1. Kansas City Chiefs (12-1) – Patrick Mahomes struggled to get a win but he was still good enough to beat a playoff contending team on the road, in the Miami Dolphins. The Chiefs are going to be a tough out in the playoffs and are looking primed to win back to back Super Bowls.
2. Seattle Seahawks (9-4) – Russell Wilson and the Seahwaks bounced back and did what they should have done a week prior. The Seahwaks beat the New York Jets into a fine dust. Seattle’s defense continued it’s run of impressive defensive performances and I think they are the favorite in the NFC right now. Russell Wilson sets Seattle above the rest of the conference.
3. Tennessee Titans (9-4) – The Titans took one on the chin at home last week but bounced back against the lowly Jaguars. RB Derrick Henry ran for 200+ yards and WR AJ Brown had another impressive performance. The Titans defense shut down the Jaguars offense for most of the game. Don’t sleep on Tennessee, QB Ryan Tannehill is underrated and the Titans are one of the more talented teams in the NFL on both sides of the ball.
4. New Orleans Saints (10-3) – Eagles QB Jalen Hurts did exactly what young mobile quarterbacks do when they get their first start. They cause fits for the defense. The Saints were hurt early and couldn’t recover late as they drop a tough one to the struggling Philadelphia Eagles. The Saints were able to contain Hurts as the game got late but couldn’t overcome the early deficit. QB Taysom Hill played ok but it’s another week gone and I’m still not a believer. Sorry Saints fans but if Drew Brees can’t make it back by playoff time the Saints could be one and done.
5. Buffalo Bills (10-3) – The Bills took care of the Steelers 26-15 and they are going to win the AFC East for the first time since the last time the Patriots weren’t any good. WR Stefon Diggs has been huge for QB Josh Allen and the Bills offense. 130 yards receiving for Diggs against a good Steelers defense was very impressive. Diggs is the kind of elite #1 WR a lot of teams would love to have. The Bills have him and he has paid instant dividends this year.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2) – Steelers better hit the brakes fast because they are going the wrong way at light speed. Two losses in a row isn’t that big of a deal but when you consider QB Ben Roethlisberger and the offense were struggling even before the losing streak and the fact the defense has lost OLB Bud Dupree for the remainder of the season the concern is starting to mount. Combine those two issues with whispers Big Ben might be playing with a serious knee injury and the Steelers look more wobbly than a clown balloon. Will they bounce right back up? We’ll see.
7. LA Rams (9-4) – Rams QB Jared Goff is the key. If he can play effciently like he has of late the Rams can beat any team. If he plays like he did against the 49ers a few weeks back the Rams won’t beat anyone.
8. Cleveland Browns (9-4) – The Browns drop a heartbreaker to the Ravens on Monday Night Football, 47-42. QB Lamar Jackson played the role of Superman and unfortunately that made Baker Mayfield Lex Luther. Mayfield was pretty super in his own right. An interception led to 6 points for the Ravens but other than that Mayfield continued to play well as he battled back from multiple scores down. His development has to have the Browns organization and the Cleveland fan base ecstatic. DE Oliver Vernon had 2 more sacks tonight and has come on strong during the final stretch of the season. The Cleveland Browns will be a sleeper team in the stacked AFC playoffs. Tonight’s loss was really tough because it would have pulled the Browns to within one game of the suddenly scuffling Steelers in the North.
