Crowe - NFL Week #10 Power Rankings 2022 and Mid-Season Awards

Crowe - NFL Week #10 Power Rankings 2022 and Mid-Season Awards

It may only be week 10, but it’s certainly time to hand out some awards. Why wait until the end of the season when we could celebrate and honor those players and coaches who’ve outshined the rest so far in 2022. Sure, things could and probably will change by the time we get to week 18. So, let’s not waste any time giving the best their due. The envelopes please…

 

Most Valuable Player: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

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This was a tough call with the Bills' Josh Allen and Eagles' Jalen Hurts also in the mix, but here’s why I went with Patrick Mahomes. After the trade of Tyreek Hill to Miami, reports of the Chiefs' offensive demise were rampant. Instead of falling behind, Mahomes has diversified the offense, added JuJu Smith-Schuster to the mix as his most dependable receiver and spread things out. He tops the league with 21 touchdowns and 2605 passing yards. Plus, with the game on the line like it was Sunday night against Tennessee, Mahomes just takes matters into his own hands to bring home the victory, keeping the Chiefs at the top of the AFC with the Bills.
Honorable mention: Bills Josh Allen, Eagles Jalen Hurts

 

Coach of the Year: Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles

All Nick Sirianni’s done is lead the Eagles to the NFL’s only undefeated record at 8-0. The Eagles have the third-ranked offense and defense while dominating the turnover differential at +15, 8 more than the second-ranked Ravens. Balance has been the key as Philly pounds it for 148 yards on the ground, not needing QB Jalen Hurts to put all the burden on his shoulders.
Honorable mention: Giants Brian Daboll, Vikings Kevin O’Connell, Seahawks Pete Carroll, Jets Robert Saleh

 

Rookie of the Year: Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks

The rookie out of Michigan State has taken over the Seahawks' ground game after the broken leg injury to Rashad Penny. Since week 5, he’s averaging 102 yards a game to go with his 7 touchdowns. Overall, he’s at 570 yards and Seattle has won four in a row. Walker has given Seattle the stability to go along with quarterback Geno Smith.
Honorable mention: Saints Chris Olave

 

Comeback Player of the Year: Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks

Geno Smith wasn’t even supposed to be Seattle’s starting quarterback this season. When the Seahawks traded Russell Wilson to Denver, they got Drew Lock back and Lock instantly became the favorite. Yet all Smith has done is outplay Lock from training camp and steal the job. Smith’s the completion leader at 73% while leading Seattle to a first-place spot in the NFC West at 6-3 with his 15 touchdowns. It’s a far cry from the guy who was a backup since leaving the Jets in 2014.
Honorable mention: Giants Saquon Barkley

 

Offensive Player of the Year: Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins

Simply put, Tyreek Hill has gone from Kansas City to Miami and transformed the Dolphins into one of the most explosive offenses in the league. Hill leads the league 76 catches and 1104 yards. His 48 catches resulting in first downs is also number one in the league. Paired with Jaylen Waddle, the two are just unstoppable targets for QB Tua Tagovailoa at times as Miami has moved its way into a viable contender in the AFC.
Honorable mention: Rams Cooper Kupp, Bills Stefon Diggs, Giants Saquon Barkley

 

Defensive Player of the Year: Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys

What can’t Micah Parsons do? He puts relentless pressure on opposing quarterbacks, drops back in coverage and can track down runners if he is rarely beat. For the season, he’s racked up 8 sacks, 36 tackles (8 for losses), forced two fumbles, and scored a touchdown. All that has led Dallas to a 6-2 record while playing half of its season so far without Dak Prescott, due to a thumb injury.
Honorable mention: Jets Sauce Gardner

Now that the awards have been handed out, it’s on to the week 10 power rankings.

 

10. Tennessee Titans (5-3, Last week ranked 9th)

Boy, do the Titans really miss Ryan Tannehill. With the ankle injury to Tannehill, Malik Willis has struggled in two games. They didn’t need him in a road win at Houston but sure could have used him to be a competent QB to protect a 17-9 lead Sunday night in Kansas City. Instead, they lost 20-17 in overtime after Patrick Mahomes late-game heroics. Tannehill could be back this week as the Titans host Denver.

 

9. NY Jets (6-3, Last week not ranked)

Give the Jets credit. Just when everyone wanted to bury them after an epic meltdown against the Patriots, they rally and beat the top team in the AFC, the Buffalo Bills. Not only did they come back from an early 14-3 deficit, but they confused Josh Allen into a few bad throws, resulting in interceptions and setting New York up for the 20-17 victory that now leaves Allen with an elbow injury. They’ll enjoy the win on the bye week before a rematch in Foxboro with the Patriots in week 11.

 

8. Baltimore Ravens (6-3, Last week ranked 6th)

Don’t look now but Baltimore’s won three in a row heading into this week’s bye. Gone are the questions about the defense giving up double-digit, second-half leads. Lamar Jackson and the offense look unstoppable, even without TE Mark Andrews and RB Gus Edwards Monday night in New Orleans. Baltimore has the easiest schedule the rest of the season as the only team they’ll face with a current winning record is the season finale against the Bengals (5-4). Things could change with the Panthers, Jaguars, Broncos, Steelers (twice), Browns, and Falcons but as for now, it could be clear sailing to an AFC North title and a playoff spot.

 

7. Miami Dolphins (6-3, Last week ranked 7th)

Like the Ravens, the Dolphins have won three straight and with Buffalo’s loss to the Jets, they find themselves just a half-game out of first place in the AFC East. Miami’s offense is rolling along as Tua Tagovailoa is limiting his mistakes, throwing just 3 interceptions against 15 touchdowns while being the top-rated passer through nine weeks (115.9). It helps that Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are his top targets too.

 

6. Seattle Seahawks (6-3, Last week ranked 8th)

It’s now been over a month since the Seahawks have lost a game. All four victories have come by at least 10 points over the Cardinals (twice), Giants, and Chargers as Seattle has built a 1.5 game lead in the NFC West. Quarterback Geno Smith, with 15 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions, continues to be the NFL’s number one QB in pass completion at 73%. After a trip to Germany this weekend, Seattle has the Raiders, Rams, and Panthers up ahead with none of those teams with a winning record.

 

5. Dallas Cowboys (6-2, Last week ranked 5th)

A bye week last week turns into a trip to Lambeau Field this Sunday against the Packers, who’ve lost five straight games. The week off should give running back Ezekiel Elliott a chance to get his injured knee healthy, even though back-up Tony Pollard ran for three touchdowns against the Bears in week 8. Dallas will have to avoid a trap game here in Green Bay, who’s lost five straight games, before facing the Vikings and Giants.

 

4. Buffalo Bills (6-2, Last week ranked 2nd)

Chalk up last Sunday as a bad one for Buffalo. Not only did they lose at the Jets in a game where quarterback Josh Allen threw a pair of uncharacteristic interceptions on bad throws & decisions, but Allen also injured a ligament in his elbow making him day-to-day going into Sunday’s game against the Vikings. Allen was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report after missing a pair of practices, so it could be Case Keenum taking on his former team Sunday in Buffalo. The Jets loss looks even worse considering New York had just been defeated by the Patriots and it now gives Buffalo two losses in the AFC East.

 

3. Minnesota Vikings (7-1, Last week ranked 4th)

It’s almost like a broken record for Minnesota but at least it’s a good song. Each week, the Vikings play close games that come down to the final possession yet they win them. It’s something Vikings Nation is not really used to the past few seasons. Quarterback Kirk Cousins hasn’t been great, but he’s been good enough to win with 13 touchdowns vs. 6 interceptions and 1999 yards. It helps that Minnesota’s defense is only giving up 20.1 points per game. Depending on Josh Allen’s availability, the Vikings could get lucky Sunday in Buffalo.

 

2. Kansas City Chiefs (6-2, Last week ranked 3rd)

Patrick Mahomes continues to find a way. Sunday night against Tennessee was his latest example. Down 17-9 late to the Titans. Mahomes ran for a touchdown and the game-tying two-point conversion to send the game to overtime, where the Chiefs held on for 20-17 victory. As we detailed in our midseason awards, Mahomes is on an MVP pace in trying to lead the Chiefs back to the Super Bowl.

 

1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-0, Last week ranked 1st)

With 11 days off after topping the Texans in week 9, Philly looks to extend the win streak to nine straight at home against Washington Monday night. The Colts and Packers await them after the Commanders so the Eagles might be their toughest opponent the next few weeks. With a top 3 offense and defense, Philadelphia still remains the front-runner in the NFC, already holding a tie-breaker over the second-place 7-1 Vikings.

Games to watch in week 10
Seahawks vs. Buccaneers in Munich, Germany (9:30 am on NFL Network) – Tom Brady is undefeated internationally (3-0).
Vikings at Bills (1 pm on FOX) – Super Bowl preview in upstate New York?
Cowboys at Packers (4:25 pm on FOX) – One of the NFL’s storied rivalries sees two teams going in opposite directions.
Chargers at 49ers (8:20 pm on NBC) – Justin Herbert vs. Jimmy G in primetime.

Last week:
10. 49ers
9. Titans
8. Seahawks
7. Dolphins
6. Ravens
5. Cowboys
4. Vikings
3. Chiefs
2. Bills
1. Eagles