Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means the cream of the NFL is finally starting to rise, and the frauds are getting exposed. Teams are catching fire, others are falling apart, and 11 weeks
into this season, I’m running out of clichés to explain the absolute chaos we’re watching every Sunday.
This was easily the toughest week yet when it came to sorting teams into tiers. Draft position, playoff readiness, and who actually has a realistic shot at competing for Super Bowl LX. All of it is pulling these rankings in different directions.
With the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints on a bye, two teams sitting on opposite ends of the league’s mood spectrum, let’s dive into this week’s Power Rankings:
1) Seattle Seahawks (7-2) (even)
There’s nothing like a midseason slobberknocker with instant-classic potential: two heavyweights atop the NFL’s best division trading punches for the early advantage. Seattle is walking straight into a fistfight.
2) Los Angeles Rams (7-2) (even)
The Seahawks’ high-flying offense meets the Rams’ suffocating front. LA’s balanced, versatile attack meets Seattle’s budding, talent-stacked defense. It’s a heavyweight bout with playoff seeding written all over it.
3) Detroit Lions (6-3) (+1)
Under new offensive play-caller…Dan Campbell, the Lions look every bit as explosive as they did under Ben Johnson. Now they step into the national spotlight against the reigning champs on Sunday night. Statement game incoming.
4) Indianapolis Colts (8-2) (+1)
One statement game from star running back Jaonathan Taylor later, the Colts matched their win total from last season with seven more games to go. This Colts team is doing a great job of making the late Jim Irsay proud.
5) Buffalo Bills (6-3) (-2)
What the hell was that, Buffalo? I get it, divisional games are weird. Fine, whatever. But some flaws in this squad have led to them putting up some real stinkers throughout the season.
6) Denver Broncos (8-2) (+2)
Don’t look now, but the Broncos are at the top of the AFC West, and they have one of the three most elite defenses that can help keep them there. Is that enough to keep the Chiefs away from the top spot again? We’ll find out.
7) Kansas City Chiefs (5-4) (even)
Andy Reid off a bye is a nightmare for his opponents, but this week, against maybe the best defense in the league in the Denver Broncos, it may be one of his toughest challenges as he looks to prove that his team is worthy of another Super Bowl run.
8) Green Bay Packers (5-3-1) (-2)
Green Bay has found itself third in the NFC North and battling for a playoff spot, despite the abundance of talent along the roster. There have been talks surrounding Matt LaFleur’s future if they don’t find their way into the playoffs this season. We’ll see, man. But that feels like a mistake.
9) New England Patriots (8-2) (+3)
The Patriots continue their ascent back to the top with a key win against a good Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Drake Maye has been sensational, and they get a New York Jets team on Sunday that is still looking to find itself post-trade deadline.
10) Los Angeles Chargers (7-3) (+1)
Herbert and company have a chance to exorcise some demons of playoff past against a reeling Jacksonville Jaguars team. If this defense can cause some of those patented Trevor Lawrence blunders, you may see the Chargers fighting for supremacy back atop the AFC West.
11) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3) (-2)
The Buccaneers remain easily at the top of the NFC South, and their injury report is starting to shrink as they make a push to secure a fifth-straight division title.
12) Philadelphia Eagles (7-2) (-2)
The NFC East has essentially imploded, and the Eagles, despite their inconsistent play, have benefited immensely from it. They should cruise as the only team worth mentioning in the division at the moment.
13) Baltimore Ravens (4-5) (+2)
The world is healing. The Ravens are only a game back from the top of the AFC North, and the return of Lamar Jackson has made this division race that had no teeth interesting.
14) San Francisco 49ers (6-4) (-1)
The 49ers are currently on the outside looking in on the playoff graphic, but with Brock Purdy back under center, this team is ready to make a late run at a wild card spot.
15) Minnesota Vikings (4-5) (+1)
The Vikings are starting to look like the team they were supposed to be as the defense is coming together and being the stabilizing force for this team while the development of J.J. McCarthy continues.
16) Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4) (-2)
I’m losing faith in the Steelers’ ability to stave off the Lamar Jackson-led Ravens. If Pittsburgh can rally around their defense, they may have a shot at a wild card spot.
17) Chicago Bears (6-3) (even)
The remarkable comeback from Caleb Williams and company shielded what was almost an embarrassing loss to the Giants. A statement can be made about the Bears and how they belong among the best in the NFC with a win against the Vikings.
18) Houston Texans (4-5) (even)
The Texans continue to weather the storm as CJ Stroud will be out again this week against the Tennessee Titans. If the Texans can win this one, it will make for an interesting matchup the next week against the Bills.
19) Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4) (+2)
Despite being on the wrong end of a historic comeback, the Jaguars have put some good things on tape. They just have to learn how to finish. Let’s see if they can put it all together against a really good Chargers team.
20) Carolina Panthers (5-5) (-1)
Alright Panthers, we’re starting to lose some of that luster that made them one of the better surprises of the first half of the season. Luckily for them, they have the slump-buster Falcons ahead.
21) Washington Commanders (3-7) (-1)
Listen, the Detroit Lions are a buzzsaw right now, and the Commanders are again missing their star quarterback, Jayden Daniels. Maybe a trip to Madrid against the Dolphins will be enough to lift the spirits on a disappointing season thus far.
22) Arizona Cardinals (3-6) (even)
Like the Commanders, they ran into a buzzsaw that are the Seahawks, but have a chance to play spoiler this week against a 49ers team looking to get hot in time for a run to a wildcard spot.
23) Miami Dolphins (3-7) (+3)
This has not been a great year for the Dolphins, but holy cow, what a win on Sunday. That may have been enough for Mike McDaniel to at least finish out the season. Now, they get another chance to show they believe in their coach in Madrid, against the Commanders.
24) Dallas Cowboys (3-5-1) (even)
The bye week made it even more apparent how far apart the race for the NFC East is. The Cowboys being second in this division with only three wins is remarkable. If the Cowboys want to make a run at a wild card spot, though, they can start with a win against a struggling Raiders team on Monday night.
25) Atlanta Falcons (3-6) (-2)
After an off-season where they were looking to battle for the top of the NFC South, the Falcons have found themselves in a fight with the New Orleans Saints to stay out of the basement. What a mess. With the Carolina Panthers coming into town, this either means a win to start getting back on track or a potential dismissal of the coaching staff. Right now, Falcons fans may be okay with either.
26) Cincinnati Bengals (3-6) (-1)
The Bengals are just trying to weather the storm until Burrow can get back at the end of the month, closer to the start of December. A task much easier said than done, starting with this week’s matchup against the Steelers.
27) Las Vegas Raiders (2-7) (+1)
Can the Raiders give their fans something to cheer about on Monday Night Football? If anything, just get the offense going against a bad Cowboys defense.
28) New York Giants (2-8) (-1)
Jameis Winston may lead one of the most exciting upsets of the season or lay a complete egg against the Packers. Either way, we’re all probably going to have a whole lot of fun watching him play as Jaxson Dart heals up.
29) New York Jets (2-8) (+2)
This season is all about building toward the immediate future of the Aaron Glenn era of New York Jets football. So, any positive vibes that can be had should be cherished. Great win against the Browns, guys.
30) Cleveland Browns (2-7) (-1)
They’re going to fire Stefanski, aren’t they?
31) New Orleans Saints (2-8) (even)
Get some rest, Saints fans. You deserve it.
32) Tennessee Titans (1-8) (even)
Just keep Cam Ward healthy.
