Balance is the perfect word to describe this previous week’s slate of NFL matchups. After two weeks of the pendulum swinging in completely opposite directions — betting favorites dominating week 8 and underdogs avenging themselves across the board in week 9 — the 10th week was compiled of the unexpected and expected alike. Multiple betting favorites, per BetMGM, were rocked by their opponents, while others were able to handle the outside pressure set by the sportsbooks. While the supposed “easy-pick” Bills were losing by multiple scores to their two-win division rival in South Florida, the other AFC East contender from Foxborough was proving bookies across the country correct, as they handled the Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in the same state.
The final scores of the beginning and final primetime games of this week stamp this high level of equilibrium: 7-10. Despite the Broncos-Raiders & Packers-Eagles matchups both having completely different contexts in different situations with different goals for each squad, even in completely separate conferences, they ended their affairs with matching results. This stability is a staple for a great NFL season entertainment-wise, as no aspect of the game of football is left without its eventual shine. All of the good, bad, ugly, horrendous, and beautiful have been on display for each of us to witness.
We now move into the beginning of a new week of great on-paper matchups, even starting with a sneaky-entertaining division matchup between the sinking Jets and the fluid Patriots, who, despite their drastic difference in records, will play this rivalry game with as much passion and effort as if it were the start of a new campaign for both teams. But, before this match takes place, we’d like to go through who we view as the top-10 NFL teams before week 11 and why we see it as such.
#1 – Seattle Seahawks (7-2)
(Week 10: #2)
Seattle has been playing the most complimentary football we’ve seen in the league so far. Despite vastly less star, veteran talent than other supposed Super Bowl contenders from their conference, they’re still atop the league in both passing offense and general defensive stats. Although they throw the ball less than any team in the league, they have the third-highest completion percentage and passer rating among all teams.
The opposite is true for their passing defense. Seattle’s opponents throw the ball against them more than anyone else in the league, and the Seahawks allow the fifth-lowest passer rating in the league — and we all know about the elite rush defense, which ranks third in fewest rush yards allowed. This almost completely sound play of Mike Macdonald’s club was all put together against their NFC West foes, the Arizona Cardinals. The game wasn’t once close, with the score being 21-0 by the end of the first quarter and 38-7 by the half. If Seattle can annihilate the teams they’re supposed to, while picking up the slacking rushing attack, which has the fourth-worst yards per carry (3.8), the NFC playoff picture will be running through the Emerald City come January.
#2 – Los Angeles Rams (7-2)
(Week 10: #3)
Fueled by their previous heartbreaking overtime loss to their rival at home, the Rams came into their Sunday in Santa Clara with a single motivation in mind: dominate. Despite playing great with a depleted defense, Kyle Shanahan and co. Finally fell back to their reality of not having enough bodies to compete against high-powered offenses on Sunday, when they had to somehow cover both Puka Nakua and Davante Adams, with the league’s MVP favorite throwing them the pill. Unless you’re tired of quarterbacks having a monopoly on the award, or you’re from the New England/Massachusetts region, Stafford has been the obvious pick.
After another several passing touchdown tour de force, Matthew Stafford has now thrown 20 touchdowns in six games, to no interceptions — six more than the betting favorite for MVP, Drake Maye, in that stretch despite playing one less game due to the Rams’ week 9 bye. Through these 42 days, his average passer rating is 119.8. This insane play has culminated in Stafford having the most passing touchdowns in the NFL (25) and the second-highest passer rating (114.4). Even though L.A. might not have as well-rounded a defense as their week 10 opponents in Seattle, who lead their division and the Power Rankings, the Rams have the same caliber of offense, if not better. Come January, trust will be placed in the 16-year veteran over the player with newfound success and a great feel-good story.
#3 – New England Patriots (8-2)
(Week 10: #5)
That now makes seven consecutive wins for this young New England team, and after an uncertain start, the NFL world is now sure of what they’re seeing, especially after watching the Patriots walk into Raymond James Stadium and demand a win. Through the ashes of a 20-year dynasty collapse, Bailey Zappe reps, and offensive coordinator Matt Patricia, Robert Kraft is continuing a famous New England pastime: witchcraft.
Through the addition of a new coaching staff and the biggest leap of any second-year quarterback in the league, Patriot fans are in a very familiar spot with very familiar parts; one of the most accurate quarterbacks behind the center leading an MVP campaign, an offensive coordinator who’s a young-QB guru, and an intimidating defensive head coach who can rally the troops behind any reason.
Even though I previously laid out my argument for Matthew Stafford as this year’s MVP, Maye’s case isn’t an unserious one. Maye’s second, among starting QBs, in completion percentage and third in passing yards, outperforming the likes of Stafford, Darnold, and even Josh Allen in those respective categories. All the while having not lost since late-September and being the second-most sacked quarterback in the NFL; behind Cam Ward. If this can be expected from the sophomore New England quarterback, and he and his first-year head coach Mike Vrabel can live up to the standard set by the media and within the building for 20 years, the Patriots are in good hands and will be playing playoff football in Foxborough once again this year.
#4 – Indianapolis Colts (8-2)
(Week 10: #1)
As we all brace for impact, waiting for the 2025 Daniel Jones Colts experiment to crash and burn into a wall, and our expectations aren’t met as they continue to win off the back of their workhorse, Jonathan Taylor; maybe the inevitable tragedy of the 2025 Colts isn’t all that inevitable. Their refurbished quarterback, Daniel Jones’, two turnovers didn’t exactly help the Colts stamp out the Falcons. Taylor’s 244 rushing yards and three touchdowns will take that mantle. His 32 carries is the definition of a carry job.
This was Taylor’s fourth three-rushing touchdown game, and his fifth three-total touchdown game; both are the most by a player currently. He leads the league in virtually every running back statistic, such as yards per carry, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns. In games where their accidental franchise quarterback picks up old habits, having a rock to lean on like J.T. is stress relieving, and while the wins, like in Munich, might not be as jarring as Seattle’s blowouts, but they still count the same in the win column.
If Saquan’s ‘24 season didn’t garner a non-quarterback to win the MVP, Jonathan Taylor’s efforts will prove futile in that race –but – having the player who can reign in your once-failed quarterback in spots where he’s been sacked seven times and is beginning to get antsy and turn the ball over, is arguably the most valuable piece on any given team currently.
#5 – Philadelphia Eagles (7-2)
(Week 10: Unranked *BYE WEEK*)
Regardless of a sputtering, newly coordinated offense, constantly-rotating cycles of drama starring A.J. Brown, and their 2,000-yard running back from a year ago only having 579 yards, which puts him on pace for just over 1,00 rushing yards, Philly is still atop both their division and the conference. The defending Super Bowl champs have been everything but their champion-winning offense. First-year Eagles’ offensive coordinator Kevin Pattullo is consistently attempting to balance touches between superstars, which has stretched his side of the ball thinner than they’ve already been with the step back in offensive line play from last year’s team.
Despite all the offensive turmoil, the Eagles’ defense lit the fire underneath Matt LeFleur’s seat as a head coach. Philly held LeFleur’s efficient offense to only 280 yards of total offense while forcing two Green Bay fumbles. The Pack ended the night with only seven points and a loss, thanks to the Philly defense. All the Eagles have to do is get things turning smoothly, with no stoppage, on the other side of the ball, and they’ll return to defending their Lombardi trophy earned earlier this year.
#6 – Detroit Lions (6-3)
(Week 10: #6)
After a disappointing loss at home against the Vikings, Detroit needed to do something big to bounce back. Despite playing against the wounded Commanders squad, the Lions showed us why they are a dominant team. The main success of the Lions in wins this season has been Jahmyr Gibbs being the main X-factor in the offense. He had a phenomenal game on Sunday afternoon, putting up nearly 150 rushing yards and 3 total touchdowns on only 18 touches. Gibbs being an unstoppable force in this offense will lead the Lions through the NFC, hypothetically, but some teams have shown they can stop the dominant force that Sonic and Knuckles bring.
Jared Goff has remained consistent and had a beautiful game against the weak Commanders’ defense, as Goff put up 320 yards and 3 touchdowns with completions to 7 different receivers. The consistency and management Goff brings to this offense is so important to the system that Dan Campbell and co. run. Goff has shown that he leads the league in completion percentage, along with being top 10 in yards.
Dan Campbell and his squad will attempt to come into Philadelphia and light up the scoreboard while holding off the inconsistency that the Eagles have had this season. The key will be getting Gibbs going early and a positive first drive for Goff as well, while avoiding turnovers throughout the night. We will see if the Lions will be able to stop the very heavily talked about tush push that the Eagles bring. Campbell earlier this week stated this about the seemingly unstoppable play, “I’m a purist, You take something out of the game, then we’re taking the next thing out of the game, and pretty soon you’re only playing 30 minutes….They’ve got a niche, they’ve found something, they’re good at it, and it’s for everybody else to stop”. We will have an interesting matchup on Sunday Night Football this week to see if the Lions are one of those teams that find a way to stop it.
#7 – Green Bay Packers (5-3-1)
(Week 10: #8)
Even though Green Bay has moved up one spot in our power rankings, that doesn’t necessarily mean we think they have done something positive recently. Now, on a 2 game losing streak, the hype train that everyone was aboard for the cheeseheads being one of the best teams in the league has come to a halt. Coming off disappointing 3-point losses to the Panthers and the Eagles, the Packers’ offense specifically hasn’t found any consistency.
Over the last two weeks, Green Bay’s offense has averaged a total of 315 yards per contest, which would be bottom 12 in the entire league if compared to the rest of the league for the season. The main problem has been Jordan Love finding consistency. Granted, the rotation of receivers has been very different throughout the season, with injuries to Jayden Reed and Christian Watson being in and out of the lineup, along with losing breakout tight end Tucker Kraft for the rest of the season in the game against Carolina. Without Kraft in the lineup, Love has struggled significantly more. Against Philadelphia last Monday night, Love finished with only 176 yards and a 55% completion rate. In the 4th Quarter against the Panthers, once Kraft went down and out for the game, Love didn’t struggle per se, but couldn’t have much more downfield success outside of checkdowns inside 10 yards.
For the Packers to get back to being an elite contender, not only do they need the offense to find more success, but they also need to get better coaching from Matt Lafluer. His decisions have been questionable, and it begs the question: Is he on the hot seat if the Packers can’t get over their own hump, that is, the divisional round of the playoffs?
#8 – Buffalo Bills (6-3)
(Week 10: #7)
After what might have been the ugliest loss in recent seasons, the Bills losing by 3 possessions to a weaker division rival, Buffalo is wondering if this team can contend with the top dogs of the AFC still. Losing to the Dolphins certainly was a big hit to their chances of winning the AFC East, as they are now right at .500 in the division, along with being a game and a tiebreaker behind the rising Patriots team.
It was a struggle early on in the game against Miami, as they fell to a 16-point deficit with nothing on the board going into halftime. Josh Allen couldn’t find consistency, and James Cook wasn’t breaking out big runs like he normally does when the offense is successful. Not winning the turnover battle against a team that is top 3 in turnovers this season, along with not stopping the speedy force in the Dolphins’ backfield, it was hard to even come back and control the game when going down early.
The Bills will have to put this game behind them and move forward with their mistakes and successes against a Bucs team that is coming off a tough loss to the team leading the Bills’ division.
#9 – Denver Broncos (8-2)
(Week 10: #9)
In what might be the weakest 7-game win streak that the NFL has seen in recent history, the Broncos sit atop the historic AFC West. To get that 8th win of the season, the Broncos might have had the ugliest win ever against a bottom-tier Raiders group. In the Thursday night matchup, neither team could even break 225 yards each and had a total of 22 penalties thrown for both teams, along with 13 total possessions without a first down. The positive you could take from this game was the Broncos’ defense remaining one of the best in the league, as they forced more than half of the Raiders’ drives to go no more than 2 yards and had 6 sacks total. Nik Bonitto came into this season with a brand new signed deal with Denver, and he is showing why he got it. Emerging as a defensive player of the year candidate, Bonitto has been flawless off the edge for the Broncos, with 9.5 sacks and 3.5 TFLs through 10 games played.
If the Broncos want to be a legit contender, they need young Quarterback Bo Nix to play at a much higher level than what he showcased against the Raiders. Nix only had 150 yards through the air and 2 interceptions, and if you watched the game, he missed a lot of throws that a good quarterback should be able to make. Nix and his team have a huge test on Sunday against the coveted Kansas City Chiefs, coming off a bye week.
#10 – Chicago Bears (6-3)
(Week 10: Unranked)
The day never seemed like it would come for the city of Chicago, but the Bears have a talented and reliable football team that can battle through adversity. In what looked like a disappointing loss for the Giants, the Bears came back from down 10 in the 2nd half and executed a game-winning drive in the final two minutes. Caleb Williams is starting to find a commanding presence in the Ben Johnson offense, while also creating out of structure and finding success. Statistically, Williams has been the hardest quarterback to sack this season and has been one of the best quarterbacks in the league in clutch time, leading multiple game-winning drives this year.
This is exactly what Chicago was hoping for with the hiring of Ben Johnson, as they have broken out offensively and defensively have come up with huge stops and forced a lot of turnovers. The Bears’ offense is 3rd in total yards per game, sitting at an average of 379.8 yards through 9 games. This is largely due to the rushing attack that Ben Johnson’s scheme brings to a team, as the Bears are 2nd in rushing yards per game. They also have the largest positive turnover differential in the league by a wide margin, with a plus 14 differential and a plus 6 gap between them and the 2nd highest differential in the league.
The Bears once again have a huge test this week against the team that upset them in week 1, division rival, the Minnesota Vikings, who constituted a large 4th quarter comeback on Monday Night Football. With JJ McCarthy and the Vikings coming off a tough loss, the Bears have the momentum, but the city of Chicago knows that doesn’t mean anything for the Bears.
