Hi everyone, hope everyone is enjoying this weird season. We know the Bills and Eagles are really good and the Steelers and Lions look bad. Other than that it is anyone’s guess what we get on a week to week basis. Let’s try to rank the 32 shall we.
32. Lions 1-6 (Projected Record 1-6, Drew Rating: -14.82) LW: 32
My Lions pick just keeps looking worse and worse and Dan Campbell for all of his speeches could be out of a job at the end of the year. This defense is the real issue on this team but I still cannot get past the fact that Jared Goff cannot score or win on the road. They have only played one game outdoors all year too so scoring six in Dallas isn’t because it was outdoors in the cold, bag faces here
31. Texans 1-5 (Projected Record 2-5, Drew Rating: -9.75) LW: 31
I am sad to say but it is looking like the Davis Mills experiment may be coming to an end. I was a huge supporter but he’s just not consistent enough to be a viable long term NFL starter. The defense also cannot stop the run at all. I do think they could be super frisky in an obvious trap game spot for the Eagles this Thursday night but when your run defense is this bad, not a good match for Phi.
30. Steelers 2-6 (Projected Record 1-7, Drew Rating: -18.43) LW: 30
I am not necessarily defending the Steelers but how about these last four, at buf, vs T.B, at Mia, at Phi. That is just a brutal stretch and as expected the Burgh went 1-3 with the corner games (road games against the two best in the game mind you) being absolute blowouts. I still think Kenny Pickett and company will improve in the second half with a more favorable schedule but rebuilding year.
29. Panthers 2-6 (Projected Record 3-5, Drew Rating: -7.14) LW: 29
Here is how bad the NFC South is this year. A team that has been in the bottom five in not just mine but everyone’s power rankings thus far was a bogus unsportsmanlike conduct call (maybe Eddy Pinero’s kicking was worse than a baby kicking it’s crib) away from being in first place. That throw by P.J Walker is one of the best I’ve ever seen though. How many other guys can make that throw, 4?
28. Raiders 2-5 (Projected Record 3-4, Drew Rating: -5) LW: 25
What the hell was that Raiders?? This is a team that is just a frustrating team to watch. They have a ton of talent on both sides of the ball but from Hunter Renfroe to Chandler Jones the results are not matching the ability. I do not think Josh McDaniels will be one and done but this Raiders team need to figure things out quickly otherwise this is going to be a head-scratching 5-12 season in the sin city.
27. Jaguars 2-6 (Projected Record 4-4, Drew Rating: 1.83) LW: 24
Yes positive metrics in not just drew rating, but point differential and yards per play. Also only a negative 2 turnover differential so unlike say the Saints (who turnovers have sabotaged them thus far) the Jags should at minimum have one more win but probably should be at .500. Trevor Lawrence is trying to take away the least clutch player in the league award from Jacoby Brissett, oi vey.
26. Rams 3-4 (Projected Record 2-5, Drew Rating: -9.58) LW: 22
The Rams are just not a good football team. They only have one real threat on offense and the defense is just okay. The former Super Bowl champs were lucky as well as the world stood still when it appeared that Cooper Kupp suffered a serious ankle injury but thankfully there was no structural damage. The next two will define their season as they play equally disappointing Tampa and Arizona
25. Cardinals 3-5 (Projected Record 3-5, Drew Rating: -8.23) LW: 21
Unlike the Rams the Cards do have a lot of weapons (Ertz, Hopkins, Rondale Moore if used correctly) but is a situational mess. Kliff Kingsbury did just get a contract extension but if the Cards do not turn this around as in like next week he is not going to have a job much longer as a team with as much talent as this should not be among the dregs of the league. Season on line against Seattle.
24. Bears 3-5 (Projected Record 3-5, Drew Rating: -6.43) LW: 17
After a shocking performance against the Pats the Bears went back to better than we thought but overall not that good. What has been shocking is even with inability to throw much the Bears offense thanks to a solid running game and clever play calling is still right around league average. I know I say many insulting things about this offense behind Justin Fields but against Bears nation I am sorry.
23. Colts 3-4 (Projected Record 4-4, Drew Rating: -4.21) LW: 20
Sam Ehlinger was not terrible in the Colts come from ahead 17-16 loss to the Washington Commandos on Sunday but still I cannot give a QB credit when his team only scores 16 points. The Colts by DVOA and other metrics are one of the worst in the league. The Drew Rating is a little more kind as third down defense in particular has actually been pretty good. But this team is just a boring watch.
22. Bucs 3-5 (Projected Record 4-4, Drew Rating: -2.34) LW: 16
Can you believe a Tom Brady led team is barely out of the bottom 10 in the power rankings. The Bucs deserve it though they have been by every measure a mediocre team. It also took garbage time for them to reach 22 points on Thursday night against the Ravens. You know what is pathetic about that? It’s the 2nd highest point total for Tampa all year!! Maybe newly single Tommy boy can figure it out.
21. Packers 3-5 (Projected Record 4-4, Drew Rating: -2.28) LW: 18
Even though the Packers have very little chance to win their division I do believe Sunday night’s game in Buffalo there was some good signs for this team. 1. They did not stop fighting, the Packers played well in the second half especially defensively and they do have a ton of talent on that side. 2. They found an identity. Run the crap out of the football with Aaron Jones and A.J Dillon, 2nd half surge??
20. Browns 3-5 (Projected Record 4-4, Drew Rating: -1.18) LW: 28
Yes Brownies won (as I projected) on Monday night over the Bengals to keep their season on life support. This is a team that I have been saying has one of the 5 best rosters in the entire sport. What they need to do is exactly what they did on Monday night, Jacoby Brissett only threw 22 passes. My favorite call was a 3rd and 6 draw to Kareem Hunt, as Richard Sherman would say run the ball!!!
19. Broncos 3-5 (Projected Record 4-4, Drew Rating: -.27) LW: 26
By every measure this Broncos defense is just flat out awesome. They showed it again on Sunday as the Broncos made Trevor Lawrence look like a JV QB against the varsity squad in a 21-17 win in London. Trying to throw on this Broncos team is harder than trigonometry. But you can run the ball as Travis Etienne showed on Sunday. This offense on other hand, oi vey what a brutal watch.
18. Saints 3-5 (Projected Record 4-4, Drew Rating: 1.15) LW: 27
If the Saints protect the ball this team could very easily win their division. The defense finally lived up to it’s potential in a 24-0 shutout of the Raiders on Sunday. The most impressive thing about this team is a team Quarterbacked by Andy Dalton/Jameis Winston is averaging 6.2 yards per play. That’s due to an elite offensive line and an underrated ground of skill players led by Alvin Kamara.
17. Commanders 4-4 (Projected Record 3-5. Drew Rating: -7.33) LW: 23
Can we give Ron Rivera at least some recognition for the recent turn around. The Commanders were 1-4 and there were rumors of Rivera getting the hook. All he has done since then is win three in a row and really the underrated part of this run is how great Washington has been situationally. Now they unfortunately are in the wrong division as the NFC East looks like it’s the 80’s again.
16. Chargers 4-3 (Projected Record 2-5, Drew Rating: -6.50) LW: 13
The Chargers got a much needed bye as with the AFC not being as great as everyone projected (Raiders, Bengals, Broncos, Colts are worse than many thought) the Bolts still have a golden opportunity to make the postseason. This is why Sunday’s game in Atlanta is the biggest game in Justin Herbert’s career. The Bolts are a small road favorite and with Niners the following week it’s a must win.
15. Falcons 4-4 (Projected Record 4-4, Drew Rating: -3.66) LW: 19
The dirty birds are in first place. This team was expected to win around 5 games this season and if they beat a sloppy Chargers team at home on Sunday they will reach that at the season’s midway point. This team’s pass defense is one of the worst in the league but their ability to run the ball and control the clock gives them opportunities to mask their one glaring deficiency, such a fun watch.
14. Patriots 4-4 (Projected Record 4-4, Drew Rating: .04) LW: 15
Watching this team play football makes you want to shower. They just look just dirty and not fluent in any way. But Bill Belichick is still a great coach (maybe best of all time??) and with Brady’s struggles without a great coach for first time in his career (yes I think Bruce Arians at minimum is a good coach) Belichick is starting to get some love against for those great dynasty years, still ugly watch
13. Bengals 4-4 (Projected Record 5-3, Drew Rating: 6.58) LW: 8
Niners have Rams number, Rams have Cardinals number, Patriots have Jets number, Titans have Colts number, Chiefs have Broncos number, and we can officially say the Browns have the Bengals number. Sometimes in football just certain teams and rosters do well against a certain other team in their division no matter how good the other team is. It appears like Bengals are not the kings of Ohio.
12. 49ers 4-4 (Projected Record 5-3, Drew Rating: 7.20) LW: 14
This Niners team sure feels like they are about to run away with their division doesn’t it. It’s just the talent on this roster is limitless. Elite pass rush, elite linebackers, elite left tackle, elite running back, elite tight end, elite play caller. So many boxes this team checks. I would be shocked if the 49ers don’t win at least 10 games barring a ton of catastrophic injuries, which it’s football so that could occur.
11. Dolphins 5-3 (Projected Record 4-4, Drew Rating: -2.04) LW: 12
The Phins are a team trending upward. We will continue to say this team has elite speed on the outside. The Phins were able to also able to trade for a great pass rusher (Bradley Chubb) and a running back that fits more into Mike McDaniel’s scheme (Jeff Wilson Jr.). As long as Skylar Thompson isn’t taking a ton of snaps I would be shocked if the Phins aren’t a wildcard team at this point, talent rich.
10. Titans 5-2 (Projected Record 4-3, Drew Rating: 1.15) LW: 11
Derrick Henry is just a menace in space isn’t he. Many of the media was trashing this team at start of the year after a 41-7 Week 2 blowout loss to the Bills. “Tannehill is terrible, they can’t throw the ball, trading A.J Brown was the worst move ever!!” Trading A.J Brown hurts a lot but this team is still on pace to win 12 games this year. I don’t think that happens but a division is very very likely.
9. Jets 5-3 (Projected Record 4-4, Drew Rating: 2.37) LW: 7
There is a little smoke and mirrors with the Jets and America’s favorite mommy lover (Zach Wilson) might be the worst starting Quarterback in football. But no team is better in preventing large plays than the Jets (best yards per play against in football). I have not researched this yet but I am pretty sure this is the latest in the season an above .500 team has ever been a 13 point home dog.
8. Seahawks 5-3 (Projected Record 4-4, Drew Rating: 4.89) LW: 10
Is this Hawks team for real? We might have to start believing so after a 27-13 win over the previous 6-1 New Jersey Giants on Sunday. Geno Smith has a 107.2 passer rating through 8 games which is astounding. Russell Wilson only bested Geno’s current rating twice in his ten years in the Northwest (2015, 2018). Could Geno really just be Russell Wilson reincarnated? Well see what happens.
7. Ravens 5-3 (Projected Record 5-3, Drew Rating: 9.17) LW: 9
For how bad of an offensive gameplan the Ravens had in the first half in Thursday’s 27-22 win in Tampa the 2nd half was brilliant. First off with Lamar Jackson behind center you always should be a run first team. Teams have to account for him on every snap which will also open up running lanes for whoever the running back is. Now with Dobbins and Edwards out they are getting thin on said position.
6. Giants 6-2 (Projected Record 4-4, Drew Rating: .59) LW: 3
We know that Giants are not as good as their record metrically but they get to host the two worst teams in football (Texans, Lions) after their bye week. So there is a very probable chance the Giants are 8-2 after 10 games. That means the Giants could go 2-5 down the stretch (5 division games, Min and Ind as non divisional games which is a brutal schedule) to win 10 games, shocking indeed.
5. Chiefs 5-2 (Projected Record 6-1, Drew Rating: 13.58) LW: 4
The Chiefs are almost certainly (barring catastrophic injuries) going to win their 7th straight AFC West title this season. The interesting part will be what happens during the postseason. Crazy fact here. Patrick Mahomes has played 8 playoff games at home, 2 at neutral sites (well 1 was kind of a Super Bowl road game), but never any true road playoff games. AFC Champ in Buffalo may await.
4. Cowboys 6-2 (Projected Record 6-2, Drew Rating: 11.32) LW: 5
I thought the Cowboys would fall off a bit this season after losing some important pieces on both sides of the ball. But what I didn’t realize that Micah Parsons is L.T 2.0 (not kidding) and would single handily shape this defense into the best in the game. We also got shown a fact that we already knew before Sunday’s 49-29 win over the Bears. Tony Pollard is better than Zeke Elliott, Drew speaks fact
3. Vikings 6-1 (Projected Record 4-3, Drew Rating: 6.13) LW: 6
I am going to succumb to the fact that Kirk Cousins is going to win 12-13 games and his Vikings team are almost assuredly going to be a number 2 seed in the NFC playoffs. What I cannot wrap my head around is that this team doesn’t look all that different from the previous couple of seasons. They could lose in the first round, but that homefield advantage is real and will matter in the postseason.
2. Bills 6-1 (Projected Record 7-0, Drew Rating: 26.85) LW: 2
I know Cowherd and all of my Bills mafia friends are sad panda about a so so 27-17 win over the Packers on Sunday night. My question is how can you be sad about a workman like win over a team quarterbacked by the back to back MVP winner. This team is so loaded that their fans can get mad about a 10 point easy win. Now you get the Jets as a 13 point road favorite, holy juggernauts.
1. Eagles 6-1 (Projected Record 7-0, Drew Rating: 23.87) LW:1
The Eagles are not going to be knocked off their perch until they lose a game which I have held steady about for about four weeks now. What this team does well is get an early lead and never let up. What cannot be understated was the fantastic throws Jalen Hurts was making on Sunday. He just looks so poised and comfortable. This team is not going 17-0 but they are not going to be the pushover everyone makes them out to be in the playoffs either. This is and should be the NFC favorite.