We should have known that Week 10 would be in for major surprises when the two-win Dolphins beat the Ravens by double digits.
Some teams kept rolling—the Packers shut out the Seahawks, the Cowboys blasted the overmatched Falcons, and the Bills expectedly beat the Jets.
But there were surprises, too. The Eagles dominated the Broncos in Denver, Washington stunned the Buccaneers, the Panthers blew out the one-loss Cardinals, and the Lions didn’t lose a game... but they also didn’t win, so... progress?
All these upsets have shaken up the NFL. We have newcomers at both the bottom and the top of the power rankings.
#32: Houston Texans
Week 10 Bye | Record: 1-8
Previous Rank: #31
Week 10 for the Texans was the team’s best week ever since they beat the Jaguars in the season opener. Why? It was their bye week, which should tell you everything you need to know about the Texans. This is looking more and more like a lost season for the Texans. The Deshaun Watson saga has overshadowed everything that happened on the field for them through October, and when the drama was set aside post-trade deadline, all that was left for them was the worst team in the league playing out the string ahead of a massive organizational reboot. As the losses keep piling, David Culley is trying to keep a positive attitude. He has constantly defended his players, telling reporters that the team’s poor play has less to do with the team than the people coaching the team. “I’m frustrated that this team doesn’t play as consistent as we need them to play to have success and win football games,” he said. “That’s on us as coaches. We haven’t done as good a job as we need to do to do that.” The reality is that the Texans need better players. On both sides of the ball. They’re certainly going to have a top-five pick in the 2022 draft, and trading Watson will land them a boatload of picks. If general manager Nick Caserio can make good use of these picks, the future could be bright in Houston. However, things are still a mess as it remains. Everything about this team feels so gloomy.
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: Jordan Jenkins (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
#31: Detroit Lions
Week 10 @ PIT: Tie, 16-16 | Record: 0-8-1
Previous Rank: #32
THE LIONS DIDN’T LOSE A GAME! I REPEAT, THE LIONS DIDN’T LOSE A GAME! But even as the losing streak ends, it ends in the most Lions way possible: A tie. But in tying the Steelers, they insured that they will not be the first team in NFL history to go 0-17 in a season. Given how this season has gone for them, a tie could arguably be considered good news, but by how this game has gone, at the same time it can also be considered bad news. In fairness, there were positives in this game. D’Andre Swift continued his solid season where he had 130 yards on a whopping 33 carries. The defense gave up 387 yards, but also forced three turnovers and gave up a single touchdown. But this was also a game where a banged-up Jared Goff threw for just 114 yards, with 64 of them coming in regulation. And a game where they let a 2nd half lead slip away, Ryan Santoso missing an extra point and then badly missing a 48-yard field goal that would have sent the Steelers to their locker rooms hanging their heads in shame. That kick never even had a chance, and the kick summarizes the entire team’s ineptitude. This tie itself says more about how poorly the Steelers played than how well the Lions did. The Lions should have won their first game here, but they didn’t. Dan Campbell is going to do whatever it takes to coach his team to victory, but the goose egg is still a possibility. It’s not certain on when this team gets their first win this season.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Tim Boyle
RB: D’Andre Swift
WR: Kalif Raymond, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Trinity Benson
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: Julian Okwara (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: Riley Patterson (K), Jack Fox (P), Scott Daly (LS)
RS: Godwin Igwebuike (KR), Kalif Raymond (PR)
#30: New York Jets
Week 10 vs. BUF: L, 17-45 | Record: 2-7
Previous Rank: #30
In Week 8, Mike White was the surprise of the NFL after throwing for 405 yards and three touchdowns in an upset win over the Bengals. Unfortunately, this is the Jets. They can have no nice things. White turned into a pumpkin as he completed 24 of 44 passes for 251 yards, no touchdowns, and four interceptions before his late injury that gave way to Joe Flacco. This performance was one that quiets any talk of keeping Zach Wilson sidelined any longer than necessary. There was speculation that the Jets considered sticking with White once Wilson returns from injury. But this disaster ends that talk, and White admitted to reporters that his days as the starting QB may be numbered. “I’ll support him, just like I did in the first couple of games of the season,” he said. “He’s a good kid. I want him to do well. Whatever my job is, I’m going to do it to the best of my ability, 100 percent.” The 45-17 loss was another terrible day for Robert Saleh’s defense, delivering the worst four-game stretch in franchise history. How bad? They are the first team to allow at least 45 points three times in a four-game span since the 1966 Giants. General manager Joe Douglas has a lot of work to do to get this team back to respectability, but there are serious needs to the defense which has to be at the top of his priority list.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Joe Flacco
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: Javelin Guidry (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: Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 10 @ IND: L, 17-23 | Record: 2-7
Previous Rank: #28
In Week 9, the Jaguars stunned the Bills in what was their high point of their season. Back to reality they go. It’s been a long season for Trevor Lawrence, and this game was no different. The first overall pick of the 2021 Draft completed less than half of his pass attempts for 162 yards and a passer rating of 59.5. While they didn’t get a win, Urban Meyer showed more evidence that he has stabilized the Jags after what happened in the first half of last season. Despite falling behind 17-0, they fought back and were in a position to win until Lawrence lost a fumble in the final minutes. The defense is improving, but they still need to add pieces during the offseason. More often than not, Lawrence is getting left on an island, even if he admitted he didn’t play all that well. It feels as if he is in a position to fail. Whether it be the play calling, his receivers, or the offensive line in front of him, the team as a whole isn’t putting together a complete effort. That would result in Lawrence pressing, and the results go as bad as you expect. They tend to constantly get in their own way when they are not utilizing James Robinson properly.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Trevor Lawrence
RB: James Robinson
WR: Marvin Jones Jr., Laviska Shenault Jr., Jamal Agnew
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
#28: Miami Dolphins
Week 10 vs. BAL: W, 22-10 | Record: 3-7
Previous Rank: #29
The Dolphins needed this win. Brian Flores needed this win. Tua needed this win. Even if they are one of the biggest disappointments of this season, with two wins in the first nine games, they responded in kind against a two-loss Ravens team in Week 10 on Thursday Night Football. This game was strange given that they made a QB change, switching out Jacoby Brissett for... Tua Tagovailoa. While Tua has been in this position before in the 2018 National Championship when playing for the Alabama Crimson Tide in their comeback win over the Georgia Bulldogs, this is not the same situation. Even so, he admitted it wasn’t easy to enter a contest mid-game. “I think it’s tough coming into a game, second half,” said Tua. “You’ve got to warm up, you’ve got to get your head back into the mindset of going in and playing, but that’s the NFL. You’ve got to be ready at any time.” This game was silly and memorable at the same time, for reasons beyond right guard Robert Hunt’s case for the greatest touchdown in NFL history that didn’t count. Give credit to Flores and defensive coordinator Josh Boyer for developing a high-risk, high-reward gameplan to stop Lamar Jackson in his tracks. The high-flying Ravens offense, coming off a 500-yard performance against the Vikings, didn’t score a touchdown until four minutes remaining in the game. This was a coaching masterpiece for the Fins. However, the lack of consistency from this season keeps many skeptical of this outcome. Aggressive defense and efficient play from Tua gave this team a great chance to get some wins with an upcoming schedule against the Jets (twice), Panthers, and Giants.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Tua Tagovailoa
RB: Myles Gaskin
WR: DeVante Parker, Mack Hollins, Albert Wilson
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
#27: Chicago Bears
Week 10 Bye | Record: 3-6
Previous Rank: #25
It’s getting increasingly obvious that the Bears will not make the playoffs this season. The rest of the year will be about building for the future than winning. The biggest part of the future is getting reps for Justin Fields. He has a lot of improving to do, but as each week goes on, Fields is looking like he is the right choice for them at QB. Defensively, they have disappointed after a fast start, but it’s not all bad news for them. They are continuing to get superstar play from Roquan Smith, who has established himself as one of the best off-ball linebackers in the league. He was a menace in Week 9 against the Steelers, with 12 tackles and one sack during the “loss.” He has 93 tackles on the season so far, tied with Bobby Wagner for the most in the league. Khalil Mack has been the face of the defense ever since he arrived, but he’s not the best player on the Bears’ defense anymore. They spent the bye week helping Fields feeling his way better as a rookie passer and runner. The defense has to get healthy and effective to its level too. The question is if the team trusts Matt Nagy to continue leading the franchise should they finish .500 or worse for a 3rd straight year.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Justin Fields
RB: David Montgomery
WR: Darnell Mooney, Marquise Goodwin
TE: Cole Kmet, Jimmy Graham
OL: Jason Peters (LT), Cody Whitehair (LG), Sam Mustipher (C), James Daniels (RG), Larry Borom (RT)
DL: Angelo Blackson (LDE), Eddie Goldman (NT), Bilal Nichols (RDE)
EDGE: Cassius Marsh (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
#26: Atlanta Falcons
Week 10 @ DAL: L, 3-43 | Record: 4-5
Previous Rank: #20
So much for thinking that the Falcons were a surging team. In Week 9, the Falcons got their most impressive win of the season, taking down the Saints to get back to .500 for the year. That win felt like it was a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. The Falcons were dominated in about every way possible against the Cowboys. Atlanta managed just 214 yards, while allowing over twice than that (431) to the Cowboys. Matt Ryan had an absolutely miserable day, with just 9 completions out of his 21 attempts for 117 yards and a pair of interceptions. It was a forgettable performance in every aspect, and a reminder of their limitations. “We were outcoached and outplayed,” said head coach Arthur Smith. Even worse, Cordarrelle Patterson exited with an ankle injury, and the Cowboys scored four consecutive touchdowns in the 2nd quarter to take a 36-3 lead by halftime. The loss was demoralizing as it gets, but just when you think it can’t get worse, it does. They face the surging Patriots on Thursday Night Football. The reality is that they are not good enough to be a threat in the playoffs, but they’re also not bad enough to land a top 5 or even a top 10 pick in the 2022 Draft. This is a team stuck in mediocrity, and once you get there, it’s tough to get out of there.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Matt Ryan
RB: Mike Davis
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: Dante Fowler Jr. (WLB), Adetokunbo Ogundeji (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: Avery Williams
#25: Washington Football Team
Week 10 vs. TB: W, 29-19 | Record: 3-6
Previous Rank: #27
Not a lot has gone right for Washington this season. The defense has been massively disappointing, and entering their game against the Buccaneers, they lost four in a row and five of their last six. One win over the defending Super Bowl champions is not going to magically fix all the problems. But this game is easily Washington’s highest point of their season. Taylor Heinicke outplayed Tom Brady, throwing for 256 yards with a passer rating of 110.4. The defense allowed just 273 yards and picked off Brady twice. The offense closed the game with one of the most impressive drives by any team this season—Heinicke led Washington to a 19-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that bled more than 10 minutes in the final quarter, removing any chance of Brady to lead a comeback. This was the version of Washington that Ron Rivera believed he was going to see. However, the win came at a steep price. The reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young left the game with a torn ACL and is out for the season. This is a big blow to the defense since, even if he wasn’t playing as well as expected, he is still their most important piece. That’s the kind of season it has been for Washington. Even when they win, they still lose.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Taylor Heinicke
RB: Antonio Gibson
WR: Terry McLaurin, Dynami Brown, Adam Humphries
TE: John Bates
OL: Charles Leno Jr. (LT), Ereck Flowers (LG), Tyler Larsen (C), Brandon Scherff (RG), Sam Cosmi (RT)
DE: James Smith-Williams (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
#24: New York Giants
Week 10 Bye | Record: 3-6
Previous Rank: #24
When we last saw the Giants, they earned arguably the biggest win of their season: A seven-point win over the Raiders that gave them two wins in their last three games. It gave them momentum heading into the bye week. And Joe Judge indicated that they hope to have more coming off the bye week in the form of the returns of Saquon Barkley and Andrew Thomas. In other words, injuries have been the story of the 2021 Giants, with critical players on offense sidelined for large portions of the season. Barkley and Sterling Shepard, Kenny Golladay, and Darius Slayton have been sidelined for three or more games. Kadarius Toney missed two games. The injury bug has interfered with the evaluation of Daniel Jones as the seat may be getting warm on Jason Garrett, who doesn’t need additional barriers in his way. Getting them back won’t necessarily fix the Giants’ issues. But part of their struggles have came from an offense riddled with injuries. Jones is going to need all the help he can get. Their first game back from their bye is a Monday Night showdown with the defending Super Bowl champions. Not-so-fun fact: Jones is the first QB in NFL history to start 0-7 in primetime games in an NFL career.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Daniel Jones
RB: Saquon Barkley
WR: Kenny Golladay, Darius Slayton, Kadarius Toney
TE: Evan Engram
OL: Andrew Thomas (LT), Matt Skura (LG), Billy Price (C), Will Hernandez (RG), Nate Solder (RT)
DL: Dexter Lawrence (LDE), Austin Johnson (NT), Leonard Williams (RDE)
EDGE: Quincy Roche (WLB), Azeez Ojulari (SLB)
ILB: Tae Crowder (LILB), Reggie Ragland (RILB)
CB: James Bradberry (LCB), Adoree’ Jackson (RCB)
S: Xavier McKinney (SS), Julian Love (FS)
ST: Graham Gano (K), Riley Dixon (P), Casey Kreiter (LS)
RS: Kadarius Toney (KR), Adoree’ Jackson (PR)
#23: Seattle Seahawks
Week 10 @ GB: L, 0-17 | Record: 3-6
Previous Rank: #19
In the span of a 10-year career that is likely going to end with a Hall of Fame induction, Russell Wilson has started in 150 games. His 150th start is the first time where the Seahawks have been blanked on the scoreboard. In his first game back since breaking a finger on his throwing hand against the Rams in Week 5, his return did not go as planned, as he looked like a shell of himself, posting a 39.7 passer rating, his 4th-lowest of his career, as the offense wasted a strong performance from an improving defense that held Aaron Rodgers to three points in the first three quarters. When speaking to reporters after the loss, Pete Carroll didn’t believe the injury played a role in the offensive struggles. “There was a couple high throws that got out,” said Carroll. “Pretty cold night and all that. Maybe that had something to do with it as you’re looking at it. I don’t think so. I’m not thinking that and Russ isn’t either.” Whatever the reason it may be, the Seahawks have lost four of their last five and they are well off pace in the NFC West. This Seahawks team might not be able to get it together, as they are on track to missing the playoffs for just the second time in Wilson’s career.
Week 11 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), Ethan Pocic (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)
#22: Denver Broncos
Week 10 vs. PHI: L, 13-30 | Record: 5-5
Previous Rank: #18
Ever since Vic Fangio took over as the Broncos’ head coach, they trailed at halftime 21 times. They came back to win just one of those games. They had their chances, but they could not generate offense. When they moved the ball, they had miscues, whether it be a Melvin Gordon fumble returned for a touchdown or a blocked field goal. Teddy Bridgewater had his worst game as a Bronco, with just one touchdown in five red zone trips and made absolutely no effort on tackling Darius Slay on the 83-yard fumble return for the touchdown that sealed their fate. When they tried to prove that their game against the Broncos was not a fluke, they responded with an uninspiring loss to the Eagles that showed just how far they remain from serious contention in the AFC. It was a bad look for the entire team on the way to their bye week, which frustrated Justin Simmons. “It [stinks], man,” he said. “We set ourselves up in prime position to hit this bye on a high streak. Go into the bye with a win and then close out our season pretty much with just divisional games with the exception of maybe two [against Detroit and Cincinnati]. We got to fix it. By no means is the season over.” They remain just a game behind the Chiefs in a crowded AFC West, but their win over the Cowboys looks more like a mirage than an indication of how good they are.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Teddy Bridgewater
RB: Melvin Gordon III
WR: Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick
TE: Noah Fant
OL: Garett Bolles (LT), Dalton Risner (LG), Lloyd Cushenberry III (C), Quinn Meinerz (RG), Bobby Massie (RT)
DL: Shelby Harris (LDE), Mike Purcell (NT), Dre’Mont Jones (RDE)
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
#21: Philadelphia Eagles
Week 10 @ DEN: W, 30-13 | Record: 4-5
Previous Rank: #26
The Eagles may have a winning formula. Recently, they leaned towards running the ball. Against the Broncos, they got 40 carries for 214 yards for an average of 5.4 yards per run. Jalen Hurts told reporters after the game it felt good for the team to dictate the game on a weekly basis. “It seems like we’re finding that groove,” said Hurts. “We’re making that progress that we want to make as a football team and as an offense. We want to go out there and be consistent in whatever way we decide to attack the defense. Whether it be running it 40 times, whatever it is, we want to be efficient as a football team and as an offense.” If they make a push for the playoffs, Slay’s fumble return for a touchdown to silence the fans at Mile High to get the Eagles to their fourth road win in six games. With Hurts improving under center, they have a chance to make noise if the defense continues to show up to make impact plays like we all saw from Big Play Slay. With this win, they have now won two of their last three. However, they are still two games under .500 and well off pace in the NFC East. But with five of their last seven games against teams currently with a losing record, if they keep playing like this, they can be on track to be in the wild card discussion in the NFC.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Jalen Hurts
RB: Miles Sanders
WR: DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins, Jalen Reagor
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: Davion Taylor (WLB), TJ Edwards (MLB), Genard Avery (SLB)
CB: Darius Slay Jr. (LCB), Steven Nelson (RCB)
S: K’Von Wallace (SS), Anthony Harris (FS)
ST: Jake Elliott (K), Arryn Siposs (P), Rick Lovato (FS)
RS: Jalen Reagor
#20: San Francisco 49ers
Week 10 vs. LAR: W, 31-10 | Record: 4-5
Previous Rank: #23
Good luck at figuring out this year’s 49ers. In Week 9, they had a listless loss to a shorthanded Cardinals team and looked to be miles away from being a playoff contender. Fast forward to Week 10, it’s a very different story. In must-win territory, Kyle Shanahan had his best game plan of the season, resulting in a blowout of division rival Rams that could be the turning point of one of the NFL’s most disappointing teams. Jimmy Garoppolo continued his recent string of strong play, missing on just four pass attempts, throwing two touchdown passes and posting a passer rating of 140. Deebo Samuel delivered another All-Pro performance for them, the ground game racked up 156 yards on the ground, and the defense put the clamps on the Rams’ high-octane offense, limiting the Rams to just 278 yards and just one touchdown, on the way to their first win at Levi’s Stadium in 393 days. It was a complete effort by the Niners, who needed a stellar night to reestablish themselves at a contender in the NFC playoff race. With three games against teams presently with a losing record, if they can keep this level of play and get four consecutive wins, these playoff aspirations may not be out of the question.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Jimmy Garoppolo
RB: Jeff Wilson Jr.
WR: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings
TE: George Kittle
OL: Trent Williams (LT), Laken Tomlinson (LG), Alex Mack (C), Daniel Brunskill (RG), Jaylon Moore (RT)
DE: Arik Armstead (LDE), Nick Bosa (RDE)
DT: Kentavius Street (LDT), DJ Jones (RDT)
LB: Fred Warner (LILB), Azeez Al-Shaair (RILB)
CB: Josh Norman (LCB), Emmanuel Moseley (RCB), K’Waun Williams (NB)
S: Jaquiski Tartt (SS), Jimmie Ward (FS)
ST: Robbie Gould (K), Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Taybor Pepper (LS)
RS: Trenton Cannon (KR), Brandon Aiyuk (PR)
#19: Las Vegas Raiders
Week 10 vs. KC: L, 14-41 | Record: 5-4
Previous Rank: #12
Is it happening again? Another year, another collapse? Their primetime match with the Chiefs was the perfect opportunity to wash off the stench from their loss to the Giants but also to take first place in the AFC West. It did not happen. Not even close to it. At all. They got blasted at home by the Chiefs, giving up 516 total yards and five Patrick Mahomes touchdown passes. The Raiders, on the other hand, had 82 total yards in the first half. This felt like a harbinger of doom. After the game, Derek Carr admitted to reporters that the hole early in the game was too much to climb out of. “We go tin a hole and against this team that’s hard,” said Carr. “They just play soft coverage. They get a big lead, play soft coverage, blitz here and there and make you throw in front. It’s a hard way to do it.” They may still be in the AFC West race, but this was the first of a three-game stretch that includes a home game with the Bengals and a road trip to Jerryworld to face the Cowboys. It’s also fair to wonder if the Raiders and the rest of the division had their chance to dethrone the Chiefs from their division crown... and blew it.
Week 11 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)
#18: Carolina Panthers
Week 10 @ ARZ: W, 34-10 | Record: 5-5
Previous Rank: #22
The Panthers are quite a hard team to figure out this season. There was their three-game winning streak to open the season. That was followed by a four-game skid. They entered Week 10 sitting at 4-5. Sam Darnold got injured. And now, in a plot twist... CAM NEWTON IS BACK IN CHARLOTTE! While he didn’t play much of a role in the surprise blowout win over a banged-up Cardinals team, having ran the ball three times and attempting four passes, two of them resulted in touchdowns. Christian McCaffrey is also back and continues to live in the second level of defenses. Life is good in the Queen City as the Panthers are back in the playoff race. There’s no guarantee that the Newton signing will pan out, Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said that Newton will work with the first-team offense, a sign that he will replace PJ Walker as the team starter against Washington in Week 11. This may seem weird considering the circumstances that led to him leaving the Panthers, but both Rhule and the Panthers’ front office deserve credit for putting the greater good ahead of pride. The NFC South is rather vulnerable, and at least a wild card spot should be the Panthers’ goal as they look to bounce back from an ugly skid.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Cam Newton
RB: Christian McCaffrey
WR: DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, Brandon Zylstra
TE: Ian Thomas
OL: Dennis Daley (LT), Michael Jordan (LG), Pat Elflein (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 (SLB)
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)
#17: Minnesota Vikings
Week 10 @ LAC: W, 27-20 | Record: 4-5
Previous Rank: #21
The theme of the Vikings this season has been the Minnesota sports stereotype: “Close, but never close enough.” In the first nine weeks of the season, they played seven games decided by one score. They were 2-5 in those games. Their trip to LA was also decided by one score. This time around, they sealed the deal. The offense needed a spark, as the attack was becoming increasingly conservative in recent weeks—Kirk Cousins repeatedly threw short of the sticks. It changed in this Week 10 match thanks to 294 passing yards and two touchdowns from Cousins, 118 total yards from Dalvin Cook, and Justin Jefferson with nine catches for 143 yards, including the crucial 27-yard catch late in the 4th to help the Vikings run out the clock and seal the W on the way to earning a seven-point win that got them within a game of .500 for the season. Per Next Gen Stats, Cousins was 5-for-6 for 114 yards when targeting Jefferson more than 10 yards downfield. They look to continue this against a surging Packers team right at their doorstep as they develop into NFC wild card hopefuls. Postgame, head coach Mike Zimmer talked about the resiliency of the team where every game has about gone down to the wire. “I told the team it takes a lot of courage to fight through adversity when everybody’s shooting arrows at you,” said Zimmer. “They came here to work and they fought like crazy all week, like they always have, and it finally paid off.”
Week 11 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), Garrett Bradbury (C), Oli Udoh (RG), Brian O’Neill (RT)
DE: Patrick Jones II (LDE), Everson Griffen (RDE)
DT: Armon Watts (LDT), Dalvin Tomlinson (RDT)
LB: Nick Vigil (WLB), Eric Kendricks (MLB), Anthony Barr (SLB)
CB: Cameron Dantzler (LCB), Bashaud Breeland (RCB)
S: Harrison Smith (SS), Xavier Woods (FS)
ST: Greg Joseph (K), Jordan Berry (P), Andrew DePaola (LS)
RS: Kene Nwangwu (KR), Dede Westbrook (PR)
#16: Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 10 vs. DET: Tie, 16-16 | Record: 5-3-1
Previous Rank: #13
When the Ravens were stunned by the Dolphins on Thursday Night Football, it gave the Steelers a golden opportunity to move to a tie for first place in the AFC North. All it needed was a win over the winless Lions. Well... even though they were forced to play without Ben Roethlisberger after he landed on the COVID list, they still don’t get a pass after a sloppy, mistake-filled game that included three turnovers and seven penalties. It’s a Steeler tradition dating back to the days of Chuck Noll: Playing down to their competition. Mason Rudolph and the rest of the Steelers drunkenly stumbled their way to a 16-16 tie. Pat Freiermuth fumbled near the Lions sideline with eight seconds left, denying any shot at a game-winning field goal. Even worse, the defense lost two of their biggest key pieces: Minkah Fitzpatrick tested positive for COVID, and TJ Watt injured his knee and hip during the game. While Fitzpatrick will certainly miss their upcoming Sunday Night game against the Chargers, Watt is week-to-week. However, Big Ben has been activated off the COVID list and will play during their primetime game against the Chargers. The Steelers are being challenged as of now. They need to start making statements as a potential playoff team. What happened to this defense, anyway?
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Ben Roethlisberger
RB: Najee Harris
WR: Diontae Johnson, James Washington, Chase Claypool
TE: Pat Freiermuth
OL: Dan Moore Jr. (LT), JC Hassenauer (LG), Kendrick Green (C), Trai Turner (RG), Chukwuma Okorafor (RT)
DL: Chris Wormley (LDE), Isaiah Buggs (NT), Cameron Heyward (RDE)
EDGE: Taco Charlton (WLB), Alex Highsmith (SLB)
ILB: Devin Bush Jr. (LILB), Joe Schobert (RILB)
CB: James Pierre (LCB), Cam Sutton (RCB)
S: Terrell Edmunds (SS), Tre Norwood (FS)
ST: Chris Boswell (K), Pressley Harvin III (P), Christian Kuntz (LS)
RS: Ray-Ray McCloud
#15: Cincinnati Bengals
Week 10 Bye | Record: 5-4
Previous Rank: #16
For most teams, a Week 10 bye is good for them—nine games played, and eight more after the off week. For the Bengals, it means getting back on track. After a 5-2 start that included an impressive win over the Ravens to get to first place in the AFC North, they have now lost two straight, with the latest loss against the rival Browns. One huge part of this is because of turnovers. Joe Burrow entered Week 10 tied for the league lead with 11 interceptions. However, you need to ask if those interceptions are really his fault. The answer would immediately be “yes” if he is making bad decisions. Interceptions have to be split into categories: Are they bad decisions? Are they inaccurate throws? Did someone not run their route correctly? Or did the defense make a good tip of the ball or a spectacular play to cause the interception to happen? Speaking of the defense, they were one of the best defenses for the first seven games of the season, but they fell apart in back-to-back losses to the Jets and Browns, giving up 75 points in the two losses, struggling to stop the run and the pass. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s future in Cincy depends on what happens the rest of the season. They need to find their early-season defensive mojo, as they get back to work starting with three straight games against teams with winning records.
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
#14: New Orleans Saints
Week 10 @ TEN: L, 21-23 | Record: 5-4
Previous Rank: #15
Who Dat Nation is getting anxious now. Two weeks after the Saints logged their biggest win of the season, upsetting the Buccaneers at the Superdome at the cost of Jameis Winston, they have not won ever since. Winston was not the only key player out for the Saints. Alvin Kamara also missed the game due to injury. While Mark Ingram had 108 total yards and Trevor Siemian threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns, they came up two points short. They are stuck playing close games because the offense can’t light it up and the defense can only do so much. Sean Payton was not a happy man after this game. It can be understandable because the Saints miss Wil Lutz badly. And it showed as Brian Johnson missed two extra points. Not only that, but a potential game-tying two-point conversion was foiled at the last minute, and the officials cost them seven points with a very questionable roughing the passer penalty. Give credit where credit is due, however, as they hung in tough against the best team in the AFC, on the road, with four key offensive players sidelined because of injuries. But it’s the result that matters, and they missed out on a golden opportunity to take the NFC South lead. It could be worse, because had Washington not upset the Buccaneers, the Saints would fall further off pace in the NFC South.
Week 11 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), Landon Young (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: Brett Maher (K), Blake Gillikin (P), Zach Wood (LS)
RS: Deonte Harris
#13: Indianapolis Colts
Week 10 vs. JAX: W, 23-17 | Record: 5-5
Previous Rank: #17
For just the second time in four seasons, the Colts started off slowly, losing four of their first five games. Just like their 2018 counterparts, the Colts rallied to win four of five to get back to .500 at the 10-game mark. For most of their hot streak, they relied on Jonathan Taylor, and this game was no different. He ran the ball 21 times for 116 yards and a touchdown against the Jaguars, pulling into a tie for the league rushing lead with Derrick Henry. They even got a turnover-free game from Carson Wentz, but this win over the Jags leaves more questions than answers. The offense struggled to get anything going after jumping to a 17-0 lead, and Wentz was making ill-advised throws that got the team beat against the Titans in Week 8. Wentz even admitted that this win wasn’t all that great. “It seems like we’ve been climbing out of this hole for a while now,” he said. “It wasn’t our best game, but a win’s a win.” While the Jags aren’t exactly a team that will make you pay, Wentz won’t be exactly as fortunate with games against the Bills and Buccaneers looming on the Colts’ doorstep. They are also three games back of the Titans in the AFC South and are in the thick of the wild card race. They have not won a game against teams with a winning record yet. If they don’t get a win in either one of the next two weeks, they’ll confirm their status as a middle-of-the-pack team. Interestingly, Taylor has ran for at least 100 yards in each of the Colts’ wins this season, but hasn’t in any of their losses. Correlation doesn’t equate to causation, but their effectiveness in winning has been behind one of the league’s best offensive lines. With a strong ground game and play from the front five, they can mask some of the inconsistencies from Wentz.
Week 11 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)
#12: Cleveland Browns
Week 10 @ NE: L, 7-45 | Record: 5-5
Previous Rank: #9
In Week 9, the Browns put up perhaps their most impressive win of the season when they blew out the Bengals in Cincinnati. Every piece of momentum they have built up in that game is gone, because it is now their turn to get blown out. It’s one of those games where the best thing to do for them is to burn the game tape. They drove the length of the field for a touchdown on their opening drive and then allowed 45 unanswered points. They were outgained 452 yards to 217 and converted just one 3rd down in the entire game. This should be telling that this year’s Browns are an inconsistent team incapable of putting together a stretch of good play. This game shows just that. It left players openly questioning the coaching staff’s ability to adjust after it was over. The defense gave up scoring drives covering 99, 95, 92, and 83 yards. Last place in an AFC North division full of underachievers is not where the Browns thought they would be. But just when you think it can’t get worse, it does. Baker Mayfield was already nursing a bad shoulder. Now add a knee injury to his list of injuries. However, when Kevin Stefanski spoke to reporters, he said that Mayfield would have came back had the score not been lopsided. “Baker’s a competitor,” said Stefanski. “[I] just didn’t feel it was the right thing to put him back out there.” It was ugly all around for the Browns that makes this team hard to believe they are a serious contender.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Baker Mayfield
RB: Nick Chubb
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: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (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
#11: Los Angeles Chargers
Week 10 vs. MIN: L, 20-27 | Record: 5-4
Previous Rank: #10
The Chargers are slipping. After a 4-1 start that saw them beat the Chiefs, Raiders, and Browns in successive weeks to get to first in the AFC West, they have dropped three of four games, including their most recent, a seven-point loss to the Vikings at SoFi Stadium. It was sloppy on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Justin Herbert threw for just 195 yards with a passer rating of 72.5. Defensively, they gave up 381 yards and 24 first downs. They haven’t really played a strong all-around game since their Week 4 win over the Raiders. The offense is slowing down after seemingly shaking the slump in their win over the Eagles, and the defense is flawed, especially against the run. This team is frustratingly inconsistent, especially on offense. The hit-or-miss nature of the offense puts the defense in a vulnerable position, as they continue to lose the time of possession battle on a week-by-week basis. This left the defense exhausted, as they gave up first downs on 2nd & 17 and 3rd & 20 on the final possession of the game.
Week 11 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: Joe Gaziano (LDL), Justin Jones (RDL)
EDGE: Joey Bosa (WLB), Uchenna Nwosu (SLB)
ILB: Drue Tranquill (LILB), Kenneth Murray Jr. (RILB)
CB: Chris Harris Jr. (LCB), Michael Davis (RCB), Asante Samuel Jr.
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)
#10: Baltimore Ravens
Week 10 @ MIA: L, 10-22 | Record: 6-3
Previous Rank: #6
Good luck figuring out the AFC this season. Especially the AFC North. Just when it appeared the Ravens established themselves as the best team in the division and possibly the conference, they laid an egg against the Dolphins. Lamar Jackson mixed in lows with highs during his start to his career, but it’s hard to remember him as frustrated as he was on Thursday Night Football. He and the Ravens offense were a mess in what was supposed to be a homecoming for him against the 30th-ranked defense. Brian Flores and the Dolphins defense sent all kinds of blitzes at Jackson, repeatedly putting the 4th-year QB in impossible situations. There’s going to be a lot made about the Fins making a playbook for how to shut down the Ravens. John Harbaugh put the blame on himself after the loss. “Hats off to the Dolphins,” he said. “They played a very good football game. Outcoached us, outplayed us, and won the football game. So bottom line is this falls squarely on me as the head coach. We were not prepared the way we need to be prepared. Our schemes weren’t up to snuff. And we weren’t prepared to execute the way we needed to. So that’s it. Not on one player. Our players played their hearts out. They worked hard all week. They did everything we could to be prepared, and just weren’t ready. That’s on me.” The stunning loss tightened up the division, but it could have been worse for them. The Steelers and Browns lost their respective games. With three of their next four games against the two teams, they need to get this loss washed off quickly. It’s either the passing game carrying them or the pass defense holding them back.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Tyler Huntley
RB: Latavius Murray
WR: Sammy Watkins, Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay
TE: Mark Andrews
OL: Alejandro Villanueva (LT), Ben Powers (LG), Bradley Bozeman (C), Kevin Zeitler (RG), Patrick Mekari (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), Brandon Stephens (FS)
ST: Justin Tucker (K), Sam Koch (P), Nick Moore (LS)
RS: Devin Duvernay
#9: Kansas City Chiefs
Week 10 vs. LV: W, 41-14 | Record: 6-5
Previous Rank: #14
Now THERE’S the Chiefs we all expected to see! After two months of turnover-prone offense and nonexistent defense, they finally looked like the two-time defending AFC champions we know. Patrick Mahomes and the offense got rolling against the Raiders, completing 35 of 50 passes for 406 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions. Travis Kelce and Darrel Williams both eclipsed 100 receiving yards, while Tyreek Hill had two touchdowns. Defensively, they allowed just 299 total yards and 14 points while forcing two turnovers and sacking Derek Carr twice. This was easily the Chiefs’ most impressive win of the season as they reclaim the top spot in the AFC West. Mahomes’ relentless playmaking ability wore down the Raiders in the second half and he sent a reminder to the rest of the NFL that he is still one of the best quarterbacks in the league. You would think it was just a matter of time until everything starts to click in KC. They have a lot of flaws on paper, but Mahomes and Andy Reid will be in the mix well into the new year. The question is if this was a one-off or a performance that is evidence of Mahomes and the Chiefs truly being back. It’s not going to take long to answer that question as we could get a possible Super Bowl preview when they host the white-hot Cowboys.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Patrick Mahomes II
RB: Clyde Edwards-Helaire
WR: Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Byron Pringle
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)
#8: New England Patriots
Week 10 vs. CLE: W, 45-7 | Record: 6-4
Previous Rank: #11
Mac Jones was the 5th quarterback taken in the 2021 NFL Draft. But 10 weeks into the season, there is little question that the former Alabama standout had the most success out of any rookie QB. He wasn’t the only reason the Patriots blasted the Browns at Gillette Stadium or even the biggest reason. But he has had an efficient game that he has more weeks than not this season, completing 19 of 23 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He looked fearless in the pocket, made accurate throws, showed his touch and anticipation, and picked apart a defense held together by Scotch tape. It almost feels as if the Empire is still around—they just took the year off in 2020. Two days before the game, Bill Belichick said that offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels didn’t “[have] any weaknesses as a coach.” McDaniels made a gameplan that resulted in six touchdowns in eight possessions. After a slow start to the season, Jones and the Patriots have pulled off four straight wins—five in six games—to get themselves into the AFC wild card conversation. In fact, as they have both games against the Bills yet to be played, the Pats could possibly contend for the AFC East title. They also have been in every game since losing to the Saints in Week 3 and could easily be better than 6-4. They’re playing at a highly competitive level with a return to the playoffs within reach.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Mac Jones
RB: Damien Harris
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), Chase Winovich (RDE)
DT: Lawrence Guy (LDT), Davon Godchaux (RDT)
LB: Matt Judon (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: Gunner Olszewski
#7: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 10 @ WSH: L, 19-29 | Record: 6-3
Previous Rank: #4
Uneasiness is growing in Tampa Bay. It’s not just that they have lost two straight games. It’s the way they lost in Week 10. Tom Brady was not interested in speaking to the media after the upset loss to Washington. It’s easy to know why. The Buccaneers got flat out outplayed on both sides of the ball. The offense managed just 273 yards. Brady could not find his groove, getting picked off twice and easily could have been picked off a third time. The defense allowed Washington to pick up almost a two-to-one edge in time of possession and convert 11 of 19 3rd downs, even giving up a 19-play, 80-yard drive that chewed up a lot of the 4th quarter, ending with a touchdown that prevented Brady from leading a game-winning drive. When Brady was speaking to reporters, he said what anyone who watched the game already knew—the Bucs did not play well at all. “Not a great day of football for us,” he said. “We just never really played on our terms. We played from behind the whole game, and they played a good game.” Bruce Arians did not mince words in what he said. “The stupidity has to go away if we’re going to go anywhere,” he said. “We’re a very dumb football team, and that’s a reflection on the coaches.” It was ugly for the defending Super Bowl champions. Even if it’s hardly panic time for the defending Super Bowl champions, this shows the Bucs are not invincible. Another deep playoff run is not a sure thing.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Tom Brady
RB: Leonard Fournette
WR: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Tyler Johnson
TE: Rob Gronkowski
OL: Donovan Smith (LT), Ali Marpet (LG), Ryan Jensen (C), Alex Cappa (RG), Tristan Wirfs (RT)
DL: Ndamukong Suh (LDE), Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (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
#6: Los Angeles Rams
Week 10 @ SF: L, 10-31 | Record: 7-3
Previous Rank: #3
It has been rough week so far for the Rams. It started with getting stunned by a Derrick Henry-less Titans team. Then their celebration on signing Odell Beckham Jr. was cut short when Robert Woods tore his ACL. Now they suffered their second consecutive crushing defeat—at the hands of the 49ers. While they won the publicity game with splashy moves to acquire Von Miller and OBJ, the slump on the field has stretched across back-to-back ugly primetime performances. Kyle Shanahan seemed to have made it a habit to outshine Sean McVay in the head-to-head matchup between the two NFC West rivals. Matt Stafford was let down by multiple dropped passes from his receivers in the Rams’ first game without Woods. Both Miller and OBJ were quiet in their first game with the Rams. It was a dilapidated effort on both sides of the ball. Stafford threw multiple interceptions. Again. With one getting returned for a touchdown. Again. The Rams barely even made an effort to run the ball and did next to nothing to slow down the Niners. It’s hardly time to panic, as they are 7-3 and a game behind the Cardinals, but getting outscored 59-26 in back-to-back primetime games is not good for a supposed Super Bowl contender. McVay has to do a lot of work over the bye week, especially with trips to Green Bay and Arizona looming large.
Week 12 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)
#5: Buffalo Bills
Week 10 @ NYJ: W, 45-17 | Record: 6-3
Previous Rank: #8
There wasn’t a more surprising result than the Jaguars beating the Bills 9-6 in Week 9. The Bills had another game against one of the NFL’s bottom feeders, but this time around, there would be no repeat of last week’s faceplant. They took all their anger out on the Jets, racking up 489 yards and drove the field at will—they had just seven 3rd downs all game. Josh Allen threw for 366 yards and two scores and had ample time to work from the pocket, reestablishing his connection with Stefon Diggs, who had just his second 100-yard day of the season. Defensively, they forced five Jets turnovers and didn’t allow them to strike paydirt until the game was way out of hand. This was the kind of performance we expected to see from the Bills against the Jags, and it sends them to the most intimidating part of their schedule with positive momentum. Their next six opponents are all .500 or better, including a pair of games against the Patriots that are just a half-game behind the AFC East race. We will also need more evidence that Brian Daboll and co. have successfully counteracted the gameplans stifling the attack.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Josh Allen
RB: Zack Moss
WR: Stefon Diggs, Emmanuel Sanders, Cole Beasley
TE: Dawson Knox
OL: Dion Dawkins (LT), Ike Boettger (LG), Mitch Morse (C), Cody Ford (RG), Daryl Williams (RT)
DE: Gregory Rousseau (LDE), Jerry Hughes (RDE)
DT: Harrison Phillips (LDT), Ed Oliver (RDT)
LB: Matt Milano (LILB), Tremaine Edmunds (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
#4: Arizona Cardinals
Week 10 vs. CAR: L, 10-34 | Record: 8-2
Previous Rank: #1
In some level, the Cardinals deserve a pass for their blowout loss to the Panthers. They were without Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins for a second straight game. It’s the right move, even though it may be painful for them in the short-term to keep both of them out of game action, and even if it means more ugly results like their 34-10 loss to the Panthers. Murray tried to play through a lingering shoulder injury last December and their playoff hopes imploded. Giving Murray’s ankle and Hopkins’ hamstring the necessary time to heal will help them in the long term as they try to make a deep playoff run. But a loss is a lot for them, and they didn’t just lose to the Panthers. They faceplanted. The game got out of hand very quickly, with the Cardinals turning the ball over on the first two drives—one on downs—and the Panthers converting both turnovers into touchdowns. “I thought we had a good week, so I was surprised with how we played,” said Kliff Kingsbury, who had no excuses when talking to reporters after the loss. “We’ve got to get some stuff cleaned up, no doubt. Start the game with a turnover, turnover on downs, bad call by me there.” Neither are expected to come back in Week 11 against the Seahawks. So, it’s likely that they could have another temporary setback, but who knows. However, with two division matchups in the next three games, they need to tighten things up in a hurry.
Week 11 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), Beau Brinkley (LS)
RS: Rondale Moore (KR), Christian Kirk (PR)
#3: Dallas Cowboys
Week 10 vs. ATL: W, 43-3 | Record: 7-3
Previous Rank: #7
Last week, the Cowboys were stunned at home by the Broncos. But they were the ones doing all the stunning in Week 10. Their blowout of the Falcons was a dominant performance from start to finish. They led 36-3 at halftime on the way to winning 43-3. While we have all expected Dak Prescott to lead the high-powered Cowboys offense to lead the charge offensively, it was the defense that was the most impressive part of their 6-2 start. Against the Falcons, they gave up just 214 total yards and three points. Rookie linebacker Micah Parsons continued to be a revelation, pacing the team with six tackles and his 6th sack of the season. Trevon Diggs continued showing his candidacy for Defensive Player of the Year with his league-leading 8th interception. Now they are 7-2 and lead the NFC East by four games. But given how far they have played, their sights are set higher than the division crown. The win, paired with the Cardinals’ loss to the Panthers, moves them one game out of the top spot in the NFC as they have a crucial part of their schedule coming up with games against the Chiefs, Raiders, and Saints in a 12-day span. But after watching them flatten the Falcons, it’s hard to dispute their legitimacy as a Super Bowl contender.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Dak Prescott
RB: Ezekiel Elliott
WR: CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, Cedrick Wilson
TE: Dalton Schultz
OL: Terence Steele (LT), Connor McGovern (LG), Tyler Biadasz (C), Zack Martin (RG), La’el Collins (RT)
DE: Tarell Basham (LDE), Micah Parsons (RDE)
DT: Osa Odighizuwa (LDT), Carlos Watkins (RDT)
LB: Leighton Vander Esch (LILB), Keanu Neal (RILB)
CB: Anthony Brown (LCB), Trevon Diggs (RCB), Jourdan Lewis (NB)
S: Jayron Kearse (SS), Damontae Kazee (FS)
ST: Greg Zuerlein (K), Bryan Anger (P), Jake McQuaide (LS)
RS: Tony Pollard (KR), CeeDee Lamb (PR)
#2: Tennessee Titans
Week 10 vs. NO: W, 23-21 | Record: 8-2
Previous Rank: #2
The Titans aren’t exactly racking up style points. But they keep racking up wins—they are the hottest team in the league. After they beat the Saints in Nashville, they have now pulled off six straight wins and are the top seed in the AFC. Make no mistake, it was a tough game. They had just 264 yards of offense, and in their second game without Derrick Henry, they had just 66 rushing yards on 29 carries. They are now the second team to win five straight games against opponents that made the playoffs in the previous season. The offense still is limited with Henry sidelined, but the Titans knows how to grind out wins with a defense that is improving week by week. Jeffery Simmons racked up two more on the sack sheet, giving him five in the past two weeks, and they made a key stop on the Saints’ two-point conversion in the final minute. It’s still fair to wonder how long they can keep this up with the lack of offense that has had the past couple of games. That won’t matter in their Week 11 match with the Texans, but who knows if the offense is going to bend or even break without Henry and Julio Jones. Don’t count the Titans out in the Super Bowl conversation, however. The Buccaneers are slumping, while the Titans beat the Rams AND Bills this season. The Packers and Cowboys deserve consideration, but they have experienced problems as of late too. With the Ravens losing too, the Titans are officially the team to beat in the AFC. Mike Vrabel should get more attention for the Coach of the Year talks. Their winning experience from the past two seasons is paying off big time.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Ryan Tannehill
RB: D’Onta Foreman
WR: AJ Brown, Marcus Johnson, Chester Rogers
TE: MyCole Pruitt
OL: Taylor Lewan (LT), Rodger Saffold III (LG), Ben Jones (C), Dillon Radunz (RG), David Quessenberry (RT)
DL: Jeffery Simmons (LDE), Teair Tart (NT), Denico Autry (RDE)
EDGE: Harold Landry (WLB), Ola Adeniyi (SLB)
ILB: Jayon Brown (LILB), Monty Rice (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: Green Bay Packers
Week 10 vs. SEA: W, 17-0 | Record: 8-2
Previous Rank: #5
It was a tumultuous couple of weeks for the Packers. There was much talk about Aaron Rodgers’ vaccination status. There was a listless loss to the Chiefs with Jordan Love under center. Then Rodgers came back for the showdown against Russell Wilson’s Seahawks. And the Packers are back to winning. Rodgers didn’t exactly go lights out, throwing for 292 yards and an interception. They were also hit by a significant injury when Aaron Jones left with a sprained MCL. But AJ Dillon stepped up with 66 yards on 21 carries with two touchdowns, and the defense did something that no other defense has done before—shut out a Wilson-led Seahawks team. It was an impressive shutout at the Frozen Tundra and have now held the Cardinals, Chiefs, and Seahawks to a combined 34 points in the last three games. While the win was short on style points, one can argue that the Packers are as good or better than any team in the NFC. As long as Rodgers remains on the lineup, the Packers will continue to win games. They have now won eight straight games when Rodgers lines up under center for them. While Jones’ MCL sprain hampers the offense slightly, Dillon fills in and can assume the role of ball-carrier and receiver out of the backfield. Plus, this defense is continuing to show improvement by the weeks. Their schedule stays tough with a match against the Vikings next up.
Week 11 Projected Starters
QB: Aaron Rodgers
RB: AJ Dillon
WR: Davante Adams, Randall Cobb, 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
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