NFL Power Rankings (After Week 10)


Well, what do we have here?

 A bloodbath of a Week 10 has come to an end with a major shakeup in the NFL Power Rankings. After one week at No. 1 in the rankings, the San Francisco 49ers lose to the surging Seattle Seahawks and drop back to No. 3, making way for the dangerous Baltimore Ravens to make their way to the top. The Ravens followed up their stunning 37-20 win over previous No. 1 New England by plowing through awful Cincinnati, 49-13.

 While the Ravens storm to the No. 1 spot, the Seattle Seahawks surge from No. 6 to No. 2 after outlasting those 49ers, 27-24, in overtime in arguably the best game of the NFL season. The 49ers slip to No. 3.

 Green Bay moves back into the Top 5, New Orleans (No. 6) and Buffalo (No. 8) drop out of the Top 5 and the Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 10) moves into the Top 10.

 1. (3 last week) Baltimore (8-2): Lamar Jackson continues to show everyone why he is an MVP candidate after going 15-of-17 passing for 223 yards and three TDs, while rushing for 65 yards and a touchdown that involved a move on two Bengals defenders that even video-game makers were in awe of (his own spin-o-rama). Ravens are rollin'.

 2. (6) Seattle (8-2): The Seahawks have nicely picked up the pieces after the loss to the Ravens three weeks ago with three straight victories, the final of which was the impressive victory over a 49ers team that wasn't quite challenged until Monday night. Jadaveon Clowney looked like the Clowney that came out of South Carolina and Russell Wilson (24-of-34, 234 yards, one TD, one INT) showed again why he's an MVP candidate.

 3. (1) San Francisco (8-1): OK, undefeated season over. The '72 Dolphins are celebrating again. San Fran found an opponent that could hit them in the mouth. Still, the 49ers took the Seahawks' best punch. Unfortunately, a rookie kicker missed a game-winning kick after tying the game with a field goal. And Seattle's defense deserves credit for pressuring Jimmy Garoppolo all night long.

 4. (4) New England (8-1): The Patriots had the week off. No movement for them. This week, it's the Super Bowl LII rematch at Lincoln Federal Field against the Philadelphia Eagles.  Maybe this time around things turn out better for Belichick, Brady and Co.

 5. (7) Green Bay (8-2): Perfect timing for snow to fall for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers as the Carolina Panthers threw a whole bunch of stuff at Green Bay, and the Packers shielded it back in a 24-16 victory. The Packers get the bye week off.

 6. (2) New Orleans (7-2): Apparently, the Saints thought that the bye week extended into its home game with the 2-7 Atlanta Falcons. They were awful. The Saints deserve to make the big drop down from No. 2 to No. 6. The Saints must gain their momentum back this week in Tampa against the Buccaneers, who keep improving.

 7. (10) Minnesota (7-3): Yes, the Dallas Cowboys ultimately shot themselves in the foot at the end in that 28-24 Vikings win, but Minnesota did a lot of good to get the victory. Kirk Cousins threw for 220 yards and two TDs and Dalvin Cook, proving to be the running back the Vikings drafted out of FSU, had 97 yards rushing and a TD and 86 yards receiving.

 8. (5) Buffalo (6-3): The Cleveland Browns have been a dead weight in the water of lately, losing four in a row, but amazingly came alive beating the Bills at home, 19-16. Again, though, the Bills put themselves in a position to win that game as Josh Allen continues to blossom as a quarterback, throwing for 266 yards and scoring on runs of 10 and 1 yard. 

 9. (9) Houston (6-3): The Texans got the week off. They needed the rest as they have a big-time matchup with the No. 1 Ravens this Sunday night in Baltimore,

 10. (NEW) Pittsburgh (5-4): No one is as much a critic of coach Mike Tomlin as I am. His teams routinely lose to lesser teams when they are expected to dominate them. I've always believed they've never been prepared to play. But even yours truly thinks this is the absolutely best job of coaching Tomlin has done. They're winning with Mason Rudolph doing his best Ben Roethlisberger imitation at quarterback and Minkah Fitzpatrick channeling his inner Troy Polamalu. Must be something about putting on the black and yellow uniform. Pittsburgh has won four in a row since the OT loss to the Ravens. Still, the Steelers have to be leery of the Browns on the schedule next.

 Aloha means goodbye, too: Kansas City (6-4).
















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