B/R Experts Week 10 NFL Power Rankings: Where Does Every Team Stand? (2024)

The 2024 NFL season is halfway over. Nine weeks are in the books. Nine weeks remain. And Week 9 featured no shortage of games that had a major impact on the league's playoff races.

In Green Bay, the Detroit Lions sent an emphatic message that they are the team to beat in the NFC, handling the Packers in a game that wasn't as close as the score would suggest. In Baltimore, the Ravens responded to last week's upset loss to the Cleveland Browns by stomping a mudhole in the Denver Broncos.

Don't worry, the Browns went right back to Browns-ing in Week 9, as they got pasted by the Los Angeles Chargers.

In Philadelphia, the Eagles did their best to ruin another outstanding performance from running back Saquon Barkley and blow a 22-0 lead, only to be outdone by the sheer desire of the Jacksonville Jaguars to lose games this year.

And in what may be a harbinger of the Apocalypse, the Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans both won. In the same week.

The events of Week 9 cost one head coach his job and sent shockwaves across the NFL from coast to coast. And just as they do every week here at Bleacher Report, NFL Analysts Gary Davenport, Kristopher Knox, Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski have come together to make sense of it all by ranking all 32 NFL teams from worst to first.

As it happens, the spot no team wants in these power rankings changed hands.

Last Week: 30

Week 9 Result: Lost at Tennessee 20-17 (OT)

The good news for the Patriots is that quarterback Drake Maye had another solid statistical performance Sunday in Nashville. He finished with 206 passing yards, 95 rushing yards and a backyard play that helped force overtime against the Titans.

The bad news is, well, everything else. Maye included.

Maye helped keep New England's talent-bereft offense in the game against the Titans, but he also had three turnovers. Maye's second interception ended the game, and he told reporters afterward that he has to cut back on mistakes.

"Yeah, first down and I see the safety, and I think throwing into the wind I got to put some more on it and just a dumb decision," Maye said. "Something you'd like to have back, and especially in that situation where we could go at least tie it up. We're, like I said, on our own 40, and you know sometimes the best play is to throw it away and that was a bad decision on my part."

But if Maye stops taking chances, New England's already struggling offense will grind to a halt. The rookie is about the only good thing going for the team right now.

Analyst's Take

"How long can Maye shoulder a Patriots offense that lacks the ability to threaten defenses at nearly every position? Maye is the first quarterback in NFL history with 700 or more passing yards, a completion percentage over 60, six or more passing touchdowns, 200 or more rushing yards and at least one rushing touchdown in his first four career starts. He can't keep this up, though. It's asking too much of a rookie quarterback. Eventually, he tries to play hero ball and makes mistakes.

"At the very least, the Patriots look like they have 'the guy' behind center again." -- Sobleski

Last Week: 32

Week 9 Result: Won vs. New Orleans 23-22

Stop the presses. Alert the National Guard. Make peace with whatever cosmic entity you prefer, for the end times have arrived.

Bryce Young won a football game. In the NFL.

Joking aside, Young played easily his best game of the season...and it wasn't that great. The second-year pro completed 16 of 26 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown with an interception and a passer rating of 77.6.

Running back Chuba Hubbard, whose two touchdowns had more to do with the win than Young, praised the young quarterback while talking to reporters after the game.

"All of the adversity he has had to deal with, he has handled it great," Hubbard said. "He has stayed a leader and been a great teammate and kept working. For him to get this and play as well as he did, he deserves it."

The Panthers are still terrible. But as they prepare to play in Munich next week, at least they get to remember what victory feels like for a short time.

Analyst's Take

"The Panthers' season can be likened to a television drama. Initially, they benched Young, the 2023 No. 1 overall pick. Veteran Andy Dalton played well at first. They continued to lose, though.

"A twist occurred when Dalton suffered a thumb injury during a car wreck. Young was back in the lineup this past weekend and helped lead his team to its second victory. But like any good cliffhanger, head coach Dave Canales wouldn't name Young his starter for Carolina's next contest.

"All of it seems to be leading toward an inevitable ending: the Panthers still resetting at quarterback after this season."—- Sobleski

Last Week: 25

Week 9 Result: Lost vs. Los Angeles Chargers 27-10

While stunning the Baltimore Ravens last week, the Cleveland Browns showed their first signs of life in a while. It didn't last long.

There wasn't much the Browns did well Sunday against the Chargers. There was Myles Garrett's three-sack outburst, and that was about it.

The offense had less than 300 yards of offense and turned it over three times. The defense was repeatedly gouged for big plays through the air.

Cleveland's disastrous season has given rise to any number of trade rumors surrounding the team, including a report that edge-rusher Za'Darius Smith would be dealt to the Detroit Lions. Garrett told reporters his focus is on the field and not who might be headed out of town.

"I don't look into the rumor mill or trade rumors. I focus on my job here and getting this team out of the hole we're in and keeping these guys together," Garrett said. "All the talk outside of this team has nothing to do with me and nothing to do with us."

Maybe he's just jealous that he has to stay in Cleveland.

Because sure enough, Smith was traded to the Lions on Tuesday.

Analyst's Take

"Cleveland's stunning upset win over the Ravens in Week 8 may have done nothing but make Baltimore angry. It did nothing to correct the offensive inconsistency or the defensive breakdowns that have plagued the Browns all season. The spark provided by Jameis Winston last week was only temporary, and the Browns are back to looking like one of the worst teams in football.

"Cleveland is headed toward a rebuild, one that could take several years to complete due to Deshaun Watson's contract. The big question now is whether team owner Jimmy Haslam will look to replace head coach Kevin Stefanski with someone who will keep trying to make it work with Watson under center." -- Knox

Last Week: 31

Week 9 Result: Won vs. New England 20-17 (OT)

In the grand scheme of things, an overtime win over a bad New England Patriots team doesn't mean a lot for the Tennessee Titans. This is still a bad team with holes on both sides of the ball, problems at quarterback, and now the team's best offensive lineman is out for the season after tearing his Achilles.

But bad teams enjoy winning, too—they just don't get to do as much of it. And while speaking to the media after the win, first-year head coach Brian Callahan didn't try to hide his emotion regarding Tennessee's second win of the season.

"I'm proud of what those guys put out there and how hard they fought," he said. "... I needed it bad, man. Yeah, we needed it. ... It's just everything we want to be about. What our program should be about, how our team looks. We've had moments of resiliency, but this was a really, really resilient performance by our group."

Analyst's Take

"At 2-6, the Titans still have a massive hill to climb for this season to be considered a success. But any struggling squad can look at individual performances as potential building blocks.

"Running back Tony Pollard carried the ball 48 times for 222 yards over the last two weeks. He is now the focal point of Tennessee's offense. On the opposite side of the ball, Arden Key has four sacks over the last three games. He's now only one sack behind team leader Harold Landry III.

"Those edge-rushers playing alongside Jeffery Simmons and T'Vondre Sweat give the Titans a strong identity." -- Sobleski

Last Week: 26

Week 9 Result: Lost vs. Cincinnati 41-24

Heads have started to roll in Sin City. After the Raiders were blasted in Cincinnati for their fifth straight loss to fall to 2-7, the team fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, offensive line coach James Cregg and quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello.

While speaking to reporters after the game, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce sounded like a man who knew that changes were coming for the floundering franchise.

"We've got to reset," Pierce said. "It's a group effort, it's a team effort. We've all got to find a way to do better. We're going to pinpoint from this game and look at a lot of things from caches to play-calling to players to execution to situations that we all can do a much better job and put ourselves in position to get into the fourth quarter and actually have a chance to win and not always be playing catch-up."

Given how the Raiders have looked this season, the question now is how long it will be until Pierce joins them.

Analyst's Take

"After their 41-24 loss to the Bengals, the Raiders went on a firing spree. They're now headed into their Week 10 bye without offensive direction.

"The Raiders will emerge from their week off as a much different team, but it won't change much. They're an injury-riddled squad with a major quarterback problem that Gardner Minshew nor Desmond Ridder can solve this year." -- Moton

Last Week: 27

Week 9 Result: Lost at Carolina 23-22

There's apparently no bottom with the 2024 Saints. After peeling off two dominant wins to open the season, they've now lost seven in a row after falling Sunday in Carolina. They're currently riding their longest losing streak of the 21st century.

New Orleans squandered a 200-yard game from running back Alvin Kamara. Derek Carr's return as the starting quarterback was unimpressive. Wide receiver Chris Olave wound up in the hospital after suffering a concussion in the first quarter.

Head coach Dennis Allen was already on the hot seat. But despite this latest nadir, Allen told reporters that he believed the Saints can still turn things around.

"I just think we've got to be better," Allen said. "We've got good leadership in the room. We've got to do a better job playing, coaching and, hopefully, getting some guys healthy. It's going to be hard. It's going to be a challenge. But going through adversity like this reveals character. The only option is to stand up and fight."

Someone else will be trying to engineer that rebound, though. The Saints fired Allen on Monday. The changes continued Tuesday, when Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore was shipped to Washington.

Analyst's Take

"Things in the Big Easy have grown quite difficult. With the Saints traveling home after a devastating loss to the rival Panthers, New Orleans appears on the precipice of major changes.

"Allen has been fired. Carr is also a major question mark. The veteran quarterback returned to the lineup after dealing with an oblique injury and did little to provide a boost. Olave's concussion only amplified the pressure on everyone involved.

"The Saints are staring down the possibility of significant changes in the coming months if something drastic doesn't occur." -- Sobleski

Last Week: 29

Week 9 Result: Lost at Philadelphia 28-23

Had the Jacksonville Jaguars been able to climb out of a 22-0 hole and stun the Eagles in Philadelphia, it could have been a season-defining moment for the floundering franchise. It might have been a jumping-off point for a second-half surge that at least offered the Jaguars something to hang their hat on.

However, the Jaguars are terrible in one-score games in 2024. So, Trevor Lawrence threw a pass into the end zone to Nakobe Dean (who does not play for the Jaguars), and Jacksonville's nightmare season continued.

As ESPN's Bill Barnwell wrote, that nightmare stretches back to last year—and the Jags don't appear to be waking up any time soon.

"Who would have thought the Jags were going to miss the playoffs at 8-3 a year ago? Since that Monday Night Football game when they were in position to claim the top seed in the AFC with a victory over the Bengals, they've gone 3-12," Barnwell said. "Last season, their slide out of the postseason felt like a combination of bad luck and Lawrence's various maladies. This season, it feels like bad football getting the return it deserves."

Analyst's Take

"The Jaguars have the collective talent to be a top-10 team, but they routinely lose one-possession games (1-4 on the season).

"If the Jaguars continue to trade veteran players before Tuesday's deadline, they would essentially wave the white flag on the season, securing a spot outside the top 20 in these weekly rankings." -- Moton

Last Week: 24

Week 9 Result: Lost vs. Washington 27-22

Well, at least the New York Giants hung with the Washington Commanders on Sunday. The problem is that "hanging with" a team doesn't amount to anything tangible, and after a five-point loss, the Giants are 2-7 and buried in the basement of the NFC East.

The Giants played fairly well offensively. Quarterback Daniel Jones threw two touchdown passes and posted a passer rating of almost 120, and New York gained 164 yards on the ground and averaged over five yards per carry. But the defense couldn't get stops when it needed to, and Big Blew (What? It's accurate.) has now dropped four in a row.

While addressing the media after the game, inside linebacker Bobby Okereke acknowledged that the defense let the team down.

"Defensively, we didn't do a great job holding up our end of the bargain,'' Okereke said. "The offense was working well. They were scoring touchdowns, they were sustaining long drives on the field. We just didn't answer the bell from that aspect of getting off the field, giving them an opportunity to get a go-ahead score.''

The Giants may well get a win over the lowly Panthers next week in Munich. But hitting the bye week at 3-7 isn't exactly what the franchise expected in its 100th season.

Analyst's Take

"The Giants have to slow down the pace of games to have a chance at a win. Jones cannot push the ball downfield consistently in a high-scoring matchup. That's why Big Blue employed a run-heavy game plan against the Commanders.

"The Giants are limited with Jones, but they will ride it out with him for the rest of this year because of his contract. Big Blue will sit toward the bottom of these power rankings, finish with four or five wins and draft a new quarterback in 2025." -- Moton

Last Week: 28

Week 9 Result: Won vs. Houston 21-13

The first half of Thursday's win over the Houston Texans was a nightmare for the New York Jets. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers averaged 2.3 yards per pass attempt, and the Jets had less than 70 total yards of offense.

However, a different team took the field after halftime. Rodgers threw three second-half touchdown passes, including one to Garrett Wilson that will be in "plays of the year" highlights ad nauseum come season's end.

After the victory, Rodgers told reporters that there was no panic in the Jets locker room after the rocky start against Houston.

"It was kind of season on the line there in the second half," Rodgers said. "Obviously, we wouldn't have been mathematically eliminated. But mentally, to go to 2-7 would have been real, real tough. Hopefully this gives us confidence so we can beat anybody because we feel we could. The way we played on offense in the second half is the way we've been waiting for this offense to wake up. That was close to perfection as I needed to be. That's the standard I need to play at. There were a lot of really incredible performances."

Adams and Wilson will have to carry the wideout corps for a while at least--the Mike Williams era in the Big Apple was short-lived, with the veteran receiver getting traded to Pittsburgh Tuesday.

Analyst's Take

"Yes, the Jets pulled out a desperately needed win with an excellent second half against a two-loss Houston team. But the Jets were just as awful in the first half as they were solid in the second.

"It's going to take a few 60-minute performances like that second half before this analyst is going to view the Jets as anything other than just another also-ran in an AFC East that appears to belong lock, stock and barrel to the Buffalo Bills." -- Davenport

Last Week: 23

Week 9 Result: Lost at Buffalo 30-27

The Miami Dolphins faced an absolute must-win game Sunday after injuries wrecked the front half of the season. Beat the Bills in Buffalo, and Miami's season still had a pulse. Lose, and not only was the AFC East a pipe dream, but the team's odds of making the playoffs were on life support.

However, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had beaten the Bills only once in his career. While Miami gave the Bills all they could handle, a 61-yard field goal put Buffalo way out front in the AFC East and left the Dolphins wondering what comes next.

The offense played well again, with Tua Tagovailoa throwing only three incomplete passes all game. And despite another loss, Tagovailoa told reporters that the he feels like the Dolphins are headed in the right direction.

"Hats off to Tyler Bass for making that. Hats off to their team, they did a great job. It was a great game," said Tagovailoa. "There's things that we could fix on both sides of the ball, offensively and defensively, but I think we're taking a step in the right direction as a team."

Miami's record and a defense that has allowed 30 points in back-to-back games say differently.

Analyst's Take

"Sunday brought a desperation game for the Dolphins, and they fell short again. I don't see Miami rebounding from 2-6, and I have serious concerns about where this franchise goes moving forward.

"The Dolphins have invested a ton into building an elite offense around Tagovailoa, but that hasn't been enough. The defense has blown chances to win in back-to-back games, and avoidable mistakes have been part of the problem.

"We know what Miami's identity is supposed to be—a team that scores fast and scores too often for opponents to keep pace. It would behoove the Dolphins to find something else on which they can hang their hat." -- Knox

Last Week: 22

Week 9 Result: Lost at Atlanta 27-21

Things have gone from bad to worse to potentially nightmarish for the Dallas Cowboys.

It's not bad enough that Dallas suffered its third straight loss Sunday in Atlanta. Or that the Cowboys' injury-depleted defense had no answer—again. Now, the team's quarterback and best offensive weapon are injured.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott watched much of Sunday's loss to the Falcons from the sidelines with a hamstring injury. He's now expected to miss "several weeks," according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

A hobbled Prescott. A banged-up CeeDee Lamb. And a Dallas defense that has struggled this season, especially against the run.

Make no mistake. There's Texas-sized trouble brewing in Big D.

Analyst's Take

"Apparently, the 3-5 Cowboys will look to be buyers at Tuesday's trade deadline. 'I'm a long way from being dismayed about this team this year,' team owner Jerry Jones said, per Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

"Jones might be the only one not dismayed about what we've seen from the Cowboys this season. The offense is one-dimensional, and the defense has been flat-out bad more often than not. Now Prescott (hamstring) and Lamb (shoulder) are injured? Sorry, Jerry, but the 'Boys are in trouble." -- Knox

Last Week: 21

Week 9 Result: Lost at Minnesota 21-13

The Indianapolis Colts were one of the NFL's most talked-about teams in Week 9 after benching second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson in favor of Joe Flacco. It was supposed to stabilize the offense and keep the Colts in the thick of the AFC South race.

If Flacco was supposed to be an upgrade on Richardson, it didn't show Sunday night. Against a Vikings pass defense that entered the game among the worst in the NFL, Flacco finished 16-of-27 for 179 yards, zero touchdowns, one interception and a passer rating of 63.7. The Colts had their fewest points, yards and first downs of the season.

While addressing the media, Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that Flacco will remain Indy's starter "for now."

"Obviously, he's played in environments like this before," Steichen said. "But again, it starts with myself. I've got to keep looking at what we're doing offensively. We have eight [games] left, and I've got to look at scheme stuff and see what we're doing and go from there."

Analyst's Take

"Indy's listless performance against the Vikings clearly demonstrated that Flacco isn't the answer at quarterback. But the Colts are essentially damned if they do and damned if they don't.

"Start Anthony Richardson, and the bad habits that have led to some of his struggles could becoming so ingrained that it will be hard for him to turn his career around. Start Flacco, and the Colts are a low-ceiling also-ran that will win just enough games to get buried in the middle of Round 1 in next year's draft.

"Expect a few more weeks of mediocrity with Flacco, followed by the team turning back to Richardson for the stretch run." -- Davenport

Last Week: 14

Week 9 Result: Lost at Arizona 29-9

It was strange when hail began pelting the Chicago Bears as they faced the Cardinals in Arizona on Sunday. As it turns out, it was a harbinger. The Bears got pelted all game long.

Chicago is now 0-2 since its bye week. The offense (and especially quarterback Caleb Williams) have struggled over the past two weeks. After taking a six-sack beating in Week 9, Williams was visibly limping after the game, although Bears head coach Matt Eberflus didn't appear overly concerned about the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft while talking to the media after the loss.

"I know questions will be about Caleb. I did see him, he limped off there a little bit. He came in, he looks to be fine. We will check him in the morning. You never know how those things go," Eberflus said.

Given how Williams has looked the last few weeks, Eberflus should likely be more worried, whether the rookie is hurt or not.

Analyst's Take

"Silly Bears. You had me believing you might actually be good enough for a postseason push this season. From a talent standpoint, they probably should be. Chicago's defense is well above-average when at its best, and the offense is loaded with playmaking skill players. Of course, Williams is a rookie quarterback, and Eberflus is still in over his head.

"I believe that Williams has a bright future in the NFL. I don't believe Eberflus has much of a future in Chicago. He didn't have his team prepared to defend a simple Hail Mary a week ago. He had his team totally unprepared to face the Cardinals on Sunday. He continues to do dumb things like leave Williams in a game that is already decided. Oh, and he's now 3-18 in road games.

"The Bears' remaining schedule includes just four road games, but it also includes game against the Packers, Vikings and Lions (twice each), plus the 49ers. Chicago may be sitting at .500, but it's in the NFC North basement, and it's likely to stay there." -- Knox

Last Week: 18

Week 9 Result: Lost vs. Los Angeles Rams 26-20 (OT)

Earlier this season, the Seattle Seahawks were a 3-0 team that looked like a real factor in the NFC West. Four losses in five games later, the Seahawks look like a flawed team that will have to scramble to make the postseason at all.

Quarterback Geno Smith had a miserable game Sunday. He threw three interceptions, one of which was returned 103 yards for a touchdown.

He told reporters after the game that the Seahawks need to get back to playing the type of football they did early in the campaign.

"Not where we want to be, especially with how we started," said Smith. "Had an opportunity, really, in all the games that we lost to get a win. And that's how it's going to be in this league; it's always a one-score league. ... My decisions affect everybody, not just myself. I've got to be better. I'm not just saying that to say—I really know I can be better. It hurts me that I wasn't able to get it done today."

The question is whether the Seahawks can get back to being that team, or if this is who they truly are.

Mediocre.

Analyst's Take

"In their loss to the Rams, the Seahawks found out they have a star in wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba if Smith targets him downfield. Now, Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has to do a better job of incorporating running backs Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet for better offensive balance." -- Moton

Last Week: 16

Week 9 Result: Lost at Baltimore 41-10

The Denver Broncos have made strides in their second season under head coach Sean Payton. They've shown improvement with rookie quarterback Bo Nix.

On Sunday in Baltimore, the Broncos were shown how far they still have to go.

Denver's previously stout defense had no answer for, well, anything. The Ravens moved the ball at will for much of the afternoon. Nix set a new franchise record for passing yards by a Broncos rookie, but he did so while the team was getting mollywhopped.

Head coach Sean Payton said in his postgame press conference that the Broncos have little recourse but to shake this stinker off and get ready to head to Kansas City next week.

"Look, this is a tough league," Payton said. "You work all week, and I think the most important thing, and I just finished telling them this, is, even beyond playing football, there's going to be games, where you've got to go in on Monday, and it's not going to taste good for any of us. We're not going to like it, but that's life. We've got to bow up and get ready to play next week. That's why it's so important when we're bringing in the right type of players and the mindset. It's not making any excuses. We got whooped today."

Analyst's Take

"The Broncos, specifically defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, outsmarted themselves. Against the Ravens, Joseph decided that stopping the run was more important than staying aggressive, which is what made the defense successful coming into the game. With a lower rate of blitzing, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson picked apart Denver's D to the tune of a perfect 158.3 quarterback rating.

"To compete against the AFC's best, the Broncos can't go against what brought them to the dance. -- Sobleski

Last Week: 20

Week 9 Result: Won vs. Las Vegas 41-24

On Sunday, the Cincinnati Bengals looked more like the playoff contender so many expected to see in 2024.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow tied his career high with five touchdown passes. Young running back Chase Brown totaled 157 total yards and a touchdown. The Cincinnati defense allowed only 217 yards and forced a pair of turnovers. And Cincy won its first home game of the season.

Burrow told reporters afterward that he knew the Bengals were capable of a performance like this, but they need more of them to get back into the postseason chase.

"Just how this season has gone, knowing what's ahead of us, knowing what we're going to have to do to get back into this, one win isn't going to make or break our season," the fifth-year quarterback said. "I'm going to keep striving for perfection every day, every game. Until that happens, what's there to be happy about?"

He sounds like a man who knows the Bengals have to play the Ravens on Thursday night.

Cincinnati will do so with a new running back--after Zack Moss landed on injured reserve with a neck injury, the Bengals swung a deadline deal with the Chicago Bears for Khalil Herbert.

Analyst's Take

"The Bengals didn't have wide receiver Tee Higgins in their blowout win over the Raiders, but they'll need him once they face playoff-caliber opponents, starting Thursday night in a matchup against the Ravens.

"Without Higgins, the Bengals offense is only slightly above average with Burrow, Brown and Ja'Marr Chase. To crack the top 10 in these power rankings and get back in the playoff picture, they need all of their offensive playmakers to offset their below-average defense." -- Moton

Last Week: 13

Week 9 Result: Lost at Kansas City 30-24 (OT)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be reaching a breaking point.

In the leadup to Monday's battle with the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield told reporters that he was well aware that taking on the league's best team short-handed wasn't going to be an easy task.

"We have to come together as a team, and obviously in an environment like we're heading into on a Monday night in Kansas City, we know what we're going to get," Mayfield said. "It's execution, do the little things right, play the field position game and see what happens. We have the veterans, we have the leadership we need to make this thing work and that's -- [the] season is not over. We're not even halfway done."

Tampa gave the Chiefs all they could handle, taking the game to overtime. And Mayfield continues to make the best of a pass-catching corps that was short its top three players in Week 9.

But in the end, the Buccaneers came up short—again. Tampa has now lost four of five after a hot start and the Buccaneers have fallen well off the pace in the NFC South.

Tampa now has to face last year's other Super Bowl team in the San Francisco 49ers. And if they lose that and hit the bye at 4-6, the return of players like wide receiver Mike Evans may be too little, too late.

Analyst's Take

The effect of the injuries to wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin can't be overstated—losing two Pro Bowl-caliber receivers in the same game is brutal. But the Tampa offense has hung in there without those players.

The defense, on the other hand, is a mess. The secondary is getting carved up on a weekly basis, and now the Buccaneers have to take on a quarterback in San Francisco's Brock Purdy who is most assuredly capable of some slice-and-dice.

The Buccaneers are done. And it's not solely because of injuries—or even mostly.

It's because Todd Bowles' defense stinks—especially against the pass. -- Davenport

Last Week: 19

Week 9 Result: Won at Seattle 26-20 (OT)

Sometimes, teams have a gut-check win that defines a season and serves as a springboard to bigger and better things. The Rams may have had such a game Sunday in Seattle.

The Rams were arguably outplayed by the Seahawks. There were turnovers. A blocked punt. Wide receiver Puka Nacua was ejected for throwing a punch. But somehow, some way, the Rams found a path to an overtime victory that lifted them back to .500.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford applauded his team's resilience while speaking to reporters after the game.

"What an up-and-down game, right?" Stafford said. "Our defense getting turnovers. We got down there and didn't score from the 1, we had a punt blocked. It was all over the place. It took a lot of mental fortitude and strength and belief to win that."

The Rams have a manageable schedule moving forward. Three of their next four opponents have losing records.

The Rams were a postseason afterthought not long ago, but they're now a real factor in the NFC West...provided they can avoid the injuries that blasted them earlier in the season.

Analyst's Take

"As long as Stafford is healthy, the Rams can make the playoffs. The 36-year-old proved Sunday that he's still one of the league's top quarterbacks.

"In overtime, Stafford threw a 39-yard dart to wideout Demarcus Robinson for the win over the Seahawks. He led his team downfield for the game-winning score without Nacua, who was ejected for throwing a punch in the second quarter.

"Stafford has aged gracefully, and the Rams are moving up in the power rankings." -- Moton

Last Week: 17

Week 9 Result: Won vs. Chicago 29-9

The Arizona Cardinals are in first place in the NFC West nine weeks into the 2024 season. And on Sunday against the Bears, they looked like that was no fluke.

The Cardinals dominated the trenches on both sides of the ball Sunday. Offensively, they eclipsed 200 rushing yards and averaged over six yards per carry. Defensively, Arizona allowed only 241 yards of offense and sacked Bears quarterback Caleb Williams six times.

The win leaves the Cardinals in territory no one expected—potential buyers at the trade deadline. While making a radio appearance earlier this week, Arizona general manager Moni Ossenfort indicated that the Redbirds won't be shy if the right upgrade becomes available.

"I think any position that can help our team is a priority for us. We've certainly been banged up there on the defensive front," Ossenfort said. "We've taken some hits not only on the interior defensive line but on the edge. Those are certainly positions we're going to look at as are players at other positions, too, that we're always going to look at. If an opportunity comes or a player becomes available, we're going to investigate those no matter what it is."

He wasn't kidding--the Redbirds swung a deal with the Denver Broncos to acquire edge rusher Baron Browning on Tuesday.

Analyst's Take

"The Cardinals are further along than I thought they'd be in Year 2 under Jonathan Gannon. We're finally starting to see the defensive growth that we didn't see last year, and Kyler Murray looks like a savvier, more decisive quarterback. Just as importantly, Arizona seems to have realized that its offense is better when it leans on the running game.

"To be fair, Arizona has only beaten one team that is currently above .500 (Chargers), but it has earned a 2-0 record in the NFC West. I don't believe this team is talented enough yet to go on a deep postseason run. However, I won't be shocked if it holds on to win the division and host a wild-card game." -- Knox

Last Week: 15

Week 9 Result: Won at Cleveland 27-10

Earlier in the season, the Los Angeles Chargers were winning with defense and their ground game. That defense was once again stellar Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, but the Chargers are starting to move the ball through the air as well.

Justin Herbert had his third straight rock-solid performance against Cleveland. He finished with 282 yards, two touchdowns and a passer rating over 125.

While addressing the media after the game, Herbert said that the Chargers are improving by the week offensively.

"Whenever everyone is on the same page, we're able to do things like that and push the ball down field," said Herbert. "We made a big step in the first half and took a good step forward as an offense."

The Chargers probably aren't going to catch the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West. But the Bolts are a legitimate playoff contender. And if they continue to improve, no team should want to face them in the Wild Card Round.

Analyst's Take

"Kudos to head coach Jim Harbaugh for turning a once-laughable Chargers defense into a powerhouse. I think we all expected Harbaugh to make strides in the defensive department, but last year's lack of efficiency and effort made this sort of jump feel unlikely. The Chargers have allowed only 101 points through eight games.

"There's still room for improvement offensively, but things operate so much differently when wideouts Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey are healthy. The team we saw on Sunday isn't just capable of making the playoffs. It's capable of making the AFC's top contenders nervous." -- Knox

Last Week: 11

Week 9 Result: Bye Week

Injuries have been the story of the 2024 season for the San Francisco 49ers. Running back Christian McCaffrey has yet to play this season. Top wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has been lost for the season.

General manager John Lynch told reporters that the team plans to activate to activate McCaffrey's practice window in the hopes that he might be able to return to action in Week 10.

"That's the hope," Lynch said. "As we've done throughout this whole [process], you listen to the experts, you listen to the athlete, to Christian, more than anything because the athlete, the person, knows their body better than anyone. They can feel what they're feeling. But I can tell people this, that the rehab has been very positive.

"We had a really good plan to knock this out, so he can go forward and have this behind him. Christian's work ethic is beyond anything I've ever seen, it's like the Fred Warners, it's legendary. He's attacked it like that. I'm real proud of our medical staff, the way they've done it."

Analyst's Take

"As good as Jordan Mason and Isaac Guerendo have been for the 49ers this season, there's no denying that McCaffrey's return (and that of wide receiver Jauan Jennings) will add a different dimension to the 49ers offense.

"San Francisco has managed to hang around in the NFC West, and it might well remain the best team in the division. But the Niners have much bigger aspirations than just making the playoffs. To realize those aspirations, the team needs its top offensive weapon on the field." -- Davenport

Last Week: 5

Week 9 Result: Lost at New York Jets 21-13

The Houston Texans came into Week 9 without their top two wide receivers. Nico Collins is on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, while Stefon Diggs suffered a torn ACL last week and is now out for the season.

It showed against the New York Jets on Thursday night.

Quarterback C.J. Stroud had one of his worst games of the season, completing just 11 of 30 passes and absorbing a whopping eight sacks. After the loss, the second-year quarterback told reporters that the Texans have to play better.

"I would say we just got to honestly play football better, execute better, stop pointing fingers, and realize that at the end of the day, this is not winning football," Stroud said. "We can't keep squeezing our way by every game, we are a really good football team, we have a lot of really good players. Once we buy into the systems and what is being coached, and also we have to have leadership to take over."

Stroud wasn't the only Texan who was frustrated by the team's performance.

"The most frustrating part is that we were the better team," right tackle Tytus Howard told reporters. "We let that game get away from us, especially in the second half."

Analyst's Take

"There's some optimism that Collins will return for Houston in Week 10. That's a good thing, because Stroud looked rather lost Thursday night against the Jets. If Tank Dell wasn't open, Stroud held the ball far too long or forced throws.

"It's the second bad game in three weeks for Stroud, and there are now legitimate doubts about Houston's viability as a Super Bowl contender in the AFC." --Davenport

Last Week: 12

Week 9 Result: Won vs. Dallas 27-21

The Atlanta Falcons made one of the offseason's biggest splash moves, acquiring Kirk Cousins in the hopes that improved quarterback play was the missing link in the postseason puzzle for them. So far, so good.

Cousins continued his hot play Sunday against the reeling Dallas Cowboys, throwing three touchdown passes with a gaudy passer rating of almost 145. Wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud told reporters that the Falcons are a dangerous team with Cousins running the show.

"Knowledge, poise, never letting us get complacent even when he's not on his game," McCloud said. "It's just a blessing to have a vet like that. He's like having another coach on the field."

For his part, Cousins isn't ready to start taking any victory laps just yet.

"There's a lot to look forward to in terms of the city and how we can all come together," Cousins said. "You do one week at a time to get there and kind of see where you stand in February."

Analyst's Take

"I'm still not convinced that Atlanta is a legitimate title contender. However, the Falcons have enough talent on both sides of the ball to steal a win or two in the postseason.

"I expect the Falcons to be there. Their only real competition in the NFC South will come from the Buccaneers, and Tampa may have too many injuries to catch back up, especially with Atlanta owning the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Falcons' 6-1 conference record may eventually come into play as well." -- Knox

Last Week: 4

Week 9 Result: Lost vs. Detroit 24-14

Sunday's meeting with the surging Detroit Lions was a litmus test for the Green Bay Packers. It was a test against a division rival who looks like the NFC's best team.

Green Bay's loss to those Lions carries at least half an asterisk. Quarterback Jordan Love played the game on an injured groin that visibly impacted his mobility. But the Packers failed that test, largely because of self-inflicted wounds.

The Packers outgained the Lions by 150 yards but were never really in this game. Love threw a pick-six. The Packers like yellow so much that they drew 10 penalties for 67 yards.

While talking to reporters after the game, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur acknowledged that Green Bay was its own worst enemy Sunday.

"They played a clean game, much cleaner than we did," Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. "I was disappointed with the number of penalties and just self-inflicted wounds that we had. You can't do that against a really good football team."

Analyst's Take

"One of the most exciting aspects of the Packers roster is how young they are. It's also a bit of a concern. Green Bay has significant up-and-coming performers, particularly on offense. But the mistakes made by the team against the Detroit Lions show Green Bay isn't quite ready to achieve elite status.

"A hobbled Love threw an unforgivable pick-six. The squad committed 10 penalties. A rain-soaked contest only led to more mistakes and blunders in the form of botched snaps and drops.

"As this group grows together, head coach Matt LaFleur will have them ready with things cleaned up. Right now, the Packers are a level or two below the team they faced Sunday." -- Sobleski

Last Week: 9

Week 9 Result: Bye Week

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been a pleasant surprise nine weeks into the season.

It's not that the Steelers weren't expected to be competitive. The team has yet to have a losing season in Mike Tomlin's tenure as head coach. But few expected that the Steelers would be 6-2 and vying for first place in the AFC North.

Quarterback Russell Wilson has led the Steelers to wins in both of his starts. But he told reporters that while Pittsburgh's record may look nice, the team hasn't accomplished anything meaningful yet.

"We've got great confidence," Wilson said. "We haven't done anything yet. We're obviously sitting here at 6-2, which is a great thing, but it doesn't mean anything. It doesn't mean anything.

"When we look back at it all, we got to be making sure that we're staying focused on the next task, and that's to really take care of our bodies, take care of our minds, enjoy this with your families and all that stuff this bye week. Because we've got a surge ahead of us that we got to go get, and there's a lot of great games ahead of us and we're not going to shy away from them."

The Steelers must like their chances of a deep playoff run--on Tuesday Pittsburgh made a pair of deadline deals, acquiring edge rusher Preston Smith from the Green Bay Packers and wide receiver Mike Williams from the New York Jets.

Analyst's Take

"It almost feels like we have the Steelers ranked too low. Wilson has impressed in his two starts, opening up a dimension of the Pittsburgh offense that wasn't there when Justin Fields was under center. Running back Najee Harris has played as well over the last month as any back in the league. And with edge-rusher Alex Highsmith back, he and T.J. Watt are arguably the league's best one-two punch among pass-rushers.

"The second half of Pittsburgh's schedule isn't easy. But the Steelers have worked their way into the conversation of legitimate contenders who could represent the AFC in Super Bowl LIX." -- Davenport

Last Week: 10

Week 9 Result: Won at New York Giants 27-22

Last week, the Washington Commanders won in historic, Hail Mary fashion over the Chicago Bears. With a young team led by a rookie quarterback, a letdown week following that victory wouldn't have been especially surprising.

But there was no letdown with these Commanders. Because these Commanders are for real.

Rookie phenom Jayden Daniels had another excellent game. The Commanders picked up 149 yards on the ground despite being without starting running back Brian Robinson Jr. And the Washington defense hung in there enough that Washington moved to 7-2 on the season and held pace with the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East.

Washington head coach Dan Quinn lauded his team for not letting up after last week's victory while speaking to reporters after the game.

"It was like a historic win for us last week at home in the fashion it went," Quinn said. "How do you recognize it and yet fill the tanks back up knowing you're heading back into a division game? I thought it showed a lot of maturity from the team and poise to say, 'That was cool, now we got to get right back into the next process.'"

The Commanders were arguably the biggest buyers in the league at the trade deadline, sending a package of picks to the New Orleans Saints for cornerback Marshon Lattimore.

Analyst's Take

"The Commanders are legitimate contenders. On the road, they hung with the Ravens. Washington also beats inferior teams like the Giants.

"The Commanders are a weekly top-10 club in a two-team race with the Eagles for the NFC East title. Their upcoming matchups with the Steelers and Eagles will test them at a crucial point in the season." -- Moton

Last Week: 8

Week 9 Result: Won vs. Indianapolis Colts 21-13

The Minnesota Vikings headed into Week 9 needing a win. After following their 5-0 start with two losses, they were in danger of falling off Detroit's torrid pace in the NFC North.

The Vikings got that win against the Colts, even if they didn't earn many style points during it.

Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold turned it over three times, including a lost fumble that was returned for a score. But Darnold rebounded with three touchdown passes in the second half, earning kudos from Vikings head coach Kevin O' Connell.

"I'm sure Sam will be hard on himself for those two interceptions, but I'm going to stay aggressive with him because of my confidence in him," O'Connell told reporters.

Superstar wideout Justin Jefferson came to his quarterback's defense as well.

"The turnovers are nothing. Those are just little minor errors that we can fix easily," Jefferson said. "We've just got to protect the ball, just not try to make that big play. Sam is a phenomenal quarterback."

Analyst's Take

"The Vikings are 6-2, but with each passing week, my confidence in them as a legitimate Super Bowl contender wanes. That's because Sam Darnold is starting to poke out of Sam Darnold.

"Minnesota has no shortage of offensive firepower. Adding Cam Robinson at left tackle was a smart move. And Minnesota's aggressive defense was all over the Colts on Sunday night.

"But Darnold turning the ball over brings back far too many unpleasant memories. If he keeps it up, the Vikings aren't beating teams like the Lions, the Eagles or even the Commanders." -- Davenport

Last Week: 6

Week 9 Result: Won vs. Jacksonville 28-23

In the NFL, the final score is all that matters. And when Sunday's matchup between the Jaguars and Eagles ended in Philadelphia, the home team had earned its fourth straight win to keep pace with the Washington Commanders in the NFC East.

But there were issues in the victory. The Eagles were dominating 22-0 before a series of questionable coaching decisions let the Jags back in the game.

While talking to the media after the game, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni acknowledged that when fourth-down calls and two-point conversion attempts don't go the Eagles' way, he's the one who is going to bear the brunt of the second-guessing.

"Today it didn't work. That's the way it goes. That's the hat I have to wear," Sirianni said. "When we get a fourth down and we convert a fourth down, nothing is really said. When we don't, I understand there will be questions."

Linebacker Nakobe Dean, who reeled in the game-sealing interception, looked at it a different way. He thought hanging on for the win tested Philly's resilience.

"We took our losses early," Dean said. "We learned early how to fight through a game. How to build that toughness to play all four quarters. This was a big learning step in how to not get lax when we feel like we dominated the game."

That resilience is going to be tested the next two weeks. Philly is at Dallas next week, followed by a home battle with the Commanders for first place in the division.

Analyst's Take

"The Eagles led the Jaguars 22-0 and within the blink of an eye, they allowed 16 unanswered points and had to hold on to a five-point lead to stave off Jacksonville's comeback attempt.

"The Eagles haven't lost since Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but they're hard to trust after they almost squandered a three-score lead on their turf." -- Moton

Last Week: 7

Week 9 Result: Won vs. Denver 41-10

Last week, the Baltimore Ravens were stunned by the Cleveland Browns. That appears to have made them angry.

The Ravens were an offensive buzzsaw Sunday against the Denver Broncos. Quarterback Lamar Jackson had as many touchdown throws as incompletions and a perfect passer rating of 158.3. Running back Derrick Henry continued to roll in his first season with the Ravens, rushing for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Zay Flowers erupted for 127 yards and two scores on five catches.

Jackson missed some practice time this week, which caused Denver quarterback Bo Nix to admit that Jackson is one of a kind.

"He's a phenomenal football player, throws the ball really well. Hard to do what he does on a consistent basis," Nix said while speaking to reporters. "He missed some practice this week and came out and looked very sharp. Props to him. He's a phenomenal player. That's why he gets all the accolades that he does. It's special to be able to share a field with a guy like that."

Defensively, Baltimore's secondary has been an issue all season long--an issue the Ravens attempted to address at the trade deadline, bringing over veteran Tre'Davious White from the Los Angeles Rams.

Analyst's Take

"Baltimore's surprising loss to the Browns didn't linger. The Ravens went right back to looking like a top-three squad against the Broncos with Sunday's dominant 41-10 victory.

"As good as Jackson and Henry have been—and both should be in the MVP conversation—Flowers is the real X-factor for the Ravens offense. He's now posted 111 or more receiving yards in four of the last five games. His explosiveness on the outside finally makes this a complete offensive unit." -- Sobleski

Last Week: 3

Week 9 Result: Won vs. Miami 30-27

The Buffalo Bills are rolling. Granted, it took all 60 minutes of the game and a 61-yard field goal from Tyler Bass to get past the Miami Dolphins. But the Bills have now won four in a row to put a stranglehold on the AFC East.

It was quite the moment of vindication for the veteran kicker, who had struggled enough that the Bills had brought in an outside kicker for a workout. Bass drew praise from Bills head coach Sean McDermott during his postgame press conference.

"I think it's a great example of mental toughness. I think it's a great example of perseverance, resilience, and for young kids out there," McDermott said. "Here's a player that was under the microscope pretty darn hard. And we brought a player in here to compete with him midseason and he didn't back down. And I couldn't be more proud of him and what he did today."

What? Sometimes a kicker deserves a little dap.

Analyst's Take

"The Bills outlasted the Dolphins on Sunday to take a huge lead in the AFC East. I'd be shocked if Buffalo struggles enough to even make the divisional race interesting over the second half of the season.

"Of course, I'm not interested in what the Bills do in November and December. I'm interested to see if they can get over the hump and beat the AFC's top contenders in the postseason. Given the defense's continued struggles against the run, I have concerns." -- Knox

Last Week: 2

Week 9 Result: Won at Green Bay 24-14

The Detroit Lions are rolling. That's largely because quarterback Jared Goff is playing like a legitimate MVP contender.

As Dante Koplowitz-Fleming wrote for NFL.com, Goff's last six starts have been, well, historic.

"Here are Goff's numbers in his last six games, presented without context: 6-0 win-loss record, 82.8 completion percentage, 13 touchdowns, one interception and a 140.1 passer rating," he said. "OK, that was a lie—here is the context: Goff's completion percentage and passer rating are both the highest in a six-game span since at least 1970 (minimum 100 passes attempted)."

For Goff, handling the rival Packers on the road with relative ease was just an opportunity to show that these Lions can win against anyone, anywhere.

"We're supposed to be the dome team who can't play outside," Goff told reporters. "We're supposed to be the team that can only win one way. I think we've shown a handful of times we can win in multiple ways. We're chameleons."

Head coach Dan Campbell echoed similar sentiments.

"We're built for this, man," Lions coach Dan Campbell said. "Just because we play indoors, it doesn't matter. We can play anywhere. We can play in the snow. We can play in the rain. We can play in the mud. That's just us. We're built to win."

The Lions took a step to address their biggest weakness after edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson was lost for the year--on Tuesday the team acquired long-time Packers stalwart Za'Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns.

Analyst's Take

"The Lions have one loss, but that's ancient history. They've won six straight contests. They're also the league's most dominant team to this point, as evidenced by their plus-110 point differential.

During their winning streak, the Lions are beating their opponents by three scores per contest on average. Goff is dealing. His rapport with wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is astounding. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs is a big play waiting to happen. The offensive line is the league's best. The defense has playmakers. Detroit truly is a complete squad." -- Sobleski

Last Week: 1

Week 9 Result: Won vs. Tampa Bay 30-24 (OT)

Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins didn't do a lot in his first game with the Kansas City Chiefs. That wasn't especially surprising, given that he had only been with the team a few days.

However, Hopkins told reporters that he looked forward to contributing more in Kansas City—and for those contributions to count for more than just stats.

"It means a lot," Hopkins said. "[Playing for a contender] takes your game to a different level. It [raises] your focus, your drive, knowing that you're playing for something. I've been in the NFL for 12 years, so I know football. Hopefully I can go out there and make some plays wherever I fit, wherever I'm needed."

In Hopkins' first game as a Chief at Arrowhead, he did just that.

Hopkins played a major role in Kansas City's overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His nine targets trailed only tight end Travis Kelce, and Hopkins scored a pair of touchdowns to go with eight catches for 86 yards.

It's not a coincidence that Patrick Mahomes had one of his best games throwing the ball of the 2024 season.

Analyst's Take

Because Mahomes needed another weapon. It didn't matter that the Chiefs receivers have been ravaged by injuries. It didn't matter that rookie first-round pick Xavier Worthy was a complete non-factor. All Mahomes needed was Kelce and Hopkins for the Chiefs to win their 14th straight game including the postseason.

Mahomes tweaking his ankle in the second half is cause for at least some concern, but that's about the only thing the league's best team has to worry about right now. -- Davenport