In a season where almost every week feels like a new “contender” rises to the top, it is hard to pinpoint who exactly will be playing in February. After thirteen weeks the question must be asked, who deserves to be ranked #1?
1. Green Bay Packers (9-3)
The Packers this week had themselves a statement win over the LA Rams on Sunday, with many of the Ram’s 4th quarter points coming in garbage time when the game was already decided. Even with a fractured toe, Rodgers looked just fine, carving up a revamped Rams defense for 307 yards and two touchdowns while AJ Dillon ran the ball effectively. With Aaron Jones coming back off the bye week, the Packers look to be full steam ahead and the current #1 on our list.
2. Arizona Cardinals (9-2)
This team has continued to find ways to win, whether it be riding the back of James Connor who has steam rolled defenses the last few games or letting Colt McCoy manage the offense while the defense plays lights out. Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins should be ready to play coming off their bye week, which means the explosive offense we saw at the beginning of the season will most likely make its return against the Bears this Sunday.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-3)
The Colts may have put up a fight against the defending Super Bowl champions, but they had no answer for Leonard Fournette, who had himself a career day. He ran for 100 yards, caught a TD pass and ran for 3 more, including this game-clinching TD where he rumbled to the end zone with under 30 seconds left. Rob Gronkowski also turned back the clock to the tune of 7 receptions for 123 yards. Defensively they have some work to do after giving up 31 points but they’ll take this win and stay in the hunt for the #1 seed in the NFC.
4. Baltimore Ravens (8-3)
It was one of Lamar Jackson’s worst games of his career to date, with Lamar Jackson throwing 4 interceptions against the Browns. Even with that in mind, they were still able to come away with a win, thanks to a miraculous catch from Mark Andrews to get in to the red zone and then score. Baltimore’s defense was able to hold the two headed rushing attack of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt in check and dared Baker Mayfield to beat them on the deep ball. All in all, an ugly win, but it’s one that keeps them as the top seed in the AFC.
5. New England Patriots (8-4)
At 2-4, if you lived outside of New England, you’d be lying if you said you had the Patriots fighting for the top seed in the AFC this season but here we are. At home against the then top-seeded Tennessee Titans, they promptly destroyed them to the tune of 36-23, with the game not as close as the score makes it out to be. Some may say their strength of schedule has been more than favorable, but they can only play who is in front of them, and right now Bill Belichick has his squad overachieving.
6. Kansas City Chiefs (7-4)
The Chiefs have been rising quickly to the top of the AFC after their slow start to this season. Whatever funk that Patrick Mahomes found himself in at the start of the season has been washed away. The offense has seen to have found its spark again and the defense is starting to settle in after having serious issues in the beginning of the season. Don’t look now, but Kansas City may re-stake their claim as title favorites in a few weeks.
7. Dallas Cowboys (7-4)
It was a heartbreaking loss at home on Thanksgiving this past week for Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys. Even though Dak Prescott was without his top 2 receivers (Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb) and with Zeke not 100%, he still manufactured points and found a way to have his team in a position to win the game in OT, but they couldn’t get it done. The Cowboys still have a favorable slate with their NFC East opponents still left to play, so they can still be in play for the #1 seed if they play their cards right.
8. Buffalo Bills (7-4)
The Bills handed the Saints another loss in rather dominating fashion from the opening whistle to the last play. Josh Allen threw for four TDs this week and continued to show why he is a dark horse MVP candidate this year, while the defense dominated the Saints all game. One area where Allen will have to continue to work will be his turnovers, considering he threw 2 more interceptions, which brings his total to 7 this month.
9. Los Angeles Rams (7-4)
The Rams continue their slide in November by dropping one to the Packers last week. While the numbers will show that Stafford played well (300+ yards passing with 3 TDS), he had a costly fumble and interception that led to Packers points. The Rams’ revamped defense was no match for Aaron Rodgers, as was able to drive down the field consistently, broken toe and all. They will look to bounce back at home against the Jaguars this upcoming Sunday.
10. Tennessee Titans (8-4)
Not having 2 key offensive weapons in Derrick Henry and AJ Brown hurt the Titans this past week immensely. Even though the game was close at halftime, the Titans couldn’t get anything going offensively in the second half, where the Patriots just kept driving and scoring with no answer from the Titans. Brown will be out for another 2 weeks, so receivers such as Cody Hollister and Dez Fitzpatrick are going to have to step up to keep the Titans in contention for the top seed in the AFC.
11. Cincinnati Bengals (7-4)
The Bengals absolutely trounced the Steelers in every facet of the game this past Sunday to the tune of 41-10. Joe Mixon made the Steelers defense feel nonexistent as he rushed for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns. Joe Burrow threw for a touchdown and ran in another as well. Even the defense got in on the scoring, when CB Mike Hilton took a pass from Ben Roethlisberger to the house for 6 points. A showdown with the Chargers this coming Sunday will be a good test for the Bengals.
12. Las Vegas Raiders (6-5)
The Thanksgiving game between the Raiders and the Cowboys was a classic, with the Raiders pulling off the upset win in overtime. Derek Carr played a fantastic game, going 24 of 39 for 373 yards and a touchdown. Josh Jacobs set the tone on the ground, rushing for 87 yards and a touchdown. The Raiders took advantage of the Cowboys being penalized for over 150 yards and made the most of their opportunities in the red zone. They look to keep the momentum going with a game at home against the Washington Football Team.
13. Denver Broncos (6-5)
The Denver Broncos had themselves a statement win this past Sunday against the LA Chargers, winning by a convincing score of 28-13. They needed this game in the worst way, considering they had lost 5 of 7 coming into last Sunday. The rushing attack of Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams paved the way for the Broncos. Defensively, they were able to keep Justin Herbert in check, with most of Herbert’s passing yards coming when the outcome of the game had already been decided. With the Broncos being the 8 seed, they have a tall task of beating a resurgent Chiefs team to stay in the playoff hunt.
14. Indianapolis Colts (6-6)
The Colts were in a thrilling game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past Sunday and showed everyone that they could hang with the defending champions. Carson Wentz played a great game, throwing for 306 yards and 3 touchdowns while spreading the ball around to 7 different receivers all game. Jonathan Taylor made life easier for Wentz, keeping the defense honest by rushing for 83 yards and a touchdown. If the Colts can keep up this kind of offensive production against the Texans this upcoming Sunday, they have a real possibility of surprising people when the playoffs come around.
15. San Francisco 49ers (6-5)
The 49ers kept their playoff hopes alive this past Sunday by defeating the Vikings 34-26 at home. Deebo Samuel continued to show why he is so important to this team, as he rushed for 66 yards and 2 TDs on the ground. Elijah Mitchell pounded away at the heart of the Minnesota defense for 133 yards and 1 score, making Jimmy G’s life that much easier in the passing game. Losing Deebo and linebacker Fred Warner right in the heart of the playoff race will hurt this team immensely. With that being said, if the 49ers want to stay in the playoff picture, other players will have to step up in Sunday’s game on the road against the Seahawks.
16. Los Angeles Chargers (6-5)
The Chargers were never really in the game this past Sunday against the Broncos. Defensively, they were not able to stop the Denver rushing attack, which opened up passing lanes for Teddy Bridgewater. Offensively, a pick-six from Herbert in the middle of the 4th quarter pretty much summed up the day in a nutshell. Herbert did throw for 303 yards and 2 TDs, but most of this came in garbage time. They are holding on to the final wild card spot by a thread, making their next game against the Bengals one of their most important games of the season.
17. Cleveland Browns (6-6)
In one of the ugliest prime-time games of the season and In a game where the defense forced 4 interceptions, the Browns still found a way to lose the game 16-10. They could not capitalize on offense after the turnovers. What also didn’t help was the fact that Baker didn’t play well again this week, barely completing half of his passes for 247 yards and a touchdown. The running back tandem of Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb combined for 36 yards on the ground, which added to the offense’s woes in this game. If Cleveland wants to be able to make noise in the playoffs, then their next game against the Ravens on December 12 is a must win.
18. Minnesota Vikings (5-6)
The Vikings are in a tough spot as of this article. Losing Dalvin Cook is a huge blow to this team, as his presence keeps defenses honest and offers Kirk Cousins with a safety valve in case a play breaks down. Alex Mattison has big shoes to fill, but if recent history can tell us anything, he will rise to the occasion. Not only will he have to rise to the occasion, but Kirk Cousins will also have to play better and elevate his team against the reeling Lions on December 5 if the Vikings want to reclaim the final wild card spot in the NFC.
19. Miami Dolphins (5-7)
The Miami Dolphins have to be ecstatic about Sunday’s 33-10 win against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. They played a near perfect game at every level. Tua Tagovailoa played a clean game, going 27 of 31 for 230 yards and a touchdown. Myles Gaskin added two more scores on the ground, while the Miami defense completely shut down the Panther’s offense. With Miami on the outside looking in for the playoffs, their next game against the Giants can be considered a must win.
20. Atlanta Falcons (5-6)
A career high rushing total of 108 yards and two touchdowns (along with 2 receptions for 27 yards) from Cordarrelle Patterson this week helped the Atlanta Falcons get past the Jaguars this past Sunday. The 21 points they scored this week are a nice improvement from the combined 3 points they scored in their previous two games. All they had to do was not make mistakes this week and they did just that. Next week against the Bucs, we will see if this rushing attack continues or if this performance was an anomaly.
21. New Orleans Saints (5-6)
The Saints could not get anything going for them on Thanksgiving against the Bills, getting demolished by a score of 31-6. The fact that Alvin Kamara couldn’t play that night was most assuredly a factor in the Saints not being able to move the ball at all. They were held scoreless for 3 quarters until a garbage time touchdown pass put them on the board in the fourth quarter. Still, they are in the hunt for the 7th wild card spot, which makes the next game against the Cowboys all that more meaningful.
22. Carolina Panthers (5-7)
Cam Newton had his worst outing as a pro by far on Sunday, only completing 5 of 21 passes for 92 yards and 2 interceptions for a QB rating of a paltry 5.8. Losing Christian McCaffrey for the year again only added insult to injury for a team that desperately needs him if they want to make a playoff push. Carolina’s defense could not stop Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami offense, with Myles Gaskin also rushing for 2 touchdowns against them as well. The Panthers will look to bounce back with a winnable game against the Falcons on Sunday.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-5-1)
Mike Tomlin said it best: the Steelers stunk on Sunday. The Steelers’ defense could not stop Joe Mixon from having a career day on the ground, while the Steelers offense gave little to no production at all. Ben Roethlisberger was middling at best and at times looked as though he didn’t belong on the football field. It doesn’t get any easier from here either, as the Ravens come to town for a bitter AFC North rivalry showdown.
24. New York Giants (4-7)
There is something to be said for the defensive performance that the Giants put on against their I-95 rivals this past Sunday. That defense forced three interceptions and gave up only 7 points in their win this week. However, the offense continued to struggle, as Daniel Jones couldn’t quite find a rhythm against the Eagles pass defense and Saquon Barkley was practically non-existent in the running game. If the Giants want a chance to run the table and take a shot at the playoffs, there have to be serious improvements in both creative play-calling and execution on the offensive side of the ball.
25. Philadelphia Eagles (5-7)
For the Eagles to have a chance at the playoffs, it has to start with Jalen Hurts playing better and limiting turnovers. He threw 3 interceptions this week and in general looked indecisive in the pocket, only going 14/31 for 129 yards. On the bright side, however, the Eagles did manage to run for 200 plus yards against a stout Giants defense. On top of that, the Eagles managed to make Saquon a non-factor and kept Daniel Jones in check. If they can limit turnovers, they do have a chance to sneak into the Wild Card round.
26. Washington Football Team (5-6)
The Football Team’s backfield was the star of the show this week, as Antonio Gibson rumbled through the Seattle defense for 111 yards and JD McKissic catching and running for 56 more. With Monday night’s win, Washington moves into the 7th and final wild card spot. In order to hold on to it, the first thing they will have to do is travel to Las Vegas and play a Raiders team that is fighting for a wild card spot.
27. Seattle Seahawks (4-7)
It’s surprising to see the Seahawks all the way down at the bottom of the rankings but in 2021 this is where they belong after another poor showing against the Washington Football Team. A team with Russell Wilson, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett shouldn’t have much struggle scoring, but alas, they were only able to manage 15 points against PFF’s second worst rated defense in the league. Metcalf was a non-factor in the game, only catching 1 pass for 13 yards. Considering that the Jets own their 1st round pick this year, it would be wise for Seattle to get it together and try to make a run at the wild card (or at least try to get to 8-9).
28. Chicago Bears (4-7)
Chicago may have won the game, but there was no remarkable improvement on offense. Andy Dalton may have thrown for 317 yards, but his longest pass was only 9 yards down the field. David Montgomery ran 17 times for 46 yards (not even 3 yards a carry!) against a defense that was giving up an average of 133 yards a game. Despite an anemic offensive showing, they should be in no rush to bring back Fields. They should let him heal his broken ribs and let him learn from Dalton for a few more games.
29. New York Jets (3-8)
The defense played well and the rushing game continued to perform despite not having Michael Carter in the backfield this week. As for Zach Wilson, he continues to make questionable decisions and still doesn’t look completely comfortable in the pocket. That being said, it’s the 6th game for the rookie, but at some point there has to be improvement from him both via eye test and the stat sheet.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9)
The Jaguars could not stop making mistake after mistake, whether it be costly penalties that killed drives or the turnovers that led to points for the Atlanta Falcons. It felt like they just could not get out of their own way. Trevor Lawrence didn’t have the greatest performance, going 23/42 for 228 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception, but this is something he can build on for sure. For the Jaguars, they have a long road trip ahead of them, as they play the desperate LA Rams on the road this coming Sunday.
31. Houston Texans (2-9)
There really is not much going for the Houston Texans these days. Playing against a Jets team that was 29th in rushing yards per game (86.0), they proceeded to give up 130+ yards on the ground. Offensively, the run game never really established itself and Tyrod Taylor only threw 17 passes for 150 yards, with 52 of those yards coming from one long pass. It doesn’t really get much better for the Texans next week either, with the Colts coming to town looking to stay in the Wild Card playoff picture.
32. Detroit Lions (0-10-1)
There really isn’t much to say about the latest Lions loss to Chicago on Thanksgiving. Even though the Lions had the lead going into the 4th quarter and Jared Goff was playing relatively well, the Lions genuinely gave away the win when they called a double timeout. There is no explanation that absolves that, even though Dan Campbell did try. All Lions fans can do now is try to figure out who to take at the #1 spot in the draft in 2022.