NFL Power Rankings Week 10: The Halfway Point
By Evan Chronis | November 10, 2020 | Super Bowl
The midpoint of the season is here.
This season has provided several twists and turns through nine weeks, but the obvious contenders have proven themselves so far.
But only half of the story of this regular season has been told so far and we have a lot of ground left to cover.
Here are the Power Rankings for Week 10 of the 2020-21 NFL season.
WEEK 10 POWER RANKINGS
1. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (8-0)
LAST WEEK RANKING: 1
WEEK 10: VS. CINCINNATI BENGALS (2-5-1)
No one could have predicted this “Comeback Player of the Year” run from Ben Roethlisberger.
With 306 passing yards and three touchdowns, ‘Big Ben’ kept the Steelers as the lone undefeated team in the league with a 24-19 victory over the fledgling Dallas Cowboys.
Midway through the season the Steelers are in prime position for a first-round bye in the playoffs, but the back half of their schedule could lead to some trip up. While on paper the matchups with the Bengals, Jaguars and Washington don’t instill fear, it’s more about keeping the soaring Chiefs and Ravens off their tails as they push for an AFC North title and postseason bye.
2. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (8-1)
LAST WEEK RANKING: 2
WEEK 10: BYE
It’s at this point in the season when you realize that the overall statistics you are seeing are consistent rather than a fluke.
Two stats that pop off the page through nine games for the Chiefs are both from Patrick Mahomes — the reigning Super Bowl MVP has thrown for 25 touchdowns and only one interception this season.
Mahomes is on pace for over 44 touchdowns this year, which would be a return to form after only throwing 26 last season, a year in which he missed two games to injury. He’s not on pace to crack the 50 that he tossed during the 2018 season, but Mahomes is heating up as the Chiefs keep rolling.
3. BALTIMORE RAVENS (6-2)
LAST WEEK RANKING: 5
WEEK 10: @ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-5)
Resilient teams often find success.
After a rough week that included losing All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley for the season due to injury and cornerback Marlon Humphrey testing positive for COVID-19, the Ravens were lacking coming into their meeting with the surging Colts.
But Baltimore handled the adversity well and defeated the Colts, 24-10, to stay undefeated on the road this season.
The Ravens find themselves in the interesting spot of being one of the top contenders in the AFC while still feeling like an outsider from the top after losing to the Chiefs and Steelers, the only teams above them in the conference, this year.
There’s still another half of the season to play, but Baltimore will need to push harder if they hope to secure a postseason bye for the second consecutive year.
4. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (6-2)
LAST WEEK RANKING: NR
WEEK 10: VS. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-5)
Nobody saw the Saints performance against the Buccaneers coming on Sunday.
In arguably the most dominant performance we’ve seen this season, New Orleans routed Tampa Bay, 38-3, to take a half-game lead in the NFC South.
Tom Brady had no answers for the swarming Saints defense, throwing three interceptions and posting a 3.8 QBR, per ESPN.
The final score doesn’t expose how bad the night could have gotten for Tampa Bay, as the Saints lead 31-0 going into halftime. The foot was taken off the gas in the final two quarters, sparing whatever life the Buccaneers had left.
The Saints began the season a mediocre 1-2, but have rattled off five consecutive victories to once again be the favorite in the NFC South.
5. GREEN BAY PACKERS (6-2)
LAST WEEK RANKING: NR
WEEK 10: VS. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-7)
The Packers are back on track in a “Super Bowl or bust” season.
Green Bay got back in the win column on Thursday with a 34-17 victory over the 49ers behind four touchdowns and 305 passing yards from Aaron Rodgers.
At 36, there’s no telling how much longer Rodgers can perform at this level. He could take the route of Brees and Brady by playing into his 40’s, but there is no guarantee that his arm and mobility will last another half-decade.
That’s why the pressure is on Rodgers, and head coach Matt LaFleur, to make it to the 2021 Super Bowl. Add on the fact that the Packers have their quarterback-in-waiting Jordan Love biding his time.
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