It was inevitable that we would see a week where we ask ourselves, “What even is the NFL?”
The two-loss Bills suffered the biggest upset of Week 9, losing to a team that hasn’t won in the United States since Week 1 of the 2020 season. The 6-1 Cowboys got pounded by a Broncos team that just traded away Von Miller. A one-loss Packers team was forced to play their backup against the Chiefs and lost. The Derrick Henry-less Titans steamrolled the 7-1 Rams. And the off-field drama got the best of the Raiders as they lost sole possession of first in the AFC West with an L to the Giants.
It’s this kind of shakeups that give the power rankings a huge shuffle. While the end of the list has the usual teams, the top five looks very different than it did.
#32: Detroit Lions
Week 9 Bye | Record: 0-8
Previous Rank: #32
The good news for the Lions is that they did not lose in Week 9. The bad news is that it took their bye week to avoid getting another L. Their blowout loss to the Eagles may end up being a perfect summary of their season: Nothing but low spots. It was a performance so atrocious that Dan Campbell told team reporter Dannie Rogers he buried the game tape. Literally. Under the ground. The second half of the season could go one of two ways for Dan Campbell. Either the Lions continue to fight and hang in tough games and pull out a win, maybe two, or three, or, the losses create a snowball effect, hopelessness prevails, and, eventually, they get a final record that nobody wants on their résumé. The bye came at a helpful time for a team trying to run away from their shadows. TJ Hockenson said after the team’s Week 8 loss to the Eagles that their season is “not over.” It would be good to say that they have a light at the end of the tunnel, but they are 26th in total offense, 25th in total defense, 29th in scoring offense, and 31st in scoring defense. This team is terrible. And don’t expect them to not be terrible for a while. 0-17 may be a possibility.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
RB: D’Andre Swift
WR: Kalif Raymond, Amon-Ra St. Brown, KhaDarel Hodge
TE: TJ Hockenson
OL: Taylor Decker (LT), Jonah Jenkins (LG), Evan Brown (C), Halapoulivaati Vaitai (RG), Penei Sewell (RT)
DL: Michael Brockers (LDE), Alim McNeill (NT), Da’Shawn Hand (RDE)
EDGE: Trey Flowers (WLB), Charles Harris (SLB)
ILB: Alex Anzalone (LILB), Jalen Reeves-Maybin (RILB)
CB: Amani Oruwariye (LCB), Bobby Price (RCB)
S: Will Harris (SS), Tracy Walker III (FS)
ST: Ryan Santoso (K), Jack Fox (P), Scott Daly (LS)
RS: Godwin Igwebuike (KR), Kalif Raymond (PR)
#31: Houston Texans
Week 9 @ MIA: L, 9-17 | Record: 1-8
Previous Rank: #31
If you’re looking for positives, the Texans have one after that atrocious performance against the Dolphins: There is no way they will lose in Week 10. However, that is only because they are on bye. In a season that is filled with all kinds of awful, they hit a new low against the Fins. Facing a bottom five defense, Tyrod Taylor, who was supposed to bring veteran stability in his return to the lineup after missing six games with a hamstring injury, could not do that, throwing three interceptions and getting sacked five times. He could not generate a lot of offense. The team had 272 total yards, 14 first downs, and they were held out of the end zone. Taylor also had a miserable QBR of 13.1. This year’s Texans team marks the 12th time in NFL history where a team followed a season-opening win with 8 straight losses. Even so, Taylor still gives the Texans the best chance to win on a weekly basis, but it can arguably make more sense to continue evaluating Davis Mills. And even when Taylor is still the team’s best option at QB, there is a problem. The Texans are a sad excuse of a football team with holes left and right on both sides of the ball, and they are a league-worst minus-130 in point differential, on pace to finish minus-245. It’s going to take more than one year to fix things, even when they get a boatload of draft picks in a Deshaun Watson trade.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Tyrod Taylor
RB: David Johnson
WR: Brandin Cooks, Nico Collins, Danny Amendola
TE: Pharaoh Brown
OL: Geron Christian Sr. (LT), Tytus Howard (LG), Jimmy Morrissey (C), Justin McCray (RG), Charlie Heck (RT)
DE: Jonathan Greenard (LDE), Jacob Martin (RDE)
DT: Maliek Collins (LDT), DeMarcus Walker (RDT)
LB: Zach Cunningham (WLB), Neville Hewitt (MLB), Kevin Pierre-Louis (SLB)
CB: Desmond King II (LCB), Terrance Mitchell (RCB)
S: Eric Murray (SS), Justin Reid (FS)
ST: Ka’imi Fairbairn (K), Cameron Johnston (P), Jon Weeks (LS)
RS: Desmond King II
#30: New York Jets
Week 9 @ IND: L, 30-45 | Record: 2-6
Previous Rank: #27
The Jets came into Week 9 with something as rare of a sight you will see in Gang Green: Positive momentum. Said momentum didn’t make it out of the first quarter in the loss to the Colts. After a punt on the first drive of the game, Mike White led the Jets to an 8-play, 75-yard drive leading to a 19-yard touchdown pass to rookie Elijah Moore to tie it at 7. However, White also injured his forearm, and he was done for the night. While his injury was not the biggest factor in the loss, as Josh Johnson stepped up in his absence, the Jets gave up 260 yards on the ground. It was one of the worst defensive performances in team history. The Colts scored on six of their first seven drives on the way to a 45-30 win at Lucas Oil Stadium. They needed less than three full quarters to rack up the most rushing yards by any team in a game this season. The defense also suffered a devastating injury as Marcus Maye went down with a torn Achilles tendon. This is a bad look for Jets head coach Robert Saleh, who, even though he is widely regarded as a defensive coach, has one of the worst defenses in the league. The positives from here is that the Jets have scored 30+ points in back-to-back games, the fourth such time since 2012. They didn’t even score 30 points once last season. They also topped 480 yards of total offense in the consecutive games. They didn’t do that once in more than three years, going back to 2018, and didn’t do this twice in any season since 2000. This is going to set the bar impossibly high for Zach Wilson upon his return.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Mike White
RB: Michael Carter
WR: Corey Davis, Elijah Moore, Jamison Crowder
TE: Ryan Griffin
OL: George Fant (LT), Alijah Vera-Tucker (LG), Connor McGovern (C), Greg Van Roten (RG), Morgan Moses (RT)
DE: John Franklin-Myers (LDE), Shaq Lawson (RDE)
DT: Sheldon Rankins (LDT), Quinnen Williams (RDT)
LB: Del’Shawn Phillips (WLB), CJ Mosley (MLB), Quincy Williams (SLB)
CB: Brandin Echols (LCB), Bryce Hall (RCB)
S: Ashtyn Davis (SS), Sharrod Neasman (FS)
ST: Matt Ammendola (K), Braden Mann (P), Thomas Hennessy (LS)
RS: Braxton Berrios
#29: Miami Dolphins
Week 9 vs. HOU: W, 17-9 | Record: 2-7
Previous Rank: #29
Good news has been hard to come by in Miami, unless if you account for the Heat or the Florida Panthers. After a win in Week 1, the Dolphins lost 7 straight games, more than they had last season. As if it wasn’t bad enough, Tua Tagovailoa was a late scratch with a finger injury. That forced Jacoby Brissett into the starting lineup, and the Fins struggled to move the ball with the backup under center. They didn’t put up style points in Week 9, with just 262 yards of offense and five turnovers. That would be a recipe for a loss... unless if you’re playing the Texans. The defense forced four turnovers and held the Texans out of the end zone, and finally, the Fins were able to halt their skid. It was an ugly win, but head coach Brian Flores made it clear that he will take a victory any day that he can get one. However, this fun is likely going to be short-lived. The Fins have a quick turnaround as they host the Ravens on Thursday Night Football. If they play at the same pace in which they did against the Texans, things are going to get ugly quickly. It doesn’t help that Tua has been unable to stay healthy at the college or pro levels, a reality that is further strengthening the argument that he is not the long-term answer for the Fins. It feels like a dubious direction in Miami. A bad look for everyone. Jaylen Waddle is also struggling in his first year, on course to challenge Jarvis Landry’s record of lowest yards per catch for any receiver in a 100-catch season (8.81), as Waddle is now at 8.86. The Fins lost 18 straight games when turning the ball over at least five times, dating back to a 1990 win over the Patriots. NFL teams lost 16 straight games with at least five turnovers, beginning with the 49ers’ win over the Steelers in 2019.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Jacoby Brissett
RB: Myles Gaskin
WR: DeVante Parker, Jaylen Waddle, Preston Williams
TE: Mike Gesicki
OL: Liam Eichenberg (LT), Austin Jackson (LG), Austin Reiter (C), Robert Hunt (RG), Jesse Davis (RT)
DL: Christian Wilkins (LDL), Emmanuel Ogbah (RDL)
EDGE: Andrew Van Ginkel (WLB), Brennan Scarlett (SLB)
ILB: Elandon Roberts (LILB), Jerome Baker (RILB)
CB: Xavien Howard (LCB), Byron Jones (RCB), Justin Coleman (NB)
S: Eric Rowe (SS), Jevon Holland (FS)
ST: Jason Sanders (K), Michael Palardy (P), Blake Ferguson (LS)
RS: Jaylen Waddle
#28: Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 9 vs. BUF: W, 9-6 | Record: 2-6
Previous Rank: #30
No result in Week 9 was more shocking than the Jaguars’ upset over the Bills in the Josh Allen Bowl. When looking at the stats, it’s hard to know how exactly the Jags pulled it off. Trevor Lawrence had only 118 passing yards, the 2nd-lowest average for any QB with 25 attempts in a win this season, eclipsed by only Patrick Mahomes’ 4.49 in the same week against the Packers. What’s worse is that he has two games this season with fewer yards per attempt. A shorthanded ground game averaged less than three yards per carry. They had just 16 first downs and were outgained by over 80 yards. Josh Allen was a dominant force in this game. The twist here? It’s not the Josh Allen we all expected. Josh Allen—the edge rusher—was the star of the game, with 8 tackles, a fumble recovery, and becoming the first player to sack and intercept a player of the same name. Allen and the rest of the Jags’ front seven channeled the 2017 spirit and was relentless against his Buffalo counterpart, who was chased from the pocket and forced to check down to his receivers against a defense refusing to be beat with downfield strikes. One win won’t get the Jags to the playoffs, nor will it fix all their flaws. But this season for them won’t be a complete loss if the young guys continue to develop and provide long-term promise. Urban Meyer now has a signature victory to build off of and is 2-2 ever since his Columbus video controversy. Both wins were by a field goal, meaning the Jags can grind it out.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Trevor Lawrence
RB: James Robinson, Jamal Agnew (RB/WR)
WR: Marvin Jones Jr., Laviska Shenault Jr.
TE: Dan Arnold
OL: Cam Robinson (LT), Andrew Norwell (LG), Tyler Shatley (C), Ben Bartch (RG), Jawaan Taylor (RT)
DL: Malcom Brown (LDE), DaVon Hamilton (NT), Dawuane Smoot (RDE)
EDGE: Josh Allen (WLB), Jihad Ward (SLB)
ILB: Damien Wilson (LILB), Myles Jack (RILB)
CB: Tyson Campbell (LCB), Shaquill Griffin (RCB)
S: Rayshawn Jenkins (SS), Andrew Wingard (FS)
ST: Matthew Wright (K), Logan Cooke (P), Ross Matiscik (LS)
RS: Jamal Agnew
#27: Washington Football Team
Week 9 Bye | Record: 2-6
Previous Rank: #28
Things have not come to plan with Washington this season. They were expected have one of the best defenses in the league. The belief was that the duo of Chase Young and Montez Sweat would disrupt offenses on a weekly basis and put Washington in a position to defend the NFC East. But instead of that, they have one of the worst. They rank 29th in both total defense and scoring defense. Young has disappointed with just 1.5 sacks, and Sweat is set to be sidelined for a month after suffering a broken jaw in their Week 8 loss to the Broncos. They are now four games behind the Cowboys in the loss column and lost four games in a row. Ron Rivera’s defense is built to win in the front seven, but it hasn’t been working out. However, he believes the team is headed in the right direction, per Michael Silver of the team’s official website. “I know it's about winning—and that’s what we’re looking toward,” said Rivera. “People want to see us win, and I get it. When you’re not winning, it’s hard to sit there and say, ‘We’re close.’ But I have to look at it a different way. There are steps we’ve made that are positive, and if we keep taking steps, we’ll get to where we need to go.” However, does Dan Snyder (Why is he still in Washington, anyway?) agree with that? Yes, injuries have played a factor, as Ryan Fitzpatrick and Curtis Samuel have been sidelined for some time, with Fitzpatrick out since the opener. But they need to seriously turn things around, and quickly. This is not like last year, when they had a top defense in the league and won the division despite being 2-7 after Week 10. A turnaround will not be easy for them, especially with the Buccaneers up first after their bye.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Taylor Heinicke
RB: Antonio Gibson
WR: Terry McLaurin, Dynami Brown, Adam Humphries
TE: Ricky Seals-Jones
OL: Charles Leno Jr. (LT), Ereck Flowers (LG), Tyler Larsen (C), Brandon Scherff (RG), Sam Cosmi (RT)
DE: Chase Young (LDE), Casey Toohill (RDE)
DT: Da’Ron Payne (LDT), Jonathan Allen (RDT)
LB: Cole Holcomb (WLB), Jamin Davis (MLB), Khaleke Hudson (SLB)
CB: Kendall Fuller (LCB), William Jackson III (RCB)
S: Landon Collins (SS), Kamren Curl (FS)
ST: Joey Slye (K), Tress Way (P), Camaron Cheeseman (LS)
RS: DeAndre Carter
#26: Philadelphia Eagles
Week 9 vs. LAC: L, 24-27 | Record: 3-6
Previous Rank: #24
It feels as if Nick Sirianni cannot buy a win at home. He is now 0-4 at Lincoln Financial Field. However, the Eagles showed progress on offense. The ground game thrived, while Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith showed their chemistry in the second half, connecting five times for 116 yards and one score throughout the game. The defense, however, was another story. They continued to struggle, especially against the pass. Justin Herbert became the 5th opposing QB to complete at least 80% of his pass attempts in a game against the Eagles this year. It’s brutal indeed, as it ties the NFL record held by the 2015 Buccaneers. While there are some calling for Hurts to be benched for Gardner Minshew, Sirianni doesn’t sound like someone who wants to make a QB change. “[Hurts] was a stud,” he said to reporters. “He was a big time stud. I mean, I’ve got a lot of respect for [Chargers head coach] Brandon Staley, they knew we were moving the ball really well on offense, and he didn’t leave anything—I’m pretty confident he didn’t leave anything on the call sheet.” Even though Hurts had more yards per attempt than Herbert, that’s not to say that he is the long-term answer under center for the Eagles. But after Minshew had 20 starts with the Jaguars, maybe they can know what he can show. This loss, however, marks the 5th time they have lost while scoring 20 points or more. No other team has more than three, and the Eagles have three such losses all of last year. Of all teams that outscored their opponents this season, the Eagles have the worst record, ahead of the Vikings and Seahawks, who are both 3-5. If they can split the next two games, they have a nice five-game stretch where they face the Giants and Washington twice and the Jets. It’s mostly bad teams after the Broncos and Saints in the next two weeks.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Jalen Hurts
RB: Jordan Howard
WR: DeVonta Smith, Jalen Reagor, Quez Watkins
TE: Dallas Goedert
OL: Jordan Mailata (LT), Landon Dickerson (LG), Jason Kelce (C), Jack Driscoll (RG), Lane Johnson (RT)
DE: Josh Sweat (LDE), Derek Barnett (RDE)
DT: Javon Hargrave (LDT), Fletcher Cox (RDT)
LB: Alex Singleton (WLB), TJ Edwards (MLB), Genard Avery (SLB)
CB: Darius Slay Jr. (LCB), Steven Nelson (RCB)
S: K’Von Wallace (SS), Marcus Epps (FS)
ST: Jake Elliott (K), Arryn Siposs (P), Rick Lovato (FS)
RS: Jalen Reagor
#25: Chicago Bears
Week 9 @ PIT: L, 27-29 | Record: 3-6
Previous Rank: #25
There would be an entirely different conversation had the Bears won in Monday Night Football, but when the officiating decided to step in, it was for some of the worst decisions ever. They called a low block on James Daniels when he didn’t even touch TJ Watt. And then there was that taunting penalty on Cassius Marsh when he wasn’t even taunting. That’s not to mention there were other missed calls in this game, such as back-to-back late hits on Justin Fields. The Bears had some missed calls that went their way as well, with their defenders lining up offsides and the O-line making false starts. There were encouraging signs, though. Justin Fields easily had his best game of the season, throwing for 291 yards and adding another 45 on the ground. His deep sideline throw to Allen Robinson is the kind of play that will keep Bears fans going. That was part of a 7-play, 75-yard march down the field capped off with a beautiful touchdown pass to Darnell Mooney. The Bears even trailed 20-6 entering the 4th quarter and one can argue that they should have won 31-26 instead of losing 29-27. However, once again, there are no moral victories in sports. The defense was a mess in the final Steelers drive. There were just too many turnovers as well, too many blown assignments, and way too many undisciplined penalties. Fields’ performance, however, is another indication that the Bears now have a QB they can build around. But don’t confuse hope for the future with quality now. Playoffs seem unrealistic now for Da Bears.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Justin Fields
RB: David Montgomery
WR: Allen Robinson II, Darnell Mooney, Marquise Goodwin
TE: Cole Kmet
OL: Jason Peters (LT), Cody Whitehair (LG), Sam Mustipher (C), James Daniels (RG), Larry Borom (RT)
DL: Akiem Hicks (LDE), Eddie Goldman (NT), Bilal Nichols (RDE)
EDGE: Christian Jones (WLB), Robert Quinn (SLB)
ILB: Roquan Smith (LILB), Alec Ogletree (RILB)
CB: Jaylon Johnson (LCB), Kindle Vildor (RCB)
S: Tashaun Gipson Sr. (SS), Eddie Jackson FS)
ST: Cairo Santos (K), Pat O’Donnell (P), Patrick Scales (LS)
RS: Jakeem Grant
#24: New York Giants
Week 9 vs. LV: W, 23-16 | Record: 3-6
Previous Rank: #26
Giants fans haven’t had a lot to cheer about this season. They entered their game against the Raiders winning just two games and dropping three of their last four. Upsetting the Raiders doesn’t erase their problems, but it had to feel good to get another win against a team with a winning record. The offense went the old school route. Of their 54 plays, 31 were runs. Devontae Booker had a solid outing, with 122 total yards. That topped the 110 passing yards from Daniel Jones, but Jones was efficient, with a passer rating of 104.2. The defense was the story of the game. Although they gave up 403 total yards, they made big plays when they needed to, with three turnovers, a Xavier McKinney pick six, and a Derek Carr strip sack in the final minute on the way to a 23-16 win. This is yet another gutty performance from the Giants, who played once again without Saquon Barkley and Sterling Shepard. While Jones is steadying the ship on offense, Patrick Graham’s defense is what is making them relevant. They have allowed just 13 points per game over the last three games after giving up 29.5 points per game in the first six contests. They are playing better than they were a month ago, winning two of their last three, which is better than close losses to Washington and the Falcons. They get the week off and extra time to prepare for their Monday Night Football match against the Buccaneers. As crazy as this sounds, this will be the 5th straight time they will face each other. They split the previous four games, all decided by a total of 8 points.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Daniel Jones
RB: Saquon Barkley
WR: Kenny Golladay, Darius Slayton, Kadarius Toney
TE: Evan Engram
OL: Matt Peart (LT), Matt Skura (LG), Billy Price (C), Will Hernandez (RG), Nate Solder (RT)
DL: Dexter Lawrence (LDE), Austin Johnson (NT), Leonard Williams (RDE)
EDGE: Lorenzo Carter (WLB), Azeez Ojulari (SLB)
ILB: Tae Crowder (LILB), Reggie Ragland (RILB)
CB: James Bradberry (LCB), Adoree’ Jackson (RCB)
S: Xavier McKinney (SS), Logan Ryan (FS)
ST: Graham Gano (K), Riley Dixon (P), Casey Kreiter (LS)
RS: Kadarius Toney (KR), Adoree’ Jackson (PR)
#23: San Francisco 49ers
Week 9 vs. ARZ: L, 17-31 | Record: 3-5
Previous Rank: #18
It wasn’t supposed to be like this for the 49ers this season. After last year was ravaged by injuries, they were supposed to be in the mix for the NFC West. Well... about that... they have laid yet another egg at home in a 31-17 loss to the Cardinals, marking their 11th loss in 12 games at Levi’s Stadium. A bleak defense had no answers for a Cardinals team without Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins, or Chase Edmonds. The return of George Kittle and a breakout game from Brandon Aiyuk failed to revive an offense that is continuing to fade away from 2019 form. They are now down four games in the loss column in the NFC West. Kyle Shanahan didn’t hold back when he was asked about the team’s performance. “We didn’t play very well today at all,” he said. “I was real disappointed. I thought we’d played really well. We had a good week of practice that we’d even improved from the week before, but obviously, it didn’t go that way.” The Niners have fallen so far behind the NFC West leaders, which is a major disappointment. If Jimmy Garoppolo is still holding off Trey Lance by now, the assumption was that the Niners would still be in contention. Instead, the entire team is underperforming. Now, any chance of them winning the division is gone. It’s now fair to wonder if Shanahan will get Lance more reps, and if the seat under the head coach is warming up.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Jimmy Garoppolo
RB: Elijah Mitchell
WR: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings
TE: George Kittle
OL: Trent Williams (LT), Laken Tomlinson (LG), Alex Mack (C), Daniel Brunskill (RG), Mike McGlinchey (RT)
DE: Arik Armstead (LDE), Nick Bosa (RDE)
DT: Kentavius Street (LDT), DJ Jones (RDT)
LB: Fred Warner (LILB), Azeez Al-Shaair (RILB)
CB: Dre Kirkpatrick (LCB), Emmanuel Moseley (RCB), K’Waun Williams (NB)
S: Talanoa Hufanga (SS), Jimmie Ward (FS)
ST: Robbie Gould (K), Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Taybor Pepper (LS)
RS: Trenton Cannon (KR), Brandon Aiyuk (PR)
#22: Carolina Panthers
Week 9 vs. NE: L, 6-24 | Record: 4-5
Previous Rank: #20
Each week, a cold reality is building around the Panthers: Sam Darnold is not the answer for the Panthers. The decision to trade for him and pick up his fifth-year option is looking like a big mistake by the organization. On a day when they saw the return of Christian McCaffrey, the offense was stuck in mud in their loss to the Patriots. Darnold was mostly terrible: Completing 16 of 33 attempts for 172 yards and three interceptions, one returned for a touchdown. He continued to be skittish in Joe Brady’s offense in his most recent nightmare performance against Bill Belichick’s squad. Darnold, however, credited the Pats defense for disguising coverages. “They play man coverage and try to create picks and create confusion up front,” he told reporters. “I think that’s the biggest thing they do and they do a really good job of it. But I think it comes down to my decision making. We had guys in places that we wanted and just couldn’t get them the ball and I turned it over a few too many times.” Matt Rhule chose to keep Darnold under center for the game, despite his struggles, but he could possibly lose his team if he doesn’t give PJ Walker or the recently brought-back Cam Newton a shot. Given that Darnold spent his first three years on a team that plays the Pats twice a year, the fact that he is still seeing ghosts against them is not good. The Panthers have now lost five of their last six games. During that span, Darnold completed 54.8 percent of his passes with a 4-10 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Plus, he hasn’t ran for a score since Week 4, and leads the league in interceptions, with 11. The offensive struggles are spoiling a top 10 defense. While the last two wild card spots are wide open, the Panthers do not have an easy schedule the rest of the way, still facing the Buccaneers twice and have trips to Arizona and Buffalo.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: PJ Walker
RB: Christian McCaffrey
WR: DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, Terrace Marshall Jr.
TE: Ian Thomas
OL: Dennis Daley (LT), Michael Jordan (LG), Matt Paradis (C), Trent Scott (RG), Taylor Moton (RT)
DE: Brian Burns (LDE), Morgan Fox (RDE)
DT: Derrick Brown (LDT), DaQuan Jones (RDT)
LB: Shaq Thompson (WLB), Jermaine Carter Jr. (MLB), Haason Reddick (RILB)
CB: Donte Jackson (LCB), Stephon Gilmore (RCB)
S: Juston Burris (SS), Jeremy Chinn (FS)
ST: Zane Gonzalez (K), Lachlan Edwards (P), JJ Jansen (LS)
RS: Ameer Abdullah (KR), Alex Erickson (PR)
#21: Minnesota Vikings
Week 9 @ BAL: L, 31-34 (OT) | Record: 3-5
Previous Rank: #19
For a moment, it looked like the Vikings were on their way to snagging a statement win over the Ravens that would have lifted back to .500 and in the mix in the NFC North. But then comes a truth: No team is better at losing winnable games than the Vikings. They had a seven-point halftime lead, and that lead expanded to 14 points by way of a kickoff return touchdown to start the 2nd half. But they would be outscored 24-7 before falling behind by seven or fewer points for the 5th time this season. The Kirk Cousins offense remains a hot and cold offense, with a lot of quick positions putting the defense in a bad spot. They ran 89 plays, while the Ravens ran 52. When Anthony Barr had an interception in overtime, the offense responded with a three-and-out that doomed them. This season for them has been absolute frustration. On paper, they are a team that can hang with anyone else, but when it gets tough and things tighten up, they come up short much more often than not. Their inability to win games does not fall solely on Cousins or Mike Zimmer. It’s a kind of mediocrity in which the team underperforms when it matters. In addition, all five of their losses have all came by seven points or fewer, and three were by three points or fewer. Does this make them a better team than what their record shows? Or does this make them a mediocre team that can’t figure out how to win games? It’s more likely the latter is true. Unless big changes are made in the offseason, that is where they will stay.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Kirk Cousins
RB: Dalvin Cook
WR: Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, KJ Osborn
TE: Tyler Conklin
OL: Christian Darrisaw (LT), Ezra Cleveland (LG), Mason Cole (C), Oli Udoh (RG), Brian O’Neill (RT)
DE: DJ Wonnum (LDE), Everson Griffen (RDE)
DT: Dalvin Tomlinson (LDT), Sheldon Richardson (RDT)
LB: Nick Vigil (WLB), Eric Kendricks (MLB), Anthony Barr (SLB)
CB: Cameron Dantzler (LCB), Patrick Peterson (RCB)
S: Harrison Smith (SS), Xavier Woods (FS)
ST: Greg Joseph (K), Jordan Berry (P), Andrew DePaola (LS)
RS: Ihmir Smith-Marsette (KR), Dede Westbrook (PR)
#20: Atlanta Falcons
Week 9 @ NO: W, 27-25 | Record: 4-4
Previous Rank: #23
For some reason, the Falcons are remaining in playoff contention. This wasn’t a balanced game against the Saints. The ground game was shut down against one of the best run defenses in the league: 34 rushing yards and 1.4 yards per carry. But they have a former MVP to lead the way—Matt Ryan put the team on his back, with 343 passing yards and two touchdowns. Cordarrelle Patterson continued his breakout season, with 136 scrimmage yards on 15 touches. Give the Falcons props on knowing how to use him. He is one of the greatest special teams players in NFL history, but it took until his 9th season for a coach to transform into a consistent weapon on offense, and props go to Arthur Smith for that. His 64-yard catch-and-run in the final drive helped set up Younghoe Koo’s 29-yard game-winning field goal as time expired. He saved the team after a hideous 4th quarter collapse reminiscent of 28-3. “We just like to give our fans a heart attack, just to keep them on their toes, make sure they are paying attention,” said Patterson after the win. This was the Falcons’ biggest win of the season, and they are back at playoff contention after pulling off three wins in four games. The season doesn’t end at the midway point, but if it did end today, they will have the final wild card spot. However, keeping that final wild card spot will not be easy, as they have three games in four weeks against teams with winning records. Plus, the Falcons’ other three wins are against teams that are a combined 7-19, and this win gets a QB asterisk. Even though they have the Jaguars and Lions left on the schedule, a 7-10 record is actually worse than a 4-13 record. With no Calvin Ridley and with no consistent ground game, and without anyone with more than two sacks, this team is incomplete and will struggle to keep up with most teams.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Matt Ryan
RB: Cordarrelle Patterson
WR: Russell Gage, Tajae Sharpe, Olamide Zaccheaus
TE: Kyle Pitts
OL: Jake Matthews (LT), Jalen Mayfield (LG), Matt Hennessy (C), Chris Lindstrom (RG), Kaleb McGary (RT)
DL: Mike Pennel (LDE), Tyeler Davison (NT), Grady Jarrett (RDT)
EDGE: Brandon Copeland (WLB), Dante Fowler Jr. (SLB)
ILB: Deion Jones (LILB), Foyesade Oluokun (RILB)
CB: AJ Terrell (LCB), Fabian Moreau (RCB)
S: Duron Harmon (SS), Erik Harris (FS)
ST: Younghoe Koo (K), Dustin Colquitt (P), Josh Harris (LS)
RS: Cordarrelle Patterson (KR), Avery Williams (PR)
#19: Seattle Seahawks
Week 9 Bye | Record: 3-5
Previous Rank: #21
The Seahawks finally got a win with Geno Smith at QB, blowing out the Jaguars in Week 8. But that came after three straight losses. They are now 3-5 in a division with a pair of one-loss teams entering that week, so their margin for error is very little. Now that Russell Wilson is back and will return to action, the hope is that a win streak builds and that they can make a playoff push. As expected, they struggled during the time he was recovering from finger surgery, losing three of four games when he was out. Smith did great in powering the offense through DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett in the win over the Jags, and this is the game plan moving forward. They need Wilson against the Packers, and it’s a fact that Pete Carroll is aware of, telling reporters in Week 7 that he might not be a head coach if it weren’t for the superstar signal caller. “Think of all the magic that he’s created in the years,” said Carroll. “He’s got numbers and stats, and 4th quarters, this’s and that’s, and all of that stuff. One of the winningest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. And it will be really fun when he comes back and plays football again for us this year. And we owe a tremendous amount.” Now that Wilson is cleared to play, they will be a different team with him. But his return doesn’t exactly make the Seahawks contenders in the NFC. They still have a lot of issues, including a defense ranking 23rd in defensive DVOA and tied for 29th (with the Lions) in sacks, with just 14. If they don’t Let Russ Cook™, they’ll cook their own meals from home by playoff time.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Russell Wilson
RB: Alex Collins
WR: DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Freddie Swain
TE: Gerald Everett
OL: Duane Brown (LT), Damien Lewis (LG), Kyle Fuller (C), Gabe Jackson (RG), Brandon Shell (RT)
DE: Rasheem Green (LDE), Kerry Hyder Jr. (RDE)
DT: Poona Ford (LDT), Al Woods (RDT)
LB: Jordyn Brooks (WLB), Bobby Wagner (MLB), Benson Mayowa (SLB)
CB: DJ Reed (LCB), Sidney Jones IV (RCB)
S: Jamal Adams (SS), Quandre Diggs (FS)
ST: Jason Myers (K), Michael Dickson (P), Tyler Ott (LS)
RS: DeeJay Dallas (KR), Freddie Swain (PR)
#18: Denver Broncos
Week 9 @ DAL: W, 30-16 | Record: 5-4
Previous Rank: #22
You talk about games filled with surprises; this is a perfect example of one. One of the biggest had to be the Broncos completely shutting down the one-loss Cowboys in Dallas. In their first game post-Von Miller, they were the best versions of themselves. The game was nowhere close as the final score shows—the Broncos scored the game’s first 30 points. The ground game, led by Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams, was a two-headed monster, while Teddy Bridgewater played efficiently, with contributions from Jerry Jeudy and Tim Patrick, on the way to outplaying Dak Prescott. The offense outgained the top-ranked offense by over 100 yards. Then there was the defense, who channeled their 2015 spirit and shut down the Cowboys’ offense until garbage time and made people think they still have it on that side of the ball, even with Miller now on the Rams. It’s these kinds of performances that make you think differently on a team. And because the Raiders lost to the Giants, the Broncos are back in the AFC West conversation ahead of a winnable Week 10 match against the Eagles. However, this is just a one-game sample size, so more needs to be seen from them to show that they are a good team. Can they build some momentum after going on a four-game losing streak?
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Teddy Bridgewater
RB: Melvin Gordon III
WR: Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick
TE: Noah Fant
OL: Calvin Anderson (LT), Dalton Risner (LG), Lloyd Cushenberry III (C), Quinn Meinerz (RG), Cam Fleming (RT)
DL: Shelby Harris (LDL), Mike Purcell (NT), Dre’Mont Jones (RDL)
EDGE: Malik Reed (WLB), Stephen Weatherly (SLB)
ILB: Kenny Young (LILB), Baron Browning (RILB)
CB: Ronald Darby (LCB), Pat Surtain II (RCB)
S: Kareem Jackson (SS), Justin Simmons (FS)
ST: Brandon McManus (K), Sam Martin (P), Jacob Bobenmoyer (LS)
RS: Diontae Spencer
#17: Indianapolis Colts
Week 9 vs. NYJ: W, 45-30 | Record: 4-5
Previous Rank: #17
The Colts are a hard team to picture. In Week 8, they looked like a flawed team prone to making mistakes in their loss to the Titans that had them three games behind in the AFC South race. Against the Jets in Week 9, they were an absolute steamroller, looking like a team that cannot be counted out of the playoff picture. They scored touchdowns on six of their first seven possessions on the way to a 45-30 win at Lucas Oil Stadium. Jonathan Taylor put up a show, with 200 total yards and two touchdowns. The Colts ran for the most single-game yardage in the league this season, with 260, at 8.7 yards per carry by the waning minutes of the 3rd quarter. Their next match against the Jaguars gives them an excellent opportunity to get back to .500. But getting a wild card spot is not going to be easy. After them, their last seven games include home games against the Buccaneers, Patriots, and Raiders, and trips to Buffalo and Arizona. They are not going to be as unprepared as the Jets. They’re still a better team than what their records shows. Four of their five losses came against the Titans (twice), Rams, and Ravens. However, their best win is against... let me check my notes... the 49ers. Taylor is averaging 5.86 yards per carry. If he can keep up pace and finish with 250+ carries, it will be the 6th such season in NFL history, following two by Jim Brown and 2,000-yard seasons from OJ Simpson, Barry Sanders, and Adrian Peterson. But from what the Colts are showing, they are a resilient team that is not wanting to give up the fight for the AFC South. Want to hear something mind-blowing? Carson Wentz has the same number of touchdowns (17) and interceptions (3) as Aaron Rodgers.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Carson Wentz
RB: Jonathan Taylor
WR: Michael Pittman Jr., TY Hilton, Zach Pascal
TE: Jack Doyle
OL: Eric Fisher (LT), Quenton Nelson (LG), Ryan Kelly (C), Mark Glowinski (RG), Braden Smith (RT)
DE: Kwity Paye (LDE), Al-Quadin Muhammad (RDE)
DT: DeForest Buckner (LDT), Grover Stewart (RDT)
LB: Darius Leonard (LILB), Bobby Okereke (RILB)
CB: Rock Ya-Sin (LCB), TJ Carrie (RCB), Kenny Moore II (NB)
S: George Odum (SS), Andrew Sendejo (FS)
ST: Michael Badgley (K), Rigoberto Sanchez (P), Luke Rhodes (LS)
RS: Isaiah Rodgers (KR), Nyheim Hines (PR)
#16: Cincinnati Bengals
Week 9 vs. CLE: L, 16-41 | Record: 5-4
Previous Rank: #10
The Bengals’ hot start to the 2021 season was one of the more pleasant surprises in the league, but they got blown out at home by their cross-state rival and have been outscored in their last four-and-a-half quarters, dating back to their loss to the Jets. Denzel Ward’s 99-yard pick six set the tone for a frustrating afternoon for them, who turned the ball over three times and gave up big play scores through the air and the ground to a Browns team that beat them in all aspects of the game. Joe Burrow struggled, failing to throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season and throwing a pair of interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Defensively, the Bengals had no answer for Nick Chubb, almost allowing 10 yards per carry and giving up a 70-yard touchdown. This is concerning that a defense that played so well for much of September and October that gave up at least 34 points in the last two games. After whooping the Ravens in Week 7, they were first in the league’s toughest division. Two weeks later, they are 5-4 and are in a familiar spot: Last place in the division. The second half of the season will be an important test for Zac Taylor on his way to install a new culture with the Bengals. Will they move forward, or will they fall apart like the Bengals team of the past?
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Joe Burrow
RB: Joe Mixon
WR: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd
TE: CJ Uzomah
OL: Jonah Williams (LT), Quinton Spain (LG), Trey Hopkins (C), Hakeem Adeniji (RG), Riley Reiff (RT)
DE: Sam Hubbard (LDE), Trey Hendrickson (RDE)
DT: DJ Reader (LDT), Larry Ogunjobi (RDT)
LB: Logan Wilson (LILB), Germaine Pratt (RILB)
CB: Eli Apple (LCB), Chidobe Awuzie (RCB), Mike Hilton (NB)
S: Vonn Bell (SS), Jessie Bates III (FS)
ST: Evan McPherson (K), Kevin Huber (P), Clark Harris (LS)
RS: Darius Phillips
#15: New Orleans Saints
Week 9 vs. ATL: L, 25-27 | Record: 5-3
Previous Rank: #11
In Week 8, the Saints upset the Buccaneers despite the loss of Jameis Winston. They were not so fortunate in Week 9. In their defense, it wasn’t entirely Trevor Siemian’s fault that the Saints lost to the Falcons. He played well, completing 25 of 41 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Surprisingly, the defense was the letdown of the week. They allowed a big game from Matt Ryan even though the Falcons did not have Calvin Ridley. The disappointment was beyond Cordarrelle Patterson’s catch-and-run to set up Younghoe Koo for the game-winning field goal. Neither Siemian nor Taysom Hill are electric quarterbacks, so the Saints can’t afford to blow away opportunities to make chunk plays like they did repeatedly against the Falcons. This loss could be one that can sting even more in January. Down 18 with 8 minutes left to play, the Saints rallied for three touchdown and the lead with a minute left, only to give up a 64-yard pass to Patterson that set up the game-winning kick. They can’t let Ryan have his highest-rated game in over a year to carry the team back to the playoffs. Their stay at the top of the NFC South is short-lived. While they are still a good team, the loss of Winston and the absence of Michael Thomas leaves them with little margin for error. It’s not going to get any easier, as they face the surging Titans in Week 10, plus home games against the Bills and Cowboys.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Trevor Siemian
RB: Mark Ingram II
WR: Marquez Callaway, Tre’Quan Smith, Deonte Harris
TE: Adam Trautman
OL: James Hurst (LT), Calvin Throckmorton (LG), Erik McCoy (C), Cesar Ruiz (RG), Ryan Ramczyk (RT)
DE: Cameron Jordan (LDE), Marcus Davenport (RDE)
DT: David Onyemata (LDT), Shy Tuttle (RDT)
LB: Kwon Alexander (LILB), Demario Davis (RILB)
CB: Paulson Adebo (LCB), Marshon Lattimore (RCB), PJ Williams (NB)
S: Malcolm Jenkins (SS), Marcus Williams (FS)
ST: Brian Johnson (K), Blake Gillikin (P), Zach Wood (LS)
RS: Deonte Harris
#14: Kansas City Chiefs
Week 9 vs. GB: W, 13-7 | Record: 5-4
Previous Rank: #15
The good news for the Chiefs is that they took care of business against an Aaron Rodgers-less Packers team, and now they are at .500 for the first time since starting 1-0, winning consecutive nail-biters without style points, entering the second half of the season just a loss behind the top of the AFC West. The bad news is that based on how they looked in this game, none of the issues that led to the team losing twice as many games in seven weeks as they did all of last season are fixed. The offense is still sputtering—they managed just 237 yards, and Patrick Mahomes threw for a career-low 166 yards. However, despite the lackluster showing, he insisted to reporters that the Chiefs are getting better. “I feel like we’re close,” he said. “You can see drives here and there where we’re the team everybody knows and loves, but you have to consistently do that throughout every single drive in a game. We’re just not executing.” He has to hope he is right, because fixing the offense will be a challenge for Andy Reid, but give credit to the defense that has kept the defending conference regular season champions tense. Steve Spagnuolo’s D brought up the pressure against Jordan Love to the tune of seven QB hits, and shut the Packers out in the 4th quarter (Wait, what?). It’s strange for them that the defense is being tasked to carry the offense, and that doesn’t look sustainable. They still lack receiving depth behind Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill. Mahomes is not Thanos—he is not invincible. The ground game is essentially nonexistent. However, when everything clicks, this team can be special, but we haven’t seen it this season. Besides, the rest of their schedule is brutal. They don’t even have a game against a team that presently has a losing record.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Patrick Mahomes II
RB: Darrel Williams
WR: Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson
TE: Travis Kelce
OL: Orlando Brown Jr. (LT), Joe Thuney (LG), Creed Humphrey (C), Trey Smith (RG), Andrew Wylie (RT)
DE: Chris Jones (LDE), Frank Clark (RDE)
DT: Jarran Reed (LDT), Derrick Nnadi (RDT)
LB: Nick Bolton (WLB), Anthony Hitchens (MLB), Willie Gay (SLB)
CB: Rashad Fenton (LCB), L’Jarius Sneed (RCB)
S: Tyrann Mathieu (SS), Juan Thornhill (FS)
ST: Harrison Butker (K), Tommy Townsend (P), James Winchester (LS)
RS: Byron Pringle (KR), Mecole Hardman (PR)
#13: Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 9 vs. CHI: W, 29-27 | Record: 5-3
Previous Rank: #13
Normally, a win is a win, and while the Steelers won 29-27 against the Bears to win four straight after starting 1-3, it’s fair to question on if the officials were calling a one-sided game. If it weren’t for that, the Bears would be winning 31-26. Ray-Ray McCloud’s fumble let the Bears back in the game after the Steelers led 20-6 heading into the 4th, and a suspect secondary got exposed by Justin Fields as the Bears scored three touchdowns in the final frame. The ground game and the O-line struggled once again, with Najee Harris getting just 62 yards on 22 carries. These shortcomings would have mattered had it not been for the heinous officiating, but then there’s Ben Roethlisberger, who led his 50th game-winning drive of his Hall of Fame career, capping off with a Chris Boswell 40-yard field goal to secure a tainted victory. Honestly, this should have been the Steelers’ first loss at home on Monday Night Football since a long time, which would have snapped an 18-game win streak. Although they face an even worse Lions team in Week 10, the Lions’ record does not matter, as they will be without Chase Claypool (toe) and Ben Roethlisberger (COVID protocol). And knowing this team, they are masters at giving Steeler Nation heart attacks. It doesn’t help that their remaining opponents have a .553 winning percentage. There is the feeling that every remaining week will be a street fight. But they still have a chance, thanks to the defense, which is carrying the load for the team, as they have two DPOY candidates in TJ Watt and Cam Heyward. Big Ben, even though he may be out, has not committed a turnover during the four-game stretch, and safe football is winning football.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Mason Rudolph
RB: Najee Harris
WR: Diontae Johnson, James Washington, Ray-Ray McCloud
TE: Pat Freiermuth
OL: Dan Moore Jr. (LT), Kevin Dotson (LG), Kendrick Green (C), Trai Turner (RG), Chukwuma Okorafor (RT)
DL: Chris Wormley (LDL), Isaiah Buggs (NT), Cameron Heyward (RDL)
EDGE: TJ Watt (WLB), Alex Highsmith (SLB)
ILB: Devin Bush Jr. (LILB), Joe Schobert (RILB)
CB: Joe Haden (LCB), Cam Sutton (RCB)
S: Terrell Edmunds (SS), Minkah Fitzpatrick (FS)
ST: Chris Boswell (K), Pressley Harvin III (P), Christian Kuntz (LS)
RS: Ray-Ray McCloud
#12: Las Vegas Raiders
Week 9 @ NYG: L, 16-23 | Record: 5-3
Previous Rank: #9
After a drama-filled week marred by the arrest and the release of Henry Ruggs and with Damon Arnette’s video of threatening someone with a gun and also getting released, the Raiders looked to get back to actually playing football. But that didn’t happen. They played their worst game of the season, falling to the two-win Giants at MetLife Stadium. It was ugly all around. Offensively, they turned the ball over three times, including Derek Carr’s 3rd quarter pick six to Xavier McKinney and his lost fumble with the Raiders just 13 yards from the potential game-tying score in the final minute. They converted four of 12 3rd downs and were a miserable 1-for-6 in the red zone. Defensively, they allowed the 26th-ranked rushing attack to put up 149 yards. It was a sloppy loss in which the off-the-field distractions bothered them, and they couldn’t focus, doing damage to their notion that they are real contenders. In their defense, the fact that they lost after a week filled with off-field issues is understandable. But it brings up the pressure ahead of their Sunday Night Football showdown against the Chiefs, after which they host the Bengals and then travel to face the Cowboys. Depth concerns are also showing. And now, their schedule is about to be more dangerous. Even if they brought in DeSean Jackson to fill in the hole left behind by cutting Ruggs, closing out the off-the-field issues is now a weekly challenge for the Raiders.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Derek Carr
RB: Josh Jacobs
WR: Bryan Edwards, Zay Jones, Hunter Renfrow
TE: Darren Waller
OL: Kolton Miller (LT), John Simpson (LG), Andre James (C), Alex Leatherwood (RG), Brandon Parker (RT)
DE: Maxx Crosby (LDE), Yannick Ngakoue (RDE)
DT: Johnathan Hankins (LDT), Quinton Jefferson (RDT)
LB: Cory Littleton (WLB), Denzel Perryman (MLB), KJ Wright (SLB)
CB: Nate Hobbs (LCB), Casey Hayward Jr. (RCB)
S: Johnathan Abram (SS), Tre’von Moehrig (FS)
ST: Daniel Carlson (K), AJ Cole III (P), Trent Sieg (LS)
RS: Kenyan Drake (KR), Hunter Renfrow (PR)
#11: New England Patriots
Week 9 @ CAR: W, 24-6 | Record: 5-4
Previous Rank: #14
Don’t look now, but the Patriots may actually be good. They didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard against the Panthers, as Mac Jones threw for just 139 yards while turning the ball over twice, and the Pats averaged less than four yards per carry. But even so, that yardage piles up when you run the ball 39 times. The ground game kept the Panthers’ offense off the field, racking up 151 yards and a touchdown. When the Panthers had the ball, they didn’t do much. They had just 240 total yards and only 13 first downs while committing three turnovers, with JC Jackson getting two of them by way of interceptions, including the game-sealing pick six. If Bill Belichick could face off against Sam Darnold every week, the Pats would go 17-0 every time. This was the Patriots’ third win in a row, and paired with the Bills’ stunning loss to the Jaguars, the Pats are just one game back of the Bills with two head-to-head meetings between them later in the season. Even if the AFC East goes to the Bills, the Pats’ combo of a strong ground game and a stout defense should keep them in the wild card race. They have not lost a game in regulation since Tom Brady’s revenge game. This team is a lot better on paper than last year’s and they are getting accustomed after lots of offseason changes. Their Week 10 showdown with the Browns has a lot of playoff implications. Them, the Chiefs, Bengals, and Broncos are now in a five-way tie for the final AFC wild card. The Pats would win the tiebreaker now. Beat the Browns, and there will be a lot written about their four-game win streak and return to success.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Mac Jones
RB: Rhamondre Stevenson
WR: Jakobi Meyers, Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne
TE: Hunter Henry
OL: Isaiah Wynn (LT), Ted Karras (LG), David Andrews (C), Shaq Mason (RG), Trent Brown (RT)
DE: Deatrich Wise Jr. (LDE), Matt Judon (RDE)
DT: Lawrence Guy (LDT), Davon Godchaux (RDT)
LB: Ja’Whaun Bentley (WLB), Dont’a Hightower (MLB), Kyle Van Noy (SLB)
CB: JC Jackson (LCB), Jalen Mills (RCB)
S: Kyle Dugger (SS), Devin McCourty (FS)
ST: Nick Folk (K), Jake Bailey (P), Joe Cardona (LS)
RS: JJ Taylor
#10: Los Angeles Chargers
Week 9 @ PHI: W, 27-24 | Record: 5-3
Previous Rank: #12
By the time the Chargers took the field at Lincoln Financial Field, they knew that the Raiders fell to the Giants. With the win over the Eagles, they are back into a tie for first in the AFC West. They didn’t exactly get style points out of this week, but they got the Justin Herbert performance they really needed, thanks to him completing 32 of 38 passes for 356 yards and two touchdowns, adding another on the ground. His performance drew raves from Brandon Staley. “Justin was patient, today, he was extremely accurate, he played with good timing and our offensive line had a lot to do with that,” he told reporters. However, it’s apparent that there is no clear frontrunner for the AFC West title. It’s a very close battle, so winning the division could come down to who has the best quarterback. However, as of now, Herbert is outplaying the rest of his AFC West counterparts, including Patrick Mahomes. Despite concerns about early down play calling, with a lot of runs, the Chargers still have one of the most efficient offenses in the league, as they are 4th in offensive EPA. Their next test is up against a Vikings defense that just gave up 500 yards in an overtime loss to the Ravens.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Justin Herbert
RB: Austin Ekeler
WR: Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Josh Palmer
TE: Jared Cook
OL: Rashawn Slater (LT), Matt Feiler (LG), Corey Linsley (C), Michael Schofield III (RG), Storm Norton (RT)
DL: Jerry Tillery (LDL), Linval Joseph (NT), Justin Jones (RDL)
EDGE: Joey Bosa (WLB), Uchenna Nwosu (SLB)
ILB: Kenneth Murray Jr. (LILB), Kyzir White (RILB)
CB: Chris Harris Jr. (LCB), Asante Samuel Jr. (RCB)
S: Derwin James Jr. (SS), Nasir Adderley (FS)
ST: Dustin Hopkins (K), Ty Long (P), Matt Overton (LS)
RS: Andre Roberts (KR), Jalen Guyton (PR)
#9: Cleveland Browns
Week 9 @ CIN: W, 41-16 | Record: 5-4
Previous Rank: #16
It’s odd that moving on from Odell Beckham Jr. makes a team better, but this is exactly the case for the Browns. He and Baker Mayfield had no chemistry whatsoever. The offense looked just five without their no. 1 wide receiver who looked more of as a no. 2 receiver, scoring early and often in their 41-16 win over the Bengals. That their first game without OBJ was easily their best performance of the season indicates that they made the right choice to cut him. They scored as many points in this game as they did in Weeks 6, 7, and 8 combined. Nick Chubb ran through the Bengals defense for 137 yards and two touchdowns despite carrying the ball just 14 times. Mayfield quietly completed two-thirds of his passes, threw two touchdowns and finished with a passer rating of 132.6. The defense held its ground, too. Myles Garrett continued to show his case for DPOY, with 1.5 sacks to his league-leading total. The defense also forced three turnovers, with Denzel Ward making a 99-yard pick six. Why the team plays better without OBJ should be something featured on Unsolved Mysteries. While Chubb will not play in Week 10 as he tested positive for COVID, D’Ernest Johnson is no slouch, as he previously ran for 146 yards on 22 carries in Week 7. Mayfield could be in for another strong second half of the season. Their Week 10 match against the Patriots brings a lot of playoff implications on the line, but they remain a talented, well-coached team capable of pulling off a deep playoff run.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Baker Mayfield
RB: D’Ernest Johnson
WR: Jarvis Landry, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Rashard Higgins
TE: Austin Hooper
OL: Jedrick Wills Jr. (LT), Joel Bitonio (LG), JC Tretter (C), Wyatt Teller (RG), Blake Hance (RT)
DE: Myles Garrett (LDE), Jadeveon Clowney (RDE)
DT: Malik Jackson (LDT), Malik McDowell (RDT)
LB: Mack Wilson (WLB), Anthony Walker Jr. (MLB), Sione Takitaki (SLB)
CB: Denzel Ward (LCB), Greg Newsome II (RCB)
S: Ronnie Harrison Jr. (SS), John Johnson III (FS)
ST: Chase McLaughlin (K), Jamie Gillan (P), Charley Hughlett (LS)
RS: Demetric Felton
#8: Buffalo Bills
Week 9 @ JAX: L, 6-9 | Record: 5-3
Previous Rank: #3
Not long ago, the Bills were considered by many to be the frontrunners to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LVI. They were even as high as 1st on our power rankings, the highest of any AFC team. This is no longer the case after losing a stunner to the Jaguars, who ranked well outside the top 20 in both total defense and scoring defense. The Bills mustered just 301 yards of offense and just two field goals. Josh Allen (the quarterback) easily had his worst game of the season, throwing a pair of picks and losing a fumble. The Bills didn’t play well on either side of the ball. Allen didn’t hold back on how he played in this game. “We played like sh*t,” he told reporters. “Excuse my language, but that starts with me. So I’ve got to be better for this team. This loss stings, but we will be better because of it.” It’s fair if you have questions about the Bills after whatever this was. Consistency issues are plaguing the team. The O-line is continually failing Allen, while offensive coordinator Brian Daboll was not able to make in-game adjustments to counter the Jags’ two-high safety scheme that took away the Bills’ big-play strikes. Now they know how Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs feel throughout this season. Maybe it may have been an off week where the Bills will rebound in a big way against the Jets. But after two losses in their last three games, they hold a narrow one-game lead over the Patriots for the AFC East lead. With two of their next three games against teams that made the playoffs last year, they need to shake off this loss really quickly. A 5-3 record following a loss to the Jags is very alarming. Allen has not been consistent this year, and the Bills are prone to laying eggs. It happened against the Steelers in Week 1, against the Dolphins in the first half of Week 8, and in this game. They are still playoff contenders, but the Pats are sneaking up to them. And by chance that they make a deep run, you may want to wonder how on earth did the Jags hold a team that had been averaging more than 32 points per game to a pair of field goals.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Josh Allen
RB: Zack Moss
WR: Stefon Diggs, Emmanuel Sanders, Gabriel Davis
TE: Tommy Sweeney
OL: Dion Dawkins (LT), Ike Boettger (LG), Mitch Morse (C), Daryl Williams (RG), Spencer Brown (RT)
DE: Gregory Rousseau (LDE), Jerry Hughes (RDE)
DT: Star Lotulelei (LDT), Ed Oliver (RDT)
LB: Matt Milano (LILB), AJ Klein (RILB)
CB: Tre’Davious White (LCB), Levi Wallace (RCB), Taron Johnson (NB)
S: Jordan Poyer (SS), Micah Hyde (FS)
ST: Tyler Bass (K), Matt Haack (P), Reid Ferguson (LS)
RS: Isaiah McKenzie
#7: Dallas Cowboys
Week 9 vs. DEN: L, 16-30 | Record: 6-2
Previous Rank: #2
The Cowboys entered Week 9 as a potential Super Bowl contender in the NFC. Most people expected them to have little trouble taking out the Broncos. They haven’t lost since Week 1 and would be getting Dak Prescott back after he missed Week 8 as he was still recovering form his calf injury. Oh, how wrong we all were. Just about everything wrong happened for them. In a humbling game, they were held to under 300 yards, converted just five of 13 3rd downs, and whiffed on all four times on 4th down to where Shannon Sharpe had a field day on Skip Bayless in Undisputed. The defense didn’t do much better. Facing a Broncos offense that hasn’t exactly thrived this season, they got gashed for 190 yards on the ground. The Broncos also converted 8 of 15 3rd downs and had the ball well over twice as long as the Cowboys. This was a blowout loss that was far worse than what the final score indicated, as the Broncos scored the game’s first 30 points. Dak Prescott didn’t eclipse 100 passing yards until 10 minutes left in regulation. Ezekiel Elliott didn’t hold back when speaking to reporters after the loss. “I think we came out and didn’t play very well, didn’t execute,” he said. “We felt ready, we felt prepared going into this game, but at the end of the day, they were more physical than us and we didn’t execute good enough.” This game should serve as a huge wake-up call for a Cowboys team that won six straight games before this. This will also be a big challenge for the coaching staff, as future opponents will try and copy Vic Fangio’s defensive game plan for stopping Prescott and the pass attack. Their grip for the NFC East lead remains strong, but their status as a Super Bowl contender has taken a hit.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Dak Prescott
RB: Ezekiel Elliott
WR: Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup
TE: Dalton Schultz
OL: Terence Steele (LT), Connor Williams (LG), Tyler Biadasz (C), Zack Martin (RG), La’el Collins (RT)
DE: Tarell Basham (LDE), Randy Gregory (RDE)
DT: Osa Odighizuwa (LDT), Carlos Watkins (RDT)
LB: Leighton Vander Esch (WLB), Keanu Neal (MLB), Micah Parsons (SLB)
CB: Anthony Brown (LCB), Trevon Diggs (RCB)
S: Donovan Wilson (SS), Damontae Kazee (FS)
ST: Greg Zuerlein (K), Bryan Anger (P), Jake McQuaide (LS)
RS: Tony Pollard (KR), CeeDee Lamb (PR)
#6: Baltimore Ravens
Week 9 vs. MIN: W, 34-31 (OT) | Record: 6-2
Previous Rank: #8
The Ravens seem to enjoy keeping games close no matter the opponent. For the third time this season, it took overtime for the game to be decided. And for the second time, it was the Ravens who pulled away with the W. In many aspects, this game was a microcosm of what the Ravens are as a team. There were positives, whether it be the 386 total yards from Lamar Jackson, 266 through the air and 120 through the ground, or the 9 receptions for 116 yards from Marquise Brown, or Devonta Freeman rejuvenating himself in a supporting role, or Justin Tucker’s game-winning field goal to seal the win. With positives also come negatives—Jackson threw two interceptions, and the Ravens had to dig out of a 14-point hole in the 2nd half. This team still remains imperfect, as the defense was constantly getting pushed around, and the special teams gave up a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the first play of the 2nd half that would have broken inferior teams. That does not describe the Ravens, a tough and resilient team. If you’re looking for a team that does best in end-of-game situations, this is the team you want to watch, whether it be Jackson’s big play ability, John Harbaugh’s coaching, or Tucker’s leg.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Lamar Jackson
RB: Devonta Freeman
WR: Marquise Brown, Sammy Watkins, Rashod Bateman
TE: Mark Andrews
OL: Alejandro Villanueva (LT), Ben Powers (LG), Bradley Bozeman (C), Kevin Zeitler (RG), Tyre Phillips (RT)
DL: Justin Madubuike (LDL), Calais Campbell (RDL)
EDGE: Tyus Bowser (WLB), Justin Houston (SLB)
ILB: Josh Bynes (LILB), Patrick Queen (RILB)
CB: Anthony Averett (LCB), Marlon Humphrey (RCB), Tavon Young (NB)
S: Chuck Clark (SS), DeShon Elliott (FS)
ST: Justin Tucker (K), Sam Koch (P), Nick Moore (LS)
RS: Devin Duvernay
#5: Green Bay Packers
Week 9 @ KC: L, 7-13 | Record: 7-2
Previous Rank: #4
At some point in the future, the Packers will have to pass the torch at the QB helm from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love. Nothing that happened in Kansas City is going to accelerate that. With Rodgers sidelined after testing positive for COVID, Love made his first career NFL start. He wasn’t terrible, but he wasn’t spectacular: 19 completions in 34 attempts for 190 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The Chiefs’ highly dysfunctional offense was begging for the Packers to take the game, but all that was mustered is seven points, which included aa late touchdown to Allen Lazard. And that was while facing a lowly Chiefs defense that ranks 26th in yards per game allowed and 24th in scoring defense. The Chiefs blitzed Love early and often, and Matt LaFleur told reporters after the game that the blame on the young QB’s struggles rests with him more than Love. “I thought our guys battled,” he said. “I thought Jordan, I was really proud of the way he played. He hung in there, he was taking hits and delivering the ball. I thought he did a really good job. But I think that, ultimately, I’ve got to be better and this one falls squarely on me.” While the offense is bad, the special teams was an outright mess: They failed to convert on two field goals and muffed a punt that led to a Chiefs field goal. Had Aaron Rodgers not tested positive, the Packers would have won this game. But it could have been worse: Two more of the NFC’s one-loss teams lost in Week 9, as well as the Vikings. What we learned in this game is that the Packers’ Super Bowl status depends on if Rodgers is under center. Without him, they are just average.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Aaron Rodgers
RB: Aaron Jones
WR: Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling
TE: Marcedes Lewis
OL: Elgton Jenkins (LT), Jon Runyan (LG), Lucas Patrick (C), Royce Newman (RG), Billy Turner (RT)
DL: Dean Lowry (LDE), Kenny Clark (NT), Kingsley Keke (RDE)
EDGE: Preston Smith (WLB), Rashan Gary (SLB)
ILB: De’Vondre Campbell (LILB), Krys Barnes (RILB)
CB: Eric Stokes (LCB), Kevin King (RCB)
S: Adrian Amos (SS), Darnell Savage Jr. (FS)
ST: Mason Crosby (K), Corey Bojorquez (P), Steven Wirtel (LS)
RS: Amari Rodgers
#4: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 9 Bye | Record: 6-2
Previous Rank: #6
The Buccaneers were in a strange place heading into their bye week: Coming off a loss. But it’s hardly time for being overly concerned about the Bucs. At 6-2, they have the same record 8 games into the season as last year, and last year for them ended in a championship title. But there are reasons for concern, still, primarily with the defense. Their secondary ranks in the middle of the league in pass defense, and the Bucs gave up 36 points to a Saints team mostly led by Trevor Siemian. You also have to wonder about Rob Gronkowski and his long-term impact he can make with the Bucs throughout this year. After a sizzling start to the season, he missed four games with rib and lung injuries, then left the Week 8 match with back spasms. This is the same exact back that required three separate surgeries from 2009 to 2016. They still have Cameron Brate and OJ Howard at tight end, but we know how unstoppable this offense can be with Gronk healthy. On the bright side, they are the 3rd best team in terms of point differential. Tom Brady still leads the NFL with 25 passing touchdowns, and in passing yards per game. The bye week was kind to them, as the Rams, Packers, Cowboys, and Saints all lost their respective games, which helps them as playoff seeing plays out. Barring any collapses, this is a team that is headed back to the playoffs. They are still loaded offensively, and the defense remains one of the league’s best. Even though their loss to the Saints should serve as a reminder that they are not invincible, this is still the deepest team in the league. As the schedule moves forward, there are questions to be asked: Will the defense improve as the secondary gets healthy? They return to action to the site of their playoff opener last year, but will face a Washington defense that failed to live up to their potential.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Tom Brady
RB: Leonard Fournette
WR: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Tyler Johnson
TE: Cameron Brate
OL: Donovan Smith (LT), Ali Marpet (LG), Ryan Jensen (C), Alex Cappa (RG), Tristan Wirfs (RT)
DL: Ndamukong Suh (LDE), Vita Vea (NT), William Gholston (RDE)
EDGE: Jason Pierre-Paul (WLB), Shaquil Barrett (SLB)
ILB: Devin White (LILB), Lavonte David (RILB)
CB: Jamel Dean (LCB), Pierre Desir (RCB)
S: Antoine Winfield Jr. (SS), Jordan Whitehead (FS)
ST: Ryan Succop (K), Bradley Pinion (P), Zach Triner (LS)
RS: Jaelon Darden
#3: Los Angeles Rams
Week 9 vs. TEN: L, 16-28 | Record: 7-2
Previous Rank: #1
Just when you think the NFL won’t have any more upsets, we enter the Shyamalan Zone: More plot twists for the sake of having more plot twists. The Rams entered this game meeting with the Titans in great shape to move to 8-1 on the season. They were arguably the most balanced team in the league, and the Titans were dealing with the loss of Derrick Henry. But then the Rams were an undisciplined mess on Sunday Night Football, committing a season-high 12 penalties for 115 yards in the 28-16 loss to the surging Titans. An extremely suspect roughing the passer call on Aaron Donald was the nail in the coffin, but Sean McVay’s group never was a serious threat when the Titans had 21 points in the 2nd quarter, 14 of them coming off of Matt Stafford interceptions, including Kevin Byard’s pick six. This loss has them fall one game behind the NFC West-leading Cardinals, including a head-to-head loss to them. They still have one of the most complete rosters in the league, with elite top-level talent both offensively and defensively, and smart coaches, but with two NFC West games and a trip to Green Bay looming in their next four games, they need to shake off this loss and tighten things up before they let the division slip away from their hands. Their last quality win was against the Buccaneers, back in Week 3. They need to beat another legit team. And even though they brought in Odell Beckham Jr. following his release from the Browns, Robert Woods is out for the year with a torn ACL. Time for Van Jefferson to step up.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Matt Stafford
RB: Darrell Henderson Jr.
WR: Cooper Kupp, Odell Beckham Jr., Van Jefferson
TE: Tyler Higbee
OL: Andrew Whitworth (LT), David Edwards (LG), Brian Allen (C), Austin Corbett (RG), Rob Havenstein (RT)
DL: A’Shawn Robinson (LDE), Greg Gaines (NT), Aaron Donald (RDE)
EDGE: Leonard Floyd (WLB), Von Miller (SLB)
ILB: Ernest Jones (LILB), Troy Reeder (RILB)
CB: Darious Williams (LCB), Jalen Ramsey (RCB)
S: Jordan Fuller (SS), Taylor Rapp (FS)
ST: Matt Gay (K), Johnny Hekker (P), Matt Orzech (LS)
RS: Ben Skowronek (KR), Cooper Kupp (PR)
#2: Tennessee Titans
Week 9 @ LAR: W, 28-16 | Record: 7-2
Previous Rank: #7
When the Titans lost Derrick Henry to a Jones fracture, many assumed that it killed their season and that any chance they had at a deep playoff run evaporated. It seemed they were all wearing noise cancellation headphones from Bose. Because in their first game without him, they played their best game of the season in knocking off a Rams team topping the power rankings last week. This is a game in which they did not put up 200 yards of offense. Without Henry, they averaged a pitiful 2.7 yards per carry. The story of the game was the defense, which held the Rams offense in check, forcing a pair of interceptions, one returned for a touchdown by Kevin Byard. It shows that while Henry is the most valuable player of the Titans, sleeping on them is always a mistake. The Titans looked like the more prepared and more disciplined team against the Rams. The defense has been a revelation during the four-game winning streak that not only included this game, but also wins over the Bills, Chiefs, and Colts. The star in LA was not Ryan Tannehill, but rather Jeffery Simmons, who had three of the Titans’ five sacks on Matt Stafford. That is good for more sacks than any other Titan has recorded in a single game in 13 years. They won’t win a lot of games with 194 yards of offense, but their current run has them as the team to beat in the AFC. It’s hard to find a better stretch than the one they are having, but one question: How on earth did they lose to the Jets?
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Ryan Tannehill
RB: Adrian Peterson
WR: AJ Brown, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Chester Rogers
TE: Geoff Swaim
OL: Taylor Lewan (LT), Rodger Saffold III (LG), Ben Jones (C), Nate Davis (RG), David Quessenberry (RT)
DL: Jeffery Simmons (LDE), Teair Tart (NT), Denico Autry (RDE)
EDGE: Harold Landry (WLB), Bud Dupree (SLB)
ILB: Jayon Brown (LILB), Rashaan Evans (RILB)
CB: Janoris Jenkins (LCB), Kristian Fulton (RCB)
S: Amani Hooker (SS), Kevin Byard (FS)
ST: Randy Bullock (K), Brett Kern (P), Morgan Cox (LS)
RS: Chester Rogers
#1: Arizona Cardinals
Week 9 @ SF: W, 31-17 | Record: 8-1
Previous Rank: #5
The Cardinals were hit with a double whammy in Week 8. Not only did they suffer their first loss of the season, but Kyler Murray also suffered an ankle injury that prevented him from playing against the 49ers. Not only that, but DeAndre Hopkins was sidelined with a hamstring injury, and Chase Edmonds had just one carry before leaving with an injury and then getting placed on the IR. None of that mattered. Thanks to an efficient performance from Colt McCoy and 173 total yards and three touchdowns from James Conner, the Cards handled the Niners with ease on the way to claiming sole possession of first place in the NFC West. It was close to perfection of a game for Kliff Kingsbury. This was a division win that further buried a rival as his two most important players were rested that could be season-derailers if not treated with caution. This also was their most impressive win given that they didn’t have Murray, Hopkins, Edmonds, or AJ Green. It’s a statement about their offensive scheme and overall roster talent, including Conner, who now leads the league with 11 touchdowns. They still have two games with the Seahawks and one more with the Rams, but the season sweep against the Niners is more fuel to the argument that they are the team to beat in the NFC West.
Week 10 Projected Starters
QB: Colt McCoy
RB: James Conner
WR: AJ Green, Rondale Moore, Christian Kirk
TE: Zach Ertz
OL: DJ Humphries (LT), Sean Harlow (LG), Rodney Hudson (C), Josh Jones (RG), Kelvin Beachum (RT)
DL: Jordan Phillips (LDE), Corey Peters (NT), Zach Allen (RDE)
EDGE: Chandler Jones (WLB), Markus Golden (SLB)
ILB: Jordan Hicks (LILB), Isaiah Simmons (RILB)
CB: Byron Murphy Jr. (LCB), Robert Alford (RCB)
S: Jalen Thompson (SS), Budda Baker (FS)
ST: Matt Prater (K), Andy Lee (P), Aaron Brewer (LS)
RS: Rondale Moore (KR), Christian Kirk (PR)
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