That was an incredible week of football. I think this sport has a real chance to gain some popularity.
Week 10 led to some deep soul-searching and intense emotional turmoil during the pecking-order process of the Power Rankings, but I'll continually put myself through a mental ringer if we can get games like this every week.
Wait, he's not going to keep the Niners at No. 1 after what happened on Monday night, is he? You're damn right he is.
NOTE: The previous rankings referenced in the lineup below are from the
Previous rank:**
The worst thing about being on the wrong end of a Monday night classic? You know it will be resurfaced repeatedly on telecasts until the end of time.听The Niners lost their first game of the season聽in crushing fashion: at home, in prime time, to a division rival, in the last second of overtime. If poor聽听尘补办别蝉听, the聽聽are 9-0 and we're all talking about their bottomless well of resolve. But McLaughlin yacked it, and suddenly the Niners are in a dogfight with the聽聽in the NFC West. San Francisco needs to get healthy on the offensive side of the ball: With聽聽(knee/ankle) sidelined and聽聽(ribs) knocked out of the game early,听聽was left with a dearth of trustworthy options ... and it showed. 罢丑别听聽still feel like the best team in the NFL through 10 weeks, but the聽聽showed us the gap is minimal.
Previous rank:**
Sunday's matchup against the winless聽聽seemed unfair on paper, and it was聽**聽robbed the聽聽of their聽agency聽during another incredible performance in which he finished with a perfect passer rating and delivered his greatest highlight-reel run yet in a 49-13 laugher. 罢丑别听聽are knocking on the door for聽, and it all starts with the 22-year-old under center. "You know how many little kids in this country are going to be wearing No. 8 playing quarterback for the next 20 years?"聽聽coach John Harbaugh聽聽on the sideline Sunday, after telling him: "You changed the game, man." Harbaugh's right: Jackson聽has聽changed the game. All the talk comparing the second-year star to Michael Vick has been selling Jackson short this entire time. Jackson is better than peak Vick ... and he's just getting started.
Previous rank:**
We're coming off a harrowing week for the聽聽and their fans, who not only had to process their team's first loss of the season -- last Sunday night'蝉听聽to the聽聽-- but also the painful reality that New England no longer holds the top spot in the NFL dot com Power Rankings. Yes, Patriot Way was shaken out of its聽聽existence, but let's all remember that hell hath no fury like Bill Belichick coming off a loss聽and聽a bye. New England is 14-5 in post-bye games during the Belichick Dynasty. 罢丑别听聽draw the tough assignment -- they're聽聽to face the defending champions. That's quite a change from the first half, when New England fattened up on some of the worst teams in football.
Previous rank:**
After it was all over,听聽told ESPN he didn't think he'd "ever been part of a game that crazy." 罢丑别听聽knocked off the previously undefeated聽,听27-24 in OT, in a game that had more twists and turns than a daytime soap opera. You could write a book on the overtime period alone, as Wilson threw聽, the Niners聽, then聽聽got his season back on track with聽. Wilson's steady hand is irreplaceable in pressure cookers like this, but the game ball has to go to聽, who played like a superstar. Clowney lived in San Francisco's backfield, created turnovers,听聽and basically ensured he'll soon get a contract that makes him one of the highest-paid defenders in football. Nice day at the office for both player and team.
Previous rank:**
If the聽聽go on to win their first聽聽title in nearly a decade, a beefy segment of the eventual DVD season retrospective will be centered on how Sunday's game ended at snowy Lambeau Field.听, the NFL's best running back, was 2 yards from the goal line with the chance to put the聽聽in position to tie. And the Green Bay defense rose to the occasion to聽听补苍诲听听罢丑别听' defense has been a problem for weeks: Since Week 4 and entering Sunday, Mike Pettine's unit ranked 31st in yards allowed per play, 30th in completions of 20 or more yards allowed and 30th in third-down defense,听. The Pack D nearly collapsed on Sunday, as well: McCaffrey's final carry was the 18th play of an 88-yard聽聽drive. But Green Bay didn't break. It was a dramatic stand to build upon.
Previous rank:**
聽by the聽, who were dominated in all phases by a downtrodden聽聽team that hadn't shown a pulse in weeks.听聽was sacked six times -- tied for the most ever in his career -- and was pressured 18 times by a relentless Atlanta front seven. How stunning was the defensive surge by the聽? They managed seven sacks聽all season聽before Sunday. 罢丑别听聽were well under 300 yards of total offense before they began accumulating first downs in a final garbage-time drive that still produced zero points. "Pick a situation, and there's a good chance they won that situation,"聽聽coach Sean Payton聽. It was ... well ... as聽weird聽an outcome as we've seen in this 2019 NFL season, and it begs the question: Is this a sign of trouble in New Orleans, or was it just a very bad day at the office?
Previous rank:**
The big narrative headed into Sunday night'蝉听聽against the聽聽centered on聽聽and whether he could rise to the occasion in prime time against a quality opponent, the type of setting that has seemingly unnerved the quarterback in the past. But then the game started, Cousins played with a steady hand, and we were reminded who the true star of Minnesota's attack really is.听聽delivered another All-Pro performance in Dallas, finishing with 183 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in a 28-24 win. Cook and Cousins didn't do it alone: 罢丑别听' defense was in bend-but-don't-break mode against a high-powered Dallas attack, typified by聽聽in the final minute that ended the聽' final scoring chance. Kendricks has been one of the best cover linebackers in football this season ...听聽picked the wrong "mismatch."
Previous rank:**
If the聽聽aimed to show the world on Sunday night they should be viewed as legit聽聽contenders, they didn't do a very good job of it. Lapses in judgment and failures in execution killed Dallas in聽聽which dropped the聽聽into a tie with the聽聽atop a weak NFC East. Advanced analytics tell us that Jason Garrett's team is one of the best in football, but there's always been truth to that ol' Parcellism:聽You are what your record says you are.听罢丑别听聽are 5-4, a little better than mediocre.听'蝉听聽on a聽聽punt in the final minute is聽. He told reporters after the game he was instructed to call for a fair catch to save seconds on the clock. Fortune favors the bold ... and that ain't the聽.
Previous rank:**
For the second consecutive year, and for the third time in the last four seasons, the聽聽have started the season at 6-3. It's a nice spot to be in, and a big part of Houston's success can be found in the trenches. 罢丑别听' offensive line, led by key late-summer acquisition聽, has done a much better job of protecting聽. And the unit's opening up holes for a running game that's been one of the most productive in football. The Carlos Hyde-聽聽tandem has piled up nearly 1,000 yards, averaging 4.9 per carry. The absence of聽聽will likely become more pronounced as the season progresses, but Houston's front seven did fine work in shutting down聽听补苍诲听*in Week 9*. Houston entered Week 10 having allowed the third-fewest rushing yards per game (84.1) in football.
Previous rank:**
聽returned to action and looked close to himself, the most important thing that could come out of聽聽But ... what a disastrous finish to a game that the聽聽controlled for the majority of four quarters. A quick rundown of the setbacks starting at the 1:36 mark in the fourth quarter: 1) A failure to convert on a third-and-short followed by 2) a botched snap on a field-goal try, which led to 3) an intentional grounding call on the聽holder, which set the stage for 4) a defense-wide collapse on the聽' four play, 61-yard go-ahead touchdown drive, which was followed by 5)聽聽to end it.听聽win, 35-32. If the聽聽end up missing out on a bye or find themselves in a dogfight with the聽聽in the AFC West, remember what happened in Nashville.
Previous rank:**
One of the biggest surprises of the first half of the season? Scoring points is聽hard work聽for the聽.听聽was a buzzy MVP pick entering 2019 (I bow my head in shame), but almost nothing about this offense has been award-worthy so far. Entering Week 10, Philly ranked 14th in points per game, 18th in yards per game, 21st in passing yards per game and 12th in rushing yards per game. The Iggles are the textbook definition of a middling offense, and the numbers back that up. Don't sleep on how much聽'蝉听聽hurt this offense -- he was a playmaker who could keep defenses honest with his home-run ability. One undeniable bright spot? Second-round running back聽, who has 641 scrimmage yards through nine weeks. Only聽听蝉迟补苍诲辞耻迟听聽-- the Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite -- has more among first-year pros.
Previous rank:**
罢丑别听' defense continues to resurrect a seemingly lost season. Mike Tomlin's D held the聽聽to a single field goal on offense and forced four turnovers to claim Pittsburgh'蝉听聽in six games. 罢丑别听, left for dead after an 0-3 start, are in the thick of聽聽with seven weeks to play. Pittsburgh is up to 26 takeaways this season, the most turnovers forced by the team in its first nine games of a season since it piled up 28 in that span in 1987. There is less room for excitement on the offensive side of the ball, which managed just 273 yards and 10 points against the聽. Quarterback聽Mason Rudolph, filling in for聽, has been an effective game manager, for the most part, but the聽聽will need to see a leap in his development for this to be more than a feel-good story in the AFC.
Previous rank:**
罢丑别听聽hangover is real. 罢丑别听聽were flummoxed by Bill Belichick聽聽and haven't been remotely the same on offense since. It was all laid bare on a late Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh, where the once-mighty Los Angeles attack managed just one field goal and 306 yards聽聽that further jeopardized the playoff hopes of the defending NFC champions.听聽looked helpless trying to make plays in the face of an imposing Pittsburgh front seven, and the聽' running game remained painfully pedestrian.听聽was held under 100 yards for the seventh straight game, and when asked afterward why the former All-Pro didn't see the ball in the fourth quarter, Sean McVay offered,听That was just kind of the rotation.聽Yep, things have changed a lot for the聽, and not for the better.
Previous rank:**
Do you believe in the聽聽yet? Jon Gruden's team, playing in what might have been the final prime-time game ever in Oakland, went ahead on a late touchdown drive, then made an impressive final stand on defense to secure聽聽over the AFC West-rival聽. Once again, a major storyline was the standout play of聽聽general manager Mike Mayock's sterling rookie class. Running back聽聽(picked 24th overall) put the聽聽ahead for good with聽, defensive end聽聽(No. 4 overall) had 2.5 sacks and defensive end聽聽(picked in the fourth round) capped a big night with a hurry and hit on聽聽that led to聽. Oakland's defense made life miserable for Rivers, who threw three picks and had two more wiped away by penalty. With winnable games ahead against the聽听补苍诲听聽(who have a combined record of 2-16), the聽聽have a legit chance to make the playoffs. Knock on wood if you're with them.
Previous rank:**
Yes, he threw a costly red-zone interception, and a center exchange turnover highlighted his ongoing issue with fumbles, but聽聽played a damn good game on Sunday in Green Bay. In a hostile road environment featuring freezing temperatures and steady snow, Allen kept the聽聽moving all afternoon.听聽will be remembered for聽聽as time expired, but don't forget Allen led Carolina down the field to give CMC that last opportunity. "What he did against that defense, against that front pinning their ears back, knowing we had to throw the ball ... was pretty incredible,"聽. "I thought what he did tonight overall and that fourth quarter was as impressive a quarterback display as I've ever seen." A high compliment from a guy who went to a聽聽with league MVP聽聽a few years back.
Previous rank:**
罢丑别听聽looked like a middle-of-the-pack team on Sunday聽聽hence their placement on the Power Rankings. We saw a breakdown in three phases in Cleveland: On offense,听Josh Allen聽sailed a couple deep balls past open receivers (sound familiar?), and Buffalo was held under 20 total points for the fifth time this season. On defense, the聽聽were able to march 82 yards on 10 plays for the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter. On special teams, kicker聽聽missed two-field goal attempts, including聽聽in the final minute. At 6-3, there's no need to panic. The schedule stays light, with winnable games聽**聽over the next two weeks. Take care of business there, and a playoff ticket is close to punched. But can this team be trusted right now?
Previous rank:**
罢丑别听聽played without their starting quarterback and top wide receiver on Sunday, and it showed聽听奥颈迟丑听聽sidelined by the knee injury suffered in Week 9 against the聽,听聽reverted to the worst version of himself. The veteran completed less than half of his passes and threw three interceptions in his 10th straight loss as a starter. You could do worse than Hoyer as your backup, but there's also a reason he was available after Andrew Luck suddenly retired in late August. Brissett needs to be on the field, especially as the schedule tightens up with聽**聽against AFC South rivals. The big question around the team is whether聽聽will be kicking in any of those games. The veteran missed yet another extra point, this one costly in a game decided by four points. How long can Frank Reich stick with his guy?
Previous rank:**
聽is currently on the dark web searching for mind-eraser technology to wipe away聽聽in Oakland. 罢丑别听聽quarterback threw three interceptions and had two more picks nullified by penalty in a 26-24 loss to the聽聽that put聽聽in serious doubt. Rivers was under constant duress due to a surprisingly meddlesome Oakland front seven, which had its way with an L.A. offensive line missing both starting tackles. The low point for the聽聽came on a final possession that went like this: incompletion, incompletion, incompletion, penalty (first down), incompletion, incompletion, incompletion, interception. Like I said,听聽is scouring the digital underground in search of mind-eraser hardware. Next up for the聽? A showdown against聽聽and the聽*in Mexico City.*聽It's a virtual must-win for the Bolts.
Previous rank:**
What an outrageous, dramatic and potentially season-saving win by the聽**聽against the聽. In news that would have stunned聽聽fans into silence a few weeks back, it was the聽offense聽that rescued the home team in Nashville. Tennessee's defense, which has been asked to carry the show for years, gave up 530 yards and 32 points to a Kansas City attack that seemed to be on the field for the entire afternoon. But the Ryan Tannehill-led聽聽offense made the most of its opportunities. That was never more apparent than on the four-play, 61-yard touchdown drive that culminated with聽聽with 23 seconds to play. 罢丑别听聽needed just 58 seconds to reach the end zone on a drive that began in their territory with no timeouts. This doesn't happen with聽聽behind center.
Previous rank:**
Doug Marrone聽听迟辞听聽in the bye week, and you have to admire the coach's vision.听聽fans have rallied around rookie QB聽, both as a player and a shaggy underdog folk hero, so sending the sixth-round pick to the bench took some onions, to borrow a phrase from famed basketball announcer Bill Raftery. Now we'll see if Marrone's decision pays off for a Jags team that needs a winning streak. In a way, it's a no-lose situation for the Duval faithful. If Foles and the聽聽surge, it will make for an exciting final seven weeks of the regular season in Jacksonville. If Foles struggles, the Jags still have a promising young backup waiting in the wings. We're no longer in Bortles-or-bust or Blaine-or-pain territory, the fan equivalent of being trapped on a burning boat with a pack of hungry crocodiles circling below.
Previous rank:**
Things got more interesting than they should have in the final minutes, but聽聽against a聽聽team missing聽. 罢丑别听聽offense managed just 20 yards total in their first four possessions, a funk that summoned memories of聽Week 9, when Chicago managed just 9 total net yards in the first half against the聽. The turning point Sunday came on Chicago's final possession of the first half: A 10-play, 80-yard march that ended when聽聽for the go-ahead score. Trubisky threw two more touchdown passes in the third quarter, taking control of the game and releasing the pressure valve at Soldier Field. Though the聽' attack remains The Problem in Chicago, you can see a few beams of sunshine breaking through the clouds in the last two weeks. Can they build on it?
Previous rank:**
Well, here we are again. 罢丑别听聽are out of contention in the AFC West ... and they still need a quarterback.听聽gave way to聽, who gave way to聽, who gave way to聽, who will ultimately give way to ... ???聽, who looked pretty good聽聽last week?聽, the second-round pick who currently resides in parts unknown (but who is聽聽A new college hotshot to be named later? If John Elway is again permitted to direct this search (a big聽if), don't be surprised to see the聽聽dip into the free-agent market for the third straight year. An unofficial list of veteran QBs who will be -- or could be -- changing teams this offseason:聽,听,听,听,听,听,听,听. Oh, hell,听. Hey, Elway reeled in Peyton Manning in 2012, and that worked out pretty well.
Previous rank:**
It's hard to say what exactly can be taken out聽聽Any victory is a great victory, especially when it ends a four-game losing streak, but key deficiencies remain for Cleveland. The offense is inconsistent with聽Baker Mayfield聽at the controls, and the unit's work in the red zone remains dreadful -- especially with the amount of talent on the field. The season would have been all but over if the fumble return for a touchdown by聽听诲别蹿别苍诲别谤听聽late in the fourth quarter hadn't been overturned by review. But it was, and a Nick Chubb-led offense made the most of its second chance, driving for the go-ahead score. Following聽, the聽聽were celebrating. Cleveland remains聽聽at 3-6, but hey, the rest of the AFC wild-card field isn't exactly overwhelming -- Buffalo included. A win聽against the Steelers听辞苍听Thursday Night Football, and the聽聽have a shot.
Previous rank:**
Here's a hot take: 罢丑别听聽really need聽. The quarterback, whose iron-man starting streak聽聽due to a back injury, was sorely missed in a聽聽that put Detroit's playoff hopes聽**聽stepped in for Stafford and had a few moments -- his best being聽聽that gave the聽聽a spark in the fourth quarter -- but this simply isn't a balanced enough team to survive the absence of its best player. The typically overmatched聽聽defense started off well, holding the聽聽to just 20 yards on four fruitless drives to start the game. But Mitch Trubisky threw touchdown passes in the next three聽聽possessions, putting Detroit in a 20-6 hole that was simply too deep with Stafford on the sideline. Now we wait to see how long the quarterback has to stay there.
Previous rank:**
It's an NFL cliche when a struggling team hypes up an upcoming matchup against a rival as "our Super Bowl" ... but in the case of聽聽over the聽聽at the Superdome, it truly felt like that. 罢丑别听聽played with passion and precision for four quarters; someone with no information on these rivals would be stunned to learn which team entered this game with a 1-7 record and which team entered it at 7-1. Good for Atlanta's Dan Quinn, whose beaming smile on the sideline in the game's waning minutes told the story of a coach who really needed that. And let's give some love to Quinn's defense, which was atrocious in the season's first half but legitimately dominant against a聽聽offense that's as deep as any attack in football. 罢丑别听' nine points were the fewest in a home game since Sean Payton and聽聽came to town. Hand the聽聽their invisible Lombardi Trophy.
Previous rank:**
Sunday brought a surge of much-needed good cheer to the Bucs' locker room.听聽over the聽聽snapped a four-game losing streak and allowed the Bucs to celebrate a victory in their own stadium for the first time since last December.听聽ended an up-and-down day on a high, leading the Bucs on a 92-yard touchdown drive that put the home team ahead for good.听聽was delivered by聽, who聽聽the previous week.听聽was found on the other side of the ball, where聽听谤辞辞办颈别听聽-- who was burned for three touchdowns in聽Week 9's loss to the Seahawks听--听聽in the red zone to keep Tampa Bay within striking distance in the fourth quarter. Did we mention Arians got the win against the聽, the team he used to coach? Yes, it was a good Sunday.
Previous rank:**
That's three straight losses for the聽聽following their three-game winning streak. On Sunday, they competed for 60 minutes on the road聽聽but they were unable to find a way (or get a pass-interference call on聽's final heave as time expired). Speaking of Murray, the rookie quarterback threw his first interception in six weeks. He went 211 passes between picks, an NFL rookie record. Murray joins聽, Daunte Culpepper and聽聽as the only players since 1950 with 2,500 passing yards and 250 rushing yards in their first 10 career starts. We got some intrigue on Monday when聽聽coach Kliff Kingsbury revealed that he kept聽聽on the bench in the final quarter so they could聽聽Johnson, who led the NFL in touches (373) and scrimmage yards (2,118) in 2016, hasn't been the same player this year as he's battled multiple injuries. Could his time in Arizona be close to an end?
Previous rank:**
That's two consecutive wins for the聽, who followed last week'蝉听聽over the聽听飞颈迟丑听聽over a banged-up聽聽team.听聽continues a recent trend of playing within himself (not historically his bailiwick), and the Miami defense continues to improve. 罢丑别听聽have forced five takeaways in their last three games after managing just two heading into Week 8. It's all a very good look for first-year coach Brian Flores, who weathered the storm of his team's historically inept first six games and now has Miami playing the role of frisky spoiler in the AFC. That might not follow the plan management had in mind over the summer, but that's why these supposed "tank" setups rarely work. The coaches and players on the field want to succeed. "We're going out to win every game. Period,"聽聽on Sunday night. Amen to that.
Previous rank:**
聽said the聽聽should view him as an untouchable superstar while聽聽with his name coming up ahead of last month's trade deadline -- and on Sunday, he played like one. The third-year safety was a man possessed聽聽stuffing the box score with nine tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, a touchdown and a fourth-down stop. His聽聽takeaway from聽聽steadied a聽聽team that seemed ready to lose control of another game. 罢丑别听聽should do everything in their power to repair their relationship with Adams ... making him the highest-paid safety in the NFL would be a good start.听聽-- Gang Green'蝉听other聽most important commodity -- also delivered a strong game, leading the聽聽on three touchdown drives and avoiding a turnover for just the second time this season. Adam Gase needs several more games like this to regain his "quarterback whisperer" reputation and earn a second year on the sideline in Gotham.
<Previous rank:**
The losing streak has reached six after聽聽to the crosstown-rival聽. These losses never go over well internally at聽聽headquarters.听Saquon Barkley聽was held to聽1 rushing yard聽on 13 carries, the offensive line surrendered six sacks and the defense couldn't shut down a previously punchless聽聽offense that entered Sunday averaging 12.0 points per game. 罢丑别听聽would love to provide聽聽with stability as the promising rookie quarterback continues his development, but Pat Shurmur is going to have a hard time surviving this season unless the聽聽make a major turnaround. Jones was the game's biggest bright spot, throwing for 308 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. It's not the first time the聽聽have squandered a high-level Jones performance, and it speaks to how much work needs to be done to return this meandering franchise to prominence.
Previous rank:**
罢丑别听聽announced Monday that rookie聽听飞颈濒濒听聽We'll see if the quarterback gets the opportunity to make a difference. Haskins attempted just 22 passes in聽聽to the聽, while Washington has morphed into one of the most run-heavy teams in football since Bill Callahan took over as interim coach. That schematic shift is likely connected to the coaching staff's attempt to protect a rookie passer who might not be ready for prime time, but c'mon now, if you're going to play the kid ... then, you know,听let the kid play. The run-heavy聽聽attack isn't working a lick, anyway: Washington has gone three straight games with 10 points scored or less, the team's worst stretch of offensive ineptitude since the John F. Kennedy administration. Ah, yes, those scrappy聽聽of 1961.
Previous rank:**
You can say it's unfair to drop the聽聽to the bottom of the Power Rankings coming off聽听补驳补颈苍蝉迟听聽and the surging聽, but eventually,听in our league聽(to borrow a grating Aikman-ism), you have to win a football game.听聽began his audition to become the Quarterback Of The Future in Cincinnati, a mostly rocky debut that included two turnovers returned for touchdowns. He'll get the rest of this season to prove himself as a prospect worth developing, but you imagine the聽聽will struggle to pass on the opportunity to select one of the top quarterbacks in the draft if they end up with the No. 1 pick or something close to it. On Sunday, they got a front-row seat for the Lamar聽Jackson Show -- a reminder of how an elite young talent under center can change everything.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter .
