Well, THAT was an interesting week of football. Detroit won in impressive fashion over the, at the time, surging Broncos. Buffalo tossed the Cowboys around like a rag doll in a must win situation for the Bills. The Seahawks kept their slim playoff hopes alive by upsetting the suddenly flailing Eagles. Oh, and the 49ers are who we thought they were. Top seeds in both conferences are still up for grabs with only San Francisco appearing to lock in home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. They are only one game up in the standings but hold tiebreakers over Dallas, Detroit and Philadelphia. Let’s get into the top 10.
POWER RANKINGS TOP 10
1. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (11-3). They look to be getting playoff ready. Brock Purdy is balling. CMC is CMC. The feeling here is that they are the team to beat in NFC and if they secure the top seed, that just may be all they need to get to Super Bowl. The defense allows the 2nd fewest points per game at only 16.7.
2. BALTIMORE RAVENS (11-3). More and more I feel like they are coming out of AFC. The defense allows the least number of points per game. Lamar Jackson is shredding other teams. They seem to be one of the more complete teams in the league. Super Bowl rematch with 49ers ahead?
3. MIAMI DOLPHINS (10-4). They were missing Tyreek Hill and still managed to put up points against a good Jets secondary. Tua is playing well, and they are keeping him upright. They boast the best offense in the NFL and maybe the fastest. The question I have, is can they take that show into a cold or wet climate.
4. DALLAS COWBOYS (10-4). They played uninspired and unprepared football and got blasted by the Bills. They kept the “can’t win on the road against good teams” narrative going strong. They are still a very good team but not as elite as people want to say.
5. DETROIT LIONS (10-4). Good bounce back game against the Broncos. They were crisp and efficient on offense and the defense was able to get stops. They will start to get players back off injury in the coming weeks that should bolster the defense. The 2 seed is in sight if they win out and get help.
6. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (10-4). They have now lost 3 in a row. The QB is questioning the commitment of the team. They aren’t getting the same breaks they were getting in close victories earlier in the season. It’s gut check time in Philadelphia. They still control their destiny to win the NFC East.
7. BUFFALO BILLS (8-6). What a gameplan by the Bills coaching staff! When your QB throws for less than a 100 yards and only attempts 15 passes and you win by 21? They may not make the playoffs, but I can guarantee you that nobody wants to play them if they do.
8. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (9-5). The Chiefs have to love the emergence of Rashee Rice, if he can be more consistent, that will help the entire offense. Defensively they are getting to the QB at a higher rate than anyone in the league.
9. CLEVELAND BROWNS (9-5). It’s the Joe Flacco show in Cleveland. What a revival so far. That comeback win against the Bears was fun. The defense got itself together just in time and Flacco and the offense pulled through. Are they better with Flacco over Watson?
10. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (8-6). Tough game against arguably the best team in football. How they bounce back will tell us a lot about their team. Still lead their division by tiebreakers. Need to win out to clinch.
IF DRAFT WAS TODAY, TOP 5 PICKS
1. CHICAGO BEARS via CAROLINA PANTHERS: This is such an interesting position to be in. Do you trade your young QB and draft another? Do you keep him and start building around him with currently two top five picks? Do you trade the first pick to a QB desperate team for a haul of draft picks? I lean toward keeping Fields and trading the top pick, depending on what I can get back.
2. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: Barring any craziness, I’d assume a QB is drafted here. Which one would depend on what happens at 1 but this would be the safest bet ever. Which probably means I’m wrong.
3. ARIZONA CARDINALS: Another interesting spot. What to do with Kyler Murray? Keeping? Trading? Would they be interested in trading up to 1? They need playmakers on offense and defense.
4. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: They need help up front on the offensive line. Sam Howell has been sacked a league high 59 times. They can’t afford to ignore that. If they don’t draft there? Maybe another edge rusher? Secondary help?
5. CHICAGO BEARS: If they trade away the first pick, I’d imagine this would be a spot for an offensive tackle or maybe even a playmaking tight end. Everything will be dependent upon that first pick.
27. DETROIT LIONS: With Brad Holmes, they could very well be trading out of this spot. Needs? Defense, defense and more defense. Depth at offensive line. Oh, and some defensive help would be nice. Edge rusher, linebacker especially.
GAMES TO WATCH THIS WEEK: NFC EDITION
NEW ORLEANS at LOS ANGELES RAMS: Both teams are 7-7 and scrapping to get into the playoffs. Stafford and the Rams have been cooking on offense and the Saints have been scuffling as of late. PICK: RAMS
DETROIT LIONS at MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Detroit wins the division with a victory. Pretty simple, right? There’s a saying out there that applies to this game, “don’t play with your food”. This is a business trip. Go handle your business. PICK: LIONS
DALLAS COWBOYS at MIAMI DOLPHINS: Huge game for both teams. Dallas trying to win the NFC East. Miami trying to clinch the AFC East. Cowboys coming off a bad beating and Miami off a win without its best player. PICK: COWBOYS
NEW YORK GIANTS at PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: For the sake of drama, I included this one. The Eagles should handle the Giants, but that rivalry goes back, and strange thing tend to happen. Eagles to snap a losing streak and take a step closer to winning NFC East. PICK: EAGLES
BALTIMORE RAVENS at SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: Biggest game of the week. Super Bowl rematch/preview? Can Lamar handle the 49ers defense? Can Purdy stay hot? So many story lines to follow. PICK: RAVENS
