Hi everyone, this season has just been nuts. The top 3 are leaps and bounds better than everyone and the bottom 2 are probably pretty safe as well. For the middle 27, who knows these teams can beat anyone or lose to anyone on any given Sunday. Let’s talk about it shall we?
32. Lions 1-5 (Projected Record 1-5, Drew Rating: -15.4) LW: 31
The Lions looked like the frisky team I was projecting them to be at the beginning of the season but over the last two games they have easily looked like the worst team in football. With the way Jared Goff has been playing some Lions fans may be clamoring for David Blough to return to the motor city. Just when we thought Goff was returning to league average or better performance, a poop show.
31. Texans 1-4 (Projected Record 2-4, Drew Rating: -8.46) LW: 30
The final score doesn’t do the Texans justice as they led the Darth Vaders 20-17 going into the 4th in what eventually ended up being a 38-20 defeat in Vegas. The Texans are not a good team and their run defense is a sieve. But what I do notice is a team that is not poorly coached and plays very hard. The Texans might only win 4 or so games this year and likely will be in a top 5 drafting position.
30. Steelers 2-5 (Projected Record 1-6, Drew Rating: -14) LW: 28
I do not want to blame Mike Tomlin who I do believe is still one of the best in the game but this offense is sure underwhelming huh? You have Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, George Pickens, Pat Friermeiuth and Najee Harris at the skill positions. Probably top ten WR-TE-RB combo in the game. This offense should not look this pathetic. But truth is Burgh haven’t scored over 20 in regulation yet.
29. Panthers 2-5 (Projected Record 2-5, Drew Rating: -8.81) LW: 32
Well that was unexpected!! Just when we were ready to throw dirt on the Panthers and say this was going to be a 3-14 season with them receiving the 1st pick in the NFL draft they go and thoroughly dominate the Bucs in a 21-3 victory that nobody could have seen coming. They did trade two talented offensive pieces but this Panthers defense all year have been above average, can still win games.
28. Browns 2-5 (Projected Record 3-4, Drew Rating: -5.47) LW: 24
Too much talent for this team to be in the bottom five. But Jacoby Brissett’s ability to be as unclutch as any player in recent memory continued in another heart breaking Browns defeat in Baltimore on Sunday. This team is still somehow not dead if they can find a way to be more treat than trick on Halloween night against the defending AFC Champions. My recommendation, Chubb and Hunt a lot!!
27. Saints 2-5 (Projected Record 3-4, Drew Rating: -3.91) LW: 23
Man this team is just loaded with talent, especially on offense. You got Alvin Kamara, do it all Taysom Hill, Chris Olave is probably the best receiver in this draft and Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry are on this way back. But that offensive line is elite, whoever is playing Quarterback has been having ample time to throw week in and week out. Now if the QB can just stop throwing it to other team
26. Broncos 2-5 (Projected Record 3-4, Drew Rating: -1.30) LW: 22
This is the points allowed by the Donkeys this season, 17, 9, 10, 32 (outlier), 12, 19 and 16 and this team is 2-5 with a negative 15 point differential. With all this receiver talent (Jeudy and Hamler have immense ability) this is pathetic. Nathaniel Hackett might not last the season and for a coach in their first year that doesn’t have a scandal or is scandalous (Meyer or Petrino anyone, this is unprecendented
25. Raiders 2-4 (Projected Record 3-3, Drew Rating: 1.03) LW: 29
As we stated before the Raiders are probably going to end up around 8-9 wins as this team has too much talent (especially on offense) to be among the dregs of the league. This is a sneaky huge game against the Saints this week. The Saints offense can and possibly will light up this Raiders defense, can the Raiders keep up? My answer is likely yes, Raiders-Saints will be highest scoring Wk 8 game.
24. Jaguars 2-5 (Projected Record 3-3, Drew Rating: 3.13) LW: 21
This Jags team is just stupid. Another inexplicable loss on Sunday against the Giants. How many times do I have to say to use analytics as a tool but not the be all end all. 4th and 1 at the Giants 20 yard line up 4 early in the 4th Quarter. Take the points Pedersen!! The Giants offense is not great and if they score a td on their next drive, okay a fg wins the game. Just don’t get it.
23. Commanders 3-4 (Projected Record 2-5, Drew Rating: -8.14) LW: 27
I’ve been a Carson Wentz apologist for years, I still think a healthy Carson Wentz would give that Colts team the best chance to win right now. However, Taylor Heinicke is a baller, always has been and always will be. Outside of an embarrassing Sunday night in Dallas, the Washingtonian’s were competitive week in and Week out with the Heinken behind center, he may be best for this team!!
22. Rams 3-3 (Projected Record 3-3, Drew Rating: -6.84) LW: 19
The Rams are a flawed football team. However, this division is WIDEEEEEE OPEN and you have to think the Rams can still defend their crown with a trade some return to health. The biggest concern and why they are so low on these ratings is can they block elite pass rushes? The Rams have to play their nemesis again on Sunday. Niners minus 2 is my favorite bet on board, prove me wrong LA!
21. Cardinals 3-4 (Projected Record 2-5, Drew Rating: -6.53) LW: 25
DeAndre Hopkins sure makes an impact doesn’t he? I argued over a beer with my best friend who came to visit last week (#reversethecurse) and we argued about how Kyler Murray has to be able to be excellent without DeAndre Hopkins. My argument was look at Aaron Rodgers without DeVante Adams right now. A great QB still needs at least good weapons to succeed, a WR/QB league.
20. Colts 3-3 (Projected Record 3-4, Drew Rating: -6.50) LW: 17
The Colts are going to Sam Ehlinger for the rest of the season. Ehlinger who was pretty known in college (played at Texas, huge exposure and was solid there) but was a 6th round pick. Why was he a 6th round pick. Well he’s undersized, has a below average arm and his only great traits is his mobility and intangibles. Maybe intangibles alone wins him some games, I think Irsay is nuts for this.
19. Falcons 3-4 (Projected Record 3-4, Drew Rating: -4.26) LW: 14
Maybe having the Falcons as high as I did last week was a little much as I still am bullish and maybe even more now on this team from north Georgia. This defense though still lacks talent on the back end and against a team like the Bengals who have the elite of elite in pass catching targets it was a bad matchup for the dirty birds. A sneaky big game against the Panthers this week, winner is right in it.
18. Packers 3-4 (Projected Record 3-4, Drew Rating: -2.99) LW: 16
Wow has the mighty fallen. Plus now Rodgers two guys he trust (Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard) are out with injuries. So now Aaron Rodgers is going into Buffalo as 12 point underdog on primetime with two good running a good tight end and no real veteran receiving threats. This will go one of two weeks, Rodgers will show the world why he’s been a football god or Bills win 41-3, be interesting watch
17. Bears 3-4 (Projected Record 3-4, Drew Rating: -1.69) LW: 26
Uh what was that???? I think the entire world would like to apologize to the Justin Field and Matt Eberflus for their comments on how this team plays offense like it’s 1941. I think this team plays offense more like those really good Auburn teams with Cam Newton and a little bit after Cam. Awesome mulit-dimensional rushing attack who can still beat you throwing over the top, I am dead wrong here.
16. Bucs 3-4 (Projected Record 3-4, Drew Rating: -.39) LW: 13
Can you believe a Tom Brady led team is this low in the Power Rankings?? This Bucs team in just not very good offensively. They can’t block, they can’t run the ball and last week against the Panthers Tom Brady looked more like a first baseman with the pitching warming up throwing grounders to the other infielders than an NFL Quarterback. This Bucs team could be in disarray really quickly, shocking.
15. Patriots 3-4 (Projected Record 4-3, Drew Rating: 1.04) LW: 12
If you have 2 QB’s you have no QB’s right? Belichick thought he was clever in his decision to go to Bailey Zappe in the 2nd Quarter in Monday night’s bloodbath against the Bears but all Belichick did was create an unneccessary QB controversy and ruin the better QB’s (Jones confidence). I might have to give the Jets the nod on Sunday. Maybe I still have issues doubting Billy B in most situations.
14. 49ers 3-4 (Projected Record 4-3, Drew Rating: 4.84) LW: 9
Well the Niners got a little bit of humble on Sunday in getting drumrolled 44-23 to the Chiefs. But this team is loaded all over this roster and all Christian McCaffrey is going to do is make this offense even more difficult to gameplan for. But we’ve seen teams who are awesome talent and metric wise (02 Dolphins, 10 Chargers are examples) who miss the postseason, could they sit at home in Jan?
13. Chargers 4-3 (Projected Record 2-5, Drew Rating: -6.5) LW: 8
I like Justin Herbert. You all are the ones who make me do this. But Justin Herbert is NOT a top 5 QB yet. The guy is 19-20 in his career and even though he’s had a bad coach he has a ton of talent on his team. This is not Tom Brady in 2019 or Aaron Rodgers in 2022 we are talking about. They better figure it out quickly after the bye other Brandon Staley might not last the entire season.
12. Dolphins 4-3 (Projected Record 3-4, Drew Rating: -3.98) LW: 20
Phins get the huge jump due to a ton of teams ahead of them losing (many to not great opponents). This team is certainly better with Tua but I still do worry about Tua’s future health and his overall ceiling. But man with Mostert, Edmonds, Tyreek, and Waddle the skill position speed is ridiculous. I would bubble screen teams to death as well with all this speed, try to make a tackle is space, good luck.
11. Titans 4-2 (Projected Record 3-3, Drew Rating: -2.99) LW: 18
The Titans are a team that just continues to find a way. But the YPP advantage still is a concern. The Titans are the only team in football to average a yard per play more allowed than gained. If they can find a way to be more explosive on offense that will change. The metrics are mostly underwhelming because the 41-7 Week 2 loss in Buffalo was the biggest beatdown in the entire league thus far.
10. Seahawks 4-3 (Projected Record 4-3, Drew Rating: 3.68) LW: 15
Yes the Hawks are in the Top 10. But they deserve the nod here. Geno Smith has been mostly sensational. The defense has improved over the past couple of weeks. Kenneth Walker is a homerun threat at running back and Pete Carroll has this team beleiving. I would still pick this team to finish 4th but if they can go 2-1 in this sneaky brutal three game stretch (VS NYG, at AZ, VS TB in Munich), well???
9. Ravens 4-3 (Projected Record 5-2, Drew Rating: 7.71) LW: 10
The purple birds have never left the top 10 and may not all year if the beat Tampa on Thursday. This team has led by double digits every game but the Ravens have had a propensity to not put teams away. I’ve been disappointed by that as this team with the best running QB of all time should be more efficient in late game ball control offense to run clock and build leads, I think that will get fixed.
8. Bengals 4-3 (Projected Record 5-2, Drew Rating 9.56) LW: 11
The Bengals have em right where they want em!! I was certainly wrong on this one but it looks like the more surefire playoff team of the two participants from last year clearly is Cincy huh? The Bengals have sneaky tough matchup in Cleveland on Monday night as a hyper desperate Browns team have a formula to beat this Bengals team who does not have their best run stuffer. Burrow is balling.
7. Jets 5-2 (Projected Record 4-3, Drew Rating: 2.34) LW: 7
The Jets may be catching the Pats are the right time this week and if the J E T S JETS JETS JETS JETS find a way to win that game they will be 6-2 at the midway point of the season. There always is a team that we are like how in the hell did that team make the playoffs (Eagles last year came to mind). This year I think that team could be the New York Jets. Still think Miami catches em though.
6. Vikings 5-1 (Projected Record 3-3, Drew Rating: 3.79) LW: 4
This Vikings team does have talent but still as the metrics show they are out performing themselves by two wins so far. Two things on their side moving forward. 1. They are 3-0 in their division already and look very promising to hold any potential tiebreakers at the end of the year if necessary. 2. The Packers are an unmitigated disaster and don’t look like a real threat anytime soon, should win div.
5. Cowboys 5-2 (Projected Record 4-3, Drew Rating: 4.84) LW: 6
The Cowboys are a legit team this year as their projected drop off is a little bit overstated. Dak Prescott is the best Quarterback on this roster and getting the Lions and Bears at home as his first two starts coming off injury is a safe landing for the former Bulldog. Well at least we thought the Bears would be a safe landing Vegas still seems to think so. The Lone Stars are favored by 9.5 points.
4. Chiefs 5-2 (Projected Record 6-1, Drew Rating: 13.58) LW: 5
I argued with the spouse (a huge Chiefs fan) about putting the Chiefs behind the Giants but wins still matter. The Giants lone loss is to the number 5 ranked team. The Chiefs lost to the number 2 ranked team and a second loss unexplicably to the Colts in a game that will be studied about centuries from now. Patrick Mahomes can still play and Andy Reid can still coach huh, this team is still a force!!
3. Giants 6-1 (Projected Record 4-3, Drew Rating: 2.91) LW: 5
This Giants team keeps defying logic. They keep finding ways to pull game out of the ol keyster. But coaching and being great situationally will win you a ton of games in this league. What Brian Daboll is doing with Daniel Jones and this roster is truly magical. Do I think this team is more like 10-7 than 13-4 yes. But regardless I would be shocked at this point if the G Unit is not a playoff team.
2. Bills 5-1 (Projected Record 6-0, Drew Rating: 28.52) LW: 2
This Bills team is absolute juggernaut and are going to be favored by a least a touchdown every game moving forward. Probably the only games they would be even a single digit favorite if they keep up this level of play is home to Minnesota and at New England (probably both around an 8 point line). They are favored by 12 over Aaron Rodgers and most of the world is laying the 12, crazy!!!
1.Eagles 6-0 (Projected Record 5-1, Drew Rating: 18.72) LW: 1
I will stand by it until they lose the Eagles are going to be at the top of the Power Rankings, which likely will be for a while. The birds play the 30th and 31st ranked teams on this list next two games (Steelers, Texans). What the Eagles do great is the get a lead early and let their great pass rush do the rest. Hassan Reddick was one of the sneaky best signing any team had this entire offseason. The Eagles are going to win 14-15 games this season and we will all be saying what the hell?? The Playoffs will be the true test for team green birds, stay tuned!!