Are you not entertained?! For what feels like the ninth consecutive week, the NFL was must-see television with multiple high-scoring games that came down to the final seconds, including the league’s marquee
game of the week with the Chiefs and Bills. For the first time in three weeks, we’ve got a shakeup at the top. With the halfway point of the season approaching, the regular season picture is starting to take shape, featuring multiple tight divisional races, including the NFC North, NFC West, and AFC East. Buckle in, football fans, the fun is just getting started as we enter the early part of November.
1. Buffalo Bills (6-2) Previous Week: 6
Statement made. The Bills came in with something to prove (as did the Chiefs), yet it was the Bills who controlled the majority of the game in a big mid-season victory at home. Quarterback Josh Allen is hitting his stride, and the defense looked considerably better against Kansas City’s high-powered offense than they have for most of the year. The Bills were my Super Bowl pick in August, and outside of their two-game skid, they’ve looked every bit the part. Barring a speed bump, a (7-2) start looks imminent with a road trip to Miami in Week 10.
2. Los Angeles Rams (6-2) Previous Week: 4
Teams in the NFC West keep winning, and that includes the Rams, who keep pace yet again with their sixth win of the season against the lowly one-win Saints in a 34-10 blowout victory in Los Angeles. Quarterback Matthew Stafford continues to play at a high level, but receiver Puka Nakua was once again banged up on Sunday. The Rams are one of the more complete teams in the league, but they also play in one of the deepest divisions in football. For now, they hold the top spot in their division and are knocking on the door of the top spot in our rankings.
3. Indianapolis Colts (7-2) Previous Week: 1
I knew we were unlikely to have the same team at the top for a third straight week, but I didn’t expect the Colts to fall the way they did against the Steelers. Daniel Jones came back down to earth on Sunday with three interceptions, and the Colts had an uncharacteristically poor performance overall. In a week where upsets were prominent, I’m going to write this loss off as precisely that. We’ll see if they can rebound against a struggling Falcons team.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (6-2) Previous Week: 8
The Eagles go into Week 9’s bye in good shape. Not only are they in the running for the top seed in the NFC, but the NFC East is a mediocre group from spots two through four. Barring an unexpected collapse, Philadelphia is well on its way to winning consecutive division titles for the first time in over two decades. The better question seems to be if they can earn the No. 1 seed heading into the playoffs.
5. Seattle Seahawks (6-2) Previous Week: 9
Every bit of me wanted to put the Seahawks higher on this list, but I need to see it for another week. They’ve been one of the best teams in the league by the metrics, but every time it seems like they are about to catch fire, they seem to have a minor hiccup. Quarterback Sam Darnold somehow looks better than he did last year in Minnesota, and Jaxson Smith-Njigba continues his ascent as one of the league’s best talents. Oh, and don’t forget about that loaded defense. This is a complete team that will look to put it all together down the stretch in a tight division.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2) Previous Week: 5
The Bucs are enjoying a much-needed bye week after a string of games where it felt like the injuries just wouldn’t end. With Mike Evans out for the majority of the year, the hope is that they can come out of this break with players like Chris Godwin, Bucky Irving, and Emeka Egbuka on the upside swing. This is one of the more well-rounded teams in the NFC, and barring a surprise, they look primed for yet another NFC South title. Even so, health will be a factor, as well as more consistency.
7. Denver Broncos (7-2) Previous Week: 10
For as much regression as the Commanders have seen in Washington so far in 2025, the Broncos continue to live on the edge and come out with wins. When quarterback Bo Nix turns it on, he looks damn-good. The issue is that he rarely shows that type of ability before the second half. The defense is elite, and it seems like they’ll continue to be down the stretch. Now we’ll see if they can hold off the Chargers and Chiefs down the stretch to lock down the AFC West. So far, so good.
8. Detroit Lions (5-3) Previous Week: 2
Of all of the upsets in Week 9, the Lions losing at home to a struggling Vikings team was not on my bingo card. It was just one of those games for the Lions. Despite J.J. McCarthy having just 116 net passing yards, his three touchdowns were the difference on Sunday. The Lions have all the makings of a dominant team, but each time it appears they are about to go on a run, they stumble surprisingly. Just like that, all four teams in the NFC North are separated by a single game.
9. New England Patriots (7-2) Previous Week: 11
The Patriots continue to win games, and yet it somehow doesn’t feel real. Don’t get me wrong, Drake Maye is the truth. Their defense is also playing good football. Yet, I keep waiting for reality to catch up and for this team to come back down to earth, but it hasn’t happened yet. With a Week 10 road matchup against the Buccaneers on the docket, we’ll see how real they are one week from now.
10 . Green Bay Packers (5-2-1) Previous Week: 3
Outside of the Lions losing at home to the Vikings, the Packers’ stumbling against the Panthers at home might have been the most surprising result of the week. The offense has been up-and-down all year, and now they’ll likely be without star tight end Tucker Kraft for the remainder of the season after a suspected torn ACL. The defense continues to play well, but they haven’t put together many complete games. We’ll see if they can get back on track against the Eagles on Monday Night Football.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) Previous Week: 14
Talk about a statement win… The Steelers rebounded from an ugly Week 8 loss on Sunday Night Football to knock off what was the best team in football. The defense got back on track with three interceptions and six takeaways in total. Assuming their defense can continue to play at a relatively high level, maybe they can finally break their postseason losing streak. They’ve got a two-game lead on the Ravens, and we’ll see how that holds over the final nine games of the season. For now, this is a win they should hang their hat on, with the hopes that it can build some consistency for a stretch run.
12. San Francisco 49ers (6-3) Previous Week: 13
Following a tough loss in Week 9, the 49ers gutted out a 34-24 victory against a feisty Giants team that hasn’t been an easy game for almost any of their opponents. Running back Christian McCaffrey continues to have a resurgent year, and Mac Jones just continues to win games in relief of Brock Purdy. Following the loss of No. 11 overall pick Mykel Williams, I’d fully expect the 49ers to have an active deadline with a few moves on the defensive side of the ball. Even with the injuries, they are firmly in the mix in a loaded NFC West.
13. Kansas City Chiefs (5-4) Previous Week: 7
Kansas City’s impressive run of dominating victories came to an end on Sunday afternoon in Buffalo. Although it ended as a one-score game, the Bills dominated the majority of regulation. We’ve all seen this story play out with the Chiefs losing Josh Allen in the regular season just to turn the tables when it matters in the postseason. We’ll see if the same holds again in 2025, but they are quickly losing ground in the AFC West, so it might need to come through a Wild Card berth.
14. Los Angeles Chargers (6-3) Previous Week: 12
The Chargers might have won the game, but losing left tackle Joe Alt to another high ankle sprain might define the remainder of their season. Their offensive line was already in shambles, and losing Alt for the season due to surgery is a back-breaker. Justin Herbert has played impressive football, but the lack of team health has once again become an issue in Los Angeles. Head coach Jim Harbaugh and his staff have their work cut out for them over the final eight games of the season.
15. Chicago Bears (5-3) Previous Week: 16
Sunday’s game against the Bengals was a wild ride in the final two and a half minutes of the game. It was an uneven first half for the Bears, but they took a commanding fourth-quarter lead and looked primed to close out the game with an impressive win. Forty-nine seconds and 15 points later, it was all up to Caleb Williams and the offense to salvage the game and come out with the win. A 58-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Colston Loveland later, and Chicago is (5-3). Still, there are plenty of concerns with this defense. We’ll see how active they are at the deadline, especially on the defensive line.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3) Previous Week: 15
Losing Travis Hunter for at least the next four games is a tough blow for a young Jaguars team that sold their soul in April’s draft to get him as a two-way player. Despite a game that they trailed for all but the final minute of regulation, they were able to get a touchdown in overtime and keep the Raiders from converting what would have been a game-winning two-point conversion. Without Hunter in the offense, they’ll have to get Brian Thomas Jr. back on track. For now, they’ll just have to hope things start to click for quarterback Trevor Lawrence consistently. No matter the opponent, getting a win in Vegas was paramount for them to get back on track.
17. Minnesota Vikings (4-4) Previous Week: 17
Count me as one of the many people who expected the Vikings to go into Detroit and get blown out of the building. Instead, J.J. McCarthy’s return resulted in a 27-24 upset victory to keep them in the playoff race heading into the second half of the season. The second-year quarterback accounted for all three touchdowns, but losing Aaron Jones again isn’t great for an offense that heavily relies on his production. The defense kept the Lions offense in check and forced a sub-70% completion from Jared Goff for the first time since Week 1. Make no mistake, this was a big-time season-saving win, but it won’t get any easier in Week 10 with the red-hot Ravens coming to town.
18. Baltimore Ravens (3-5) Previous Week 19
It’s hard to say the Ravens are fully “back” after a two-game winning streak, but it’s easy to see a clear path back to contention with their upcoming schedule. Getting quarterback Lamar Jackson back was a welcome sight, and there’s a real possibility that this is a team that could have a winning record by Week 12, with games against the Vikings, Browns, and Jets upcoming before heading into a Thanksgiving showdown with division-rival Bengals. Based on how inconsistent the Steelers have played, I haven’t entirely ruled them out for the AFC North crown yet either. With Cam Skattebo done for the year, it’ll be a work in progress for them to figure out their running game. They won’t be an easy win for any team on their schedule, but the ceiling for this team is unfortunately low.
19. Carolina Panthers (5-4) Previous Week: 23
We’re nine weeks into the season, and I still cannot get a feel for who the Panthers are in 2025. On the one hand, they continue to play teams close and have already matched their win total from last season. On the other hand, this is the same team that was blown out 40-9 at home by the Bills. Their wins have largely been impressive, but their losses have been equally as ugly. I have no idea what to make of this team over halfway through their season.
20. Houston Texans (3-5) Previous Week: 18
Just when it felt like the Texans had turned the corner on their disappointing start to the season, things fell apart again. Quarterback C.J. Stroud was finally starting to hit his stride, but a concussion in the first half on Sunday not only knocked him out of the game but ultimately led to the Texans’ offense going flat for the remainder of the game. Despite holding the lead for the majority of the game, the Broncos were able to seal the deal when it mattered the most. The only saving grace from Sunday was that the Colts lost, which means the Texans didn’t lose ground in the division. That’s about it.
21. Atlanta Falcons (3-5) Previous Week: 20
Despite their promising (3-2) start to the season, Atlanta has since lost three games in a row, and is quickly watching their playoff hopes fly right out the window yet again. On the plus side, quarterback Michael Penix has continued to look like a long-term answer, but the rest of the roster needs work. Since taking over last season, Raheem Morris’ team just can’t seem to get over the hump. Barring a turnaround, it looks like 2025 will be another replay of something Falcons fans are far too familiar with- Disappointment.
22. Arizona Cardinals (3-5) Previous Week: 25
I’m not sure I’m ready to label Monday night’s win as a “season saver”, especially given their place in the standings, but if there was ever a time to revive a dead season, this was it. Jacoby Brissett has been playing well in place of Kyler Murray, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a quarterback controversy emerges because of it. This team has a long way to go in order to dig themselves out of this deep hole, but upsetting the Cowboys on the road was a good start.
23. Dallas Cowboys (3-5-1) Previous Week: 24
The Cowboys have all of the offensive talent in the world, but that defense is a disaster. So, any time their offense can’t hang 30 points, it’s almost a guaranteed loss. Earlier on Monday, owner Jerry Jones went on the local radio in Dallas to claim that they had completed one trade and had another one or two in the works. I’ve got news Jerry– Cancel those trades, and start planning for next season. The division is all but out of reach, and they are now two games out of a Wild Card spot, with a (2-4-1) conference record. Barring a 7-1 finish, it’s hard to imagine their January resembling anything more than a six-to-seven win season.
24. Cincinnati Bengals (3-6) Previous Week: 22
For less than a minute of regulation time, it felt like the Bengals were going to get the season-changing win that they had been desperate for. In the matter of two plays with less than a minute to go, their 15-point comeback was null and void. The hope was that they could ride their (2-0) start to keep themselves above water until quarterback Joe Burrow returned. Considering their record, don’t be surprised to see them as surprise sellers during Tuesday’s deadline.
25. Washington Commanders (3-6) Previous Week: 21
Injuries have been an issue all season for the Commanders, but Sunday night might have just put the nail in the coffin for the season. The team lost quarterback Jayden Daniels to a dislocated elbow and is out indefinitely. They also lost starting cornerback Marshon Lattimore and emerging young receiver Luke McCaffrey for the year due to serious injuries. Washington was already severely outplayed before the fourth-quarter injury to Daniels, but their unbelievable accumulation of injuries should signal the end of their playoff hopes. Now the question is what they’ll decide to do by Tuesday’s deadline.
26. New York Giants (2-7) Previous Week: 26
The Giants continue to show plenty of fight, but ultimately, they lack the difference-makers to keep pace with most good teams. Jaxson Dart added another three touchdowns to his record (including two through the air), but in the end, they ran into a better team, injuries and all. This has been a considerably more exciting team since Dart took over, but it’s fair to wonder what the ceiling is on a team that’s already (2-7). Things don’t get any easier in Week 10 when they head to Chicago.
27. Cleveland Browns (2-6) Previous Week: 27
Through eight games, this season has gone just about like most had assumed. The offense is struggling to score points, and while the defense has talent, there’s much to be desired. On the plus side, this team boasts a wealth of young talent. It’s just a matter of letting them develop, finding a long-term solution at quarterback, and stacking additional pieces through the draft. We’ll see if this regime gets another year to turn things around, but for now, we’ll see how they finish out the season and who ends up being the starting quarterback over the next few weeks.
28. Las Vegas Raiders (2-6) Previous Week 28
It was a valiant effort from the Raiders against the Jaguars, but in the end, they couldn’t get it done on the final throw of overtime, where quarterback Geno Smith had a receiver wide open for the two-point conversion. Despite a disappointing start to the season, Las Vegas has continued to show reasonable effort. In the end, they just aren’t getting nearly enough out of their offense, and a lot of that starts at quarterback with Geno Smith. We’ll see how they finish out the season, but I’d expect an aggressive offseason with Pete Carroll’s coaching career already well into the back nine.
29. Miami Dolphins (2-7) Previous Week: 29
Following Thursday night’s blowout loss at home, general manager Chris Grier is out after almost a decade at the top spot. It appears that head coach Mike McDaniel will remain the head coach through the final eight games, but those words are easier said now than how things could look in the coming weeks with an extended losing streak. For now, Dolphins fans can count on significant changes in the offseason, while also having to survive the final eight games of a lost season.
30. New Orleans Saints (1-8) Previous Week: 30
The reality of an upcoming rebuild becomes increasingly apparent with every passing game in New Orleans. Despite having both Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler on the depth chart at quarterback, it’s fair to wonder if they have their long-term answer on the roster. More importantly, this is a roster that is devoid of talent almost everywhere. Kellen Moore didn’t take this job with any delusions, but this might prove to be a much longer rebuild than most in that building had initially anticipated.
31. New York Jets (1-7) Previous Week: 31
Getting a thrilling win before heading into the bye week is never a bad thing, especially for a struggling team like the Jets. Coming out of the bye with the Browns at home is a good way to string together two in a row, but as we’ve learned with bad teams, they are rarely consistent from week to week. With the trade deadline upon us, it’ll be interesting to see just how different this team looks by the end of Tuesday. For now, they can just enjoy the bye week and hope that their first win will lead to many more.
32. Tennessee Titans (1-8) Previous Week: 32
Despite the valiant effort from the Titans against a short-handed Chargers squad, the Titans’ nightmare season continues, at least in the standings. All things considered, rookie quarterback Cam Ward wasn’t bad against an outstanding defense. In the end, they continue to find ways to avoid completing games. That’s usually what happens with bad teams, so it shouldn’t be surprising. Only eight more games until the offseason, Titans fans…
