National Football League

2016 NFL Power Rankings Week 10: Raiders, Falcons Keep Rising

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:15 p.m. ET

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Sep 18, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) meets with Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) after the game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The Falcons defeated the Raiders 35-28. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Here’s a look at the 2016 NFL Power Rankings Week 10 with the Oakland Raiders and Atlanta Falcons continuing to climb.

Don’t look now, but the 2016 NFL Power Rankings for Week 10 just became more interesting after the Oakland Raiders came through with a statement win over the Denver Broncos. With the win, the Raiders are 7-2 and in sole possession of first place in the AFC West.

At the beginning of the season, Oakland was seen as one of the sleeper teams in the AFC to keep an eye on when it comes to making a run at the postseason, but nobody could have predicted them to see this type of success. For an organization that hasn’t recorded a winning season since 2002, Raiders fans have every reason in the world to feel excited about the direction their beloved football team is heading after taking down the defending Super Bowl champions.

What’s even more exciting is Jack Del Rio’s team can enjoy this win longer than normal as they head into the bye week before a key matchup against the Houston Texans in Week 11. Don’t look now, but Oakland proved their offense is capable of defeating anyone as they’ve become one of the hottest teams in the AFC.

So how high did the Raiders climb in this week’s rankings after their big win? Well, let’s see where Oakland stands along with the rest of the teams in the 2016 NFL Power Rankings for Week 10.

Nov 6, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor (11) makes a touchdown reception against the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

32. Cleveland Browns (32)

Nothing against Hue Jackson‘s squad, but did anyone really expect the Cleveland Browns to make this game interesting against the Dallas Cowboys? If anything, Sunday’s contest just continued to show why the Browns are still winless heading into their Week 10 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.

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For a rookie, Cody Kessler played well for the most part after completing 19-of-27 passes for 203 yards with a touchdown and no turnovers. Unfortunately, Kessler’s performance wasn’t enough for the Browns as the defense was no match for stopping the high-powered offense of the Cowboys that put up 35 points before the start of the fourth quarter.

As if figuring out a way to contain Ezekiel Elliott wasn’t already tough enough, Cleveland struggled to cover Jason Witten as the tight end had a field day on offense after catching eight passes for 134 yards along with a touchdown. When looking at the remaining schedule, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Browns go the entire season without winning a single game.

Hopefully, Jackson finds a way to motivate his team to make sure that doesn’t happen. Nobody ever wants to be on that side of NFL history, especially a head coach in his first season with a team.

November 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly (left) talks to quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) during the third quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Levi

31. San Francisco 49ers (31)

Isn’t it amazing how Colin Kaepernick can throw for 398 yards with two touchdowns, and the San Francisco 49ers still go on to lose the game against the New Orleans Saints? As bad as it sounds, this really shouldn’t come as a surprise when looking at how this season has been for Chip Kelly‘s squad.

Defense has been a major issue for San Francisco all year as the trend continued on Sunday after allowing New Orleans to score 41 points. It’s one thing to allow Drew Brees to have a monster performance, but to allow a running back like Mark Ingram to rush for 158 yards on just 15 carries is the perfect example of how much San Francisco’s defense has been an issue.

At 1-7, the 49ers will be lucky to win one or two games when looking at how tough they’re remaining schedule is with two upcoming games against the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots. Even if expectations were low for San Francisco at the beginning of the season, nobody expected this team to look this bad at this point in the season.

Clearly, there’s plenty of areas in need of change on both sides of the football when it comes to the Niners.

Nov 6, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars running back T.J. Yeldon (24) catches a pass and goes in for a touchdown during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 19-14. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (29)

In defense of the Jacksonville Jaguars, nobody was giving them much of a chance on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs when comparing how the two teams have been playing over the last few weeks. With that being said, the Jaguars deserve a little credit for making this game closer than it should have been. But that doesn’t mean it still wasn’t frustrating to see Gus Bradley‘s team come up on the losing end for the third week in a row.

Speaking of Bradley, the argument can be made the head coach’s seat is hotter than ever when looking at how much of a disappointment Jacksonville is turning out to be. For a team that many considered capable of making a surprise run in the AFC, the Jaguars look like the same old team that continues to let their fans down on a weekly basis.

One has to wonder if Blake Bortles is the right answer for this offense after the quarterback struggled again by only completing 22-of-41 passes for 252 yards with two touchdowns and an interception against the Chiefs. And of course, one of those touchdowns came towards the end of the game when the Jaguars were already trailing, which Bortles seems to be best known for.

Nov 6, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams coach Jeff Fisher during a NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

29. Los Angeles Rams (24)

The frustration from fans over Jeff Fisher still being the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams may hit an all-time high after the team’s suffered their fourth loss in a row, falling to the Carolina Panthers in Week 9. Between the struggles at quarterback to having one of the league’s weakest receiving corps, the Rams offense looked flat-out awful against the Panthers as it took Case Keenum until the final minute of the game to find the end zone for the first time.

If there’s anything to take away from this loss, it would be Keenum doesn’t deserve to play quarterback in the NFL as the veteran seems incapable of running any offense. There’s a reason why Keenum has only crossed the 300-yard mark twice in his career and fans are frustrated to the point where they want to see Jared Goff take over the starting role.

Keenum was originally handed the starting job at the beginning of the season as Fisher believed he gave the team their best chance of making the playoffs. Obviously, that is far from the case as Los Angeles will be lucky if they can even break the .500 mark by the end of the season.

Nov 6, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins cornerback Tony Lippett (36) tackles New York Jets running back Matt Forte (22) during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

28. New York Jets (28)

Just when the New York Jets seemed to finally be getting hot, they go out and lose a close one on Sunday to the Miami Dolphins in a game they had the chance to win before allowing a 96-yard kickoff returned for a touchdown by Kenyan Drake in the final minutes. With the loss, the Jets continued to dig a deep hole in the AFC East standings with a 3-6 record as the frustrations at quarterback continued for Ryan Fitzpatrick.

When it comes down to the worst contracts of 2016, Fitzpatrick arguably ranks near the top after the quarterback threw two interceptions against the Dolphins while completing just 17-of-28 passes for 193 yards with a touchdown. For a team that was supposed to make a run at the playoffs after falling just short in 2015, the Jets have been nothing but a disappointment. And it doesn’t look like it’s going to get better any time soon for this team.

On a positive note, at least the addition of Matt Forte continues to seem like it’s paying off after the running back recorded 92 rushing yards with a touchdown on just 12 carries. The move was questioned by some in the offseason as many looked at Forte as a washed up veteran, but he’s obviously still got some gas left in the tank with the way he’s been playing this season.

Oct 31, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) looks to pass the ball against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

27. Chicago Bears (30)

When considering all of the criticism he was facing prior to the bye week, Jay Cutler has to be pleased with the way the Chicago Bears played against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8. Even if the Vikings were dealing with numerous injuries, the Bears made a statement against one of the league’s top defenses. However, the true test will be whether they can continue this success over their next two games on the road.

Chicago was dealing with plenty of uncertainty at quarterback before Cutler returned against the Bears. Subsequently, it’s good to see that will no longer be an issue as the team prepares for next weekend’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. When looking at the kind of day Matt Ryan was able to have against the Buccaneers in Week 9, Cutler should be excited about the potential for a big game in this one.

Also, one of the biggest questions will be whether Jordan Howard can pick up where he left off after rushing for 153 yards with a touchdown against the Vikings, which nobody could have predicted from the rookie. For a team that was struggling to adjust to playing without Matt Forte, Howard could turn out to be just what the Bears have been looking for at running back.

Nov 3, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) runs with the ball against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Atlanta Falcons defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 43-28. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (23)

Don’t be fooled by the 43-28 final score as the defense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was no match for the offense of the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday Night Football. For a team that was taking positive steps in the right direction two weeks ago, this loss shows the Buccaneers are still a work in progress with a long way to go before they can be seen as contenders in the NFC.

For the most part, Jameis Winston played solid against the Falcons after the quarterback completed 23-of-37 passes for 261 yards with three touchdowns, but the real story was the dominant performance by Mike Evans at wide receiver. The former first-round pick has always been considered one of the league’s toughest receivers to defend when looking at his size and strength. But the fact that Evans was targeted 17 times against Atlanta shows how much of a difference-maker he can be.

By catching 11 passes for 150 yards with two touchdowns, Evans made plenty of fantasy football owners happy with his Week 9 performance, but that still wasn’t enough to get the Buccaneers a win. Let’s just hope Evans is healthy enough to go for next weekend’s matchup against the Chicago Bears after leaving Thursday’s game with concussion-like symptoms.

Oct 30, 2016; London, United Kingdom; Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis reacts in the second quarter against the Washington Redskins during game 17 of the NFL International Series at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

25. Cincinnati Bengals (22)

How much longer will the Cincinnati Bengals put up with Marvin Lewis as head coach if this team continues to disappoint each week? As if the team’s record in the first half wasn’t already frustrating enough, the Bengals settled for a tie against the Washington Redskins in Week 8 while playing in London to put them at 3-4-1 on the season.

What makes this situation even sadder for Cincinnati is they’re still in the hunt for the AFC North title thanks to the struggles of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens over the last couple of weeks. Still, the Bengals have a long way to go when it comes to proving they have what it takes to compete in the division as the argument can be made that their Monday night matchup against the New York Giants is a must-win situation.

The biggest issue for Cincinnati this season has been finding ways to win games against playoff caliber teams as they have already suffered embarrassing losses to the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots. It’s amazing Lewis has lasted this long as head coach when considering his 0-7 playoff record, but it will be interesting to see if he continues to stick around if the struggles continue for the Bengals.

Oct 30, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) reacts to a sack by Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kawann Short (99) during the game between the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium. Carolina wins 30-20 over Arizona. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

24. Arizona Cardinals (17)

Take a look at the last two games for the Arizona Cardinals and it’s easy to see why they’re considered one of the biggest disappointments from the first half of the season. For a team that was seen as one of the early favorites to make a run at the Super Bowl, the Cardinals have a lot of work to do in the second half of the season if they’re going to have any shot at making a late playoff run.

As if settling for a tie against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7 when they had every opportunity in the world to win wasn’t already frustrating enough to deal with, Arizona was embarrassed by the Carolina Panthers the following week as the offense dealt with constant pressure all game. The eight sacks recorded on Carson Palmer by the Panthers defense shows just how ugly this contest was for the Cardinals.

So will this team bounce back after a week of rest? Well, let’s hope a game against the San Francisco 49ers is just what this team needs to get back on the winning track instead of continuing to dig a deeper hole. If they can’t manage a win against the 49ers, then it’s officially time for the Cardinals to hit the panic button.

Nov 6, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Mike Wallace (17) reacts after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

23. Baltimore Ravens (25)

For weeks, the Baltimore Ravens have faced plenty of criticism after losing four games in a row. Still, everybody knew they would go all out against their division rivals in the Pittsburgh Steelers. Whatever motivated the Ravens to play as well as they did on Sunday, let’s just hope they continue to play at this level moving forward to make the AFC North race even more interesting to follow.

For the most part, Baltimore’s defense took advantage of a rusty quarterback in Big Ben by dominating Pittsburgh’s defense over the first three quarter before going on to win 21-14. In fact, the Ravens managed to prevent the Steelers from scoring until the halfway point of the fourth quarter.

Despite a 3-0 start to the season, Baltimore didn’t receive all of the respect they deserved as those three wins came against teams with a combined 1-8 record at the time. To defeat a team like Pittsburgh while taking over first place in the division may be just what this team needed to get the ball rolling in the right direction.

When looking at how much the Steelers have struggled over the last three games, is it time to consider the Ravens the team to beat in the AFC North?

Oct 23, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan looks on from the sideline during the second half agains the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins won 28-25. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

22. Buffalo Bills (20) — Play Monday Night

After two tough losses to the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots, the Buffalo Bills will face another tough challenge when they square off against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football. The Bills enter the game as major underdogs as the Seahawks always have an advantage when playing at home as their fans always make CenturyLink Field a hostile environment for opponents.

If Buffalo is going to have any chance at pulling off the upset in this one, the defense is going to need to take advantage of the struggles surrounding Seattle’s offense as Russell Wilson—who has been dealing with numerous injuries—and company haven’t looked like themselves as of late. From shutting out the New England Patriots to holding the Arizona Cardinals to just 18 points, the Bills’ defense has put together some impressive performances so far in 2016, which should boost their confidence level heading into Monday’s game against the Seahawks.

There’s nothing Rex Ryan would love more than to defeat a team like Seattle while playing in the national spotlight as the head coach will do everything in his power to make sure this team is ready for the challenge. Keep in mind there was a time a few weeks ago when the Bills were seen as one of the hottest teams in football, which makes this team even more dangerous against the Seahawks.

Nov 6, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) runs the ball for a touchdown during the second half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. San Diego won 43-35. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

21. Tennessee Titans (16)

Not many teams will end up losing football games after scoring 35 points, but that’s exactly what the Tennessee Titans did after falling to the San Diego Chargers 43-35. Once again, the outcome of this game could have been much different if it wasn’t for costly mistakes by Marcus Mariota on offense.

The second-year quarterback may have recorded four total touchdowns on the day, but he also recorded three turnovers in the loss, two of which went for defensive touchdowns by the Chargers. Turnovers have been a major issue for Mariota throughout the entire 2016 season and the outcome of this contest could have been much different if he could just hold on to the football.

For a team that’s been inconsistent for most of the season, the Titans missed out on what would have been a very impressive road win. Plus, with the way the weak AFC South is turning out, a win against San Diego would have put Tennessee one game back of the Houston Texans in the standings.

Instead, the Titans can only wonder what could have been as they prepare for a tough Week 10 contest at home against the Green Bay Packers that is coming off a tough loss of their own against the Indianapolis Colts .

Nov 6, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson talks with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) during the second half at MetLife Stadium. The New York Giants defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 28-23. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports

20. Philadelphia Eagles (10)

If Doug Pederson thought fans were frustrated after the Philadelphia Eagles lost in Week 8 to the Dallas Cowboys, just imagine the response he’s going to receive for the poor play-calling against the New York Giants. Once again, the Eagles let a game they easily could have won slip away after falling to the Giants to drop them to the bottom of the NFC East standings with a 4-4 record.

So what exactly did Pederson do wrong this time around? For starters, Philadelphia decided to pass on field goal attempts twice on fourth down and found a way to fail converting both times. When looking at the final score of 28-23, those two opportunities not to settle for field goals by the Eagles could have ended up making a difference.

All four of Philadelphia’s losses this season have come by seven points or less as this team has only won once over their last five games. While expectations weren’t very high for the Eagles to begin with at the start of the season, watching them continue to miss out on key wins is beyond frustrating from a football standpoint.

Isn’t it amazing how far this team has fallen after their 3-0 start?

Nov 6, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) gets a pass away in the first quarter during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

19. Indianapolis Colts (26)

While a squirrel stole some of the attention at Lambeau Field, it was the Indianapolis Colts who turned out to be one of the biggest winners of Week 9 after a very impressive road win against the Green Bay Packers. For a head coach facing plenty of pressure over the last couple of weeks for his team’s poor start, this was a huge win for Chuck Pagano as the Colts inched closer to the Houston Texans in the AFC South.

Even on a day where Andrew Luck played poorly after throwing just one touchdown with two interceptions, Indianapolis saw other key players step up on offense and special teams to help this team recover from last weekend’s tough loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. And with a favorable matchup at home after their bye against the Tennessee Titans, this is the perfect opportunity for the Colts to continue the momentum as they look to make a playoff push in the second half.

Of course, the only way Indianapolis is going to have any shot at making the playoffs is if Luck plays better at quarterback and he knows that. The Colts have heavily relied on the former No. 1 pick throughout his entire career. But it was good to see them still pull through with the win despite the struggles by Luck against the Packers.

Nov 6, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) hands off to running back Jonathan Stewart (28) in the first half of the game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

18. Carolina Panthers (27)

All of a sudden, the Carolina Panthers have put together a two game winning streak following Sunday’s 13-10 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Even if the defense wasn’t challenged as much against one of the league’s weakest offenses in the Rams, the Panthers realize they need to win every game they can in the second half of the regular season after their horrendous 1-5 start.

They still have a long way to go, but Carolina shouldn’t be counted out just yet as they still have plenty of time to make a late run in the NFC. When looking at all of the weapons Cam Newton has to work with between Greg Olsen and Kelvin Benjamin, this offense is capable of exploding at any time.

Even if they struggled to put up points against a tough defense in the Rams, the Panthers did just enough to escape with a win in Week 9 as they prepare for their next matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. If Carolina had trouble against the defense of Los Angeles, imagine the challenge they face against one of the hottest teams the league has to offer in Kansas City.

Luckily, the Panthers get to return home against the Chiefs as the defending NFC Champions hope the home crowd will work to their advantage.

Nov 6, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) dives into the touchdown as Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (55) tackles during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Baltimore Ravens defeated Pittsburgh Steelers 21-14. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

17. Pittsburgh Steelers (11)

The good news for the Pittsburgh Steelers is Ben Roethlisberger returned at quarterback on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. The bad news Big Ben’s return didn’t make enough of an impact as the Steelers fell to their division rivals, but that’s not even the biggest concern heading into Week 10.

Sunday’s game marked the third straight loss for Pittsburgh as the team fell to 4-4 on the season to put them at a tie with Baltimore for first place in the AFC North, even though the Ravens have the upper hand thanks to the head-to-head win. Obviously, the injury to Roethlisberger set this team back a few games, but it was frustrating to see this team struggle to put up points over the first three quarters against the Ravens.

For a team that many expected to break numerous records on offense at the beginning of the season, this is not where the Steelers wanted to be heading into next weekend’s showdown against the Dallas Cowboys. To think Pittsburgh could find themselves below .500 with another loss to the Cowboys is crazy as this team went from being strong favorites in the AFC North to battling it out with the Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals.

Nov 6, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) throws a pass during the second half against the New York Jets at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins won 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

16. Miami Dolphins (18)

After starting off the season losing four out of fives games, the Miami Dolphins have turned their season around by putting together a three game winning streak, with their latest victory coming on Sunday against the New York Jets. While the division may be a long shot when looking at how well the New England Patriots are playing, the Dolphins are at least proving they have what it takes to at least make a push for a Wild Card spot in the AFC.

Jay Ajayi has been one of the main reasons behind the team’s recent success as the running back entered Sunday’s contest coming off back-to-back games of more than 200 rushing yards. Even though he didn’t reach the milestone against the Jets, Ajayi did come up big in the ground game after recording 111 rushing yards to go along with a touchdown.

With two tough road games scheduled against the San Diego Chargers and Los Angeles Rams, this is the perfect opportunity for Miami to continue making believers out of their doubters if they can find ways to win both games. It took longer than originally expected, but Adam Gase‘s squad deserves plenty of credit for the way they’ve played over the last three games.

Oct 30, 2016; London, United Kingdom; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) scrambles during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports

15. Washington Redskins (14)

A few weeks ago, the Washington Redskins were seen as one of the hottest teams in football thanks to an impressive four game winning streak, which was a huge sigh of relief after their 0-2 start. Now, the Redskins will do anything just to just earn a win when looking at the team’s previous two games before their bye week.

Not only did Washington suffer a heartbreaking loss against the Detroit Lions at the last second in Week 7, but they missed out on a major opportunity to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals in London before eventually settling for a tie. There were plenty of chances for the Redskins to put the Bengals away in overtime, but too many mistakes and missed field goals prevented this team from picking up their fifth win of the season.

With a week off after their game in London, Washington prepares for another tough matchup against one of the top defenses the league has in the Minnesota Vikings. It won’t be easy, but hopefully the extra rest along with playing at hope will give the Redskins an advantage in this one as every game is important with the way the NFC is turning out to be.

Nov 6, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon (28) runs the ball as Tennessee Titans defensive back Brice McCain (23) defends during the second half at Qualcomm Stadium. San Diego won 43-35. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

14. San Diego Chargers (19)

The San Diego Chargers have to be one of the most fascinating teams to watch in the NFL when seeing how back and fourth this team is. After Sunday’s win against the Tennessee Titans, it’s safe to say the Chargers should be placed in the category of contenders instead of pretenders, especially when taking a closer look at their last four games.

Minus the one loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 8, San Diego has been on a tear as of late by winning three of their last four games, including Sunday’s win over Tennessee. Not only did the defense come up big by returning two turnovers for touchdowns, Melvin Gordon continues to shine in the ground game after recording 196 rushing yards with a touchdown on 32 carries against the Titans.

For a running back that received all sorts of criticism after a disappointing rookie season, the Chargers have to be thrilled over the production from Gordon in year two. Who would have thought Gordon of all players would be heading towards 1,000-yard season after only recording 641 yards with zero touchdowns as a rookie?

Don’t look now, but San Diego certainly has something special in their star running back, as this team deserves plenty of credit for turning their season around.

November 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) fumbles the football against defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (98), outside linebacker Craig Robertson (52), and defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) during the fourth quarter at Levi

13. New Orleans Saints (21)

What’s been one of the biggest surprises for the New Orleans Saints this season? How about the type of impact Michael Thomas is making in the passing game as a rookie?

Even if it was against a team like the San Francisco 49ers, Thomas was phenomenal for the Saints on offense after catching five passes for 73 yards with two touchdowns during the team’s 41-23 win on Sunday. With four wins over the last five games, New Orleans is right back in the hunt for the NFC South as they’re only one game back of the Atlanta Falcons and it couldn’t have been done without the stellar play by Drew Brees.

As usual, Brees faced his fair share of criticism at the beginning of the season as many believed the veteran didn’t have what it takes to still be effective in the league. Sunday’s performance against the 49ers (323 passing yards with three touchdowns) is the perfect example of how Brees still deserves to be in the category for one of the league’s top quarterbacks, especially after carrying this offense over the last few weeks.

One more quick note, how about Mark Ingram bouncing back with 158 rushing yards to go along with two total touchdowns?

Oct 30, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) looks to the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

12. Houston Texans (13)

The Houston Texans may be sitting in the driver’s seat of the AFC South with a 5-3 record, but this team is far from being serious contenders in the conference when looking at how bad they’ve looked at times on offense. Unless Brock Osweiler finds a way to elevate his game to the next level, the Texans are only going to continue with their offensive struggles.

For all of the money Houston is paying Osweiler, there’s no excuse for the quarterback’s disappointing play from the first half of the season, especially with one of the most talented wide receivers to throw the football to in DeAndre Hopkins. The Texans have always been considered a team that was a good quarterback away from being seen as serious contenders, but Osweiler has been anything but impressive so far.

While Houston has a favorable matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars when they return from the bye, the schedule gets difficult after that with big games against the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers. If Osweiler can come out strong with solid performances against these AFC contenders, it would make the Texans feel a lot more comfortable over their decision at quarterback.

And if not, let’s just say signing Osweiler may turn out to be one of the biggest regrets on Houston’s end from 2016.

Nov 6, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) is tackled by Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle David Parry (54) and linebacker Erik Walden (93) during the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

11. Green Bay Packers (9)

Aaron Rodgers has done everything he can to avoid the conversations of the Green Bay Packers being a football team in trouble, but after Sunday’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts, it’s obvious this isn’t the same squad from the last couple of years. Luckily, the Packers received some help from the Detroit Lions on Sunday to help Rodgers and company stay in the race for the NFC North title.

Green Bay found themselves trailing early on after allowing a 99-yard touchdown on the opening kickoff. Considering they never led the entire game shows just how brutal this loss to Indianapolis really was. The Packers couldn’t even take advantage of a poor performance by Andrew Luck as this team has now lost three of their last four games.

When looking at all of the injuries this team has been dealing with, especially at the running back position, it’s tough not to give Green Bay a little slack as there’s only so much Rodgers can do on his own running the offense. At this point in the season, who would have predicted it would be the Packers sitting in third place of the division with a 4-4 record heading into Week 10?

Nov 6, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo talks with Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard (87) and quarterback Eli Manning (10) and wide receiver Roger Lewis (82) and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) during a review during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

10. New York Giants (12)

First off, the New York Giants would have been kicking themselves if they ended up letting this game against the Philadelphia Eagles slip away when considering Eli Manning finally had a good game against his division rivals by throwing four touchdowns. Despite his strong performance, Manning still made the typical mistakes he tends to make under pressure and even threw an unfortunate interception in the final minutes of the game to give the Eagles great field position.

Still, a win is a win no matter what, as New York should just be thrilled to come through with the win to keep them in good shape compared to the rest of the division. The Giants may be 5-3 heading into their Week 10 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals, but they still find themselves trailing the Dallas Cowboys by two games in the division.

On another note, it was good to see Odell Beckham Jr. continuing to make an impact on offense after the wide receiver caught two more touchdowns to give him five over his last four games. If New York is going to make a run at the playoffs in the NFC, they’re going to need all of the help available on offense from Beckham as the wideout continues to show why he’s one of the best in the league at his position.

Nov 6, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) dances on the field before the start of the game against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

9. Denver Broncos (5)

The Denver Broncos knew they would be in for a tough battle against the Oakland Raiders with first place on the line. Unfortunately, too many injuries on the defensive side of the ball along with a disappointing performance from the ground game prevented the Broncos from winning this one.

With C.J. Anderson sidelined, Denver has been forced to turn to rookie Devontae Booker at running back. And while the rookie has shown flashes of greatness at times, he’s still inexperienced after finishing with just 22 yards on 10 carries against Oakland. While there’s no reason to panic as the Broncos are still in good shape when it comes to making a playoff run in the AFC, it’s amazing how this loss drops them to third place in the division thanks to the Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs.

Denver claims there’s nothing to worry about when it comes to the quarterback position, but Trevor Siemian continues to show he’s a work in progress. The defense can continue dominating opponents as much as they want, but the only way the Broncos are going to be capable of making a deep run in the playoffs is if Siemian steps it up more in the passing game. The weapons are certainly there for Siemian, and it’s time for the quarterback to start using them more.

Nov 6, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) calls a play during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Lions defeated the Vikings 22-16. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

8. Detroit Lions (15)

The Detroit Lions have put together some impressive wins this season, but the argument can be made that nothing compares to their comeback victory against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Thanks to the win along with a loss suffered by the Green Bay Packers, the Lions all of a sudden find themselves in the hunt for the NFC North race with a 5-4 record.

When all hope seemed lost, Detroit found a way to set Matt Prater up for a 58-yard field goal as time expired in the game to tie things up before Golden Tate went on to catch the game-winning touchdown in overtime. This game seemed to be locked up when the Vikings took the lead with 23 seconds left, but once again Matthew Stafford showed why he should never be counted out of any football game.

Everybody was anxious to see how Stafford would adjust to playing without Calvin Johnson on offense, but the argument can be made the quarterback has flourished without his former star wide receiver as he continues to be effective with the weapons around him. Between Tate and the rest of the weapons at wide receiver, Stafford is having quite the 2016 season as he’s got this team in the playoff hunt thanks to four wins over the last five games.

Oct 30, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Russell Wilson (3) and cornerback Richard Sherman (25) watch from the sidelines in the second quarter against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

7. Seattle Seahawks (7) — Play Monday Night

Over the last two weeks, the Seattle Seahawks ruined two major opportunities to increase their lead in the NFC West by missing out on key wins against the Arizona Cardinals (tie) and New Orleans Saints. If the Seahawks miss out on another opportunity with a home matchup against the Buffalo Bills, this team could be kicking themselves once the end of December rolls around.

Obviously, injuries to numerous key players are one of the main reasons behind the struggles of Seattle over the last couple of weeks, but the argument can also be made this team should have easily won those two games against the Cardinals and Seahawks. Between a missed field goal in overtime against Arizona to a poor defensive effort against New Orleans, Seattle has nobody to blame but themselves for what’s happened over the last two weeks.

The good news for the Seahawks is they still control their own destiny in the NFC West thanks to a two-game lead over the Cardinals. Unless they display another embarrassing performance against Buffalo, there’s no reason why Seattle shouldn’t be seen as the favorites in the division heading into the second half of the season.

Then again, this is the NFL, where anything seems possible on a weekly basis.

Nov 6, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end Rhett Ellison (85) celebrates his touchdown with teammates during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Lions defeated the Vikings 22-16. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

6. Minnesota Vikings (3)

Apparently, the bye week turned out to be one of the worst things to happen to the Minnesota Vikings as the team that was once 5-0 is coming off their third loss in a row, this time to the Detroit Lions. What makes this losing streak even more frustrating to deal with is the Vikings were in the perfect position to win the game thanks to a late touchdown drive, only to have the defense allow Matthew Stafford and the Lions offense to drive down the field in the final 23 seconds of regulation.

Thanks to their recent loss, Minnesota’s lead in the NFC North is anything but safe as Detroit and the Green Bay Packers seem to have just as good of a chance to win the division. The Vikings can use the injury bug as an excuse all they want, but the truth is this team has simply made too many mistakes over their last three games.

Turns out, Minnesota’s defense may not be as dominant as originally thought after the first five games of the season when seeing how terrible they looked in the final minutes of Sunday’s game. To go from being a favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl to barely hanging on to the division heading into Week 10 shows how quickly things have turned around for the Vikings over the last three weeks.

Nov 6, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Steven Nelson (20) celebrates after defending against Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Robinson (15) during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 19-14. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

5. Kansas City Chiefs (6)

Sunday’s game by the Kansas City Chiefs is the perfect example of how teams will take wins, no matter how ugly the game may be. Not to mention, the last thing the Chiefs wanted to do was end up on the losing end against one of the league’s worst teams in the Jacksonville Jaguars, but luckily they managed to hold on for the 19-14 victory.

In a game where Alex Smith was forced to sit out after suffering a concussion in Week 8, it was Nick Foles who did just enough to help Kansas City get by after completing 20-of-33 passes for 187 yards with a touchdown to lead the offense. With the win, the Chiefs not only improved to 4-0 at home in 2016, but picked up their fourth victory in a row, which is a huge sigh of relief following the team’s 2-2 start.

Kansas City is far from being the team that is going to blow out their opponents each week, but it’s amazing to watch them find ways to win games. This may be one of the hottest teams in football with four wins in a row, but they face a tough challenge next weekend against the Carolina Panthers on the road. If all goes well, the Chiefs should continue to stay hot and remain near the top of this list.

Nov 3, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Atlanta Falcons tight end Austin Hooper (81) celebrates with quarterback Matt Ryan (2) after scoring a touchdown during the second half of a football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. The Falcons won 43-28. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

4. Atlanta Falcons (8)

After two tough losses to the Seattle Seahawks and San Diego Chargers, the Atlanta Falcons are looking like strong contenders in the NFC once again after back-to-back wins against the Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If Matt Ryan continues to play at this high level, there’s a good chance the quarterback is going to find his name in discussion for MVP towards the end of the season.

The Falcons quarterback is coming off another monster game against the Buccaneers in which he completed 25-of-34 passes for 344 yards with four touchdowns. While Julio Jones (eight catches for 111 yards with a touchdown) has always been one of the most reliable targets for Ryan, the most impressive takeaway from this win is how the other key players at wide receiver continue to come up big for Atlanta’s passing game.

Between Mohamed Sanu and Taylor Gabriel, the Falcons continue to show why they deserve consideration for being one of the league’s most dangerous units on offense. With 76 points over the last two weeks, expect Atlanta to stay hot heading into Week 10 while continuing to be one of the top teams in the NFC that nobody wants to play right now.

Nov 6, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) calls a play against the Denver Broncos in the second quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

3. Oakland Raiders (4)

For a team that normally plays better on the road, the Oakland Raiders made a huge statement while playing in the national spotlight against the defending Super Bowl champions following their big win over the Denver Broncos. While the Raiders still have a long way to go when considering how competitive the AFC West is turning out, this team has every reason to feel confident with a 7-2 record heading into Week 10.

It’s been a long time since Oakland has finished a season with a winning record and it’s amazing to see this team already have seven wins when the second half of the season is just getting underway. Derek Carr deserves most of the credit for helping the Raiders elevate their game to the next level, but it was actually Latavius Murray that ended up being the difference-maker against the Broncos.

Despite all of the injuries on defense, Denver never makes it easy for their opponents, so it was quite the accomplishment to see Murray rush for 114 yards with three touchdowns. Oakland already has one of the league’s most dangerous wide receiver duos in Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree, but Murray building off this strong performance could make this offense even more dangerous than they already were moving forward.

Nov 6, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) reacts to throwing a pass for a touchdown with teammate tight end Jason Witten (82) against the Cleveland Browns in the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

2. Dallas Cowboys (2)

Another week, another solid performance by Dak Prescott as the rookie quarterback helped the Dallas Cowboys improve to 7-1 on the season after the team’s 35-10 win over the Cleveland Browns. Nothing against the Browns, but the Cowboys knew this was a game they couldn’t afford to lose when considering how much of a mismatch it was on paper. Therefore, it was good to see arguably the best team in the NFC come through with their seventh win in a row.

Not only was Prescott impressive after completing 21-of-27 passes for 247 yards with three touchdowns, but it was good to see the rookie take advantage of having a reliable weapon like Jason Witten in the passing game. One week after catching the game-winning touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles, Witten carried the passing game against the Browns by hauling in eight passes for 134 yards to go along with a touchdown.

When looking at all of the weapons Dallas has to work with on offense, how can this squad not be considered the team to beat in the NFC? The Cowboys seem to just get better each week they play, and the scary thing is they continue to do so while being led by two rookies on offense.

Oct 30, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) reacts before the game against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

1. New England Patriots (1)

Did the New England Patriots really need a bye week to rest up when looking at how well this team has been playing since the return of Tom Brady? Everybody assumed the future Hall of Fame quarterback would be playing with an extra chip on his shoulder following his return from suspension, but nobody could have predicted Brady would be playing at this high level.

The fact that Brady has 12 touchdowns compared to zero interceptions over his first four games is nothing short of amazing as the quarterback continues to show why he ‘s one of the greatest to ever play the game. What’s even more crazy to think about is if Brady continues to play this well, there’s a good chance he could even find himself in the MVP conversation, which would be amazing for a player that missed four games to start the season.

Up next, New England will face one of their toughest tasks of the year with a home matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, which will easily be one of the most watched games of Week 10. Even if the Seahawks haven’t looked like the dominant team from year’s past, there’s nothing this team would love more than to hand Brady his first loss of the season.

Luckily, Brady has always been the type of quarterback that lives for playing in these big games.

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