NFL Analysis
11/5/24
15 min read
2024 NFL Week 10 Power Rankings: Which Teams Are Real Super Bowl Contenders?
NFL Week 9 was fascinating, as we saw some of the contenders stand out and separate themselves from the rest of the pack.
The playoff picture is becoming clearer now that we are halfway through the 2024 season. However, which teams made the most movement in our power rankings this week?
Here is our updated ranking going into Week 10 of the 2024 season:
NFL Week 10 Power Rankings
1. Kansas City Chiefs (8-0) 
Previous Ranking: 1 
The Kansas City Chiefs still don't look quite right on offense, but adding DeAndre Hopkins certainly helps. He caught eight passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns and made several timely plays for Kansas City.
The Chiefs scored 30 and have now scored 26 or more points in four straight games. If they can get back Isiah Pacheco by November, it's hard to see anyone beating them in the playoffs.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. Broncos
2. Detroit Lions (7-1)
Previous Ranking: 2 
Sunday was a statement win by the Detroit Lions. Not only did they prove that they could win outdoors, but they also showed the rest of the NFC that they were the team to beat this year.
That was a dominating win against the Packers, and the offense didn’t even play its best game. If the Lions can secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, it’s hard to imagine anyone going into Detroit and winning this year.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 7 vs. Texans
3. Buffalo Bills (7-2)
Previous Ranking: 3
Remember when the Jets were favored to win the AFC East over the Buffalo Bills? That feels like forever ago, as the Bills got another key divisional win in Week 9 against the Dolphins.
It wasn’t always pretty, but Tyler Bass kicked the game-winning field goal to help the Bills improve to 7-2 on the season. Buffalo has established itself as the clear No. 2 team in the AFC despite an ugly early-season loss to Baltimore.
It appears we are on a collision course for the Chiefs and the Bills to meet in the playoffs again.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. Colts
4. Baltimore Ravens (6-3)
Previous Ranking: 6 
The Baltimore Ravens needed a win after losing a game to the Browns, which they had firmly in their grasp last week. And did they ever impress in Week 9, destroying the Denver Broncos?
Denver had one of the league’s top defenses, yet the Ravens scored 41 points before taking their foot off the gas. Zay Flowers had another huge performance, and Lamar Jackson is well on his way to winning his third MVP award.
But with a difficult upcoming schedule, can the Ravens get back on top in the AFC North? That remains to be seen.
Next Game: Thursday, Nov. 7 vs. Bengals
5. Minnesota Vikings (6-2)
Previous Ranking: 7
The Minnesota Vikings ended a two-game losing streak with an impressive win against the Colts on Sunday Night Football. The defense allowed just six points, and Joe Flacco had no chance to move the ball against that unit.
Sam Darnold did not play a clean game, but the team did enough to get a convincing win against a borderline playoff team in the AFC. It doesn’t feel like the Vikings are “back” yet, but this was a good win for a team that needed one.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. Jaguars
6. Washington Commanders (7-2)
Previous Ranking: 8
The Washington Commanders have passed just about every test so far. But things are going to get a lot harder for them, starting this week with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming to town after a Week 9 bye.
If the Commanders find a way to win that game, we can start talking about them as serious Super Bowl contenders.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. Steelers
7. Philadelphia Eagles (6-2)
Previous Ranking: 10
The Philadelphia Eagles held a 22-0 lead over Jacksonville but let the Jaguars claw back into the game.
Somehow, the Eagles survived and are now at 6-2 and in a prime spot to make a run for the division. Something still feels a bit off about this team, but you would be hard-pressed to find seven teams better than the Eagles at this stage of the season.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. Cowboys
8. Green Bay Packers (6-3)
Previous Ranking: 4 
What should we make of the Green Bay Packers? They’ve beaten some good teams, including the Texans and the Rams. But they have now lost games to the Eagles, Vikings, and Lions, and their defense struggled in all three of those contests.
Green Bay is a good team, but can it match up with the NFC's top teams? Right now, the answer is no. However, it’s hard to rank too many teams ahead of them right now, either.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Bears
9. Houston Texans (6-3)
Previous Ranking: 5
It’s become increasingly difficult to trust the Houston Texans in a big game because they can’t protect C.J. Stroud. Without Nico Collins (hamstring) and Stefon Diggs (torn ACL), they just aren’t that scary on offense.
Houston will have no problem winning the AFC South due to the other three teams in the division, but it isn't a team that you should count on moving forward.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 7 vs. Lions
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
Previous Ranking: 9
The Pittsburgh Steelers had a bye in Week 9, and they needed it, as several key players were nursing injuries.
Their schedule is about to get a whole lot harder moving forward, but they have positioned themselves to make a run at the AFC North. They are a game up on Baltimore, but we should know more about this team after November with games against the Commanders, Ravens, Browns, and Bengals up next.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. Commanders
11. Atlanta Falcons (6-3)
Previous Ranking: 11
It’s taken the Atlanta Falcons a while to find their footing, but they look like one of the more well-rounded teams in the NFC.
Kirk Cousins has played fantastically in the last few weeks, and he is averaging nearly eight yards per passing attempt this season. And with the run game starting to become a big factor, Atlanta could be a team that no wild-card seed would want to face in Round 1.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. Saints
12. San Francisco 49ers (4-4)
Previous Ranking: 12
The San Francisco 49ers were on bye in Week 9 but lost ground in the NFC West since the Cardinals and Rams won. The good news is that everyone in the division is bunched together, and despite four losses, the 49ers have a great chance to take the lead by the end of the month.
Can they get healthy for the postseason? That remains to be seen, but the 49ers remain one of the most dangerous teams in the league going into Week 10.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. Buccaneers
13. Los Angeles Chargers (5-3)
Previous Ranking: 14
With some better luck, the Los Angeles Chargers could be 6-2 or 7-1. However, they are 5-3 and are still in a good spot right now in the AFC.
Justin Herbert played another fantastic game, and they still have the No. 1 ranked scoring defense. But with a tough December slate upcoming, it’s important for the Chargers to rack up as many wins as possible in November. If they can get to 9-10 wins, the Chargers should be a playoff team this year and have a head coach and quarterback combo that could be deadly in the postseason.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. Titans
14. Denver Broncos (5-4)
Previous Ranking: 13
It’s pretty likely that the Denver Broncos will be a wild-card team in the AFC. Still, this was a good example of how big the gap is between the contenders and the pretenders in the conference.
The Broncos weren’t competitive against the Ravens, and that game was over by halftime. When the Broncos aren’t feasting on bad NFC teams, Denver has looked average. It will be fine in the long run, but this isn’t a team that should scare any real contender.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. Chiefs
15. Arizona Cardinals (5-4)
Previous Ranking: 17
Don’t look now, but the Arizona Cardinals hold a 1.5-game lead over the Rams and 49ers in the NFC West. The offense continues to look unstoppable, as the Cardinals ran for 213 yards against the Bears in Week 9.
The defense is even starting to come along after holding Chicago to just nine points. While the Cardinals are far from the favorites to win the NFC West, the fact that they are here after nine weeks is a good sign of things to come in Arizona.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. Jets
16. Los Angeles Rams (4-4)
Previous Ranking: 19
The Los Angeles Rams are now on a three-game winning streak and are just 1.5 games back of the division lead. Matthew Stafford is playing incredible football, and they beat the Seahawks despite Puka Nacua being ejected early in the contest.
The Rams don’t have the most talented roster in the league, but they have a fantastic head coach and quarterback, and those two keep them in games. The Rams are a sneaky contender in the NFC and a team no one wants to face moving forward.
Next Game: Monday, Nov. 11 vs. Dolphins
17. Chicago Bears (4-4)
Previous Ranking: 16
Young teams often let one loss snowball into another. And that’s what happened to the Chicago Bears in Week 9 as they let the Hail Mary loss to the Commanders impact their play against the Cardinals this week.
The offense came out flat, and the defense just didn’t have any answers to stop the run. Chicago is still a talented team, but that was not a game that it should have lost in Arizona.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. Patriots
18. Seattle Seahawks (4-5)
Previous Ranking: 18
It’s really difficult to project the Seattle Seahawks week to week this season. Just a few weeks ago, they crushed the Falcons in Atlanta, and this week, they lost to the Rams in Seattle.
Geno Smith threw the ball all over the field, but three interceptions were the difference. The Seahawks might be our good “bad” team for the 2024 season unless they can be more consistent and reliable on offense.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. 49ers
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5)
Previous Ranking: 15
Hats off to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They went toe-to-toe with the Chiefs in Arrowhead on Monday Night Football. Despite not having Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay's offense did move the ball well against the Chiefs.
They took Kansas City to overtime, but the biggest mistake was not going for two at the end of regulation. Instead, Todd Bowles relied on his defense, and it let him down once again. Tampa Bay showed a lot of heart, but the talent differential between these two teams couldn't have been bigger.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. 49ers
20. Cincinnati Bengals (4-5)
Previous Ranking: 21
There isn’t a quarterback in the league playing better than Joe Burrow right now. Despite missing four starters on offense, Burrow completed his first 14 passes on Sunday and finished with five passing touchdowns for the second time this season.
Sitting at 4-5, the Cincinnati Bengals have managed to keep themselves in the wild-card hunt in the AFC. And with a win over the Ravens in Week 10, they would still be in the AFC North discussion, as well.
Next Game: Thursday, Nov. 7 vs. Ravens
21. Indianapolis Colts (4-5)
Previous Ranking: 22
The decision to bench Anthony Richardson in favor of Joe Flacco couldn’t have looked worse in Week 9. The offense scored just six points, and Flacco could not move the ball against the Vikings.
The run game also suffered, and the lack of explosiveness in the offense was noticeable. But with a record of 4-5, the Indianapolis Colts still aren’t out of the playoff conversation in the AFC. But this isn’t a good team, and they have some major decisions to make moving forward.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. Bills
22. Dallas Cowboys (3-5)
Previous Ranking: 20
The Dallas Cowboys have suffered a ton of injuries this season to several star players. Two more occurred in Week 9, with Dak Prescott (hamstring) and CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) leaving in the middle of the third quarter.
Still, this wasn’t a good team before all of the injuries. They can’t get stops on defense, and the offense continues to underperform. And with their quarterback likely to miss the next several games, things are only about to get a lot worse.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. Eagles
23. New York Jets (3-6)
Previous Ranking: 24
The New York Jets had their best performance of the season on Thursday Night Football, defeating the Texans in a must-win game.
While the Jets are still well outside of the playoff picture in the AFC, their season isn’t over yet. However, they are going to need Aaron Rodgers and the receivers to really step up next month if they want to have any chance of becoming a contender this year.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. Cardinals
24. Miami Dolphins (2-6)
Previous Ranking: 23
The Miami Dolphins went toe-to-toe with the Bills but lost on a 61-yard field goal by Tyler Bass at the end of regulation. There is no shame in that loss, but at 2-6, the Dolphins' season is likely over.
It’s a shame because Tua Tagovailoa has looked good in his return, and the offense is humming. Unless they go on a big run in the final nine games, it appears that the Dolphins will miss the playoffs after making it in each of the past two seasons.
Next Game: Monday, Nov. 11 vs. Rams
25. New York Giants (2-7)
Previous Ranking: 26
The New York Giants' offense did not let them down in Week 9. It was their defense that couldn’t get a stop when they needed it. Now they are 2-6 and heading overseas for a game against the Panthers.
The Daniel Jones experiment seems to be winding down, and the Giants are in the quarterback market for 2025. But this isn’t a fun team to watch, and it seems like they will be rebuilding once again next offseason.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. Panthers (Germany)
26. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)
Previous Ranking: 25
What more can we say about the Las Vegas Raiders at this point? They allowed 41 points on defense in Week 9.
They benched their starting quarterback for the third time this season, and shortly after the game, they fired their offensive coordinator (Luke Getsy) and two other prominent offensive coaches.
The Raiders have no direction, and it’s becoming clearer each week that Antonio Pierce is over his head. It’s a tough time to be a Raiders fan as the team continues to regress.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Dolphins
27. Cleveland Browns (2-7)
Previous Ranking: 27
The Cleveland Browns got a magical win in Week 8, defeating the Baltimore Ravens in an emotional contest. But that only lasted for one week, as the Los Angeles Chargers smoked the Browns on Sunday.
The Browns got an all-world performance by Myles Garrett, who recorded three sacks in the first half. Yet, that wasn’t enough to keep this game close.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Browns
28. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-7)
Previous Ranking: 28
The Jacksonville Jaguars showed a lot of heart battling back from a 22-0 deficit. They had a chance to win the game in regulation, but a first-and-10 interception by Trevor Lawrence on Philadelphia’s 13-yard-line sealed their fate.
Lawrence played pretty well, but his late interception was a case of him trying to do too much. He’s not getting a lot of help from his defense (447 yards allowed) or his supporting cast, but he needs to play better, too. Until he does, this team will be stuck near the bottom of the AFC for the foreseeable future.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. Vikings
29. New Orleans Saints (2-7)
Previous Ranking: 29
It wasn’t that long ago that the New Orleans Saints were 2-0 and one of the most surprising teams in the league. Now, they’ve lost seven straight games and fallen to arguably the worst team in the league, the Carolina Panthers.
The Saints fired coach Dennis Allen on Monday, and it's only a matter of time before they move on from QB Derek Carr. This means a full reset is coming in 2025. Frankly, it’s been needed for a while, as this franchise has been directionless since Drew Brees retired.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. Falcons
30. New England Patriots (2-7)
Previous Ranking: 30
The New England Patriots couldn't secure a victory in Week 9, but fans of the team have to be highly encouraged about their future.
Drake Maye came through in the clutch, throwing a game-tying touchdown with no time left on the clock in regulation. While he was far from perfect in this game, the fact that he can make big splash plays with his arm and his legs gives this franchise hope moving forward.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. Bears
31. Tennessee Titans (2-6)
Previous Ranking: 31
The Tennessee Titans needed overtime to take down the Patriots, but they did just that in a wild AFC matchup on Sunday. One of the most impressive players from the game was Tony Pollard, who did not practice all week due to a foot injury.
He was highly questionable to play, and yet he racked up 31 touches for 154 yards. Pollard already has 757 yards from scrimmage through eight games and is on pace to record 1,600 yards this season. He has proven to be quite the offseason addition for Tennessee.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. Chargers
32. Carolina Panthers (2-7)
Previous Ranking: 32
Congratulations to the Carolina Panthers on their second win of the season. It wasn’t pretty, but they beat Derek Carr and the Saints.
It was also cool to see Bryce Young play well, even if the box score doesn’t necessarily reflect that. He looked confident and poised, which couldn’t be said about him earlier in the year. The Panthers will still be in the quarterback market in 2025, but this was an encouraging win for Young and his team moving forward.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. Giants (Germany)
