With Week 10 fast approaching, check out the power rankings as teams move up and down the list at the halfway point of the season.
The Falcons stand strong at No. 1. The Bears, though I don't consider them to have the best overall defense in the league, have taken over the 2nd spot of the ranking while the 49ers still command the third spot.
Here are the NFL power rankings entering Week 10. Thursday Night game not taken into consideration yet as we will evaluate teams all together.
1. Atlanta Falcons (0)
They are still undefeated. Is there are doubt they are the best team in the NFL? They execute and call the right plays at the right time. It's that simple for the Falcons right now.
2. Chicago Bears (+4)
The Bears' defense look like complete beasts when they take the field. Charles Tillman four forced fumbles? Absolutely nuts. Is there any team that can stop this defense right now?
3. San Francisco 49ers (0)
Had a bye week. So they won't be penalized, but they better continue winning because everybody else is red hot.
4. Houston Texans (0)
Their defense showed up against the Bills. They put up plenty of points of the board to get the win. Very challenging game up ahead against the Bears.
5. Green Bay Packers (0)
Okay! So Aaron Rodgers might be back for real. They are winners of four straight. Great way to hit the bye. Packers still trailing the Bears in NFC North.
6. New York Giants (-4)
Their weaknesses on defense and offense were exposed. The Giants couldn't tackle on Sunday and the offense had three consecutive three and outs to finish the game. Need to bounce back with strong game against Bengals to remain in Top 10.
7. Baltimore Ravens (0)
If teams can't beat them without Ray Lewis then the Ravens are in good shape. Have a pretty easy matchup against the Raiders. Have to play great football as the Steelers are heating up.
8. New England Patriots (0)
Team is playing well, so Patriots hold on to a Top 10 spot.
9. .Denver Broncos (0)
Challenge Peyton Manning and he will burn you. It was a great game against the Bengals, but Manning and the Broncos finished on top. They are a game up on the Chargers for No. 1 spot in AFC West.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (0)
That bye week must have treated the Steelers well. They are now 5-3, winners of three straight, a game behind first and 2nd in the AFC Wild Card, for now. Teams better step it up. The Steelers are for real
11. Indianapolis Colts (+3)
These guys' play transcends sports as they believe winning is therapy for Coach Pagano. Luck is terrorizing the league and the front runner for ROY after record setting performance. Colts in Wild Card picture.
12. Seattle Seahawks (-2)
Russell Wilson finds a way to win. In just 173 yards he threw three touchdowns. Seahawks have to fight to remain in Wild Card picture.
13. Miami Dolphins (-1)
Tough loss to a better Colts team, but the Dolphins are proving that they will compete until the end. Very dangerous team and still had playoff hopes with a 4-4 record good for 2nd in the AFC East.
14. Minnesota Vikings (-3)
The Vikings are hitting a skid at a bad time. The Packers are playing well. The Bears are monsters and the Lions are roaring back. How do you allow 30 points to the Seahawks?! Worse of all 3 touchdowns to Russell Wilson.
15. Detroit Lions (+1)
Best last place team in the NFL? Winners of three of last four beating teams they are supposed to. Have a chance to surpass the Vikings as they go head-to-head on Sunday
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3)
And all of a sudden the Bucs have a dynamic team that can put up points in a hurry. Doug Martin is making a name for himself. Have a chance to finish above .500 though playoffs are a bit out of the questions with the tough NFC North.
17. San Diego Chargers (+1)
Chargers still alive in the AFC West with their Thursday Night win. Have to remain consistent if they want to compete against Manning and Broncos
18. Washington Redskins (-3)
Though they are losers of three straight and in last place of the NFC East, have to say, they are still more potential than a lot of teams in the league.
19. Dallas Cowboys (-2)
It was another disappointing loss for the Cowboys as their defense could not bring down Falcons late in the game to get the ball back. Hopes still alive though as Giants are historically bad in the 2nd half of the season.
20. Cincinnati Bengals (+3)
I want to be optimistic about these guys. Though they lost in Week 9, they are still a dangerous team with Dalton and Green as their biggest weapons. If the Ravens slip, the Bengals have a good chance of competing with Steelers for the AFC North.
21. New Orleans Saints (0)
Saying that the Saints' playoff hopes are still alive is a stretch, but they are putting things together. They crushed the Eagles and will be a tough team to play, especially for those attempting to enter the playoffs in the 2nd half of the season.
22. Arizona Cardinals (-2)
The magic in Arizona is gone. They are losers of five straight. Their offense is as bad as the Jaguars' despite their defense being great.
23. Philadelphia Eagles (-1)
The entire nation saw what is wrong in Philly and it's not the quarterback. You would have to be a wizard if your offensive line gives you just 1.5 seconds to release the ball. Similar to Cowboys, still have chance to get back into the race in t NFC East.
24. Tennessee Titans (0)
They had the unfortunate luck of facing the Bears and got smothered. Titans can simply play football to become spoilers. Tough 2nd half schedule ahead not enough to get them into wild card picture.
25. New York Jets (0)
Just when fans thought they could enter Week 10 on a clean slate Cromartie promises a playoff berth. Jets have to stop playing fortune teller and start playing football.
26. Buffalo Bills (-0)
And just like that, the Bills are out of the playoff picture. They have the second worse defense in the AFC East and their offense is not dynamic enough to overcome these deficiencies.
27. St. Louis Rams (0)
Had bye week and season is looking ugly as they sit in last place in NFC West.
28. Carolina Panthers (0)
Cam Newton stepped up and taught RGIII a couple of things about winning. Panthers finally get out of losing funk, but have dug themselves in too deep a hole as they sit in last place with 2-6 record and the Bucs and Saints turning their seasons around.
29. Oakland Raiders (0)
They couldn't hold the Bucs or Doug Martin in Week 9. Still alive in AFC West though as Chargers have been inconsistent all season.
30. Kansas City Chiefs (0)
It's another loss for the Chiefs. Sad part is fans were super excited about this team entering the season.
31. Cleveland Browns (0)
Consider it a learning season as the Browns' rookies are only bound to get better. Bye will serve team well. They can prepare on how to embarrass the Cowboys in Week 11.
32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0)
Guess what the Jaguars did in Week 9? Yeah, they lost again. No surprise there. Things will not get better in 2012, but they could hope for the first round pick in 2013.
