1. Detroit Lions (9-1)
How about the Detroit Lions? A week after defeating the Houston Texans on the road in a game in which Jared Goff threw five interceptions, the Lions delivered the biggest beatdown of the season against Jacksonville. Detroit won 52-6, recorded 38 first downs, and generated 645 total yards. Meanwhile, the defense held Jacksonville to 178 yards and 10 first downs. The Lions may only have a one-game lead in the NFC North (Minnesota) and the NFC (Vikings, Eagles), but there is no doubt who is the team to beat.
2. Buffalo Bills (9-2)
Some experts predicted that the Bills would take a step back this season. Through 11 weeks, those experts are certainly wrong. Buffalo handed Kansas City its first loss of the season in a strong showing Sunday afternoon. The game started as well as possible when Taylor Rapp intercepted Patrick Mahomes’ first pass of the afternoon. Eight plays later, James Cook found the end zone — his first of two scores. Up two points with less than eight minutes to play, Josh Allen orchestrated a game-clinching drive that he capped off with a 26-yard TD run.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1)
Kansas City’s dream of a perfect season came to an end Sunday afternoon in Buffalo. In a potential AFC Championship preview, the Chiefs held just one lead — 7-6 — throughout the matchup. Patrick Mahomes began the game with an interception on his first pass attempt and threw a second INT with his last pass of the day. Mahomes and Co. were limited to seven points in the second half and the defense surrendered 14 points in the fourth quarter.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2)
Pittsburgh was one of the biggest winners last weekend. Facing the rival Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers would have fallen to second-place in the AFC North with a loss. Instead, the Steelers defended their home turf and extended their lead in the division to 1.5 games. Mike Tomlin’s group received some help as future Hall of Fame kicker Justin Tucker missed two field goals and the Ravens committed three turnovers. Russell Wilson threw a miserable interception in the end zone and didn’t have a good game overall — but Chris Boswell played the role of hero with six field goals on the day.
5. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2)
With their sixth win in a row, the Eagles grew their lead in the NFC East to 1.5 games. Thursday’s win over Washington marked the first win of the streak against a team above .500. Jake Elliott missed two field goals in the first half and the Eagles entered the fourth quarter trailing by four, 10-6. However, the Eagles dominated the final 15 minutes to run away with the victory. Jalen Hurts scored via a tush push to start the scoring in the fourth, and Saquon Barkley added two TDs in 20 seconds — Jayden Daniels threw an interception after the first score — to ice the game.
6. Baltimore Ravens (7-4)
Lamar Jackson doesn’t play well against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. The two-time MVP is now 1-4 against the Steelers and Sunday’s performance was a troubling one. Jackson completed a season-low 48.4% of his passes and threw a crucial interception in the fourth quarter. Overall, Baltimore committed three turnovers that resulted in nine points for Pittsburgh. Additionally, Justin Tucker missed two field goals in the first quarter that ultimately cost Baltimore the win.
7. Green Bay Packers (7-3)
Green Bay continues to torture the Chicago Bears. On a day in which Green Bay didn’t play well, the team blocked a field goal attempt on the last play of the game to walk out of Chicago with a 20-19 win. Chicago took a 19-14 lead with less than one minute to play in the third quarter, and it took the Packers until 2:59 remained in the game to retake the lead. The blocked field goal has been questioned for its legality, but the refs didn’t throw a flag in the moment. Now, Green Bay remains 2.0 GB of Detroit in the North and occupies the No. 6 seed overall.
8. Minnesota Vikings (8-2)
While the Lions continue to make headlines for their explosive play, the Vikings are silently chugging along and staying within reach of their rivals in the NFC North. Minnesota improved to 8-2 with its victory in Nashville. Aside from one play — a 98-yard touchdown — the defense was great. Offensively, Sam Darnold threw two TD passes and rushed for a score, as well. Minnesota is in a great spot to make the playoffs, but it certainly wants to catch Detroit in the North to enter the postseason with a higher seed.
9. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)
In recent years, Sunday night’s tilt against the Cincinnati Bengals was a game that the Chargers would have lost. Los Angeles was dominant in the first half and took a 24-6 lead into the break. Justin Herbert was firing on all cylinders and the Bengals had zero answers. Then, Cincy played with desperation in the second half and flipped the script. The Chargers struggled following a field goal on their first possession of the third quarter. With 12 minutes to play, LA saw its lead disappear as Ja’Marr Chase scored to tie the game at 27. Then, LA benefitted from two missed field goals before its defense forced a massive three-and-out. Herbert and the offense got the ball back with 45 seconds left at the 16-yard line. Four plays and 84 yards later, J.K. Dobbins rushed 29 yards to the house for the winning score. LA is just 2.0 GB of Kansas City and currently hold the No. 5 seed in the AFC.
10. Washington Commanders (7-4)
How good are the Commanders? As a result of rookie Jayden Daniels playing like a star right out of the gates, Washington started the year 7-2 and appeared to be in good position to win the NFC East. However, the team has now lost two games in a row and has seen Philadelphia seize control of the division. The Commanders are 3-3 in their last six with all three losses coming to teams above .500 — and all three wins coming against sub-.500 teams. Of their seven wins, only one has come against a team with a winning record (Arizona).
11. Arizona Cardinals (6-4)
Five victories out of six games has the Cardinals as one of the hottest teams in football right now. In their last game, the Cardinals’ offensive drives consisted of: touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, field goal, touchdown, punt, end of game. The punt came in the fourth quarter when the game was 31-6. Kyler Murray had one of the best games of his career, completing 22-of-24 passes for 266 yards and three scores (two rushing TDs). The Cards entered their Bye in first-place in the NFC West and are already 2-0 against division opponents.
12. Houston Texans (7-4)
Entering Monday night’s game in Dallas, the Texans had lost three-of-four and had failed to impress many around the league. So, their performance against the Cowboys was a welcomed sight for both the team and its fanbase. Nico Collins returned to action following a five-game absence, but Joe Mixon garnered all of the attention for his dominant play. The former Bengal rushed for three touchdowns and 109 yards on 20 carries. Defensively, the Texans forced two turnovers including a scoop-and-score in the fourth quarter to push their lead to 27-10.
13. Los Angeles Rams (5-5)
With their win over the New England Patriots Sunday afternoon, the Rams climbed to second-place in the NFC West. Matthew Stafford and his two star receivers had their way with New England’s defense. Stafford finished with 295 yards and four touchdowns while targeting Puka Nacua (7/123/1) and Cooper Kupp (6/106/2) 19 times. The Rams took a 28-13 lead into the fourth quarter but couldn’t put the game away until Kamren Kinchens snagged an interception with less than two minutes on the clock.
14. Denver Broncos (6-4)
Have a day, Bo Nix. The rookie out of Oregon had his best game thus far against the division-leading Atlanta Falcons. Nix carved up Atlanta’s defense all afternoon en route to four touchdowns and 307 yards — both career-highs. Denver took a 21-6 lead into halftime and outscored the Falcons 17-0 after the break. This was an impressive response to losing a heartbreaker to Kansas City the week prior.
15. Atlanta Falcons (6-5)
Well, that was ugly. With an opportunity to take a 2.5-game lead in the NFC South, the Falcons laid an egg in Denver. The offense managed to score just six points — two field goals in the first half — and finished the game with 13 first downs and 226 total yards. Michael Penix Jr. entered the game in the closing minutes and finished 2-of-4 for 24 yards. The Falcons have lost two in a row entering their Bye Week.
16. Seattle Seahawks (5-5)
Not many people saw this coming. Entering the week, Seattle had lost five-of-six and saw two key members of the team leave ahead of the game. Starting center Connor Williams retired and Tyrel Dodson — the team’s leading tackler — was waived. Behind a strong defensive showing, the Seahawks took a 13-10 lead into the fourth quarter. The Niners took the lead with nine minutes to play and continued to lead deep into the quarter. Seattle forced a punt and received the ball at its 20-yard line with 2:38 to play. Geno Smith subsequently led the team 80 yards in 2:26 and scored the game-winning TD with a 13-yard run with 12 seconds to go.
17. San Francisco 49ers (5-5)
The 49ers are going to look back on a few games this year they let slip away. Those contests could end up costing them a playoff spot. San Francisco butchered another late lead Sunday, giving away a game they had in hand over the Seahawks. It was a defensive struggle throughout. The 49ers took the lead after Brock Purdy linked up with Jauan Jennings for a fourth-quarter touchdown. Seattle turned the ball over on downs the next possession but forced a three-and-out to earn another chance. They could contain Seahawks QB Geno Smith who broke off two long runs, including the game-winning touchdown with :12 seconds remaining. The 49ers have dropped a game to each team in the NFC West after going 11-1 in division games over the last two regular seasons.
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6)
The Bucs are losers of four in a row and have several key injuries across the board. However, their upcoming schedule is favorable. The Bucs could start stringing together some wins after their Bye. They play just one opponent with a winning record over their last seven games. To date, the Bucs have played the most difficult schedule in the league. With the Falcons losing, the NFC South race is still up for grabs. Tampa Bay will have a chance to make up some ground in Week 12 versus the Giants.
19. Indianapolis Colts (5-6)
Colts QB Anthony Richardson could not have asked for a better return. The Colts opened up an early lead after scoring points on three of their first four drives. Richardson’s third-quarter fumble did allow the Jets back into the game, but the second-year QB made up for it with a stellar finale. In the fourth quarter, Richardson completed 8-of-10 passes for 129 yards and accounted for two scores (one rush, one pass). The Colts are far from out of the playoff race. They trail the Broncos by just one game for the final Wild Card spot.
20. Miami Dolphins (4-6)
Two in a row for a Dolphins team trying to keep pace in the Wild Card race. Tua Tagovailoa made it look easy against the Las Vegas defense — 28-of-36 passing, 288 yards, 3 TDs. WR Tyreek Hill scored for the second-straight week, but it was TE Jonnu Smith who stole the show — 6 receptions, 101 yards, 2 TDs. Miami’s defense looked suspect, again, giving up scores on four of Vegas’ first five drives. However, three-time All-Pro Jalen Ramsey sealed the game with a fourth-quarter interception. The Dolphins put themselves in an early hole, but Tagovailoa’s return might be enough to get them out of it and into the playoff picture
21. Chicago Bears (4-6)
Just when you thought it couldn’t get uglier for the Bears. Chicago has lost four in a row, and Sunday’s defeat might sting the most. The Bears played their rival Packers even for most of the contest. On the game’s final drive, rookie QB Caleb Williams converted a crucial fourth down to keep his team in it. Kicker Cairo Santos needed to make a 46-yard field goal to sink the Packers. Santos’ kick was low, and the Packers blocked the kick as time expired. The Bears now find themselves out of the postseason picture and coach Matt Eberflus is firmly on the hot seat.
22. Cincinnati Bengals (4-7)
This has been one of the more unlucky seasons for an elite QB. Every week, Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense march up and down the field, score a ton of points, only to lose in heartbreaking fashion. The Bengals fought back in an entertaining Sunday night matchup. They erased a 21-point Charger lead and tied the game with 12 minutes remaining. Cincinnati kicker Evan McPherson missed two kicks that would have given his team the advantage. On Los Angeles’ final drive, Justin Herbert and the Chargers marched 84 yards in 27 seconds for a game-winning touchdown. The Bengals enter their Bye two games out of the playoffs and will welcomed back in Week 13 with a road date versus the 8-2 Pittsburgh Steelers.
23. New Orleans Saints (4-7)
Darren Rizzi is now 2-0 as interim head coach of the Saints. A balanced attack from the Saints’ offense carried them to a win. QB Derek Carr had an efficient day — 21-of-27 passing, 248 yards, 2 TDs. It was a career day for the versatile Taysom Hill. Hill led the charge on the ground and through the air. He rushed for a career-high 138 rushing yards and 3 TDs and added another career-best mark of 8 receptions for 50 receiving yards. He also threw an interception on a deep pass, adding to his busy day. New Orleans’ defense surrendered 443 total yards and forced zero turnovers, but still held the Browns to just 14 points on the day. They broke a seven-game losing streak a week ago, but the Saints are suddenly just two games back from the first-place Atlanta Falcons.
24. Cleveland Browns (2-8)
The Browns are simply not a good football team. Jameis Winston threw for 395 yards, 2 TDs, and had zero turnovers. Jerry Jeudy had his best game of the year, recording 6 receptions for 142 yards and 1 TD. The Browns won the turnover battle 2-0. And yet, they lost by 21 points to a depleted Saints team. It’s been a rough year for a team that entered the season with high hopes.
25. Dallas Cowboys (3-7)
Any hopes the Cowboys had of beating the Texans Monday night ended within a few possessions. After Houston scored a touchdown on its opening drive, the Cowboys turned the ball over on downs following a failed fake punt. An interception four plays later gave Dallas a boost…only for Cooper Rush to throw an INT of his own a few plays later — Houston would score on the ensuing drive to go up 14-0. Rush attempted 55 passes and finished with 354 yards. On the ground, Dallas rushed for 64 yards on 18 carries. At 3-7, the Cowboys may as well tank for a top draft pick.
26. Carolina Panthers (3-7)
In a surprising turn of events, the Panthers entered the Bye week with some good vibes. Carolina has won two in a row and both games came with former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young under center. Young has taken a ton of flak since being drafted. However, the 23-year-old has shown impressive poise since returning to the lineup. Not much is expected from Young and the Panthers’ offense against their upcoming Week 12 opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs. However, if Young can find some success, that’s something the team can build on as we head into 2025.
27. New England Patriots (3-8)
It was the kind of close loss that Patriot fans will be okay with. Drake Maye looked solid (30-of-40 passing, 282 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT), the game was within reach, and the Patriots ultimately did not hurt their draft position. It’s a win-win-win. Maye did toss the game away with a fourth-quarter interception (on a pass that WR Demario Douglas did not see coming), but mistakes are expected out of a 22-year-old making his sixth career start.
28. Tennessee Titans (2-8)
The highlight of Tennessee’s performance was a 98-yard touchdown from Will Levis to Titans wideout Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Outside of that play, there wasn’t much to get excited about from this game. Tennessee’s running back room – Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears — combined for 15 rushing yards on 12 carries. On the year, the Titans have rushed for 1,170 yards and 6 TDs as a team. In completely unrelated news, Derrick Henry leads the NFL with 1,185 rushing yards and 13 TDs.
29. New York Jets (3-8)
Stick a fork in the Jets, because they’re finished. New York has one win since Week 4, and has dropped four of five since trading for Davante Adams. The Jets did not get their first first-down of the game until the two-minute mark of the second quarter. The offense began stringing together some drives in the second half and held a 27-22 lead late in the fourth. The Colts responded with a touchdown, and Aaron Rodgers was sacked twice on the Jets’ final drive to seal another loss. The Jets are now three games out of the final Wild Card spot and have already ceded a potential tie-breaker to two teams above them in the standings — Indianapolis and Denver.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9)
It’s only a matter of time until we see massive changes made across this organization. It starts with head coach Doug Pederson who has led the Jaguars to a 3-14 record over their last 19 games. A loss was expected going up against a team as good as the Detroit Lions, but losing 52-6 is never acceptable. Jared Goff threw 5 INTs in his last game and was basically perfect against an awful Jaguars defense (24-of-29 passing, 412 yards, 4 TDs). The Jags need to start looking toward the NFL Draft and probably start searching for their next head coach.
31. New York Giants (2-8)
The Giants are coming out of their Week 11 Bye with a new quarterback under center. After leading the team to a 2-8 record, Daniel Jones is being benched for Tommy DeVito. DeVito became a fan favorite last season after leading New York to a three-game winning streak late last season. We’ve likely seen the last of Jones as a Giant. The team will be at the top of the first round in next April’s draft, and will in all likelihood be selecting a quarterback with that pick.
32. Las Vegas Raiders (2-8)
Vegas kept it close through three quarters, but couldn’t keep up with the high-powered Dolphins in the final frame. In positive news, a couple of recent Raider draft picks had standout performances. Rookie TE Brock Bowers added to his stellar year, recording 13 receptions for 126 yards and a TD. And, 2023 draft pick Tyree Wilson recorded his second sack in three games. Wilson has been disappointing to start his career, but seems to be minor strides each week. Though it’s been a rough year in the win column, the Raiders would love nothing more than to spoil Denver’s playoff push next week when the Broncos visit Las Vegas.
