NFL Week 10 power rankings: Rams, Bills on rise, new No. 1 after another top-10 shakeup

Editor’s note: Every​ week, Chad Graff and Josh Kendall rank and analyze all 32 teams from first to worst.

The NFL regular season is halfway over.

With Week 9 in the books, it’s time to hand out our team progress reports. Fear not, Titans and Dolphins — there’s no need to get this signed by a parent.

With plenty of turnover in this season of parity, it’s a fun way to reset and look at which teams are meeting expectations and which ones aren’t. Let’s dive in.

1. Philadelphia Eagles (6-2)

Last week: 3

Sunday: Bye

Midseason grade: A-

It hasn’t always looked pretty, and drama continues to swirl, but it’s hard to be too nitpicky about a 6-2 start after winning the Super Bowl. Oh, and they loaded up before the trade deadline, acquiring Jets cornerback Michael Carter and Dolphins pass rusher Jaelan Phillips. Ho-hum, just another stacked roster in Philly.

Up next: at Packers, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET

2. Los Angeles Rams (6-2)

Last week: 5

Sunday: Beat Saints 34-10

Midseason grade: A

The Rams have survived a couple of Puka Nacua injuries, and Matthew Stafford is playing at an MVP level. Sean McVay has this team rolling once again, yet it’s not the offense that’s carrying the team. L.A. quietly ranks No. 1 in defensive expected points added per play.

Up next: at 49ers, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

3. Buffalo Bills (6-2)

Last week: 10

Sunday: Beat Chiefs 28-21

Midseason grade: A-

Their consecutive losses in October feel like ancient history after throttling the Panthers and dispatching Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. The defense still needs to be better against the run, but the Bills are rounding into form as we head into the second half.

Up next: at Dolphins, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2)

Last week: 7

Sunday: Bye

Midseason grade: A-

The Bucs entered the season as a fun Super Bowl pick, and so far they’ve backed it up in a tough NFC. The running game needs to improve — and probably will once Bucky Irving gets healthy (the team ranks 25th in rushing success rate and EPA) — but the defense is legit, and Baker Mayfield is playing well.

Up next: vs. Patriots, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

5. Indianapolis Colts (7-2)

Last week: 1

Sunday: Lost to Steelers 27-20

Midseason grade: A+

No team has improved its Super Bowl chances more this season than the Colts — and that’s even after turning the ball over six times in a loss Sunday. Those kinds of games don’t happen often. This team will be just fine.

Up next: vs. Falcons, Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET (in Germany)

6. Seattle Seahawks (6-2)

Last week: 11

Sunday: Beat Commanders 38-14

Midseason grade: A

Halfway through the season, Sam Darnold should be the MVP front-runner. He left a quarterback-friendly scheme (and roster) in Minnesota only to completely flip Seattle’s offense. Darnold ranks first among quarterbacks in EPA per play, success rate and yards per attempt.

Up next: vs. Cardinals, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

7. Detroit Lions (5-3)

Last week: 2

Sunday: Lost to Vikings 27-24

Midseason grade: B

Their running game was stuck in the mud Sunday against Brian Flores’ Vikings defense, but this is still a really good football team. There won’t be many more opponents who can bottle up Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery the way Minnesota did.

Up next: at Commanders, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

8. Denver Broncos (7-2)

Last week: 8

Sunday: Beat Texans 18-15

Midseason grade: A-

The Denver defense is again among the best in the NFL, but questions exist offensively. Bo Nix ranks 31st in success rate among 34 qualifying quarterbacks, ahead of only Dillon Gabriel, Cam Ward and Russell Wilson. There’s a lot to like elsewhere, though.

Up next: vs. Raiders, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

9. New England Patriots (7-2)

Last week: 9

Sunday: Beat Falcons 24-23

Midseason grade: A+

Maybe the most shocking stat of the first half of the season is that the Patriots — a team that went 4-13 in each of the last two years — now have the best odds of any team in the league to make the playoffs (97 percent), per our playoff simulator. Everything is breaking right in Mike Vrabel’s first season.

Up next: at Buccaneers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

10. Kansas City Chiefs (5-4)

Last week: 4

Sunday: Lost to Bills 28-21

Midseason grade: B-

The underlying stats are still great and point to the Chiefs being just fine for the second half. Their offense ranks fifth in EPA per play and fourth in success rate. But your record matters, and a tough schedule leaves them barely above .500 entering their bye.

Up next: Bye

11. Green Bay Packers (5-2-1)

Last week: 6

Sunday: Lost to Panthers 16-13

Midseason grade: B

Tucker Kraft’s season-ending injury is costly. The Packers offense under Matt LaFleur has looked terrific at times, but he has a lot on his plate now that his talented tight end is out. Quarterback Jordan Love ranks first in the league in EPA per dropback, but it’ll be telling how that changes without Kraft.

Up next: vs. Eagles, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET

12. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3)

Last week: 14

Sunday: Beat Colts 27-20

Midseason grade: B+

The Aaron Rodgers experiment has worked out pretty well. The Steelers knew they needed more from their defense, and then they forced six takeaways against the Colts in one of the biggest upsets of Week 9. Our playoff predictor gives them a 47 percent chance of winning the AFC North.

Up next: at Chargers, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

13. San Francisco 49ers (6-3)

Last week: 13

Sunday: Beat Giants 34-24

Midseason grade: A-

Kyle Shanahan has turned Mac Jones into a solid quarterback, and the Niners deserve credit for keeping things afloat with Brock Purdy out and a slew of other injuries. Jones ranks 11th in the league in success rate. In 2023, his last year as a starter, he ranked 25th in that stat.

Up next: vs. Rams, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

14. Los Angeles Chargers (6-3)

Last week: 12

Sunday: Beat Titans 27-20

Midseason grade: B

The Joe Alt injury could change their outlook, especially with Rashawn Slater already out. But if there’s a head coach who can get the most out of his offensive line, it’s Jim Harbaugh.

Up next: vs. Steelers, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

15. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3)

Last week: 15

Sunday: Beat Raiders 30-29

Midseason grade: B-

The Jags don’t rank in the top half of the NFL in either offensive or defensive EPA per play. They needed a failed two-point attempt in overtime to beat a bad Raiders team. But the vibes do feel better in Jacksonville with Liam Coen in charge.

Up next: at Texans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

16. Carolina Panthers (5-4)

Last week: 18

Sunday: Beat Packers 16-13

Midseason grade: A-

It was easy to discount their three-game winning streak in October as the result of an easy schedule (Dolphins, Cowboys, Jets). But Sunday’s win over the Packers should get everyone’s attention. Since Rico Dowdle took over at running back in Week 5, Carolina ranks fifth in the NFL in EPA per rush.

Up next: vs. Saints, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

17. Chicago Bears (5-3)

Last week: 16

Sunday: Beat Bengals 47-42

Midseason grade: B

There are plenty of reasons for concern with the defense (40-year-old Joe Flacco just threw for 470 yards and four touchdowns against the unit). But Ben Johnson has the running game working, and Caleb Williams is coming off a good performance of 20-for-34 passing for 280 yards and three touchdowns (admittedly against a terrible defense).

Up next: vs. Giants, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

18. Minnesota Vikings (4-4)

Last week: 21

Sunday: Beat Lions 27-24

Midseason grade: C+

On one hand, you could argue they deserve a better mark considering Carson Wentz started five games for them. On the other hand, this is a roster with Super Bowl aspirations, and you’d think an offense with Justin Jefferson would rank higher than 27th in the league in EPA per play.

Up next: vs. Ravens, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

19. Baltimore Ravens (3-5)

Last week: 19

Thursday: Beat Dolphins 28-6

Midseason grade: Incomplete

Is this a cop-out? Probably. But how do you grade a team that’s been as injured as Baltimore but is now finally getting healthy? The Ravens have lost three games with Lamar Jackson at quarterback, but they were against the Bills, Chiefs and Lions. Even with the slow start, our playoff predictor still gives them a 55 percent chance of reaching the postseason.

Up next: at Vikings, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

20. Arizona Cardinals (3-5)

Last week: 25

Monday: Beat Cowboys 27-17

Midseason grade: C+

Their five-game losing streak is over, and they’re one of just two teams (the Texans are the other) that have a losing record despite a positive point differential. Jacoby Brissett played well Monday night with Kyler Murray out, and the defense shut down a high-powered Cowboys attack.

Up next: at Seahawks, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

21. Houston Texans (3-5)

Last week: 17

Sunday: Lost to Broncos 18-15

Midseason grade: C-

The Texans may have the best defense in the NFL and still can’t get to .500, in part because of how bad their offensive line is. They have struggled to run the ball (29th in rushing EPA per play) and might be without C.J. Stroud (concussion) next week.

Up next: vs. Jaguars, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

22. Dallas Cowboys (3-5-1)

Last week: 20

Monday: Lost to Cardinals 27-17

Midseason grade: D+

The hard truth for the Cowboys is that they’re wasting a really good season from the offense (Monday night notwithstanding) because of their poor defense. If only they had entered the season with arguably the best defensive player in the league.

Up next: Bye

23. Atlanta Falcons (3-5)

Last week: 24

Sunday: Lost to Patriots 24-23

Midseason grade: C-

The Falcons have been one of the most frustrating teams in the league for several years now. They have a roster with plenty of talent, they finally improved their pass rush and yet they’re the same as always, finding ways to lose winnable games.

Up next: at Colts, Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET (in Germany)

24. Cincinnati Bengals (3-6)

Last week: 23

Sunday: Lost to Bears 47-42

Midseason grade: D

Last offseason, the Bengals hired a new defensive coordinator (Al Golden) and chose defensive players with three of their first four picks in the draft. Yet somehow their defense has gotten worse. It seems like the offensive players are fed up with it, with Chase Brown offering only a “WTF” after putting up 42 points and losing.

Up next: Bye

25. Washington Commanders (3-6)

Last week: 22

Sunday: Lost to Seahawks 38-14

Midseason grade: D

It was coaching malpractice to have Jayden Daniels running around in the fourth quarter of a blowout loss, which led to his serious arm injury. An already-disappointing season took a disastrous turn.

Up next: vs. Lions, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

26. Las Vegas Raiders (2-6)

Last week: 28

Sunday: Lost to Jaguars 30-29

Midseason grade: D

Optimism was high after bringing in Pete Carroll and making Chip Kelly the league’s highest-paid offensive coordinator. But the Raiders have lost five of their last six games, and now they’re finding ways to lose even when tight end Brock Bowers has a career game (12 catches, 127 yards, three touchdowns).

Up next: at Broncos, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

27. New York Giants (2-7)

Last week: 26

Sunday: Lost to 49ers 34-24

Midseason grade: D

For the third straight season, they’ve opened 2-7, putting Brian Daboll even more firmly on the hot seat. The only saving grace has been Jaxson Dart, who threw two touchdown passes Sunday against the Niners.

Up next: at Bears, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

28. Cleveland Browns (2-6)

Last week: 27

This week: Bye

Midseason grade: D

On the one hand, expectations were low. The Browns are still stuck with the contract anchor that is Deshaun Watson. On the other hand, this offense hasn’t even lived up to the low bar it was supposed to clear. We figured the passing game would be tough to watch — and it is — but the run game (30th in success rate) was supposed to be a lot better, perhaps part of why Kevin Stefanski is handing off play-calling duties.

Up next: at Jets, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

29. Miami Dolphins (2-7)

Last week: 29

Thursday: Lost to Ravens 28-6

Midseason grade: F

This is a franchise in need of a reset. After Thursday’s game, the Dolphins fired general manager Chris Grier. But after this season, big questions loom about the futures of head coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Up next: vs. Bills, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

30. New York Jets (1-7)

Last week: 30

Sunday: Bye

Midseason grade: D-

The only reasons the Jets don’t get an F are the low expectations they entered the season with, their one-point win over the Bengals and some positive signs from first- and second-round picks Armand Membou and Mason Taylor. Otherwise, everything else has been pretty miserable.

Up next: vs. Browns, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

31. New Orleans Saints (1-8)

Last week: 31

Sunday: Lost to Rams 34-10

Midseason grade: D

Only the Browns had a lower preseason win total (via Bet MGM) than the Saints, so it’s hard to ding them too much for struggling. But the switch to Tyler Shough at quarterback hasn’t helped the offense much so far.

Up next: at Panthers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

32. Tennessee Titans (1-8)

Last week: 32

Sunday: Lost to Chargers 27-20

Midseason grade: F

Cam Ward has been sacked more than any other quarterback (38 times) and was already on his second NFL coach before his rookie season was halfway through. And Vrabel’s quick success in New England adds insult to a brutal season for Tennessee.

Click here to read article