Here’s what I want anyone reading this to do: remember this moment, heading into week 12, and next season when it’s week 4 and someone is telling you how one team is finished or another is destined for a title run, tell ’em to shove it.
Clickbait is Still the Worst
You can’t possibly look at the rankings right now and say anyone knew before right now how things would turn out. It’s fun to guess and play general manager in a hypothetical world. Anyone who tells you they know is selling you snake oil. All they actually know is that being obnoxious gets clicks.
I know I talk about clickbait a lot, and forgive my occasional soapbox, but I hope you can understand how frustrating it can be to pour my heart into writing about a sport I love and doing it right, only to be overrun by “writers” whose number one skill is writing “YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENS” headlines.
The Wild, Wild West… and North, and South, and some of the East
Why does this all matter? Because the Cardinals are leading the NFC West, the Steelers are 4-0 with Russell Wilson leading the offense and are leading the AFC North, the Colts are in striking distance in the AFC South, and at the very least are only a game out of a playoff spot. The Commanders are in a good position to reach the playoffs. You guys, THE PANTHERS are still hanging on.
Since Andy Dalton slammed his thumb in a car door and Bryce Young took back over, the Panthers are 2-0. Much of that was carried by RB Chuba Hubbard, now 4th in the NFL in rushing yards.
The three above him are Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, and Josh Jacobs, ages 30, 27, and 26, and all on a different team than the one that drafted them. The Year of the 29 Year Old Running Back™ carries on, led by two backs who combine to average 5.9 yards per carry and 28.5 years of age.
Tell your friends, and follow me into this madness where multiple times every Sunday, we utter that sacred phrase… the hell going on? As always, may all your teams win or your coaches feel Bill Belichick breathing over their shoulder.
1. Detroit Lions (9-1)
Several things happened this week that led to this, but I think it’s only fair to note I was on the edge of moving the Lions to the top no matter what happened in the Chiefs game. Frankly, the Chiefs just made the decision easier.
Over on Threads, where you should follow me, I came across a post from Stephen King where he said “NFL this year seems curiously blah.” And I was like, he just tee’d me up for the perfect response of “they need better writers.” Because Stephen King, get it? My other jokes are better, I swear. My point is, I actually ended up just saying I was going to post that response but knew it would get buried by Lions fans. Literally every response to him was someone saying some version of “have you seen the Lions?”
All of that happened last Thursday, before they went and dismantled the Jags 52-6, and shortly after they beat the Texans despite Jared Goff throwing 5 interceptions.
Short interlude to talk some more about the state of NFL media. During that Lions-Texans game, someone on X said something about how Goff had thrown 4 or more interceptions in 6 previous games, and in those games he was 6-0. When the Lions came back to win it, those who didn’t spend the literal 30 seconds it would take to head over to Stathead and verify that Goff had only thrown at least 4 interceptions once before, in 2018 with the Rams, and they lost. But the kind of people who go around saying things like “do your own research” latched on and told all their friends Goff was now 7-0 in those games.
The original poster later said he completely made it up while lying in bed, and that it was really sad to see how easily people just believe anything they read on the internet. One of those people was Aaron Rodgers, who repeated the lie on The Pat McAfee Show, which was met by McAfee’s crew with a “oh yeah, that’s totally true!” McAfee’s social media account later issued a correction.
Here’s the lesson: When you read something on the internet that sounds fishy, give it the smell test. If it doesn’t pass, go verify. The moment someone said Jared Goff had thrown 4 or more interceptions in a game 6 times before, I was immediately skeptical, cause even in the rougher years, Goff has never been that reckless.
2. Buffalo Bills (9-2)
The best thing to come out of the Bills win over the Chiefs was Josh Allen‘s interview after the game where he said, and genuinely seemed to believe, that this win meant very little. Allen is well aware that in two of the past three seasons, the Bills beat the Chiefs in the regular season only to lose to them in the playoffs.
Remember when Josh Allen’s “Super Bowl Window” was supposed to be closing, if not already closed? Seems like the Bills are in a pretty good place now, a place where they’re developing Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, and Dalton Kincaid into a set of targets Allen never had when Stefon Diggs was his main and only target. It’s also worth noting they didn’t have Coleman or Kincaid for Sunday’s win.
Most importantly for the Bills, they look ready to bring back Matt Milano after their bye this week. That kind of addition can take their defense to the next level. Just like Roquan Smith is the quarterback of the Ravens defense, Milano has long been the quarterback of the Bills defense, and they’ve missed him something fierce over the past two seasons as he’s dealt with multiple injuries.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1)
There’s a lot of concern about the Chiefs right now, and I think some of it’s warranted.
I posed the question after the game if the 2024 Chiefs are the 2023 Eagles, who started last season 10-1. But everyone watching was suspicious of them, much like they have been the Chiefs this season, despite just now losing their first game.
And yet, they always seem to find a way. The problem is that I think they’ve played some of these teams so many times, and the Bills are starting to figure them out. The Ravens aren’t far. I would bet the Steelers and maybe Chargers would give them a run.
Even after bringing in DeAndre Hopkins, they’ve lost so many WRs. Besides Rashee Rice, they also have Hollywood Brown and Skyy Moore in IR. Jared Wiley, their 4th round pick whom many thought would be groomed as Travis Kelce’s successor… IR.
But Chris Jones is still healthy, and I’ll never count out the Chiefs as long as Patrick Mahomes and Chris Jones are playing.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2)
Can we start talking about the Eagles now? Cause this isn’t the team that started 10-1 and disappeared down the stretch last season. They actually disappeared so well, it seems to have carried over.
This is largely the same team that was a drive away from a Super Bowl win, minus Jason Kelce, plus Saquon Barkley.
If I had to pick one NFC team to take out the Lions in the playoffs, right now it would be Philly, and it’s not even close.
5. Baltimore Ravens (7-4)
I don’t just feel bad for Ravens fans; I feel bad for me.
This is the best overall team I’ve seen anyone put in the field this season. They haven’t had to deal much with injuries. They have the most dynamic QB-RB combo we may have ever seen… and they put up 16 points. And part of that is because if missed kicks from potentially the greatest kicker in NFL history.
What is happening? I’ve made excuses for the Ravens for so long. I don’t think they get them this year. This is a Super Bowl team that needs to play like it.
6. Minnesota Vikings (8-2)
3-2 Sam Darnold is not 5-0 Sam Darnold. Now I’m actually wondering if a big enough stumble could send Aaron Rodgers their way next year.
Even with wins over the past three weeks, they haven’t solidly beaten a good team since the Texans in week 3.
And now T.J. Hockenson is back and the Hockenson Effect is ramping up. Against Jacksonville, Hockenson had 8 catches for 72 yards, while Justin Jefferson had 5 catches for 48 yards… and they scored 12 points.
Now talk is they’ll be increasing Hockenson’s workload. Cause obviously the solution to a stagnant offense is more 8 yard passes to the tight end.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2)
*Note: Ranking was before the Thursday night game*
It’s hard to really justify this after watching them lose to the Browns right after they beat the Ravens. I don’t get it. Do the Browns just have everyone’s number in the division?
8. Washington Commanders (7-4)
Is Jayden Daniels hurt, or are teams figuring him out? I want to believe it’s the former, but with Kliff Kingsbury calling offense, it’s hard not to consider the latter.
9. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)
There has to be a stat somewhere of how much a team’s record changes with a new coach, Jim Harbaugh has to be at or near the top of the list.
The 2010 49ers were 6-10, Harbaugh took over, and they went 13-3 in his first season. That’s +7. The 2023 Chargers were 5-12, Harbaugh took over, and so far they’re 7-3. If they lose literally every game the rest of the season, he’s still +2 in his inaugural year with the Bolts.
And now Justin Herbert is throwing. The Chargers are contenders. Super Bowl contenders.
10. Green Bay Packers (7-3)
