Eli’s Top 10 NFL Teams Entering Week 10
It’s hard to believe we’re already in November. The league is starting to separate a bit, so here’s my top 10.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-1)
In what was probably the Eagles’ luckiest win of the season, they were able to knock off Dallas and keep pace in the NFC East. Plagued by three fumbles, missed opportunities, and penalties late, Philadelphia should’ve come out on the losing end of this game. The secondary and linebacker play continues to clearly be the biggest issue with this team, but they’ve worked around it to head into the bye week at 8-1. Dallas Goedert will miss time with his forearm fracture which is a huge blow to this team, but he missed time last year and the Eagles worked around it. Philly will hopefully be a bit healthier after the bye when they take on Kansas City in what could be a Super Bowl preview.
2. Baltimore Ravens (7-2)
The Ravens put a beatdown on Seattle on Sunday, outgaining them by 364 yards en route to a 37-3 win at home. The run game is on fire, and the emergence of Keaton Mitchell only adds more firepower to this backfield, while despite the low numbers on Sunday, Lamar Jackson is playing at an MVP level. The defense continues to be great, and this Ravens team is looking like a true contender in the AFC. Baltimore looks like the team to beat in the conference for now, and they face Cleveland next week in a huge divisional showdown.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (7-2)
Despite being the most vulnerable they’ve ever been under Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, the Chiefs head into the bye week at 7-2 after a win over Miami in Germany. The defense is one of the best in the league, and no one seems to be talking about it. The lack of weaponry on this team is the major flaw, and if we see teams take Travis Kelce away as Miami did on Sunday, Mahomes is going to have to dig deep to get this offense humming. This team is beatable, yet they are still 7-2 and face Philly in Week 11 after the bye week.
4. Cincinnati Bengals (5-3)
It was inevitable this was going to happen right? A slow start, hampered by injuries, mainly to Joe Burrow, but this team is now 5-3 and has won four straight. Cincy dug themselves a hole at the beginning of the season and will have to be nearly perfect the rest of the way considering their upcoming schedule, but Burrow is all the way back and has changed the outlook of the season. Ja’Marr Chase is dealing with a back injury which is something to watch, but you have to believe Burrow can find a way with or without Chase. Cincy faces Houston next week in an important game for both sides.
5. Detroit Lions (6-2)
The Lions come out of the bye in a much more tightly contested division race after an inspiring Vikings win on Sunday. David Montgomery should be back from his injury, and Jahmyr Gibbs has developed over the past few weeks with Montgomery sidelined. The Lions still look like the second-best team in the NFC but will be tested on Sunday when they face a now-streaking Chargers team on Sunday in what could be an offensive showdown.
6. San Francisco 49ers (5-3)
The bye week could not have come at a more perfect time for the 49ers. After starting the season 5-0, San Francisco lost three games in a row and is now in a real fight for the NFC West with the Seahawks. Brock Purdy had easily the worst stretch of his career and will need to be a lot better, especially in clutch moments, if this team wants to get back on track. Deebo Samuel should return from his shoulder injury and Christian McCaffrey should be fully healed from his oblique injury which helps, but this is a big week for the 49ers. They face Jacksonville on the road on Sunday.
7. Miami Dolphins (6-3)
Maybe these are the same old Dolphins after all. Miami hasn’t beaten a team over .500 since their improbable comeback win over Baltimore in Week 2 last season, and once again came up short when it mattered most this past week against Kansas City. Tua choked late in the game on a severely underthrown pass that would’ve tied the game, before fumbling the final snap of the game on 4th down. The defense has improved and the run game is alive and well, but this Dolphins team just can’t beat anyone good. They’re on bye this week before facing Las Vegas in Week 11.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2)
The Jags come out of their bye week on a five-game winning streak and were playing their best football of the season after a sluggish 1-2 start to the season. Trevor Lawrence will have to be better if they want to be a true contender come January, but in a lackluster division and a somewhat easy schedule ahead of them, there’s not much to worry about in Jacksonville for the time being. I say a somewhat easy schedule because the Jags have the 49ers this week, who will be as hungry as ever for a win.
9. Dallas Cowboys (5-3)
Undisciplined play, bad coaching, lack of weapons behind CeeDee Lamb, and no run game whatsoever, and this Dallas team finds themselves 5-3 coming off a bad and somewhat unlucky loss to Philadelphia on Sunday. This team should be a lot better than they are but has multiple flaws holding them back from being a true Super Bowl contender. On the bright side for Dallas, Dak Prescott has been tremendous outside of two games this season, making it all the more frustrating that they aren’t in a better position heading into Week 10. They should get back on track in Week 10 when they face the injury-riddled Giants at home.
10. Cleveland Browns (5-3)
If only Deshaun Watson was playing at a high level, this Browns team would be true contenders (words I never thought I’d type). While it was the Cardinals and Clayton Tune making his first career start, the Browns held the Cardinals to 58 yards of total offense on Sunday. The defense is legit but the offense isn’t, and will ultimately hold them back from what they can accomplish this season. The Browns face a tough test in the Ravens on Sunday, a game that could really tell us what this Browns team is.