Three division leaders, the Dolphins, Chiefs and Eagles, sat out Week 10. While there was plenty of star power sidelined, it was a week full of thrilling finishes. All told, six of the 14 games played this week were won with a field goal on the final play of the contest. Some of those last-second results had a great effect on this week's NFL Power Rankings, with some big changes near the top of the list.
Along with this week's rankings comes a midseason grade for the team's performance to date this year. The mark is based on the team's performance to date and combined with preseason expectations.
A Giants' team that has already lost as many games as it did all last season was in Dallas hoping to avoid the season sweep. The club's disastrous year continued at AT&T Stadium, this time with undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito getting the start. The bigger issue was New York's defensive unit, which was embarrassed to the tune of 640 total yards. In two outings vs. the Cowboys this season, Brian Daboll's squad was torched by a combined score of 89-17.
How bad has Daboll's club been on offense? The Giants are dead last in total offense, passing yards per game and points per contest. The team's offensive unit has scored 11 touchdowns, two fewer than Raheem Mostert and Christian McCaffrey. Big Blue has a morbid minus-148 point differential. It's possible that things could get worse.
Midseason Grade: D-
Bill Belichick's club was the home team when they battled the Colts in Frankfurt. The Patriots had dropped their last seven games vs. non-AFC East teams going into this match-up. This was a snoozer, but with 1:52 to play, Mac Jones was benched in favor of Bailey Zappe. He drove the club from its own 14-yard-line to its own 40. With a first down and 36 seconds remaining, Zappe faked a spike and then threw the ball to Colts' safety Rodney Thomas.
A franchise that reeled off 19 straight winning campaigns would now have to run the table to avoid a third losing season in four years. The Patriots have Week 11 off and it will be interesting to see who the club's starting quarterback is when it returns. There's a lot of heat surrounding Belichick and some of it is very understandable.
Midseason Grade: D
It was a short week for the Panthers, who were in the Windy City on Thursday night. Frank Reich's club got off to a good start. Ihmir Smith-Marsette returned a Bears' punt 79 yards for a score in the first quarter. However, Carolina settled for a pair of field goals the rest of the evening and gained only 213 total yards. The Panthers ran for only 43 yards on 16 tries. Meanwhile, the defense gave up 133 yards rushing and finished with zero sacks and takeaways.
This was a club that won four of its final six games a year ago. To date, none of that has carried over into this season. Injuries have played a part in some of the team's defensive struggles. The offense has totaled only 12 touchdowns in nine games. It is safe to say that it has been an underwhelming start to the Reich Era in Carolina.
Midseason Grade: D+
For the first time since he became head coach, Jonathan Gannon's starting quarterback would be Kyler Murray. It took the first overall pick in the 2019 draft a little time to get warm, but he saved his best for late in the game. There were no TD passes and one interception, but he threw for 249 yards and ran six times for 33 yards and a score. Down by a point with 2:33 to play, he drove the club 70 yards and Matt Prater hit the game-winning kick.
Expectations for this team entering 2023 weren't very high. Gannon's team has played hard but this is not the most talented of clubs. The return of Murray was obviously a big boost but the Cardinals have not won a road game this season (0-5) and Arizona is 0-3 vs. divisional rivals. The club has dug itself too big of a hole this year.
Midseason Grade: C-
The season got off to a promising start when Sean McVay's club stunned the Seahawks in Seattle on the opening Sunday of 2023. However, the Rams have won just two of their last eight games and entered the off-week with three straight losses. There have been a pair of promising youngsters in second-year runner Kyren Williams and rookie wideout Puka Nacua. Having Cooper Kupp healthy for the second half is a huge plus for Matthew Stafford.
In some ways, McVay's team has picked up from where it left off last season and that's not a good thing. Since winning Super Bowl LVI, the Rams own a dismal 8-18 record. Still, they have a chance to turn things around if they can complete a season sweep of the Seahawks on Sunday. However, the Rams own a shaky 1-3 home record.
Midseason Grade: C
In his first two appearances this year, Titans' rookie quarterback Will Levis was nothing short of spectacular in terms of displaying his big arm. That was not the case on Sunday at Tampa as Mike Vrabel's club again fell short on the road. Tennessee's offense was limited to 209 total yards and Derrick Henry managed only 24 yards on 11 carries. Levis was sacked four times, hit on less than 50 percent of his throws (19-of-39) and was picked off once.
Tennessee was a playoff team for three straight years from 2019-21. So, it's somewhat hard to believe that Vrabel's club is a combined 3-13 in its last 16 games since opening the 2022 season with a 7-3 record. It's also somewhat stunning that 10 weeks into this season, the Titans are the only team in the division with a losing record.
Midseason Grade: C-
It was old-school football in the Windy City on Thursday night and Matt Eberflus' team dominated the visiting Panthers in the trenches. Neither club totaled at least 300 total yards. The positives for the Bears included running 70 offensive plays (37 rushing, 33 passing) for 295 total yards. Chicago ran for 133 yards and D'Onta Foreman had 80 of those yards and the team's lone TD. Chicago played turnover-free football and did not allow a sack.
Strides are definitely being made. The Bears have split their last six games since snapping that 14-game skid that dated back to 2022. Chicago's offensive line appears to be on the rise and the ground game is obviously far more than Fields this season. The defense still needs and the decision to deal for Montez Sweat will pay big dividends.
Midseason Grade: C-
Last week, the Packers snapped a four-game losing streak at home against the Rams due mainly to their ground attack. Against the Steelers, quarterback Jordan Love finished with 289 yards through the air and a pair of first-half touchdown passes. Green Bay's shaky defense was gashed for 205 yards rushing, but Matt LaFleur's team had a few chances in the fourth quarter to pull out a win. The Pack's final two possessions ended with Love's interceptions.
Is it really this simple? Love has thrown seven TD passes and zero interceptions in the club's three wins, while he's totaled seven scores and 10 picks in the Packers' six setbacks. LaFleur's club has other issues, most notably a defense that can be pushed around by opposing ground games. Green Bay's 2-1 start is a distant memory.
Midseason Grade: C
The Jets were coming off a loss to the Chargers that saw them score six points. They were in Las Vegas on Sunday night. They limited the Raiders to 274 yards, forced two turnovers and sacked Aidan O'Connell three times. Again, New York couldn't find the end zone despite gaining 365 yards. A Zach Wilson interception with less than two minutes to play was the dagger. No touchdowns in two games made for a dramatic drop in the Power Rankings.
You have to admire the team's resiliency, especially after Aaron Rodgers went down early in Week 1. However, gutsy play can only take you so far, especially when your offensive unit has totaled just eight TDs in nine games. The Jets are hanging around in the AFC East, but Robert Saleh's team has to learn how to hang onto the football.
Midseason Grade: C
The Buccaneers looked to end a four-game losing streak when it hosted the Titans. Last Sunday, the Bucs had no answers for Texans' rookie C.J. Stroud. This week, they humbled Tennessee rookie signal-caller Will Levis. The defense came up with four sacks and an interception and did not allow Levis to complete at least 50 percent of his passes. Meanwhile, Mike Evans had a TD grab and more than half (143) of Baker Mayfield's 278 passing yards.
Winning a third straight NFC South title is certainly within reach despite the club's sub-.500 record. There are enough veterans on the roster with postseason experience and that could play in the Bucs' favor down the stretch. Todd Bowles' club plays four of its next five games. That should have a big say in the short-term future of the team.
Midseason Grade: C+
For the second straight week, the Raiders hosted a team with New York in front of its name. This contest would be a lot closer and it took an interception by linebacker Robert Spillane in the final two minutes for Antonio Pierce's club to hold off the Jets. A team that entered the game with the 31st-ranked ground attack in the league got 116 yards rushing from Josh Jacobs. Spillane finished with seven stops and a sack and the Raiders evened their record.
The Josh McDaniels Era after 25 games and a dismal 9-16 resume. Pierce has brought a little fire to the team and after just two games, there's a different feel to this club. Still, the Raiders have more than 18 turnovers while their offensive unit has totaled 16 TDs. There's an opportunity to make some noise with four divisional games to play.
Midseason Grade: C
The rested Broncos took a two-game winning streak into Monday night's clash with the Bills at Orchard Park. For the second straight game, Sean Payton's team was very opportunistic and came up with four takeaways. However, the Broncos had their own issues with the kicking game and their defense gave up 192 yards rushing. Payton's club took advantage of some crucial Buffalo mistakes in the final moments and got a game-winning kick from Wil Lutz.
After a rocky start to the Payton Era, the Broncos have gathered themselves and are now finding ways to win instead of lose. Denver's running game has been one key to the recent turnaround, as has a defense that has regained the gift of grab. This grade is far different than the one that would have been given after that 1-5 start.
Midseason Grade: C+
The Falcons were coming off a last-second loss to the Vikings and were in Arizona. The defense has some strong numbers rankings-wise, but you could not tell that from the last three games — most notably in the fourth quarter. Arthur Smith's club rolled up 184 yards on the ground, led by rookie Bijan Robinson (95-1 TD). Taylor Heinicke went down with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Desmond Ridder. Smith's offense finished with 254 yards.
Smith's team finished last in the troubled NFC South a year ago, but the Falcons, despite their current three-game losing streak, are still in the mix for a division title this season. The club came into 2023 with higher expectations than in recent seasons. However, a promising 2-0 start has been followed by six losses in their last eight outings.
Midseason Grade: C
Which version of the Washington defense showed up in Seattle? Unfortunately for Ron Rivera, it was another rough outing for a unit that opted to deal away ends Montez Sweat (Bears) and Chase Young (49ers) before the trade deadline. The Commanders allowed 489 yards and couldn't stop the Seahawks from going 50 yards in less than a minute for the game-winning field goal. Sam Howell threw for 312 yards and three TDs but lost a fumble.
The question mark for Rivera's team entering 2023 was Howell, whose only start was the '22 season finale. There were few concerns about a defense that was amongst the best in the NFL a year ago. It's been just the opposite to date as only the Broncos have allowed more points per game. Rivera's club is 0-3 vs. their NFC East rivals this season.
Midseason Grade: C
At 4-4. Brandon Staley's club had a Noah's Ark thing going. They have alternated two losses and two losses in their first eight games. This week, they hoped to make it three consecutive wins when they hosted the talented Lions. It was another poor defensive effort from Brandon Staley's baffling club, which gave up 533 total yards. There were zero sacks or takeaways. It was the second time this season the Bolts scored at least 34 points at home and lost.
The NFL's biggest disappointment in 2023? The Chargers have scored 24-plus points in seven of their nine contests, but an inconsistent defense has given up 25 offensive TDs. Staley's squad has allowed just 60 points in four wins and 155 points in five setbacks. The team finds itself closer to the AFC West basement than the divisional top spot.
Midseason Grade: C-
The Colts and Patriots clashed in Frankfurt, Germany, as Shane Steichen's club looked to get back to the .500 mark. A team that had allowed at least 37 points in three straight games has limited the struggling Panthers (13) and Patriots (6) to a combined 19 points and one offensive touchdown. Still, Gus Bradley's unit was gashed for 167 yards on the ground. Indianapolis' secondary held off New England courtesy of two fourth-quarter interceptions.
Just 10 games into the season, the Colts have already surpassed their dismal total of four wins from a year ago. Steichen's team has been competitive in nearly every game. Mistakes have been the team's undoing, with 13 of its 15 turnovers coming in the five losses. A good job by Steichen after losing rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Midseason Grade: C
The Saints' defense struggled with the Bears' ground game last week, but Dennis Allen's team came up with a win. The team was at Minnesota and New Orleans gave up 125 rushing yards and 388 yards overall. There was only one sack of Vikings' quarterback Josh Dobbs and zero takeaways as Allen's club trailed 27-3 in the third quarter. Derek Carr left the game with a shoulder injury and gave way to Jameis Winston, who did his best to rally the club.
What to make of this talented club? The defense was supposed to be one of the best in the league and the Saints have 18 takeaways in 10 outings. However, Allen's team has shown a lot of vulnerability to the run. For now, the Saints look very average. Still, that may be just good enough to win a division title for the first time since 2020.
Midseason Grade: C
Sean McDermott's team had already lost more regular-season games than in 2022. The Bills hosted the Broncos on Monday night. It was another disjointed showing by McDermott's club. Despite four turnovers, Buffalo owned a 22-21 lead with 1:55 to play. The miscues continued as a pass interference penalty set up a Denver field goal attempt. It failed, but a 12-men on the field penalty gave the Broncos another chance and the Bills were toast.
It's a team that has already lost two more games than it did a year ago when it won the AFC East with a 13-3 mark. The injuries on defense have been extremely costly, but so has the erratic play of the talented Allen. He has 14 of the club's 18 turnovers this season. That being said, the rival Dolphins have failed to pull away in the AFC East.
Midseason Grade: B-
The Steelers' offensive line was impressive in their last outing vs. the Titans. Would Pittsburgh's ground attack have similar success against the visiting Packers? Mike Tomlin's club totaled a season-best 205 yards rushing thanks to the two-headed threat of Jaylen Warren (101) and Najee Harris (82), both of whom ran for a score. Still, the Pittsburgh defense wound up giving up 399 total yards and needed two fourth-quarter picks to secure the win.
The club has been outgained in total yards in all nine games this year and is in the bottom five of the league in both total offense and defense. Kenny Pickett has not progressed as hoped but he has stopped turning the ball over. The acid test is right on the horizon as Tomlin's team is at Cleveland and then at Cincinnati for the next two weeks.
Midseason Grade: B
Pete Carroll's team was humbled last week at Baltimore and looked to make amends vs. the visiting Commanders. For the first time in five games, quarterback Geno Smith did not turn over the football, throwing for 369 yards and two scores. Kenneth Walker ran 19 times for 63 yards but also turned a short throw into a 64-yard score. Seattle's secondary had its hands full with Washington's passing game, but Seattle managed three sacks of Sam Howell.
Smith has nine of the club's 10 turnovers this season and that certainly bears watching. So does a defensive unit that has been far too generous at times this year. The Seahawks have scored 200 points and allowed 201 points in nine games. Three of the team's next four games are vs. their NFC West rivals, including a pair with the 49ers.
Midseason Grade: B
Josh Dobbs would be starting for a second different team this week and the Vikings would open with a third different starting quarterback on Sunday when they hosted the Saints. It was an impressive outing for the journeyman signal-caller, who threw for 268 yards and one score and ran for another TD. The defense came up with three sacks and two interceptions. The Vikings continue their surprising climb up the Power Rankings.
There have only been six instances of a team opening 0-3 and reaching the playoffs, the latest being the 2018 Texans. Kevin O'Connell's club owns the NFL's longest-current winning streak (5) and is in a position to defend its division title. The club is 2-0 vs. NFC North foes. In many ways, this may be a better team than the 2022 edition.
Midseason Grade: A-
The Bengals took a four-game winning streak into Sunday's clash with the visiting Texans. Zac Taylor's club opened the game with a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that gave his team a 7-0 lead. However, it was a struggle the rest of the day. Cincinnati's defense gave up 544 total yards. Joe Burrow finished with 347 passing yards and two TDs. However, he connected on only 7-of-15 throws for 156 yards and was picked off twice in the fourth quarter.
What to make of a team that has won the last two AFC North titles? For the second straight year, the Bengals got off to a 0-2 start and but would rebound to win five of their next six contests. However, Sunday's home loss to the Texans raised some red flags. Keep in mind that Taylor's club is 0-2 vs. division rivals and 1-4 vs. the conference.
Midseason Grade: B-
In a battle of teams that both had Week 9 off, the first-place Jaguars played host to the slumping 49ers. The last time the Jaguars took the field, they were notching their fifth consecutive win and did it despite the fact they turned over the ball 3 times at Pittsburgh. They weren't so fortunate against the Niners as Trevor Lawrence had three of the club's four miscues. He was also sacked five times and a shaky Jaguars' defense was pushed around.
Sloppy play has been a bit of a problem for Doug Pederson's club, but Jacksonville has responded with its own ability to force turnovers. Still, it's not a formula for success. The improving Texans are right on the heels of the defending AFC South champions and have already won at Jacksonville. Lawrence must be more consistent.
Midseason Grade: B+
DeMeco Ryans's team was hoping to carry that winning feeling from a week ago vs. the Buccaneers into Cincinnati on Sunday. The Texans did just that and the Bengals had zero answers for C.J. Stroud and a Houston offense that rolled up a stunning 544 total yards — including 188 yards rushing. Even more impressive may be the fact that Stroud committed three turnovers and regrouped to drive the club for a game-winning field goal in the final 1:33.
In the first three seasons of this decade (2020-22), the Texans combined for a 11-38-1 record and entered this year off a 3-13-1 showing. The team had a solid offseason in terms of player additions but could they make some noise in Ryans's first season as an NFL head coach? It's so far, so good for a team that has the AFC South title in its sights.
Midseason Grade: A
The 49ers were off last week. Mike Shanahan's club was at Jacksonville looking to snap a three-game losing streak. That skid ended in resounding fashion as the Niners again looked like the team that was pushing around teams during the first five weeks of the season. San Francisco rolled up 437 yards, limited the Jaguars to 221 yards and forced four turnovers. The win warranted Shanahan's club slipping back into the Top 10 of the Power Rankings.
Here are the simple facts. The 49ers are 6-0 this year when they score at least 30 points, while Shanahan's squad has totaled exactly 17 points in each of its three losses. Five of the club' six victories have come by double digits. The addition of Chase Young is a boon for the defense, but was the win at Jacksonville a sign of things to come?
Midseason Grade: B+
It's hard to put a finger on what exactly is missing. There's been much said about the Dolphins only beating clubs with losing records and not stacking up against contenders such as Buffalo, Philadelphia and Kansas City. The offense has been sensational, but Miami has been limited to 20 points or less in their three losses. Tyreek Hill is in the midst of a monster year and there's chemistry with Tua Tagovailoa. The defense could use more playmakers.
Mike McDaniel's club leads the AFC East after 10 weeks of play, and keep in mind that this franchise hasn't won a division title since 2008. Miami also hasn't won a postseason game since 2000. Obviously, this team still has a lot to prove. However, it's worth mentioning that the Dolphins have followed each of their three losses with victories.
Midseason Grade: B+
Off last week's impressive pounding of the visiting Seahawks, the Ravens welcomed the rival Browns to Baltimore in position to complete the season sweep. John Harbaugh's team got off to a quick start when Kyle Hamilton returned a Deshaun Watson for a score. The Ravens owned leads of 14-0, 24-9, and 31-17 (the latter in the fourth quarter) and failed to put their AFC North rival away. Hence the team dropped four spots in the Power Rankings.
Despite their recent dominating stretch, the Ravens have proven that their defense can be had. Combine that with the fact that Jackson has had his issues with ball security (11 turnovers) and it will be interesting to see if they have enough to win the AFC North. This is one of the better teams in the league, but it does have some question marks.
Midseason Grade: A-
Kevin Stefanski's team was looking to avoid a second loss to the rival Ravens in six games. It didn't look good throughout the afternoon and Cleveland was down 31-17 in the fourth quarter. The Browns scored the final 16 points of the game. Deshaun Watson overcame a shaky start, the team ran for 178 yards, and cornerback Greg Newsome took back a Lamar Jackson interception for a score. Dustin Hopkins nailed a 40-yard field goal at the gun.
Jim Schwartz's defense has been the Saving Grace for a team that has utilized three different starting quarterbacks this year and a club that has committed 19 turnovers in nine games. The Browns are very much in the AFC playoff mix and their ground game has excelled minus Nick Chubb. More consistency from Watson would be a big plus.
Midseason Grade: B+
The Cowboys were in position to sweep the Giants for the third consecutive season. Earlier this year in the opening Sunday night game, Mike McCarthy's team humbled Big Blue, 40-0. This was a debacle beginning late in the first quarter as Dallas won its sixth straight game in this rivalry. McCarthy's club outgained their guests 640-172 in total yards. Dak Prescott threw for 404 yards and four TDs (1 interception). It was a blowout, but it was far from a shock.
The Cowboys are within striking range of the Eagles in the NFC East, but their defense has to show a little more consistency. The team has allowed just 165 points in nine outings (18.3 average), but more than half of that (98) has come in its three losses. As far as Prescott's playoff woes, the franchise's postseason woes aren't all on him.
Midseason Grade: B+
For the third time this season, the Lions allowed at least 37 points in a game. This time around Dan Campbell's team was able to get away with it. That's because coordinator Ben Johnson's offense rolled up 533 total yards on 64 plays (8.3 average), almost perfectly balanced between rushing (31) and passing (33). Detroit needed every yard, and Riley Patterson's 41-yard field goal at the gun allowed the well-rested Lions to escape with a victory.
It is a team that still has some flaws, especially on defense. A balanced offense has made life easier for quarterback Jared Goff. Campbell's club has also learned to win on the road (4-1). Five of the team's final eight games are divisional clashes, including a pair with the Vikings (Weeks 16 and 18). The Lions' last division title came in 1993.
Midseason Grade: A-
At this time a year ago, the eventual Super Bowl LVII champion Chiefs owned a 7-2 record. After nine games last season, the team had totaled 270 points and their offensive unit produced 33 touchdowns. This year, the win-loss mark is identical. However, Andy Reid's club has scored only 204 points and there have been 12 fewer offensive TDs (21). Turnovers were a bit of an issue in 2022 and this season, the club has already given up the ball 17 times.
On the other hand, only three teams in the NFL have allowed fewer total yards per game and only the Ravens are giving up fewer points per contest The Chiefs are doing it a different way this season and appear to be in control of the AFC West, at least for now. Meanwhile, Reid's club is the only team in the conference with just two losses.
Midseason Grade: A-
It's been a different stary to the season for the reigning NFC East title holders, who took a three-game winning streak into its off-week. Only the Dolphins and Cowboys are averaging more points per game. Quarterback Jalen Hurts has been a bit up and down, but running back D'Andre Swift has been a great addition. Wide receiver A.J. Brown has had a monster year. The Birds remain better than most when it comes to its play in the trenches.
The defending NFC champions have had their share of nailbiters but have still managed to win eight of their first nine games. Last year at this time, the Birds owned the same 8-1 record. This year's edition of Sirianni's team has been a little loose with the ball. This club may be a bit more resourceful and that aspect could pay off in a big way.
Midseason Grade: A
