Each week of the NFL season, The Baltimore Sun will rank all 32 NFL groups. The rankings will take into consideration not simply weekly efficiency, accidents and roster depth, however how properly every crew measures up as Super Bowl contenders.
Here are the rankings heading into Week 11:
Super Bowl favorites
1. Kansas City Chiefs (7-2, No. 2 final week)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (8-1, No. 1)
With one other stellar efficiency in a 27-17 win over the Jaguars — 26-for-35 for 331 yards, 4 touchdowns and an interception — quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the runaway favourite for NFL Most Valuable Player. The Chiefs have the perfect offense within the league, and it simply bought even tougher to defend with the addition of former Giants first-round draft decide Kadarius Toney, who had 90 mixed speeding and receiving yards and a landing on Sunday. According to ESPN, the Chiefs are No. 1 in anticipated factors added (EPA) per drop-back, which accounts for elements akin to down and distance, subject place, home-field benefit and time remaining. The protection stays a weak spot, though deal with Chris Jones is profitable on the line of scrimmage at a fee just like Rams famous person Aaron Donald, recording 1 1/2 of the crew’s 5 sacks towards Jacksonville. If the go rush can ship that type of efficiency week after week, it’s exhausting to ascertain anybody within the AFC beating Kansas City.
How does an unbeaten streak come to an finish? Costly errors. After turning the ball over twice of their first seven video games, the Eagles coughed it up 4 occasions in a 32-21 loss to the Commanders on Monday night time, together with a fumble by vast receiver Quez Watkins on a 50-yard catch that might have put Philadelphia in place to attain the go-ahead landing late within the fourth quarter. Defensive finish Brandon Graham then hit quarterback Taylor Heinicke on third down after he gave himself up on a sack, drawing a 15-yard penalty that price the Eagles an opportunity to get the ball again with loads of time inside the ultimate two minutes. It was a irritating night time for the Philadelphia offense, which ran simply 47 performs as Washington went 12-for-21 on third down and held the ball for greater than 40 minutes. One loss doesn’t diminish the Eagles’ championship potential, but it surely exhibits there’s nonetheless work to do to not solely safe the NFC’s high seed however win a division that now contains 4 groups at .500 or higher.
The flawed contenders
3. Minnesota Vikings (8-1, No. 5)
4. Buffalo Bills (6-3, No. 3)
5. Baltimore Ravens (6-3, No. 4)
6. Miami Dolphins (7-3, No. 6)
It’s exhausting to take a lot away from the Vikings’ 33-30 time beyond regulation win over the Bills given the wild method it ended. Thanks to recovering a botched snap ultimately zone, Minnesota turned simply the second crew because the 2003 Ravens to win a recreation after trailing within the ultimate minute of regulation when the opponent had possession of the ball. The Vikings nonetheless wanted an interception ultimately zone to seal the victory after permitting Buffalo to march 69 yards in 39 seconds for the game-tying subject aim in regulation and settling for 3 factors on the opening possession of time beyond regulation. Minnesota has actually been lucky to go 6-0 in one-score video games this season, but it surely deserves credit score for overcoming a 17-point second-half deficit towards one of many league’s greatest groups. While the Vikings haven’t been as dominant as another high contenders, they’ve among the best gamers within the NFL in vast receiver Justin Jefferson — who punctuated a 10-catch, 193-yard efficiency with an all-time nice one-handed seize on fourth-and-18 with two minutes left — a wholesome roster and a first-year coach in Kevin O’Connell who elevated veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. In this 12 months’s NFC, that may be greater than sufficient to achieve the title recreation.
For the Bills, Sunday’s loss confirmed cracks in one of many league’s greatest rosters. Playing via an elbow damage on his throwing arm, quarterback Josh Allen appeared erratic at occasions, inviting large hits on scrambles and throwing an interception ultimately zone with 10:27 left that sparked the Vikings’ comeback. It’s almost inconceivable to inform Allen to be extra cautious given his type of play, however each he and the Bills want to grasp he’s too necessary to be taking pointless hits. The protection is aware of all too properly the impression of dropping star gamers, as a banged-up unit had no reply for Jefferson and working again Dalvin Cook, who averaged 8.5 yards per carry. Fortunately for Buffalo, star cornerback Tre’Davious White might return quickly, and security Jordan Poyer won’t be far behind. The Bills clearly want their protection at full energy to be a critical Super Bowl contender.
On the cusp of rivalry
7. San Francisco 49ers (5-4, No. 10)
8. Dallas Cowboys (6-3, No. 7)
9. New York Giants (7-2, No. 11)
10. Tennessee Titans (6-3, No. 15)
11. Cincinnati Bengals (5-4, No. 9)
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-5, No. 14)
Coach Kyle Shanahan deserves the advantage of the doubt given his observe document as a play-caller, but it surely’s a bit complicated to see star working again Christian McCaffrey get fewer carries than 2021 sixth-round decide Elijah Mitchell. In his first recreation since struggling a sprained MCL in Week 1, Mitchell rushed for 89 yards on 18 carries in a 22-16 win over the Chargers, whereas McCaffrey had simply 38 yards on 14 makes an attempt. San Francisco’s offense appears unstoppable on paper, however Shanahan struggled to get his high playmakers concerned Sunday night time, as McCaffrey, vast receiver Deebo Samuel and tight finish George Kittle had a mixed seven catches for 84 yards. By loading the field and permitting simply 3.8 yards per carry, the Chargers might need delivered the blueprint on learn how to decelerate the Niners: make Jimmy Garoppolo win together with his arm. He was as much as the duty Sunday, averaging 8.6 yards per try, but it surely’s going to be tough for San Francisco to get again to the NFC championship recreation with out extra from its star gamers.
It looks as if the Titans and coach Mike Vrabel by no means get sufficient consideration for his or her constant success, which continued Sunday with a 17-10 win over the Broncos. They actually profit from enjoying in maybe the worst division within the league, however they’ve put themselves firmly within the playoff race regardless of having 18 gamers on injured reserve and fielding a passing offense that ranks thirty first within the NFL. That’s all because of the protection, which restricted Denver to 4.3 yards per play and sacked Russell Wilson six occasions Sunday. More accidents might push Tennessee to the breaking level, particularly after cornerbacks Elijah Molden and Caleb Farley went down Sunday, however the return of quarterback Ryan Tannehill and rookie vast receiver Treylon Burks ought to present some stability heading right into a tough closing stretch. If the Titans can preserve their grip on the AFC South, they might show tough to beat come January.
The wild playing cards
13. New York Jets (6-3, No. 12)
14. Seattle Seahawks (6-4, No. 8)
15. Los Angeles Chargers (5-4, No. 13)
16. Washington Commanders (5-5, No. 19)
17. New England Patriots (5-4, No. 16)
18. Green Bay Packers (4-6, No. 25)
Maybe the Packers aren’t executed but? Green Bay ended a five-game dropping streak with a 31-28 time beyond regulation win over the Cowboys, erasing a 14-point second-half deficit to stun former coach Mike McCarthy in his return to Lambeau Field. Thanks to the emergence of rookie vast receiver Christian Watson, who caught three landing passes Sunday after being affected by accidents and drops to start out his profession, the offense may lastly be headed in the precise route. Safety Rudy Ford was the breakout star on protection, intercepting quarterback Dak Prescott twice within the first half to solidify one of many unit’s weakest spots. ESPN’s Football Power Index provides the Packers simply an 18.1% likelihood of creating the playoffs, however two-time reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers nonetheless might need one thing left within the tank to ship a season-saving run.
Not executed but
19. Arizona Cardinals (4-6, No. 23)
20. Indianapolis Colts (4-5-1, No. 31)
21. Cleveland Browns (3-6, No. 17)
22. Atlanta Falcons (4-6, No. 21)
23. Los Angeles Rams (3-6, No. 18)
24. Denver Broncos (3-6, No. 20)
25. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-6, No. 29)
Colts coach Jeff Saturday began his interim tenure with a 25-20 win over the Raiders, however the actual story is the return of quarterback Matt Ryan after an odd two-game benching for second-year backup Sam Ehlinger. Ryan confirmed veteran command of the offense, finishing 21 of 28 passes for 222 yards and a landing and even scrambling for 40 yards to select up an important first down late within the recreation. That’s the participant the Colts had been hoping for after they traded a third-round decide for the previous Falcons star this offseason. Ryan’s return coincided with a breakout efficiency for working again Jonathan Taylor, who rushed for 147 yards after being held underneath 100 in 5 straight video games. Indianapolis might need dug itself too deep of a gap to climb out of, however there’s no less than some optimism that this season isn’t fully hopeless.
The identical can’t be mentioned of the defending champion Rams, who misplaced 27-17 to the Cardinals in a duel of backup quarterbacks. Things already appeared bleak heading into the week with Matthew Stafford in concussion protocol, after which star receiver Cooper Kupp suffered a nasty ankle damage that might maintain him out for an prolonged time frame. That may be the ultimate blow for any hope of a Super Bowl repeat, not to mention a return to the playoffs. The Rams can relaxation comfortably understanding their daring strikes produced a title, however the championship window may be closing quick, particularly if Stafford can’t return to being one of many league’s greatest quarterbacks. Given their bloated wage cap and lack of draft picks, this may very well be the beginning of a gradual downturn for Los Angeles. That’s the value you pay for going all-in.
The basement
26. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7, No. 24)
27. Detroit Lions (3-6, No. 28)
28. Chicago Bears (3-7, No. 22)
29. New Orleans Saints (3-7, No. 26)
30. Carolina Panthers (3-7, No. 30)
31. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7, No. 27)
32. Houston Texans (1-7-1, No. 32)
Quarterback Justin Fields appeared despondent after the Bears’ 31-30 loss to the Lions, and it’s straightforward to grasp why. With 147 speeding yards and two touchdowns Sunday, the previous Ohio State star continued among the best stretches of any dual-threat quarterback in latest reminiscence, and but Chicago nonetheless can’t recover from the hump in shut video games. Fields’ 555 speeding yards from weeks 6 via 10 are essentially the most by any quarterback in a five-game span within the Super Bowl period, breaking Lamar Jackson’s document of 473 from weeks 6 via 11 in 2019. He additionally joined Jackson and Michael Vick as the one quarterbacks because the 1970 AFL-NFL merger with 5 consecutive video games with 60 or extra speeding yards. Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy deserves credit score for lastly unlocking Fields’ potential, as 132 of his speeding yards Sunday got here on designed runs, essentially the most by a quarterback in a recreation over the previous 15 seasons. After a rocky begin to his sophomore season, Fields’ star flip ought to present hope for a franchise that desperately wants it. With greater than $124 million in cap area and eight draft picks looming this offseason, Chicago won’t be removed from constructing a official contender.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com