Are the Broncos on fraud watch? Are the Bears Legit? What’s up with the Rams? Lets find out.
F Tier: Is The Season Over Yet?
32. Tennessee Titans (1-11)
31. Las Vegas Raiders (2-10) -1
30. New York Jets (3-9) +1
29. New Orleans Saints (2-10)
28. Cleveland Browns (3-9)
27. Washington Commanders (3-9)
26. New York Giants (2-11)
25. Arizona Cardinals (3-9) -3
24. Minnesota Vikings (4-8)
D Tier: Next Years Our Year
23. Atlanta Falcons (4-8) -3
22. Miami Dolphins (5-7) +1
21. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8) +4
C Tier: Wild Card Watch
20. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6) -2
19. Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1) +2
18. Kansas City Chiefs (6-6) -4
17. Carolina Panthers (7-6) +2
16. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) -1
B Tier: Dark Horse Contenders
15. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4) +2
14. Houston Texans (7-5) +2
13. Baltimore Ravens (6-6) -4
12. San Francisco 49ers (9-4) +1
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)
A Tier: The Real Deal
- Chicago Bears (9-3) +2
The Bears took down the reigning champs 25-14 this past Friday, as Chicago quietly moved to 9-3 and the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
In this showdown on black Friday, the Bears faced off against the Philadelphia Eagles, and won in dominant fashion. Even with a win, this wasn’t a particularly impressive game for the pass attack, as quarterback Caleb Williams went 17 for 36 while throwing for 154 yards with a touchdown pass to tight end Cole Kmet and an interception. The receivers were a non-factor as well as the star duo of Rome Odunze and DJ Moore combined for four receptions for only 25 yards. What really won the game for Chicago was the run game. Going into this game, it looked to be a tough task for the Bears, as they faced one of the best front sevens in the league, yet the run game executed perfectly. The running back pair of Kyle Monongai and D’Andre Swift combined for 255 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, which was one of the best rushing performances Chicago has seen in decades.
The Bears also couldn’t have done it without their defense. The unit locked down formerly the NFL’s best run game, holding Saquon Barkely to only 56 rushing yards. Safety Kevin Byard III also snagged an interception off of Jalen Hurts. However, A.J. Brown put up quite the stat line against Chicago’s secondary, catching ten balls for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Yet, even with this performance, it was not enough to stand against the Bears impressive performance against the former Champs.
It is true that the Bears have won a lot of close games against bad teams, like the Bengals and Raiders. Yet all it took was the Bears to dominate a super bowl contender and claim the No. 1 seed to finally get the attention they deserve. Since coming to Chicago, head coach Ben Johsnon has truly changed the culture, and I won’t be surprised if they make a much deserved push in the playoffs.
- Denver Broncos (10-2) -2
Yes the Broncos won, but a 27-26 overtime win against the three win Commanders is a less than impressive feat for a ten win team.
Bo Nix performed as expected all season, doing just enough to make sure the talented roster around him can get the job done. Nix went 29 for 45, throwing for 321 yards with a touchdown pass to receiver Courtland Sutton and an interception. Outside of the Sutton touchdown pass, the only other receiver to make an impact was the tight end, Evan Engram. The offseason pickup for Denver had one of his most impactful games yet, with six receptions for 79 yards. Similar to Chicago, this offense would have gotten nowhere Sunday night if it wasn’t for the run game. Rookie back RJ Harvey continues to thrive as the RB one. Harvey rushed for two touchdowns on only 35 rush yards and 13 carries.
The defense also struggled outside of a few players. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw was able to snag an interception off of backup quarterback Marcus Mariota. Yet outside of that the Broncos defense wasn’t able to stop the Commanders offense until the final play of the game. Maritoa was playing hero ball all game with two touchdown passes to Terry McLaurin and Titans former first round pick Treylon Burks. Corner Riley Moss got literally Mossed by Burks in a catch reminiscent of OBJ’s famous three finger catch. Overall Denvers’ elite defense struggled against an abysmal Commanders offense in an off game for the star studded unit.
The Broncos consistent tendency to barely beat bad teams is worrying for their hopes to make a push in the playoffs, which is why I can not even consider placing them any higher, even with their 10-2 record.
- Indianapolis Colts (8-4) -2
The Colts fall from grace continues as they fall to 1-3 over the last four weeks. This comes with a second straight loss this past Sunday, in a 20-16 loss at home against division rival Houston Texans.
The issue for this offense wasn’t Daniel Jones and the pass game at all. Jones played well enough to win, throwing 14 for 27, with 201 passing yards and two touchdowns. Receiver Alec Peirce had a great game as well, catching four passes for 78 yards and a touchdown, as well as tight end Tyler Warren, who caught three passes for 22 yards and a touchdowns. The issue yet again, was Johnathon Taylor. Teams seem to have gotten his number, as Taylor had yet another disappointing week for rushing. Taylor rushed for 85 yards on a huge workload of 21 carries. Granted, it was against one of the best defenses in the league in the Houston Texans, but this was still a disappointing turnout for the leading rusher.
Surprisingly the defense did not play terribly either. The secondary did their job holding back the pass game, as C.J. Stroud threw no touchdowns and an interception to safety Cam Bynum. However there were two things that the Colts failed to do, stop the run and get to the quarterback. Despite the Colts’ lock down coverage in the pass game, they let up 108 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground from back Nick Chubb and receiver Nico Collins. The front seven also failed to get to Stroud, racking up only two sacks against easily one of the worst offensive lines in football.
Although this was easily a close game they could have won, the team once on top of the league struggled in multiple parts of the game that they excelled at in the beginning of the season. Even with the Colts recent struggles, we know how lethal they are when they put it all together, which is why they remain in the top ten this week.
- Buffalo Bills (8-4) +1
Buffalo dominated the Steelers on the road 26-7 this past Sunday, proving that even with mid-season struggles, they are still one of the best teams in the league.
Even with the dominant win, Josh Allen had a less than impressive game for his MVP standards. Allen went 15 for 23, throwing for 123 yards with a touchdown pass to receiver Keon Coleman, as well as an interception. The pass game wasn’t much to call home about either, as running back James Cook III had three receptions for 33 yards. It was the Bills run game that truly won it for this team. Buffalo dominated the Steelers defense all day, as they ran it down Pittsburgh’s throats. Running back James Cook III rushed for 144 yards on 32 carries and Josh Allen was able to get a rushing touchdown as well. Buffalo played ground and pound football against the Steelers and it worked heavily in their favor.
Buffalos’ defense had an outing as well. After a long season of struggle for the entire unit on defense, the Bills held the Steelers offense to only 175 total yards, along with only one rushing touchdown from Jalen Warren. The Bills defense, who is only top ten in one major defensive stat, proved themselves this past Sunday after a rough season for the unit. If defensive coordinator Bobby Babich can consistently get this production out of his unit, they’ll be tough to face come January.
Overall, this was a huge win for the Bills, who were currently on fraud watch after mid season struggles. Although there are definitely certain things to clean up, this team is still the real deal no doubt.
- Detroit Lions (7-5) -3
The Lions fell to 7-5 after losing to division rival Green Bay Packers on Turkey Day. Although their season is not over, this is very concerning for Dan Campbell’s roster.
Jared Goff put up a decent stat line considering losing his star receiver Amon Ra St. Brown early on, as well as losing his star tight end Sam Laporta to the injury reserve. Goff went 20 for 26, throwing for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Goff and receiver Jameson Williams’
chemistry was on fire despite the injuries, as Willams caught seven passes for 144 yards and a touchdown. Issac Teslaa also caught a touchdown pass, catching two balls for 35 yards. Even with pass game success, the run game was stuffed by the Packers front seven all day. Running back duo Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery combined for only 100 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries, an uncharacteristic day for the star studded duo.
The defense, as it continues to be, was the biggest struggle for the Lions. Detroit’s secondary was torn up by Jordan Love as the quarterback went 18 for 30, throwing for 234 yards and four passing touchdowns, with zero picks. Although the run defense ran strong, as they held Josh Jacobs to only 83 yards on 17 carries and no scores. Ultimately this was an embarrassing showing against a team that’s pass game has struggled as greatly as Green Bay’s, and a concerning sight for Detroit’s superbowl aspirations.
As the Lions fall to 7-5, the division lead is looking more and more out of reach. Although I still believe this team has the fire power to beat anyone, which is why they stay in the top ten this week.
S Tier: Super Bowl Contenders
- Green Bay Packers (8-3-1) +5
The Pack becomes this week’s top riser in the rankings, after dominating the Lions 31-24 on Thanksgiving. Green Bay is now one win away and a Bears loss from regaining the division, which is huge after mid-season struggles.
Maybe the most inconsistent quarterback of the season, Jordan Love, had possibly one of his best games of the season against Detroit. Love went 18 for 30, while throwing for 234 yards and four touchdowns, in a huge game for Green Bay’s struggling pass attack. Third year receiver Dontayvion Wicks had one of his biggest games as a Packer, racking up six receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns. Wide outs Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs were also able to catch touchdowns as well, racking up to be one of the biggest games for Green Bay’s receiving room so far this season. The rush attack, on the other hand, was sub par. Josh Jacobs had easily one of his worst games of the season, rushing for only 83 yards and no touchdowns on 17 carries.
The Packers defense however, was a mixed bag. The secondary struggled to contain the Lions pass attack, as even with Detroit’s premier wide out and tight end out, wide receiver two Jameson Williams was still able to pop off, with 144 receiving yards and two touchdowns. This is not a surprising result however, as this season Green Bay has let up an average of 186.5 passing yards per game. Although the secondary struggled to contain the Lions offense, the front seven had a field day. The Lions were able to get nowhere with the run game outside of one touchdown, as the Lions star studded rushing duo in Gibbs and Montgomery only racked up 100 rushing yards on 28 carries. The front seven was also able to manage three sacks and seven tackles for loss, playing a big role in the Packers win.
The Packers proved yet again that they can beat any team they face. Yet, their inconsistency is still a problem, which is why they make the top five, but stay at five on this week’s power rankings.
- Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)
The Eagles dropped another tough loss for a second week straight, this time against the Chicago Bears in a 25-14 beat down. Although it might seem odd that they’re still in the top five, I still truly believe in the talent of this roster.
There’s no doubt the Eagles have plenty to clean up. One glaring issue is the run game. Saquon Barkley and this offensive line has not seemed like their 2024 selves, and the struggle only continued against the Bears. Barkely rushed for only 56 yards on 13 carries against Chicago, a hard watch for Philly fans who fell in love with the former Offensive Player of the Year’s performance in the 2024 season. There were bright spots however. Jalen Hurts struggled on the tape, yet he did just enough to get the real star the ball: A.J. Brown. After some in house issues between Brown and the front office on his issue of not being targeted in game, Brown has finally got the targets he deserves, and boy has he ran with them. Brown was the only true X-Factor for the Eagles offense this past Friday, catching ten passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns.
The real struggle was Philly’s defense. The Eagles were able to contain the Bears in the air, as Caleb Williams only racked up 154 yards and a touchdown along with an interception. Besides a Cole Kemet touchdown, the air game was a non factor due to Philly’s secondary. Yet the run game is where the Eagles were beat. Philly’s front seven stood no chance against the Bears run game, as they rushed for 155 yards and two touchdowns between Swift and Monongai. In a very uncharacteristic game for the Eagles front seven, it is safe to say they have some things to clean up before they head into playoffs.
Overall, the Eagles have been struggling these past few weeks, and the struggles only continued against Chicago. Yet stars like A.J. Brown continued to shine, and if the Eagles can clean up their mistakes, no team wants to face them come playoff time.
- New England Patriots (11-2) +2
I’ll admit that I was a little bit nervous about the Patriots after seeing their lackluster performance against the Bengals, who were without Joe Burrow. Yet they proved me wrong, dominating the Giants on Monday night football 33-15.
MVP favorite Drake Maye put up an amazing performance after one of his worst in the week prior against Cincinnati. Maye went 24 for 31, while throwing for 282 passing yards and two touchdowns. Maye also did a great job of spreading the ball to his receiver room, as wide out’s Kaysonn Boutte and former Coug Kyle Williams both caught touchdown passes from the young quarterback. Although the Pats’ run game struggled greatly against the Giants’ defensive line. Running backs Treyveon Henderson and Rhmondre Stevenson split the carries pretty evenly at 11 and 12, and neither were able to get more than 70 yards or a touchdown, making for a pretty unproductive night for the Patriots’ run game.
Although the Patriots defense allowed two touchdowns and got no turnovers, they still had a solid night as a unit. The defense only let up 139 yards in the air and one passing touchdown from Jaxon Dart to Darius Slayton. The run defense also let up a rushing touchdown, yet outside of that only 68 and 36 yards from Giants running backs Devin Singletary Jr. and Tyrone Tracy Jr. Overall this was a quiet performance from the Patriots defensive unit, yet overall this season the team has ranked No. 5 in points allowed per game, and No. 7 in yards allowed per game.
Overall the Patriots continue to win. Yes, they have an easy schedule, but what good teams do is beat up on bad teams, and they’ve continued to do that week in and week out, which is why they enter the top three this week.
- Los Angeles Rams (9-3) -1
Former MVP favorite Matthew Stafford and the Rams dropped a close one against the Panthers 31-28 on the road. Although this loss might not mean much for the Rams playoff implications, it’s never good for a superbowl caliber team to lose a game they very easily could have won.
Matthew Stafford. Going into the week he was the talk of the league. Going into his tenth game in a row without an interception, he was looking like the clear MVP favorite, yet this all came crashing down against Carolina. Stafford went 18 for 28, while throwing for two touchdowns and two interceptions, breaking his no interception streak. Even with these turnovers, Stafford still did enough for the rest of his team to have a great game. Davante Adams continued to have a fantastic season as a vet, with another two touchdowns and 58 receiving yards on only four receptions. The run game was dominant as well. Running backs Blake Corum and Kyren Williams dominated the ground, as they were both able to rack up a total of two touchdowns and 153 rushing yards, a fantastic day for the rushing duo.
The real issue in this game was defense. After performing like a top ten unit all season, this team began its fall from grace, by letting Bryce Young have a perfect game. Young threw for 206 yards and three passing touchdowns with zero turnovers in the best rated game of his career. The Rams secondary was cooked as well, as corner Emmanual Forbes Jr., who had been resurging his career, was getting scorched by Tetarioa McMillan all day, especially on McMillian’s touchdown catch. The Rams also struggled to get to the quarterback, or tackle for that matter, with only 40 tackles and two sacks on the day.
Overall this showed the Rams’ floor. They narrowly lost to playoff level teams, which the Panthers are. Although yes this was a rough game and a rough loss, this means little to nothing for Los Angeles playoffs hopes and expect to see them make a huge push come playoff time.
- Seattle Seahawks (9-3) +1
The Seahawks embarrassed the Vikings in a 26-0 shut out at home. Although this was not even a feat for the Hawks, they truly displayed just how dominant this team is.
Although the Hawks won, Sam Darnold and the pass game struggled greatly, and this was all thanks to Brian Flores’ love for the blitz. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has always been known to blitz and he didn’t let up against the Seahawks weak offensive line. Darnold was blitzed 60% of the time when passing, being pressured in 18 of his 30 drop backs. This pressure led to Darnold’s unimpressive performance, where he went 14 for 26 for 128 yards, and no scores. This also led to star wide out Jaxon Smith-Njigba having easily his worst game of the season, racking up only two receptions for 23 yards.
One thing was a major success for this offense, that being the run game. The blitz freed up offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to let the run game loose. Running backs Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonett had one of their best games so far this year as a duo, combining for 108 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. Now for the defense. The defense put up maybe one of the best performances of the year league wide, granted against a rookie quarterback making his first start. Even with that the Seahawks produced five turnovers, with four interceptions and one fumble recovery. The defense also shut out the Vikings and only let up 192 yards of total offense from the Vikings.
Even though the Vikings are easily a bottom ten team in the league, the Seahawks still put up a generational performance and proved their true talent on both sides of the ball. Yet one thing is for sure, the Rams and the Seahawks are easily the best team in the league, and I will not be surprised if these teams meet each other to see who wins the NFC.
