Analysis
11/15/22
14 min read
Week 11 NFL Power Rankings: Chiefs Make Debut at No. 1
The '72 Dolphins can rest easy for another year. The NFL's final unbeaten team, the Philadelphia Eagles, went down to defeat Monday night, losing to the Washington Commanders, 32-21.
The loss dropped the 8-1 Eagles out of the top spot in The 33rd Team's latest power rankings. They slipped to No. 2 and were replaced by the 7-2 Kansas City Chiefs, who had a 10-point win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
The 6-3 Buffalo Bills, who lost in overtime Sunday to the 8-1 Minnesota Vikings, fell from third to fourth, while the Vikings moved ahead of them into the No. 3 spot.
There hasn't been a lot of movement at the top of the rankings this season. The defending Super Bowl-champion Rams opened at No. 1, but were quickly replaced by the Bills, who held on to the top spot for eight weeks before getting bumped by the Eagles, who were at No. 1 for just two weeks.
There's actually been a lot more intrigue at the bottom of the power rankings, where the 2-7 Las Vegas Raiders became the seventh team this season to wear the No. 32 dunce cap, joining the Steelers (one week), Lions (two weeks), Panthers (two weeks), Texans (three weeks), Jets and Falcons (both one week).
The Raiders, who made the playoffs last season, dropped from No. 29 to the cellar following a 25-20 loss to the Colts. It was their third straight loss.
Back up at the top, the Chiefs (7-2) held on to the No. 2 spot behind the 9-0 Eagles with a 27-17 win over the Jaguars. The Vikings (8-1), who upset the Bills in Buffalo in overtime on Sunday, took over the No. 3 spot from the Bills (6-3), who dropped to No. 4. The Ravens (6-3), who had a bye, remained at No. 5.
The 33rd Team power rankings heading into Week 11:
1. Kansas City Chiefs (7-2)
Last week: W 27-17 vs. Jaguars | This week: at 5-4 Chargers | Previous: 2
Good news: With four more touchdown passes Sunday, Patrick Mahomes has a league-high 25 now.
Bad news: Their defense isn't going to slow down many of the league's better passing offenses. It has given up 19 touchdown passes and is allowing a 101.6 opponent passer rating.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (8-1)
Last week: L 21-32 vs. Commanders | This week: at 4-5-1 Colts | Previous: 1
Good news: The Eagles still have a one-game lead over the Giants and a two-game lead over the Cowboys in the NFC East.
Bad news: The defense couldn't get off the field against Washington, which controlled the ball for a stunning 40 ½ minutes. The Eagles, who came into the game ranked first in time of possession, ran a season-low 47 plays.
3. Minnesota Vikings (8-1)
Last week: W 33-30 at Bills | This week: vs. 6-3 Cowboys | Previous: 4
Good news: With four more takeaways against the Bills, the opportunistic Vikings defense is tied for the league lead with 18.
Bad news: The defense gave up season-highs to the Bills in points (30), yards (486) and first downs (29).
4. Buffalo Bills (6-3)
Last week: L 30-33 vs. Vikings | This week: vs. 3-6 Browns | Previous: 3
Good news: Josh Allen's running continues to be a big part of the Bills' offense, elbow injury or no elbow injury. He's rushed for 219 yards in the last three games and has averaged 10.4 yards per carry.
Bad news: Winning the AFC East no longer is the child's play it seemed to be three months ago, particularly if Allen is going to continue to be reckless with the football.
5. Baltimore Ravens (6-3)
Last week: Bye | This week: vs. 3-7 Panthers | Previous: 5
Good news: The Ravens don't play another team that currently has a winning record until the final game of the regular season (Bengals).
Bad news: Lamar Jackson has completed more than 60% of his passes in just one of the Ravens' last five games.
6. Tennessee Titans (6-3)
Last week: W 17-10 vs. Broncos | This week: at 4-6 Packers | Previous: 7
Good news: The Titans have one of the most physical defenses in the league. They sacked the Broncos' Russell Wilson six times and had 18 hits on him.
Bad news: Derrick Henry averaged just 2.8 yards per carry against the Broncos. That was his second-lowest rush average of the season.
7. San Francisco 49ers (5-4)
Last week: W 22-16 vs. Chargers | This week: at 4-6 Cardinals | Previous: 8
Good news: The 49ers are 3-0 in the NFC West and still haven't played the dysfunctional Cardinals yet.
Bad news: Christian McCaffrey averaged just 2.7 yards per carry against a Chargers defense that can't stop the run.
8. Dallas Cowboys (6-3)
Last week: L 28-31 at Packers | This week: at 8-1 Vikings | Previous: 6
Good news: CeeDee Lamb had career-highs in receptions (11) and receiving yards (150) against the Packers.
Bad news: The Cowboys don't have time to lick their wounds from the loss to the Packers. They've got the 8-1 Vikings on the road next, then the 7-2 Giants in a short-week divisional Thanksgiving battle.
9. Cincinnati Bengals (5-4)
Last week: Bye | This week: at 3-6 Steelers | Previous: 10
Good news: The Bengals are hopeful they'll have WR Ja'Marr Chase back for their Week 12 game against Tennessee.
Bad news: The Bengals' 14 sacks are the league's fifth-fewest and the smallest total by a team with a winning record.
10. New York Jets (6-3)
Last week: Bye | This week: at 5-4 Patriots | Previous: 11
Good news: The Jets have allowed just 15.9 points per game in their last six games (five wins).
Bad news: The Jets haven't been good on third down. They've converted just 26.9% of their third downs in the last four games. Just 16 of Zach Wilson's 49 third-down pass attempts (32.6%) this season have produced first downs.
11. New York Giants (7-2)
Last week: W 24-16 vs. Texans | This week: vs. 3-6 Lions | Previous: 12
Good news: Six straight games without an interception for Daniel Jones.
Bad news: Dane Belton's interception against the Texans was just the defense's second pick this season.
12. Seattle Seahawks (6-4)
Last week: L 16-21 at Bucs | This week: Bye | Previous: 9
Good news: Geno Smith has a plus-13 touchdowns-to-interceptions differential.
Bad news: The Seahawks' 39 rushing yards were their second-fewest of the season. They had just 36 in a 27-7 Week 2 loss to the 49ers.
13. Miami Dolphins (7-3)
Last week: W 39-17 vs. Browns | This week: Bye | Previous: 14
Good news: Tua Tagavailoa has a 137.7 passer rating in the Dolphins' last three games, including nine TDs, a 76.5 completion percentage and a 9.9 yards-per-attempt average.
Bad news: Opposing QBs have a 67.9 completion percentage and a plus-12 touchdowns-to-interceptions differential against the Dolphins.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-5)
Last week: W 21-16 vs. Seahawks | This week: Bye | Previous: 15
Good news: The Buccaneers, who entered Sunday's game averaging a league-low 20.3 rushing attempts per game, ran the ball 40 times against the Seahawks. That's the most rushing attempts by a Tom Brady-quarterbacked team since the Patriots ran it 47 times in a 24-12 win over the Bills back in 2018.
Bad news: Brady finally threw an interception after 399 straight passes without one.
15. Washington Commanders (5-5)
Last week: W 32-21 at Eagles | This week: at 1-7-1 Texans | Previous: 18
Good news: The Commanders, who came into Monday night's game ranked 26th in the NFL in third-down efficiency, converted 12 of 21 third downs against the Eagles.
Bad news: Their defense has just five sacks in the last four games, including only one against the Eagles.
16. Los Angeles Chargers (5-4)
Last week: L 16-22 at 49ers | This week: vs. 7-2 Chiefs | Previous: 13
Good news: With Keenan Allen and Mike Williams out, the Chargers have been using RB Austin Ekeler more in the passing game. He has 36 catches in the last four games.
Bad news: The injury-ravaged Chargers are averaging nearly six points less per game this year (22.2) than they did last year (27.9).
17. New England Patriots (5-4)
Last week: Bye | This week: vs. 6-3 Jets | Previous: 19
Good news: Their defense has a league-best 56.8 opponent completion percentage.
Bad news: QB Mac Jones has averaged just 5.2 yards per attempt in the last two games. Then again, the Patriots won both of those games.
18. Arizona Cardinals (4-6)
Last week: W 27-17 at Rams | This week: vs. 5-4 49ers | Previous: 21
Good news: Colt McCoy is a way better backup quarterback than John Wolford.
Bad news: TE Zach Ertz, a valuable part of the Cardinals' offense, was carted off the field Sunday after injuring his knee.
19. Los Angeles Rams (3-6)
Last week: L 17-27 vs. Cardinals | This week: at 3-7 Saints | Previous: 16
Good news: Well, at least Sean McVay won't have to worry about any of his assistants getting head coaching jobs after the season.
Bad news: An offense that has scored more than 17 points just once in the last six games is going to be without its best pass-catcher – Cooper Kupp – for a while. Kupp injured his ankle in the fourth quarter. Straw, meet camel's back.
20. Indianapolis Colts (4-5-1)
Last week: W 25-20 at Raiders | This week: vs. 8-1 Eagles | Previous: 22
Good news: Jonathan Taylor rushed for 147 yards against the Raiders and looked like the guy who led the league in rushing last season.
Bad news: The Colts have the second-worst turnover differential (minus-nine) in the league.
21. Green Bay Packers (4-6)
Last week: W 31-28 vs. Cowboys | This week: vs. 6-3 Titans | Previous: 25
Good news: Rookie first-rounder Christian Watson had a breakout game against the Cowboys, catching three TD passes, including 58- and 39-yarders.
Bad news: The Packers' 26th-ranked run defense has to deal with the Titans' Derrick Henry next.
22. Denver Broncos (3-6)
Last week: L 10-17 at Titans | This week: vs. 2-7 Raiders | Previous: 20
Good news: Their defense. It has held opponents to a league-best 16.5 points per game.
Bad news: Their offense. It's the least productive in the NFL, averaging 14.6 points per game.
23. Atlanta Falcons (4-6)
Last week: L 15-25 at Panthers | This week: vs. 3-7 Bears | Previous: 17
Good news: Their next four opponents – Chicago, Washington, Pittsburgh and New Orleans – are a combined 13-26.
Bad news: The Falcons have somehow managed to make TE Kyle Pitts disappear. He's been targeted 15 times in the last two games and has four catches for 55 yards.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7)
Last week: L 17-27 at Chiefs | This week: Bye | Previous: 27
Good news: This week's bye? After losing six of their last seven games, Doug Pederson's staff badly needs some time to do some self-scouting.
Bad news: Did I mention they've lost six of their last seven?
25. Detroit Lions (3-6)
Last week: W 31-30 at Bears | This week: at 7-2 Giants | Previous: 28
Good news: The Lions finally got their first road win under Dan Campbell after 12 straight losses.
Bad news: They gave up 147 rushing yards and two touchdowns to Bears QB Justin Fields.
26. Cleveland Browns (3-6)
Last week: L 17-39 at Dolphins | This week: at 6-3 Bills | Previous: 23
Good news: Deshaun Watson can start practicing this week and will be eligible to play in Week 13.
Bad news: Watson can start practicing this week and will be eligible to play in Week 13.
27. Chicago Bears (3-7)
Last week: L 30-31 vs. Lions | This week: at 4-6 Falcons | Previous: 24
Good news: Fields leads the league in rushing first downs with 48. He's rushed for 325 yards and three TDs in the Bears' last two games.
Bad news: The Bears have just 15 sacks in 10 games. They don't have a pass rusher with more than three sacks.
28. Carolina Panthers (3-7)
Last week: W 25-15 vs. Falcons | This week: at 6-3 Ravens | Previous: 31
Good news: D'Onta Foreman has three 100-yard rushing performances in the four games since the Panthers traded McCaffrey.
Bad news: The Panthers are dead last in third-down efficiency (28.3%). They've had 59 third downs of seven yards or more, the most in the NFL.
29. Houston Texans (1-7-1)
Last week: L 16-24 at Giants | This week: vs. 5-5 Commanders | Previous: 30
Good news: Rookie RB Dameon Pierce is the one and only offensive bright spot. He is fifth in the league in rushing and has rushed for 90 or more yards in five of the Texans' last six games.
Bad news: Texans converted just one of six red-zone opportunities into a touchdown vs. the Giants. They are 31st in the league in red zone offense (44.0%).
30. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-6)
Last week: W 20-10 vs. Saints | This week: vs. 5-4 Bengals | Previous: 32
Good news: For only the third time this season, the Steelers had a turnover-free game. They've won all three of those games.
Bad news: Rookie QB Kenny Pickett has been sacked 12 times in the last two games.
31. New Orleans Saints (3-7)
Last week: L 10-20 at Steelers | This week: vs. 3-6 Rams | Previous: 26
Good news: Andy Dalton has only been sacked 10 times in 227 pass plays.
Bad news: If the draft was tomorrow, the Saints would have the fourth overall pick. Oh, wait. I forgot. They traded it away.
32. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)
Last week: L 20-25 vs. Colts | This week: at 3-6 Broncos | Previous: 29
Good news: For what it's worth, six of the Raiders' seven losses have been by seven points or less.
Bad news: Raiders not named Maxx Crosby have a combined total of three quarterback sacks this season. Three!
