The contest is over! The Oscar for the best picture goes to Week 10 of the 2023 NFL season.
I mean, five games — FIVE! — ended on a game-winning field goal. That’s the most ever for a single NFL Sunday, take a bow – league. That was a heart-stopping drama of a day that won’t be repeated.
Buckle up. The playoff race and even the Caleb Williams sweepstakes are going down to the wire. With that, let’s dive into the Week 11 power rankings.
32. Carolina Panthers (31)
The Panthers had a very winnable game against a lousy Chicago Bears team without Justin Fields…and they still put up an uninspiring effort in a 16-13 loss.
Stability matters, but you can’t help but wonder if owner David Tepper is already thinking about another head coach and/or GM change. This team somehow looks miles worse without Matt Rhule — and that’s saying something.
31. New England Patriots (29)
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Somehow, the Patriots keep finding a way to hit rock bottom at a more severe level than the previous week.
In Sunday’s 10-6 loss to the Colts, we saw Mac Jones miss an easy go-ahead TD pass that resulted in an interception, Bill O’Brien freak out at his QB and Bill Belichick look like a person that’s truly out of answers.
Other than that, we suppose things aren’t so bad for this once-proud organization…
30. New York Giants (28)
Look, we get that the G-Men were down to a third-stringer. But the amount of ugly blowout losses at the NFL level is inexcusable. One week after a 30-6 loss to the Raiders, the Giants were crushed 49-17 by the Cowboys.
A league-worst minus-148 point differential is truly mind-boggling at this point.
29. Arizona Cardinals (32)
Welcome back, Kyler Murray.
The first overall pick of 2019 returned to the field for the first time in 11 months and looked like vintage Kyler Murray against the Falcons — leading the Redbirds to a thrilling last-second 25-23 win.
If Murray plays like this the rest of the way, the Redbirds will be out of the Caleb Williams sweepstakes — meaning Murray will have cemented himself as “the guy” in Arizona.
28. Chicago Bears (30)
In a yawn-fest of a Thursday night game, the Bears outlasted the Panthers 16-13 to pick up win No. 3 on the year.
Chicago is 3-and-3 since starting out 0-and-4 — and the D is showing vast improvement after finishing dead-last in scoring a year ago.
But with the Lions, Vikings, Lions and Browns making up Chicago’s next four contests, Matt Eberflus and company will really need to bring their A-game. Hopefully they have Justin Fields back by then. They’re gonna need him.
27. Tennessee Titans (25)
What a letdown that was. After two straight quality starts by Will Levis to begin his career, the Titans put up a stinker in Tampa and lost to a Bucs team that had lost four in a row.
Just how bad was it? Derrick Henry was held to 24 rushing yards on 11 carries. Tennessee averaged a woeful 3.5 yards per carry in a 20-6 defeat. Things don’t get any easier with the Jaguars next on the schedule.
26. Los Angeles Rams (27)
Losers of three straight, the Rams were on a much-needed bye week — giving Matt Stafford additional time to rest up his thumb injury.
The playoffs are a long shot at this point, but LA can embrace the spoiler role with several playoff contenders on their schedule — starting with the Seahawks this Sunday.
25. Green Bay Packers (24)
Jordan Love made phenomenal big-time plays in Acrisure Stadium, but also a couple of mind-numbing mistakes. The result was a 23-19 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a defensive slugfest.
At this point, the Packers are who they are. A mediocre team in transition with a ceiling of seven-to-eight wins. Like the Rams, they may as well try to embrace the spoiler role at this point. The focus remains on developing Love into a franchise QB.
24. Atlanta Falcons (23)
The good news: Arthur Smith remembered that he has Bijan Robinson and fed him the ball aplenty. The bad news: The rest of the Falcons offense struggled mightily in Sunday’s 25-23 road loss to Arizona.
Atlanta has now dropped three in a row and six of their last eight. Gotta wonder if Arthur Blank is mulling a mid-season coaching change to try and salvage the season. On the bright side, Atlanta remains just one game out of first in the hapless NFC South.
23. Washington Commanders (22)
The agents of chaos struck again.
Sam Howell had 312 passing yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions in Seattle. But the Commanders defense also didn’t stop a nosebleed in the second half — and the result was a last-second 29-26 loss to the likely playoff-bound Seahawks.
The Commanders are fun to watch because they score a ton of points. But their defense is tough to watch because they can’t make a stinkin’ stop. Now at 4-6, we wouldn’t be surprised if Ron Rivera was shown the door before the calendar flips to December….
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (26)
Great week for the Bucs!
Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans went off in Sunday’s demolishing of the Titans. The Saints and Falcons also lost, putting Tampa just half a game out of first in the hapless NFC South.
Way to take advantage of a soft opponent and all, but the Bucs are gonna have to play near-perfect football if they’re to upset the 49ers on the road this week.
21. New York Jets (18)
Just another disheartening loss for the Jets. The defense was excellent in Las Vegas, but Zach Wilson and the offense did practically zilch in Sunday night’s 16-12 loss to the Raiders.
We love Robert Saleh as a coach — but his loyalty to Wilson is mind-boggling. Wilson is wasting an elite defense and the talents of Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson. Aaron Rodgers’ hopeful miraculous return is all the hope this team has now….
20. Los Angeles Chargers (16)
Did you really think the Chargers would win a close game against an elite team? Of course not. It’s the Chargers — with one of football’s most helpless defenses, by the way.
At 4-and-5, the Chargers aren’t quite out of the playoff race — but it’s hard to envision them outlasting the other contenders in the AFC with this defense — and with its current head coach.
Justin Herbert deserves so much better.
19. Indianapolis Colts (21)
The Colts gutted out an ugly 10-6 win over the Patriots in Frankfurt to get back to .500.
It’s simply admirable what Shane Steichen has done without Anthony Richardson for most of the year — and Gardner Minshew still looks like a guy who should, ahem, be a starter for a team like Atlanta, the Giants or the Jets.
With a super-friendly schedule the rest of the way, double-digit wins isn’t out of the question for Steichen and company.
18. New Orleans Saints (13)
Has there been a more frustrating team than the Saints? One of football’s easiest schedules, residents of football’s worst division, a top-10 defense, a deep set of playmakers … .and that has culminated in a 5-5 record through 10 games?! Holy underachievement, Batman!
The Saints D had no answer for Josh Dobbs, and the offense didn’t get going until Jameis Winston relieved an injured Derek Carr. Might a QB controversy be brewing in the Big Easy? We’ll soon find out.
17. Buffalo Bills (12)
Buffalo handed Monday night’s game to Denver on a silver platter. Unbelievable. Full on just gave it away the way the Seahawks did to the Patriots in Super Bowl 49.
And so, they’re 5-and-5 with seven games to go, and look at the gauntlet of their schedule. The postseason already feels like a long shot at this point.
16. Denver Broncos (19)
Tell your friends, tell your neighbors!
The once-0-and-3 Broncos are suddenly 4-and-5 after a heart pounding last-second road win over the Buffalo Bills. 15 days after they stunned the Chiefs, no less!
Just like that, the team that gave up a 70-burger to Miami some time ago is one game out of the final playoff spot in the AFC! SO THIS is why the Broncos hired Sean Payton! IT all makes sense now.
15. Las Vegas Raiders (20)
Hey look! The Raiders are starting to figure it out. I guess a much-needed coaching change was all they needed to get going again.
Antonio Pierce has been a blessing of an interim HC for the Raiders — captaining them to a 2-0 start under his guidance. But there’s little time to celebrate, with Miami, KC and Minny making up the Raiders’ next three games.
It’s go-time in Sin City.
14. Houston Texans (17)
Woah, mama! CJ Stroud is cooking!
One week after a 470-yard, 5-TD outing against the Bucs, Stroud went off for 356 yards and a TD in Cincinnati — leading his Texans to a stunning 30-27 road win over Joe Burrow and the Bengals. Stroud is playing like an MVP candidate – and he’s a rookie. DeMeco Ryans for Coach of the Year, anyone? Let’s see if they can
13. Pittsburgh Steelers (15)
Are the Steelers well-coached or just purely lucky? They’ve been outgained in yards every game this season yet sit at 6-3. We suppose both can be true.
It’s amazing how Mike Tomlin is squeezing wins out of a team that’s averaging a mere 17.3 points per game. With the Ravens and Bengals both losing on Sunday — Pittsburgh has a realistic path to its first division title in three years.
Road games in Cleveland and Cincinnati are next on the schedule. Time for the offense to carry some of the load and help out the defense for once.
12. Minnesota Vikings (14)
These Vikings are becoming the ultimate feel-good story, huh? After starting out 1-4, they’ve rallied with five straight W’s — the last two coming under trade deadline pickup Josh Dobbs.
And this is without superstar wideout Justin Jefferson during the win streak. Minny already feels like a virtual lock to make the postseason. Jefferson’s looming return — coupled with a soft schedule over the next three weeks — bodes very well for Kevin O’Connell and company.
11. Cincinnati Bengals (5)
What a letdown in the Jungle. Wow.
Cincy was rolling with four straight W’s heading into Sunday’s clash with the Texans. But Lou Anarumo’s D got cooked by CJ Stroud, and Joe Burrow made very uncharacteristic mistakes in a tough 30-27 loss.
The Ravens, Steelers and Jaguars are next on the schedule. Sloppy performances like what we saw against Houston could quickly sink a team in football’s toughest division. It’s put up or shut up time for Zac Taylor and company.
10. Seattle Seahawks (11)
It wasn’t pretty, but the Seahawks just-barely outlasted the Commanders at home to keep pace with the 49ers for tops in the NFC West.
We are growing worried about a defense that’s struggling to contain anyone, but the talent level there has us optimistic that Pete Carroll and company will figure it out. For now, the ‘Hawks gotta focus on avoiding a season-series sweep at the hands of the Rams.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars (4)
We don’t wanna critique the Jaguars too much. Facing an angry and healthy 49ers team — coming off its bye week and three straight losses — is as tough a challenge as it gets.
Trevor Lawrence and company will win the AFC South, but Sunday’s loss to San Fran was a big blow for a team trying to win the conference’s top seed. Next on the schedule, a get-right game against the Titans.
8. San Francisco 49ers (10)
There it is — the REAL 49ers. What a terrific bounce-back effort by Kyle Shanahan’s squad following three straight losses.
A 49ers team at full strength is as dangerous as anybody — as we saw in Duval County on Sunday. After hosting Tampa on Sunday, they get the Seahawks and Eagles in back-to-back weeks on the road. Giddy up!
7. Miami Dolphins (7)
Miami’s bye week came at a good time following their Week 9 loss to the Chiefs. They need to figure out their defensive issues and, for once, learn how to beat a team with a winning record!
On a positive note, look at their next five games: Not one team with a winning record. The AFC’s top seed and lone first-round bye is certainly not out of reach.
6. Baltimore Ravens (2)
The Ravens will be kicking themselves for squandering another double-digit lead at home — this time to the rival Browns. It’s become a concerning trend under John Harbaugh, which is mind-boggling given how stingy their defense is.
We don’t want to overreact to one bad loss, but is this team really built to outlast the other AFC juggernauts? Not if they can’t close out games. If only Lamar Jackson and the passing game could find some consistency for once.
5. Cleveland Browns (9)
Statement win by the Browns, who pulled off a thrilling comeback win over the Ravens. Finally, Deshaun Watson looked like the franchise QB the Browns traded and paid for.
At 6-3, the Browns are arguably the best of a crowded bunch in the gauntlet that is the AFC North. The hustle doesn’t end, with the Steelers coming to town this Sunday.
4. Dallas Cowboys (8)
Dak Prescott and the offense just keeps on rolling. That humiliating Week 5 loss to the 49ers feels like a lifetime ago now, doesn’t it?
Prescott and the Cowboy are a virtual playoff lock at 6-and-3. But as always, the real question is if they’ll actually show up in the postseason. 8-and-3 is a practical guarantee with Carolina and Washington next on the schedule.
3. Detroit Lions (6)
These aren’t the same-old Lions, in case you needed a reminder. The Lions of the old would have blown a close game like that, but Dan Campbell instead went into all-out aggressive mode all game long and led his squad to a thrilling 41-38 road win in La La Land.
Everything’s coming together for the Lions — who are on the path to their first division title in 30 years.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (3)
The Chiefs enjoyed a bye week following their win over the Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt. They’re still atop the AFC with a 7-2 record and surely celebrated the Ravens and Jaguars Week 10 home losses.
Long way to go, but it already feels like the road to Super Bowl 59 will run through Kansas City. The more that stays the same…
1. Philadelphia Eagles (1)
Football’s best team was also on a bye week. They’ll have had a full two weeks to get ready for their highly-anticipated Super Bowl 58 rematch with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
A win in KC will cement the Eagles as the team to beat the rest of the way. Get your popcorn ready and giddy up for what should, quite literally, be one of the greatest regular season games ever.
What changes would you make to our Week 11 power rankings?
