Analysis
10/13/21
10 min read
Domo's NFL Power Rankings: Denver and Seattle Take a Tumble
1) Bucs (4-1) Previous: 1
Last Game: W45-17 vs MIA
Good News: Tom Brady threw for 411 yards and 5 TDs against the Dolphins Sunday and hasn’t thrown an interception since Week 1.
Bad News: Brady injured his thumb early in Sunday’s game and won’t have a lot of time for it to heal with the Bucs playing on Thursday night. Then again, he threw 3 TDs after suffering the injury.
This Week: at 2-3 Eagles
2) Bills (4-1) Previous: 2
Last Game: W38-20 @KC
Good News: Their convincing win over the Chiefs on the road ended any yeah-but-who-have-they-played skepticism about how good they are.
Bad News: Other than the threat of boredom, I’m not sure there is any. The collective record of their next five opponents is 6-19.
This Week: at 3-2 Titans
3) Cowboys (4-1) Previous: 3
Last Game: W44-20NYG
Good News: Zeke Elliott and Tony Pollard are on pace to rush for a combined 2,642 yards.
Bad News: The Cowboys converted just two of five red zone opportunities into TDs v. Giants.
This Week: at 2-3 Patriots
4) Cardinals (5-0) Previous: 4
Last Game: W17-10 vs SF
Good News: Lost in the fantasy football numbers that Kyler Murray and Co. are putting up is the fact that the Cardinals finally have a very good defense.
Bad News: Murray lost an important receiving option Sunday when TE Maxx Williams went down with what appears to be a season-ending knee injury.
This Week: at 3-2 Browns
5) Chargers (4-1) Previous: 5
Last Game: W47-42 vs CLE
Good News: The Chargers put up 47 points on a Browns defense that had given up 13 points in the previous two games.
Bad News: The Browns were the third team to put up 185-plus rushing yards against the Chargers. They’re averaging a league-worst 5.6 yards allowed per carry.
This Week: at 4-1 Ravens
6) Packers (4-1) Previous: 6
Last Game: W25-22 @CIN
Good News: Davante Adams leads the NFL in receptions (42), receiving yards (579) and receiving first downs (28).
Bad News: Their normally reliable kicker Mason Crosby missed three field goal attempts and an extra point against the Bengals, even though he did boot a game-winning 49-yarder in overtime.
This Week: at 3-2 Bears
7) Rams (4-1) Previous: 7
Last Game: W26-17 @SEA
Good News: Matthew Stafford is getting better protection than the president. He’s been sacked a league-low four times in 176 pass plays.
Bad News: The Rams defense continues to struggle on third down. They’re 30th in 3rd-down defense, allowing opponents to convert 48.3% of their opportunities.
This Week: at 1-4 Giants
8) Ravens (4-1) Previous: 10
Last Game: W31-25 vs IND
Good News: Ravens have won four in a row since their Week 1 loss to the Raiders.
Bad News: The defense gave up 513 yards and 29 first downs to the Colts Monday night. It was just the ninth time in John Harbaugh’s 14 years as the Ravens’ head coach that his defense was gashed for 500-plus yards.
This Week: v. 4-1 Chargers
9) Chiefs (2-3) Previous: 8
Last Game: L20-38 vs BUF
Good News: The Chiefs hope to get two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Chris Jones back this week.
Bad News: Patrick Mahomes already has thrown as many interceptions in the first five games – six – as he did all of last season.
This Week: at 2-3 Washington
10) Browns (3-2) Previous: 11
Last Game: L42-47 @LAC
Good News: The Browns had 230 rushing yards against the Chargers Sunday and lead the league in rushing (187.6).
Bad News: QB Baker Mayfield hasn’t been nearly as impressive on third down as he’s been in his At Home With Baker commercials. He’s got a 54.0 third-down passer rating. Just 12 of his 34 third-down passes have resulted in a first down.
This Week: v. 5-0 Cardinals
11) Raiders (3-2) Previous: 9
Last Game: L9-20 vs CHI
Good News: The Raiders have turned the ball over just four times in five games.
Bad News: Jon Gruden’s resignation is going to be a major distraction for the Raiders as they try to prepare for an important division game on the heels of a two-game losing streak.
This Week: at 3-2 Broncos
12) Panthers (3-2) Previous: 12
Last Game: L18-21 vs PHI
Good News: The Panthers are hopeful that injured running back Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) will be back this week.
Bad News: Sam Darnold has thrown five interceptions in back-to-back losses to the Cowboys and Eagles after throwing just one in the Panthers’ 3-0 start.
This Week: v. 2-3 Vikings
13) Niners (2-3) Previous: 13
Last Game: L10-17 @ARI
Good News: The early bye is coming at a good time for a team that has lost three in a row, all by seven points or less.
Bad News: Kyle Shanahan’s offense has not played up to expectations. The Niners’ are 15th in scoring and total offense.
This Week: Bye
14) Bengals (3-2) Previous: 14
Last Game: L22-25 vs GB
Good News: The Bengals are in the top 10 in scoring defense (20.0 points allowed per game) for the first time since 2016.
Bad News: Despite the fact that Joe Burrow is among the NFL passing leaders, the Bengals are only 18th in scoring.
This Week: at 0-5 Lions
15) Bears (3-2) Previous: 21
Last Game: W20-9 vs LVR
Good News: No David Montgomery? No problem. Damien Williams and rookie sixth-round pick Khalil Herbert combined for 139 rushing yards in the Bears’ impressive win over the Raiders in Vegas.
Bad News: The Bears have a tough three-game stretch coming up against the Packers, Bucs and Niners.
This Week: v. 4-1 Packers
16) Vikings (2-3) Previous: 18
Last Game: W19-17 vs DET
Good News: Running back Dalvin Cook has missed two of the last three games with an ankle injury, but could return this week.
Bad News: This is where we probably wave good bye to the Vikings’ playoff hopes. Their next six games are against the 3-2 Panthers, 4-1 Cowboys, 4-1 Ravens, 4-1 Chargers, 4-1 Packers and better-than-their-record 2-3 49ers. Only the Cowboys and Packers games are at home.
This Week: at 3-2 Panthers
17) Saints (3-2) Previous: 19
Last Game: W33-22 @WAS
Good News: Dennis Allen’s opportunistic defense, which had a league-high 18 interceptions last season, already has nine in the first five games.
Bad News: Jameis Winston had four TD passes against Washington, but completed just 50 percent of his passes. It was the first time this season that he’s attempted more than 23 passes in a game.
This Week: bye
18) Patriots (2-3) Previous: 17
Last Game: W25-22 @HOU
Good News: New Englands' defense is sixth in points allowed (18.4) and has nine interceptions.
Bad News: The Patriots’ two wins have been against the 1-4 Texans and 1-4 Jets.
This Week: v. 4-1 Cowboys
19) Titans (3-2) Previous: 22
Last Game: W37-19 @JAX
Good News: It’s early, but Derrick Henry is on pace to break Eric Dickerson’s 37-year-old single-season rushing record. Of course, the 17th game helps.
Bad News: The Titans have given up an NFL-high 20 sacks in the first five games.
This Week: v. 4-1 Bills
20) Eagles (2-3) Previous: 25
Last Game: W21-18 @CAR
Good News: After giving up 83 points in the previous two games, the Eagles’ defense intercepted Sam Darnold three times and held the Panthers to 3.6 yards per carry.
Bad News: Tom Brady is coming off of a five-touchdown performance and is waiting for them on Thursday night the way Michael Meyer waits for trick-or-treaters.
This Week: v. 4-1 Bucs
21) Seahawks (2-3) Previous: 15
Last Game: L17-26 vs LAR
Good News: WRs Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf are on pace to catch 170 passes for 2,682 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Bad News: The guy that’s been throwing them the ball, Russell Wilson, is expected to be out at least a month after injuring a finger on his throwing hand.
This Week: at 2-3 Steelers
22) Steelers (2-3) Previous: 24
Last Game: W27-19 vs DEN
Good News: The Steelers won’t have to deal with Russell Wilson Sunday.
Bad News: Ben Roethlisberger, who has thrown just six touchdown passes, lost his best receiver, JuJu Smith-Schuster, to a season-ending shoulder injury.
This Week: v. 2-3 Seahawks
23) Broncos (3-2) Previous: 16
Last Game: L19-27 @PIT
Good News: The Broncos have given up just five TD passes and have held opponents to a league-best 55.1 completion percentage.
Bad News: Denver is 29th in red-zone touchdown percentage (42.1), ahead of only the Giants, Patriots and Colts.
This Week: v. 3-2 Raiders
24) Washington (2-3) Previous: 20
Last Game: L22-33 vs NO
Good News: With Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady on Washington’s docket in the next month, none whatsoever.
Bad News: WFT has given up 106 points in their last three games, and now must face a Chiefs offense that is averaging 30-plus points a game.
This Week: v. 2-3 KC
25) Colts (1-4) Previous: 23
Last Game: L25-31 @BAL
Good News: Carson Wentz has a 122.1 passer rating in the last two games, including a 73.1 completion percentage and 9.4 yards per attempt.
Bad News: They blew a 16-point fourth quarter lead to the Ravens Monday night, giving up three straight touchdown drives of 75, 78 and 68 yards.
This Week: v. 1-4 Texans
26) Falcons (2-3) Previous: 28
Last Game: W27-20 vs NYJ (London)
Good News: With the Dolphins up next after the bye, the Falcons have a realistic shot at reaching .500, even if it’s for just a few minutes.
Bad News: The Falcons don’t have a run game to compliment quarterback Matt Ryan. They’re 25th in the league in rushing.
This Week: Bye
27) Giants (1-4) Previous: 26
Last Game: L20-44 @DAL
Good News: The Rams (their next foe) are playing back-to-back road games for just the third time in the last three years. They were 0-2 in the second road game.
Bad News: The Cowboys loss was costly in more ways than one. RB Saquon Barkley injured his ankle and is expected to miss multiple games, and QB Daniel Jones is in concussion protocol. Oh, and WR Kenny Golladay also is out this week with a knee injury.
This Week: v. 4-1 Rams
28) Jets (1-4) Previous: 29
Last Game: L20-27 vs ATL (London)
Good News: The fish and chips were really good.
Bad News: Don’t blame it all on Zach Wilson. The Jets have rushed for more than 66 yards just once in their first five games.
This Week: Bye
29) Dolphins (1-4) Previous: 27
Last Game: L17-45 @TB
Good News: It’s Jags Week! It’s Jags Week!
Bad News: Miami's pass defense isn’t very good. They’ve got just two interceptions, eight sacks and a 108.2 opponent passer rating.
This Week: v. 0-5 Jaguars (London)
30) Texans (1-4) Previous: 30
Last Game: L22-25 vs NE
Good News: Davis Mills bounced back from his four-interception Week 4 mulligan against Buffalo with an impressive 21-for-29, 312-yard, 3 TD, no interception performance against the Patriots.
Bad News: The Texans haven’t scored more than 22 points in a game since their 37-21 Week 1 win against Jacksonville. The worse news: they don’t play the Jags again until right before Christmas.
This Week: at 1-4 Colts
31) Lions (0-5) Previous: 31
Last Game: L17-19 @MIN
Good News. The Lions aren’t as bad as their record indicates. Two of their losses, including Sunday’s, came on a walk off long-distance field goal.
Bad News: Lions are averaging just 16.2 points per game the last four weeks.
This Week: v. 3-2 Bengals
32) Jaguars (0-5) Previous: 32
Last Game: L19-37 vs TEN
Good News: There have been no new viral photos or videos of Urban Meyer near women in a bar in a week.
Bad News: The Jags have given up a league-high 18 pass plays of 25 yards or more.
This Week: v. 1-4 Dolphins
