32. Detroit Lions, 0-8 ( - )

How do you play the Rams as tightly as any other team on their schedule and then get blown out by the Eagles? My goodness...

 

31. Houston Texans, 1-7 ( - )

This has officially become Year -1 of the rebuild with every storyline being far more about which players could be on the way out than what they’re actually doing on the field. 

 

30. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1-6 ( - )

Urban Meyer is officially ruining QB Trevor Lawrence. Don’t believe me? His QBR on Sunday was 11.7. 

 

29. Miami Dolphins, 1-7 (-1)

Brian Flores was hired as a defensive guru. The Dolphins have one of the, if not the worst defenses in the league. 

 

28. New York Jets, 2-5  (+1)

Mike White, huh? Neat. 

 

27. Carolina Panthers, 4-4 ( - )

Panthers fans are going to quibble because they beat the Falcons and not only didn’t move up a spot but also didn’t move up ahead of the Falcons a few spots higher on this list. This is “wait and see” mode thanks to an injury to the starting QB. 

 

26. New York Giants, 2-6 (-1)

There was something both telling and cathartic watching the ESPN Manningcast and hearing both Eli Manning and Michael Strahan just sound tortured by this team. 

 

25. Atlanta Falcons, 3-4 (-2)

Losing Calvin Ridley is bad news for the Falcons who are still left searching for answers (not named Kyle Pitts) on both sides of the ball.

 

24. Philadelphia Eagles, 3-5 (+2)

Beating any team is impressive in the NFL, but you don’t get bonus points for embarrassing the Lions. 

 

23. Washington Football Team, 2-6 (-2)

Eighth-worst in points scored and sixth-worst in points allowed...that’s a big “oof” for a team that everyone thought was on the way up this offseason. 

 

22. Denver Broncos, 4-4 (+2)

Any positivity from the win against WFT is undercut by the team being among the biggest sellers at the trade deadline. 

 

21. Chicago Bears, 3-5 (+1)

Don’t overreact to one good game by QB Justin Fields—especially with the Steelers and Ravens ahead on the schedule. 

 

20. Minnesota Vikings, 3-4 ( - )

This is a poorly coached team with mostly middling talent. Taking the ball out of RB Dalvin Cook’s hands is a pretty terrible trend. 

 

19. San Francisco 49ers, 3-4 (-1)

Beating the Bears isn’t as positive as it is concerning that the game was that close and your defense didn’t have an answer for Fields. 

 

18. Seattle Seahawks, 3-5 (-2)

It’s exciting to be getting QB Russell Wilson back...until you remember things weren’t exactly going great with him, either. 

 

17. New England Patriots, 4-4 (+2)

The Patriots are quietly at .500 with a Top 10 Offense and a Top 10 Defense. Upcoming games against the Panthers, Browns and Falcons could move them up this list in a hurry. 

 

16. Pittsburgh Steelers, 4-3 (+1)

Three straight wins and upcoming matchups with the Bears and Lions? Things are looking up in the Steel City as well. 

 

15. New Orleans Saints, 5-2 (-3)

Meanwhile, things are not looking up in the Big Easy, where “Pyrrhic Victory” is suddenly the phrase of the week. 

 

14. Indianapolis Colts, 3-5 (+1)

I’ve been giving the Colts credit for going toe-to-toe with the NFL’s best, but they need to start actually winning these games. They’ve mercifully got the Jets and Jaguars up next. 

 

13. Las Vegas Raiders, 5-2 (-1)

The Raiders beat two of the NFL’s worst before the bye and get another (the Giants) after it. Just don’t look past them at next week’s matchup with this next team...

 

12. Kansas City Chiefs, 4-4 (-2)

The Giants gave the Chiefs everything they had and the Chiefs almost let them have it in primetime. This is not the team we thought we were getting in KC this season. 

 

11. Cleveland Browns, 4-4 ( - )

Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry are officially more trouble than they’re worth. 

 

10. Los Angeles Chargers, 4-3 ( - )

Justin Herbert has now admitted in back-to-back weeks that he’s been unable to dissect what defenses are presenting. That’s on him, but that’s also on his coaching in a big way. 

 

9. Tennessee Titans, 6-2 ( - )

The Titans are signing Adrian Peterson to make up for the loss of Derrick Henry (he won’t) and they face the Los Angeles Rams this week. It’s going to be tough sledding to say the least. 

 

8. Cincinnati Bengals, 5-3 ( - )

How? Just how?!? Now, with the Browns, Raiders and Steelers ahead, everything looks like a veritable coinflip. 

 

7. Dallas Cowboys, 6-1 ( - )

Winning with Cooper Rush under center might be the most impressive thing done by this (or any) team this season. Dak should be back this week, but he might not be needed against the Broncos and Falcons. 

 

6. Buffalo Bills, 5-2 ( - )

With Jaguars, Jets, Colts and (Jameis-less) Saints coming out of the bye, going anything less than 3-1 in that stretch would be a huge disappointment and 4-0 is what the fanbase is going to expect. 

 

5. Baltimore Ravens, 5-2 ( - )

A bye week to solidify some of the offensive woes presented by last week’s loss to the Bengals was needed. The schedule ahead is kind. 

 

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 6-2 (-2)

Tom Brady suddenly looked mortal this week. History tells us that won’t last for long, though. 

 

3. Arizona Cardinals, 7-1 ( - )

Losing to the Packers (even at home) is about as “good” of a loss as one can expect. Kyler Murray looked overmatched, but blame it on the short week and playing on Thursday unless it happens again. 

 

2. Green Bay Packers, 7-1 (+2)

Beating the Cardinals moves the Packers up into the two-slot but I’m guessing Packers fans will want it even one spot higher. They get the Rams at the end of the month, so just hold serve until then. 

 

1. Los Angeles Rams, 7-1 ( - )Adding Von Miller just doesn’t seem fair. Neither does getting one of the hardest non-divisional games on their schedule the week after King Henry goes down.