Halloween has passed and November is here! As the NFL trade deadline wraps up on Tuesday, teams made rather quiet moves as they bolstered their team with depth. Without further ado, here are the rankings.
32. New England Patriots
Last week's ranking: 27
Week nine result: 20-17 loss vs Titans
Week 10 opponent: At Bears
It looks like Drake Maye looks the part in today's NFL and looks to be the future of the Patriots. You have to wonder if the Patriots are doing him a favor by letting him try to play in front of that offensive line. Not to mention, Maye was coming back from a concussion and was beaten up in the game against Tennessee. New England has to invest in the offensive line in the offseason to protect their young quarterback, or he will have a short tenure in New England. Drake Maye is making many rookie mistakes, but mistakes mean he will only get better from it. He's shown what needs to be shown to be a franchise quarterback.
31. Las Vegas Raiders
Last week's ranking: 30
Week nine result: 41-24 loss vs Bengals
Week 10 opponent: Bye
It has been a messy season for Antonio Pierce and the Las Vegas Raiders. What has been the thorn for the Raiders this season has been the quarterback play. They have tried three quarterbacks, and none have played well enough to hold the starting job. Whether it is Gardner Minshew, Aidan O'Connell, or even Desmond Ridder, the Raiders have a big hole at quarterback holding this team back. Not to mention, the defense for Las Vegas has not been good at all this season. They have given up 251 points this season, the second-worst in the AFC. Lousy quarterback plays and a bad defense is not a recipe for winning football games. It's not good when you are firing half of your offensive coaching staff mid-season. It is going to be a long season for the silver and black.
30. New Orleans Saints
Last week's ranking: 25
Week nine result: 23-22 loss vs Panthers
Week 10 opponent: Home vs Falcons
Remember when the New Orleans Saints were 2-0, had one of the best offenses in the league, a quarterback playing at an MVP level, and the defense playing some of its best football? Yeah, me too. The Saints started the season 2-0 and looked like a contender in the NFC. What happened next can only be explained as a collapse unlike any other. The Saints have dropped their last seven games, Dennis Allen has been fired, and now the franchise is at a crossroads of what they want to be. There is no denying that the Saints have talent on their roster and can compete for a playoff spot. What they lack is an accurate quarterback to lead them and an aging defense that is very expensive. With a move to fire Dennis Allen, do we see a rebuild possibly coming for the Saints? When you lose to the Panthers in 2024, everything must be addressed. After a promising start, the season has gone downhill for the New Orleans Saints.
29. Carolina Panthers
Last week's ranking: 32
Week nine result: 23-22 win vs Saints
Week 10 opponent: vs Giants in Germany
It is refreshing to see Bryce Young look more composed as an NFL quarterback. You can see the improvement from the beginning of the year until now. And it is a good thing what has happened. He has shown some offensive flashes and fed the ball to his young targets, which is an excellent sign. While they're most likely out of the playoff race at 2-7, the key for the Panthers in the second half of the season is to try and build something and have an identity of what they want to be. Try to improve the culture and build on it for next season. These next games could tell us everything we need to know about the future of Bryce Young in Carolina. It is impressive that they were outgained 427-246 and still won. Don't know if that says more about the Panthers or the Saints.
28. Cleveland Browns
Last week's ranking: 24
Week nine result: 27-10 loss vs Chargers
Week 10 opponent: Bye
After seeming to build off something last night and the offense looking better with Jameis Winston, the Browns had a stinker on Sunday against the Chargers. We know what Jameis Winston is as an NFL quarterback. He can be a jolt to an offense and provide a spark, but he can also go out there and turn the ball over. In this game, we got that side of Jameis Winston. Jameis has three interceptions and very well could have had more. That's what he is, though. A true gunslinger. The quarterback position is where the Browns must address the issue over the offseason. They are desperate to get Deshaun Watson out of town and need to find a replacement quarterback. Where they do that is the question that they need to figure out. They cannot go into the season next year with Deshaun Watson as the starter.
27. New York Giants
Last week's ranking: 29
Week nine result: 27-22 loss vs Commanders
Week 10 opponent: vs Panthers in Germany
Daniel Jones and the New York Giants offense continue to fight hard despite some limitations on the offense. The offensive line is still a problem for the Giants. They tried to address it in the offseason and sign linemen rather than pay Saquon Barkley, and this is what it looks like. The Giants have something to build off of in rookies Malik Nabers and Tyrone Tracy Jr., but if they are unable to provide protection for Daniel Jones, none of it really matters. New York has only scored 139 points all season, the fewest in the NFC. They have lost four straight games and are 0-5 at home this season.
26. Tennessee Titans
Last week's ranking: 31
Week nine result: 20-17 win vs Patriots
Week 10 opponent: Away vs Chargers
The Titans have good players if you look at their roster, but they have been unable to put anything together this season. The quarterback play is a big reason the Titans have a 2-6 record. Tennessee came into the season giving second-year quarterback Will Levis all the opportunities in the world to become the franchise quarterback. He has not been able to do that. First-year head coach Brian Callahan went to backup quarterback Mason Rudolph to provide a spark to the offense, resulting in mixed results. At points, they look good, but they lack the explosive plays we are used to seeing. The Titans will be drafting a quarterback this spring, but the question remains: where will they be picking?
25. Miami Dolphins
Last week's ranking: 23
Week nine result: 30-27 loss vs Bills
Week 10 opponent: Away vs Rams
You must credit the Miami Dolphins for keeping this game close. Many thought they would go into Orchard Park and get routed by the Bills, but this game came down to Tyler Bass hitting a 61-yard field goal. Just unlucky for the Dolphins. The offense for Miami looks to be better, given the return of starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, but they aren't nearly as consistent as they should be to be a great team. At 2-6, Miami really needed this win as their playoff chances continued to slip. They will need to be near-perfect for the remainder of the season to give themselves a chance to make the playoffs. Is the seat getting warm for head coach Mike McDaniel?
24. Jacksonville Jaguars
Last week's ranking: 26
Week nine result: 28-23 loss vs Eagles
Week 10 opponent: Home vs Vikings
After an abysmal start to the season, Jacksonville has put together two good games against top teams, the Eagles and the Packers, but there is still nothing to show. After a slow start to the season, Trevor Lawrence and the offense looked significantly better and have put themselves in a position to win games. The Jaguars almost had an improbable comeback against the Eagles in the return to Philadelphia for Doug Pederson, but they could not make enough plays towards the end, which ended up costing them. Now the question becomes, how long does Doug Pederson have a leash? Will they fire him mid-season and try to string together some wins, or does the locker room still believe in him as a head coach, given they have played better lately? A tricky situation in Jacksonville, but one I think will end with Doug Pederson getting fired.
23. Indianapolis Colts
Last week's ranking: 21
Week nine result: 21-13 loss vs Vikings
Week 10 opponent: Home vs Bills
A move to Joe Flacco is what people in Indianapolis wanted to see, and they finally got it. With how Flacco played against the Vikings, fans could be calling for Anthony Richardson to be back. The Colts don't have any identity on the offensive side of the ball right now. With Flacco coming in, they have gone away from the run-heavy offense we saw with Anthony Richardson as the starter. The passing game is simply not good enough for Joe Flacco to sit back and throw the ball 40 times a game. That leaves second-year head coach Shane Steichen in a position that could ultimately cost him his job. Does he play the young quarterback who has seemingly had his development put on pause for a 39-year-old quarterback to sit back and throw the ball all over the field? It would be easy to say you'd go with the second option, but the Colts are still not winning games. Besides the Vikings game, every Colts game has been decided by six points or fewer this season.
22. New York Jets
Last week's ranking: 28
Week nine result: 21-13 win vs Texans
Week 10 opponent: Away vs Cardinals
Rejoice! The New York Jets have finally won a football game. There's no doubt that the Jets are in desperation mode and need to run the table to have any shot of making the playoffs. We saw that desperation on Thursday from the Jets. In a game they needed to have against the Texans, Aaron Rodgers made the plays that needed to be made, connecting with his two stud receivers, Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams. The defense also put together one of their better games in a while, holding C.J. Stroud and the Texans offense to just 13 points on the night. There is a path for the Jets to be playing in the playoffs. If they play how they played against the Texans on Thursday night, they could very well make that run that needs to be made.
21. Dallas Cowboys
Last week's ranking: 20
Week nine result: 27-21 loss vs Falcons
Week 10 opponent: Home vs Eagles
In a game that Dallas needed to have to save their season, we again saw Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy not show up. The Cowboys are now in desperation mode this season, especially with a blow to the offense with Dak Prescott headed to IR with a hamstring injury. Cooper Rush or Trey Lance will be the quarterback for at least four weeks, but the season may have already come crashing down for the Cowboys. This is a bad football team with noticeable flaws. The coaching has been wrong, and Mike McCarthy cannot be the team's coach; the quarterback is not playing like the highest-paid quarterback in the league should play, and the defense has been limited by injuries and hasn't found any consistency yet this season. Things are going wrong in Dallas, and I don't know how patient Jerry Jones will be. The schedule doesn't get any easier coming up as they play the Eagles, Texans, and Commanders all in the next three weeks.
20. Chicago Bears
Last week's ranking: 15
Week nine result: 29-9 loss vs Cardinals
Week 10 opponent: Home vs Patriots
After looking to make some steps offensively and having Caleb Williams play better before the bye, the Bears have not played good football in the last two weeks. Expected with a rookie quarterback and a depleted offensive line, this problem starts with the head coach. I came into the season with doubts about Matt Eberflus and whether he is the right man to be the coach for the Bears. After eight games, I can confidently say that I don't think Matt Eberflus will be Chicago's head coach for long. He has seemingly lost the locker room. After Tyrique Stevenson made a mistake last week when talking to the fans, it took until Wednesday for Eberflus to come out and say he was responsible for the coaching mishap. At 4-4 and their season slipping away, Chicago has a massive game at home against the Patriots. Season on the line for the Bears.
19. Cincinnati Bengals
Last week's ranking: 22
Week nine result: 41-24 win vs Raiders
Week 10 opponent: Away vs Ravens
If not for his team's 4-5 record, we could be talking about Joe Burrow being the league's MVP. Even with Ja'Marr Chase having a quiet day and Tee Higgins being unavailable, Burrow diced the raiders and picked them apart. This is what I have said all season about the Bengals. You can never count them out because they have Jo Burrow. The NFL is a quarterback-driven league, and most of the time, the best quarterbacks play for the best teams. The Bengals are now 4-5 and have a legit shot to make a run because of how well Joe Burrow is playing. A huge divisional game this Thursday in Baltimore for Cincinnati, with most likely their season on the line. If they win that, they will feel confident heading into the second half of the season at a 5-5 record, given the slow start.
18. Seattle Seahawks
Last week's ranking: 18
Week nine result: 26-20 loss vs Rams
Week 10 opponent: Bye
I can't understand what this year's Seattle Seahawks are. There are games when the offense plays at a high level, and when the defense plays at a high level, they have not yet put it all together. Geno Smith can look great sometimes throwing the ball down the field, but the running attack has not been efficient thus far for Seattle. The front office has been incapable of fixing a turnstile offensive line for the last few years, and that has been the biggest problem for the Seahawks. A couple of weeks ago, the Seahawks were sitting atop the NFC West. Now they are last. Welcome to the roller coaster, which is the NFC West.
17. Los Angeles Rams
Last week's ranking: 19
Week nine result: 26-20 win vs Seahawks
Week 10 opponent: Home vs Dolphins
The Rams have saved their season after another slow start for them. Los Angeles is hanging in there with an improving young defense and an offense finding its footing by getting its two superstar receivers back. This team can get hot at the right time and make a run to the playoffs. They had the same thing last year. They were 3-6 and were able to make it all the way to the postseason, and I don't doubt that they can do it again. This team can make some noise if it can get into the playoffs. With a defense getting better each week and the Rams finally getting healthy, this is a team you don't want to play.
16. Tampa Bay Bucs
Last week's ranking: 17
Week nine result: 30-24 loss vs Chiefs
Week 10 opponent: Home vs Niners
The Bucs gave the Chiefs a right on Monday night, losing in overtime. They went into that matchup undermanned on each side of the ball, so it is encouraging to see them play close, but they still lost. I don't understand why Todd Bowles didn't roll the dice and try to go for two and win. You have the defending champs on the ropes and one play from the two-yard line to win the game, yet you decide to go to overtime against the best player on the planet. It just makes no sense to me. With the Bucs at 4-5, they need to get healthy. They were down their top three receivers in this game and still were able to produce on offense. That is a good sign. I think Tampa Bay will be fine, but they must start rattling off some wins.
15. Arizona Cardinals
Last week's ranking: 16
Week nine result: 29-9 win vs Bears
Week 10 opponent: Home vs Cardinals
How life in the NFL can change from week to week. The Arizona Cardinals are 5-4 and sit atop the NFC West. You have to give credit to the job that Jonathan Gannon has been able to do with this team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The Cardinals have had a gauntlet to start the season, and the schedule gets much lighter. The opponents they faced coming into week 8: Bills, Rams, Lions, Commanders, 49ers, Packers, and Chargers. How tough is that? Even with the brutal schedule, this team is 5-4, and they have a quarterback, Kyler Murray, playing at a high level.
14. Denver Broncos
Last week's ranking: 14
Week nine result: 41-10 loss vs Ravens
Week 10 opponent: Away vs Chiefs
In their first test in about a month for the Denver Broncos, they were clearly exposed against the Baltimore Ravens. What has gotten the Broncos to a 5-4 record this season has been a simple recipe. Play good defense and make enough plays with Bo Nix and the offense. None of that happened on Sunday against the Ravens. It won't get much easier this week when they travel to Arrowhead to face the Chiefs. They're in line for a playoff spot, but they will have to play well enough against better teams to make a run. Does this team have it against prolific teams? So far, they have not.
13. Los Angeles Chargers
Last week's ranking: 13
Week nine result: 27-10 win vs Browns
Week 10 opponent: Home vs Titans
It is about time we start noticing that the Los Angeles Chargers might have something special brewing. Not only have they drastically improved from the Brandon Staley regime, but this team has the talent to make a deep playoff run, and it all starts with the defense and what they can do. The Chargers have played one fewer game than several other teams, but they have given up only 101 points this season, which ranks best in the NFL. Pretty good if you ask me. When Jim Harbaugh accepted this job, you knew what you would get and how they wanted to win. So far, everything that they said would have happened has happened. Run the football and play good defense; the Jim Harbaugh effect.
12. Atlanta Falcons
Last week's ranking: 12
Week nine result: 27-21 win vs Falcons
Week 10 opponent: Away vs Saints
It has completely transformed from what we have seen in past years from the Atlanta Falcons. In years past, the offense has been the thorn in their side, and the defense has played well enough. Fast forward to this season, and the offense looks to be the strength of this team. When they went out and signed Kirk Cousins in the offseason, Atlanta expressed that they were finally in win-now mode and were ready to compete. So far, Kirk Cousins has been perfect for the Falcons, and he has been what they had expected. They are now two games ahead in the NFC South. After a very home-heavy start to the season, the road schedule will begin for the Falcons, as they have already played six home games. Atlanta is in good shape to handle business in a struggling NFC South.
11. Houston Texans
Last week's ranking: 5
Week nine result: 21-13 loss vs Jets
Week 10 opponent: Home vs Lions
Is it time to worry about the Houston Texans and the ability to protect the franchise quarterback, C.J. Stroud? We have seen what Stroud can be as an NFL quarterback, but he has taken a step back this season, and it is because the offensive line is not protecting enough for him. They were eaten alive by the Jets defensive line on Thursday and really had no chance stopping them. They are without Stefon Diggs for the season, and Niko Collins is still bracing for an injury. They put themselves in good shape for the second half of the season with a 6-3 record, but you can't avoid their glaring issues on the offensive line. Stroud has struggled this season, as he was 11 of 30 for 191 yards against the Jets. Not an ideal stat line. The Texans have the defense to win the Super Bowl, but they will need to get better play from the offense, and it all starts with the offensive line.
10. San Francisco 49ers
Last week's ranking: 11
Week nine result: Bye
Week 10 opponent: Away vs Bucs
What a great time for the bye week for the San Francisco 49ers. They are finally able to get healthy after they have been riddled with injuries all season. Christian McCaffrey is expected to be back following an Achilles injury, and the offense should look different with him in it. With a 4-4 record and injuries all over the NFC West, the Niners are still in striking distance to win the division. You can never doubt a Kyle Shanahan offense when they are fully clicking and healthy. This team has the potential to make a run through the playoffs no matter the seed they are, and a big game against the Bucs this Sunday will be the start of that run.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers
Last week's ranking: 9
Week nine result: Bye
Week 10 opponent: Away vs Commanders
After a bye week and getting some key guys back from injuries, we will see what the Pittsburgh Steelers and Russell Wilson are made of on Sunday against the Washington Commanders. This will be the biggest test of the season for the Steelers. With a gauntlet of a second-half schedule, the Steelers needed to have a start like this. Russell Wilson has taken the offense and has been able to elevate the passing attack, so don't expect a chance at the quarterback position soon. Pittsburgh's big question this season was the lack of production from the wide receiver position. They addressed that before the trade deadline on Tuesday, acquiring Mike Williams from the New York Jets. Williams should come in and be an instant upgrade to a receiver room that was desperately looking for a number two guy after George Pickens. After the Commander's game, Pittsburgh then follows that with four straight division games. Buckle up.
8. Washington Commanders
Last week's ranking: 10
Week nine result: 27-22 win vs Giants
Week 10 opponent: Home vs Steelers
It didn't look pretty and wasn't a good game overall, but the Commanders did what they needed to do to come out of New York with a win. Jayden Daniels continues to put up ridiculous numbers for a rookie quarterback and has put himself in the MVP race. This team will get another big test this week at home as they face the Pittsburgh Steelers. If they can beat the Steelers, they will be considered one of the NFC's favorites. You must give much credit to what Dan Quinn and his coaching staff have done this season. When he was hired, people criticized him and thought he was a nonchalant hire. Quinn was the right guy for the job, and this team is playing at a high level under new ownership. You have to give them credit for bouncing back after a crazy week, and the Hail Mary win against the Bears. Since 2002, only two teams covered the spread the following week.
7. Green Bay Packers
Last week's ranking: 4
Week nine result: 24-14 loss vs Lions
Week 10 opponent: Bye
Whatever Jordan Love is playing with, he might have to sit out a few weeks to try and get healthy. He doesn't look like himself and isn't nearly 100%. The Packers have a good time to have a bye week to get some people healthy and readdress the team. They just aren't better than the Lions right now, simple as that. Love has come back in two division games this season and has not played well in either. He continues to cost his team because of his injury. I still think the Packers should be fine, but they need this bye week, and they need to get Jordan Love healthy.
6. Philadelphia Eagles
Last week's ranking: 7
Week nine result: 28-23 win vs Jaguars
Week 10 opponent: Away vs Cowboys
I still can't get a read on what kind of team the Philadelphia Eagles are this season. They have games where they go out and look dominant on both sides of the ball, and they have games where it is a struggle to get a first down, and they end up in a close game against a two-win team. They were able to come out of Sunday with a win against the Jaguars, but the win leaves them with more questions than answers. The game management aspect for Philadelphia has been poor all season. They have the talent to win the Super Bowl, but I don't know if the head coach is the right guy for the job. We have seen Nick Sirianni cost the team repeatedly this season with horrible game mismanagement. It didn't cost them on Sunday, but it could very well cost them toward the end of the season in a high-leverage situation. They need to figure it out.
5. Minnesota Vikings
Last week's ranking: 6
Week nine result: 21-13 win vs Colts
Week 10 opponent: Away vs Jaguars
After a few tough weeks, the defense has a nice comeback game against Joe Flacco and the Indianapolis Colts. This is the type of team that the Vikings need to be to be successful. They need to play these types of games. Play good defense and let your offense and Sam Darnold provide enough plays for the offense to score. The biggest acquisition of the season may have been the trade for Cam Robinson for the Minnesota Vikings. He replaces the injured Christian Darrisaw and is an excellent placeholder to have. At 6-2, Minnesota has positioned itself in a fantastic spot to head into the second half of the season.
4. Buffalo Bills
Last week's ranking: 3
Week nine result: 30-27 win vs Dolphins
Week 10 opponent: Away vs Colts
When the bills play their best, they are almost unbeatable. The problem is that they sometimes don't play their best game and can be inconsistent sometimes. The offense has been outstanding this season, and Josh Allen will always keep his team in it, but the problem will fall on the Buffalo defense, especially in the run game. In a weak AFC East division, they are running away with it and should be AFC East champs, barring a late-season collapse. Winning a game like this was what the bills needed to happen. When have we seen a Bills kicker hit a 61-yard field goal to win it. This is a great football team.
3. Baltimore Ravens
Last week's ranking: 8
Week nine result: 41-10 win vs Broncos
Week 10 opponent: Home vs Bengals
When this team plays well and is consistent, I don't know if a team in the league can beat them. Not only has Derrick Henry been outstanding, and the running attack has been great, but the passing game with Lamar Jackson finding his receivers has also been great. We've seen the Ravens' inconsistent side, which is shown with their losses. But when they are clicking and firing on all cylinders, they are almost unbeatable. Not to mention, the defense took a massive step against the Broncos. If they can play like last year's unit, look out, Baltimore will be very scary. An extensive division game looks against the Bengals this Thursday, where Baltimore could make life a lot harder for the Bengals to make the playoffs.
2. Detroit Lions
Last week's ranking: 2
Week nine result: 24-14 win vs Packers
Week 10 opponent: Away vs Texans
Have the Lions officially become America's team? I mean, seriously, how can you not root for these guys? They have been the best team in the NFC and have an argument to make that they are the best team in the league. Jared Goff continues to play at an MVP level, and the offense is unstoppable. The efficiency of the lion's passing attack is genuinely remarkable. Goff was 18 of 22 with a touchdown and no turnovers in Green Bay on Sunday. So much for the people who said the Lions will struggle outdoors. This is a great football team, and they will go out there every week and battle for their head coach. Six straight wins for the Detroit Lions, imagine saying that two years ago.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Last week's ranking: 1
Week nine result: 30-24 win vs Bucs
Week 10 opponent: Home vs Broncos
When it looked like the Chiefs would finally suffer their first loss of the season, Patrick Mahomes brought his team back and won the football game. Where have I seen this before? They aren't playing to the standard we are seeing the Chiefs play at, but they still continue to win football games. That's all that matters up to this point. The offense looked better with the addition of Deandre Hopkins. The chemistry between him and Mahomes is developing, and they could become something special. Mahomes had an injury scare late in the game but was able to come back out and finish, willing his team to drive in overtime to win the game. Until this team loses, they will remain the number one team.
