Crowe - NFL Week #11 Power Rankings 2022 - Can the Pats Move Into the Top-Tier?

Crowe - NFL Week #11 Power Rankings 2022 - Can the Pats Move Into the Top-Tier?

Let the 1972 undefeated Miami Dolphins rejoice. With the Eagles' loss on Monday night to the Commanders, there once again will not be another team since that Dolphins squad to get through an NFL season without a loss. Yes, that loud sound you heard earlier this week was champagne corks getting popped down in South Florida.

The question now remains how Philadelphia handles its first adversity moving forward. After eight games in which they were seemingly unchallenged, the Eagles were dominated by Washington in every phase of the game, losing 32-21. Washington held the ball twice as long as Philly (40:24 to 19:36) and forced four turnovers (3 fumbles, one interception), something the Eagles haven’t done all season, leading the NFL in turnover differential heading into the game at +15. Despite the defeat, the Eagles still hold the top spot in the NFC since they hold the tiebreaker over 8-1 Minnesota due to week two’s victory over the Vikings.

Over in the AFC, the Chiefs benefit from the Bills' dramatic collapse to the aforementioned Vikings to leapfrog into the number one seed in the conference. Add in the Cowboys losing in Green Bay, the Titans then going into Lambeau Field Thursday night for their seventh win in eight games to start week 11, the Seahawks getting beat by the Bucs in Germany, and the Dolphins drumming along on offense and we get quite the shuffle in our power rankings. With that victory, Tennessee just narrowly misses our top 10. After all, they’ve yet to beat a team over .500 so far this season.

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10. TIE: Seattle Seahawks (6-4, Last week ranked 6th) / San Francisco 49ers (5-4, Last week not ranked)

We’ve got a tie for our tenth spot with a pair of NFC West teams. Seattle’s first half in Munich, Germany against the Buccaneers was certainly forgetful as Geno Smith looked nothing like the guy who was running up stats like he was ready for the Comeback Player of the Year Award. Instead, the Seahawks lost 21-16 and now hold just a half-game edge on the 5-4 49ers. San Francisco is headed upward after a pair of wins over the LA teams, including Sunday night’s 22-16 win over the Chargers. The Niners are getting healthier to boot so beware. These two teams face off on December 15th in Seattle.

 

9. NY Jets (6-3, Last week ranked 9th)

Week 11 will speak volumes as to whether the Jets are for real in 2022. They’re coming off a bye week after beating the Bills and find themselves in Foxboro looking for revenge against their hated rivals, the Patriots, the team that beat them 22-17 in week 8. A victory here puts them at 7-3, keeping the heat on the surprising first-place Dolphins and keeping a postseason spot firmly in view. Oh, by the way, did we mention the Patriots have beaten the Jets 13 straight times?

 

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

With nothing else to do but get healthier (Gus Edwards - knee & Mark Andrews – ankle) and rest up during the bye week, the Ravens host the Panthers in week 11.

 

7. Dallas Cowboys (6-3, Last week ranked 5th)

Before last Sunday, the Cowboys were 195-0 with a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter. A few defensive lapses and questionable coaching decisions later, Dallas had blown a 28-14 edge, losing 31-28 in overtime in Green Bay. Dak Prescott’s pair of interceptions didn’t help either. There’s no time to feel bad for themselves as the Cowboys head to Minnesota to face the Vikings in the best game of the week.

 

6. Buffalo Bills (6-3, Last week ranked 4th)

First things first. The Bills will host the Browns in Detroit thanks to the epic snowstorm this weekend in Buffalo. Ironically, the Bills also play the Lions in Detroit Thanksgiving Day. As for the play on the field, Josh Allen has thrown four interceptions the past two weeks, including two in the red-zone in losing to the Jets and Vikings despite having double-digit leads in both games.  Instead of being seen as the AFC’s most dominant team, Buffalo’s now being looked at as having its annual mid-season malaise. Can they rebound the way they have the past two seasons as they march towards the playoffs? Buffalo’s problem is winning close games the past two seasons, going just 2-9 in those contests.

 

5. New York Giants (7-2, Last week not ranked)

It’s never a thing of beauty for the Giants, but they continue to pile on the victories. A 24-16 win over Houston was a bit closer than expected, but it puts the G-Men into second-place in the NFC East, just one game behind the Eagles.  It’s a rollercoaster ride as the Giants are back in our top 10 this week. Let’s see how they handle the Lions volatile offense and see if they can keep up.

 

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

Remember when Miami was reeling at 3-3 wondering what their offense would look like next after quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s head and neck injuries? Well, that thought is far gone and the Dolphins are cruising at 7-3 and in first place in the AFC East, good for the second spot in the AFC for the moment.

 

3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-1, Last week ranked 1st)
It was bound to happen at some point. The Eagles laid an egg as the Commanders came to town and punched Philly in the mouth Monday night, handing Philadelphia its first loss of the season. As they head to Indianapolis this weekend to face the Colts and running back Jonathan Taylor, the Eagles have signed defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to bolster their front seven.

 

2. Kansas City Chiefs (7-2, Last week ranked 2nd)

Last Sunday’s game against Jacksonville was never in doubt for the Chiefs, winning 27-17 after four more Patrick Mahomes touchdown passes. With Buffalo’s loss, Kansas City’s back on top in the AFC and is having fun integrating new toys Kadarius Toney and Isiah Pacheco into the offensive mix. Toney’s emergence comes at a time in which both JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion) and Mecole Hardman (abdomen) are out.

 

1. Minnesota Vikings (8-1, Last week ranked 3rd)

What’s not to like about the Vikings? Winners of seven straight games, Minnesota got its signature win on the road in Buffalo in dramatic fashion in overtime, overcoming a 17-point deficit. Because of their week 2 loss in Philly, they still are looking up at the Eagles for the number one seed in the NFC, but that might only be a matter of time the way the Vikes are playing. Dallas comes calling Sunday before a home Thanksgiving Night matchup with the Patriots.

 

Week 11 games to watch

Jets at Patriots (Sunday 1 pm on CBS) – The winner here has the inside track on a playoff spot in the AFC.
Browns vs. Bills in Detroit (Sunday 1 pm on CBS) – This one could get interesting as a neutral site game. Cleveland can run it, and Buffalo can’t stop it.
Cowboys at Vikings (Sunday 4:25 pm on FOX) – Dallas is suddenly on the hot seat while Minnesota is on fire, winning seven in a row.
Chiefs at Chargers (Sunday 8:20 pm on NBC) – Is the Chargers season on the line?

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