Through 11 weeks of volatile NFL football, where early-season predictions were flipped on their heads and the Big Bag of Super Bowl contenders was given a hard shake, the 11th week finally lent us some insight into how this absolutely enchanting season will conclude. Eight out of the 15 games finished with single-digit margins – which stamps the entertainment value of the ‘25 NFL season – but, within these by-the-skin-of-your-teeth finishes, and the few dominating victories sprinkled in, constants reappeared and outliers vanished.
Despite previous in-game fiascos by division rivals being almost perfectly replicated, none of the recent games ended in the same fashion. In fact, both contests ended with opposite results as their respective last matchups. This sort of rewriting of recent history signifies the soon-to-come return to our regularly scheduled programming, with added faces this year around.
As Josh Allen continues to stack sextuple touchdown games, as Kansas City compiles its bulletin board material from critics and armchair coordinators for its inevitable late-season and postseason runs, football fans slightly wince at these boring notions, especially after being baited with an AFC playoff picture led by Indianapolis and Jacksonville. As we take a look at why there’s still a semblance of hope for unforeseen finishes, we’d also like to go through who we view as the top-10 teams in the NFL and break down why we see it that way.
#1 – Philadelphia Eagles (8-2)
(Week 11: #5)
Despite being 8-2, leading the NFC East, and being at the top of our power rankings this week, there are questions about whether this success can be sustained. The offense has been mediocre in almost all of their games this season, unable to get perennial receiver AJ Brown involved consistently. Saquon Barkley also hasn’t been himself but it’s not entirely his fault, only averaging 3.8 yards per carry, which is below average for Barkley’s standards.
The run blocking has been inconsistent, but the pass blocking has been great for quarterback Jalen Hurts. Given that fact, Hurts has been severely below par through the air this season, with just 2,000 yards passing (199.5 per game). Regardless of that, the Eagles have been able to win games in clutch time against good teams. The experience of being in two Super Bowls in the last 3 years and winning one of them under head coach Nick Siranni certainly is a big reason for this.
The defense is also a huge reason for this, as they have held their opponents to 12 points per game over the last 3 weeks. But given the defenses success and the consistent adversity they have overcome, can the struggles this team has had be overturned and jolt them back into the Super Bowl?
#2 – Los Angeles Rams (8-2)
(Week 11: #2)
Now leading the stacked NFC West after a gutsy win against fellow division rivals, the Los Angeles Rams, MVP candidate Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay look to get back to the Super Bowl in February. Stafford has been on fire this season, leading the NFL in passing touchdowns (27). We have to give a huge amount of credit to the play of star receiver Puka Nacua and veteran Davante Adams, as they have combined for 14 of Stafford’s 27 TDs.
The defense has been solid as well, especially with the rising play of former Commanders cornerback Emmanuel Forbes. Forbes was tasked with one of the hardest tasks of any player this season so far, going 1-on-1 with Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Forbes responded to that call and played the best out of anyone who has had to guard the number 1 receiver in the league.
The momentum that LA has will certainly be needed to finish the season against the remaining schedule, to secure the NFC West, and jolt them into the playoffs.
#3 – New England Patriots (9-2)
(Week 11: #3)
The biggest thing when looking at the Patriots from an outside perspective might be just how well Drake Maye is playing. The negative side of New England, though, has been said to be the low level of competition their opponents offer all season. Coming into this week, former MVP Quarterback Cam Newton called the Patriots’ success “Fool’s Gold” during a podcast episode with Patriots fans, which caught the attention of many NFL fans. Despite these comments, Newton stood on his statement, explaining, “I did say the Patriots are fool’s gold, and I’m going to stand on that,”.
Despite Newton’s doubt, the Patriots have the highest winning percentage in the AFC against teams with a winning record this season (3-1). The hiring of Mike Vrabel in the offseason has certainly been a huge portion of this. His motivating presence and high motor have helped the team play at the highest level possible. With very few mistakes made each week, the new coach in New England certainly has a shot at the coach of the year award.
The breakout of rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson is here. The 23-year-old has burst into his role after the injury to Rhamondre Stevenson, scoring five total touchdowns over the last 2 games. With how New England has been playing they certainly have a shot at securing a 1st round bye for the playoffs.
#4 – Seattle Seahawks (7-3)
(Week 11: #1)
In a rough loss against the Rams this past weekend, we saw a glimpse of what everyone thought Sam Darnold was during his time with the Jets. He threw four interceptions and just couldn’t find a rhythm in the offense. JSN has arguably been the best receiver in the league this season so far, and he’s a big part of the offense’s success. Kenneth Walker also saw more touches against the Rams and finally got a goal-line touchdown over the weekend.
The defense has still been stellar, certainly proving they can stop the run and pass in big downs, but that can’t always save the offense when you turn the ball over that much. The run defense is still top three in yards allowed per game and has yet to allow a good running back to take over a game against them.
Seattle has a tough schedule as well, with certainly a lot to prove despite the 7-3 record. The playoffs are near, and the offense will have to get back on track against the bottom-tier Titans this week.
#5 – Denver Broncos (9-2)
(Week 11: #9)
Somehow, some way, we are talking about the Broncos being heavy favorites to win the AFC West, after the division has been dominated by the Chiefs over the last nine seasons. Through gritty and close wins, Denver is playing through adversity every week and responding as you are supposed to.
The question remains on if Bo Nix can lead this team through a playoff run, but Nix hasn’t had to do much with the defense playing the best out of anyone in the league, even though reigning defensive player of the year Patrick Surtain has been out due to injury.
The defense still far and away leads the league in sacks (49) and continues its dominance in the secondary, holding Patrick Mahomes to 276 yards and an interception last week. If Denver can keep this up and continue to improve offensively, the playoffs will not be the highest the Mile High City can go.
#6 – Green Bay Packers (6-3-1)
(Week 11: #7)
It’s one of the easiest things to promptly attribute a “subpar” offensive performance to the frontmen of an offense: the coach and quarterback. But, as this close win in New Jersey has shown us, these recent hiccups don’t solely fall on the two of them. The Pack had six dropped offensive passes in a 27-20 win, which is the reason for Jordan Love’s low completion percentage (54%).
If those targets are hauled in, Love’s percentage shoots from the mid-50s to 79%. The Pack’s quarterback finished the game with two passing touchdowns and no turnover-worthy plays per PFF. He gave Watson the best opportunity to make an outstanding play in the back corner of the endzone, against double coverage, to give them the late lead.
The Packers’ offense put up 27 points – despite losing Josh Jacobs to injury in the first half – after just 13 against Carolina at home last week. The cheeseheads in Wisconsin have endured too much material success to go searching for moral victories over the years, but if all of their immensely talented cogs in their offensive machine can get to turning synchronously, they’ll return to the status they earned in the early parts of the season.
#7 – Buffalo Bills (7-3)
(Week 11: #8)
As pre-game music and bad weather riled up the Buffalonians, snug in their frosty seats, equipped with the left-handed beer, all seeking an engaging matchup between two heavyweight fighters, the stampeding Buffalo Bills shook the field before their crazed followers as they all fell into frenzy. The reasoning becomes clear as the game clock ticks on.
Josh Allen is now the only quarterback in NFL history with more than one game in his repertoire with three touchdowns on the ground and three through the air. The only other quarterback to even complete this feat once was Otto Graham in 1954. Allen was responsible for 86% of Buffalo’s total yards gained, even accounting for 41% of the rushing yards.
Even though the Josh Allen takeover of the offense proves, and will continue to prove, successful, the man can’t play defense. Even with their starting running back out, third-string running back Sean Tucker had a career game against the Bills’ run defense, earning 106 rushing yards and two touchdowns, averaging 5.6 yards every carry. As the Bills only grow to miss the injured defensive tackle and star run stopper Ed Oliver, the defense and Bills Mafia will both look to Josh Allen to once again will them into relevancy come the postseason.
#8 Detroit Lions (6-4)
(Week 11: #6)
A Detroit offense, which was averaging 31.4 points per game coming into week 11, was held to a single touchdown and only nine points, while one of the original born-again quarterbacks Jared Goff looked off his usual accurate and on-time game, only completing 37% of his passes in a 9-16 loss at Lincoln Financial Field. After Dan Campbell took over offensive playcalling last week, the move seemed genius and a signature Campbell move, as he was betting on himself and his players.
After a whole offseason worth of discourse on whether you can manage the upcoming season without your rockstar coordinators, it was apparent Campbell shut the conversations up himself last week after hanging 44 points in a blowout against Washington and their backup Marcus Mariota. Philly’s defense brought this group back down to the muddy reality of pro football.
Goff was pressured 20 times, which paved the way for the QB to achieve the lowest completion percentage of any passer this season. He could barely get a pass off in a clean pocket, as five of his pass attempts were batted down at the line of scrimmage. Despite the no-show offensively, their defense held their own against the boom or bust Philadelphia offense, only allowing 16 points – Philly’s second-lowest point total in a game this season.
If Detroit’s able to keep Goff clean and erase this performance from their minds as they take on the Giants’ lethal pass rush at home in an attempt to get the season back on track, since they’re now third in the NFC North and out of the playoff picture at this very moment, they’ll return to scoring boatloads of points like they have been doing.
#9 – Chicago Bears (7-3)
(Week 11: #10)
As first-year starter JJ McCarthy’s 15-yard touchdown pass gave Minnesota the fourth quarter one-point lead after being behind 16-3 at one point, Bears fans had on-the-spot flashbacks to the first week of the season when their first division matchup with Minnesota took place. But, as the Vikings kicked off after the score and Bears’ returner Devin Duvernay took the ball past midfield, the same outcome of week 1 was not to be expected.
The Bears then ran the clock to zero, lined up and executed the field goal perfectly to send them home with their seventh win this season. Ben Johnson has set a precedent of consistent high-level execution from each of his players.
Listening to their young signal caller Caleb Williams talk about the offense forming a “killer instinct” when discussing the contest in a post-game interview is a neon sign of growth. Growth started with belief, instilled by Johnson. This belief is evident in a defense, often considered the weak link, that boasts three of the league’s top interception leaders.
They now sit a whole game ahead of the Packers for first place in the NFC North, thanks to their belief, which has enhanced their on-field production. Although a left wrist fracture might rob us of a dramatic Aaron Rodgers return to Chicago, Pittsburgh’s defense will still serve as a great and intense litmus test to see how the young offense ranks amongst one of the most experienced teams in the league.
#10 – Carolina Panthers (6-5)
(Week 11: Unranked)
Making their debut on the 2-Minute Drill Power Rankings are the ever-volatile, yet rising Carolina Panthers due to their thrilling overtime sweep of the descending Falcons 30-27. Sunday was a day of blossoming for the Panthers. Bryce Young, who was once told he should request a trade due to his benching last season, set a Panthers quarterback record for the most passing yards in a game with 448.
He complemented this ridiculous number by completing 68% of his 47 passes and throwing three touchdowns. Young looked down for the count numerous times in this matchup, grimacing through his facemask in pain. Yet he dusted himself off and started his snap cadence every time. To carry that kind of toughness, after being dubbed one of the biggest draft busts in recent memory, serves as a rallying point for teammates.
Rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan rallied behind him and also had a career day, posting the most receiving yards in his infant career. The rookie caught eight passes, three of them touchdowns, for 130 receiving yards. Second-year target Xavier Legette also had an extremely complimentary game, scoring a touchdown after Young delivered the best deep ball you could’ve possibly given him on a go-route. Head coach Dave Canales’ vision is finally starting to come together as his club sits only a half-game behind Tampa Bay, which has lost three of its last four outings and has to face the Rams in week 12, for the NFC South crown. A crown that hasn’t daunted the caps of the Cardiac Cats since their Super Bowl ballad of 2015.
