the Bengals? I’ve been on the Colts since last season, so I have to go with the former. A 31-6 run is how they should have beaten Cincy, so let’s chalk up the start of the game to 53 hangovers. The craziest part of the game is that they won it through the air. 44 passing attempts for Philip Rivers, 12 carries for Jonathan Taylor, 1 carry for Jordan Wilkins, and 0 carries for Nyheim Hines. I know it’s only the Bengals, but a capable passing attack bodes very well for their offense and their ceiling.
10. Arizona Cardinals (5-2) | 13th last week (+3)
Offense: 9th, Defense: 10th, Special Teams: 14th
Last week: beat Seahawks 37-34 in OT
This week: BYE (next week home vs Dolphins)
They followed up the raging high of their Cowboys national TV beatdown with a comeback thriller in overtime against an undefeated division rival. What a sentence, and what a surprise team. Two top 10 units for a team that was 16th in offense and 28th in defense last season. They’ve earned their bye week.
11. Buffalo Bills (5-2) | 9th last week (-2)
Offense: 20th, Defense: 15th, Special Teams: 11th
Last week: beat Jets 18-10
This week: home vs Patriots, Sunday 1:00 Eastern
They are the first team in NFL history to not punt or record a touchdown in a game. I thought they would clap the Jets, but divisional games are divisional games. It’s not encouraging to have a close game against Adam Gase’s squad, but it’s more excusable when they get to see you twice every year. Optimists will point to the fact that they were able to eek out a bad game, overcome a bad start, and win ugly. They held the Jets to just 4 yards in the second half.
12. New Orleans Saints (4-2) | 12th last week (+0)
Offense: 7th, Defense: 24th, Special Teams: 5th
Last week: beat Panthers 27-24
This week: at Bears, Sunday 4:25 Eastern
Meh. Saints and Panthers games are weird. They leave you with more questions than answers and wondering what you just watched. Still, the Saints are 4-2 and took care of a team they’re better than. Now they get a big test on the road in Chicago. Their offense against the Bears’ D is a good strength on strength matchup. I expect it to be ugly and hopefully cold, which would help get this team ready for the rest of the season.
13. San Francisco 49ers (4-3) | 16th last week (+3)
Offense: 16th, Defense: 6th, Special Teams: 13th
Last week: beat Patriots 33-6
This week: at Seahawks, 4:25 Eastern
Climb and climb and climb. Since their home beatdown against Miami, they’ve taken care of the Rams and whooped the Patriots in Foxborough. I expected regression from last year’s Super Bowl run, as always happens unless you’re a dynasty - especially with all these injuries. Still, they just play 49er football and execute at every level. I won’t write them off, but nothing is going to get any easier. Next five games: Seahawks, Packers, Saints, Rams, Bills.
SHOT AT THE PLAYOFFS
14. Chicago Bears (5-2) | 11th last week (-3)
Offense: 27th, Defense: 8th, Special Teams: 24th
Last week: beat Panthers 23-16
This week: home vs Saints, Sunday 4:25 Eastern
Yuck. Brutal to watch. Feels like that’s the case every week. I did not expect them to win on Monday night, but they had nothing. We just talked about how good the Rams defense is, and the Bears offense is repulsive. Their defense outscored the O 7-3. This great defense can’t do anything with what they get from the other side of the ball. I imagine Matt Nagy is thinking very powerfully about a return to Mitch Trubisky. Also, David Montgomery sucks. I’m sure they can find a back at the deadline. I like Matt Breida, but there are literally millions. How are you weak at that position?
15. Cleveland Browns (5-2) | 18th last week (+3)
Offense: 10th, Defense: 29th, Special Teams: 31st
Last week: beat Bengals 37-34
This week: home vs Raiders, Sunday 1:00 Eastern
What electricity. Baker Mayfield started the game 0-5 with an INT and zero yards (obviously). He then completed 22 out of 23 to end the game, throwing 5 touchdowns. The one incompletion was a spike. Then he tossed the game-winner to sixth-round rookie Donovan Peoples-Jones. They’re 5-2 despite giving up 3 more points per game than they score. Their only two losses are to Baltimore and Pittsburgh, both by 30+ points. Maybe they’re just the little guy trouncers, but that’s still a step up for this franchise, and a step in the right direction.
16. Las Vegas Raiders (3-3) | 15th last week (-1)
Offense: 11th, Defense: 31st, Special Teams: 21st
Last week: lost to Buccaneers 45-20
This week: at Browns, Sunday 1:00 Eastern
No shame in losing to the Buccaneers, but they also didn’t look like they belonged, which is a blown opportunity. Still, 4 out of 5 o-linemen weren’t able to practice, and were ruled out until gameday because of their then-pending COVID-19 test results. So it was a weird week. Offense is good, defense is bad. They know what they need to improve on and have a lot of winnable games left. Like, they’re legitimately more likely to go 11-5 than they are to win a playoff game. Still, I really like them and hope Derek Carr can prove himself the clear answer instead of keeping them in quarterback purgatory.
17. Miami Dolphins (3-3) | 17th last week (+0)
Offense: 12th, Defense: 2nd, Special Teams: 3rd
Last week: BYE
This week: home vs Rams, Sunday 1:00 Eastern
TEAMS THAT CAN FIGURE A THING OUT STILL
18. New England Patriots (2-4) | 14th last week (-4)
Offense: 29th, Defense: 12th, Special Teams: 10th
Last week: lost to 49ers 33-6
This week: home vs 49ers, Sunday 4:25 Eastern
19. Los Angeles Chargers (2-4) | 20th last week (+1)
Offense: 21st, Defense: 18th, Special Teams: 32nd
Last week: beat Jaguars 39-29
This week: at Broncos, Sunday 4:05 Eastern
20. Carolina Panthers (3-3) | 19th last week (-1)
Offense: 25th, Defense: 13th, Special Teams: 19th
Last week: lost to Saints 27-24
This week: at Saints, Sunday 1:00 Eastern
21. Detroit Lions (3-3) | 23rd last week (+2)
Offense: 15th, Defense: 20th, Special Teams: 9th
Last week: beat Falcons 23-22
This week: at Colts, Sunday 1:00 Eastern
22. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4-1) | 21st last week (-1)
Offense: 23rd, Defense: 22nd, Special Teams: 18th
Last week: beat Giants 22-21
This week: home vs Cowboys, Sunday 8:20 Eastern
23. Houston Texans (1-6) | 22nd last week (-1)
Offense: 22nd, Defense: 27th, Special Teams: 14th
Last week: lost to Packers 35-20
This week: BYE
24. Denver Broncos (2-4) | 24th last week (+0)
Offense: 28th, Defense: 16th, Special Teams: 15th
Last week: lost to Chiefs 43-16
This week: home vs Chargers, Sunday 4:05 Eastern
25. Minnesota Vikings (1-5) | 25th last week (+0)
Offense: 17th, Defense: 30th, Special Teams: 20th
Last week: BYE
This week: at Packers, Sunday 1:00 Eastern
26. Cincinnati Bengals (1-5-1) | 28th last week (+2)
Offense: 23rd, Defense: 21st, Special Teams: 12th
Last week: lost to Browns 37-34
This week: home vs Browns, Sunday 1:00 Eastern
BOTTOM FEEDERS
27. Atlanta Falcons (1-6) | 27th last week (+0)
Offense: 13th, Defense: 26th, Special Teams: 22nd
Last week: lost to Lions 23-22
This week: at Panthers, Thursday 8:20 Eastern Time
28. New York Football Giants (1-6) | 29th last week (+1)
Offense: 31st, Defense: 14th, Special Teams: 6th
Last week: lost to Eagles 22-21
This week: home vs Buccaneers, Monday 8:15 Eastern
29. Washington Football Team (2-5) | 31st last week (+2)
Offense: 30th, Defense: 11th, Special Teams: 23rd
Last week: beat Cowboys 25-3
This week: BYE (next week home vs Giants)
30. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-6) | 30th last week (+0)
Offense: 26th, Defense: 28th, Special Teams: 28th
Last week: lost to Chargers 39-29
This week: BYE
FEEL BETTER DAK I THOUGHT Y'ALL WERE GOING TO BE GREAT
31. Dallas Cowboys (2-5) | 26th last week (-5)
Offense: 19th, Defense: 32nd, Special Teams: 25th
Last week: lost to Washington 25-3
This week: at Eagles, Sunday 8:20 Eastern
TREVOR LAWRENCE TERRITORY
32. New York Jets (0-7) | 32nd last week (+0)
Offense: 32nd, Defense: 24th, Special Teams: 30th
Last week: lost to Bills 18-10
This week: at Chiefs, Sunday 1:00 Eastern
Cover photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
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