NFL Week 11 Power Rankings: Browns and Falcons Continue to Surge

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1. [1.] Baltimore Ravens (8-2)

W 41-7 vs. Houston

There is no team hotter than the Baltimore Ravens right now. In the last four weeks they have beaten the Seahawks, Patriots, and now the Houston Texans. All of those games have been decided by at least 14 points. As of now, this is the best team in football, no question.

2. [2.] Seattle Seahawks (8-2)

Bye Week

Seattle had a bye this week, so they had no chance to kick another game-winning field goal. Seattle will hope this bye allows key players to get healthy for the home stretch.

3. [3.] San Francisco 49ers (9-1)

W 36-26 vs. Arizona

This game was a lot closer than the final score suggests, which does not bode well for the 49ers. Yet a win is a win and San Francisco was missing a bunch of big names, George Kittle chief among them.

4. [4.] New England Patriots (9-1)

W 17-10 vs. Philadelphia

The Patriots reigned supreme in yet another exemplary outing from their defense. Other than the game versus Baltimore two weeks ago, this defense has been nothing short of spectacular. If New England is going to make it back to the Super Bowl, their defense must continue this level of dominance.

5. [5.] Green Bay Packers (8-2)

Bye Week

The Packers had a bye this week but based on what we had seen in the weeks prior, Green Bay is trending downwards. They looked horrible against the Chargers, then beat the Panthers on a goal-line stand, and before those two games they beat the Mahomes-less Chiefs by one score.

6. [6.] New Orleans Saints (8-2)

W 34-17 vs. Tampa Bay

After getting their brakes beat off by the Atlanta Falcons last week, the Saints bounced back big-time this week versus the Buccaneers. The offense looked like the well-oiled machine everyone expected to see, and the defense picked off Jameis Winston FOUR times. Sean Payton is hoping this is the Saints’ team we see the rest of the year.

7. [7.] Minnesota Vikings (8-3)

W 27-23 vs. Denver

Minnesota was down big in this one, 20-0 at halftime, before ultimately coming back and walking away with a win. Let’s give credit where it is due, after starting the season looking like garbage, Kirk Cousins has performed up to his contract and then some. Even this week when Dalvin Cook could not get anything going, it was Cousins who stepped up and saved the day.

8. [10.] Kansas City Chiefs (7-4)

W 24-17 vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Patrick Mahomes may have played arguably the worst game of his young career Monday night, yet the Chiefs still found a way to win. The defense did a fairly decent job of containing Melvin Gordon and also made Rivers look like an undrafted rookie.

9. [11.] Oakland Raiders (6-4)

W 17-10 vs. Cincinnati

This was an unsettling win for the Raiders and their fanbase. Playing against the worst team in the league they only managed to win by seven, and the Bengals had a shot to win at the end of the game. Nevertheless, Jon Gruden’s squad came away victorious; and that is all that matters in the NFL.

10. [12.] Dallas Cowboys (6-4)

W 35-27 vs. Detroit

Jason Garrett has to go, which is something everyone other than Jerry Jones has known for years. There is no reason a team as talented as these Cowboys should have trouble stopping a team that is missing its’ star running back and quarterback. It looks like the ‘Boys will win the division, but with Garrett at the helm, do not expect much else.

11. [9.] Philadelphia Eagles (5-5)

L 10-17 vs. New England

Missing two receivers and your starting running back is no way to win when facing the best defense in the league. It also does not help when your star QB is getting beat up because the o-line forgot how to block. Yet, there is no shame in losing to the Patriots, and despite everything that has gone wrong for the Eagles, if they can get healthy, they still have a real shot at winning the division.

12. [8.] Houston Texans (6-4)

L 7-41 vs. Houston

Going into this matchup everyone expected to see two young superstar quarterbacks go head-to-head and put up a ton of points. Instead, the Texans offensive line, which had been playing pretty well, got annihilated. This led to Houston only scoring seven points, while Baltimore had their way with Houston’s defense.

13. [17.] Buffalo Bills (7-3)

W 37-20

They beat the Dolphins… good job, I guess.

14. [ - ] Los Angeles Rams (6-4)

W 17-7 vs. Bears

The Rams were very fortunate to be able to play against Mitch Trubisky this week. This was the first time all season that the Rams utilized Todd Gurley and let him run 20+ times. Even if Sean McCvay continues to do this, he will still have a pedestrian quarterback who is hardly ever able to win games on his own.

15. [20.] Indianapolis Colts (6-4)

W 33-13 vs. Jacksonville

One week after losing to the Miami Dolphins, the Colts got their QB back and immediately returned to winning, impressively. Indy has looked up and down at times this season, but if they can get, and stay, hot down the stretch; this team could be a scary matchup in the playoffs.

16. [15.] Tennessee Titans (5-5)

Bye Week

During the Titans bye week, the Texan and Jaguars lost, which immensely helps out Tennessee’s chances of making a run at the division title.

17. [13.] Pittsburgh Steelers (5-5)

L 7-21 vs. Cleveland

Strictly keeping things about football, Thursday nights’ loss was a big hit to a Steelers team that seemed as if they were just getting better and better at the right time. Pittsburgh still has a chance at making the wild card, but this loss greatly hurt their chances.

18. [16.] Carolina Panthers (5-5)

L 3-29 vs. Falcons

Yikes… maybe the Panthers shouldn’t be so quick to rid of Cam Newton this offseason.

19. [18.] Jacksonville Jaguars (5-5)

L 13-33 vs. Indianapolis

In his first game back from injuring his collarbone, Nick Foles looked alright. But alright won’t cut it when you have Gardner Minshew as your back up. If Foles can improve upon this performance then the Jaguars can be a good team, if not…

20. [25.] Cleveland Browns (4-6)

W 21-7 vs. Pittsburgh

Cleveland may have won the game, but Myles Garrett may have just ruined what little chance they had at making the playoffs. After an idiotic act of violence, Garrett is now suspended for AT LEAST the rest of the season. Not good for the Cleveland Browns.

21. [26.] Atlanta Falcons (3-7)

W 29-3 vs. Carolina

I am suspending my ‘Free Julio’ campaign for now, but I do not trust this recent Falcons run, and neither should anyone else. You have been warned.

22. [19.] Chicago Bears (4-6)

L 7-17 vs. Los Angeles Rams

Mitchell Trubisky is playing quarterback for the Chicago Bears. That is about all you need to know to understand why the Bears, with such a superb defense, are 4-6. Cam Newton anyone?

23. [21.] Los Angeles Chargers (4-7)

L 17-24 vs. Kansas City

Watching Philip Rivers play, especially the last two weeks, all I can think of is the Spongebob meme where the fish in the background yells out, “Oh brother, this guy Stinks!” The Chargers season is over, all thanks to Philip Rivers.

24. [22.] Detroit Lions (3-6-1)

L 27-35 vs. Dallas

With Matthew Stafford out, the Lions were still able to put up some points. Make no mistake about it though, Detroit’s season is over. Not only is their franchise QB possibly done for the year, but they also play in arguably the toughest division in football, the worst team other than Detroit has one of the best defenses in the league. Time to tank?

25. [23.] Denver Broncos (3-7)

L 23-27 vs. Minnesota

Denver may have lost this one, but Brandon Allen has not played bad and has given the Broncos a chance to evaluate the rest of the roster. Management will need to do almost a complete overhaul if they want to be competitive anytime soon.

26. [27.] Arizona Cardinals (3-7-1)

L 26-36 vs. San Francisco

Yet another close loss thwarts what would have been an otherwise excellent game from the Cardinals and no. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray. But hey… the future right?

27. [29.] New York Jets (3-7)

W 34-17 vs. Washington

Let’s play a game; it is called “Are they tanking or are they not?” The Jets stick, and a win versus the worst-run organization if football changes nothing.

28. [24.] Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-7)

L 17-34 vs. Tampa Bay

At least the Bucs front office knows that James Winston just is not the answer. They do know that right?

29. [28.] Miami Dolphins (2-8)

L 20-37 vs. Buffalo Bills

Damn. I thought this team could make a run at the playoffs… oh well, there is always next year. And the year after that…

30. [30.] New York Giants (2-8)

Bye Week

Saquon got to rest this week, and the Giants didn’t lose. I see this as an absolute win. Seriously though, what are the Giants doing letting Saquon play injured for a season that was never about winning?

31. [31.] Washington (1-9)

L 17-34 vs. New York Jets

How do you get blown out by the Jets? Especially considering Dwayne Haskins played relatively well, this team and this organization are just sad.

32. [32.] Cincinnati Bengals (0-10)

L 10-17 vs. Oakland

The Bengals almost looked like an actual football team this week. Maybe if Andy Dalton as under center they could have finally won a game.

- Paul Hessing