NFL Power Rankings Week 11
Mackenzie Salmon tells us who moved up in this week’s NFL rankings and who’s feeling good.
NFL power rankings entering Week 11 of the 2023 season (previous rank in parentheses):
1. Eagle (2): I hope you’re rested, guys – especially you, Jalen Hurts (knee). Philadelphia begins a five-game road trip against some of the league’s elite teams with a Super Bowl 57 rematch in Kansas City on Monday night. And with TE Dallas Goedert dealing with a broken forearm, the fifth-ranked offense is down a key element. Seems like there’s a lot of negativity here, but this is a team with 8-1 starts in back-to-back seasons and well-equipped to persevere after the inevitable regular-season test arrives.
2. Bosses (3): Unlike Philly, five of the reigning champions’ next six games come against teams that don’t have a winning record – although they likely won’t have the advantages of Taylor Swift as she’s on tour in South America. Still, it’s a good time to see if an eighth-ranked offense is finally gaining steam. And you can’t blame QB Patrick Mahomes for not trying out all the available options and setting a new record in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) by completing passes to at least 10 different players in six games this season.
3. 49ers (4): I told you they would be fine with All-Pro LT Trent Williams and WR Deebo Samuel back in the lineup. And let’s pay a little more attention to Pro Bowler George Kittle, who has now surpassed 500 receiving yards in all seven of his professional seasons – the fourth tight end in NFL history to achieve that feat.
4. Browns (13): One wonders what Cleveland could be if the team were ever somewhat healthy, with QB Deshaun Watson’s ankle problem the latest worrisome ailment. But let’s celebrate these Dawgs for what they are – a tough club on both sides of the ball that can win in a place like Baltimore even when the league’s No. 1 defense is having an off day.
5. Ravens (1): We reluctantly named them the best team in the NFL a week ago, and we resented them for doing so after losing sight of Baltimore’s (probably) fatal flaw – a long-standing and uncanny inability to finish games in the fourth quarter, which they can’t succeeded in all three defeats, including Sunday against the Browns. If left uncorrected, this will likely cost the Ravens a shot at Super Bowl 58 and possibly another MVP award for QB Lamar Jackson.
6. Lions (7): It’s funny to see Dan Campbell beat the Bolts’ Brandon Staley in the analytics game with his bold but successful decision 1:47 before Detroit’s game-winning FG on fourth-and-2 on Sunday. “He has great courage and he showed it there,” QB Jared Goff said of his coach. (Though in hindsight does Staley ever win the analytics battle?)
7. Cowboys (8): The last time Dallas had two receivers with more than 150 yards in a game? How about 1985, with Doug Cosbie and Tony Hill? The last time WR CeeDee Lamb didn’t have more than 150 yards in a game? Try October 16th (when he had just 117).
8. Dolphins (10): The Anti-Eagles, Miami’s next five games, come against teams no better than .500 – a golden opportunity for the Fins to put a stranglehold on the all-win AFC East.
9. Texans (15): Just wow. QB CJ Stroud has all but secured the Offensive Rookie of the Year award – perhaps the first rookie ever to throw for 5,000 yards in a season – and potentially becomes the first rookie to win MVP in the Super Bowl era -The league’s award has attracted attention. It shouldn’t hurt his cause to play the next three weeks in Houston and maybe get some help from the ground game after RB Devin Singletary exploded with a career-high 150 rushing yards on Sunday.
10. Bengal (6): It’s a tough way to lose a four-game winning streak… especially when you wonder if a healthy Tee Higgins catches what was likely a game-winning TD pass that Tyler Boyd dropped in the end zone. But Cincinnati better recover quickly for Thursday night’s trip to Baltimore – a contest that Higgins and DE Trey Hendrickson may have to sit out.
11. Jaguars (5): The resounding end to their five-game winning streak is probably also a reminder of how dependent they are on losing the ball. Jacksonville didn’t even generate a takeaway for the first time since Week 3, the Jags’ previous loss.
12. Steelers (11): If you’re counting, and you probably should: That’s nine straight wins in one-score games dating back to last season. Let’s see if they can keep the mojo going before facing two season-defining roadies in Cleveland and Cincinnati.
13. Seahawks (12): Never heard of LB Boye Mafe? He is the first Seattle player to record sacks in seven consecutive games. And you’ve probably heard about DE Leonard Williams, who got his first sack as a Seahawk on Sunday.
14. Bills (9): Since QB Josh Allen, who suddenly became a turnover machine, was a rookie, they haven’t failed to post a winning record in ten games. Monday night’s bitter loss to Denver seems to be a sign that the season is wasting away amid so many self-inflicted wounds.
15. Chargers (14): In QB Justin Herbert’s three-plus seasons, the Bolts have lost 13 games by three points or fewer – the most in the NFL since 2020. Sorry, but I can’t blame him for that.
16. Vikings (16): Can Josh Dobbs’ story actually get any better? He threw for a career-best 268 yards on Sunday and already leads Minnesota with two rushing touchdowns (in just two games). But that fairy tale could go a step further given the impending return of All-Pro WR Justin Jefferson.
17. Stallions (17): Maybe they should move to Germany so that DL Dayo Odeyingbo (career-high three sacks on Sunday) and Austrian LT Bernhard Raimann can continue to produce great performances in front of their family members.
18. Raiders (24): They play just a few blocks from the New York-New York Hotel & Casino, so it wasn’t a big surprise that they beat the Giants and Jets right on the Strip. But interim HC Antonio Pierce and Co.’s next three opponents are expected to reach the playoffs, so betting on (silver and) black may no longer be advisable.
19. Aries (23): Given the short-term career rehab Baker Mayfield received in LA last year, we have to admit we’re excited to see what HC Sean McVay might do with Carson Wentz as his quarterback.
20. Jets (18): They finally scored on their opening drive Sunday night…but they also snapped their 36-consecutive touchdown drought. According to OptaSTATS, Zach Wilson is the first quarterback in league history to throw for at least 250 yards in consecutive weeks without once leading his offense into the end zone.
21. Buccaneers (21): Amazingly, a win on Sunday would move Tampa Bay back into first place. All the Bucs, who have lost four of their last five, need to do is win in San Francisco.
22. Saints (22): It’s been a tough season physically for QB Derek Carr, and at least he’s getting the week off to recover from the loss he suffered in Minnesota on Sunday. Still, it sounds like New Orleans may not get WR Michael Thomas (knee) back.
23. Broncos (25): Three wins in a row, two against perennial playoff teams and back to Denver for the next two? It might be time to give QB Russell Wilson back the “Broncos country, let’s ride” privileges.
24. Titans (19): When K Nick Folk starts missing field goals — he misses his first goal of 2023 on Sunday — you pretty much know this season is officially a lost cause.
25. Falcons (20): Their three-game losing streak comes from a total deficit of 10 points. Scarce, but no cigars – a commodity apparently monopolized by the Raiders.
26. Packers (26): After scoring a total of 62 points in the first two weeks of the season, Green Bay has not scored more than 20 points in a game since.
27. Cardinals (32): How quickly things can change once QB Kyler Murray and RB James Conner are back in the lineup. But let’s not discount the contributions of Trey McBride, the first Arizona tight end in 34 years to finish in the top 100 in receiving yards.
28. Bears (27): Pretty cool if you can improve your draft position by beating the unlucky team whose first-round pick you already own.
29. Commanders (28): No team averages fewer rushing attempts per game than Washington’s 20.2. They’ve topped 100 yards on the ground once in the last six weeks – perhaps not a coincidence, the Week 9 win at New England.
30. Patriots (29): They haven’t beaten a team that isn’t in a division in 11 months. Their last victory came in the game when Murray tore his ACL in December.
31. Panthers (30): From rookie quarterback Bryce Young’s stunted development to game management, does it feel like it’s getting late early for HC rookie Frank Reich?
32. Giants (31): The worst offense in the league. HC Brian Daboll is getting awfully salty on the bench. Rookie QB Tommy DeVito looks like he belongs in the USFL. Otherwise there is little reason to worry.
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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter @ByNateDavis.