NFL Power Rankings

My current NFL Power Rankings.

I’m going to use these rankings as the order for my 2020 NFL Mock Draft during the 2019 season. Follow @walterfootball.

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

Updated: Nov. 26

Miami Dolphins (2-9) – Previously: 32.
The Dolphins are still the worst team in NFL history despite their two victories, given how many practice squad-caliber players they have starting for them. They lucked into victories by battling highly injury-ravaged opponents, and it looks like it’s going to cost them. Thanks to Tua Tagovailoa’s injury, as well as the regression of Justin Herbert and Jake Fromm, they may have to settle for a lackluster quarterback prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Cincinnati Bengals (0-11) – Previously: 31.
I love how an 0-11 team is not even the worst squad in the NFL. The Bengals nearly knocked off the Steelers, which wasn’t a fluke. I expect Cincinnati to be more competitive with Cordy Glenn back in the starting lineup. His lengthy absence was one of the primary reasons Cincinnati was struggling so much in the first place.

Detroit Lions (3-7-1) – Previously: 28.
Forty years from now, I’m going to tell my grandkids about the one time I was able to bet against Jeff Driskel as a four-point road favorite. I still can’t believe that the least-accurate quarterback during an NFL weekend was a four-point road favorite, and yet everyone was betting on him. People on Twitter were even saying that betting the Lions was a lock. Driskel as a four-point road favorite was apparently a lock!

Washington Redskins (2-9) – Previously: 30.
Dwayne Haskins may have won, and he celebrated the victory prematurely by taking selfies – anyone who takes selfies is an idiot, by the way – but he shouldn’t have been too happy. The Redskins would have blown out the Lions if he didn’t screw up so many times. He missed at least three touchdowns with terrible throws, and he showed zero pocket awareness. He has a long way to go.

Denver Broncos (3-8) – Previously: 29.
I can’t believe I bet on Brandon Allen against the Bills. What a dumb thing to do. Allen was so incompetent that he made the red-hot Courtland Sutton and Phillip Lindsay struggle. Thankfully, Denver fans should be able to see how terrible Drew Lock is to close out the season.

New York Giants (2-9) – Previously: 27.
I now have the Giants selecting Ohio State defensive end Chase Young in my 2020 NFL Mock Draft. The Giants’ defense has been utter trash this year and needs plenty of help at edge rusher and defensive back.

If that paragraph looks familiar, it’s because I wrote it last week. New York’s defense was so utterly helpless against Mitchell Trubisky that I thought it would be best to remind Giant fans of the pleasant times to come.

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-7) – Previously: 22.
Hey guys, do you think the Jaguars may have overspent a bit on Nick Foles? I’m beginning to think he may not be worth the $600 million, or however much absurd money they gave him this past offseason.

Atlanta Falcons (3-8) – Previously: 12.
So much for the Falcons being the best team in the NFL right now in the wake of their blowout victories against the Saints and Panthers. What the hell was that on Sunday, by the way? How can a team go from demolishing the Saints and Panthers to getting blown out by the Buccaneers at home? I think I have the toughest job in America, trying to handicap this nonsense.

Chicago Bears (5-6) – Previously: 26.
Don’t look now, but the Bears might just make the playoffs. It’s true. They battle the terrible Jeff Driskel on Thanksgiving, and if they win that game, they’ll be 6-6. They’ll have a great chance make a run, given that they’ll be playing the Cowboys, Packers, uhh, Chiefs, umm… uhh… Vikings… never mind.

Cleveland Browns (5-6) – Previously: 25.
The Browns are starting to meet the expectations everyone had for them entering the season. All it took was battling Mason Rudolph and the worst team in NFL history at home. What a turn-around!

San Angeles Chargers (4-7) – Previously: 23.
I think Tua Tagovailoa is a logical fit for the Chargers, so I mocked him to them in the 2020 NFL Mock Draft. Tagovailoa won’t be ready until 2021, so it would make sense for him to sit behind Philip Rivers for a year and learn from a future Hall of Famer.

Arizona Cardinals (3-7-1) – Previously: 20.
The Cardinals have a poor record, but they’ve been so close to winning several games this year. They tied the Lions in Week 1, then played closely to the Ravens in Baltimore. They lost by four in Tampa, and they lost by a combined seven points in two matchups versus San Francisco if that spread-pushing lateral play is excluded. With better luck, the Cardinals would be 6-5 or 7-4 right now, which bodes well for them in 2020.

Los Angeles Rams (6-5) – Previously: 18.
The Rams are stuck with the horrible Jared Goff and Todd Gurley contracts, and now they’ll need to give tons of money to Jalen Ramsey. With all of that money going to three places, how will they afford much-needed upgrades to the offensive line?

Tennessee Titans (6-5) – Previously: 21.
By the way, I had a dream for some reason that the Titans gave Ryan Tannehill the richest contract in NFL history. I’m guessing this is unlikely to happen.

I wrote this last week, and I’m beginning to wonder if I might be a seer. During the Titans-Jaguars game, color analyst Dan Fouts shouted, “What’s not to like!?” regarding Tannehill. Oh boy…

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7) – Previously: 17.
I’ve been discussing how the Buccaneers are locked into bringing back Jameis Winston for another year. I think the victory over Atlanta all but guarantees it. Winston had a good game overall, while the 2020 NFL Draft quarterbacking group is suddenly looking rather lackluster, thanks to Tua Tagovailoa’s injury as well as regression for Justin Herbert and Jake Fromm.

Buffalo Bills (8-3) – Previously: 19.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Bills are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Oakland Raiders (6-5) – Previously: 16.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the Raiders are an underrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) – Previously: 15.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the Steelers are an underrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Philadelphia Eagles (5-6) – Previously: 9.
It was very tilting to see that Alshon Jeffery was ruled out Sunday morning when a previous report said he’d play. I would’ve put the Jets into the Supercontest instead of the Eagles, so that late injury could end up costing me $600,000 in the Gold. No big deal!

At any rate, I had the Eagles as underrated entering Week 12, but they have way too many injuries to keep holding that distinction.

New York Jets (4-7) – Previously: 24.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the Jets are an underrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Houston Texans (7-4) – Previously: 14.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Texans are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Carolina Panthers (5-6) – Previously: 13.
Reports have surfaced that new owner David Tepper is going to evaluate Ron Rivera this offseason because he doesn’t want “mediocrity.” I don’t know about you, but getting the Panthers to playoff contention with a backup quarterback is better than mediocre. If Tepper is going to meddle like this, he might quickly establish himself as one of the worst owners in the NFL. Perhaps the fans can petition to bring back Jerry Richardson, despite his tendency to stare at female employees’ butts.

Indianapolis Colts (6-5) – Previously: 11.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the Colts are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Seattle Seahawks (9-2) – Previously: 10.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Seahawks are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Minnesota Vikings (8-3) – Previously: 8.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Vikings are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Green Bay Packers (8-3) – Previously: 6.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Packers are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Dallas Cowboys (6-5) – Previously: 5.
I’d love the Cowboys’ chances of making a deep run into the playoffs – assuming La’el Collins and DeMarcus Lawrence are healthy – but I can’t trust Jason Garrett. He’s one of the worst head coaches in the NFL, and whoever’s holding the clipboard on the other side of the field in the postseason is going to coach circles around him.

I wrote this last week, and lo and behold, Garrett didn’t have his players prepared for the poor weather environment in Foxboro. It’s almost as if the Cowboy players didn’t even know what rain was. Garrett is the absolute worst. If the Cowboys even had mediocre coaching, they’d have the division locked up by now.

Kansas City Chiefs (7-4) – Previously: 7.
Kansas City’s offense will get back on track when Tyreek Hill returns from his hamstring injury – and he has the bye week to get healthy – but the defense is so bad. If Philip Rivers wasn’t so careless with the football, the Chargers would’ve defeated them in Mexico. That said, the Chiefs have some play-makers on the defensive side of the ball, so they’ll have a chance to beat anyone if they can collect enough turnovers.

New Orleans Saints (9-2) – Previously: 3.
There may have been a riot in New Orleans if the Saints lost a game because of a pass interference replay. Luckily for them, they were able to overcome that and win because Joey Slye whiffed on a field goal.

That said, I’m dropping the Saints a bit because Terron Armstead was carted off the field. New Orleans’ offense is not the same without Armstead, one of the top tackles in the NFL.

San Francisco 49ers (10-1) – Previously: 4.
I almost forgot how much better the 49ers are offensively with George Kittle and defensively with Ahkello Witherspoon. Kittle made a number of big plays, while Witherspoon and the rest of the defense limited Aaron Rodgers to just 104 yards – and that was without Dee Ford!

New England Patriots (10-1) – Previously: 2.
The Patriots haven’t performed well offensively the past two weeks, but they’ve been caught in rainy and/or windy conditions and have endured some injuries at receiver. Also, don’t forget that Tom Brady may not have been 100 percent against Dallas. As I’ve been saying for weeks, I have to imagine that the Patriots will figure something out entering the playoffs. Remember that they lost at Tennessee and Miami last year, and yet went on to win the Super Bowl.

Baltimore Ravens (9-2) – Previously: 1.
I’m sure glad I got red pilled – or purple pilled, rather – about Lamar Jackson and the Ravens following the disastrous November NFL Pick of the Month loss. Had I not taken the pill, I may have foolishly selected the Rams on Monday night and cried in agony as Jackson threw for five touchdowns in three quarters of action.