NFL Power Rankings Week 11: Playoffs In Sight
By Evan Chronis | November 18, 2020 | Super Bowl
As we enter the back half of the 2020-21 NFL season, the playoff race has officially started.
Most teams are technically in contention, but the top of the pack is aiming to separate itself from the rest.
A whopping nine teams in the AFC have six wins through 10 weeks, ensuring that nobody is safe yet — not even the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers.
Here are the Power Rankings for Week 11 of the 2020-21 NFL season.
WEEK 11 POWER RANKINGS
1. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (9-0)
LAST WEEK RANKING: 1
WEEK 11: A JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-8)
What more is there to say about the unbeaten Steelers?
While their strength of schedule isn’t formidable, you can’t knock the Steelers for besting every opponent that has been put in front of them.
Their streak extended Sunday with a 36-10 clobbering of the struggling Bengals.
Ben Roethlisberger continued his quiet MVP campaign with four touchdowns and 333 yards on 27-for-46 passing. ‘Big Ben’ spread the wealth in the win, hitting Diontae Johnson, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Chase Claypool all for over 50 receiving yards.
2. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (8-1)
LAST WEEK RANKING: 2
WEEK 11: @ LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (6-3)
The Chiefs had Week 10 off, but Pittsburgh’s win means Kansas City are still one game behind the conference leaders.
The fight for the top spot in the AFC is far from over, but the Ravens loss to the Patriots on Sunday night means it may be a two-horse race between Kansas City and Pittsburgh for the postseason bye.
One ripple effect of the Ravens defeat is that if the playoffs started today, the No.2 seeded Chiefs would face No.7 seeded Baltimore in the Wild Card Round.
3. GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-2)
LAST WEEK RANKING: 5
WEEK 11: @ INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (6-3)
While Ben Roethlisberger is entering the MVP race, Aaron Rodgers has been in contention all season.
After the Packers drafted Jordan Love in this year’s NFL Draft, Rodgers’ future with the franchise was put on notice. If he dipped in performance, would the team move on from their former MVP and Super Bowl winner?
Rodgers took it as a challenge and has passed the test through nine games, throwing for 26 touchdowns and 2,578 yards while only throwing three interceptions.
Green Bay is currently tied atop the NFC with the Saints and have a relatively light schedule through the rest of the regular season, making it likely that they’ll secure a top seed come postseason time.
4. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (7-2)
LAST WEEK RANKING: 4
WEEK 11: VS. ATLANTA FALCONS (3-6)
The Saints would likely be in the No.3 spot this week had it not been for a rib injury Drew Brees has suffered.
On Monday, it was reported that Brees has fractured three left ribs and two right ribs along with a collapsed lung.
In Brees’ place will be Jameis Winston, the former Tampa Bay starter who has thrown only 11 passes this season. Winston will be looking for a shot at redemption while Brees recovers after becoming the first player in NFL history to enter the 30-30 club, throwing for 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions during the 2019 season.
Brees’ timetable is uncertain at this point, but the quarterback has said he’s optimistic that his injury won’t keep him off the field for long.
5. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (7-3)
LAST WEEK RANKING: NR
WEEK 11: VS. LOS ANGELES RAMS (6-3)
And just like that, the Bucs are back in the Power Rankings.
After an embarrassing defeat to the Saints two weeks ago, Tampa Bay bounced back on Sunday with a 46-23 thrashing of the Carolina Panthers.
Tom Brady rebounded from his clunker against New Orleans with 341 passing yards and three touchdowns against Carolina. Brady spread the love to his arsenal of targets, but most important was getting Antonio Brown involved in the new offense. Brown finished the game with seven receptions and 69 receiving yards.
The Bucs have yet to find consistent momentum this season, but they could steady the ships as they continue their postseason push.
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