An interesting weekend in the NFL this past weekend. How far did your Detroit Lions fall in this weeks DSN NFL Power Rankings? Who is No. 1 now? Keep Reading to find out!
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#1 Kansas City Chiefs (7-1)
Weekly Results: W, 30-23 vs. Denver Broncos
Ranking Points: 158.45
Last Week: 1 Change: —
Note: As this team navigates the season, their defensive issues will be exploited. However, if their offense can’t be stopped, it doesn’t matter.
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#2 New Orleans Saints (6-1)
Weekly Results: W, 30-20 @ Minnesota Vikings
Ranking Points: 144.27
Last Week: 3 Change: +1
Note: The Saints took revenge out for the NFC Divisional loss last year. This team is streaking!
#3 Los Angeles Rams (8-0)
Weekly Results: W, 29-27 vs. Green Bay Packers
Ranking Points: 133.05
Last Week: 2 Change: -1
Note: This Rams team looks unstoppable against weaker competition and they squeak out wins against everyone else. Just like I said last week. A late Packer fumbled sealed the deal.
#4 New England Patriots (6-2)
Weekly Results: W, 25-6 @ Buffalo Bills
Ranking Points: 127.8
Last Week: 4 Change: —
Note: This New England team, as usual, finds a way to win despite injuries and inefficient play.
#5 Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2-1)
Weekly Results: W, 33-18 vs. Cleveland Browns
Ranking Points: 117.43
Last Week: 5 Change: —
Note: James Connor is the real deal and it doesn’t seem as though this team is missing…that guy who used to run the ball here. I can’t remember his name.
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#6 Carolina Panthers (5-2)
Weekly Results: W, 36-21 vs. Baltimore Ravens
Ranking Points: 113.75
Last Week: 10 Change: +4
Note: Cam Newton is letting it be known that he is not going to let this team go down. Many weapons to use as rookie D.J. Moore gets more play each week.
#7 Los Angeles Chargers (5-2)
Weekly Results: Bye Week
Ranking Points: 100.45
Last Week: 8 Change: +1
Note: Could the Melvin Gordon injury impact dangerous offense long-term?
#8 Minnesota Vikings (4-3-1)
Weekly Results:
Ranking Points: 94.1
Last Week: 7 Change: -1
Note: Tough loss against a very good Saints team. The NFC North is wide open and this team could take control if they could put a few wins together.
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#9 Houston Texans (5-3)
Weekly Results: W, 42-23 vs. Miami Dolphins
Ranking Points: 91.35
Last Week: 13 Change: +4
Note: Make it 5 in a row and top of the world. The offense is rolling now, although losing WR Fuller for the year could hurt.
#10 Philadelphia Eagles (4-4)
Weekly Results: W, 27-16 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (London)
Ranking Points: 91.15
Last Week: 9 Change: -1
Note: Statement win by Eagles may have righted the ship.
#11 Baltimore Ravens (4-4)
Weekly Results: L, 21-36 @ Carolina Panthers
Ranking Points: 90.62
Last Week: 6 Change: -5
Note: The Ravens never had a chance. This team appears to better than they are a lot of weeks. Just not sure what to make of them.
#12 Seattle Seahawks (4-3)
Weekly Results: W, 28-14 @ Detroit Lions
Ranking Points: 88.95
Last Week: 17 Change: +5
Note: Have now won 4 of 5, but are still way behind the Rams for the division.
#13 (tie) Dallas Cowboys (3-4)
Weekly Results: Bye Week
Ranking Points: 87.3
Last Week: 11 Change: -2
Note: Stop the Cowboys running game and you can beat them.
#13 (tie) Chicago Bears (4-3)
Weekly Results: W, 24-10 vs. New York Jets
Ranking Points: 87.3
Last Week: 14 Change: +1
Note: Chicago is one of those teams that will take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions all season long. It was a good ride this week.
#15 Washington Redskins (5-2)
Weekly Results: W, 20-13 @ New York Giants
Ranking Points: 78.1
Last Week: 12 Change: -3
Note: RB Adrian Peterson has found the Fountain of Youth and bringing this team a running game.
#16 Denver Broncos (3-5)
Weekly Results: L, 23-30 @ Kansas City Chiefs
Ranking Points: 77.25
Last Week: 16 Change: —
Note: Record is not indicative of how well this team is playing. Staying within a TD of one of the 3 best teams in the league is. However, one more loss and their chances of making the playoffs will be all but gone!
#17 Green Bay Packers (3-3-1)
Weekly Results: L, 27-29 @ Los Angeles Rams
Ranking Points: 72.45
Last Week: 19 Change: +2
Note: A much healthier team all but outplayed the Rams (8-0) all day. In a division that no one is going to run away with, they may have a really good shot.
#18 Tennessee Titans (3-4)
Weekly Results: Bye Week
Ranking Points: 64.47
Last Week: 18 Change: —
Note: Defense continues to improve as offense finds their way. Could be an impressive 2nd half.
#19 Indianapolis Colts (3-5)
Weekly Results: W, 42-28 @ Oakland Raiders
Ranking Points: 63.3
Last Week: 21 Change: +2
Note: They keep on improving but they need at least 6 more W’s to sniff the postseason.
#20 Atlanta Falcons (3-4)
Weekly Results: Bye Week
Ranking Points: 58.1
Last Week: 20 Change: —
Note: If the Defense can show some consistency, there is enough talent on the offense even with the loss of RB Freeman, for this team to make a run.
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#21 Detroit Lions (3-4)
Weekly Results: L, 14-28 vs. Seattle Seahawks
Ranking Points: 54.1
Last Week: 15 Change: -6
Note: Is it the play calling on offense? Is it a weak secondary? This team needs to find some consistency fast, the playoffs are disappearing in the horizon. DT Harrison is a welcomed addition to stop the run, but it may not be enough.
#22 Cincinnati Bengals (5-3)
Weekly Results: W, 37-34 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ranking Points: 53.75
Last Week: 22 Change: —
Note: Their 5-3 record is a mirage. If this team makes the playoffs, they won’t last long.
#23 Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4)
Weekly Results L, 16-27 vs. Philadelphia Eagles (London)
Ranking Points: 39.55
Last Week: 23 Change: —
Note: No run game without Fournette and it’s all on Bortles…and that will never work. The defense is faltering too.
#24 New York Jets (3-5)
Weekly Results: L, 10-24 @ Chicago Bears
Ranking Points: 32.5
Last Week: 24 Change: —
Note: The injuries are piling up on offense and the defense just can’t execute.
#25 New York Giants (1-7)
Weekly Results: L, 13-20 vs. Washington Redskins
Ranking Points: 26.1
Last Week: 26 Change: +1
Note: Outside of blowout losses to the Saints and Eagles, the other 5 losses are by a total of 25 points. They need to find a way on offense to score more than 20 points, which they’ve only done in 2 games.
#26 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4)
Weekly Results: L, 34-37 @ Cincinnati Bengals
Ranking Points: 22.3
Last Week: 27 Change: +1
Note: Fitzmagic needs to be the QB going forward. He is their only path to victory, even though they fell short this week. A QB controversy will ensue.
#27 Miami Dolphins (4-3)
Weekly Results: L, 23-42 @ Houston Texans
Ranking Points: 21.45
Last Week: 25 Change: -2
Note: No QB, RB roulette, a decimated WR group. Defense doesn’t win games alone in this league anymore!
#28 Cleveland Browns (2-5-1)
Weekly Results: L, 18-33 @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Ranking Points: 17.45
Last Week: 28 Change: —
Note: Their record is deceiving, you can’t sleep on them. However, the team is now in turmoil as HC Jackson and OC Haley both get axed.
#29 San Francisco 49ers (1-7)
Weekly Results: L, 15-18 @ Arizona Cardinals
Ranking Points: -.75
Last Week: 29 Change: —
Note: We know this team is just decimated by injuries. Tough year.
#30 Buffalo Bills (2-6)
Weekly Results: L, 6-25 vs. New England Patriots
Ranking Points: -18.12
Last Week: 31 Change: +1
Note: Still no firepower and it looks like QB Peterman will be the starter if QB Anderson is injured long-term.
#31 Arizona Cardinals (2-6)
Weekly Results: W, 18-15 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Ranking Points: -19.15
Last Week: 32 Change: +1
Note: Don’t get too excited with a win over another bottom 4 team. Way too many problems with this team to think they’ll be good soon.
#32 Oakland Raiders (1-6)
Weekly Results: L, 28-42 vs. Indianapolis Colts
Ranking Points: -19.2
Last Week: 30 Change: -2
Note: The trades, the injuries…not much good about this team right now. What’s Gruden thinking?
Warning! These are not your usual Power Rankings. I’m not your everyday NFL analyst who throws his bias into how he ranks teams. I use a formula developed over many years and this is all about numbers. Please remember that Power Rankings are reactive and not predictive. This is where the teams stand following the previous weeks’ games. These rankings and the formulas and bonuses used to compile them are even for all teams.
Bottom Line: If you are a top 5 team playing a bottom 5 team and you win by a point or lose straight up, you will be penalized. If you win big, the rewards will boost you in the rankings.
