NFL power rankings: 2-3 flip
Streaking Texans enter Top 10 at No. 8
NFL power rankings, post-Week 11 edition:
1. Saints (1): Post a seventh 40-burger, and they’ll claim the record for most in any season. Scoring standard of 2013 Broncos (606 points) also within reach.
2. Rams (3): Of course, sometimes a 40-burger doesn’t quite get the job done. Good thing L.A. can crank out half a hundred on a night when Todd Gurley is shut out. 3. Chiefs (2): It figured Patrick Mahomes would have some rookie-esque, gunslinger-esque five-turnover nights. Just didn’t figure they would be more than offset by six TD passes and a nearsuperhuman (but not quite adequate) performance.
4. Steelers (4): Get ready to see a lot of Black and Gold. Pittsburgh will play in 4:25 p.m. ET window or later next five weeks. They’ve earned it.
5. Patriots (6): Though it’s hard to envision a loss Sunday, they’re hardly automatic in New York, winning five of their last nine against Jets on road.
6. Chargers (5): If Keenan Allen has determined the Broncos “suck,” can’t wait to get his assessment of the Bolts’ upcoming opponent — the 2-8 Cardinals. 7. Bears (8): Only George Halas himself had better 10-game start on Chicago’s sideline than Matt Nagy’s 7-3 mark. Probably safe to open a steakhouse, dude. 8. Texans (12): AFC’s hottest team — first since merger to win seven in a row after 0-3 start — plays next three in Houston. First-round bye not out of question.
9. Vikings (7): Seven turnovers in their past three games. All of 22 rushing yards in Sunday night’s loss. Coach Mike Zimmer must be manic behind closed doors. 10. Panthers (10): Christian McCaffrey playing insane 97 percent of offense’s snaps. By comparison, Todd Gurley has never exceeded 85 percent in a season. 11. Colts (21): Andrew Luck won’t win MVP, but hopefully he’ll start to get de--
served mentions as a guy who belongs on a very short list of candidates.
12. Redskins (9): Easy to assume they’re cooked after Alex Smith’s horrid injury. But Colt McCoy has always played well for them and has system down cold. 13. Seahawks (15): You always hear about draft prospect quarterbacks and their ability to make off-schedule plays. Russell Wilson better off schedule than on.
14. Ravens (20): Lamar Jackson’s starting debut worked out well. But if he keeps running the ball 27 times, there probably won’t be many more starts.
15. Titans (11): Entered weekend as NFL’s No. 1 scoring defense and came out other side having allowed 38 points — 11 more than any other game in 2018.
16. Cowboys (16): Amari Cooper trade sure seems to agree with Ezekiel Elliott, who has 500 total yards and three TDs in three games since deal.
17. Bengals (14): When faced with a rookie quarterback who isn’t currently much of a passing threat, defense clamped down to allow a mere 403 yards. 18. Lions (28): Since I have zero clue how to evaluate this very erratic club, maybe Matt Patricia can sum it up for
me in 891 words (maybe fewer?). 19. Dolphins (22): Do any of AFC’s five 5-5 teams vying for second wild card seem more fraudulent than Miami? Defect back to Colts this weekend, Frank Gore.
20. Packers (13): Mike McCarthy missed playoffs twice in his first 11 seasons. He’s now in jeopardy of staying home two years in a row ... which might mean a new home.
21. Broncos (27): They’re under radar like a Special Operations Black Hawk. They’re also one game out of playoffs, giving good teams all they can handle.
22. Eagles (17): All seems lost, especially given 41-point blowout worst ever suffered by reigning champ. But next three vs. NFC East, so opportunity knocks.
23. Browns (18): If Condoleezza Rice isn’t really in the running to be Cleveland’s next coach, does this mean Hue Jackson won’t be Secretary of State?
24. Falcons (19): Feel badly for you, fellas. Not only will you be on road for Turkey Day, but you have to get deep fried and carved in New Orleans.
25. Jaguars (24): Jalen Ramsey is still balling and still talking even as front office tries to douse rumors that he’ll be on trade block in a few months.
26. Giants (29): Talk of them running the table to NFC East crown seemed pretty laughable just two weeks ago. It’s still ... quite hilarious. Right?
27. Buccaneers (23): If football games were won between 20-yard lines, these Bucs might be considered revolutionary. (For the record, they’re not. And they’re not.)
28. Bills (25): Apparently Josh Allen’s return is near. But after Matt Barkley saved season, how can Buffalo possibly consider benching him? Easily. I was kidding. 29. Jets (26): They have to weigh Sam Darnold’s health against loss of valuable game repetitions ... but while operating suspect attack. Tough dilemma. 30. 49ers (31): They’ve technically got a top-10 defense. Doesn’t feel that way given league-low five takeaways or 27 points they allow on weekly basis. 31. Raiders (32): They’re now up to
nine sacks this season. A dozen individual players have at least that many. Khalil Mack has eight in eight games.
32. Cardinals (30): If they can’t beat Oakland, you can pencil them in for 214. Aside from Detroit at home, Cards will be massive underdogs rest of way.