Week 10 of the 2023 NFL season is in the books with a few marquee matchups once again influencing how the hierarchy of teams is viewed. With Sunday behind us, it’s time to dive into the Week 11 NFL power rankings.
It started early on Sunday afternoon with the Houston Texans stunning the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns taking out the previously No. 1 Baltimore Ravens on a last-second field goal. Throw in the wild afternoon games and you’ve got a lot of movement when stacking up and evaluating all 32 teams.
Related: Week 12 college football rankings
Let’s dive into our latest NFL power rankings after Week 10.
Week 11 NFL power rankings: Worst NFL teams right now
32. Carolina Panthers
- Previously: 31st in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Dallas Cowboys
The Carolina Panthers are the worst team in the NFL and the leaks are now coming out. Bryce Young hasn’t met expectations, but it’s clear there’s a lot of frustration inside the building with the roster built around the rookie and the play-calling that has let him down. To make matters worse, the cost of acquiring Young and the decision to not trade Brian Burns have the most lasting consequences for Carolina.
Related: NFL insider details frustration inside Carolina Panthers’ organization
31. New York Giants
- Previously: 30th in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Washington Commanders
Tommy DeVito isn’t an NFL quarterback, there’s more than enough evidence to prove that. It’s fine if the New York Giants want to keep playing him at this point, considering their injuries at quarterback, but starting DeVito and never pursuing Carson Wentz in free agency is an even bigger example of tanking than anything the Arizona Cardinals have done this year.
Related: New York Giants ‘won’t hesitate’ on pivotal 2024 decision
30. New England Patriots
- Previously: 29th in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Los Angeles Chargers (Week 12)
There are endless issues with the New England Patriots. Among them; there isn’t a starting-caliber quarterback on the roster, the injury-plagued offensive line can’t hold up in pass protection and New England’s depleted pass rush can’t create any form of pressure. All of this falls on the shoulders of Bill Belichick. New England shouldn’t necessarily fire him during the bye week, but it’s clear Robert Kraft made a mistake not stripping Belichick of GM duties years ago. The Patriots will have a new head coach and general manager in 2024, but this roster is going to take years to rebuild.
Related: Latest on Bill Belichick’s future with New England Patriots
29. Arizona Cardinals
- Previously: 32nd in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Houston Texans
Say what you want about the Arizona Cardinals, but they’ve shown more fight than the Giants, Panthers and arguably the New England Patriots this year. In fact, starting Kyler Murray is a testament to the coaching staff’s refusal to wave the white flag. There’s a chance it costs Arizona the No. 1 pick, but it might also build a quality team culture.
28. Tennessee Titans
- Previously: 23rd in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
The Tennessee Titans have now lost four of their last five games, seemingly dipping into our preseason expectations for a team that was clearly ready to rebuild. While there was some positive buzz surrounding Will Levis coming into Week 10, Sunday’s poor performance should be a reminder that Tennessee shouldn’t pass on a franchise-caliber quarterback if the front office believes one is available in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Related: Longest field goals in NFL history
27. Green Bay Packers
- Previously: 27th in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Los Angeles Chargers
Realistically, this was always where expectations for the Green Bay Packers should’ve been. There’s an alarming amount of youth on the Packers’ offense, leading to mistakes on nearly every drive that you see from players still learning how to play the game at the highest level. The bright side for Green Bay is its draft positioning is improving and some of those young playmakers are starting to turn gaffes into big plays.
26. Los Angeles Rams
- Previously: 26th in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Seattle Seahawks
Since defeating the Seattle Seahawks 30-13 in Week 1, the Los Angeles Rams are 2-6 with a -43 point differential. It definitely aligns more closely with expectations for this top-heavy roster coming into the year. There’s some hope in Los Angeles with Matthew Stafford closing in on a return, but the upcoming schedule might just push the Rams further down the standings. However, higher draft picks are what this franchise desperately needs.
Related: Check out LAFB Network for coverage fo the Rams, Chargers
25. Las Vegas Raiders
- Previously: 28th in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: New York Jets (SNF)
It truly feels like the Las Vegas Raiders are playing with house money at this point. Davante Adams, Josh Jacobs and the defense seems so much happier with Josh McDaniels gone. Now, the roster McDaniels built as defacto GM still makes the Raiders one of the worst teams in the NFL. Yet, effort matters a lot at this level and Antonio Pierce is getting every player on this 53-man roster to play classic Raider football. Maybe it won’t translate to a lot of wins, but it’s a throwback style this organization has missed.
Related: NFL insider reveals Raiders’ figure who pushed Derek Carr out
24. Washington Commanders
- Previously: 20th in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: New York Giants
The Washington Commanders sure could’ve used a few extra pass rushers with juice on several drives against the Seattle Seahawks. Then again, they lost them because ownership effectively surrendered on the season. It’s probably the right move long-term, but this is one of those games where the fire sale proved costly.
Related: Washington Commanders coaching candidates
23. Chicago Bears
- Previously: 25th in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Detroit Lions
Life is pretty good right now for the Chicago Bears. The offseason Bryce Young trade is shaping up to be an all-time heist and it allowed the Bears to acquire and then extend edge rusher Montez Sweat. Now, Justin Fields and Khalil Herbert are poised to return in Week 11. All of that likely won’t change an imminent 3-8 record, with the Detroit Lions on deck, but this team looks so much better than it did entering October and the future is bright.
Related: 2024 NFL Draft order, picks by team
22. New York Jets
- Previously: 22nd in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Las Vegas Raiders
Many understandably viewed the Aaron Rodgers’ injury as the turning point for the New York Jets in 2023. However, the complete waste of an elite defense falls on the front office. Everyone knew Zach Wilson was a bust after the 2022 season, but the Jets’ front office refused to move on from him and invest in a better insurance plan behind an injury-prone Rodgers. Far more damning, however, this same Jets’ organization refused to sign Carson Wentz. That’s a level of organizational hubris that often needs to result in firings.
Related: Top MLB free agents 2024
21. Atlanta Falcons
- Previously: 17th in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: New Orleans Saints (Week 12)
What is anyone supposed to think about the Atlanta Falcons? The defense has definitely taken a step back and Grady Jarrett’s season-ending injury only made things worse. offensively, Arthur Smith finally got Bijan Robinson more involved but Taylor Heinicke also proved he’s not any better than Desmond Ridder. Maybe Atlanta can still win the division, but that’s only because the NFC South is at the bottom of the barrel once again.
Related: Week 11 fantasy rankings
NFL power rankings: Top 20 NFL teams after Week 10
20. Indianapolis Colts
- Previously: 21st in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 12)
It’s amazing the difference a good NFL head coach makes. Shane Steichen doesn’t have his franchise quarterback, yet he keeps finding ways to win with Gardner Minshew. That’s not to suggest Indianapolis is the most impressive .500 team in the NFL, instead, it’s a testament to the Colts’ first-year coaching staff and a young team that has already surpassed expectations. We continue to believe that Indianapolis will be the NFL’s breakout team in 2024, but we’re not expecting them to make the playoffs this year.
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19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Previously: 19th in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: San Francisco 49ers
Hats off to Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Everything was going downhill fast, with Tampa Bay swinging from 3-1 to 3-5. It made Sunday a must-win game if Tampa Bay wanted to have any shot at making the playoffs and saving Todd Bowles’ job. Mission accomplished. Although, a harsh reality called the San Francisco 49ers is looming.
Related: NFL stadium rankings
18. New Orleans Saints
- Previously: 13th in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Atlanta Falcons (Week 12)
Are we absolutely sure any NFC South team even wants to make the playoffs? It’s the same story each week just with a different team. In Week 10, the New Orleans Saints offense didn’t have a heartbeat until Jameis Winston filled in for an injured Derek Carr. We can’t even advise New Orleans to make a quarterback change, because the other shoe will always drop immediately after a performance like this from Winston. The Saints’ up-and-down season now takes them into the bye week and there’s no predicting what this team looks like upon its return.
Related: Fantasy kicker rankings
17. Los Angeles Chargers
- Previously: 15th in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Green Bay Packers
While moral victories don’t exist in the NFL, the Los Angeles Chargers made a strong impression in Week 10. Against one of the NFL’s best teams, Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen and Kellen Moore went punch-for-punch with the Lions’ offense and hung 38 points on a top-10 defense. It’s performances like this that inspire a belief the Chargers can make the playoffs.
Related: College Football Defense rankings
16. Denver Broncos
- Previously: 18th in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Minnesota Vikings
Credit to Sean Payton, Russell Wilson and Vance Joseph for the team-wide turnaround we’re witnessing. The Denver Broncos really started showing some life in recent weeks, but they lacked that signature victory to prove they’re back to being relevant in the NFL playoff picture. Monday Night Football delivered that victory. Now, let’s see how Denver handles one of the hottest teams in the NFL.
15. Buffalo Bills
- Previously: 12th in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: New York Jets
Sadly for the Buffalo Bills, this might not even be rock bottom. Even if they beat the New York Jets in Week 11, that leaves the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Chargers looming next on their schedule. It’s time to just recognize that Buffalo might not even be a playoff team in 2023.
14. Minnesota Vikings
- Previously: 16th in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Denver Broncos
Joshua Dobbs is deserving of a lot of the credit and potentially even a future movie for his role in the last two victories. However, we also can’t lose sight of what Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is doing with this defense. Even without Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson, Minnesota keeps finding ways to win. We certainly can’t bet against the Vikings being a Wild Card team and the 2023 campaign should prove why Kevin O’Connell is one of the best head coaches in the NFL.
Related: Check Out MinnesotaSportsFan.com for great Vikings’ coverage
13. Pittsburgh Steelers
- Previously: 13th in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Cleveland Browns
The Pittsburgh Steelers are winning games in spite of Kenny Pickett right now. Of course, that’s a lot easier to do when you have a top-10 defense, one of the best coaches in the NFL and start establishing a ground game. Pittsburgh never wins with style points and it will be a massive underdog against Cleveland, but we’ve learned not to doubt Tomlin’s Steelers and that’s especially true in rivalry games.
12. Houston Texans
- Previously: 14th in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Arizona Cardinals
C.J. Stroud for NFL MVP? It still might be a bit of a longshot, but the Houston Texans rookie quarterback has proven the leaked and faulty S2 score was nothing but an attempt to downplay Stroud’s football IQ and decision-making. The film doesn’t lie. Houston’s offense looks unstoppable right now and a defense that just welcomed back Derek Stingley Jr. is beginning to show signs of growth. Maybe, just maybe, the Texans can win the AFC South.
Related: NFL Rookie of the Year candidates
11. Seattle Seahawks
- Previously: 11th in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Los Angeles Rams
Geno Smith isn’t done. Yes, he struggled with turnovers against two of the best defenses in the NFL. However, Sunday captured some of Smith’s best qualities as he delivered one of his best performances of the season and came through with a game-winning drive in the final minute. It’s wins like that remind you of just how good the Seahawks can be if they put it all together.
Related: Super Bowl odds
NFL power rankings: Best NFL teams right now
10. Jacksonville Jaguars
- Previously: No. 6 in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Tennessee Titans
A humbling Sunday afternoon reminded the young Jacksonville Jaguars that they still have a lot of growing up to do. Trevor Lawrence made some mistakes, but he was under duress until he was pulled. Meanwhile, Jacksonville’s defense seemed to forget its bye week ended last Monday. Fortunately for the Jaguars, they can rebound quickly in Week 12 against Tennessee.
Related: NFL Playoff predictions
9. Cincinnati Bengals
- Previously: No. 4 in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Baltimore Ravens
Tyler Boyd will draw plenty of the blame from fans for Sunday’s loss and his dropped touchdown proved costly. However, what truly sunk the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 10 was two Joe Burrow turnovers, a porous offensive line and a defense that allowed 544 total yards and 7.4 yards per play. With that said, Cincinnati showed enough before this to believe the Bengals are still one of the best NFL teams in 2023.
Related: NFL coaching hot seat
8. Dallas Cowboys
- Previously: No. 9 in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Carolina Panthers
The bullies strike again. There seems to be nothing the Dallas Cowboys enjoy more than devastating the cellar-dweller NFL teams. Sunday represented the latest blowout victory over a sub-.500 team, with the Cowboys’ offense and defense both putting on clinics in this one. Fortunately for Dallas, it gets to do the same thing next weekend against Carolina.
Related: NFL expert picks
7. Miami Dolphins
- Previously: No. 7 in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Las Vegas Raiders
We’ll start with the good news for the Miami Dolphins. They’re leading the AFC East and there seems to be a clear gap between them and Buffalo. Coming out of the bye, Miami is poised to welcome back De’Von Achane and left tackle Terron Armstead should be healthier. Best of all, the Dolphins’ defense is stepping up its game. Of course, the drawback with Miami is its 0-3 record against teams with a winning record this year and it’s made worse by a -49 point differential in those three contests.
Related: NFL offense rankings
6. Cleveland Browns
- Previously: No. 10 in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
The only thing the Cleveland Browns need is for Deshaun Watson to play smart football and make a few “WOW” plays per game. Defensively, Myles Garrett and Co. have already proven capable of shutting down elite offenses and Jerome Ford has been an effective fill-in starter. If Cleveland gets the second-half version of Watson moving forward instead of the first-half player, it’s a Super Bowl contender.
Related: Week 11 NFL schedule
5. San Francisco 49ers
- Previously: No. 8 in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
That’s the San Francisco 49ers team we saw earlier in the season. Chase Young’s arrival woke up the 49ers’ pass rush and the return of both Deebo Samuel and Trent Williams filled in the two missing pieces to the 49ers’ offensive puzzle. Health is the big question, but the 49ers have the best roster in the NFL and they just need Purdy to be an above-average quarterback to compete for the Lombardi Trophy.
Related: NFL offense rankings
4. Baltimore Ravens
- Previously: No. 1 in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
Perhaps no Super Bowl contender loves getting in its own way more than the Baltimore Ravens. Really, Week 10 represented everything that has kept Baltimore from reaching the mountaintop. Ronnie Stanley and Marlon Humphrey both left with potentially devastating injuries, Lamar Jackson had two bad interceptions, Justin Tucker’s field goal was blocked and the Ravens bizarrely abandoned Keaton Mitchell late in the game. If these recurring self-inflicted wounds are still there on a short week, Baltimore will lose two in a row.
Related: NFL defense rankings
3. Detroit Lions
- Previously: No. 4 in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Chicago Bears
As the Detroit Lions’ defense begins heading in the wrong direction, Ben Johnson’s offense is heating up. Jared Goff truly doesn’t have to do much when David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs combine for over 190 rushing yards and cover most of the scoring. Defensively, Aaron Glenn will see plenty to clean up after Week 10 but all that really matters is that 7-2 record.
Related: NFL Defensive Player of the Year race
2. Kansas City Chiefs
- Previously: No. 3 in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the best NFL teams in 2023, but they aren’t a great bet right now to repeat as Super Bowl champions. If Kansas City falls short of a repeat, it’s obvious who should take on the blame. Chiefs’ general manager Brett Veach had all offseason and the NFL trade deadline to address one of the worst receiving corps in the league. Meanwhile, head coach Andy Reid has abandoned the run game (39.1 percent rushing rate, 26th in NFL). Of course, if Reid can strike a balance and Rashee Rice steps up in the second half, Patrick Mahomes and an elite Chiefs’ defense can win it all.
1. Philadelphia Eagles
- Previously: No. 2 in NFL power rankings
- Next Opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
The Philadelphia Eagles are the best team in the NFL right now, but that assessment could change in a hurry. Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown have proven they can carry this offense to similar heights as last year, but this defense has taken an alarming step backward. It’s one of the biggest reasons why, despite having the best record in the NFL, Philadelphia ranks seventh in point differential (+57). Matchups against the Chiefs, Bills and 49ers in the next three weeks will be the perfect litmus test to determine if the Eagles can make a Super Bowl run in January.
Related: NFL QB rankings