2014 NFL Power Rankings Week 10

I'm truly baffled at how we are this deep into the NFL season already. It feels like it just started yet Thanksgiving Day games are right around the corner. There was some commotion surrounding last week's top team, the Arizona Cardinals, but is losing their starting quarterback going to cost them the top spot? In a word. No.

1. Arizona Cardinals (8-1) ~ While losing Carson Palmer for the year may derail any Super Bowl hopes the Cardinals have/had, they aren't dead yet. Drew Stanton will step in and while he was the signal-caller in the only Cards loss this year, I won't fault him too much for losing on the road in Denver. The Cards are the class of the NFL. For now. (Last Week's Ranking 1)

2. New England Patriots (7-2) ~ It's always a treat when the Pats and Colts go head-to-head. While Peyton Manning is now in Denver the rivalry hasn't lost a step as Andrew Luck has raised his play to the upper echelon. (LWR 2)

3. Denver Broncoes (7-2) ~ Speaking of that Manning guy, did you happen to see when he snubbed his backup Brock Osweiler during Sunday's game? Osweiler's reaction is priceless. (LWR 3)

4. Detroit Lions (7-2) ~ For the third time in three games the Lions trailed at the two-minute warning. For the third time in three games the Lions emerged victorious. (LWR 4)

5. Philadelphia Eagles (7-2) ~ Mark Sanchez looked great on Monday night throwing for over 300 yards and two scores without a turnover. Once again Philly scored on offense, defense (interception return) and special teams (punt return). You can't stop them. You can only hope to contain them. (LWR 5)

6. Indianapolis Colts (6-3) ~ Ahmad Bradshaw has really been a tremendous addition to the Colts offense. He is averaging over five yards per carry on the year and is working as a nice complement to Trent Richardson. (LWR 6)

7. Dallas Cowboys (7-3) ~ Tony Romo returned and torched the Jacksonville defense across the pond to the tune of 246 yards and three scores on 20-for-27 passing. If he is right the Cowboys will be a force in the NFC. (LWR 7)

8. Green Bay Packers (6-3) ~ Monkey see monkey do. Aaron Rodgers saw Ben Roethlisberger throw for six touchdowns in a game and said to himself, "I can do that". Well, he did one better. He threw six touchdowns in one half against the Bears on Sunday. That's just plain dirty. (LWR 8)

9. Kansas City Chiefs (6-3) ~ After starting the season 0-2, Kansas City has won six of seven to vault themselves into contender-land. A home win against Seattle this weekend would go a long way in aiding that cause. (LWR 9)

10. Seattle Seahawks (6-3) ~ (LWR 10) A seahawk, whatever that is, landed on a fan's head during the game. Seriously.

11. San Francisco 49ers (5-4) ~ Well there's good news and there's bad news. What do you want first? The good news? Ok, good. San Fran won in the Superdome which is no easy task and they get defensive standout Aldon Smith back from a suspension. The bad news is that they lose All-pro linebacker Patrick Willis for the season with a toe injury. (LWR 18)

12. Cleveland Browns (6-3) ~ The Cleveland Browns are alone in first place this late in the season for the first time since before they left Cleveland. Meaning this is the first time these Browns are in first place by themselves this late in the season ever. Cleveland rocks. (LWR 19)

13. Baltimore Ravens (6-4) ~ Bernard Pierce was the number two back in Baltimore this week continuing the constant running back carousel. Who will it be next week? Not even John Harbaugh knows. Presumably. (LWR 17)

14. Cincinnati Bengals (5-3-1) ~ Some people (me) said the Bengals wouldn't lose at home to the Browns. Some people (yours truly) said that even though the Bengals seem to play their worst in the primetime spotlight that this game would be different. Some people (cough, me again) said Andy Dalton would have a huge game against the Browns secondary not named Joe Haden. Some people (yep, you guessed it) were wrong. (LWR 11)

15. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) ~ Ben Roethlisberger had thrown 12 touchdowns and no interceptions in his last two games. The Jets boasted a pass defense that would make a sieve cringe. Naturally he threw two picks in a shocking defeat to the woeful Jets. (LWR 12)

16. San Diego Chargers (5-4) ~ San Diego welcomes the winless Oakland Raiders to town on Sunday. What better way to snap out of a three-game losing streak endcapped with a bye? (LWR 14)

17. Miami Dolphins (5-4) ~ Damien Williams led the way with just seven carries on Sunday in Detroit. With a short week it looks like he might be in line to be the lead back again versus Buffalo. (LWR 13)

18. New Orleans Saints (4-5) ~ If it wasn't for Jimmy Graham's offensive pass interference on the final play of regulation someone in the NFC South would have a winning record. But it was interference and nobody in the NFC South has a winning record. (LWR 15)

19. Buffalo Bills (5-4) ~ The Bills blew a 14-point fourth quarter lead at home. That is something a playoff contender simply cannot have happen. (LWR 16)

20. Houston Texans (4-5) ~ The Ryan Mallett era begins in Houston. Houston knows what they have with Ryan Fitzpatrick and apparently it's time to see what the other Ryan has to offer. (LWR 20)

21. Minnesota Vikings (4-5) ~ Adrian Peterson's hearing is scheduled for Monday. Rumor has it an arbitrator can take up to five days after that to make his ruling. That should put a possible return at no earlier than November 30th's game against the Panthers. (LWR 23)

22. Carolina Panthers (3-6-1) ~ Cam Newton was sacked a career-high nine times Monday night against the Eagles. He also threw three interceptions and fumbled. Not a banner day for the former number one overall pick. (LWR 21)

23. Atlanta Falcons (3-6) ~ Atlanta may only have three wins but they are all divisional wins. That could bode well for them if they can scrounge up a few more. Eight wins could take the division. (LWR 27)

24. St. Louis Rams (3-6) ~ They came ever so close to handing the Cardinals their second loss of the year but it all fell apart in the fourth quarter. Austin Davis threw yet another pick-six in the defeat. (LWR 24)

25. New York Giants (3-6) ~ I can't imagine what Tom Coughlin had to say to his team after they gave up a whopping 350 yards rushing in Seattle. I'm actually quite curious. (LWR 25)

26. Chicago Bears (3-6) ~ The Bears have given up 50+ points in back-to-back weeks for the first time since before World War II. So, it's been awhile. (LWR 22)

27. Washington Redskins (3-6) ~ Tickets are still available for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay. If you're in the D.C. area and are free on Sunday tickets can be had for as little as $11. A beer inside might cost you more but that's one cheap ticket. (LWR 26)

28. New York Jets (2-8) ~ Michael Vick became the first quarterback in league history to amass 6,000 yards rushing in a career as the Jets won for the first time since opening week. (LWR 30)

29. Tennessee Titans (2-7) ~ I'm still trying to figure out how the Titans upended the Chiefs in Week One. That's a mystery to me. (LWR 28)

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-8) ~ Tampa went back to Josh McCown but the results were the same. Another loss as these Bucs are starting to resemble the yucks of old. (LWR 29)

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-8) ~ Rookie wideout Allen Robinson will miss the rest of the season after he broke his foot in Sunday's game. He and Denard Robinson have been bright spots in an otherwise dim year in Jacksonville. (LWR 31)

32. Oakland Raiders (0-9) ~ Derek Carr completed 30 passes on Sunday for a mere 192 yards. For those of you who aren't math majors that is a putrid 4.1 yards per completion. That simply won't get it done. (LWR 32)