2017 NFL Power Rankings: Week 11
The closing stretch of the NFL season is getting underway. There are plenty of teams still fighting for playoff consideration, while other teams are running out of time to make their move. With many important games coming up, we will start to get a better picture of how things will turn out soon. But for now, here are this week’s NFL Power Rankings.
32. Cleveland Browns (0-9, Previous Ranking: 32)
Last Week: L, 38-24, at Lions
Next Week: vs. Jaguars (6-3)
Really thought the Browns might pull this one out. But then again, this is the Browns we’re talking about. 0-16 feels like a real possibility at this point.
31. New York Giants (1-8, Previous Ranking: 30)
Last Week: L, 31-21, at 49ers
Next Week: vs. Chiefs (6-3)
While the Browns might hold the league’s worst record, the Giants might be the league’s worst team. They seem to be giving up all over and Ben McAdoo could very likely be out of a job come 2018.
30. San Francisco 49ers (1-9, Previous Ranking: 31)
Last Week: W, 31-21, vs. Giants
Next Week: Bye
It was only a matter of time until the 49ers snagged their first win. They have come too close too many times to not win a game this year. Not going to lie, it was awesome seeing how happy this team was after winning. Shows they really have faith in Kyle Shanahan moving forward.
29. Houston Texans (3-6, Previous Ranking: 27)
Last Week: L, 33-7, at Rams
Next Week: vs. Cardinals (4-5)
A once promising season looks all but lost after losing Deshaun Watson for the year. The Rams electric offense was just too much for the Texans. Things won’t get much easier moving forward.
28. Indianapolis Colts (3-7, Previous Ranking: 28)
Last Week: L, 20-17, vs. Steelers
Next Week: Bye
The Colts did all they could to keep up with the Steelers, almost coming away with a huge upset victory. This offensive line just can’t get the job done consistently, which greatly takes away from Jacoby Brissett, who has improved greatly since joining the Colts.
27. Cincinnati Bengals (3-6, Previous Ranking: 26)
Last Week: L, 24-20, at Titans
Next Week: at Broncos (3-6)
Close call for the Bengals. Just couldn’t close the game out. The Bengals have shown flashes of their former selves this season, but this is a team that is far removed from their once elite units.
26. Miami Dolphins (4-5, Previous Ranking: 25)
Last Week: L, 45-21, at Panthers
Next Week: vs. Buccaneers (3-6)
The Dolphins might be 4-5, but that record is not indicative of how miserable of a team this has been in 2017. They have managed to snag 4 wins, but their 5 losses have all be absolutely painful to watch. Didn’t look competitive in any of them.
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-6, Previous Ranking: 29)
Last Week: W, 15-10, vs. Jets
Next Week: at Dolphins (4-5)
It wasn’t pretty, but a win is a win. The Buccaneers defense looked better than they have all season, so that is something to build off of. With Ryan Fitzpatrick under center, it’s hard to imagine how competitive they’ll be moving forward, but they could potentially get another win against Miami.
24. Denver Broncos (3-6, Previous Ranking: 22)
Last Week: L, 41-16, vs. Patriots
Next Week: vs. Bengals (3-6)
This team is a disaster on and off of the field. Finger pointing is happening on all fronts and this is a team that is making far too many mistakes. The defense is frustrated. The offense is frustrated. The special teams are frustrated. This team isn’t going anywhere fast.
23. Arizona Cardinals (4-5, Previous Ranking: 23)
Last Week: L, 22-16, vs. Seahawks
Next Week: at Texans (3-6)
This team has been a perfect display of how injuries can derail a year. The Cardinals miss Carson Palmer and David Johnson (even with Adrian Peterson reigniting his career). The Cardinals 4 wins have come against 3 of the league’s worst teams. This team is worse team than their record would indicate.
22. Chicago Bears (3-6, Previous Ranking: 17)
Last Week: L, 23-16, vs. Packers
Next Week: vs. Lions (5-4)
The Bears didn’t expect much this year, but Mitchell Trubisky has given the team enough flashes to make them excited for what the future could hold with him under center.
21. Green Bay Packers (5-4, Previous Ranking: 24)
Last Week: W, 23-16, at Bears
Next Week: vs. Ravens (4-5)
This was a decent way to end their losing streak. The scary thing? 8-8 isn’t out of the question at this point. That just won’t be good enough in this year’s NFC playoff race. The injuries just keep adding up in Green Bay.
20. Baltimore Ravens (4-5, Previous Ranking: 21)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: at Packers (5-4)
The Ravens defense has had their moments this year. But Joe Flacco hasn’t. Now 3 games behind the Steelers in the AFC North, the Ravens division hopes are dwindling away. But because of how poor the AFC is this year, a Wild Card birth isn’t out of the question. Which is pathetic, when you think about it.
19. New York Jets (4-6, Previous Ranking: 19)
Last Week: L, 15-10, at Buccaneers
Next Week: Bye
The Jets have been frustrating. Thinking about the close games this team has played in gives them some hope moving forward. But you had a feeling from the beginning that this game was not going to go in the Jets’ favor.
18. Los Angeles Chargers (3-6, Previous Ranking: 18)
Last Week: L, 20-17 (OT), at Jaguars
Next Week: vs. Bills (5-4)
Every week, I just expect the Chargers to play in a close game and let it slip away. Such is the norm in Los Angeles. At least LA has one football team to pull behind.
17. Oakland Raiders (4-5, Previous Ranking: 20)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: vs. Patriots (7-2)
The Raiders have to be hoping for a similar outcome as what they had against the Chiefs. The Raiders are still in the playoff hunt and this is an opportunity for them to prove their worth in Mexico City.
16. Buffalo Bills (5-4, Previous Ranking: 16)
Last Week: L, 47-10, vs. Saints
Next Week: at Chargers (3-6)
I thought the Saints would have a chance for victory against the Bills but not like this. The Bills seemed to be one of the better teams in the league but they are completely unpredictable at this point. The Bills will remain in contention for most of the season due to the weakness of the AFC, not because of their talent.
15. Washington Redskins (4-5, Previous Ranking: 13)
Last Week: L, 38-30, vs. Vikings
Next Week: at Saints (7-2)
The Vikings are arguably the best sub-.500 team in the NFL. To have any chance against the Vikings, they needed to be perfect in all phases. They played a solid game, but they were not perfect. Thus, the loss was expected.
14. Dallas Cowboys (5-4, Previous Ranking: 8)
Last Week: L, 27-7, at Falcons
Next Week: vs. Eagles (8-1)
Without Ezekiel Elliott and Tyron Smith, the Cowboys didn’t stand a chance. Dak Prescott tried to keep the Cowboys in this, but without Smith, he spent a lot of his day on his back. Losing Sean Smith won’t help them much either. This team went from potential Super Bowl contender to a team on the ropes almost overnight.
13. Detroit Lions (5-4, Previous Ranking: 14)
Last Week: W, 38-24, vs. Browns
Next Week: at Bears (3-6)
The Lions struggled to get anything going against the Browns at home. But they still snagged an important win to help their playoff hopes. The remaining schedule for the Lions is favorable, so don’t count this team out just yet.
12. Atlanta Falcons (5-4, Previous Ranking: 16)
Last Week: W, 27-7, vs. Cowboys
Next Week: at Seahawks (6-3)
The Falcons took advantage of the Cowboys’ injuries, especially Adrian Clayborn. Six sacks is no joke, even against a terrible backup left tackle. He got the party started, and the offense finished it off. Nice team win for a team that desperately needed it.
11. Tennessee Titans (6-3, Previous Ranking: 15)
Last Week: W, 24-20, vs. Bengals
Next Week: at Steelers (7-2)
The Titans have come along nicely as the season has progressed. But not to be a downer, but they have also been middle of the road stats wise, boasting the 19th-ranked offense and the 17th-ranked defense. They’ve been good enough to win, but have hardly been dominate on either side of the ball. Regardless, this has the makings of a sneaky football team moving forward
10. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-3, Previous Ranking: 10)
Last Week: W, 20-17 (OT), vs. Chargers
Next Week: at Browns (0-9)
The Jaguars have surprised everyone this season, behind arguably the league’s best defense. Blake Bortles just needs to be average moving forward, and this team could be a legitimate team come January.
9. Carolina Panthers (7-3, Previous Ranking: 11)
Last Week: W, 45-21, vs. Dolphins
Next Week: Bye
Huge win for the Panthers heading into the bye. This team has been extremely up and down all year, but good teams find ways to win. The Panthers have some tough games at the end of the season, but if they can show up like they did against Miami, they could be a surprise in the NFC.
8. Seattle Seahawks (6-3, Previous Ranking: 9)
Last Week: W, 22-16, at Cardinals
Next Week: vs. Falcons (5-4)
Losing Richard Sherman is a huge blow to this defense. The Seahawks still look meh on both sides of the ball, as they really win and lose with Russell Wilson‘s ability to take over games as the magician that he is. The reason I like the Seahawks? They’ve been there, done that. That’s what makes for exciting playoff teams.
7. Kansas City Chiefs (6-3, Previous Ranking: 7)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: at Giants (1-8)
The Chiefs stay put this week and get a cupcake matchup against the Giants this week. The Chiefs have tumbled a bit this season, but are still just as dangerous as any other team in the NFL, especially on offense.
6. Minnesota Vikings (7-2, Previous Ranking: 6)
Last Week: W, 38-30, at Redskins
Next Week: vs. Rams (7-2)
Case Keenum has done more than almost anyone expected during Sam Bradford‘s absence. The even better news? Teddy Bridgewater is back and ready to step in if and when the team needs him. Right now, they’d be smart to roll with the hot hand in Keenum. With a matchup coming up against the Rams, we will get the chance to see which team might have the best chance in taking down the Eagles.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2, Previous Ranking: 2)
Last Week: W, 20-17, at Colts
Next Week: vs. Titans (6-3)
I’ve always said this: a win is a win. It wasn’t pretty and the Steelers didn’t look dominate at all. For that reason, the Steelers tumble to #5, even with a win. At some point, the Steelers will need to play a complete, dominant game. They have the talent to do so. And when that happens, look out. The Titans will give them a solid challenge and opportunity to show if they can.
4. Los Angeles Rams (7-2, Previous Ranking: 4)
Last Week: W, 33-7, vs. Texans
Next Week: at Vikings (7-2)
The Rams continue to impress. Sean McVay deserves to be the Coach of the Year after making this team the biggest surprise of 2017 and making their offense a nearly unstoppable force. I’m beginning to become a real believer in the Rams, but their true colors will come in the remaining stretch of the season. If they can come out alive with their gauntlet of games against the Vikings, Saints, Cardinals, Eagles, and Seahawks, this team will really be the real deal.
3. New Orleans Saints (7-2, Previous Ranking: 5)
Last Week: W, 47-10, at Bills
Next Week: vs. Redskins (4-5)
Seven straight wins for a team that looked hopeless in the first 2 weeks. The Saints’ biggest improvement this season has been unleashing the thunder and lightning combo of Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara. This implementation of a ground game gives the Saints the ability to play in any condition, which makes them dangerous come January.
2. New England Patriots (7-2, Previous Ranking: 3)
Last Week: W, 41-16, at Broncos
Next Week: at Raiders (4-5)
The Patriots are clicking at the perfect moment. With Tom Brady under center, this team will compete on a weakly basis. Their ability to take advantage of mistakes from opposing teams has always made this team lethal. The biggest thing holding them back is a defense that, while improved, has still given up huge yardage. But for now, this team appears to be the best in the AFC.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-1, Previous Ranking: 1)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: at Cowboys (5-4)
If the Eagles find a way to shut up the Cowboys in Dallas, the division will virtually be locked up. Not that there was really any question. The Eagles are still the class of the NFL.
