NFL Power Rankings

My current NFL Power Rankings.

I’m going to use these rankings as the order for my 2019 NFL Mock Draft during the 2018 draft season. Follow @walterfootball.

I’ve gone from WORST to FIRST, so if you don’t see reverse numbering (via Javascript), don’t worry; the 49ers and Cardinals aren’t my top teams.

Updated: Nov. 13

Oakland Raiders (1-8) – Previously: 31.
And here I thought the Raiders had a chance to stay within double digits of the Chargers because most of their offensive line was finally intact. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Well, at least Oakland’s season isn’t a total loss…

Wow, it turns out the Raiders were just filming a movie this entire time. That totally explains all of their decision-making!

New York Jets (3-7) – Previously: 26.
When I was in grade school, we’d get two grades for each class: one grade for achievement, and one grade for effort. Against the Bills, the Jets would get an “F” for achievement and a Z- for effort.

What the hell was that, by the way? Why were the Jets a complete no-show? It was utterly embarrassing. And not just for them. I’m completely humiliated that I wagered four units on the Jets. The person managing my sportsbook account is probably laughing at me right now!

Arizona Cardinals (2-7) – Previously: 30.
The Cardinals have only beaten the 49ers this year. But not the Nick Mullens-led 49ers. They beat the C.J. Bearhard-led 49ers. However, they were competitive in Kansas City, losing by “only” 12 points. I mean, sure, the Chiefs were clearly looking ahead to playing the Rams in Mexico City, but crappy teams have to take rare wins. And by rare wins, I mean losses by 12 points.

San Francisco 49ers (2-8) – Previously: 28.
The 49ers may have lost Monday night, but they were the true winners. They gave their fans an entertaining game, all while leapfrogging the Giants in the 2019 NFL Draft order. If the Raiders select Nick Bosa first overall, San Francisco will be able to hold an auction for the No. 2 selection, as numerous teams will want to move past New York to take Justin Herbert.

Buffalo Bills (3-7) – Previously: 32.
The Bills will move up because Josh Allen will return from injury after the bye. I think we just saw what they’re capable of with competent quarterback play when they battle other crappy teams.

Speaking of competent quarterback play, I think you know what time it is!

The Adventures of Derek Anderson’s Magic Flask!

LeSean McCoy: No, you’re not doing it! Go away!

Derek Anderson: I hahavvve cocnnucssionn ffroromm driinnkiingng a lloot. Hheree Chahhrrlelss Bbarrkklleeyy taaakkee aa siiipp forormm mmyy flflalssk hic!

Matt Barkley: Hmm… looks intriguing. Maybe I’ll-

LeSean McCoy: NO! GET AWAY FROM HIM, YOU FIEND! YOU WILL NOT POISON ANOTHER QUARTERBACK!

Derek Anderson: Duududee whhyyy arreee yoouu bebeiinngg a ddiicickk???

LeSean McCoy: I’M NOT A DICK! I JUST WANT TO WIN A F***ING FOOTBALL GAME FOR ONCE! NOW GET LOST!

Derek Anderson: OOkkk fififinne Jeessususus… heheeyy Jjososshh MmcCcwoowwnn wanananana takakakee aaaa siippp???

(I think this really happened, by the way.)

New York Giants (2-7) – Previously: 29.
What a great victory for the Giants. Sixty years from now, young people who watched this game will tell their grandchildren about how Eli Manning led the Giants down the field to beat the great San Francisco 49ers led by the prolific Nick Mullens.

Oh, wait, they won’t be doing that? And this win means nothing for New York? Oh, OK. Well, let’s hope the Giants don’t have to surrender too many draft choices to select Justin Herbert as a result of this victory.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-6) – Previously: 23.
The Buccaneers had SIX trips to the red zone against the Redskins, yet scored THREE points. And not just three points in those six red zone trips. Three points in total!

Man, I looked dumb when the Buccaneers began the year at 2-0 because I said they’d have the worst record in the NFL this year, but their utterly stupid play has made that prediction feasible if we can ignore the Raiders (and I should note, I said that before Khalil Mack was traded.)

Denver Broncos (3-6) – Previously: 27.
Case Keenum has held the Broncos back before, but now it’s the offensive line. Already down talented guard Ronald Leary, the unit just lost center Matt Paradis for the year. Paradis is an exceptional center, so he’ll really be missed. The Broncos are going to find it difficult to win games against teams not named the Raiders down the stretch.

Then again, maybe this is a good thing. If they can get the Giants to win two more games, they’ll have a chance to steal Justin Herbert away from Denver.

Miami Dolphins (5-5) – Previously: 25.
The announcers during the Packers-Dolphins game said something odd. One of them said something like this: “The Dolphins have a bye coming up and can get healthy, so they can make a run to the playoffs IF they win this game.”

Wait, so the Dolphins can’t make a run into the playoffs anymore? What if they lose to the Patriots and beat everyone else thanks to Ryan Tannehill’s return to finish 10-6? Would they still be eliminated then? Why did they have to beat Green Bay?

Detroit Lions (3-6) – Previously: 21.
Matthew Stafford looks incredibly lost without Golden Tate. He’s taken 16 sacks in the past two games!

I’ve heard NFL TV analysts criticize the trade, but I continue to believe that it made sense. What’s puzzling is the Snacks Harrison trade. Why did Detroit deal for him when it considered itself a seller? Harrison has helped the run defense, but why acquire him if the team is in rebuilding mode, as evidenced by the Tate trade?

Jacksonville Jaguars (3-6) – Previously: 22.
Leave it to the Jaguars to lose because the defense plays like crap when Blake Bortles finally has a decent game. I’m not sure if Bortles will be able to repeat his performance in Indianapolis too often, as center Brandon Linder could be out for a while. Linder is Jacksonville’s best offensive lineman, so losing him would be the final nail in the coffin for Jacksonville’s playoff chances.

Cleveland Browns (3-6-1) – Previously: 24.
I posted NFL Rookie Quarterback Grades from the preseason, so perhaps I’ll make ones for the regular season at some point. If I had to grade Baker Mayfield now, I think I’d give him an A- at the very least. He had some rocky games after he got hurt against the Chargers, but he was excellent against Atlanta, completing all 12 passes in the opening half. Still, despite those struggles against the Chargers and Steelers, Mayfield is way ahead of the other rookie quarterbacks. I don’t think any of the other ones would have anything above a C+ at this point.

Washington Redskins (6-3) – Previously: 19.
The Redskins scored just 16 points on Tampa’s awful defense and surrendered about 500 net yards of offense. And yet, Washington won by nearly two touchdowns. Unreal.

I’d talk smack about the Redskins, but Dave Cokin said it best:

Dallas Cowboys (4-5) – Previously: 20.
Jerry Jones, in his never-ending quest to one-up the Raiders, is creating his own movie:

The plan is for Jones to get Garrett to see if Dak Prescott is worthy of an extension. I’m not sure why there are extension talks now. Can’t they bolster their offensive line first before determining that? Prescott played well versus the Eagles, but Philadelphia happened to be missing its top three cornerbacks in the second half.

Indianapolis Colts (4-5) – Previously: 18.
The Colts had a nice win to keep their season alive – they’re somehow just two back of the division lead – but couldn’t they have covered the spread? They were up 29-13, yet allowed the Jaguars to claw back into the game because of a Mo Alie-Cox drop-turned-interception and a missed field goal.

Speaking of Alie-Cox, why are the Colts still using him? I understand him being on the field when Jack Doyle was hurt, but with Doyle and Eric Ebron available, why even use a third tight end so frequently?

Cincinnati Bengals (5-4) – Previously: 16.
The Bengals spent some time on the overrated page. No more. Not after that horrific loss.

Actually, Cincinnati will appear in the underrated section soon. Once A.J. Green, Vontaze Burfict and Nick Vigil return from injury, the Bengals will be a very undervalued commodity.

Seattle Seahawks (4-5) – Previously: 15.
It was nice to see the Seahawks NFL Pick of the Month come through. However, I was definitely sweating it out. I was yelling at the TV when the Rams scored a late touchdown off Russell Wilson’s turnover, “THEY HAD A F***ING LEAD GOING INTO THE FOURTH QUARTER AS 10-POINT UNDERDOGS!” Fortunately, Wilson came through with his patented back-door cover. He’s still lost just two regular-season games by double digits.

This is “win or die” for the Seahawks, by the way. If they fall to the Packers, they’ll be 4-6, and they’ll be giving a win to a team they’re competing with for a wild-card spot. They have to win Thursday night, but then again, so does Green Bay.

Philadelphia Eagles (4-5) – Previously: 6.
I was close to listing the Eagles as underrated, but two things concern me:

1. All of the injuries at cornerback. The Eagles looked helpless trying to cover the Cowboys with their top three corners out of the lineup. Ronald Darby is done for the year.

2. Lane Johnson being hurt. Johnson may return next week – he was questionable heading into Sunday night – but he probably won’t be 100 percent. Johnson hasn’t been healthy all year, so I don’t see why that would suddenly change.

Houston Texans (6-3) – Previously: 14.
The Texans have somehow won six in a row despite some bad coaching, poor offensive line play and long bus rides for Deshaun Watson.

I have a ticket on Houston to win the Super Bowl at 22/1, but I’m not confident at all in it. O’Brien is a horrible coach, yet he’s had the luxury of going up against other bad or inexperienced coaches this year who have made terrible decisions.

Minnesota Vikings (5-3-1) – Previously: 12.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Vikings are an overrated NFL team in our new Overrated-Underrated page.

Green Bay Packers (4-4-1) – Previously: 11.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the Packers are an underrated NFL team in our new Overrated-Underrated page.

Atlanta Falcons (4-5) – Previously: 17.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the Falcons are an underrated NFL team in our new Overrated-Underrated page.

Tennessee Titans (5-4) – Previously: 13.
The Titans were previously slotted as underrated. People overreacted to that 11-sack game, and yet the Titans have covered EVERY spread since that embarrassing defeat. That just goes to show you that you shouldn’t overreact to one game.

I think the Titans are actually creeping closer to overrated territory now. They looked great on national TV and then upset the Patriots. How can they not be overrated? Well, I like their team – I always have – and I think they’re extremely well coached. And speaking of, bravo to Mike Vrabel for successfully trolling the Patriots by running their failed play from the Super Bowl (and earlier in the game) where they tried to throw a pass to Tom Brady.

Baltimore Ravens (4-5) – Previously: 10.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the Ravens are an underrated NFL team in our new Overrated-Underrated page.

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2-1) – Previously: 9.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Steekers are an overrated NFL team in our new Overrated-Underrated page.

Los Angeles Chargers (7-2) – Previously: 8.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Chargers are an overrated NFL team in our new Overrated-Underrated page.

Carolina Panthers (6-3) – Previously: 5.
Cam Newton didn’t look too happy during the Steelers game…

In all fairness, I’d be upset as well if my offensive line played like absolute trash. The blocking better improve, or Carolina will continue to suffer ugly losses like this.

Chicago Bears (6-3) – Previously: 7.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the Bears are an underrated NFL team in our new Overrated-Underrated page.

Los Angeles Rams (9-1) – Previously: 4.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Rams are an overrated NFL team in our new Overrated-Underrated page.

New England Patriots (7-3) – Previously: 2.
I’m not dropping the Patriots too far for their ugly loss to Tennessee. They were due for a stinker, especially after a national TV victory over the Packers. They were also very banged up heading into the game, and they were shuffling offensive linemen in and out of the lineup. They should get everyone back from injury following the upcoming bye.

And yes, I expect Brady to be in classic F-U mode versus his Week 12 opponent, the Jets. He was upset during the Tennessee game…

But he’ll get angry during the week off.

New Orleans Saints (8-1) – Previously: 3.
How impressive were the Saints in Cincinnati? Everyone was talking about a potential trap game. Instead, the Saints thrashed the Bengals so badly that there were rumors that Marvin Lewis was begging the officials to implement the mercy rule at halftime.

Drew Brees and Sean Payton seem so dialed in right now. I think they know that this is their last chance, so I didn’t think they’d look past the Bengals.

Kansas City Chiefs (9-1) – Previously: 1.
I know the Chiefs were looking ahead to playing the Rams in Mexico City next Monday night, but they need to play better than they did versus Arizona to pull the upset against the Rams. And yes, it’ll be an upset, as the Rams have opened as 2.5-point favorites.

The MVP race:

1. Patrick Mahomes
2. Drew Brees
3. Cam Newton
4. Tom Brady
5. Todd Gurley

Mahomes is the clear-cut MVP leader right now, and I’d say that Brees is second after beating the Rams. Many people have Todd Gurley second, but the Rams are packed with talent, and I’d feel uncomfortable putting a running back that high in the MVP balloting with so many great quarterback candidates.

NFL Picks - Dec. 13

2025 NFL Mock Draft - Dec. 11

NFL Power Rankings - Dec. 9

2026 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 29

Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4