The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's NFL Editors, including Jack Browne, Mitch Sanderson, Arun Srinivasan, and Dan Wilkins.
1. New England Patriots
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Previous Rank: 2nd
Should a player who missed four games to a suspension be considered for MVP? Well, in 2010, Tom Brady won the award with 3,900 yards and 36 touchdowns. This year, He's on pace for 4,016 yards and 32 touchdowns in four fewer games - Browne
2. Minnesota Vikings
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Previous Rank: 1st
The undefeated run is over, but Minnesota remains among the NFL's elite. This is the kind of defense that can carry a team deep into January and all the way to the big stage. - Wilkins
3. Seattle Seahawks
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
5 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
Previous Rank: 3rd
The Seahawks are likely frustrated with a 6-6 tie against the Cardinals, but the defense submitted a vintage performance, and Earl Thomas finally looks fully healthy. - Srinivasan
4. Dallas Cowboys
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Previous Rank: 4th
So often living off reputation rather than reality, the NFC East suddenly looks like the best division in football. All four teams are above .500, and the Cowboys have a shot at cementing themselves atop the division in prime time Sunday against the Eagles. - Browne
5. Denver Broncos
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
3 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
Previous Rank: 5th
This is the Broncos defense we're accustomed to seeing, making a concerted effort to terrorize Brock Osweiler in a 27-9 victory over the Texans on Monday. - Srinivasan
6. Green Bay Packers
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
6 | 7 | 6 | 7 |
Previous Rank: 8th
We'll have to wait another week before determining whether the offense is actually coming around, but the Packers still have more than enough talent to get back to the playoffs. - Wilkins
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
7 | 10 | 9 | 6 |
Previous Rank: 7th
The Steelers' season will largely depend on how quickly Big Ben can return. If that's at some point within the next few weeks, Pittsburgh is one of few true contenders in the AFC. - Wilkins
8. Philadelphia Eagles
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
8 | 6 | 12 | 10 |
Previous Rank: 12th
The Eagles needed a statement win, and with Carson Wentz continuing to look more like a rookie, the defense stepped up to the tune of four turnovers and six sacks. The fact it came against their former QB, Sam Bradford, is likely the icing on the cake for Philly. - Browne
9. Atlanta Falcons
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
10 | 11 | 8 | 8 |
Previous Rank: 6th
Thankfully for the Falcons, there aren't many teams playing well enough to knock them too far back, although that fourth-down call in overtime seems like it deserves some major punishment. - Sanderson
10. Kansas City Chiefs
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
9 | 8 | 11 | 9 |
Previous Rank: 10th
Spencer Ware is making Jamaal Charles' injury-related decline tolerable, powering the team to a 27-21 victory over the Saints. - Srinivasan
11. Oakland Raiders
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
12 | 9 | 7 | 14 |
Previous Rank: 13th
Welcome back, Latavius Murray. Murray looked no worse for wear from a toe injury, gliding past the Jaguars for two touchdowns in a 33-16 win. - Srinivasan
12. Arizona Cardinals
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
11 | 12 | 10 | 12 |
Previous Rank: 9th
Arizona submitted its best defensive performance of the year, but head coach Bruce Arians ought to be fuming over a number of preventable mistakes in Sunday's showdown. - Srinivasan
13. Buffalo Bills
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
14 | 15 | 14 | 11 |
Previous Rank: 11th
Just when the Bills looked like they'd completely turned around their season, they shot themselves in the foot by rushing LeSean McCoy back from a hamstring injury. Devastating? Yes. Utterly predictable? Definitely. - Browne
14. New York Giants
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
13 | 13 | 13 | 16 |
Previous Rank: 16th
The Giants helped continue the tradition of providing the people of the U.K. with abysmal football. Having said that, Landon Collins' ridiculous pick-6 alone might have been worth the price of admission. - Browne
15. Detroit Lions
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
15 | 14 | 16 | 20 |
Previous Rank: 21st
Detroit's new-look offense is a lot of fun to watch. The defense is a completely different story, unless you're a fan of the opponent. - Wilkins
16. Washington Redskins
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
17 | 20 | 15 | 15 |
Previous Rank: 14th
A 4-3 record isn't so bad, but the close loss to the Lions looks devastating when you look at the Redskins' upcoming slate. If Washington is still in playoff contention after facing the Bengals, Vikings, Packers, Cowboys, and Cardinals, it will be a miracle. - Browne
17. Cincinnati Bengals
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
16 | 17 | 17 | 18 |
Previous Rank: 17th
A win over the lowly Browns does nothing to answer the questions that have arisen thus far. Cincinnati's window to win is closing quickly, if it hasn't been slammed shut already. - Wilkins
18. Houston Texans
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
19 | 18 | 19 | 13 |
Previous Rank: 15th
The Broncos proved they were right to let Osweiler walk. But while he does appear to be bad at quarterbacking, the Texans' playoff chances are still very lively in such a weak division. - Sanderson
19. San Diego Chargers
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
18 | 16 | 21 | 17 |
Previous Rank: 24th
Joey Bosa was worth the wait, injecting life into a Chargers team that could've been out of the race by mid-October without him. - Srinivasan
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
21 | 19 | 18 | 23 |
Previous Rank: 25th
The Bucs have proven they can beat good teams playing bad and bad teams playing bad. Luckily, they're in a division where that strategy could work out. - Sanderson
21. Baltimore Ravens
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
20 | 21 | 27 | 21 |
Previous Rank: 18th
Taking four consecutive losses after starting the season 3-0 demonstrates that last year's struggles weren't a fluke. It may be time for a rebuild in Baltimore. - Wilkins
22. Miami Dolphins
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
24 | 24 | 22 | 22 |
Previous Rank: 28th
Jay Ajayi should be the poster boy for the merits of patience and catered motivational tactics. He looked close to being kicked off the Dolphins at the start of the year, but now Adam Gase looks like a genius after coaxing back-to-back 200-yard games from the runner. - Browne
23. Tennessee Titans
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
27 | 23 | 20 | 25 |
Previous Rank: 23rd
The Titans have yet to beat Andrew Luck in his career, so Sunday's loss is just par for the course. At this pace, they can almost taste that sweet, sweet 7-9 record. - Sanderson
24. New Orleans Saints
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
22 | 26 | 24 | 24 |
Previous Rank: 19th
The Saints had a chance to turn their season around and get back to .500 with a win over the Chiefs, but a series of shots to the foot prevented that from happening. - Sanderson
25. Carolina Panthers
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
26 | 27 | 26 | 19 |
Previous Rank: 22nd
The Panthers' Week 8 matchup with the Cardinals was looking like "Game of the Year" material when the schedule came out, but considering that Sunday-nighter, and Carolina's 1-5 record, it may be best to turn our attention elsewhere. - Sanderson
26. Indianapolis Colts
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
25 | 22 | 23 | 28 |
Previous Rank: 27th
Good job. You beat the Titans, Bears, and Chargers. Hooray! That sounds like a dynasty if I've ever heard of one. - Sanderson
27. Los Angeles Rams
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
23 | 25 | 28 | 26 |
Previous Rank: 21st
Jeff Fisher's steadfast refusal to pull Case Keenum out of the starting lineup is indicative of the circus the Rams' return to Los Angeles has turned into. - Srinivasan
28. Jacksonville Jaguars
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
29 | 29 | 25 | 27 |
Previous Rank: 26th
You would think a game against the worst defense in the league would be the perfect time for an offensive juggernaut such as the Jacksonville Jaguars to put up some points, right? Wrong. - Sanderson
29. New York Jets
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
28 | 28 | 29 | 29 |
Previous Rank: 29th
Did Fitzpatrick sell his soul to Roger Goodell to ensure he'd always have a starting gig somewhere in the NFL? It seems that way, after Geno Smith's season was lost to an ACL tear just two quarters into his first start. - Browne
30. Chicago Bears
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
Previous Rank: 30th
The Bears are well positioned to be in the market for one of the top quarterbacks in next year's draft. Jay Cutler may be playing for another job when he returns from his thumb injury. - Wilkins
31. San Francisco 49ers
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
31 | 31 | 31 | 31 |
Previous Rank: 31st
The 49ers are simply not talented enough to compete on a weekly basis, and Chip Kelly is running out of ways to amend the roster in the midst of a six-game skid. - Srinivasan
32. Cleveland Browns
Browne | Sanderson | Srinivasan | Wilkins |
---|---|---|---|
32 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
Previous Rank: 32nd
This was always going to be a tough year for the Browns. Next week's game against the Jets may represent the best chance for them to break into the win column. - Wilkins