Week 10 Power Rankings: Top teams keep winning as reigning champs continue to slide
Ten weeks into the regular season, the playoff picture is beginning to take shape. The Patriots, Rams and Steelers are unsurprising leaders of their respective divisions, but other shocking contenders such as the Texans and Redskins have emerged. With seven weeks of football remaining, here’s how the teams stack up.
TRENDING UP: After looking dead in the water at 2-7, the Buffalo Bills came out of nowhere this week, destroying the hapless Jets in their own arena. Journeyman 28-year old Matt Barkley picked apart a weak Gang Green defense in a 41-10 victory. A convincing win over the Patriots will always move you up in the rankings, and that’s no different with the Tennessee Titans. They stopped a six game Pats’ win streak and utterly shut down Tom Brady, who is beginning to show legitimate signs of decline. Three weeks ago, the Indianapolis Colts were 1-5, sitting in the cellar of a wide-open AFC South, but riding a three-game win streak, they’ve gotten themselves right back in the race. Andrew Luck looks to be 100%, the running game is beginning to develop behind Marlon Mack and the defense is improving.
TRENDING DOWN: The Carolina Panthers were absolutely annihilated by the Steelers on Thursday Night Football, giving up 52 points and showing a complete inability to block Bud Dupree or TJ Watt off of the edge. They’re still in a good position at 6-3, but have a much smaller margin of error in a crowded NFC. The Cincinnati Bengals’ downward spiral continued in dramatic fashion this weekend as the Saints came into Cincy and destroyed them. They had no answer for the potent New Orleans offense and are now clinging to the final AFC wild card spot. Last year’s AFC runner-up, the Jacksonville Jaguars have gone from looking awesome to average to barely competent over the course of this year. Now at 3-6, they sit in last place in the division. They have to turn things around fast.