NFL Power Rankings: Week 10

Chris Sitek·
Featured On KJHKSportsSports Articles

Week ten was highlighted by roads wins and a huge injury to a Hall-of-Famer. The most notable road win was the Patriots over the Giants. Trailing the Giants by two, New England manufactured a 12-play, 44-yard game-winning drive that was capped off by a 54-yard field goal courtesy of Stephen Gostkowski. This was one of 10 road wins in the NFL last week.

One of the most surprising losses was the Broncos getting rocked at home by the Chiefs, 29-13. Denver had an 11-game winning streak at home and has dominated the Chiefs in this matchup for three straight years. Kansas City was winless against any Peyton Manning-lead team since he joined Denver in 2012: until Sunday. The Chiefs defense went off recording five interceptions, tallying five sacks and providing constant pressure in the backfield all game. What’s worse for Denver? Peyton Manning has a partially torn plantar fascia. The Hall-of-Famer’s status for next week is doubtful.

The Detroit Lions picked up their second win of they years as they beat the Packers, 18-16. This was their first win in Green Bay in 24 games. Meanwhile Green Bay has lost three straight games and needs to regroup. Week 10 was filled with amazing plays but the one that stood out the most to myself was the “touchdown tirade” Panthers quarterback Cam Newton caused. With third and goal-to-go, Carolina turned to its quarterback for a touchdown: he delivered. Super Cam punched it in to break open the game, 27-10 over the Titans. Amidst Newton’s eccentric touchdown celebration, Titans linebacker Avery Williamson had enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikvfurwDxoQ

Two teams remain undefeated: The Patriots and Panthers

  1. New England Patriots (9-0): Clutch: Adj. In example: Stephon Gostkowski. The Patriots kicked delivered a game-winning 54-yard field goal to secure a 27-26 win over the Giants. The bad news, star receiver Julian Edelman suffered a broken foot injury and is out for the season.
  2. Carolina Panthers (9-0): Carolina has now won 13 straight regular-season games. The Panthers dismantled the Titans, 27-10 behind Cam Newton dominating. Newton passed for 184 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Carolina is in first place in the NFC South.
  3. Cincinnati Bengals (8-1): The Bengals got caged by the Texans as Houston handed Cincinnati their first loss of the season, 10-6 on Monday Night Football. This was largely due to Houston containing Bengal’s stars. Quarterback Andy Dalton was sacked three times and threw an interception. Running back Jeremy Hill rushed for only 15 yards and tight end Tyler Eifert caught just three for 26 yards.
  4. Arizona Cardinals (7-2): Three straight wins for Arizona. A big reason why is quarterback Carson Palmer. Palmer passed for 363 yards and three touchdowns in a 39-32 win over the Seahawks. Arizona is in first place in the NFC West.
  5. Minnesota Vikings (7-2): Adrian Peterson will not be denied. Certainly not by any Oakland defense. The Vikings running back rushed for 203 yards and a touchdown in a 30-14 win over the Raiders. Minnesota is in first place in the NFC North.
  6. Denver Broncos (7-2): Denver’s 29-13 loss to Kansas City was its first home loss in 11 games. Bronco’s quarterbacks were the biggest reason why throwing for five interceptions and getting sacked five times. Pair that with Peyton Manning’s partially torn plantar fascia and this team needs help real quick.
  7. Green Bay Packers (6-3): Three straight losses is rough, but losing to the Tigers at home might be the worse. Detroit snapped a 24-road game losing streak to Green Bay, as they topped the Packers, 18-16. Yes, the Packers scored only 16 points and they have Aaron Rodgers at quarterback: ouch.
  8. Atlanta Falcons (6-3): Bye-Week. Atlanta will face Indianapolis this Sunday.
  9. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4): Sometimes all a team needs is to play the Cleveland Browns at home to get back on track. The Steelers annihilated the Browns, 30-9 behind huge performances by Martavis Bryant and Antonio Brown. Bryant hauled in six catches for a career-high 178 yards and a touchdown. Brown hauled in 10 catches for 139 yards and a touchdown in the win.
  10. Buffalo Bills (5-4): Shady’s back. Back again. Shady’s back. Tell a friend. Bills LeSean McCoy dominated New York with a 159 all-purpose yards and a touchdown as the Bills beat the Jets, 22-17 on Thursday Night Football. Somewhere out there, Bills coach Rex Ryan is smiling after snagging a win against his former team.
  11. New York Giants (5-5): The Good News: The Giants played great against the Patriots, especially quarterback Eli Manning, who passed for 361 yards and two touchdowns. The Bad News: New York only rushed for 80 yards and still lost in heart-breaking fashion, 27-26.
  12. New York Jets (5-4): R.I.P Jets Offense. New York was sloppy with the ball throwing two interceptions, losing two fumbles and not recording a rushing touchdown in their 22-17 loss to the Bills. Changes to come.
  13. Oakland Raiders (4-5): The Raiders got a rude awakening to just how good Adrian Peterson can be. Oakland gave up 203 to “All Day” and got grounded all day as they gave up 263 total rush yards in a 30-14 loss to the Vikings.
  14. Seattle Seahawks (4-5): Seattle lacks an identity on offense and lacks a defense, period. Both these deficiencies lead to losses and guess what? They lost 39-32 to the Cardinals on Sunday Night Football. These deficiencies must be addressed moving forward starting with the fact that Marshawn Lynch only got eight rushes this game.
  15. Indianapolis Colts (4-4): Bye-Week. Indianapolis will face Atlanta this Sunday.
  16. Kansas City Chiefs (4-5): The Chiefs defense dominated the Broncos from the get-go forcing five interceptions and sacking Peyton Manning five times. Next up: a struggling Chargers squad.
  17. New Orleans Saints (5-5): New Orleans might have the worst defense I have seen since…. drum-roll…. the Saints defense of 2012. The Saints surrendered 514 yards in a 47-14 loss to the Redskins. Maybe Rob Ryan’s dismissal may help the team refocus on tackling.
  18. Philadelphia Eagles (4-5): Philadelphia struggled to run the football. The Eagles rushed for just 83 yards. Quarterback Sam Bradford was knocked out the game and so were the Eagles in a close one, losing 20-19 to the Dolphins.
  19. Chicago Bears (4-5): Back-to-back road wins for the Bears. A big reason why is the emergence of rookie running back Jeremy Langford. The Michigan State alum shredded the Rams defense for 182 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns as the Bears romped the Rams, 37-13.
  20. Miami Dolphins (4-5): Huge road win for the Dolphins through a solid performance by Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill passed for 217 yards and two touchdowns while Miami’s defense silenced the Eagles holding them to just 83 yards rushing and recording four sacks.
  21. Houston Texans (4-5): Sometimes all you need is a touchdown to change your season. Houston’s lone score to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins proved to be the difference as the Texans upset the Bengals, 10-6 on Monday Night Football. Their defense shutdown the mighty Bengals offense sacking Andy Dalton three times and picking him off as well in the win.
  22. Washington Redskins (4-5): Kirk Cousins made a statement against the Saints. Cousins passed for 324 yards, four touchdowns and had a near perfect quarterback rating in the Redskins 47-14 thrashing of the Saints. Cousin’s game ball went to his Father, who is battling cancer.
  23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5): Rookie quarterback Jameis “Famous” Winston’s rush touchdown turned out to be the difference as the Bucs beat the Cowboys, 10-6. Tampa Bay’s defense was outstanding recording an interception, three sacks and holding to Dallas to just 42 yards rushing.
  24. St. Louis Rams (4-5): Warning: while watching the Rams offense, one may experience light migraines because St. Louis is anemic. The Rams rushed for just 94 total yards while Rams quarterback Nick Foles proved, he is still not a stating quarterback throwing for no touchdowns and an interception in the 37-13 drubbing to the Bears. Enter Case Keenum for the win.
  25. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-6): The Jaguars picked up their first win on the road, 22-20 over the Ravens behind Blake Bortles solid afternoon. Bortles passed for 188 yards and two touchdowns. While the Jaguars defense picked off Joe Flacco twice, forced two fumbles and recorded a sack in the win.
  26. San Francisco 49ers (3-6): Bye-Week. San Francisco will face Seattle this Sunday.
  27. Tennessee Titans (2-7): Not to be offensive, but the Titans struggle offensively. The Titans rushed only 64 yards while their defense surrendered 119 and a touchdown to the Panthers. Tennessee lost to Carolina, 27-10.
  28. Dallas Cowboys (2-7): The Cowboys mustered up 216 yards of offense. 16 different quarterbacks had more passing yards in week 10 than Dallas had the entire game. Ouch. Dallas fell 10-6 to Tampa Bay. Tony Romo’s return should help the offense tremendously.
  29. Cleveland Browns (2-8): I said it before and I’ll say it again. Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel has the potential to do well in the NFL. Just not for the Browns where quarterback’s dreams go to die. Browns lost 30-9 to the Steelers.
  30. San Diego Chargers (2-7): Bye-Week. San Diego will face Kansas City this Sunday.
  31. Detroit Lions (2-7): Winning feels good; right Detroit? The Lions snapped a 24-game losing streak in Lambeau Field as they beat the Packers, 18-16. Quarterback Matthew Stafford passed for 242 yards and two touchdowns in the win.
  32. Baltimore Ravens (2-7): The Ravens offensive woes continue this time due to turnovers: two fumbles and two interceptions in a 22-20 loss to the lowly Jaguars. Joe Flacco is not an elite quarterback.