NFL power rankings, post-Week edition:
1. Ravens (3):NFL’s most explosive offense deserves its accolades. But ascending defense is first to record TDs of 65 – plus yards in three straight games since (merger.)
2. Patriots (4):Super Bowl LII rematchin Philadelphia looms all the more important with Baltimore now one game from moving into top slot of AFC’s projected playoff field.
3. 49 ers (2):Gut-wrenching way to suffer season’s first defeat, but don’t forget San Francisco didn’t get help from injured George Kittle or (mostly) Emmanuel Sanders.
4. Saints (1):They laid egg size of a New Orleans hangover Sunday, but let’s not read too much into it. Nine points their fewest scored at home with Drew Brees at helm.
5. Seahawks (9):They upended Niners courtesy of their most impressive performance of uneven season. Acquisitions of Josh Gordon and Quandre Diggs could really help team that needed play makers beyond Russell Wilson.
32 things we learned:From Week 10 of the 2019 NFL season
Mike Jones:These six NFL teams should start worrying about their playoff potential
6. Packers (6):It sounds heretical, but Aaron Jones – now tied for league lead with 14 touchdowns – is currently the top-performing “Aaron” for this bunch.
7. Vikings (8):Don’t look now, but Kirk Cousins is 2-0 in prime-time games this year. Good thing because Minnesota is scheduled to have at least three more.
9. Chiefs (7):Patrick Mahomes now owns most passing yards (8, 007) and TDs (68) in any quarterback’s first 25 NFL starts … but it may not be enough to save Kansas City when it counts.
10. Cowboys 12):They’re 4-0 in divisional games, 1-4 otherwise. Good news, bad news situation … bad news being Dallas only has two NFC East games left.
11. Eagles 13):Backing the Brinks truck up for a guard often a questionable move … but giving Brandon Brooks a $ 54 million extension could be a bargain.
12. Steelers (16):Minkah Fitzpatrick now entering defensive player of year conversation, swiping league-best five passes in seven games with Pittsburgh.
13. Panthers (14): (NFL-high) sacks accomplished by copious committee. Carolina has eight players with at least three, but only Mario Addison (7) has surpassed 4½.
14. Colts (11):In case you hadn’t realized how capably Jacoby Brissett has filled Andrew Luck’s shoes … welp, now you probably have pretty good idea.
15. Raiders 17):Unfair to compare rookie Clelin Ferrell and departed Khalil Mack, but let’s do it anyway. Ferrell has 3½ sacks … Mack had four his entire rookie year.
16 . Rams (10):Defense accounted for nine of 12 points Sunday … which pretty much explains why Sean McVay suffered first regular-season loss to AFC team.
Jarrett Bell:Rams are paying the true price of their $ 134 million investment in QB Jared Goff
17. Bills (15):Their play is getting incrementally worse, and schedule forecasts incrementally harder with Miami, Pittsburgh among opponents that no longer project as lay-ups.
18. Titans 24):Ryan Tannehill would be league’s sixth-rated quarterback if he’d played enough to qualify in the rankings. He definitely qualifies as a season saver.
19. Chargers (19):Key injuries … Philip Rivers trying to do too much … off-field distractions … we’ve definitely entered “same-old Chargers” territory.
20. Jaguars (20:Fun fact – over course of his career, Nick Foles’ passer rating improves each successive month … so November / December exactly when you want him.
21. Bears (22):Mitch Trubisky is fair game, but remember that Chicago’s 36 takeaways in 2018 greatly aided him and offense. Team has 12 takeaways so far this year .
22. Buccaneers 26):Fair or not, NFL’s Next Gen Stats can be really unkind. Bucs’ Breshad Perriman currently has league’s worst catch percentage (32 .1%).
23. Cardinals 21):Christian Kirk snagged three TD passes Sunday, matching output from his first 18 games. If he gets going, “Air Raid” could reach new level.
24. Falcons 28):Too little, too late for this team … almost surely too little, too late for Dan Quinn, maybe even GM Thomas Dimitroff. But this teamcanplay.
25. Broncos 23):We could be in for the quarterback battle America never wanted – Brandon Allen vs. Drew Lock with rookie set to resume practicing this week.
26. Browns (27):Odell Beckham had three red-zone targets all year prior to Sunday, then got three in a single drive – two resulting in pass interference penalties.
27. Lions (18:Is Kenny Golladay most dangerous deep threat we don’t discuss? Back to those Next Gen Stats, no player averages more targeted air yards than his
28. Dolphins 30):Now just imagine if they’d held on to Minkah Fitzpatrick … they’d be – what – very possibly 3-6?
29. Jets (31: (Through) career starts, Sam Darnold has 24 TD passes and 24 INTs. Lots of work to do if he’s to get well clear of the dreaded Sanchez Line.
30. Giants (25):Real bummer watching Saquon Barkley get squandered to the tune of 27 yards over his past 28 carries. No wonder his dad roots for the Jets.
31. Redskins (29):Probably right call to start Dwayne Haskins down the homestretch – though given supporting cast’s state, how much can be gleaned from his performance?
32. Bengals 32:Sorry, Ryan Finley, but NFL ain’t fair (ask Andy Dalton). Bet here is you’ve got seven more games to convince Cincinnati not to draft another QB No. 1. *************
(Previous ranking in parentheses)
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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on Twitter@ ByNateDavis
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