KAREN GUREGIAN’S power rankings
1. Rams (7-0) - Against the 49ers, Aaron Donald reminded people the Rams aren’t just an offensive juggernaut. Their defense can be pretty scary, too. 2. Patriots (5-2) - Is it possible for Boston to win a Super Bowl and World Series in the same season? Against the same city? Hmm. 3. Chiefs (6-1) - Might they actually have a competent defense? It sure seemed like it against the Bengals. If that effort wasn’t a mirage, the rest of the AFC is in even more trouble come January. 4. Saints (5-1) - They’ve now won two games on missed kicks at the end. Maybe they should be the team with the horseshoe on the helmet. 5. Vikings (4-2-1) - Can anyone stop Adam Thielen? He’s logged seven straight games with 100 yards receiving. That’s merely the longest streak to start a season in NFL history. 6. Chargers (5-2) - After a 1-2 start, they’ll happily take a four-game win streak heading into their bye. 7. Steelers (3-2-1) - Definition of a great bye week? Having everyone else in the division lose. 8. Ravens (4-3) - There’s never a good time to miss an extra point, but Justin Tucker’s flub against the Saints in the closing seconds of the game might have been the worst. 9. Packers (3-2-1) - The bye week had to do Aaron Rodgers and his balky knee some good prior to coming back to face the Rams. 10. Panthers (4-2) - They came back from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the defending Super Bowl champs. File that under statement win. 11. Eagles (3-4) - The defending champs might not get back to the dance unless they get help at cornerback. Wideouts are killing them. 12. Redskins (4-2) - The defense held Ezekiel Elliott to 33 yards on 15 carries. That’s game over when you’re playing the Cowboys. 13. Bengals (4-3) - Botched fake punts, tons of missed tackles... now that’s more like the Bengals most people know. 14. Bears (3-3) - Mitchell Trubisky needs to use his GPS a little more. Or just give him a compass. Quarterbacks need to come close to hitting their targets and he’s all over the map. 15. Jaguars (3-4) - Benching Blake Bortles doesn’t solve all of their problems. Why else would he be back starting this week? 16. Dolphins (4-3) - Having to go with Brock Osweiler is bad enough. Now he has no healthy receivers. 17. Seahawks (3-3) - They return from their bye with their eyes likely focused on the more accessible NFC wild card race, given how far ahead the Rams are in the division. 18. Texans (4-3) - They now sit in first place in the AFC South. Didn’t think they’d get to the top so soon after an 0-3 start. 19. Lions (3-3) - Matthew Stafford’s new best friend is Kerryon Johnson. It’s amazing what a quarterback can do with an effective running game. 20. Falcons (3-4) - Not bad when the backup kicker nails 50 and 56 yard kicks in a three-point win. Giorgio Tavecchio was perfect filling in for the injured Matt Bryant. 21. Titans (3-4) - Forget Mike Vrabel’s aggressiveness in going for the two-point conversion and the potential win against the Chargers. Their worst offense was the play selection. 22. Cowboys (3-4) - Dak Prescott says Amari Cooper is no “magic pill” for their ailing offense. True, but he’ll help. Their passing game is among the worst in the league. 23. Broncos (3-4) - The defense finally got its mojo back against the Cardinals. Of course, that’s not saying much. 24. Bucs (3-3) - They might have the NFL’s top-rated offense in terms of yards per game (449.5). But they still aren’t on the same planet as the Rams, Chiefs or Patriots. 25. Browns (2-4-1) - They’ve given up the most sacks in the NFL (31), but it’s not all on the offensive line. Earth to Baker Mayfield, get rid of the ball. 26. Jets (3-4) - Unless the front office gets some legitimate receivers before the trade deadline, Sam Darnold will have many more games where burning the game film is the best option. 27. Colts (2-5) - They rushed for 200 yards for the first time in seven years. If it doesn’t take them as long to repeat the feat, they might win more games this year. 28. Bills (2-5) - Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. Derek Anderson, Nathan Peterman, Josh Allen. Pick your poison. 29. Giants (1-6) - They waved the white flag. They already traded starting cornerback Eli Apple and run-stuffing defensive tackle Damon Harrison. More to come. 30. 49ers (1-6) - C.J. Beathard leads the NFL with 10 turnovers. Tough times for Jimmy G’s backup. 31. Raiders (1-5) - They’re bad. They’re rebuilding. Seems like Jon Gruden wouldn’t mind dumping the whole lot. 32. Cardinals (1-6) - You might have to keep a scorecard of who’s staying, and who’s going before the trade deadline. In the same boat as Giants and Raiders.