WEEK TEN POWER RANKINGS

Week nine in the NFL had very bad things happen. Our power rankings look like Swiss cheese from a week ago. Everything is in turmoil. We had to rearrange all the furniture to see if we can find some solid ground in our week ten rankings. Be aware of wet cement.

#1. ARIZONA CARDINALS (8-1)

Cardinals showed me something when rebounding from the tough loss against the Packers on that Thursday night affair. Cardinals have the best record in the entire league. Cardinals easily handled the 49ers as they scored 31 on their division rival while the Arizona defense held San Francisco in check. It feels like one of those magic years in Arizona for a team that has not won a Superbowl. Love to see the team bring back Larry Fitzgerald for this year’s second half run at a Superbowl trophy.

Give the Cardinals another weapon on offense. Fitzgerald would be perfect for third down passing plays.

#2. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (6-2) Up 1 spot.

Buccaneers had a bye week in week 9. With all the turmoil on top of the power rankings hill, Tampa Tom is slotted number two overall.

Buccaneers medical staff continued to work hard on tight end Rob Gronkowski. GRONK will be out week ten, but Buccaneers are hopeful they will get him back for the post-season.

#3.TENNESSEE TITANS (7-2) Up 4 spots

Many thought the Titan team, without their star running back Derrick Henry, would come back down to earth. Titans beat up on the Rams last Sunday night as their defense has resurfaced from the 2019 season as they find and create turnovers on opposing offenses. If this was college football, Titans would be racking up the signature wins this season. Chiefs, Bills, Colts twice, Seattle when Russell Wilson was behind center, and now the Rams. Some big questions for the Titans. Can the Titans keep this up throughout the second half of the season? Will their luck run out if it’s luck? Can they establish any kind of running game with what they have and the addition of Spanky Peterson?

#4.LA RAMS (7-2) Down 3 spots

Rams are fully in this season. All their chips are on the table.

Even though the Rams got throttled by the Titans last Sunday night. The Rams picked up Odell Beckham Jr., a talented receiver, but a cancer in the locker room. Rams let go of DeSean Jackson, another loud mouth with baggage he brought to the table. Then before the trade deadline, they acquired Von Miller who is a legendary linebacker in Denver. Let’s not forget the trade for quarterback Matthew Stafford in the off-season. Rams riding the Superbowl or bust train.

#5. GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-2) Down 3 spots

You know Aaron Rodgers was probably giddy watching the Packers top pick perform last Sunday.

Jordan Love filled in for Rodgers after he was sidelined with Covid last Sunday versus the Chiefs. Love looked like a rookie quarterback in his first ever NFL start. Look for Rodgers to use Love’s play to insult the Packers front office. Look for Rodgers who used the words witch hunt regarding his lie about being vaccinated, to elevate his play even more. Packers may ride Rodgers’ anger all the way to the Superbowl.

#6 DALLAS COWBOYS (6-2) SAME

Cowboys were up set by the Broncos last Sunday. Cowboys stayed the same in the power rankings because at least the Broncos have some big names on their team with NFL experience throughout their roster. Not like losing to Jacksonville. The Cowboys’ last loss was week one as they’ve won six straight without the hiccup versus the Broncos last week. I can see the Cowboys easily bouncing back with the team they got. The Cowboys are staying healthy and not have not fallen apart like they did last year.

#7.BUFFALO BILLS (5-3) Down 2 spots

Buffalo Bills should be kicked out of the league after losing to a team called Jacksonville. NO EXCUSE!!! Plus, the Bills not scoring a touchdown against the Jaguars is a crime with that offense held to two field goals. Josh Allen needs to step up and lead an aerial assault on the Jets like they killed his family. Bills have struggled coming out of the bye week. The offense is running on empty it seems. Bills could use some help from their ground game to help things along. Jim Kelly, on his worst day in his hey day, would win games he struggles in, especially versus bad teams. If Bills lose to the Jets, Buffalo should send Bill Belichick an early Christmas gift… the AFC East division.

#8.CLEVELAND BROWNS (5-4)

The Browns took their dawg, Beckham Jr., to the pound in another state. Beckham, even though he probably has rabies, has found a new owner. Whatever Baker Mayfield said in the locker room, the Browns throttled their arch rival the Bengals in the battle of Ohio. I think Mayfield plays better without Odell Beckham Jr. in their offense. Who says Mayfield is not a “Peoples” person?

Donovan Peoples-Jones has emerged into a nice target for Mayfield who has three touchdowns this season.

#9. CINCINNATI BENGALS (5-4) Down 1 spot

I’m going to give the Bengals the benefit of the doubt in their loss to the Browns last week. I’m convinced they will not turn into the Bumbles of old. Bengals will hit the bye week, rest up, and hit their second half of their season strongly. The Bengals have a lot of great things that went right for them in the first half of the season. They could easily have two more victories as well. The Bengals are well-rounded on both sides of the ball. This Bengal team should win double digit victories at the end of the season.

#10.NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (5-4) Up 4 spots

Is the Empire back?

It did not take Billy Belichick long as he has his new Empire climbing the standings. Mac Jones is the new Darth Brady. The Patriot defense is coming together and Belichick’s game plan very impressive. Patriots have won three games in a row. Now they have cracked the top ten in the power rankings which is something I don’t like to see.

#11.BALTIMORE RAVENS (5-3) Down 2 spots

The Ravens seem to always be playing down to their competition level and they paid the price.

The Dolphins, Kathy Bates, Lamar Jackson, and the dirty birds from Baltimore on Thursday night.

Remember the Ravens almost lost to the Lions earlier this season. Now the Ravens will live the weekend in Misery thinking about how a bad Dolphin team beat them.

#12.LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (5-3) Down 2 spots

Raiders drop out of the top ten of the power rankings because they lost to a Giant team they should have beat. Raiders have played some clunkers. The Raiders have pushed back when their backs are against the wall. Raiders need to make a huge statement by beating the Chiefs this Sunday. A Chiefs loss could send them into a complete tailspin where Patrick Mahomes may not be able to get his team back in the post-season this season. It would be a loss heard all over the NFL nation.

Raiders need Derek Carr to be their Optimus Prime.

#13.NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-3) Down 2 spots

The Saints may need to call Drew Brees and bring him back out of retirement. Jameis Winston never thought in any day I’d say Saints fan or any people would have missed the crab man.

Saints have problems at the quarterback position. After taking down the Buccaneers, the Saints fell to a bad Falcon team. Now this Sunday Saints play the Titans. Can Sean Payton get anything out of quarterback Trevor Siemian? What’s going on with Taysom Hill? Glad the Saints did not get desperate and sign soft Figgy Cam Newton to the squad. No Michael Thomas. No Alvin Kamara. The Saints season is on the brink and it’s up to their defense to pull them through during bad times.

#14.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (5-4)

Did Patrick Mahomes make a deal with the devil?

Chiefs offense has drastically taken multiple steps backwards. Chiefs playing the Packers without Aaron Rodgers last Sunday only scored 13 points. Chiefs of the past would have scored in the high 20s or into the 30’s. Chiefs are treading water. They are in the thick of things in the AFC West, but the problem is every team in the division is in the thick of things. Chiefs may be doomed. If not already.

#15.LA CHARGERS (5-3) Up 1 spot

Chargers to me can be very unpredictable. Chargers are in the thick of things in the AFC West and have beaten the Chiefs early this season. The Chargers are 2-0 in division play so far. I would love to see Justin Herbert and how he would do in post-season. Those exciting Charger teams of the past come to mind when they looked like Phillip Rivers was going to make a giant step in post-season but comes away with a bad defeat. Chargers defense you’d like to see do better in the second half. The defense has shown they can play some great defense when they want to. The Chargers still have not played their all around best game of the season.

#16.PITTSBURGH STEELERS Down 1 spot

I know the Steelers have won three in a row. You could point out the Bears should have had the victory last Sunday versus the Steelers.

Steelers are at a hard place right now. If the Steelers had a Matt Ryan or another veteran quarterback that could throw the ball down field, the Steelers would be an elite team in the AFC. Steelers have a defense, a running game, and play makers to throw to. The Steelers are in a hard place because it is time to unleash the wrecking ball on Big Ben. Roethlisberger is the missing link. If the Lions upset the Steelers, you will hear fans say Big Ben is the problem.

#17.INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (4-5) Up 1 spot

Colts need to get back to 500 and facing the Jaguars this Sunday should help them accomplish it. Colts then in the next two weeks play Buffalo and Tampa Bay. Losing both those games could end their return to the post-season and back to the drawing board. Colts are a well-balanced team. What are their needs? I love the head coach, Frank Reich. Is Carson Wentz the answer at quarterback? Will the Colts be looking for their third quarterback in the last three seasons in the off-season?

#18.SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (3-5) Up 2 spots

WELCOME BACK RUSSELL WILSON!!!

Nobody thought Russell Wilson killed himself. In his absence, the Seahawks managed to do that. The Seahawks wide receivers are probably dancing in the streets naked as Wilson is going to play this Sunday versus the Packers. The Seahawks only go as far as Wilson can take this team. Wilson can win games in Seattle despite the team having a bad defense.

#19.MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-5) SAME Vikings have so much talent on that offense. Kirk Cousins is playing well this year. The Viking defense is not the door mat of the league but a decent unit. Lots of close losses. Three overtime games out of which they won one. The Vikings do not have the killer instinct.

Instead finishing their opponent making it a fatality, the Vikings become BFF’s

#20.SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (3-5) Down 3 spots

I feel like the 49ers are going to bottom out in the second half. Is Kyle Shanahan’s job on the line? The 49ers have some talented players on this roster. Jimmy Garoppolo you think is back and then he plays OK.

The 49ers took a gamble in the first round on Trey Lance. So far Lance needs more seasoning before he gets back on the field. The 49ers play in one of the toughest divisions, so during this second half this team may plummet in the standings.

#21.DENVER BRONCOS (5-4) Up 2 spots

Look out because the Broncos have won three games in a row. Last week beating the snot out of a very good Cowboy team and beating a team with a winning record. Broncos traded away Von Miller to the Rams. Sometimes a trade like that can light a fire under your team. The Broncos are in the thick of things in the AFC West. Chiefs don’t look like the Chiefs anymore. Broncos should be able to pick up a win at home versus the Eagles this week. Can the Broncos beat the teams in their own division? All the Broncos’ wins have come outside the division. Broncos have only played one division game so far. Beat the teams in your division and perhaps the Broncos find themselves in the post-season.

#22.NEW YORK GIANTS (3-6) Up 2 spots

You think Head Coach Judge is Dredded?

Then they make another Judge Dredd movie. Giants match up well versus the Raiders last week and came away with their 3rd victory. Giants have injuries like most teams. Giants you think are toast and then they start winning a few games to get you excited once again. Remember, last year Giants went on a small tear for the NFC East division but fell flat on their faces. Do you give head coach Joe Judge another year because of injuries?

#23.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (3-6) Down 2 spots

Interesting stat for the Philadelphia Eagles. Only team with a 3-6 record or much worse than that has outscored their opponents by a lousy 9 points. Will the Eagles have to find yet another quarterback in the off-season? Eagles come off the bus running the ball which can be a double edge sword type of conversation on the bar stools having a Philly Cheesesteak. Running the ball keeps your quarterback standing alive for another week. The Eagles may think they needs to run the ball to win games and limit Hurts’ passing attempts. Hurts has 11 TD passes and only 3 interceptions. Hurts and the Eagles offense do not throw down the field for big plays of 20 or more yards. It’s all dink and dunk most of the time. The Eagles roster has multiple holes they need to fill.

#24.CHICAGO BEARS (3-6) Up 2 spots

Bears are on the rise because of the play of their rookie quarterback, Justin Fields. Bears should have won last Monday versus the Steelers. Many bad calls by the referees? Bad coaching by the Chicago Bears?

Bears linebacker, Cassius Marsh’s taunting call haunts the Bears. Marsh, who was a former Steeler, playing against his former team sacked Big Ben Roethlisberger late in that game. Should have been a Bears victory. However Marsh is called for taunting of his former team. It was not Marsh’s sack celebration. It was Marsh heading to the sideline of the Steelers to pretty much say, “Look at me.” The refs made a numerous amount of bad calls in the game that went against the Bears. However, there was bad coaching from Matt Nagy. How many taunting calls have the Bears racked up this season? How many ejections have the Bears racked up the last two seasons for their players punching the opponents? The Bears are coached like the Browns when Freddie Kitchens was on the sideline. This team plays stupid.

#25.CAROLINA PANTHERS (4-5) Down 3 spots

McDonalds always brings back the McRib sandwich.

The Carolina Panthers desperately need a quarterback so they brought back the Fig Newton for a limit time only.

#26.ATLANTA FALCONS (4-4) Up 2 spots

Matt Ryan should be playing for another franchise. This Falcons team is not going anywhere. Last Sunday, Matt Ryan spread the ball around and led the Falcons in an upset over the Saints. Who is Matt Ryan throwing to? Ryan plays almost every game. I’m thinking if I was a Rams fan, I’d rather have Matt Ryan over Matthew Stafford. I know the Rams just wanted to rid themselves of the Goff Ball that was holding the team back. If Matt Ryan had a balanced offense with a running game, good line, and a key defense, he would get a team deep in the playoffs.

#27.MIAMI DOLPHINS (3-7) Up 3 spots

Don’t look now because the Dolphins have suddenly won two straight games. Last Sunday, the Fins took out the Texans in the toilet bowl. Then on Thursday night, they upset the Ravens in front of the entire nation.

THE FIX IS IN!!!

#28.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (2-6) Up 1 spot

Jaguars had a huge upset taking down the Bills and winning their first game on American soil since week 1 of the 2020 season.

My biggest take away from the game last Sunday was for the first time in NFL history, a guy with the same name sacked a guy with the same name. Josh Allen of the Jaguars sacked Josh Allen of the Bills. Jaguars are still terrible. Urban Meyer has not gotten the best out of their skate or die quarterback, Trevor Spicoli Lawrence.

#29.WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM (2-6) Down 4 spots

The Football Team had a bye week last Sunday and now have a rematch versus the Buccaneers who knocked Washington out of the playoffs last season. I dropped Washington 4 spots because they are playing Tampa Tom and company who also were on a bye week. Last season, Washington had the same record at 2-6 and ended up winning the dreaded NFC East. Tampa Tom off the bye week and his Buccaneers won 8 straight including the Superbowl. Washington has fallen and is not getting up any time soon.

#30. NEW YORK JETS (2-6) DOWN 3 SPOTS

Who’s on first is the question for the Jets. You have to love the Jets quarterback situation which is like a soap opera… a Days of Our Lives episode. Episodes feature young up-and-coming characters. Then they bring characters back who you thought were killed off years ago. Oh the Hungry and the Restless.

Another XFL quarterback resurfaces in the NFL, who is Josh Johnson. The 35-year-old Johnson has been with 13 franchises and has only gotten to actually play for 4 teams. Before the XFL, Johnson last suited up for the Redskins in 2018. Definitely Johnson’s name should be the suitcase as Jets may not be his last stop. In two games, Josh Johnson did pretty well throwing 3 touchdown passes with only 1 interception going 29-45 attempts for 334 yards.

Mike White will be inserted back behind center for the Jets in week ten.

#31. HOUSTON TEXANS (1-8) SAME

Texans welcomed back Tyrod Taylor behind center just in time to face the Dolphins in the toilet bowl.

Taylor had 43 pass attempts in his return completing 24 of them for 240 yards. Taylor won the only game for the Texans when he was behind center. His comeback after several weeks dealing with a hamstring injury was a horrible performance that resulted in three interceptions and a QB rating of 42.8. Texans lost 8 straight. Texans might as well play and ride out rookie QB, Davis Mills, to get him more experience for next year . Maybe Mills becomes the future with the experience. Texans need a top draft pick in 2022. Then the Texans better hope they can get something for DeShaun Watson.

#32. DETROIT LIONS (0-8) SAME

Over the bye week, the Detroit Lions had a shrink in their locker room to change the team’s losing ways.