Outside Looking In

Cowboys 5-3, Eagles 5-4, Bills 6-2, Colts 5-3, Panthers 5-3

Once you get out of the top 10, it’s really a flip the coin, on any given Sunday, anyone can beat anyone else type of situation. And boy, does commissioner Roger Goodell and the league offices in New York love that scenario! Here’s a handful of five that just missed our top ten this week.

The Bills, record-wise, have the edge, but week-to-week, continue to struggle to get a win as seen this past Sunday against a one-win Washington team. Buffalo’s six wins come against teams with a combined 9-42 record (Jets, Giants, Bengals, Titans, Dolphins, Redskins)

The Eagles and Cowboys are trending upward with two straight victories apiece.

The Colts will have to wait and see how quarterback Jacoby Brissett’s MCL knee sprain pans out to see if he can play this week against Miami or it will be Brian Hoyer getting the starting reigns. The loss of wide receiver T.Y. Hilton due to a calf injury for three-to-four weeks could be devastating.

The Panthers rebounded nicely for a victory over the Titans but now head to Lambeau Field to face an angry Packers team coming off a loss to the Chargers.  Cam Newton continues to sit with a foot injury as quarterback Kyle Allen has a firm grasp in control of Carolina.

10.

Chiefs 6-3 (up 1)

Give Kansas City credit. With a fourth straight home loss looking themselves square in head coach Andy Reid’s eyes, they rallied to beat the Vikings, 26-23.

Matt Moore led Kansas City to game-tying and game-winning field goals by Harrison Butker. Even better, the Chiefs could get Patrick Mahomes back from his dislocated knee injury this Sunday at Tennessee.

Add it all up and the Chiefs have climbed their way back into our top ten power rankings! Granted, they’d probably climb even higher with Mahomes returning.

9.

Rams 5-3 (same)

With the bye week, the Rams hold pat just inside the top 10. A tasty home Monday night matchup against the Ravens awaits Los Angeles in week 12 after taking on the Steelers and Bears.

The biggest surprise this season for the defending NFC Champions? They rank only 20th in the league in rushing.

8.

Texans 6-3 (up 2)

After a slow start in London against the Jaguars, Deshaun Watson lit it up for two second-half touchdowns to head the Texans into its bye week on a two-game winning streak.

If the Texans can continue to get good production from Carlos Hyde, 160 yards rushing on 19 carries against Jacksonville, their offense could be unstoppable. It will have to be as awaiting Houston after a week 10 bye is the Ravens in Baltimore in week 11.

That’s a scrambling quarterback’s dream game with Watson vs. Lamar Jackson!

7.

Vikings 6-3 (down 2)

So close. The Vikes had the ball in the final minutes of a tied game in Kansas City, but could not capitalize, losing seven yards on three plays and lost on a last-second field goal.

On the plus side, Kirk Cousins threw for three touchdowns.

On the downside, Stefon Diggs caught only one pass for four yards and Adam Thielen missed most of the game after aggravating his hamstring injury.

It doesn’t get any easier for Minnesota as a Sunday night game in Dallas against the Cowboys awaits in week 10.

6.

Packers 7-2 (down 2)

Who saw that coming? The Packers were shut down completely by the Chargers front seven, led by Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, to 3 points until a late fourth-quarter touchdown in losing 26-11.

As quarterback Aaron Rodgers said after the game, maybe some of the Pack were reading their press clippings:

“We have to come ready to play. I don’t think we were locked in from the start, unfortunately. I’m not sure exactly the reason, but I don’t think the focus was there from the start. We have to look in the mirror and be very honest about our performance, starting with myself,” said Rodgers in his post-game press conference.  

5.

Seahawks 7-2 (up 1)

Down 14 early to Tampa Bay, no worries for Russell Wilson. The Most Valuable Player contender and leader in my opinion (22 touchdowns, 1 interception), just goes out and throws five touchdowns including the game-winner in overtime to former Patriots tight end Jacob Hollister. 

Wilson could have new weapon, wide receiver Josh Gordon active. Gordon was claimed off waivers after being released by the Patriots, as reported by GoLocalProv.

The Seahawks hit a bye week after this Monday night’s showdown in San Francisco, but after that, the schedule gets brutally especially when you factor in a couple of trips back to the East Coast.

Starting in week 12, Seattle plays at the Eagles, home to the Vikings, at the Rams, at the Panthers and then home to the Cardinals and 49ers to end the regular season.

4.

Ravens 6-2 (up 4)

Now that’s how you deliver a statement. Sunday Night Football against the defending Super Bowl Champion Patriots, the Ravens roll out to an early 17-0 lead. Then, when the Patriots rally to get close at 24-20, Lamar Jackson leads his team to two scoring drives that take up 17+ minutes to close out New England, 37-20.

Jackson wasn’t flashy through the air, just 163 yards passing, but he juked around the vaunted Patriots defense for two scores.

Suddenly, Baltimore is the new media darling for the week and its stock is rising into this week’s top 5. And with good reason.

They are ranked number one in the NFL running the ball(204 yards per game) and second-ranked in total offense. Beware the trap game coming in week 10, on the road against the winless Bengals and first-time starting quarterback, rookie Ryan Finley.

3.

Patriots 8-1 (down 1)

Now I know what you’re thinking. How can you still have the Patriots ahead of the Ravens after a 37-20 Baltimore beatdown? Well, it’s one game. The Ravens were at home and coming off their bye week while the Pats traveled. Plus, let’s not forget that the Ravens lost to the 2-6 Browns by 18 in Baltimore. It’s a snapshot in time so we’ll have to see how both teams come off this one.

As good as the Ravens looked Sunday night, the Patriots looked as equally uncharacteristically off in shooting itself in the foot with offsides penalties leading to a Ravens touchdown, a Julian Edelman fumble turned into six points and a Tom Brady interception turned around into a long scoring Baltimore drove that sealed the game. Ironically for New England, when they went to the no-huddle offense, they went up and down the field freely before getting bogged down in the red zone, going just 2-for-4 inside the 20-yard line.

The bye week will serve the Patriots well before heading to Philadelphia in a Super Bowl LII rematch with the Eagles.

2.

Saints 7-1 (down 1)

After one week atop our power rankings, the Saints slide back a spot as they sat out week 9 with the bye. The good news for New Orleans is that they’ll face the one-win Falcons twice over the next four weeks, along with the Bucs and Panthers.

So, a trip back to the top of the rankings could be only a week or two away.

Getting back running Alvin Kamara, who’s missed the last two games with a high ankle sprain, will help as Drew Brees gets his second start since returning from his own thumb injury.

1.

49ers 8-0 (up 2)

Welcome to the top San Francisco. The NFL’s only undefeated team sits alone at number one after Jimmy Garoppolo’s four-touchdown performance Thursday night at Arizona. Now, to boot, the 49ers not only get a few extra days to rest after that victory, but they get another extra day and a home date with the Seattle Seahawks Monday night. Just how good are the Niners?

Well, on offense, they’re second-ranked in team rushing and on the other side of the ball, the 49ers are number one in team defense. They can run it and stop it. That’s a very good combination when you hit playoff time.