Draft season is almost here.  With college football wrapping up its regular-season action and the...

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2026 NFL Mock Draft: Way-too-early projections for 1st round

NFL Power Rankings takes stock of all 32 teams throughout the season.  Jump to: ARI | ATL | BAL |...

<p><em>NFL Power Rankings takes stock of all 32 teams throughout the season.</em></p><p><strong>Jump to:</strong><br><a href="#ARI">ARI</a> | <a href="#ATL">ATL</a> | <a href="#BAL">BAL</a> | <a href="#BUF">BUF</a> | <a href="#CAR">CAR</a> | <a href="#CHI">CHI</a> | <a href="#CIN">CIN</a> | <a href="#CLE">CLE</a> | <a href="#DAL">DAL</a> | <a href="#DEN">DEN</a> | <a href="#DET">DET</a> | <a href="#GB">GB</a> | <a href="#HOU">HOU</a> | <a href="#IND">IND</a> | <a href="#JAX">JAX</a> | <a href="#KC">KC</a> | <a href="#LAC">LAC</a> | <a href="#LAR">LAR</a> | <a href="#LV">LV</a> | <a href="#MIA">MIA</a> | <a href="#MIN">MIN</a> | <a href="#NE">NE</a> | <a href="#NO">NO</a> | <a href="#NYG">NYG</a> | <a href="#NYJ">NYJ</a> | <a href="#PHI">PHI</a> | <a href="#PIT">PIT</a> | <a href="#SEA">SEA</a> | <a href="#SF">SF</a> | <a href="#TB">TB</a> | <a href="#TEN">TEN</a> | <a href="#WAS">WAS</a></p><h3><a id="LAR" name="LAR">1. Los Angeles Rams (9-3)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812053/cropped_GettyImages-2249210476.jpg?ts=1764544396" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812053/w220xh124_GettyImages-2249210476.jpg?ts=1764544396 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812053/w320xh180_GettyImages-2249210476.jpg?ts=1764544396 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812053/w640xh360_GettyImages-2249210476.jpg?ts=1764544396 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812053/w768xh432_GettyImages-2249210476.jpg?ts=1764544396 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812053/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2249210476.jpg?ts=1764544396 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Grant Halverson / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 1</em></p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Rams falling to the Panthers is a rough look, but I'm not going to overreact here. One disappointing result does little to change the fact that this has been the best team in football through the first three months of the season.</p><h3><a id="SEA" name="SEA">2. Seattle Seahawks (9-3)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 2</em></p><p>It's a shame that either the Rams or Seahawks will have to settle for a wild-card spot and a road game in the first round of the playoffs. The division rivals currently stand alone in a tier atop the NFC.</p><h3><a id="GB" name="GB">3. Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 9</em></p><p>Am I being swayed a little too much by the Thanksgiving Day win over the Lions? Maybe. But it really feels like this was the week something started to click for the Packers' offense. Green Bay is going to be tough to beat if the downfield passing game is here to stay.</p><h3><a id="NE" name="NE">4. New England Patriots (11-2)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 6</em></p><p>The Patriots haven't faced the most difficult schedule, but they've now won 10 straight. This team seems to only get better every single week, and Drake Maye's MVP-caliber season gives New England the edge over the next team on this list.</p><h3><a id="DEN" name="DEN">5. Denver Broncos (10-2)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812201/cropped_GettyImages-2249274286.jpg?ts=1764649992" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812201/w220xh124_GettyImages-2249274286.jpg?ts=1764649992 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812201/w320xh180_GettyImages-2249274286.jpg?ts=1764649992 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812201/w640xh360_GettyImages-2249274286.jpg?ts=1764649992 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812201/w768xh432_GettyImages-2249274286.jpg?ts=1764649992 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812201/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2249274286.jpg?ts=1764649992 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Timothy Hurst / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 7</em></p><p>The Broncos' offense remains an adventure, and a lack of run game isn't going to help Bo Nix's chances of establishing any sort of consistency. Needing overtime to beat the Commanders is slightly concerning, but you have to respect the overall body of work at a time when so many would-be contenders are scuffling.</p><h3><a id="CHI" name="CHI">6. Chicago Bears (9-3)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 14</em></p><p>A statement win over the Eagles was exactly the kind of result I was looking for to finally feel comfortable moving the Bears up. I'm still a little unsure about the defense, as Chicago ranks 29th in success rate on that side of the ball. But the turnover production has been steady and Ben Johnson's offense is taking off.</p><h3><a id="HOU" name="HOU">7. Houston Texans (7-5)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 10</em></p><p>The Texans have now won four straight games, the first three of them with Davis Mills under center. C.J. Stroud returned to action Sunday, helping Houston knock off the Colts on the road. A league-average offense might be all the Texans need to compete thanks to the best defense in football.</p><h3><a id="IND" name="IND">8. Indianapolis Colts (8-4)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 5</em></p><p>I'm not ready to throw in the towel on the Colts just yet. This has still been one of the most steady teams in the league, and they easily could've beaten the Texans if a few bounces (or calls) went the other way. But Daniel Jones battling through a fibula fracture is reason for concern, and now Sauce Gardner appears set to miss time with a calf strain.</p><h3><a id="PHI" name="PHI">9. Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 3</em></p><p>The offense is no longer the only thing getting in the way of Philly's title defense. Friday's loss to the Bears also raised some red flags on the other side of the ball, as the Eagles got pushed around to the tune of 281 rushing yards. Their spot atop the NFC East suddenly doesn't feel so comfortable with the red-hot Cowboys closing in.</p><h3><a id="DET" name="DET">10. Detroit Lions (7-5)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811679/cropped_GettyImages-2235635033.jpg?ts=1764650078" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811679/w220xh124_GettyImages-2235635033.jpg?ts=1764650078 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811679/w320xh180_GettyImages-2235635033.jpg?ts=1764650078 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811679/w640xh360_GettyImages-2235635033.jpg?ts=1764650078 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811679/w768xh432_GettyImages-2235635033.jpg?ts=1764650078 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811679/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2235635033.jpg?ts=1764650078 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Gregory Shamus / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 4</em></p><p>I still believe that the Lions are firmly within the group of NFC teams that could conceivably go on a deep run into the playoffs. But the offensive line has been struggling, the passing game was already missing Sam LaPorta, and now Amon-Ra St. Brown is dealing with an ankle injury.</p><h3><a id="BUF" name="BUF">11. Buffalo Bills (8-4)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 11</em></p><p>The Bills making easy work of the Steelers despite a beat-up offensive line is a promising sign. I need to see a lot more from the passing game before they climb back up this list, though. Josh Allen's 1.7 air yards per attempt against Pittsburgh is the lowest mark of any quarterback in a game this season.</p><h3><a id="SF" name="SF">12. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 12</em></p><p>It's pretty astonishing that the 49ers have overcome so many injuries to be sitting where they are heading into December. That being said, there's reason to believe they'll be in tough against more capable competition. The defense has really struggled without Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, ranking 30th in success rate since Week 7.</p><h3><a id="DAL" name="DAL">13. Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 15</em></p><p>The Cowboys might be the hottest team in football. They've now won three straight since the trade deadline, the last two against last year's Super Bowl teams. Keeping it rolling against the Lions this week could bump Dallas into the top 10.</p><h3><a id="JAX" name="JAX">14. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 16</em></p><p>Jakobi Meyers has been an important addition to the receiving corps, leading the Jaguars with 240 yards since the deadline deal. And with Brian Thomas Jr. and Brenton Strange now back in the mix after missing time with injury, the passing game has a real chance to improve down the stretch.</p><h3><a id="LAC" name="LAC">15. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812070/cropped_GettyImages-2248689213.jpg?ts=1764650124" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812070/w220xh124_GettyImages-2248689213.jpg?ts=1764650124 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812070/w320xh180_GettyImages-2248689213.jpg?ts=1764650124 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812070/w640xh360_GettyImages-2248689213.jpg?ts=1764650124 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812070/w768xh432_GettyImages-2248689213.jpg?ts=1764650124 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812070/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2248689213.jpg?ts=1764650124 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">MediaNews Group / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 17</em></p><p>The Chargers have the quarterback, the playmakers, the defense, and the coaching to go on a playoff run. The offensive line has been decimated by injuries, though, and a tough finish to the schedule could expose that problem area in a big way.</p><h3><a id="BAL" name="BAL">16. Baltimore Ravens (6-6)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 13</em></p><p>Thursday's game against the Bengals should've been the ultimate get-right spot for the Ravens' offense. Instead, we're left wondering whether that unit is going to click at all this season.</p><h3><a id="KC" name="KC">17. Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 8</em></p><p>The Chiefs have no more room for error. They're probably still more dangerous than their record suggests, but it's not like they haven't deserved the results we've seen thus far. The offense is broken in more ways than one. Suddenly finding enough fixes to run the table would be this team's most miraculous achievement yet.</p><h3><a id="CAR" name="CAR">18. Carolina Panthers (7-6)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 20</em></p><p>This might seem like too low of a ranking for the Panthers after a massive upset over the Rams. Then again, considering some of their other results this season, maybe it's too high. Can the big win finally help Carolina find some consistency for the stretch run?</p><h3><a id="TB" name="TB">19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 19</em></p><p>The Bucs were in free-fall after a brutal midseason stretch, but it may only be up from here. The offense is finally getting healthy, and a favorable finishing schedule gives them a chance to go on a bit of a run to lock up a playoff spot.</p><h3><a id="CIN" name="CIN">20. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811762/cropped_GettyImages-2248811272.jpg?ts=1764650153" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811762/w220xh124_GettyImages-2248811272.jpg?ts=1764650153 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811762/w320xh180_GettyImages-2248811272.jpg?ts=1764650153 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811762/w640xh360_GettyImages-2248811272.jpg?ts=1764650153 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811762/w768xh432_GettyImages-2248811272.jpg?ts=1764650153 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811762/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2248811272.jpg?ts=1764650153 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Patrick Smith / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 23</em></p><p>Joe Burrow's return has given the Bengals life. Beating the Ravens on Thanksgiving night and the Steelers' loss Sunday put Cincinnati just two games back of the AFC North lead. Can the defense do enough to support Burrow in pursuit of a storybook finish to the regular season?</p><h3><a id="PIT" name="PIT">21. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 18</em></p><p>The Steelers are a mess. Not only was Sunday's loss to the Bills a dreadful offensive performance, but Pittsburgh's big-money defense was somehow unable to exploit a Buffalo offensive line playing without its starting tackles. Big changes have to be on the table this offseason.</p><h3><a id="MIA" name="MIA">22. Miami Dolphins (5-7)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 25</em></p><p>Miami would need a miracle to make the playoffs at this point, but the team deserves a lot of credit for continuing to fight in what immediately seemed like a disaster season. Does the sustained effort give Mike McDaniel a chance to save his job?</p><h3><a id="ARI" name="ARI">23. Arizona Cardinals (3-9)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 24</em></p><p>The Cardinals jumped out to a 2-0 start before going on to lose nine of their next 10 games. It's fair to wonder whether this coaching staff could be on the way out at the end of the season.</p><h3><a id="MIN" name="MIN">24. Minnesota Vikings (4-8)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 21</em></p><p>Quarterback play continues to sabotage any plans Minnesota had to compete this season. Rookie Max Brosmer fared even worse than J.J. McCarthy in Sunday's spot start, serving up four interceptions as the Vikings were shut out for the first time since 2007.</p><h3><a id="ATL" name="ATL">25. Atlanta Falcons (4-8)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812202/cropped_GettyImages-2249234348.jpg?ts=1764650229" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812202/w220xh124_GettyImages-2249234348.jpg?ts=1764650229 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812202/w320xh180_GettyImages-2249234348.jpg?ts=1764650229 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812202/w640xh360_GettyImages-2249234348.jpg?ts=1764650229 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812202/w768xh432_GettyImages-2249234348.jpg?ts=1764650229 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812202/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2249234348.jpg?ts=1764650229 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Elsa / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 22</em></p><p>The Falcons' season was already a major disappointment. And then they lost to the Jets. Injuries aside, the new low really drives home how far this team still has to go. That kind of reality check after posting an 8-9 record in Year 1 could put Raheem Morris on the hot seat.</p><h3><a id="WAS" name="WAS">26. Washington Commanders (3-9)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 28</em></p><p>The Commanders gave the Broncos a scare before ultimately coming up short in overtime Sunday night. A loss being one of the more exciting games of Washington's season really encapsulates the disappointment coming off an NFC title game appearance.</p><h3><a id="CLE" name="CLE">27. Cleveland Browns (3-9)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 27</em></p><p>With Myles Garrett closing in on the single-season sack record, and Shedeur Sanders getting an opportunity to show what he can do down the stretch, it's tough to imagine a more interesting three-win team.</p><h3><a id="NYG" name="NYG">28. New York Giants (2-11)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 26</em></p><p>You'd never know it based on the record, but the Giants' head coaching job could very well be the most coveted vacancy in the league this offseason. And a top pick will give New York another opportunity to add to an already impressive collection of young talent. The future is bright.</p><h3><a id="NYJ" name="NYJ">29. New York Jets (3-9)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 30</em></p><p>Adonai Mitchell might be the No. 2 receiver the Jets have been looking for. The former second-rounder, acquired as part of the Sauce Gardner trade at the deadline, broke out with eight catches for 102 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's win over the Falcons.</p><h3><a id="NO" name="NO">30. New Orleans Saints (2-10)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812203/cropped_GettyImages-2248867920.jpg?ts=1764650331" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812203/w220xh124_GettyImages-2248867920.jpg?ts=1764650331 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812203/w320xh180_GettyImages-2248867920.jpg?ts=1764650331 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812203/w640xh360_GettyImages-2248867920.jpg?ts=1764650331 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812203/w768xh432_GettyImages-2248867920.jpg?ts=1764650331 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812203/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2248867920.jpg?ts=1764650331 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 29</em></p><p>Tyler Shough is quietly showing some promise as he gets an extended look to close out the regular season. Can he do enough to keep the Saints from drafting a quarterback with their top pick in April?</p><h3><a id="LV" name="LV">31. Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 31</em></p><p>Pete Carroll's first season in Las Vegas couldn't be going much worse. Now, the question is whether it'll be his only one. Losing out would finally put the Raiders in position to draft a quarterback, and they'd be wise to pair such a player with a coaching staff that has a long-term vision.</p><h3><a id="TEN" name="TEN">32. Tennessee Titans (1-11)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 32</em></p><p>The Titans have done a horrific job of setting Cam Ward up for success. The rookie quarterback has already been through a coaching change, and he's now taken 48 sacks in 12 games. Tennessee making the right hires and overhauling the league's worst roster will be essential for his early-career development.</p><p><em>Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.</em></p>

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NFL Power Rankings - Week 14: Packers heating up, Chiefs bottom out

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their si...

<p><em>Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.</em></p><h2>Sunday night spotlight</h2><h3>Broncos missing Dobbins</h3><p>Bo Nix was having himself a decent game until the Broncos got to the fourth quarter Sunday night against the Commanders. An inexcusable interception, bizarrely thrown right to Bobby Wagner over the middle of the field, put Washington in position to cut into the lead. Ideally the second-year quarterback would've been able to close things out in that situation instead of needing overtime to beat a three-win team, but it also might help if the Broncos had a run game. That just hasn't been the case since losing J.K. Dobbins to injury. The veteran running back was thriving at the top of Denver's backfield rotation, ranking fourth among all qualified rushers in average rush yards over expected, according to Next Gen Stats. Second-round rookie RJ Harvey has taken over the lead role in his absence, running for just 2.7 yards per carry in each of the last two games. Sean Payton hinted this week that Dobbins could potentially return at some point in the playoffs. That seems like a long shot considering he underwent surgery for a Lisfranc injury, but it's understandable that the Broncos are holding out hope. The passing game has been far too inconsistent to do all the heavy lifting when it comes to complementing a dominant defense.</p><h2>Late-afternoon games</h2><h3>Good week for Bengals</h3><p>The Bengals suddenly have hope. They'll have to be perfect from here, and considering their deficiencies throughout the roster, that's probably going to be too much to ask. But this week's results at least show why they were unwilling to give up on the season when many (including me) had long said it was over. Beating the Ravens in Joe Burrow's return, and then having the Steelers get embarrassed by the Bills on Sunday, leaves Cincinnati just two games back of the AFC North lead. If the Bengals can somehow run the table, starting with a trip to Buffalo next week, it's becoming easy to envision a scenario where they could catch their division rivals. The Ravens have been scuffling on offense, and they have a pretty difficult schedule to close out the season, including the Bengals rematch in Week 15. The Steelers, who have now dropped five of their last seven games, are in real danger of their first losing season since 2003. The Bengals coming all the way back to take the AFC North would be a fitting development to cap off a regular season filled with inexplicable results.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Is this it for Tomlin?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812074/cropped_GettyImages-2249250147.jpg?ts=1764552029" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812074/w220xh124_GettyImages-2249250147.jpg?ts=1764552029 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812074/w320xh180_GettyImages-2249250147.jpg?ts=1764552029 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812074/w640xh360_GettyImages-2249250147.jpg?ts=1764552029 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812074/w768xh432_GettyImages-2249250147.jpg?ts=1764552029 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812074/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2249250147.jpg?ts=1764552029 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Joe Sargent / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The idea of the Steelers moving on from Mike Tomlin has always been a little polarizing. On one hand, you're talking about a coach who didn't post a single losing season across his first 18 years on the job. Your odds of finding an upgrade are pretty slim. On the other, this program has clearly gotten stale. A pathetic effort in Sunday's loss to the Bills, which led to fans chanting "Fire Tomlin" and even booing during the traditional playing of "Renegade" in the fourth quarter, really feels like the unofficial breaking point. Is Tomlin the only one to blame for this extended run of mediocrity? Of course not. But with consistently poor game-management decisions and a lack of creativity on both sides of the ball, this staff isn't doing much to elevate the situation, either. I have no doubt that another team would hire Tomlin if he becomes available. His track record, which includes a Super Bowl title, could even influence another team to pursue a trade. And just like Andy Reid did after leaving Philadelphia, he might find immediate success with a fresh start. But that's no longer a reason for the Steelers to resist a change. This just isn't working anymore. It might be time for both sides to part ways.</p><h3>Jefferson deserves better</h3><p>Quarterback play has to be historically bad for a player like Justin Jefferson to go to waste. Unfortunately for the All-Pro receiver, that's exactly what he's been getting all season long. J.J. McCarthy's struggles have been well-documented - the 2024 first-rounder owns the worst EPA/dropback of any quarterback through six career starts since at least 2000, according to TruMedia. There was some positive buzz about Max Brosmer leading up to his spot start this week, with at least some optimism that the undrafted rookie could provide a temporary upgrade. That's not how it played out. Brosmer was terrorized by the Seahawks' defense throughout the day, completing 19 of 30 passes for just 126 yards and four interceptions while taking four sacks. Brosmer's -0.89 EPA/dropback is substantially worse than any McCarthy output so far this season, and it's the third-worst start from any quarterback in the league this year. Jefferson and the rest of this playoff-ready roster deserve better than to have an entire season go down the drain because of one position group. At the very least, the Vikings will have to add a veteran alongside McCarthy next season to make sure this doesn't happen again.</p><h2>Early kickoffs</h2><h3>Panthers stun Rams</h3><p>I truly have no idea what to make of the Panthers' season. One week, they look like a team that should be picking in the top 10. The next, they're upsetting a legitimate contender. Sunday's win over the Rams is the second time this season (Packers, Week 9) that Carolina has taken down a double-digit favorite. And considering what we've seen from the Cowboys of late, you can probably add that Week 6 win over Dallas to the list of stunners. Much like the rest of this team, Bryce Young's third season has been a wild ride. Every time there's a growing consensus that he may not be the guy, he somehow flips the script with a game like this. Young completing 15 of 20 passes for 206 yards and three scores, two of which came on critical fourth-down plays, stands as the best single-game performance of his career by EPA/dropback, according to TruMedia. The Rams' defense entered this week ranked second by that same metric. Carolina's defense also did its part, forcing three Matthew Stafford turnovers, including his first two interceptions since Week 3. Can the suddenly relevant Panthers, now 7-6 on the season, parlay this result into some semblance of consistency?</p><h3>Texans kick the door open</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812034/cropped_GettyImages-2249227014.jpg?ts=1764544334" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812034/w220xh124_GettyImages-2249227014.jpg?ts=1764544334 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812034/w320xh180_GettyImages-2249227014.jpg?ts=1764544334 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812034/w640xh360_GettyImages-2249227014.jpg?ts=1764544334 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812034/w768xh432_GettyImages-2249227014.jpg?ts=1764544334 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812034/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2249227014.jpg?ts=1764544334 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Dylan Buell / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>I really thought the Texans were cooked. And I'm not sure how anyone could have thought otherwise when C.J. Stroud went down in a Week 9 loss that saw them fall to 3-5 - especially with the Colts racing out to a big lead atop the AFC South. Things change quickly, don't they? Sunday's win over Indy makes it four straight for Houston. Stroud had some nice moments in his first game back after a three-week absence, and this defense continues to dazzle every time out. This week, it held the Colts to a 39.2% success rate on offense, easily their worst output of the season. The Texans are now just one game back of the Colts and Jaguars for the division lead, and they get another shot at Indy at home in Week 18.</p><h3>Colts injuries</h3><p>The Colts are still in decent shape at 8-4, but the outlook isn't looking nearly as good as it was at this time last month. Daniel Jones playing through a fracture in his fibula, as was reported late this week, is undoubtedly going to limit his mobility. While he won't have to play the Texans every week, it's fair to wonder whether he'll be able to avoid any sort of significant drop-off down the stretch. And Sauce Gardner exiting this week's game with a strained calf is another major injury concern looking forward. The star corner, acquired in an incredibly bold move at the deadline, was seen in a walking boot on the sideline. The schedule isn't going to do the Colts any favors down the stretch, either. Indy now goes on the road to play the Jaguars and Seahawks over the next two weeks before returning home for a Monday night date with the 49ers and a second matchup against the Jags. And then it's the Texans rematch to close out the season. They'll have earned it if they can hold off Houston and Jacksonville for the division title.</p><h3>Bucs getting healthy</h3><p>Having to sweat out a three-point win at home against the Cardinals won't quite ease concerns about the way the Bucs have played after a hot start to the season. It was a particularly frustrating day for the defense, as the unit got away with posting its second-worst success rate of the season. A win is a win, though, and their first victory since Week 8 at least puts a stop to the bleeding. It's also easy to get excited about what we saw from a pair of key playmakers back in the mix after injury. Chris Godwin ramped up his workload after an uneventful return last week, leading all Tampa Bay receivers with 78 yards. Bucky Irving was seemingly slated to be on a pitch count in his first game since Sept. 28, but it didn't take long for the Bucs to start leaning on their electric running back. Irving putting up 81 yards and a score on his 19 touches is a promising sign. The Bucs will need a lot from Godwin and Irving if the offense has any hope of recapturing the level of play we saw early on.</p><h3>A perfect fit</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812053/cropped_GettyImages-2249210476.jpg?ts=1764544396" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812053/w220xh124_GettyImages-2249210476.jpg?ts=1764544396 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812053/w320xh180_GettyImages-2249210476.jpg?ts=1764544396 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812053/w640xh360_GettyImages-2249210476.jpg?ts=1764544396 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812053/w768xh432_GettyImages-2249210476.jpg?ts=1764544396 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/812053/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2249210476.jpg?ts=1764544396 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Grant Halverson / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>It's tough to nail bold predictions, and this one may ultimately end up falling short. But when I forecasted before this season that <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3324617" href="https://thescore.com/news/3324617">Davante Adams would outproduce Puka Nacua</a> in fantasy scoring, this is exactly what I had in mind. Adams has been a spectacular addition to this offense, particularly in the red area. After some early growing pains, leading to a relative lack of efficiency in the end zone, it now feels like a foregone conclusion that Matthew Stafford is going to find Adams in the end zone every single game - often more than once. Another pair of touchdowns this week against the Panthers gives the future Hall of Fame wideout 11 scores in his last six games. Now up to 14 on the year, he's five clear of Amon-Ra St. Brown for the league lead. Falling to the Panthers is certainly a disappointing result, but every juggernaut is allowed to have a stinker every now and then. The Rams will remain my No. 1 team for this week's NFL Power Rankings, and the unstoppable receiver tandem is a big part of why I think they're the team to beat in the NFC.</p><h3>4 sacks to go</h3><p>Myles Garrett continues to inch closer to a prominent spot in the NFL record book. Another sack in Sunday's loss to the 49ers puts him up to 19 on the year, just four short of breaking the single-season mark shared by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt. The latest, coming on <a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1995225922228899881">a ridiculous inside move</a> against Trent Williams, was yet another example of his generational skill set. Human beings with his size and strength simply aren't supposed to be able to move like that. Garrett obviously doesn't need favorable matchups or positive game scripts to stuff the stat sheet, but next week's game against the Titans is a particularly juicy opportunity for him to close in on the record. Tennessee has allowed a league-worst 48 sacks through 12 games.</p><p><em>Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.</em></p>

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Sunday Rundown: Key takeaways from Week 13's biggest games

We break down everything you need to know from an exciting slate of Thanksgiving games. window.ad...

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Analysis from NFL's Thanksgiving Day games

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NFL Power Rankings - Week 13: What each team should be thankful for

<p><em>Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.</em></p><h2>Sunday night spotlight</h2><h3>Rams are a wagon</h3><p>Nothing new here, but it's worth repeating after an emphatic win over the Bucs on Sunday night: the Rams are the best team in football. And with all other contenders facing at least one major question, it may not be all that close. This team just doesn't have many weaknesses. Matthew Stafford is the clear MVP of the league with six weeks to go. A three-score night already gets him to 30 touchdowns on the year, seven clear of second place, and he still hasn't thrown an interception since September. Crucially, his red-zone connection with Davante Adams seems to be getting more unstoppable by the week. Only the Colts have posted a better offensive success rate to this point, according to TruMedia. And as we've discussed many times in this space, the defense has somehow been every bit as good. Chris Shula putting together a unit that sits tied for second in EPA/play will undoubtedly make him one of the top head coaching candidates in the upcoming cycle. The way things are trending, any team that wants to hire him could very well be waiting until after the Super Bowl.</p><h3>Bucs in trouble?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811262/cropped_GettyImages-2248144002.jpg?ts=1763959371" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811262/w220xh124_GettyImages-2248144002.jpg?ts=1763959371 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811262/w320xh180_GettyImages-2248144002.jpg?ts=1763959371 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811262/w640xh360_GettyImages-2248144002.jpg?ts=1763959371 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811262/w768xh432_GettyImages-2248144002.jpg?ts=1763959371 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811262/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2248144002.jpg?ts=1763959371 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Ronald Martinez / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Tampa Bay's first-half performance alone would have been cause enough for concern. Even with some key injury-related absences, getting so thoroughly outworked by the Rams was a tough reminder of the significant gap that exists between the Bucs and the class of the NFC. And then Baker Mayfield joined the group of injured playmakers. There should be a detailed update at some point in the next few days, but the Bucs quarterback returning to the sidelines with his left arm in a sling is a worrying sign. The blowout loss at least temporarily allows the Panthers to pull into a tie atop the NFC South ahead of their Monday night game against the 49ers. Carolina has the more difficult schedule to close out the season, but Mayfield missing any sort of significant time would likely level the playing field. This division could come down to their two matchups over the last three weeks of the year.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h2>Late-afternoon games</h2><h3>Cowboys defense trending up</h3><p>I wasn't necessarily opposed to the idea of the Cowboys adding at the trade deadline. Quinnen Williams is a blue-chip player that should be a cornerstone of the roster for years to come, so this wasn't a situation where they were buying irresponsibly. Given the way this defense started the year, though, it was tough to imagine any move being enough to salvage the season. The last two weeks have challenged that perspective. Matchups with the Raiders and this version of the Eagles don't exactly provide the best barometer, but Dallas completely erasing Saquon Barkley in the run game (10 carries, 22 yards) is an especially notable development after the defense's early struggles. A league-average defense is all the Cowboys need to complement an elite scoring unit. The next two games (vs. Chiefs, at Lions) should tell us whether they are truly on the path to getting there.</p><h3>Browns win Shedeur's 1st start</h3><p>The Browns laying a beatdown on the Raiders was far more about a dominant defensive performance than it was a new quarterback. And that's no slight to Shedeur Sanders. He just didn't have to do much outside of the one really impressive 52-yard strike on a rollout late in the first quarter. That being said, he certainly looked more comfortable than he did last week when he was thrown into the fire in the second half against the Ravens. And while nobody should be surprised if a healthy Dillon Gabriel keeps the No. 1 job given their respective draft positions, I'm not sure what that accomplishes. Why not let Sanders start the rest of the season to see what he can do with more reps? We've seen more than enough to be comfortable saying Gabriel won't be keeping the Browns from drafting a quarterback next year. Sanders also faces an uphill battle on that front, but you won't know for sure until he gets an extended look. At the very least, his downfield accuracy could open things up and finally allow for a watchable offense.</p><h3>Garrett closing in on history</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811250/cropped_GettyImages-2248123037.jpg?ts=1763950571" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811250/w220xh124_GettyImages-2248123037.jpg?ts=1763950571 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811250/w320xh180_GettyImages-2248123037.jpg?ts=1763950571 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811250/w640xh360_GettyImages-2248123037.jpg?ts=1763950571 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811250/w768xh432_GettyImages-2248123037.jpg?ts=1763950571 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811250/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2248123037.jpg?ts=1763950571 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Ian Maule / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Myles Garrett led the charge as the Browns' defensive front overwhelmed the Raiders, getting to Geno Smith for three of Cleveland's 10 sacks on the day. The latest outstanding performance puts the perennial All-Pro up to 18 on the year, just 4.5 shy of the single-season record shared by Michael Strahan (2001) and T.J. Watt (2021). Sacks are tough to predict, so nothing is guaranteed, but it almost feels inevitable that he gets there at some point down the stretch. Because while playing from in front certainly helped the Browns stuff the stat sheet this week, game scripts haven't stopped Garrett putting up numbers all season. He somehow racked up five sacks in a blowout loss to the Patriots in October and brought down Lamar Jackson four times in defeat last week. It's fun to think about what those numbers could look like if he was actually in a situation that regularly allowed him to pin his ears back and get after the quarterback late in games. Either way, the race for Defensive Player of the Year has been over for weeks.</p><h3>Raiders need to blow it up (again)</h3><p>Pete Carroll was supposed to be the coach that helped the Raiders start trending back in the right direction. The roster clearly needed work, but it was easy enough to see the vision, given his track record. Well, so much for that. The first year of Carroll's tenure has been an absolute disaster, and it's only getting worse with every passing week. Getting embarrassed by the Browns is a new low for a franchise that knows the feeling all too well. Mark Davis will likely resist the idea of starting over again - he's already on his sixth head coach since stepping into the lead ownership role in 2011. But sticking this out for no other reason than to avoid another reset may only make things worse. Carroll's win-now mentality, still alive and well as he continues to play veterans over young players in a lost season, runs completely counter to everything the organization should be aiming to do at this point. His defensive background has also done nothing to create any semblance of a foundation on that side of the ball, and Chip Kelly joining him as the NFL's highest-paid offensive coordinator is looking like all-time finesse job. Will the Raiders be bold enough to do the right thing and start fresh with a coaching staff that may actually fit with the new front office?</p><p><em><strong>Update:</strong> The Raiders fired Chip Kelly on Sunday night.</em></p><h2>Early kickoffs</h2><h3>Chiefs stay alive</h3><p>I was just about ready to give up on the Chiefs. Sunday's game at home against the Colts was an absolute must-win to maintain any sort of realistic playoff hope, and it wasn't looking good early. Somehow, even those stakes weren't enough for the offense to snap out of its funk. It did just enough to scratch and claw its way to overtime, though, and we all knew how it was going to end once Patrick Mahomes got the ball in his hands in the extra frame. The crucial win isn't nearly enough to take the pressure off in the weeks to come, as previous letdowns have put the Chiefs in a position where they'd lose head-to-head tiebreakers to the teams they're chasing for a wild card (Chargers, Bills, Jaguars). With that in mind, they probably can't afford anything more than one more loss down the stretch. That'll be a tough ask with games against the Cowboys, Texans, Chargers, and Broncos still ahead. And yet it feels like we can never truly count this team out. No matter what it looks like throughout the regular season, there's a real chance that the rest of the AFC would regret allowing the Chiefs to sneak in.</p><h3>McCarthy needs to sit</h3><p>Understanding that there was simply no world in which the Vikings were going to save their season with J.J. McCarthy playing at the level he has, I had basically concluded that the rest of this year would be about getting him the reps he needs. I'd like to make a slight alteration to that take after Sunday's game against the Packers. The new stance: it's time for McCarthy to take a seat. That's not to say he doesn't still have a chance at being the quarterback of the future in Minnesota. We're only six starts into his career. It would be far too early to write him off. But he's simply unplayable right now. If you want to look at this from a team perspective, the rest of the roster (and staff) deserve better than to be weighed down by a quarterback who is currently in over his head. Focusing specifically on McCarthy, it's also easy to see how these kinds of early failures may only do more damage. Why not give him some time to reset? Sunday's performance against the Packers - completing 12 of 19 passes for just 87 yards and a pair of interceptions - is his worst game by EPA/dropback. By that same metric, McCarthy now owns the single worst six-start stretch to open a career since at least 2000. Considering the favorable situation he was stepping into, it doesn't get much more disappointing than this.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811200/Screenshot_2025-11-23_at_5.28.24_PM.jpg?ts=1763936935" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811200/Screenshot_2025-11-23_at_5.28.24_PM.jpg?ts=1763936935 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811200/Screenshot_2025-11-23_at_5.28.24_PM.jpg?ts=1763936935 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811200/Screenshot_2025-11-23_at_5.28.24_PM.jpg?ts=1763936935 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811200/Screenshot_2025-11-23_at_5.28.24_PM.jpg?ts=1763936935 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811200/Screenshot_2025-11-23_at_5.28.24_PM.jpg?ts=1763936935 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution"></span></figcaption></figure><h3>Lions avoid disaster</h3><p>Anyone who had mounting concerns about the Lions is unlikely to be moved by a narrow overtime victory over the Giants. For a team that has so consistently bounced back from the occasional disappointing loss under Dan Campbell, this should have been a spot where Detroit dominated. Instead, we've got major questions about both the defense, which allowed a season-high 517 yards to the two-win Giants, and an offense that continues to look like a completely different unit without Sam LaPorta. Thanks to Jahmyr Gibbs, the Lions can at least continue their search for answers with a relatively comfortable 7-4 record. The star running back put the team on his back with one of the best individual performances we'll see all season, posting 264 total yards and three scores, including a 69-yard touchdown on the first play of overtime.</p><h3>Jameis doing it again</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811138/cropped_GettyImages-2248097871.jpg?ts=1763939867" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811138/w220xh124_GettyImages-2248097871.jpg?ts=1763939867 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811138/w320xh180_GettyImages-2248097871.jpg?ts=1763939867 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811138/w640xh360_GettyImages-2248097871.jpg?ts=1763939867 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811138/w768xh432_GettyImages-2248097871.jpg?ts=1763939867 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811138/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2248097871.jpg?ts=1763939867 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Nic Antaya / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Giants giving the Lions a scare wasn't just about the home side struggling. New York also deserves credit for the way the offense was able to move the ball up and down the field. We probably shouldn't be too surprised that Jameis Winston gave his team a chance. The former No. 1 overall pick has long been written off as a journeyman backup. The turnover issues are a big part of that equation, but his ability to push the ball downfield - often with a subpar supporting cast - has consistently shined through in his opportunities over the last few years. Even if we're long past the point that he gets a look as a low-level starter, Winston having to settle for the No. 3 job to start this season in New York was always a little bizarre. The Giants getting him on a two-year, $8-million deal is a steal, and they should be proactive about a potential extension to lock in a reliable veteran as a backup for Jaxson Dart.</p><h3>JSN on record pace</h3><p>What else can we say about Jaxon Smith-Njigba? The superstar wideout continued his incredible campaign with a 167-yard day against the Titans, breaking the Seahawks' single-season receiving record with six games still left to play. He's also currently on pace to surpass Calvin Johnson for the NFL single-season mark of 1,964. We've spent a lot of time talking about Jonathan Taylor's potentially historic season, and for good reason. But JSN might be a lock for Offensive Player of the Year honors if he can make that kind of history.</p><h3>Patriots will be tested</h3><p>The Patriots managing to avoid any sort of major injury losses had been a crucial part of their impressive start to the season. While the new staff had done some impressive work in bolstering the roster, it certainly helps when the depth isn't truly put to the test. That might change over the next few weeks. New England lost a pair of starting offensive linemen in Sunday's win over the Bengals, as rookies Will Campbell and Jared Wilson were carted off with injuries. If both are forced to miss time, that would push Vederian Lowe into the starting lineup for Campbell at left tackle and Ben Brown at left guard in place of Wilson. That's going to be a storyline to watch for an offensive line that has already surrendered 37 sacks, tied for the fourth-most league-wide. Next week's Monday night matchup with a stacked Giants pass-rush should give us a good idea about this group's chances of holding up down the stretch.</p><p><em>Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.</em></p>

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Sunday Rundown: Key takeaways from Week 12's biggest games

A pair of NFL head coaching jobs are already open, with both the Tennessee Titans and New York Gi...

<p>A pair of NFL head coaching jobs are already open, with both the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants making in-season changes. As frustrations mount heading into the stretch run, a number of other fan bases are hoping their teams follow suit.</p><p>Let's check in on the most notable hot-seat situations around the league and run down some of the top candidates you can expect to get interviews when the coaching carousel ramps up in the new year.</p><h2>Hot seat check-in</h2><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Coaching hot seat check-in" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-ByDNB" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/ByDNB/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="401" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}});</script></figure><h2>Top coaching candidates</h2><h3>Rising stars 📈</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810641/cropped_GettyImages-2231543795.jpg?ts=1763581148" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810641/w220xh124_GettyImages-2231543795.jpg?ts=1763581148 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810641/w320xh180_GettyImages-2231543795.jpg?ts=1763581148 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810641/w640xh360_GettyImages-2231543795.jpg?ts=1763581148 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810641/w768xh432_GettyImages-2231543795.jpg?ts=1763581148 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810641/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2231543795.jpg?ts=1763581148 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Diamond Images / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Chris Shula</strong><br><em>Rams defensive coordinator</em></p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Rams' emergence as a legitimate Super Bowl contender is about much more than Sean McVay's star-studded offense. Shula's defense, which terrorized Sam Darnold to the tune of four interceptions in Sunday's massive win, ranks second in EPA/play, according to TruMedia. It's a matter of time before Shula becomes the latest member of the McVay coaching tree to get his chance at the top of another organization. Could the Dolphins come calling for the grandson of a franchise legend?</p><p><strong>Klint Kubiak</strong><br><em>Seahawks offensive coordinator</em></p><p>Kubiak's arrival has been one of the primary factors in the Seahawks' ascent - his offense has proven to be the ideal complement for an elite Mike Macdonald defense. Seattle is making all the concerns about its offseason moves at quarterback and receiver look silly in hindsight, ranking third in scoring and sixth in yards. Kubiak's ability to find chunk gains has been the key, with Seattle posting the NFL's sixth-best explosive-play percentage.</p><p><strong>Jesse Minter</strong><br><em>Chargers defensive coordinator</em></p><p>It was surprising that Minter didn't get any serious looks in last year's head coaching cycle. His second season in Los Angeles has proven that his instant success was no fluke: The Chargers' defense is tied for seventh in EPA/play. For anyone looking to recreate the magic Mike Macdonald brought to Seattle, Minter might be your guy. They worked together on the Ravens' defensive staff before beginning their respective rises to prominence with defensive coordinator stints under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan.</p><p><strong>Jeff Hafley</strong><br><em>Packers defensive coordinator</em></p><p>The Packers' offense has been a major letdown so far this season. Hafley's No. 7 scoring defense is the reason this team is still in the thick of the playoff race, and it's not just the Micah Parsons effect. Hafley made an immediate impact upon arriving in Green Bay in 2024; the former Boston College head coach put together a defense that finished the year tied for fourth in EPA/play.</p><p><strong>Joe Brady</strong><br><em>Bills offensive coordinator</em></p><p>A frustrating season may have cooled Brady's market, but there's a good chance rival teams will see Buffalo's struggles as a personnel issue. Josh Allen has taken his game to even greater heights since the midseason offensive coordinator change in 2023, and the Bills' run game has been one of the best in the business for each of the last three seasons. Having enjoyed success with Brady at LSU, perhaps Joe Burrow puts in a good word regarding a potential job opening in Cincinnati.</p><p><strong>Thomas Brown</strong><br><em>Patriots TEs coach/passing game coordinator</em></p><p>Any team developing a young quarterback, or planning to draft one this spring, should look at what the Patriots have done with Drake Maye. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels seems unlikely to get another chance after two previous failures, but regardless, he's not doing it all himself. Brown holds a significant role for an offense that leads the league in EPA/dropback. He was in the mix for the OC job before Mike Vrabel opted to bring back McDaniels, and he's already got a bit of experience as a head coach, having stepped in for five games after Chicago fired Matt Eberflus last year.</p><p><strong>Aden Durde</strong><br><em>Seahawks defensive coordinator</em></p><p>Durde might not attract widespread interest, as Mike Macdonald will get the majority of the credit for what the Seahawks have built on defense. That's not disqualifying, though. As has long been the case with Sean McVay assistants, teams don't necessarily see play-calling responsibilities as a prerequisite when they want to get a piece of the next great thing. Durde could offer his own spin on everything he's picked up as part of Macdonald's program.</p><p><strong>Klayton Adams</strong><br><em>Cowboys offensive coordinator</em></p><p>Adams provides a reminder that an offensive line guru can often be the most important assistant in the building. The Cardinals' offense fell off a cliff after his offseason departure, while the Cowboys' scoring attack has taken off under his watch. Adams' ability to keep things rolling through a brutal stretch of injuries up front presented a particularly noteworthy example of his value. Don't be surprised if that earns him some legitimate head coaching buzz in the offseason.</p><h3>Second-chance seekers 🔁</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810644/cropped_GettyImages-2244828930.jpg?ts=1763581242" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810644/w220xh124_GettyImages-2244828930.jpg?ts=1763581242 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810644/w320xh180_GettyImages-2244828930.jpg?ts=1763581242 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810644/w640xh360_GettyImages-2244828930.jpg?ts=1763581242 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810644/w768xh432_GettyImages-2244828930.jpg?ts=1763581242 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810644/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2244828930.jpg?ts=1763581242 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Mike Mulholland / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Brian Flores</strong><br><em>Vikings defensive coordinator</em></p><p>Owners might block Flores' chances at another head coaching opportunity in response to his ongoing lawsuit against the league. Anyone who actually prioritizes winning would be wise to reconsider. Flores' work in building an outstanding Vikings defense is a shining example of how good coaching can elevate a team. He deserves a chance to show that he's learned from the interpersonal issues that seemed to plague his first head coaching stint in Miami.</p><p><strong>Vance Joseph</strong><br><em>Broncos defensive coordinator</em></p><p>Joseph didn't get much runway to show what he could do as a head coach the first time around, as Denver fired him after just two years. His eventual return to the organization under Sean Payton didn't get off to the best start either, but the Broncos have now arguably had the best defense in football for two years running. If the team stays on track to challenge the single-season sack record, he'd have to get some interest.</p><p><strong>Kliff Kingsbury</strong><br><em>Commanders offensive coordinator</em></p><p>Kingsbury seemed like an obvious one-and-done coach after his 28-37-1 run in Arizona. It was particularly concerning to see his offenses consistently fizzle out when opponents adjusted in the second half of the season. He seems to have grown quite a bit from that experience, though, as there were no such issues during an incredible 2024 campaign in Washington. Teams might want to see if he can recreate some of the Jayden Daniels magic with another young quarterback.</p><p><strong>Robert Saleh</strong><br><em>49ers defensive coordinator</em></p><p>Sam Darnold's late breakout has taught us that it's a little unfair to write someone off just because they couldn't succeed with the Jets. The same logic should probably apply to Saleh. Even with the never-ending circus going on around him, the Jets had the NFL's best defense by EPA/play and success rate from 2022-23. Competent ownership and better roster management could allow him to find success in a second go-round.</p><p><strong>Mike McCarthy</strong><br><em>Former Cowboys, Packers head coach</em></p><p>Most NFL fan bases would roll their eyes at the idea of hiring McCarthy. It's easy to understand why, but it also feels like he's somehow become an underrated coach at this point. His track record - producing 12 playoff appearances across 18 seasons in Green Bay and Dallas - will appeal to teams seeking experience. And considering his work with Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott, he'd probably provide significant value for a young quarterback, too.</p><p><strong>Steve Spagnuolo</strong><br><em>Chiefs defensive coordinator</em></p><p>Spagnuolo hasn't been a full-time head coach since his one such job, a three-year stint with the Rams, ended in 2011. It would be unconventional for a team to circle back on the 65-year-old now, but his interview schedule in recent offseasons hints he's drawing real interest around the league. Spagnuolo has been the unsung hero for countless Chiefs playoff runs, and his defense currently ranks seventh in yards allowed and fourth in scoring.</p><p><strong>Matt Nagy</strong><br><em>Chiefs offensive coordinator</em></p><p>This is another one that no fan base will be able to get excited about. Nagy's four-year run in Chicago would have been a disaster were he not carried by an elite defense early on, and it's tough to give him any significant credit for the Chiefs' success with Andy Reid running the show on offense. But NFL decision-makers may not see things that way. Nagy's name has been linked to recent openings, so don't be surprised if he emerges as a real candidate.</p><p><strong>Arthur Smith</strong><br><em>Steelers offensive coordinator</em></p><p>Like Nagy, Smith seemingly commands more respect within league circles than he'll ever receive from those of us on the outside. The veteran offensive coordinator interviewed with both the Bears and Jets last year, suggesting that his rough tenure with the Falcons - in which he posted three straight 7-10 seasons - didn't necessarily affect his standing in the coaching ranks.</p><h3>If available 🤔</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809366/cropped_GettyImages-2245928409.jpg?ts=1762748240" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809366/w220xh124_GettyImages-2245928409.jpg?ts=1762748240 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809366/w320xh180_GettyImages-2245928409.jpg?ts=1762748240 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809366/w640xh360_GettyImages-2245928409.jpg?ts=1762748240 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809366/w768xh432_GettyImages-2245928409.jpg?ts=1762748240 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809366/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2245928409.jpg?ts=1762748240 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Harry How / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Mike Tomlin</strong><br><em>Steelers head coach</em></p><p>It would be a shocker if the Steelers moved on from Tomlin, even if fans have grown frustrated with the constant playoff letdowns. Most organizations couldn't dream of a 18-year run without a losing season. Any rumblings of uncertainty on Pittsburgh's part could make other teams pick up the phone and inquire about the all-too-rare coaching trade. Remember: The Saints landed first- and second-round picks from the Broncos in the deal to hire Sean Payton. Could that kind of return influence the Steelers to shake things up?</p><p><strong>Matt LaFleur</strong><br><em>Packers head coach</em></p><p>Green Bay's offensive struggles have suddenly put the spotlight on LaFleur, creating the impression that he may be coaching for his job down the stretch. A change still seems wildly unlikely, but he wouldn't be on the market for long if he happened to become available. LaFleur has the third-best regular-season winning percentage among active head coaches (.668), and he's tied with Tony Dungy for 13th all time.</p><p><strong>Sean McDermott</strong><br><em>Bills head coach</em></p><p>A 7-3 record is a little deceptive when it comes to representing how the Bills' season has gone. Embarrassing losses to the Falcons and Dolphins showed just how vulnerable this team is. Those midseason struggles would be forgiven with another deep playoff run, but anything short of that might bring McDermott's job status into question. Much like LaFleur, he'd immediately become a top candidate elsewhere.</p><p><strong>Kevin Stefanski</strong><br><em>Browns head coach</em></p><p>It's tough to gauge whether the Browns are committed to Stefanski. They probably should be, considering the success he's enjoyed both before and somehow during the Deshaun Watson debacle, but you can never be sure with this organization. Teams looking for a new head coach will monitor Stefanski's situation closely. The two-time Coach of the Year could really thrive in a situation that offers him a little more support.</p><p><em>Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.</em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/33370179/related

NFL coaching carousel: Top candidates to watch for 2026 cycle

<p><em>NFL Power Rankings takes stock of all 32 teams throughout the season.</em></p><p><strong>Jump to:</strong><br><a href="#ARI">ARI</a> | <a href="#ATL">ATL</a> | <a href="#BAL">BAL</a> | <a href="#BUF">BUF</a> | <a href="#CAR">CAR</a> | <a href="#CHI">CHI</a> | <a href="#CIN">CIN</a> | <a href="#CLE">CLE</a> | <a href="#DAL">DAL</a> | <a href="#DEN">DEN</a> | <a href="#DET">DET</a> | <a href="#GB">GB</a> | <a href="#HOU">HOU</a> | <a href="#IND">IND</a> | <a href="#JAX">JAX</a> | <a href="#KC">KC</a> | <a href="#LAC">LAC</a> | <a href="#LAR">LAR</a> | <a href="#LV">LV</a> | <a href="#MIA">MIA</a> | <a href="#MIN">MIN</a> | <a href="#NE">NE</a> | <a href="#NO">NO</a> | <a href="#NYG">NYG</a> | <a href="#NYJ">NYJ</a> | <a href="#PHI">PHI</a> | <a href="#PIT">PIT</a> | <a href="#SEA">SEA</a> | <a href="#SF">SF</a> | <a href="#TB">TB</a> | <a href="#TEN">TEN</a> | <a href="#WAS">WAS</a></p><h3><a id="LAR" name="LAR">1. Los Angeles Rams (8-2)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810235/cropped_GettyImages-2247031498.jpg?ts=1763409373" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810235/w220xh124_GettyImages-2247031498.jpg?ts=1763409373 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810235/w320xh180_GettyImages-2247031498.jpg?ts=1763409373 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810235/w640xh360_GettyImages-2247031498.jpg?ts=1763409373 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810235/w768xh432_GettyImages-2247031498.jpg?ts=1763409373 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810235/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2247031498.jpg?ts=1763409373 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 1</em></p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Rams are the best team in football. The offense can score with anyone, and Sunday's four-interception effort against Sam Darnold and the Seahawks proved that Chris Shula's defense is every bit as good.</p><h3><a id="PHI" name="PHI">2. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 6</em></p><p>I still have major questions about the Eagles' offense as the playoffs approach. However, the recent trajectory of the defense, boosted by the deadline deal for Jaelan Phillips, gives them a real chance to defend their Super Bowl title.</p><h3><a id="SEA" name="SEA">3. Seattle Seahawks (7-3)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 2</em></p><p>The Seahawks aren't about to tumble down this list after a one-point loss to the Rams. Sam Darnold likely isn't going to make a habit out of serving up four interceptions, and Seattle still having a chance at the end tells you everything you need to know about Mike Macdonald's defense.</p><h3><a id="DET" name="DET">4. Detroit Lions (6-4)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 4</em></p><p>Sunday night's loss to the Eagles was Jared Goff's worst game since 2022. Although I won't overreact to one frustrating result, the Lions will have to find a way to sustain their typically great offensive output against top opponents in cold weather.</p><h3><a id="IND" name="IND">5. Indianapolis Colts (8-2)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809246/cropped_GettyImages-2245330363.jpg?ts=1763409400" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809246/w220xh124_GettyImages-2245330363.jpg?ts=1763409400 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809246/w320xh180_GettyImages-2245330363.jpg?ts=1763409400 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809246/w640xh360_GettyImages-2245330363.jpg?ts=1763409400 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809246/w768xh432_GettyImages-2245330363.jpg?ts=1763409400 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809246/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2245330363.jpg?ts=1763409400 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">ODD ANDERSEN / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 5</em></p><p>The Colts will be tough to beat so long as they can keep their offense on schedule. Doing it this week against a desperate Chiefs team would be the ultimate statement with an eye on the playoffs.</p><h3><a id="NE" name="NE">6. New England Patriots (9-2)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 7</em></p><p>Have the Patriots benefited from a soft schedule? Probably. But they also have quality wins over the Bills and Buccaneers. Checking in as a top-seven team in both offensive and defensive EPA/play, per TruMedia, New England is very much for real.</p><h3><a id="DEN" name="DEN">7. Denver Broncos (9-2)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 10</em></p><p>Sunday's win over the Chiefs marked a significant step in the right direction for the struggling Broncos offense. If it can build on that effort in the weeks to come, a still-elite defense might have all the support it needs.</p><h3><a id="BUF" name="BUF">8. Buffalo Bills (7-3)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 8</em></p><p>Josh Allen put the Bills on his back to get a much-needed win over the Bucs on Sunday. It was an important reminder of how a unicorn quarterback can tip the scales, but not nearly enough for me to have Buffalo flying back up the board. Relying on such heroics to overcome the roster's broader issues is unsustainable.</p><h3><a id="KC" name="KC">9. Kansas City Chiefs (5-5)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 3</em></p><p>The Chiefs will probably turn it on and head into the postseason on a high note, but they're playing with fire now. This is the latest they've been sitting at .500 or worse since 2017, the year before Patrick Mahomes took over as the starter.</p><h3><a id="TB" name="TB">10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810183/cropped_GettyImages-2246998607.jpg?ts=1763409432" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810183/w220xh124_GettyImages-2246998607.jpg?ts=1763409432 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810183/w320xh180_GettyImages-2246998607.jpg?ts=1763409432 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810183/w640xh360_GettyImages-2246998607.jpg?ts=1763409432 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810183/w768xh432_GettyImages-2246998607.jpg?ts=1763409432 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810183/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2246998607.jpg?ts=1763409432 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Timothy T Ludwig / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 9</em></p><p>The Bucs desperately need to get some of their playmakers back on the field. Baker Mayfield was tied for third in EPA/dropback after six games, but that early magic appears to have run out. He's 32nd out of 33 qualified passers since Week 7.</p><h3><a id="GB" name="GB">11. Green Bay Packers (6-3-1)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 11</em></p><p>Is Jordan Love actually a <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/42937743/jordan-love-green-bay-packers-toyotathon-trend">Toyatathon merchant</a>? The Packers better hope so. This offense needs to find its footing immediately if Green Bay is going to be a real player in an ultra-competitive NFC playoff picture.</p><h3><a id="BAL" name="BAL">12. Baltimore Ravens (5-5)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 12</em></p><p>A midseason role change for All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton, who's now seeing snaps all over the field, is once again sparking a monumental turnaround for the Ravens' defense. The offensive line gives me some pause, but I have to believe a scoring unit led by Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry is on the cusp, too.</p><h3><a id="SF" name="SF">13. San Francisco 49ers (7-4)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 14</em></p><p>Brock Purdy and Ricky Pearsall returned to action in a 41-point effort against the Cardinals, demonstrating what this offense can be when it's anything near full strength. The 49ers need to capitalize on that scoring potential, as injuries have decimated the defense.</p><h3><a id="CHI" name="CHI">14. Chicago Bears (7-3)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 15</em></p><p>The Bears have won seven of their last eight games. While a far more daunting collection of opponents awaits in the coming weeks, their progress is inspiring nonetheless. Can Chicago's defense sustain its league-best turnover rate to provide a suitable complement for an ascending Ben Johnson offense?</p><h3><a id="JAX" name="JAX">15. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810355/cropped_GettyImages-2247012388.jpg?ts=1763409591" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810355/w220xh124_GettyImages-2247012388.jpg?ts=1763409591 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810355/w320xh180_GettyImages-2247012388.jpg?ts=1763409591 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810355/w640xh360_GettyImages-2247012388.jpg?ts=1763409591 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810355/w768xh432_GettyImages-2247012388.jpg?ts=1763409591 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810355/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2247012388.jpg?ts=1763409591 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Rich Storry / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 18</em></p><p>The Jaguars' defense taking it to Justin Herbert and the Chargers was a really nice way to bounce back from a tough midseason slump. The offense clearly has potential with Liam Coen running the show, but Trevor Lawrence sitting tied for second with 17 turnover-worthy plays, per PFF, is a big reason it's been a mixed bag.</p><h3><a id="LAC" name="LAC">16. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 13</em></p><p>A blowout loss to the Jaguars can probably be considered an aberration for the Chargers' defense. However, it could be a sign of things to come on the other side of the ball. Justin Herbert has faced pressure on 41.4% of dropbacks this season, and the offensive line isn't magically going to turn things around with its star tackles both out for the year.</p><h3><a id="PIT" name="PIT">17. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 16</em></p><p>The Steelers' defense has finally found some sense of stability with Jalen Ramsey and Kyle Dugger at safety. It's fair to wonder whether the offense has enough juice, though. Aaron Rodgers breaking a bone in his wrist could force him to miss time, adding to the uncertainty.</p><h3><a id="HOU" name="HOU">18. Houston Texans (5-5)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 17</em></p><p>The Texans have managed to keep their season alive over the last two weeks, running off back-to-back wins despite the absence of C.J. Stroud. There's still a path to chase down a playoff spot if he can return soon.</p><h3><a id="CAR" name="CAR">19. Carolina Panthers (6-5)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 20</em></p><p>Carolina looks like a different team every week. Sunday's win over the Falcons was a particularly promising result in the big picture, as Bryce Young's 448-yard, three-touchdown day represents his best career performance.</p><h3><a id="DAL" name="DAL">20. Dallas Cowboys (4-5-1)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810434/cropped_GettyImages-2247207512.jpg?ts=1763440055" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810434/w220xh124_GettyImages-2247207512.jpg?ts=1763440055 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810434/w320xh180_GettyImages-2247207512.jpg?ts=1763440055 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810434/w640xh360_GettyImages-2247207512.jpg?ts=1763440055 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810434/w768xh432_GettyImages-2247207512.jpg?ts=1763440055 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810434/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2247207512.jpg?ts=1763440055 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Ian Maule / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 21</em></p><p>Quinnen Williams made an immediate impact in his Cowboys debut, recording 1.5 sacks in a Monday night win over the Raiders. This defense is probably beyond saving this season, but the former All-Pro will be a foundational piece for years to come.</p><h3><a id="MIN" name="MIN">21. Minnesota Vikings (4-6)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 19</em></p><p>The Vikings seemed to have created a dream scenario for a first-year starter at quarterback. Perhaps the supporting cast was overrated to some extent, but this is likely a playoff team if J.J. McCarthy provides anything close to league-average quarterback play. The former first-rounder taking a step in that direction down the stretch would at least provide hope for such a result next season.</p><h3><a id="ATL" name="ATL">22. Atlanta Falcons (3-7)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 22</em></p><p>The Falcons didn't envision the campaign going this way when they sent a 2026 first-round pick to the Rams as part of a risky trade to move up in April's draft. And now, with Michael Penix potentially out for the rest of the season, there's a chance that ends up being a top-five pick. Yikes.</p><h3><a id="ARI" name="ARI">23. Arizona Cardinals (3-7)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 23</em></p><p>Each promising performance we've seen from Jacoby Brissett - the latest being a record-setting 47 completions against the 49ers - makes it clear that the Kyler Murray era has run its course. The Cardinals could make a big change at quarterback next offseason.</p><h3><a id="MIA" name="MIA">24. Miami Dolphins (4-7)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 25</em></p><p>The Dolphins have quietly won three of their last four games. And with a soft schedule ahead, there's an outside chance that they at least find themselves playing meaningful football at the end of the regular season. Could that save Mike McDaniel's job?</p><h3><a id="CIN" name="CIN">25. Cincinnati Bengals (3-7)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809409/cropped_GettyImages-2244705024.jpg?ts=1763409644" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809409/w220xh124_GettyImages-2244705024.jpg?ts=1763409644 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809409/w320xh180_GettyImages-2244705024.jpg?ts=1763409644 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809409/w640xh360_GettyImages-2244705024.jpg?ts=1763409644 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809409/w768xh432_GettyImages-2244705024.jpg?ts=1763409644 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809409/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2244705024.jpg?ts=1763409644 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Dylan Buell / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 24</em></p><p>Joe Burrow seems to be trending toward an early return at some point in the next few weeks. It's always nice to see the best players on the field, but the Bengals have nothing left to play for this season. They should really be taking their time with their superstar quarterback.</p><h3><a id="NO" name="NO">26. New Orleans Saints (2-8)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 26</em></p><p>Tyler Shough seems poised to get an extended look over the second half of the campaign. After an impressive outing against the Panthers in Week 10, can he make a case for himself as the potential quarterback of the future in New Orleans?</p><h3><a id="NYG" name="NYG">27. New York Giants (2-9)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 27</em></p><p>The rest of the Giants' season is about getting Jaxson Dart the reps he needs while also keeping him healthy. Dialling back on the designed runs should be the first step on that front for interim head coach Mike Kafka, as Dart shouldn't be trailing only Justin Fields and Jalen Hurts in that category after just seven starts.</p><h3><a id="WAS" name="WAS">28. Washington Commanders (3-8)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 28</em></p><p>Jayden Daniels being in and out of the lineup, and now potentially done for the year, was obviously a crushing blow here. In hindsight, though, the Commanders were never really in a great position to compete. Entering the season with the NFL's oldest roster and then failing to sell off any of those assets at the deadline is inexcusable work from the front office.</p><h3><a id="CLE" name="CLE">29. Cleveland Browns (2-8)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 31</em></p><p>Shedeur Sanders got his first taste of NFL action in relief of an injured Dillon Gabriel on Sunday, and it didn't go well. But it's not like Gabriel has been a smashing success, either. The Browns might as well get Sanders a few starts before the end of the season to have a complete picture of their quarterback room ahead of next year's draft.</p><h3><a id="NYJ" name="NYJ">30. New York Jets (2-8)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810357/cropped_GettyImages-2246102468.jpg?ts=1763409762" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810357/w220xh124_GettyImages-2246102468.jpg?ts=1763409762 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810357/w320xh180_GettyImages-2246102468.jpg?ts=1763409762 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810357/w640xh360_GettyImages-2246102468.jpg?ts=1763409762 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810357/w768xh432_GettyImages-2246102468.jpg?ts=1763409762 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810357/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2246102468.jpg?ts=1763409762 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Boston Globe / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 29</em></p><p>Trading away Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams gives the Jets all the draft capital they could need to find their quarterback of the future. The question is whether this staff, unlike its predecessors, can finally make the right decision when that time comes.</p><h3><a id="LV" name="LV">31. Las Vegas Raiders (2-8)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 30</em></p><p>The opportunity to play a hapless Cowboys defense has made multiple offenses look better than they actually are. Not the Raiders. The Chip Kelly-Geno Smith pairing has been an absolute disaster, setting the stage for yet another offseason with sweeping changes.</p><h3><a id="TEN" name="TEN">32. Tennessee Titans (1-9)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 32</em></p><p>The 1999 Browns and 2021 Jaguars are the only teams in NFL history to earn a second straight No. 1 overall pick after taking a quarterback in the top spot the year prior. The Titans are on track to join them in that exclusive club, which illustrates the bleak status of this rebuild.</p><p><em>Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.</em></p>

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NFL Power Rankings - Week 12: Eagles soaring, Chiefs playing with fire

<p><em>Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.</em></p><h2>Sunday night spotlight</h2><h3>Eagles defense is back</h3><p>Nobody feels good about what the Eagles have been doing on offense this season. That's not going to change after another uninspiring effort Sunday night against the Lions. The way the defense is trending, it might not matter. Jaelan Phillips is exactly the kind of player the Eagles needed to fill a glaring need on the edge. He got to Jared Goff for his first sack since the trade and has now recorded 12 pressures across his first two games in Philly, according to PFF. Jalyx Hunt was outstanding on the other side in this contest, logging six pressures and five QB hits. Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis put up a wall in the middle, knocking down a combined five passes at the line of scrimmage, and a now-healthy Nakobe Dean got involved with a pair of pressures and a sack from the second level. The constant chaos resulted in Goff posting the lowest completion percentage of his pro career (37.8%) and his worst game by EPA/dropback since October 2022, long before the Lions' ascent. This is suddenly looking a lot like the defense that laid a beatdown on the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.</p><h2>Late-afternoon games</h2><h3>Rams take Round 1</h3><p>Sam Darnold throwing four picks in the biggest game of the year was a bit of a letdown, but it somehow didn't make this matchup even remotely uncompetitive. That's because the Seattle defense gave the Rams everything they could handle, holding an elite L.A. offense to season lows in EPA/play (-0.18) and success rate (40.0%), according to TruMedia. The outstanding defensive effort kept the Seahawks alive throughout and gave them a chance to win it with a long field-goal try at the buzzer. Darnold struggling in one game isn't enough to make me question the level of play we'd seen from him up to this point. I am monitoring the injury status of Grey Zabel, though. Pressuring Darnold into bad decisions becomes a lot easier without the standout rookie lifting up that offensive line. On the other side, this result should be considered confirmation of all the advanced metrics that see the Rams defense as one of the best in football. That's a truly ridiculous unit to pair with such a proficient scoring attack. I already can't wait for the next matchup of these NFC West powerhouses. Hopefully there's a third in January, too.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Broncos bounce back</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810268/cropped_GettyImages-2247049944.jpg?ts=1763345447" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810268/w220xh124_GettyImages-2247049944.jpg?ts=1763345447 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810268/w320xh180_GettyImages-2247049944.jpg?ts=1763345447 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810268/w640xh360_GettyImages-2247049944.jpg?ts=1763345447 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810268/w768xh432_GettyImages-2247049944.jpg?ts=1763345447 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810268/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2247049944.jpg?ts=1763345447 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Justin Edmonds / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Record aside, last Thursday's pathetic offensive effort made it incredibly difficult to imagine the Broncos making any sort of noise in the playoffs. The vibes are quite a bit different after Sunday's statement win over the Chiefs. I'd still like to see the offense keep it rolling against top opponents before I truly buy in - a Dec. 14 matchup against the Packers will be a big one in that regard - but this was easily Bo Nix's most impressive performance of the season. After some well-documented struggles pushing the ball downfield, the second-year quarterback finished the day 6-for-11 for a season-best 171 yards on passes of 10-plus air yards, according to Next Gen Stats. That'll do the trick with a championship-caliber defense doing the heavy lifting on the other side of the ball. Nix managing the offense, limiting mistakes, and taking the plays that Sean Payton schemes up is more than enough to make this team a contender.</p><h3>Chiefs fall to .500</h3><p>So, what do we make of the Chiefs dropping to 5-5? My initial instinct: not much. Not yet, at least. While it's a little different to see the win total lag so far behind in the regular season, we all know that gets thrown out the window when games really start to matter. Nobody wants to see Patrick Mahomes in January. And no matter how low you may be on this team at the moment, there are enough gettable games left on the schedule that we really shouldn't be talking about the possibility that K.C. doesn't chase down a playoff spot. But for the first time in the Reid-Mahomes era, it's going to be a grind right through the end of the regular season. Does that only help the Chiefs' chances of being at their best come January? Or will the new path - likely a road-heavy playoff schedule if they get there - open the door for another team to finally shake things up?</p><h3>49ers primed for shootouts</h3><p>Brock Purdy made his return to the lineup Sunday against the Cardinals, and the results were pretty much in line with everything we thought possible for this offense heading into the season. And that was with Ricky Pearsall, in action for the first time since Week 4, still working his way back toward a lead role. Purdy didn't show any signs of rust in the passing game, throwing for 200 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those scores went to George Kittle, who now appears fully ramped up to his usual form after missing time with a hamstring injury. Christian McCaffrey added to his impressive season with three total touchdowns of his own. The 41-point effort represents San Francisco's highest-scoring output since 2023. Does this mean we're adding the 49ers to an already deep list of NFC contenders? Maybe. This group can score on anyone when healthy, but I am worried about a beat up defense that won't be getting its two best players (Nick Bosa and Fred Warner) back this year. Jacoby Brissett completing a single-game record 47 of his 57 pass attempts while not taking a single sack is a major cause for concern. The 49ers going on a deep playoff run may have to involve weekly shootouts.</p><h3>Shedeur's unexpected debut</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810269/cropped_GettyImages-2246517247.jpg?ts=1763345617" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810269/w220xh124_GettyImages-2246517247.jpg?ts=1763345617 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810269/w320xh180_GettyImages-2246517247.jpg?ts=1763345617 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810269/w640xh360_GettyImages-2246517247.jpg?ts=1763345617 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810269/w768xh432_GettyImages-2246517247.jpg?ts=1763345617 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810269/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2246517247.jpg?ts=1763345617 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Shedeur Sanders got his first taste of regular-season action this week, taking over for an injured Dillon Gabriel in a tight game against the Ravens. On one hand, the results weren't great. He went just 4 of 16 for 47 yards and an interception while taking two sacks. The pick was an absolute gift for Nate Wiggins on a brutal throw to the right sideline, and one of the sacks was a clear example of the issues he has when it comes to bailing out the back door of the pocket and recklessly trying to keep plays alive. On the other hand, the situation couldn't have been less favorable for a young quarterback to make his debut. Being thrown to the fire against a Ravens pressure scheme is bound to have any rookie's head spinning. Sanders getting a chance to start a game fresh, after a full week of practice, would give us a much better picture of where he's at in his development. I'd caution against expecting wildly different results right out of the gate, but I'm interested to see it. Will the Browns make a point of getting him a few games down the stretch, even if Gabriel is healthy?</p><h2>Early kickoffs</h2><h3>Josh Allen does it all</h3><p>The Bills have given us plenty of reasons to be skeptical about their chances of finally going on a Super Bowl run this season. The two most pressing of which - a putrid run defense and a lack of established receivers - briefly threatened to rear their ugly heads again this week. Third-string Bucs running back Sean Tucker went off for 140 total yards and three touchdowns, and Tyrell Shavers found himself leading all Bills receivers with 90 yards on the day. Running backs James Cook and Ty Johnson were next on that list. The cool thing about having a cyborg quarterback is that glaring weaknesses are often rendered irrelevant. Josh Allen put the Bills on his back when they needed it most, accounting for six total touchdowns (three passing, three rushing) in the 44-32 win. I still have major questions about whether Buffalo, given the potential for fellow AFC contenders to expose the problem spots, can string together enough of these performances in January. For that reason, I'll probably be picking against them. But I'll do so knowing full well that Allen could make me look foolish. Anything is on the table when you have a quarterback like this.</p><h3>Steelers D trending up</h3><p>You didn't really think the Steelers, of all teams, were suddenly going to start playing bad defense, did you? OK, fine, I did. After a disastrous first half of the season on that side of the ball, tying the Dolphins for 26th in EPA/play, I bought into the idea that a stale system and a ton of money invested in an old roster was a recipe for disaster. Perhaps that proves correct in the long run, but the Pittsburgh defense is quietly turning things around. The Steelers completely flipped the script on the Bengals after getting boat raced by Joe Flacco and Ja'Marr Chase in October, giving up just 12 points while scoring two defensive touchdowns in Sunday's win. The throwback performance sees the Pittsburgh defense move into a tie for third in EPA/play over the last three weeks. With Aaron Rodgers' wrist injury adding to the list of concerns for an already underwhelming offense, this trend will have to continue if the Steelers want to hang onto a playoff spot over the next seven weeks.</p><h3>Darnell Washington rules</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810223/cropped_GettyImages-2247018511.jpg?ts=1763334708" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810223/w220xh124_GettyImages-2247018511.jpg?ts=1763334708 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810223/w320xh180_GettyImages-2247018511.jpg?ts=1763334708 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810223/w640xh360_GettyImages-2247018511.jpg?ts=1763334708 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810223/w768xh432_GettyImages-2247018511.jpg?ts=1763334708 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810223/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2247018511.jpg?ts=1763334708 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Justin Berl / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>I've spent a lot of time dumping on that Pittsburgh offense. All of which was very much deserved. But after what we saw in Sunday's win over the Bengals, it feels important to note that this unit does have at least one thing going for it: Darnell Washington might be the coolest player in the game today. His <a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1990138611489284101">absurd stiff-arm</a> on Barrett Carter was only the beginning of my favorite highlight of the season so far. Having seen his teammate thrown to the ground, Geno Stone clearly wanted nothing to do with the 6-foot-7, 264-pound tight end. Washington really picked up steam after shaking that half-hearted tackle attempt, and he finished the run by plowing through a third defender for good measure. That terrifying combination of size and physicality after the catch was also on display on a huge third-and-17 conversion midway through the third quarter. The former third-round pick, who also just so happens to block like an offensive tackle, really is one of the most unique talents in all of football. I will hereby forgive the Steelers for all trade deadline malpractice if the lack of receiver depth leads to more touches for Washington. You just know defenses want nothing to do with that.</p><h3>J.J. McCarthy struggling</h3><p>Nobody should be making any definitive statements about J.J. McCarthy's future this early in his career. There are just too many recent examples of late breakout quarterbacks to justify any sort of overreactions at this still-early stage. Remember: Sunday's game against the Bears was only the fifth start of his young career. All that being said, we still have to be honest about what we've seen so far. McCarthy has not been good. A late go-ahead touchdown drive probably would have altered the narrative if the Vikings managed to hang on for the win, but Minnesota also wouldn't have been in that position if his accuracy issues weren't consistently stalling drives. A 16-for-32 outing against a Bears defense that entered this week as a bottom-five unit in pass success rate is simply not going to cut it. Not with this supporting cast. Justin Jefferson, who is still looking for his first 100-yard game with the new quarterback, has brought in just 51.2% of targets from McCarthy this year. This frustrating season will be worth it if the experience helps the former first-rounder make good on his draft pedigree. As things stand, though, the Vikings are probably having some regrets about letting Sam Darnold walk out the door.</p><h3>Packers avoid disaster</h3><p>A win is a win, right? The Packers desperately needed to snap their two-game losing streak, so they'll take the result. But Sunday's game against the Giants did little to ease any concerns about the direction in which they've been heading over the last few weeks. Even a juicy matchup with the NFL's 29th-ranked defense by EPA/play wasn't enough for the Packers' offense to starting piecing things together. Jordan Love's 174-yard output on 13 of 24 passes is the worst of any quarterback against the hapless Giants so far this season. And the run game could be in trouble now, too, as Josh Jacobs' status is unclear after he was forced to leave the game with a knee injury. The defense theoretically gives the Green Bay offense a little bit of runway to sort things out down the stretch, but it's fair to wonder whether those answers are going to present themselves at all this year. Christian Watson is going to have to parlay his two-score day into a monster second half if this receiving corps is going to have a chance of withstanding the loss of Tucker Kraft.</p><h3>The best of Bryce</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810201/cropped_GettyImages-2246477597.jpg?ts=1763334715" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810201/w220xh124_GettyImages-2246477597.jpg?ts=1763334715 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810201/w320xh180_GettyImages-2246477597.jpg?ts=1763334715 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810201/w640xh360_GettyImages-2246477597.jpg?ts=1763334715 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810201/w768xh432_GettyImages-2246477597.jpg?ts=1763334715 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810201/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2246477597.jpg?ts=1763334715 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>This is the kind of performance that makes you want to exercise a little bit of patience with Bryce Young. The former No. 1 overall pick had seemingly regressed after a strong finish to last season, with a tough first half forcing many to wonder whether his time in Carolina was up. Maybe not. Young responded with arguably the best performance of his entire career in Sunday's win over the Falcons, completing 31 of 45 passes for 448 yards and three touchdowns. And before you shrug this off as a cupcake matchup, consider that Atlanta entered this week tied with the Seahawks and Bucs for ninth in defensive EPA/dropback. This group gets brutalized in the run game, no doubt, but it's been a completely different story against the pass. Can Young build on this inspiring performance and silence questions about his future with another strong finish?</p><h3>A gift from Atlanta?</h3><p>Speaking of the Falcons, this is a great time to revisit their inexplicable draft-day trade. James Pearce Jr. may well end up being a valuable player. In fact, we've already seen flashes of the juice he and fellow first-rounder Jalon Walker can provide in solidifying a long-suffering pass-rush. That's not really in dispute. The issue is the process. This 3-7 start is precisely why a team like Atlanta can't justify trading a second-rounder and a future Day 1 pick to get back into the end of the first-round. That pick is currently tracking to be the No. 8 overall selection. The Falcons' roster sure could use the kind of player that will be available in that slot. From the Rams' perspective, this deal is getting better by the day. Les Snead and Sean McVay could use that selection to further bolster their Super Bowl-caliber roster, much like the Eagles were able to do with Jalen Carter. But the even more interesting scenario would come with a swing on a quarterback who could be developed behind Matthew Stafford. There's a real chance that an ultimately meaningless trade out of the first round sets the stage for the Rams to make a seamless transition to the next era at quarterback, whenever that time comes. Doing so successfully would make this one of the most savvy draft-day trades we've ever seen.</p><p><em>Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.</em></p>

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Sunday Rundown: Key takeaways from Week 11's biggest games

NFL Power Rankings takes stock of all 32 teams throughout the season.  This week, we're identifyi...

<p><em>NFL Power Rankings takes stock of all 32 teams throughout the season.</em></p><p><em>This week, we're identifying one potential second-half breakout candidate for each club.</em></p><p><strong>Jump to:</strong><br><a href="#ARI">ARI</a> | <a href="#ATL">ATL</a> | <a href="#BAL">BAL</a> | <a href="#BUF">BUF</a> | <a href="#CAR">CAR</a> | <a href="#CHI">CHI</a> | <a href="#CIN">CIN</a> | <a href="#CLE">CLE</a> | <a href="#DAL">DAL</a> | <a href="#DEN">DEN</a> | <a href="#DET">DET</a> | <a href="#GB">GB</a> | <a href="#HOU">HOU</a> | <a href="#IND">IND</a> | <a href="#JAX">JAX</a> | <a href="#KC">KC</a> | <a href="#LAC">LAC</a> | <a href="#LAR">LAR</a> | <a href="#LV">LV</a> | <a href="#MIA">MIA</a> | <a href="#MIN">MIN</a> | <a href="#NE">NE</a> | <a href="#NO">NO</a> | <a href="#NYG">NYG</a> | <a href="#NYJ">NYJ</a> | <a href="#PHI">PHI</a> | <a href="#PIT">PIT</a> | <a href="#SEA">SEA</a> | <a href="#SF">SF</a> | <a href="#TB">TB</a> | <a href="#TEN">TEN</a> | <a href="#WAS">WAS</a></p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3><a id="LAR" name="LAR">1. Los Angeles Rams (7-2)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806247/cropped_GettyImages-2242019173.jpg?ts=1762836567" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806247/w220xh124_GettyImages-2242019173.jpg?ts=1762836567 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806247/w320xh180_GettyImages-2242019173.jpg?ts=1762836567 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806247/w640xh360_GettyImages-2242019173.jpg?ts=1762836567 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806247/w768xh432_GettyImages-2242019173.jpg?ts=1762836567 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806247/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2242019173.jpg?ts=1762836567 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Dan Istitene / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 1</em></p><p><strong>Terrance Ferguson, TE.</strong> The Rams have ramped up their usage of heavy sets since having to get creative in a Week 7 game without Puka Nacua. That creates a real opportunity for the athletic second-round tight end to get involved.</p><h3><a id="SEA" name="SEA">2. Seattle Seahawks (7-2)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 6</em></p><p><strong>Nick Emmanwori, S.</strong> Seahawks fans would tell you Emmanwori is already an impact player, and they'd be right. He'll get more widespread recognition as one of the biggest steals of the 2025 draft if he can continue his hot start throughout the second half.</p><h3><a id="KC" name="KC">3. Kansas City Chiefs (5-4)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 3</em></p><p><strong>Brashard Smith, RB.</strong> Isiah Pacheco missing time with his knee injury would open the door for the rookie running back to see extra work alongside Kareem Hunt. The Chiefs might have a tough time keeping Smith off the field once they get an extended look at what he can do in the passing game.</p><h3><a id="DET" name="DET">4. Detroit Lions (6-3)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 4</em></p><p><strong>Terrion Arnold, CB.</strong> Arnold didn't have the most spectacular rookie season, but things may be starting to click in Year 2. He's allowed no more than 31 receiving yards in any of Detroit's last four contests, according to PFF.</p><h3><a id="IND" name="IND">5. Indianapolis Colts (8-2)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806468/cropped_GettyImages-2236782139.jpg?ts=1762836607" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806468/w220xh124_GettyImages-2236782139.jpg?ts=1762836607 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806468/w320xh180_GettyImages-2236782139.jpg?ts=1762836607 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806468/w640xh360_GettyImages-2236782139.jpg?ts=1762836607 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806468/w768xh432_GettyImages-2236782139.jpg?ts=1762836607 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/806468/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2236782139.jpg?ts=1762836607 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Johnnie Izquierdo / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 5</em></p><p><strong>Alec Pierce, WR.</strong> The 25-year-old's unique ability in the downfield passing game has long been apparent. With the Colts trading AD Mitchell at the deadline, Pierce no longer faces stiff competition for snaps as the WR3. He has a chance to put up the kind of numbers that'll get him paid as a free agent.</p><h3><a id="PHI" name="PHI">6. Philadelphia Eagles (7-2)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 7</em></p><p><strong>Jaelan Phillips, EDGE.</strong> Phillips has 26 career sacks, so it's probably a bit of a stretch to consider him a breakout candidate. But what if the trade to Philly allows him to unlock that superstar potential? His eight pressures against the Packers are a promising sign for the Eagles' chances of recapturing last year's pass-rush magic.</p><h3><a id="NE" name="NE">7. New England Patriots (8-2)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 9</em></p><p><strong>TreVeyon Henderson, RB.</strong> The Patriots are finally tapping into the upside that comes with a running back as electric as Henderson. New England can take this offense to new heights if it can consistently get him into space like it did for a pair of long touchdown runs against the Bucs.</p><h3><a id="BUF" name="BUF">8. Buffalo Bills (6-3)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 2</em></p><p><strong>Maxwell Hairston Jr., CB.</strong> Buffalo's first-round rookie cornerback has played just three games since returning from a knee injury suffered in camp. The playmaking skills are already apparent, as he's tied for the team lead with a pair of interceptions.</p><h3><a id="TB" name="TB">9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 8</em></p><p><strong>Tez Johnson, WR.</strong> Tampa Bay's injury issues at receiver have forced the seventh-round rookie to take on a contributing role far sooner than expected. Johnson has been up to the task, recording 18 catches for 254 yards and four touchdowns across the last five outings.</p><h3><a id="DEN" name="DEN">10. Denver Broncos (8-2)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809496/cropped_GettyImages-2245424380.jpg?ts=1762836674" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809496/w220xh124_GettyImages-2245424380.jpg?ts=1762836674 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809496/w320xh180_GettyImages-2245424380.jpg?ts=1762836674 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809496/w640xh360_GettyImages-2245424380.jpg?ts=1762836674 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809496/w768xh432_GettyImages-2245424380.jpg?ts=1762836674 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809496/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2245424380.jpg?ts=1762836674 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">AAron Ontiveroz / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 10</em></p><p><strong>Pat Bryant, WR.</strong> The Broncos' passing game isn't going anywhere unless Bo Nix starts to figure it out, but mixing things up at receiver probably couldn't hurt. Bryant has shown flashes in his limited opportunities, averaging 14.9 yards across 10 receptions.</p><h3><a id="GB" name="GB">11. Green Bay Packers (5-3-1)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 11</em></p><p><strong>Matthew Golden, WR.</strong> The Packers are really going to miss Tucker Kraft. A second-half breakout from their speedy first-rounder might be the only way to avoid a major drop-off from the offense.</p><h3><a id="BAL" name="BAL">12. Baltimore Ravens (4-5)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 15</em></p><p><strong>Mike Green, EDGE.</strong> The pass rush must improve if the Ravens' defense is to turn things around. Although a deadline deal for Dre'Mont Jones should help, nobody has as much upside as Baltimore's talented second-round rookie.</p><h3><a id="LAC" name="LAC">13. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 16</em></p><p><strong>Trevor Penning, OL.</strong> Could a fresh start allow Penning to make good on his potential following a disappointing run in New Orleans? After some devastating losses up front, the Chargers' season may depend on it.</p><h3><a id="SF" name="SF">14. San Francisco 49ers (6-4)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 12</em></p><p><strong>Ricky Pearsall, WR.</strong> Injuries have gotten in the way of Pearsall's expected breakout season to this point, but he seems to be closing in on a return. The 2024 first-rounder would immediately become the 49ers' top passing target.</p><h3><a id="CHI" name="CHI">15. Chicago Bears (6-3)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809497/cropped_GettyImages-2245395448.jpg?ts=1762836759" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809497/w220xh124_GettyImages-2245395448.jpg?ts=1762836759 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809497/w320xh180_GettyImages-2245395448.jpg?ts=1762836759 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809497/w640xh360_GettyImages-2245395448.jpg?ts=1762836759 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809497/w768xh432_GettyImages-2245395448.jpg?ts=1762836759 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809497/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2245395448.jpg?ts=1762836759 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 17</em></p><p><strong>Luther Burden III, WR.</strong> It's time for the Bears to unleash their electric second-round rookie. There are plenty of other options in this offense, but Burden's upside should soon make him a featured playmaker for Ben Johnson.</p><h3><a id="PIT" name="PIT">16. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 13</em></p><p><strong>Roman Wilson, WR.</strong> The Steelers' failure to upgrade the receiver position ahead of the deadline is inexcusable. Can additional opportunities for Wilson provide the spark this offense needs?</p><h3><a id="HOU" name="HOU">17. Houston Texans (4-5)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 20</em></p><p><strong>Jayden Higgins, WR.</strong> The second-round rookie was a big part of Houston's stunning comeback win over Jacksonville. Perhaps that performance puts him in a position to take on a more prominent role opposite Nico Collins down the stretch.</p><h3><a id="JAX" name="JAX">18. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 14</em></p><p><strong>Parker Washington, WR.</strong> The Jaguars responded to Travis Hunter's injury by making a move for Jakobi Meyers at the deadline. While Jacksonville certainly has big plans for the veteran wideout, Washington also deserves an uptick in usage after making the most of his opportunities.</p><h3><a id="MIN" name="MIN">19. Minnesota Vikings (4-5)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 18</em></p><p><strong>J.J. McCarthy, QB.</strong> The excitement around McCarthy's arrival has quickly faded. He needs to turn things around in the second half if the Vikings are to have a chance of salvaging this season.</p><h3><a id="CAR" name="CAR">20. Carolina Panthers (5-5)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809499/cropped_GettyImages-2245884652.jpg?ts=1762836844" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809499/w220xh124_GettyImages-2245884652.jpg?ts=1762836844 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809499/w320xh180_GettyImages-2245884652.jpg?ts=1762836844 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809499/w640xh360_GettyImages-2245884652.jpg?ts=1762836844 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809499/w768xh432_GettyImages-2245884652.jpg?ts=1762836844 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809499/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2245884652.jpg?ts=1762836844 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 19</em></p><p><strong>Nic Scourton, EDGE.</strong> The second-round rookie has been a bright spot for Carolina's defense, tying for the team lead with 19 pressures and three sacks. A little more experience should help him take another step forward.</p><h3><a id="DAL" name="DAL">21. Dallas Cowboys (3-5-1)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 21</em></p><p><strong>Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE.</strong> Ezeiruaku has been finding his footing after a slow start, recording 18 pressures and a pair of sacks over the last five games. The second-rookie stands to benefit from the Cowboys adding Quinnen Williams on the inside.</p><h3><a id="ATL" name="ATL">22. Atlanta Falcons (3-6)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 22</em></p><p><strong>Jalon Walker, EDGE.</strong> Walker appears poised to take off in the second half of his rookie season. He's recorded three sacks over the last two contests, and his complete performance Sunday against the Colts was exactly what the Falcons envisioned when they drafted him at No. 15 overall.</p><h3><a id="ARI" name="ARI">23. Arizona Cardinals (3-6)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 23</em></p><p><strong>Walter Nolen III, DT.</strong> Nolen quickly made his presence felt after missing the first seven games of the year with a calf injury. The first-round rookie made splash plays both as a pass-rusher and as a run defender in Week 9 against the Cowboys, including an instant win for a sack against Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith.</p><h3><a id="CIN" name="CIN">24. Cincinnati Bengals (3-6)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 25</em></p><p><strong>Dylan Fairchild, G.</strong> Fairchild's immediate impact has been one of the few positives from a disappointing season in Cincinnati. If the third-round rookie can build on his strong start, it would go a long way toward solidifying the Bengals' interior offensive line after years of turmoil.</p><h3><a id="MIA" name="MIA">25. Miami Dolphins (3-7)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809500/cropped_GettyImages-2240982611.jpg?ts=1762836994" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809500/w220xh124_GettyImages-2240982611.jpg?ts=1762836994 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809500/w320xh180_GettyImages-2240982611.jpg?ts=1762836994 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809500/w640xh360_GettyImages-2240982611.jpg?ts=1762836994 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809500/w768xh432_GettyImages-2240982611.jpg?ts=1762836994 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809500/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2240982611.jpg?ts=1762836994 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Perry Knotts / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 28</em></p><p><strong>Chop Robinson, EDGE.</strong> Miami's trade of Jaelan Phillips to Philadelphia ahead of the deadline clears the way for Robinson to take on a more significant role opposite Bradley Chubb. His rare explosiveness off the edge gives him a sky-high ceiling.</p><h3><a id="NO" name="NO">26. New Orleans Saints (2-8)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 30</em></p><p><strong>Tyler Shough, QB.</strong> The Saints seem likely to give Shough a long look over the second half of the season. If Sunday's performance in a win over the Panthers is any indication, the second-round rookie has a real chance to run with the opportunity.</p><h3><a id="NYG" name="NYG">27. New York Giants (2-8)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 24</em></p><p><strong>Abdul Carter, EDGE.</strong> Carter doesn't have the expected sack numbers just yet, but it's likely only a matter of time. The No. 3 overall pick is clear of both Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux for the team lead with 33 pressures.</p><h3><a id="WAS" name="WAS">28. Washington Commanders (3-7)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 26</em></p><p><strong>Jaylin Lane, WR.</strong> The Commanders need someone to step up at receiver with Terry McLaurin back on the sidelines. Lane should have plenty of opportunities to showcase his abilities as Washington focuses on developing young talent for the future.</p><h3><a id="NYJ" name="NYJ">29. New York Jets (2-7)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 31</em></p><p><strong>AD Mitchell, WR.</strong> Getting Mitchell back as part of the Sauce Gardner trade was an interesting upside play for a club desperately in need of receivers. And with Garrett Wilson now set to miss time, Mitchell could even get an extended run as the No. 1 target.</p><h3><a id="LV" name="LV">30. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809503/cropped_GettyImages-2241304744.jpg?ts=1762837306" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809503/w220xh124_GettyImages-2241304744.jpg?ts=1762837306 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809503/w320xh180_GettyImages-2241304744.jpg?ts=1762837306 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809503/w640xh360_GettyImages-2241304744.jpg?ts=1762837306 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809503/w768xh432_GettyImages-2241304744.jpg?ts=1762837306 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809503/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2241304744.jpg?ts=1762837306 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Brooke Sutton / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 29</em></p><p><strong>Jack Bech, WR.</strong> Bech has been a nonfactor to this point, though it's not necessarily his fault. The Jakobi Meyers trade creates an opening in the slot, which was always going to be the rookie's ideal fit at the NFL level.</p><h3><a id="CLE" name="CLE">31. Cleveland Browns (2-7)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 27</em></p><p><strong>Mason Graham, DT.</strong> Graham had his best game of the season coming off the bye, posting the second-best pass-rush win rate (30.8%) of all interior defenders in Week 10. Could that set the stage for a strong second half?</p><h3><a id="TEN" name="TEN">32. Tennessee Titans (1-8)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 32</em></p><p><strong>Chimere Dike, WR.</strong> Dike has been the NFL's most productive return man, and now the Titans are starting to take advantage of those playmaking skills on offense. The fourth-round rookie flashed his potential as a receiver against the Colts in Week 8, recording seven catches for 93 yards.</p><p><em>Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.</em></p>

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NFL Power Rankings - Week 11: Every team's 2nd-half breakout candidate

<p><em>Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.</em></p><h2>Sunday night spotlight</h2><h3>Steelers are cooked</h3><p>A one-year investment in Aaron Rodgers was about going all-in on competing this year. I can't imagine anyone actually believes that's still on the table after what we saw against the Chargers. Even if the defense can sustain its recent improvements, the Steelers' offense simply isn't good enough for any sort of meaningful run. Rodgers had completed just 10 of 23 passes for 96 yards and two interceptions before a garbage-time drive made it a slightly more respectable 25-10 final. Not that it would have made a difference if the future Hall of Famer is going to play like he did Sunday night, but this team doing nothing to bolster its receiving corps at the deadline remains incomprehensible. The lack of firepower will be tough to overcome against a challenging second-half schedule. And even if Pittsburgh happens to sneak into the playoffs, what then? Passing on a quarterback early in the draft and rolling with Rodgers only to end up as the same old Steelers is a tough look.</p><h2>Late-afternoon games</h2><h3>NFC West slugfest on tap</h3><p>Next week's game between the Seahawks and Rams has the potential to be one of the best and most consequential contests of the year. Seattle heads in on a high note after terrorizing the Cardinals this week with five sacks and a pair of defensive touchdowns. And with another week to get Rashid Shaheed up to speed, the offense could be even more dangerous than the explosive unit we've seen all season. The Rams, meanwhile, might be the most complete team in football. Matthew Stafford further bolstered his MVP resume with a four-touchdown day in Sunday's win over the 49ers, and his offense is now tied for second in EPA/play, according to TruMedia. Mike Shula's defense doesn't get nearly the same level of attention, but that unit quietly ranks fourth by the same metric. It'll be a lot of fun to see who's got the edge head-to-head, because this could very well be the first of three matchups we get over the next few months. Both the Rams and Seahawks are making a case as the best team in the NFC.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Campbell gets Lions rolling</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809345/cropped_GettyImages-2245888486.jpg?ts=1762737839" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809345/w220xh124_GettyImages-2245888486.jpg?ts=1762737839 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809345/w320xh180_GettyImages-2245888486.jpg?ts=1762737839 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809345/w640xh360_GettyImages-2245888486.jpg?ts=1762737839 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809345/w768xh432_GettyImages-2245888486.jpg?ts=1762737839 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809345/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2245888486.jpg?ts=1762737839 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Greg Fiume / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Dan Campbell thought the Lions' offense could stand to shake things up. As has so often been the case throughout his tenure, he knew exactly what buttons to push. The Lions head coach unceremoniously took over play-calling duties for Sunday's game against the Commanders, and the results couldn't have been much better. Detroit didn't punt once in the comfortable 44-22 win, and the unit's 0.46 EPA/play is the second-best output since Campbell took over in 2021. A favorable matchup with a bad Washington defense was probably part of the equation, but few opponents would have been able to deal with the way the Lions were spreading the ball around to their star playmakers. Keep an eye on Jameson Williams' usage moving forward. This team is all the more difficult to stop when one of the league's most explosive wideouts is being put in a position to impact the game. Williams put up a season-high 119 yards and a touchdown after the play-calling adjustments and that could set the stage for a much more active second half.</p><h2>Early kickoffs</h2><h3>Bills come crashing down</h3><p>I've been bamboozled. Granted, I probably should have shown a little more restraint before having the Bills rocket back up our NFL Power Rankings. But how else was I supposed to react to a convincing win over the Chiefs? It seemed possible, if not likely, that this was a sign of a Super Bowl favorite getting things back on track after some ultimately meaningless bumps in the road. As it turns out, not so much. At least not yet. Sunday's loss in Miami was a reminder of the issues we saw with this Bills team over the first two months of the season. The run defense is a problem that's only going to get worse without Ed Oliver, and the passing attack still doesn't have a true No. 1 target. Buffalo reportedly made attempts to address those spots leading up to the trade deadline, looking into both Quinnen Williams and Jaylen Waddle. Failing to meet those lofty price tags is understandable, but not having a pivot move is a failure for this organization. The Bills will be sliding back down my rankings, and they won't be returning to the elite tier until I see multiple weeks of evidence to suggest they've found in-house answers to those problems. That's not going to be easy.</p><h3>Patriots make statement</h3><p>A favorable schedule had understandably been giving the football world some pause when it came to buying in on this Patriots team. Taking down the Buccaneers on the road should go a long way toward silencing those lingering questions. The big story coming out of this one will be that Drake Maye continued to play at a high level against his most formidable opponent yet. That's a notable one for me, too, but I was never worried about his ability to sustain the early production. Personally, I'm focusing on the fact that the team around him is constantly improving. The pair of breakout performances they got this week is the most inspiring development on that front. TreVeyon Henderson is going to be tough to keep off the field after he ripped off a pair of long touchdowns en route to a 147-yard day. Kyle Williams made the most of his opportunity without Kayshon Boutte, showing off his game-breaking speed on a 72-yard score. The electric rookies getting more involved as the season goes on will only bolster the Patriots' chances of holding off the Bills for the AFC East crown. As things currently stand, New England is the team most worthy of your confidence in that division.</p><h3>Massive win for Texans</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809295/cropped_GettyImages-2245892823.jpg?ts=1762730226" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809295/w220xh124_GettyImages-2245892823.jpg?ts=1762730226 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809295/w320xh180_GettyImages-2245892823.jpg?ts=1762730226 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809295/w640xh360_GettyImages-2245892823.jpg?ts=1762730226 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809295/w768xh432_GettyImages-2245892823.jpg?ts=1762730226 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809295/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2245892823.jpg?ts=1762730226 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Tim Warner / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Texans are very much alive. Things weren't looking good when the Jaguars took a 29-10 lead into the fourth quarter, but Houston wasn't ready to let its season go down the drain. Veteran backup Davis Mills got the offense rolling for three straight touchdown drives to pull in front late, and the defense did its part by denying Jacksonville a single first down in the final frame. A playoff run won't be easy with the schedule that lies ahead, but the Texans can at least get back to .500 with a layup against the Titans next week. And once C.J. Stroud returns, they may not need much more than a league-average offense to complement this ferocious defense. On the other side, this is an inexcusable collapse for a Jaguars team that has been showing real signs of growth. I really want to believe this team is different, and it certainly has a chance to be in the long haul. But a 4-1 start has suddenly turned into an underwhelming 5-4 record, and this kind of loss to an undermanned opponent was supposed to be something the new regime put in the past.</p><h3>Vikings slop fest</h3><p>We spent a lot of time during the offseason talking about the incredibly favorable situation the Vikings had built for a young quarterback. We're still waiting to see that ecosystem deliver on the hype. That's not to say J.J. McCarthy is without blame - the first-year starter ranks 35th out of 36 quarterbacks in EPA/DB (min. 125 dropbacks). But he's not getting the help we expected, either. The offensive line has been a problem throughout the season, and the pre-snap penalties reached maximum embarrassment levels this week. Minnesota's eight false starts is the most a team has committed in a home game since 2009 when the Bills fell 6-3 to the Browns. That's not the company a playoff contender should be keeping. The offense will have to find a way to clean things up right away, or the upcoming three-game stretch against the Bears, Packers, and Seahawks could very well turn out the lights on their season.</p><h3>Dolphins don't quit</h3><p>A major letdown from the Bills will be the primary talking point coming out of Sunday's game in Miami, but it should be noted that this wasn't entirely a matter of the favorite not showing up. The Dolphins also did their part to take it from them. Considering the trajectory of its season leading up to this point, nobody would've been surprised if this team went completely off the rails. There were probably a bunch of players expecting to be traded at the deadline, too. While we could certainly argue that Miami should have been more active in that regard, the ability for everyone to lock back in and put together this kind of effort reflects positively on Mike McDaniel. The Dolphins have a real opportunity to keep stacking wins over the next month or so. McDaniel is probably still a long shot to save his job, but could he give ownership something to think about?</p><h3>Shough showing signs</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809340/cropped_GettyImages-2245885782.jpg?ts=1762734681" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809340/w220xh124_GettyImages-2245885782.jpg?ts=1762734681 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809340/w320xh180_GettyImages-2245885782.jpg?ts=1762734681 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809340/w640xh360_GettyImages-2245885782.jpg?ts=1762734681 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809340/w768xh432_GettyImages-2245885782.jpg?ts=1762734681 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809340/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2245885782.jpg?ts=1762734681 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>I was among those who believed Spencer Rattler hadn't done anything to deserve getting benched, and I still feel that way. But I also understood the move. The Saints had to see what Tyler Shough could do if they were going to have a full picture of their young quarterback room heading into the 2026 draft. So far, so good. The second-round rookie looked comfortable at the controls of Kellen Moore's offense in his second start this week, completing 19 of 27 passes for 282 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a win over the Panthers. Shough now owns the second-best single-game performance from a rookie QB this season by EPA/dropback, and he's the first Saints rookie to win a start since 1981. He's got a long way to go before anyone will be calling him the quarterback of the future in New Orleans, but the combination of arm talent, athleticism, and pocket presence absolutely gives him starter upside.</p><h3>Taylor chasing history</h3><p>Jonathan Taylor isn't going to slow down, is he? The Colts running back was once again the star of the show in Sunday's win over the Falcons, racking up 244 rushing yards and three touchdowns, including the winner in overtime. Taylor's three-score game, his fifth such performance of the year, already gives him 17 total touchdowns on the year. That puts him on pace for nearly 29 over the course of the season, well within striking distance of LaDainian Tomlinson's single-season record (31). His 1,139 rushing yards (6 per carry) also has him tracking to challenge the 2,000-yard mark. While the "value" component of the MVP conversation will always have voters leaning toward quarterbacks, this is shaping up to be a unique case. Taylor deserves to be a part of that conversation if he's able to finish off one of the best running back seasons we've ever seen.</p><h3>Concern for Penix</h3><p>The Falcons' defense has to be better against the run, but I'm putting this loss squarely on the shoulders of the offense. With Atlanta's new-look pass-rush creating plenty of chaos for Daniel Jones, racking up seven sacks on the day, there was a real opportunity to establish the kind of lead that would phase Taylor right out of the game. The Falcons' offense was unable to capitalize. While a lack of receiver depth is a major issue - this is the second straight game that Drake London accounted for all but one reception from the wideout group - it doesn't help that Michael Penix's accuracy is so spotty. This could have been a different result if the second-year quarterback didn't miss a wide-open David Sills across the middle on a key third down in the fourth quarter. Jonathan Taylor went 83 yards for a go-ahead score three plays later. This passing game has to be better.</p><p><em>Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.</em></p>

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The 2025 NFL season has officially reached the midway point. Let's look back at the best individu...

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theScore's midseason NFL All-Pros: Our picks for best at every position

An exciting NFL trade deadline is officially in the books. After breaking down the biggest deals ...

<p><em>An exciting NFL trade deadline is officially in the books. After <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3374577" href="https://thescore.com/news/3374577">breaking down the biggest deals</a> in the moment, let's zoom out for big-picture look at the overall winners and losers from this year's action.</em></p><h3>Winner: Future Jets (maybe)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808633/cropped_GettyImages-2201939333.jpg?ts=1762323532" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808633/w220xh124_GettyImages-2201939333.jpg?ts=1762323532 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808633/w320xh180_GettyImages-2201939333.jpg?ts=1762323532 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808633/w640xh360_GettyImages-2201939333.jpg?ts=1762323532 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808633/w768xh432_GettyImages-2201939333.jpg?ts=1762323532 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808633/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2201939333.jpg?ts=1762323532 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Stacy Revere / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>We'll start by discussing both sides of a stunning day for the Jets. It's tough to imagine that they went into the deadline wanting to move Sauce Gardner or Quinnen Williams. There are only so many players that are truly untouchable, though. Virtually every non-quarterback has a price. And when teams step up with the kinds of offers that have the potential to alter the future of your franchise, you have no choice but to listen. The Jets were evidently blown away by the collection of picks that was put on the table for their pair of elite defensive players. And rightly so.</p><p>Because as difficult as it may be to find defenders of that caliber, this team knows as well as anyone that tracking down a franchise quarterback can be damn near impossible. Getting a pair of first-round picks from the Colts for Gardner, and then first- and second-round selections from the Cowboys for Williams, gives New York all the capital it could possibly need to navigate the next two drafts in search of a young passer. And who knows? If the Jets are as bad as they look on paper, perhaps they end up at the top of the 2026 draft all on their own, allowing them to use all these extra picks on other top prospects that can grow alongside their new quarterback. That brings us to the other side of this.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Loser: Current Jets (definitely)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808584/cropped_GettyImages-2242418457.jpg?ts=1762323587" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808584/w220xh124_GettyImages-2242418457.jpg?ts=1762323587 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808584/w320xh180_GettyImages-2242418457.jpg?ts=1762323587 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808584/w640xh360_GettyImages-2242418457.jpg?ts=1762323587 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808584/w768xh432_GettyImages-2242418457.jpg?ts=1762323587 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808584/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2242418457.jpg?ts=1762323587 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Logan Bowles / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>While it's possible that the Jets turn all of this draft capital into the kind of rebuild that finally produces a consistent winner, it's going to be a long road to get there. If you thought this team was bad after a pathetic 1-7 start, just wait to see what it looks like when their two best players are removed from the equation. There might not be another win on the schedule from here on out. With that in mind, everyone in the organization needs to be aligned on expectations over the second half.</p><p>Again, the Jets naturally ending up with the No. 1 pick in addition to all the picks acquired Thursday would be something of a dream scenario for first-year general manager Darren Mougey. Anyone capable of taking the long-term view can surely appreciate that. But what about the rest of the roster? How many of the other top players are going to be excited about sticking around when young superstars are getting shipped out for picks? Breece Hall reportedly wanted to be traded on deadline day. Considering the effort to stockpile picks, and the fact that Hall is scheduled to hit free agency in March, it's a little shocking that the Jets didn't oblige. With a number of exciting pieces on the roster, I had previously seen this team as one that could potentially be a top QB prospect away from taking off. That's simply no longer the case after Thursday's wheeling and dealing. Tearing things down in this manner undoubtedly creates a longer road back to relevance. Haven't Jets fans been through enough already?</p><h3>Winner: Chris Ballard</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764695/cropped_GettyImages-2192683502.jpg?ts=1762323623" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764695/w220xh124_GettyImages-2192683502.jpg?ts=1762323623 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764695/w320xh180_GettyImages-2192683502.jpg?ts=1762323623 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764695/w640xh360_GettyImages-2192683502.jpg?ts=1762323623 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764695/w768xh432_GettyImages-2192683502.jpg?ts=1762323623 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764695/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2192683502.jpg?ts=1762323623 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Justin Casterline / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Colts are all in. That's probably the first time we can say that about a Chris Ballard team. The ninth-year general manager has a well-earned reputation as one of the league's most conservative team builders. In years past, you could pretty much guarantee that he'd pass up any and all opportunities to make big moves in favor of a more methodical approach. It turns out these things can change when you finally find your quarterback.</p><p>That's not to say I'm completely convinced that Daniel Jones is certain to return value on the long-term deal he inevitably receives in Indy. Nobody can argue with the results we've seen thus far, though. The Colts are legitimately good, and they know it. So while you could certainly quibble with the price tag in the Sauce Gardner blockbuster - there will always be a strong case to be made against spending multiple first-round picks on a non-quarterback - I have no choice but to respect the long overdue boldness. Gardner is, conservatively, one of the five best cornerbacks in football. He's still only 25 years old, and he's already under contract through 2030. Barring some sort of catastrophic collapse, adding this type of game-changer in the midst of his prime should ensure nobody in Indianapolis is missing a pair of late first-rounders.</p><h3>Loser: Bengals</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805633/cropped_GettyImages-2236783853.jpg?ts=1760498659" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805633/w220xh124_GettyImages-2236783853.jpg?ts=1760498659 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805633/w320xh180_GettyImages-2236783853.jpg?ts=1760498659 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805633/w640xh360_GettyImages-2236783853.jpg?ts=1760498659 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805633/w768xh432_GettyImages-2236783853.jpg?ts=1760498659 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/805633/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2236783853.jpg?ts=1760498659 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">David Berding / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>It's long been understood that the Bengals have a different way of doing business. To be clear, I mean that negatively. Declining to move Trey Hendrickson before the deadline is just another example of the stubborn approach that so consistently ends up setting this organization back.</p><p>Keeping Hendrickson would be a totally reasonable move if there was any intention of paying him what he's worth. After multiple years of contract standoffs, including a 2025 training camp hold-in resolved by a one-year band-aid solution, there's no reason to believe that's going to happen. Hendrickson is scheduled to become a free agent in March. Considering the prices teams were evidently willing to pay for impact defenders at this year's deadline, there was likely a real opportunity for Cincinnati to flip the 30-year-old for picks to help rebuild this barren roster. The Bengals could theoretically use the franchise tag in March and entertain trade options thereafter, but there's no telling what Hendrickson could net them at that point. Why not capitalize on a hot trade market in the midst of what is likely a lost season?</p><h3>Winner: Sam Darnold</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808360/cropped_GettyImages-2244704500.jpg?ts=1762324460" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808360/w220xh124_GettyImages-2244704500.jpg?ts=1762324460 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808360/w320xh180_GettyImages-2244704500.jpg?ts=1762324460 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808360/w640xh360_GettyImages-2244704500.jpg?ts=1762324460 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808360/w768xh432_GettyImages-2244704500.jpg?ts=1762324460 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808360/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2244704500.jpg?ts=1762324460 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Greg Fiume / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Seahawks probably didn't have to make an addition to the receiving corps. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, and rookie Tory Horton were already producing at a high level for Sam Darnold, who's been playing out of his mind halfway through his debut season in Seattle. But smart teams don't sit back when they have a real chance to compete. An aggressive move for Rashid Shaheed should make this passing game even more dangerous than it already is.</p><p>Shaheed is one of the NFL's premier vertical targets, and reuniting Klint Kubiak should allow for optimal usage in that regard. The new Seahawks coordinator had already been leaning heavily upon the vertical game, and Darnold is delivering downfield better than any other quarterback so far this season. In fact, his 144.8 passer rating on throws of 20-plus yards downfield is the best mark posted since air yards were first tracked in 2006, according to TruMedia. The Seahawks leaning into that ability even more should not only set the stage for more team success, but the gaudy numbers could very well make Darnold an MVP front-runner in the process. It may only be a matter of time before the three-year, $100.5-million deal he signed in March is replaced with a monster extension that solidifies him as Seattle's new franchise quarterback.</p><h3>Loser: Aaron Rodgers</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804501/cropped_GettyImages-2237584677.jpg?ts=1759804585" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804501/w220xh124_GettyImages-2237584677.jpg?ts=1759804585 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804501/w320xh180_GettyImages-2237584677.jpg?ts=1759804585 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804501/w640xh360_GettyImages-2237584677.jpg?ts=1759804585 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804501/w768xh432_GettyImages-2237584677.jpg?ts=1759804585 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804501/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2237584677.jpg?ts=1759804585 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Seb Daly / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Everyone assumed the Steelers would be sniffing around receivers ahead of the deadline. The need for a capable No. 2 across from DK Metcalf couldn't have been more obvious. And after an offseason in which Pittsburgh really seemed to embraced the win-now approach of trying to build a contender around Aaron Rodgers, it seemed like a lock that a meaningful move would be made. Any such expectations were evidently giving this staff far too much credit.</p><p>The Steelers were indeed in the mix for Jakobi Meyers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, but they ultimately got outbid by the Jaguars. The price: 4th- and 6th-round picks. Even if you think that was too much to pay (it wasn't), how was there not any sort of pivot to another option? Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who officially signed with the team as a free agent Tuesday, is now the sole addition to upgrade that painfully thin group. While he was a pleasant surprise in New Orleans last year, and the history with Rodgers probably helps the fit, this is an extremely underwhelming way for the Steelers to enter the second half. Unless last week's win over the Colts proves to be the first step in a monumental turnaround for a rapidly declining defense, I'm not sure this offense has nearly enough firepower to compensate.</p><h3>Winner: Eagles</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807428/cropped_GettyImages-2242342575.jpg?ts=1762324358" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807428/w220xh124_GettyImages-2242342575.jpg?ts=1762324358 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807428/w320xh180_GettyImages-2242342575.jpg?ts=1762324358 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807428/w640xh360_GettyImages-2242342575.jpg?ts=1762324358 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807428/w768xh432_GettyImages-2242342575.jpg?ts=1762324358 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807428/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2242342575.jpg?ts=1762324358 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The first half of the Eagles' season was a bit of a roller coaster. The offense appeared to have sorted things out in bouncing back from a concerning two-game losing streak, but there were still some real concerns about whether this defense (T-13th in EPA/play, T-22nd in success rate) could do the same. Howie Roseman wasn't about to sit around and wait to find out.</p><p>Philly getting Jaelan Phillips from Miami for a third-round pick has the potential to be a steal. The former first-rounder could be exactly exactly what this pass-rush needs to start trending back toward the more disruptive ways of last year's championship run. Phillips has bounced back from a pair of injury-ridden seasons to rank 11th among edge defenders in pass-rush win rate, according to PFF. The Eagles were also facing question marks at the third cornerback spot alongside Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Doubling down with Michael Carter II and Jaire Alexander is a fascinating way to give coordinator Vic Fangio some options. Could a fresh start can help Alexander show glimpses of the form he enjoyed in Green Bay before falling out of favor on a one-year deal in Baltimore? Crucially, because the Eagles have always done such a great job of building up draft capital, these swings were probably pretty easy to justify. Roseman is the best in the business. His latest work makes me a little more optimistic about the Eagles' chances of defending their Super Bowl title.</p><h3>Loser: Commanders</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808425/cropped_GettyImages-2243696929.jpg?ts=1762323792" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808425/w220xh124_GettyImages-2243696929.jpg?ts=1762323792 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808425/w320xh180_GettyImages-2243696929.jpg?ts=1762323792 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808425/w640xh360_GettyImages-2243696929.jpg?ts=1762323792 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808425/w768xh432_GettyImages-2243696929.jpg?ts=1762323792 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808425/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2243696929.jpg?ts=1762323792 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">David Eulitt / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Commanders are effectively out of the playoff picture at 3-6, and there's pretty much no hope of salvaging the season with Jayden Daniels now set to miss time. Considering they entered the season with the oldest roster we've seen <a href="https://www.phillyvoice.com/ranking-nfl-teams-age-after-53-man-cutdowns-2025-edition/">since at least 2012</a>, you'd think they would have been primed for a bit of a selling spree at the trade deadline. Instead, it was nothing but crickets.</p><p>Washington rolling into the second half of a lost season with aging veterans like Von Miller, Bobby Wagner, Zach Ertz, and even Deebo Samuel all playing out expiring deals really has me rethinking the endless praise we all had for this new staff coming off last year's NFC title game appearance. Aside from making the no-brainer pick with Daniels at No. 2 overall, this roster-building effort has left much to be desired. Taking whatever you could get for a few older players unlikely to be on the team next year could have gone a long way toward restocking some draft capital. Regression did hit harder than expected this season, but the Commanders have quite a bit of work to do if they're going to bounce back next year.</p><p><em>Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.</em></p>

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Winners and losers from the NFL trade deadline

Catch up on theScore's running analysis for every notable NFL deal made before this year's Nov. 4...

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NFL trade deadline: Analysis for every notable deal

The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. ET. See below for everything you need to know...

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NFL trade deadline: Transaction tracker and best available players

<p><em>NFL Power Rankings takes stock of all 32 teams throughout the season.</em></p><p><strong>Jump to:</strong><br><a href="#ARI">ARI</a> | <a href="#ATL">ATL</a> | <a href="#BAL">BAL</a> | <a href="#BUF">BUF</a> | <a href="#CAR">CAR</a> | <a href="#CHI">CHI</a> | <a href="#CIN">CIN</a> | <a href="#CLE">CLE</a> | <a href="#DAL">DAL</a> | <a href="#DEN">DEN</a> | <a href="#DET">DET</a> | <a href="#GB">GB</a> | <a href="#HOU">HOU</a> | <a href="#IND">IND</a> | <a href="#JAX">JAX</a> | <a href="#KC">KC</a> | <a href="#LAC">LAC</a> | <a href="#LAR">LAR</a> | <a href="#LV">LV</a> | <a href="#MIA">MIA</a> | <a href="#MIN">MIN</a> | <a href="#NE">NE</a> | <a href="#NO">NO</a> | <a href="#NYG">NYG</a> | <a href="#NYJ">NYJ</a> | <a href="#PHI">PHI</a> | <a href="#PIT">PIT</a> | <a href="#SEA">SEA</a> | <a href="#SF">SF</a> | <a href="#TB">TB</a> | <a href="#TEN">TEN</a> | <a href="#WAS">WAS</a></p><h3><a id="LAR" name="LAR">1. Los Angeles Rams (6-2)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808296/cropped_GettyImages-2244676224.jpg?ts=1762225221" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808296/w220xh124_GettyImages-2244676224.jpg?ts=1762225221 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808296/w320xh180_GettyImages-2244676224.jpg?ts=1762225221 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808296/w640xh360_GettyImages-2244676224.jpg?ts=1762225221 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808296/w768xh432_GettyImages-2244676224.jpg?ts=1762225221 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808296/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2244676224.jpg?ts=1762225221 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Wally Skalij / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 4</em></p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>A Rams offense led by Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Davante Adams has been everything we imagined. Not to be outdone, the defense leads the league in EPA/play, according to TruMedia. This might be the NFL's most complete team halfway through the season.</p><h3><a id="BUF" name="BUF">2. Buffalo Bills (6-2)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 10</em></p><p>Are the Bills back? I'm buying it. A brutal two-game stretch against the Patriots and Falcons was enough to sound the alarm, but Buffalo responded by dominating the Panthers and knocking off the red-hot Chiefs. A struggling defense holding Patrick Mahomes to a career-worst 44.1% completion rate is a particularly encouraging sign.</p><h3><a id="KC" name="KC">3. Kansas City Chiefs (5-4)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 3</em></p><p>I'm holding firm with the Chiefs despite their relatively underwhelming record. The offense has looked dangerous over the last few weeks with the receiving corps at full strength, and first-round rookie left tackle Josh Simmons is back after missing time due to a personal issue.</p><h3><a id="DET" name="DET">4. Detroit Lions (5-3)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 1</em></p><p>Falling to a scuffling Vikings team in Week 9 is certainly a setback for the Lions. Division contests can be tough to predict, so there's no reason to overreact. Still, the ground game being a nonfactor against a suspect Minnesota run defense is at least worth monitoring.</p><h3><a id="IND" name="IND">5. Indianapolis Colts (7-2)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808475/cropped_GettyImages-2244654741.jpg?ts=1762225411" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808475/w220xh124_GettyImages-2244654741.jpg?ts=1762225411 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808475/w320xh180_GettyImages-2244654741.jpg?ts=1762225411 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808475/w640xh360_GettyImages-2244654741.jpg?ts=1762225411 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808475/w768xh432_GettyImages-2244654741.jpg?ts=1762225411 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808475/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2244654741.jpg?ts=1762225411 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Joe Sargent / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 2</em></p><p>The Colts had to slip up at some point, right? Now, the question is whether other teams can replicate the Steelers' convincing win. Few opponents are likely to force the ball into Daniel Jones' hands 50 times, but that's clearly the best shot at stifling Indy's league-leading offense in EPA/play.</p><h3><a id="SEA" name="SEA">6. Seattle Seahawks (6-2)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 7</em></p><p>Seattle's big-play passing game is showing no signs of slowing down, and Sunday night's beatdown of the Commanders marked another outstanding effort from Mike Macdonald's defense. Nobody will want to face this team in the playoffs.</p><h3><a id="PHI" name="PHI">7. Philadelphia Eagles (6-2)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 8</em></p><p>Philly seems to have steadied the ship after starting October with an especially frustrating two-game losing streak. The Eagles put together their best rushing performance of the season heading into the bye, and Howie Roseman has now bolstered the defense with trades for Jaelan Phillips, Jaire Alexander, and Michael Carter II.</p><h3><a id="TB" name="TB">8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 6</em></p><p>Mike Evans' absence until mid-December is a significant blow to the Bucs' offense, but this group has overcome injury issues all year. And with the defense quietly making major improvements compared to past seasons, the star receiver's eventual return should come with Tampa Bay still comfortably atop the NFC South.</p><h3><a id="NE" name="NE">9. New England Patriots (7-2)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 9</em></p><p>Sunday's win over the Falcons marks the Patriots' sixth straight victory. Sacks remain an issue, but Drake Maye is quickly emerging as a top quarterback. A playoff appearance would be a great start for the Mike Vrabel era.</p><h3><a id="DEN" name="DEN">10. Denver Broncos (7-2)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808476/cropped_GettyImages-2244226859.jpg?ts=1762225537" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808476/w220xh124_GettyImages-2244226859.jpg?ts=1762225537 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808476/w320xh180_GettyImages-2244226859.jpg?ts=1762225537 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808476/w640xh360_GettyImages-2244226859.jpg?ts=1762225537 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808476/w768xh432_GettyImages-2244226859.jpg?ts=1762225537 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808476/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2244226859.jpg?ts=1762225537 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Cooper Neill / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 11</em></p><p>I still have my fair share of concerns about Denver's offense lacking consistency. That said, Bo Nix ranking third among all QBs in fourth-quarter EPA/dropback makes it easy to see how the Broncos have managed to pull out as many wins as they have. They'll be a real contender if they can start to string together a few complete performances.</p><h3><a id="GB" name="GB">11. Green Bay Packers (5-2-1)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 5</em></p><p>We know the Packers' potential, but something is missing on offense. Scoring only 23 points across losses to the Browns and Panthers is inexcusable for a Super Bowl-caliber team. With Tucker Kraft out for the year, it's fair to question if that ceiling remains attainable.</p><h3><a id="SF" name="SF">12. San Francisco 49ers (6-3)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 13</em></p><p>The 49ers' offense has continued to operate at a high level despite a host of injuries. This could be one of the NFL's best scoring attacks when Brock Purdy, Ricky Pearsall, and Brandon Aiyuk return to the field. Can a beat-up defense piece things together enough for San Francisco to capitalize?</p><h3><a id="PIT" name="PIT">13. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 15</em></p><p>The Steelers' convincing win over the Colts was one of the more stunning results of the season. While one game isn't nearly enough to forget about everything we've already seen from this defense, it's certainly worth staying patient to see if it can be the start of a turnaround.</p><h3><a id="JAX" name="JAX">14. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 12</em></p><p>The Jaguars' offense has shown flashes at times, but the Travis Hunter injury limits this group's potential to find another gear in the second half. Additionally, the defense has struggled significantly after a hot start, ranking 27th in EPA/play since Week 5. </p><h3><a id="BAL" name="BAL">15. Baltimore Ravens (3-5)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807950/cropped_GettyImages-2244253835.jpg?ts=1762225578" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807950/w220xh124_GettyImages-2244253835.jpg?ts=1762225578 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807950/w320xh180_GettyImages-2244253835.jpg?ts=1762225578 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807950/w640xh360_GettyImages-2244253835.jpg?ts=1762225578 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807950/w768xh432_GettyImages-2244253835.jpg?ts=1762225578 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807950/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2244253835.jpg?ts=1762225578 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Megan Briggs / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 16</em></p><p>Lamar Jackson returned to the field with a near-perfect four-touchdown performance in Thursday's win over the Dolphins. With their superstar quarterback leading the way and the defense trending up of late, the Ravens have a chance to climb out of the early hole they dug for themselves.</p><h3><a id="LAC" name="LAC">16. Los Angeles Chargers (6-3)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 14</em></p><p>The Chargers are in the playoff mix, but concerns persist about their trajectory. Injuries have again hit the offensive line, and Joe Alt is headed back to the sidelines with his second high ankle sprain of the season. Justin Herbert being under constant pressure and taking six sacks made Los Angeles' win over the lowly Titans far closer than it needed to be.</p><h3><a id="CHI" name="CHI">17. Chicago Bears (5-3)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 17</em></p><p>Chicago is finally putting things together in the run game, which is helping the offense take off. However, the defense has to improve if the Bears are to capitalize on that firepower. Giving up 42 points to the Bengals is embarrassing, even if they did pull out the win.</p><h3><a id="MIN" name="MIN">18. Minnesota Vikings (4-4)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 21</em></p><p>J.J. McCarthy's return was far from perfect, but it was enough to help the Vikings secure a massive division win over the Lions. Minnesota may still have a chance to make noise if the second-year quarterback can build on the promising effort.</p><h3><a id="CAR" name="CAR">19. Carolina Panthers (5-4)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 23</em></p><p>The Panthers are incredibly difficult to read. Their passing can be a mess, but they've found their bread and butter with a Rico Dowdle-led ground game. Although the defense has been inconsistent, this past week's win over the Packers was another example of things trending in the right direction. Either way, Carolina is a lot better than many of us realized.</p><h3><a id="HOU" name="HOU">20. Houston Texans (3-5)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808246/cropped_GettyImages-2244646491.jpg?ts=1762225826" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808246/w220xh124_GettyImages-2244646491.jpg?ts=1762225826 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808246/w320xh180_GettyImages-2244646491.jpg?ts=1762225826 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808246/w640xh360_GettyImages-2244646491.jpg?ts=1762225826 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808246/w768xh432_GettyImages-2244646491.jpg?ts=1762225826 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808246/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2244646491.jpg?ts=1762225826 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Logan Bowles / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 18</em></p><p>The Texans came up short against the Broncos after C.J. Stroud exited early with a concussion. They'll hope he can return soon, as there's no more room for error following a frustrating first half.</p><h3><a id="DAL" name="DAL">21. Dallas Cowboys (3-5-1)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 19</em></p><p>Dallas' offense has provided some fun moments this year, but that unit was just as bad as the defense Monday night against the Cardinals. At this point, it doesn't matter what Jerry Jones does or doesn't do at the trade deadline. The Cowboys aren't going anywhere.</p><h3><a id="ATL" name="ATL">22. Atlanta Falcons (3-5)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 20</em></p><p>Drake London was unbelievable Sunday against the Patriots, making one highlight-reel grab after another en route to a nine-catch, three-touchdown day. Meanwhile, Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts accounted for all but one of Michael Penix's other 13 completions in the contest, illustrating just how little help London is getting from his fellow wideouts.</p><h3><a id="ARI" name="ARI">23. Arizona Cardinals (3-5)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 28</em></p><p>The Cardinals averaged 18.8 points and 170.2 passing yards across the first five games of the year with Kyler Murray under center. In three contests with Jacoby Brissett, they've posted 25.7 points and 256.3 passing yards. Are we nearing the end of the Murray era in Arizona?</p><h3><a id="NYG" name="NYG">24. New York Giants (2-7)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 24</em></p><p>It's already another season down the drain for the Giants, but this one at least comes with some sense of hope. Even without his top playmakers, Jaxson Dart looks like he belongs. Another offseason to build up the roster could make this team a fun watch in 2026.</p><h3><a id="CIN" name="CIN">25. Cincinnati Bengals (3-6)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808291/cropped_GettyImages-2243866041.jpg?ts=1762238455" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808291/w220xh124_GettyImages-2243866041.jpg?ts=1762238455 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808291/w320xh180_GettyImages-2243866041.jpg?ts=1762238455 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808291/w640xh360_GettyImages-2243866041.jpg?ts=1762238455 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808291/w768xh432_GettyImages-2243866041.jpg?ts=1762238455 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808291/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2243866041.jpg?ts=1762238455 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Justin Casterline / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 27</em></p><p>Trading for Joe Flacco has given the Bengals some life on offense. Unfortunately, the state of their defense makes it tough for them to compete regardless of who's at quarterback. This roster is in rough shape beyond its few superstars.</p><h3><a id="WAS" name="WAS">26. Washington Commanders (3-6)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 22</em></p><p>The Commanders rolling into this season with the NFL's oldest roster seems like malpractice in hindsight. Regression has hit Washington hard after last year's run to the NFC title game, and now Jayden Daniels seems likely to miss an extended period with a left elbow injury.</p><h3><a id="CLE" name="CLE">27. Cleveland Browns (2-6)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 26</em></p><p>Kevin Stefanski giving up play-calling duties would appear to be an ominous sign for his chances of keeping his job next offseason. Considering how much work this roster needed after the Deshaun Watson debacle, is that really a fair outcome?</p><h3><a id="MIA" name="MIA">28. Miami Dolphins (2-7)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 25</em></p><p>The Dolphins are likely headed for a rebuild. If Miami guts the roster at the deadline, it's probably going to be in the mix for a top-five pick next year. Starting over with a new quarterback would have to be a consideration at that point.</p><h3><a id="LV" name="LV">29. Las Vegas Raiders (2-6)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 30</em></p><p>Brock Bowers looks like the best tight end in football again after taking three games to get healthy. But even his three-touchdown performance wasn't enough to help the Raiders beat the undermanned Jaguars. That's how far this team has to go.</p><h3><a id="NO" name="NO">30. New Orleans Saints (1-8)</a></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808477/cropped_GettyImages-2244697278.jpg?ts=1762225930" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808477/w220xh124_GettyImages-2244697278.jpg?ts=1762225930 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808477/w320xh180_GettyImages-2244697278.jpg?ts=1762225930 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808477/w640xh360_GettyImages-2244697278.jpg?ts=1762225930 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808477/w768xh432_GettyImages-2244697278.jpg?ts=1762225930 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808477/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2244697278.jpg?ts=1762225930 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Brooke Sutton / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p><em>Previous rank: 29</em></p><p>Spencer Rattler probably didn't deserve to be benched, but it's understandable for the Saints to want to get an extended look at Tyler Shough before next year's draft. The second-round rookie made his first start against the Rams defense, which, maybe predictably, didn't yield inspiring results.</p><h3><a id="NYJ" name="NYJ">31. New York Jets (1-7)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 31</em></p><p>The Jets went into their bye on a high note two weeks ago and are hoping a season-best scoring effort can be the start of something heading into the campaign's second half. Based on everything else we've seen, though, it's far more likely that New York's lone win was merely the result of playing the Bengals.</p><h3><a id="TEN" name="TEN">32. Tennessee Titans (1-8)</a></h3><p><em>Previous rank: 32</em></p><p>The Titans might have their quarterback of the future, but they don't have much around him. It's going to be a long road back for this organization. Ownership can't afford to miss on another head coaching hire.</p><p><em>Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.</em></p>

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NFL Power Rankings - Week 10: Bills back in business, Packers slide

<p><em>Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.</em></p><h2>Sunday night spotlight</h2><h3>Seahawks taking flight</h3><p>The Seahawks dominating the Commanders in front of a national audience should bring the entire football world around on something that's been brewing for a while now: this team is for real. Cooper Kupp's absence bumped Tory Horton into the starting lineup for Sunday's prime-time affair, and the red-hot Seattle passing game didn't miss a beat. Sam Darnold threw touchdowns on four straight drives to open the evening, the first two of which went to the fifth-round rookie. Another incredibly efficient outing from the veteran quarterback (21 of 24, 330 yards) now has him sitting third among all quarterbacks in EPA/dropback, according to TruMedia. The run game hasn't been nearly as efficient to this point, but I'm expecting to see a deal made to upgrade the interior offensive line. And that might not be it. After losing Ernest Jones to a knee injury Sunday night, a big move at linebacker should be on the table, too. This team has a real chance to make a run right now. Why sit back?</p><h3>An unexpected seller</h3><p>Speaking of the trade deadline, let's talk about a team on the opposite end of the spectrum. Washington is sitting at a disappointing 3-6 after nine games. Regression always seemed possible, if not likely, after a surprising run to the NFC title game last year. But this has been far beyond what anyone could have imagined. And now, Jayden Daniels appears likely to miss significant time after a gruesome injury to his non-throwing arm Sunday night. All of this has to lead the Commanders to sell off at the deadline. This team can't afford to get caught up in what should have been. The roster - the oldest the NFL has seen <a href="https://www.phillyvoice.com/ranking-nfl-teams-age-after-53-man-cutdowns-2025-edition/">since at least 2012</a> - is filled with big-name veterans who won't be long-term building blocks in Washington. Von Miller, Deebo Samuel, Bobby Wagner, and Zach Ertz are among the many names that could be made available. Passing up the opportunity to replenish draft capital would make it all the more difficult for the Commanders to retool in a timely fashion.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h2>Late-afternoon games</h2><h3>Bills get the Chiefs again</h3><p>I'll be honest here: I truly thought this game was shaping up to be a convincing win for the Chiefs. As strange as it felt not to expect another instant classic from an incredible rivalry, these two teams simply hadn't been playing the same level of football over the last month or so. But things change. Josh Allen was nearly perfect, completing 23 of 26 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown while adding another pair of scores on the ground. Crucially, a struggling Bills defense also stepped up with its most impressive performance of the season. Patrick Mahomes set a new career-low for completion percentage (44.1%), connecting on just 15 of 34 passes. I'd still like to see the Bills add a receiver before the deadline to maximize what's possible here, but a healthy Dalton Kincaid (6 catches, 101 yards, 1 TD) is a major boost the passing game. Can the Bills take the momentum from this statement win and run off a bunch more before getting their second shot at the Patriots in December? More importantly, can they finally find a way to have one of these wins over the Chiefs in the playoffs?</p><h3>Stafford as good as ever</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808311/cropped_GettyImages-2244673576.jpg?ts=1762134584" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808311/w220xh124_GettyImages-2244673576.jpg?ts=1762134584 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808311/w320xh180_GettyImages-2244673576.jpg?ts=1762134584 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808311/w640xh360_GettyImages-2244673576.jpg?ts=1762134584 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808311/w768xh432_GettyImages-2244673576.jpg?ts=1762134584 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808311/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2244673576.jpg?ts=1762134584 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Wally Skalij / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Rams stepping up to keep Matthew Stafford this offseason didn't come without risk. There had to be at least some level of concern about the investment when the 37-year-old missed time over the summer with a back injury. Eight games in, any such reservations are firmly in the rearview mirror. A four-touchdown effort in Sunday's blowout win over New Orleans already puts Stafford up to a league-best 21 passing scores on the year. He also has just two interceptions on the season, and none since Week 2. This was the vision with one of the league's best pocket passers running a Sean McVay offense that features the complementary talents of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Nacua is a high-volume superstar, and Stafford's red-zone connection with Adams improves every week. Add in a defense that's tied for second in EPA/play, and this team has a real case as the top dog in the NFC. Even if a more measured approach to team building is what helped put them in position for another Super Bowl run, they should be attacking the trade deadline aggressively.</p><h3>Bowers is back</h3><p>Brock Bowers tried for weeks to play through a knee injury suffered in the season opener, but he just wasn't himself. After three straight losses, the Raiders had no choice but to shut him down in an effort to get him back to full strength. Sunday's game against the Jaguars was his first appearance since Week 4, and the time away appears to have done the trick. Bowers looked exactly like the superstar talent we saw as a rookie, immediately reassuming his role as the No. 1 target in the Las Vegas offense while racking up 12 catches for 127 yards and three touchdowns. His third score gave the Raiders a chance to win in overtime, but a failed two-point conversion ultimately saw them come up short. Bowers and Ashton Jeanty (89 total yards, 1 TD) teaming up for this kind of performance at least provides a sense of hope for the future amid an otherwise disappointing first season under a new leadership regime.</p><h2>Early kickoffs</h2><h3>Vikings stun Lions</h3><p>J.J. McCarthy's return was the big story of Sunday's game in Detroit, and the second-year quarterback delivered a much-needed win for the scuffling Vikings. It certainly wasn't perfect, as McCarthy went through long stretches of difficulties dealing with pressure and delivering the ball accurately downfield. But a hot start, including two straight touchdown passes to open the game, at least offer a glimpse of what things might look like if he can get things rolling consistently. And just like we saw in a thrilling Week 1 win over the Bears, he stepped up with a big play to help seal the win late. The Vikings may have an outside chance of keeping their season alive if the run defense can build upon its impressive showing against the Lions. But either way, the rest of this season will be about McCarthy's development. Vikings fans will have every reason to be excited about the future if he's able to make those flashes more consistent.</p><h3>A blueprint for facing the Colts?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808266/cropped_GettyImages-2244662203.jpg?ts=1762134655" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808266/w220xh124_GettyImages-2244662203.jpg?ts=1762134655 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808266/w320xh180_GettyImages-2244662203.jpg?ts=1762134655 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808266/w640xh360_GettyImages-2244662203.jpg?ts=1762134655 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808266/w768xh432_GettyImages-2244662203.jpg?ts=1762134655 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808266/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2244662203.jpg?ts=1762134655 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Joe Sargent / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Colts have finally slipped up. There's no reason to panic just yet, as we're still talking about one of the NFL's most consistent teams over the first half of the season. There's a reason they're sitting a 7-2 with a league-best point differential of 109. But Sunday's game in Pittsburgh confirmed that they aren't invincible. If by some chance you are able to build a lead and make this offense play from behind, a Jonathan Taylor-led run game suddenly becomes less of a factor. And as good as Daniel Jones has been this year, this offense couldn't possibly be expected to maintain the same level of efficiency when the game is solely in his hands. That's exactly what we saw play out this week, as the Steelers' pass-rush was able to tee off with Jones dropping back 50 times. The result: five sacks, three interceptions, and two Jones fumbles. Add in another giveaway from Josh Downs, and the Colts became the first team all year to cough up six turnovers in a game. Indy may need some defensive reinforcements at the trade deadline to help disrupt the blueprint Pittsburgh mapped out.</p><h3>Packers disappoint again</h3><p>It might be time to start worrying about the Packers' offense. We've seen the explosiveness in spurts, typically when their backs are against the wall and they have no choice but to push the ball down the field, but even crunch-time opportunities weren't enough to make things click Sunday against the Panthers. And now, with Tucker Kraft suffering a potentially significant knee injury, the lack of elite targets becomes an even more glaring issue. I'm not going to throw in the towel just yet, I've got far too much confidence in Jordan Love and Matt LaFleur to figure it out with all they other options they have. And a high-end defense, which held Bryce Young to a season-low 102 passing yards, gives the offense time to figure it out. But the clock is ticking. The Packers have to be able to trade shots with some of the offenses they'll meet in January if they expect to avoid another playoff disappointment.</p><h3>Monangai breaks out</h3><p>Who says the Bears need a running back? OK, maybe it was me. It's still easy to see how an established star might take this offense to another level, but a bold move no longer seems necessary. That's because the run-game operation as a whole has finally started to come together after a disappointing first month. D'Andre Swift got the party started with back-to-back 100-yard outings in mid-October, and Kyle Monangai took things to another level with his opportunity to serve as the lead back this week. The seventh-round rookie was the driving force behind Chicago's shootout win in Cincinnati, taking his 26 carries for 176 yards. That's the most by a Bears running back since Matt Forte topped the 200-yard mark in 2011. Swift will remain a part of this offense upon his return from a groin injury, but perhaps he ends up trending more toward a pass-game role. Monangai's unique combination of power and lateral quickness makes him an incredibly appealing option to lead the way on early downs. Either way, the upward trajectory of this unit is an exciting development for the Bears. Their trade deadline business can now focus exclusively on a defense that needs all the help it can get after giving up 42 points to the Bengals. Adding an edge rusher opposite Montez Sweat feels like a must.</p><h3>Flacco move paying off</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808350/cropped_GettyImages-2243680558.jpg?ts=1762138265" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808350/w220xh124_GettyImages-2243680558.jpg?ts=1762138265 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808350/w320xh180_GettyImages-2243680558.jpg?ts=1762138265 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808350/w640xh360_GettyImages-2243680558.jpg?ts=1762138265 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808350/w768xh432_GettyImages-2243680558.jpg?ts=1762138265 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808350/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2243680558.jpg?ts=1762138265 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Justin Casterline / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Bengals will say that the Joe Flacco trade was made with an eye on keeping their season alive. That was never really a realistic expectation, but it's at least kept things from going off the rails. Cincinnati had to find a quarterback capable of giving their superstar receivers a chance to produce. Flacco is well past his prime, and his gunslinger ways come with plenty of turnover risk, but he's clearly still capable of pushing the ball downfield in that way. We saw all of that in Sunday's shootout against the Bears, where Flacco threw for 470 yards, four touchdowns, and a pair of interceptions. It didn't lead to a win, because Cincinnati is bad enough everywhere else to surrender 47 points at home. Giving up a 58-yard game-winning touchdown to Colston Loveland with less than 20 seconds to play sums up all their issues in that regard. But nobody can say the Bengals haven't at least found a way to stay interesting.</p><h3>Chargers can't catch a break</h3><p>It really felt like this year might be different for the Chargers. After an incredible 3-0 start against division opponents, they seemed like a real threat to the Chiefs at the top of the AFC West. As has so often been the case for this team, though, injuries have really started to pile up. Star left tackle Rashawn Slater was lost for the year in the preseason. Joe Alt made his return to the lineup in Week 7 after missing a few weeks, but he left Sunday's win over the Titans with a second high ankle sprain. This time, he's reportedly facing surgery. Tennessee racking up six sacks for the first time since 2023 tells you everything you need to know about the prospects of this offensive line looking ahead. Even at 6-3, it's tough to feel the least bit encouraged about the Chargers' upside.</p><p><em>Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.</em></p>

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Sunday Rundown: Key takeaways from Week 9's biggest games

NFL Power Rankings takes stock of all 32 teams throughout the season.  This week, we identify eve...

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<p><em>Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.</em></p><h2>Sunday night spotlight</h2><h3>Packers' offense heats up</h3><p>This is the kind of performance we'd been waiting to see from the Packers' offense. In fairness, it's not like the first six games of the season were bad. It just felt like, given the potential, they weren't quite hitting that extra gear. At least not until they absolutely had to. A favorable matchup with the Steelers probably helped on this night (more on that below), but this group has the ability to pick anyone apart with Tucker Kraft (142 yards, 2 TDs) making magic after the catch and Christian Watson (4 catches, 85 yards) back in the mix to stretch the field. The complete effort from this passing attack saw Jordan Love (360 yards, 3 TDs) put together the best game of his career by EPA/dropback, according to TruMedia, at one point becoming the first Packers quarterback since Brett Favre to complete 20 straight passes in a game. Consistency will be the key from here, and that should start with pushing the ball downfield from the jump. If this game proves to be the start of the offensive explosion many of us anticipated, it'll be that much sweeter for Green Bay to look back knowing it all clicked as they denied Aaron Rodgers a little revenge-game glory.</p><h3>Steelers need more than a WR</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807364/cropped_GettyImages-2243492594.jpg?ts=1761536417" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807364/w220xh124_GettyImages-2243492594.jpg?ts=1761536417 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807364/w320xh180_GettyImages-2243492594.jpg?ts=1761536417 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807364/w640xh360_GettyImages-2243492594.jpg?ts=1761536417 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807364/w768xh432_GettyImages-2243492594.jpg?ts=1761536417 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807364/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2243492594.jpg?ts=1761536417 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>You're going to hear a lot about the Steelers sniffing around receivers at the trade deadline. The need for a reliable No. 2 opposite DK Metcalf couldn't be more obvious. And while the offense may want to lean on the run game first and foremost, the ceiling will remain relatively limited if Aaron Rodgers doesn't have the weapons he needs to really open things up when a game calls for it. If that's the only move this team makes before Nov. 4, though, it had better be for a true game-changer. Because as strange as it is to say for anyone who has watched football for the last two decades, we may be well past the point where the Pittsburgh defense is leading the charge. Another hapless effort Sunday night against the Packers drives home the reality of this new era. The Steelers' defense is tied for 24th with a 51.8% success rate. That's the worst mark this team has posted over the first eight games of a season since at least 2000. There's been a lot of talk about how predictable this unit has become over the years, and the big-name veterans haven't been nearly enough to make the simplicity work. Now 4-3 with a tough schedule ahead, Pittsburgh is going to have a hard time capitalizing on its hot start.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h2>Late-afternoon games</h2><h3>Broncos keep it rolling</h3><p>I've had my share of questions about the Broncos' offense. While I'm not about to consider them resolved after a cupcake matchup against the Cowboys' defense, it would be impossible to ignore how different this unit has looked over the last five quarters. A 33-point onslaught in the final frame against the Giants last week was a promising sign of what is possible with this group. Denver took that momentum and followed it up with the most complete offensive effort of the season in a 44-24 win over Dallas. Bo Nix was in complete control after an early interception, becoming the first Broncos quarterback since Peyton Manning to account for four touchdowns in back-to-back games. Crucially, he made several big-time throws down the field en route to a season-best 8.5 yards per attempt. Again, the opponent qualifier demands that we avoid getting carried away here. But these are still incredibly positive signs after a frustrating start for the offense. Next week's game against the Texans provides an excellent opportunity for the Broncos to prove it against a top defensive opponent.</p><h3>Cowboys need to swing big</h3><p>So, about that Cowboys defense. Eight games in, this unit is posting the third-worst defensive EPA/play since at least 2000. Considering the personnel in place - both at defensive coordinator and throughout the roster - we probably shouldn't be expecting any sort of monumental turnaround. That's a big reason why, in a recent piece <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3375201" href="https://thescore.com/news/3375201">exploring realistic trade ideas</a>, I had the Cowboys taking a big swing with a deal to acquire two impact defenders from the Dolphins. Will Jerry Jones be that bold? Probably not. But can he really justify wasting an elite offense (T-2nd in EPA/play) spearheaded by an MVP-caliber season from Dak Prescott? If he's serious about winning, and avoiding narratives about the Micah Parsons trade sparking the worst scoring defense in Cowboys history, Jones has no choice but to get aggressive.</p><h3>OPOY race already over?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807327/cropped_GettyImages-2243485408.jpg?ts=1761526869" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807327/w220xh124_GettyImages-2243485408.jpg?ts=1761526869 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807327/w320xh180_GettyImages-2243485408.jpg?ts=1761526869 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807327/w640xh360_GettyImages-2243485408.jpg?ts=1761526869 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807327/w768xh432_GettyImages-2243485408.jpg?ts=1761526869 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807327/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2243485408.jpg?ts=1761526869 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Andy Lyons / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Jonathan Taylor is in the midst of a truly incredible season, and he only seems to be getting better with every passing week. Sunday's win over the Titans marked his most impressive performance of the season so far, needing just 12 carries to post 158 yards. That 12.8-yard average is the fourth-best mark of any running back with 12-plus carries since at least 2000. The blowout win also saw Taylor score three touchdowns for the fourth time already this season, two shy of LaDainian Tomlinson's record. And with 14 total touchdowns on the year, he's just one short of the most ever recorded through eight games. It's still early, but that puts him on a 17-game pace of 29 scores, which would be within striking distance of Tomlinson's single-season record (31). Assuming he stays healthy, it's tough to imagine anyone catching Taylor for Offensive Player of the Year honors over the second half of the season. And if he comes anywhere near holding his current statistical pace, he'll probably have a case as the first non-QB MVP since 2012, too.</p><h3>Return of Bucs defense</h3><p>Nobody had any doubts about the Bucs' offense heading into this season. The same couldn't have been said about the defense. That unit turning things around after a frustrating few seasons has been critical for Tampa Bay's ability to overcome the early rash of injuries on the other side of the ball. It's also a big reason Todd Bowles should be in the mix for Coach of the Year honors. Sunday's win over the Saints marked the Bucs' best game by EPA/play since 2021. On the season overall, Tampa Bay is now tied for sixth by that same metric. That's a meteoric rise after back-to-back seasons checking in at 18th. Bowles' pressure packages are getting home like they did during his tenure as defensive coordinator, as the Bucs rank third with 25 sacks and second with second with 128 pressures, according to PFF. They're also taking the ball away as well as anyone, tied for third in turnovers. This team is going to be an extremely tough out if the offense can get some better luck with injuries.</p><h2>Early kickoffs</h2><h3>Tush push has to go</h3><p>I truly didn't anticipate ending up on this side of the debate. The way I saw it, the NFL did the right thing in rejecting a ban during the offseason. And I still felt that way up until this week, even if a rule change felt inevitable in the wake of early officiating issues and the <a href="https://x.com/SharpFootball/status/1979958294891364653">best non-football argument we've seen yet</a>. But the latest controversy has to be the final straw. In case you missed it, the Giants were robbed of a critical turnover early in Sunday's game against the Eagles. Kayvon Thibodeaux had clearly stripped the ball away from Jalen Hurts as he crossed the line to gain on a tush push. But because officials had blown the play dead, it wasn't reviewable. The early whistle is just the latest evidence that officials simply have no ability to call this play correctly. While it certainly feels wrong to be taking away something that one team does so much better than everyone else, the league really has no choice at this point. Can the Eagles, who have now put together two straight promising offensive outings, take advantage of their last year with the cheat-code play?</p><h3>Ravens stay alive</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807302/cropped_GettyImages-2243466981.jpg?ts=1761515325" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807302/w220xh124_GettyImages-2243466981.jpg?ts=1761515325 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807302/w320xh180_GettyImages-2243466981.jpg?ts=1761515325 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807302/w640xh360_GettyImages-2243466981.jpg?ts=1761515325 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807302/w768xh432_GettyImages-2243466981.jpg?ts=1761515325 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807302/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2243466981.jpg?ts=1761515325 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Greg Fiume / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>This feels like a potential turning point for the Ravens, doesn't it? A 1-5 start wasn't how anyone saw their season going. Much of it was their own doing, but injuries certainly made it difficult to deal with a tough opening schedule. A huge win over the up-and-coming Bears puts Baltimore in an extremely interesting spot ahead of Lamar Jackson's expected return next week. Not only is the offense likely to get back on track with the perennial MVP candidate under center, but there are some mildly encouraging signs from the defense, too. Prior to last week's bye, a much-improved effort against the run helped the Ravens hold the Rams to just 17 points. Prior to Sunday's 30-16 defeat in Baltimore, the Bears had been the only team to score 21-plus points in every game this season. Everyone's favorite preseason juggernaut still has a long way to go at 2-5, but a healthier Ravens roster could easily flip the script from here and take advantage of an easy schedule (at MIA, at MIN, at CLE, vs. NYJ, vs. CIN) to get to 7-5 heading into December.</p><h3>Stroud back?</h3><p>Speaking of slow starters, the Texans might not be done yet, either. Last week's game against the Seahawks wasn't exactly how they wanted to come out of the bye, but the Seattle defense tends to have that effect on opponents. Houston bounced back this week against the 49ers with its most impressive offensive performance of the season. C.J. Stroud completed 30 of 39 attempts for 318 yards, his biggest passing day since Week 5 of last season. Rookie wideouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel stepped into lead roles in the absence of Nico Collins, combining for nine catches, 97 yards, and a touchdown. Crucially, a beleaguered offensive line didn't give up a sack for the first time this year. Has the offense finally found the sort of pass-protection answers that might allow Stroud to get back to the player he was as a rookie? The apparent progress on that front will be put to the test in next week's home date with the Broncos. With a dominant defense leading the league in EPA/play, a league-average offense may be all Houston needs to make some noise in the second half of the season.</p><h3>Bills' run game explodes</h3><p>The Bills desperately needed a game like this. After back-to-back losses against the Patriots and Falcons, it was only natural to wonder whether this team had been overrated based on past accomplishments. I wasn't ready to go quite that far, but the offense clearly needed to be better if this was going to be the year for Buffalo. A career-best 216-yard day from James Cook en route to a 40-6 win over the Panthers is a big step in the right direction. The Bills will still need another receiver to maximize everything Josh Allen brings as a passer, and I tend to assume they'll be aggressive in addressing that need before the Nov. 4 trade deadline. But a run game like this gives the Bills' offense an excellent foundation to lean on no matter what's happening on the boundary. Let's see if they can build on it in next week's heavyweight matchup against the Chiefs. Nobody will remember the October hiccups if they can handle business there.</p><h3>Falcons boggle the mind</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807125/cropped_GettyImages-2241916693.jpg?ts=1761515366" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807125/w220xh124_GettyImages-2241916693.jpg?ts=1761515366 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807125/w320xh180_GettyImages-2241916693.jpg?ts=1761515366 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807125/w640xh360_GettyImages-2241916693.jpg?ts=1761515366 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807125/w768xh432_GettyImages-2241916693.jpg?ts=1761515366 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807125/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2241916693.jpg?ts=1761515366 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>I'm done trying to figure out this Falcons team. The offense being without Michael Penix Jr. and Drake London was undoubtedly a big part of Sunday's disappointing effort against Miami, but that isn't nearly enough to explain a 34-10 beatdown on home field against one of the worst teams in football. The new-look Atlanta defense couldn't do much to stop the Dolphins from marching up and down the field. A struggling Tua Tagovailoa led the way with his first four-touchdown game since last November, facing pressure on just six of his 27 dropbacks. Even if this offense is healthy moving forward, it just seems like everything about this team is too volatile to have any real expectations this season. Now 3-4 with games against the Patriots and Colts on deck, the Falcons may be hard-pressed to chase down their first winning season since 2017.</p><h3>Garrett deserves better</h3><p>Myles Garrett is arguably the best player in all of football. His truly unmatched physical abilities were once again on display in Sunday's game against the Patriots, as the four-time All-Pro racked up a career-high five sacks. In most other situations, a pass-rush performance like this would at least give a team a chance to pull out a win. The Browns, unfortunately, are not most teams. A 32-13 defeat makes Garrett the only player to record five-plus sacks in a double-digit loss since the stat was first recorded in 1982, according to <a href="https://x.com/DanteKopFlem/status/1982538940377944509">NFL research</a>. Yikes. I'm on record as believing that a young Browns roster can help get this thing turned around once the Deshaun Watson contract is off the books. Perhaps Garrett agrees. After signing a four-year, $160-million deal to stand down from his offseason trade request, he isn't going anywhere, anyway. But at 29 years old, the Browns are already at risk of never getting to capitalize on a generational player. They can't afford any missteps if they're going to compete while Garrett is still in his prime.</p><p><em>Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.</em></p>

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Sunday Rundown: Key takeaways from Week 8's biggest games

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10 realistic deals we want to see before the NFL trade deadline

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