32. Detroit Lions, 0-7 ( - )
Another competitive game against a top team and another step toward the No. 1 overall draft pick.
31. Houston Texans, 1-6 ( - )
The Arizona Cardinals ran roughshod and the Los Angeles Rams are next.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1-5 ( - )
The Jaguars have had a bye week to prepare for the reeling Seattle Seahawks, could a Jaguars win streak?
29. New York Jets, 1-5 ( - )
Listen, Joe Flacco is not the answer.
28. Miami Dolphins, 1-6 ( - )
Tua Tagovailoa isn’t the answer either...
27. Carolina Panthers, 3-4 (-12)
The biggest drop in the power rankings this season due to a four-game losing streak that includes the next two teams on this list.
26. Philadelphia Eagles, 2-5 (-1)
The futility bowl against the Detroit Lions is going to be one for the ages.
25. New York Giants, 2-5 (-1)
Are the Giants better than I think or are the Panthers just terrible? Maybe a little bit of both.
24. Denver Broncos, 3-4 (-6)
The Broncos four-game losing streak doesn’t look as bad as the Panthers, but it’s still a four-game losing streak.
23. Atlanta Falcons, 3-3 (+4)
The Falcons seem to have found the secret sauce on offense against the Jets and Dolphins, and this week’s game against the Panthers should provide more of the same.
22. Chicago Bears, 3-4 (+2)
The Bears have not found the secret sauce to offense. They should find a way to get the ball out of Justin Fields’ hands a little bit sooner.
21. Washington Football Team, 2-5 ( - )
This should be one of the best teams in the NFL, but they are in total disarray.
20. Minnesota Vikings, 3-3 (+3)
The Vikings are on a two game winning streak, but the Dallas Cowboys are not the Lions or the Panthers.
19. New England Patriots, 3-4 (-1)
The Patriots bullied the Jets, but the Los Angeles Chargers aren’t going to be such a pushover.
18. San Francisco 49ers, 2-4 (-4)
The Niners four-game losing streak has included some of the best in the NFL, but that doesn’t absolve a team that was supposed to be among those best.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers, 3-3 (+2)
This week’s game against the Cleveland Browns will be a good test for a team that has been feast and famine this season.
16. Seattle Seahawks, 2-5 (-3)
Getting Russell Wilson back is only the beginning of what needs to happen for this team to get back on track.
15. Indianapolis Colts, 3-4 (+7)
Any win in the NFL is impressive, but the Colts shouldn’t feel too great about beating the Dolphins, Texans and Niners. The Titans will not lay down so easily, and the Colts will need to be at their best.
14. Las Vegas Raiders, 5-2 (+1)
The Raiders two-game losing streak and loss of Jon Gruden seem like distant memories.
13. Kansas City Chiefs, 3-4 (-4)
The eighth-best offense in the NFL can’t cover for one of the worst defenses, and the magic of Mahomes seems to have worn out.
12. New Orleans Saints, 4-2 (+4)
Maybe the most enigmatic team in the NFL with losses to the Giants(!) and the Panthers (!) but a win against (among others) the Packers. The Buccaneers and Titans are going to be tougher tests coming up.
11. Cleveland Browns, 4-3 (-1)
Like some other teams on this list, the Browns have been great against the bottom of the NFL and fallen short against the NFL’s best. The game against the Steelers will tell us a lot about both teams.
10. Los Angeles Chargers, 4-2 (-2)
Falling two spots on a bye week seems harsh, but it has more to do with the success of the next two teams.
9. Tennessee Titans, 5-2 (+1)
If King Henry runs like he’s been running against the Colts, Rams and Saints in the coming weeks, just hand him the MVP.
8. Cincinnati Bengals, 5-2 (+3)
Speaking of MVP trophies...Joe Burrow could put up about 10,000 yards against the Jets and lock up his name in the running as well.
7. Dallas Cowboys, 5-1 ( - )
Cowboys fans have a legitimate argument that they’re one of the top two or three teams in the NFL. I’m not there yet, but the argument is looking more and more valid.
6. Buffalo Bills, 4-2 ( - )
The Bills have a tremendously easy slate of games on the way, including the Dolphins, Jaguars and Jets.
5. Baltimore Ravens, 5-2 (-2)
The Ravens ran into the buzzsaw that is the Bengals offense (and defense, to be honest) but there’s nothing saying they can’t bounce right back.
4. Green Bay Packers, 6-1 (+1)
Thursday night football against the Cardinals might be the best game of the year and tell us a lot about these two teams.
3. Arizona Cardinals, 7-0 (+1)
If the Cardinals beat the Packers, it likely won’t be a massive shootout as much as it will be the Cardinals defense asserting some superiority while the Packers defense cannot.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 6-1 (-)
With the Saints, Football Team and Giants ahead, it’s likely that Tom Brady will add quite a few more touchdowns to that 602 mark.
1. Los Angeles Rams, 6-1 (-)
The Rams struggled (a bit) against a Lions team on the opposite end of this list. They’re definitely the best team in the NFL, but will need to be tougher against the Titans in two weeks and the Packers two weeks after that.