NFL Analysis
11/12/24
16 min read
2024 NFL Week 11 Power Rankings: Steelers Continue Rising
The gap between the contenders and the pretenders continues to widen, and after Week 10, the number of Super Bowl contenders has fallen to a dozen or fewer.
Which NFL teams made the most significant jump coming out of the weekend? And which playoff hopefuls are now completely out of the mix? Here is our updated power rankings going into Week 11 of the 2024 season:
NFL Week 11 Power Rankings
1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-0) 
Previous Ranking: 1 
It takes a lot of luck to win a Super Bowl, and it usually requires some weird wins in the regular season. The Kansas City Chiefs have had their fair share of odd wins this season, but Week 10 takes the cake.
The Broncos just needed to make a short field goal to beat the Chiefs in regulation, but the kick was blocked, and Kansas City survived another awful performance by its offense. The Chiefs are 9-0, and 14+ wins aren’t out of the equation. Still, there is something off about this team, as it feels more beatable than ever.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Bills
2. Detroit Lions (8-1)
Previous Ranking: 2
A sign of a good team is if you can still win despite everything going wrong. That was certainly the case for the Detroit Lions in Week 10, with Jared Goff throwing five interceptions in the first three quarters.
Yet, they pulled off the win in Houston against the Texans. The Lions' defense has been legit all season, and it will soon add Za’Darius Smith to the unit. The Chiefs and the Lions are clearly the league's top two teams, and it’s going to take a lot for them to move out of these spots going forward.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Jaguars
3. Buffalo Bills (8-2)
Previous Ranking: 3
Don’t look now, but the Buffalo Bills have won five straight games and look poised to be the No. 2 seed in the AFC. However, with a meeting against the Chiefs upcoming in Week 11, there is no reason why they can’t go for the No. 1 spot.
The defense is playing outstandingly right now, and Josh Allen continues to play like a superstar. This was supposed to be a “reset” year for the Bills, but instead, this might be their best team yet in the Josh Allen era.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Chiefs
4. Baltimore Ravens (7-3)
Previous Ranking: 4
The Baltimore Ravens' defense is a real problem, and it might be the reason they don’t make it far in the playoffs. However, Lamar Jackson is playing the best football of his career, and he finally has the right weapons around him.
The Ravens have the NFL’s best offense, and they are going to need Jackson to keep it up if they want to steal the division away from the Steelers.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Steelers
![Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is pressured out of the pocket and forced to run during the second quarter an NFL football matchup Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Vikings defeated the Jaguars 12-7. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://www.the33rdteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/USATSI_24730826-1024x681.jpg)
5. Minnesota Vikings (7-2)
Previous Ranking: 5
We were all waiting for Sam Darnold's bad performance to discount the Minnesota Vikings, and that happened in Week 10 when he threw three interceptions. However, the Vikings showed why they are considered one of the best teams in the league after finding a way to win the game.
The defense stepped up in a big way, allowing just seven points on the road in Jacksonville. They’ll need Darnold to be better moving forward, but this is the type of ugly win that good teams need to get.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Titans
6. Philadelphia Eagles (7-2)
Previous Ranking: 7 
Jalen Hurts had a rocky first half against Dallas, including a red zone interception and a fumble, but he made up for it with a big second half. The Philadelphia Eagles will need Hurts to be more consistent and reliable moving forward, but this is a team that has clearly figured some things out in the last month.
And with a showdown against the Commanders on Thursday Night Football, we’ll quickly find out who the favorite in the NFC East really is after 11 weeks.
Next Game: Thursday, Nov. 14 vs. Commanders
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2)
Previous Ranking: 10
The Pittsburgh Steelers continue to find ways to win strange games, which has defined Mike Tomlin's tenure in Pittsburgh. But with a record of 7-2, there is no denying that this is a playoff team, and it has an excellent chance of stealing the AFC North.
The Steelers host the Ravens in Week 11, and that game will go a long way in deciding their upside for the remainder of the 2024 season.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Ravens
8. Green Bay Packers (6-3)
Previous Ranking: 8
The Green Bay Packers were on bye in Week 10, but they lost ground to the Lions and the Vikings despite those quarterbacks combining for eight interceptions.
The Packers are a quality team, but there is a gap between them and the top two teams in the NFC North.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Bears
9. Washington Commanders (7-3)
Previous Ranking: 6 
The Washington Commanders had plenty of chances to beat the Steelers at home, but mistakes (drops, missed passes, offsides penalties) crushed them.
This is a young team that needs to learn how to be better at the end of games, which will come. They didn’t play a bad game by any stretch, but this was a winnable game that they left on the field.
Next Game: Thursday, Nov. 14 vs. Eagles
10. Houston Texans (6-5)
Previous Ranking: 9
It’s officially time to be concerned about the Houston Texans. They forced five interceptions on Jared Goff in the first three quarters, but it still wasn’t enough to win. The offense did not score a single point in the second half, and C.J. Stroud has not played as well this season as he did as a rookie.
Houston will win the AFC South with ease, but it doesn't look like a Super Bowl contender. In fact, it looks like a team primed for a loss in Round 1 of the playoffs.
Next Game: Monday, Nov. 18 vs. Cowboys
11. San Francisco 49ers (5-4)
Previous Ranking: 12
The San Francisco 49ers got a win coming out of a Week 9 bye, but to say they played well would be a massive overstatement. Brock Purdy shined, but Tampa Bay had plenty of chances to win this game outright.
Something still feels off about this 49ers team despite back-to-back wins. We’ll see if Christian McCaffrey can help get this team back on the right track, but they clearly aren’t the same team that we saw in 2023.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Seahawks
12. Los Angeles Chargers (6-3)
Previous Ranking: 13
Many NFL fans might not realize that the Los Angeles Chargers have the league's No. 1 scoring defense, which is a big reason they are 6-3.
Despite several injuries (and suspensions) to that unit, they continue to play excellent football under Jesse Minter. And with Justin Herbert getting healthier each week, the Chargers could be a dangerous wild-card team in the AFC.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Bengals
13. Atlanta Falcons (6-4)
Previous Ranking: 11
The Atlanta Falcons are a tough team to figure out because there are weeks when they look fantastic. There have also been several games where they’ve laid an egg, including this week against the Saints.
Atlanta had a chance to bury the Buccaneers and Saints in the division, but an ugly 20-17 loss did it in. While it still has a healthy lead in the division, a No. 4 seed in the NFC is becoming more likely.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Broncos
14. Arizona Cardinals (6-4)
Previous Ranking: 15
The most “fun” team in the NFL resides in Arizona, as the Arizona Cardinals now have a 1.5-game lead in the NFC West. Their defense has been phenomenal at home, as it has not surrendered a touchdown in each of its past three contests.
Kyler Murray is playing some of the best football of his career, and Arizona appears to have a real chance to get back into the postseason in 2024.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 24 vs. Seahawks
15. Denver Broncos (5-5)
Previous Ranking: 14
It’s tough to rank the Denver Broncos because they outplayed the Chiefs in Kansas City in Week 10, but a blocked field goal at the end of the game lost them the contest.
Now, they sit at 5-5 despite having a pretty solid team. They are firmly in the playoff picture in the AFC, but the fact that they haven’t closed out these games is awfully concerning for the 2024 outlook.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Falcons
16. Cincinnati Bengals (4-6)
Previous Ranking: 20
So here is the good news for the Cincinnati Bengals. Joe Burrow is playing the best football of his career, and they easily could have beaten the Ravens in Week 10. The bad news is that they are 4-6, and the division is out of the question.
However, the AFC sets up nice for them to make a wild-card run with the Colts, Broncos, and Jets all falling in Week 10. They are just one game out of the wild-card race, but the defense must get better if they want to have any chance of making a push to the postseason.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Chargers
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6)
Previous Ranking: 19
Baker Mayfield has been battling the last few weeks without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but he wasn’t good at all against the 49ers on Sunday.
He averaged just 4.0 yards per attempt, and the offense really struggled to get going. With a record of 4-6, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' hopes and dreams of another playoff appearance appear to be going out the window.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 24 vs. Giants
18. Chicago Bears (4-5)
Previous Ranking: 17
It wasn’t that long ago that the Chicago Bears were 4-2 and looked like a sure-fire playoff team in the NFC. Still, they have now lost three straight games, and it all started with the Hail Mary loss to the Commanders.
Chicago has not been able to rebound since that game, and the offense has completely lost all of its rhythm.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Packers
19. Los Angeles Rams (4-5)
Previous Ranking: 16
The Los Angeles Rams are impossible to predict because their offense can look great in certain weeks, but it was downright awful in Week 10.
It continued to make big-time mistakes that took points off the board, and it just couldn't stay out of its own way. With five losses on the season, the Rams are falling behind in the NFC West and don't have much of a shot at a wild-card berth. Things are getting dark early for the Rams.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Patriots
20. Seattle Seahawks (4-5)
Previous Ranking: 18
Seattle was on a bye in Week 10, and unfortunately, they lost a lot of ground in the NFC West. Both the Cardinals and the 49ers secured wins, and the Seattle Seahawks continue to fall further back in the divisional race.
Hopefully, the addition of a healthy DK Metcalf can help this offense become more stable. With five losses already, it’s hard to see this team making the playoffs.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. 49ers
21. Miami Dolphins (2-6)
Previous Ranking: 24
The Miami Dolphins kept their playoff hopes alive by defeating the Rams on the road in Week 10. It wasn't a great game by their offense, but their defense rose to the challenge, allowing just 15 points.
If the defense can continue to play anywhere near that level the rest of the way, the Dolphins could make a little run and make things interesting in the AFC.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Raiders
22. Indianapolis Colts (4-6)
Previous Ranking: 21
One of the big reasons why the Indianapolis Colts decided to go with Joe Flacco as their starting quarterback was the hope that he could jumpstart their passing attack.
And for the second week in a row, that didn’t happen. Flacco threw three interceptions, including a pick-six to Taron Johnson on the first play of the game. The Colts are a sinking ship, and they appear set to go down with a 39-year-old Flacco under center.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Jets
23. New England Patriots (3-7)
Previous Ranking: 30
The New England Patriots got another win on Sunday, improving to 3-6 on the season. They’ve had several close losses this year, including last week in overtime against the Tennessee Titans.
They aren’t nearly as bad as their record suggests, and Drake Maye's play is highly encouraging. The rest of this season is about his development, and then it’s up to the front office to put together a competent supporting cast around him in 2025.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Rams
24. Dallas Cowboys (3-6)
Previous Ranking: 22
The Dallas Cowboys finally created some takeaways on defense, but the offense couldn’t move the ball at all against the Eagles. It lost four fumbles, and Cooper Rush/Trey Lance combined for 49 net passing yards on 32 dropbacks. Yikes.
The Cowboys have a difficult remaining schedule, including two games with the Commanders left on the slate. At this point, anything above five wins would be a borderline miracle.
Next Game: Monday, Nov. 18 vs. Texans
25. New York Jets (3-7)
Previous Ranking: 23
The New York Jets have several tough losses this season, but being blown out by the Cardinals tops them all. They were never competitive in this game, and frankly, Aaron Rodgers looked old.
This isn’t a playoff team, no matter how much the national media wants to convince you otherwise. Instead, the Jets look destined for a top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Colts
26. Carolina Panthers (3-7)
Previous Ranking: 32
The Carolina Panthers have now won back-to-back games for the first time in Bryce Young’s career. While his play wasn’t incredible, he’s been rock solid since his return to the field.
It’s still unlikely that he is the long-term answer in Carolina, but the fact that he is playing well and the Panthers are winning is certainly a sight for sore eyes.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 24 vs. Chiefs
27. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)
Previous Ranking: 26
The Las Vegas Raiders were on bye in Week 10, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t active. Antonio Pierce fired Luke Getsy after hiring him this offseason to run the offense.
Now, Scott Turner will be in charge of one of the league’s worst offenses with Gardner Minshew under center. But at 2-7, the Raiders are so far out of contention in the AFC that it likely won’t matter. The only question now is if Pierce will be the head coach in 2025.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Dolphins
28. New Orleans Saints (3-7)
Previous Ranking: 29
The New Orleans Saints won their first game in the post Dennis Allen era and a big reason why is due to the play of Derek Carr. He was fantastic in this game despite not having Chris Olave or Rashid Shaheed to throw to, but he connected with Marquez Valdes-Scanting for two touchdowns.
The Saints are out of the playoff picture in the NFC, but it was cool to see Carr play well after dealing with an oblique injury for a good chunk of the season.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Browns
29. Cleveland Browns (2-7)
Previous Ranking: 27
The Cleveland Browns were off in Week 10, and they certainly needed to reset after a tough loss in Week 9 to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Jameis Winston is expected to be the starter for the remainder of the season, but we know that he isn’t the long-term answer in Cleveland. Now, the Browns are in evaluation mode for the rest of 2024 as they gear up for a pivotal offseason in 2025.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Saints
30. New York Giants (2-8)
Previous Ranking: 25
It sure seems like we are inching closer to the end of the Daniel Jones era in New York. The former first-round pick from Duke has not averaged more than 6.9 yards per attempt in any of his last five games, and his loss to the Panthers might seal his fate.
The New York Giants are among the worst teams in the NFC and will be in the quarterback market in 2025.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 24 vs. Buccaneers
31. Tennessee Titans (2-7)
Previous Ranking: 31
Will Levis returned to the lineup in Week 10 for the Tennessee Titans and played one of the better games of his career. Unfortunately, most of the yardage he posted occurred late in the second half when the game was already decided.
The Titans scored just 10 points entering the final four minutes of the game, and they just couldn’t sustain many drives early in this contest.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Vikings
32. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8)
Previous Ranking: 28
If the season ended today, the Jacksonville Jaguars would hold the No. 1 pick for the third time in five years. That is what a bad organization and franchise look like.
They lost a winnable game to the Vikings in which they forced three interceptions. Still, Mac Jones and the Jaguars did next to nothing on offense. After another poor performance by Doug Pederson, it’s only a matter of when, and not if, he is replaced as the team’s head coach.
Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 17 vs. Lions
