Tag: NFL power rankings

All 32 NFL teams (including the Broncos) ranked by FPI ratings

Going into Week 12, the Broncos have a -1.2 Football Power Index (FPI) rating from ESPN, which ranks 23rd in the NFL. 

Eleven games into the season, the Denver Broncos (6-5) have a -1.2 Football Power Index (FPI) rating from ESPN, which ranks 23rd in the NFL.

The Las Vegas Raiders (2-8), who will host Denver in Week 12, are ranked 26th with a -4.9 FPI rating.

FPI is “a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of a team’s performance going forward for the rest of the season,” according to ESPN.com. “FPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Projected results are based on 10,000 simulations of the rest of the season using FPI, results to date, and the remaining schedule.”

So with that background in mind, here’s a look at how the league’s 32 teams stack up based on FPI going into Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season.

  1. Detroit Lions (9-1): 8.7
  2. Baltimore Ravens (7-4): 6.4
  3. Buffalo Bills (9-2): 6.2
  4. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1): 5.1
  5. Green Bay Packers (7-3): 5.0
  6. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2): 4.5
  7. San Francisco 49ers (5-5): 3.9
  8. Minnesota Vikings (8-2): 2.9
  9. Houston Texans (7-4): 1.9
  10. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2): 1.8
  11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6): 1.4
  12. Arizona Cardinals (6-4): 1.4
  13. Washington Commanders (7-4): 1.3
  14. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3): 1.1
  15. Cincinnati Bengals (4-7): 0.3
  16. Los Angeles Rams (5-5): -0.1
  17. New York Jets (3-8): -0.2
  18. Miami Dolphins (4-6): -0.3
  19. Atlanta Falcons (6-5): -0.7
  20. New Orleans Saints (4-7): -0.7
  21. Cleveland Browns (2-8): -1.1
  22. Seattle Seahawks (5-5): -1.1
  23. Denver Broncos (6-5): -1.2
  24. Chicago Bears (4-6): -1.4
  25. Indianapolis Colts (5-6): -2.1
  26. Las Vegas Raiders (2-8): -4.9
  27. New England Patriots (3-8): -5.4
  28. Tennesee Titans (2-8): -5.6
  29. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9): -5.9
  30. Carolina Panthers (3-7): -7.5
  31. New York Giants (2-8): -7.7
  32. Dallas Cowboys (3-7): -8.8

The Broncos will aim to improve their rating when they take on the Raiders in Week 12. Denver moved up two spots in the rankings this week.

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After bye, Cardinals remain in same spot in new Week 12 NFL power rankings

Have a look where the Cardinals rank in USA TODAY’s latest NFL power rankings.

The Arizona Cardinals did not play in Week 11 and also did not move in their place in the NFC West, remaining in first place and even gaining a half-game because the San Francisco 49ers lost to the Seattle Seahawks.

The Cardinals are now one game ahead of every other team in the division because they are 6-4 and the 49ers, Seahawks and L.A. Rams are all 5-5.

And, guess what? They also didn’t move in the latest NFL power rankings from USA TODAY’s Nate Davis. They hold at No. 10 overall.

The NFC West leaders come out of their bye with a one-game lead but two of their next three contests against Seattle, which has beaten the Cards in five straight.

Who is ahead of them? The Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders and Green Bay Packers. You know who the Cardinals lost to this season? Four of those teams — the Lions, Bills, Commanders and Packers.

Go figure.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Chargers continue to climb in NFL power rankings after Week 11 win over Bengals

The Chargers received high praise from NFL analysts after their primetime win.

The Chargers improved to 7-3 after defeating the Bengals last Sunday night.

After Week 11, let’s see where Los Angeles stands in NFL power rankings:

USA Today: 11 (Previous: 13)

“Sunday night saw their best offensive performance of the season … and worst showing on defense. But teammates pick one another up and vanquishing Cincy gives the Bolts a near-ironclad grip on a wild-card berth.”

NFL: 9 (Previous: 10)

“The Chargers made as wide a swing as was imaginable on Sunday night, looking like a dark-horse Super Bowl team in the first half, then nearly coughing up what would have been an inexcusable loss — one that would have also significantly damaged their playoff hopes. After opening the game scorching hot, Justin Herbert froze over pretty fast, going 5-for-18 passing at one point in the second half and missing two big throws to Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey. The QB’s early fourth-quarter fumble (Herbert’s first turnover since Week 2) led to the Bengals tying things up, and it looked like Cincinnati was going to walk out of there with a win. But Herbert hit McConkey for 28 and 27 yards in the final minute, and the Chargers escaped a game that had a playoff-like atmosphere. The competition only gets tougher from here on out, too, so they’d better be prepared for more of these types of battles.”

ESPN: 9 (Previous: 11)

Preseason hot seat: WR Quentin Johnston
Current temperature of hot seat: Cold

“After struggling with drops as a rookie, there were questions coming into this season about whether Johnston was an NFL-caliber wideout. He has silenced any doubt this season, with a team-high six receiving touchdowns. In L.A.’s win over Cincinnati, he became the first Charger since 2021 to have a receiving touchdown in three straight games. “Honestly, if nobody else believed in me, I still had full confidence in myself,” Johnston said. “It was just a matter of going out and proving it.”

CBS Sports: 9 (Previous: 9)

“Jim Harbaugh has this team playing good football. The defense got a little exposed against the Bengals, but they are better than that.”

Sports Illustrated: 8 (Previous: 9)

“The Chargers got the absolute best out of the Bengals not only offensively but defensively too. Justin Herbert threw a league high 27.8% of his throws into tight coverage on Sunday night against a very good—for one week at least—Bengals defense. Herbert also dealt with a paltry average wideout separation rating, which was more than a yard below the league leader from Sunday.”

Bleacher Report: 10 (Previous: 10)

“These Chargers are different. These Chargers didn’t find themselves Chargering late in the fourth quarter. The Bengals almost pulled off the biggest second-half comeback in franchise history. But Herbert, McConkey, and Dobbins didn’t let it happen thanks to a strong game-winning drive with less than a minute remaining. Head coach Jim Harbaugh is changing the attitude in the Chargers locker room. This squad earned its 7-3 record. It’ll be a difficult out for the rest of the season.”

Where the Dolphins landed in power rankings after Week 11 win

Experts are slowly starting to believe in the Dolphins again after back-to-back wins.

A win against the Las Vegas Raiders isn’t exactly a statement game, but the Miami Dolphins put together a nearly perfect offensive performance in Week 11.

The Dolphins didn’t punt once or turn the ball over at all against the Raiders, turning every one of their possessions into points with the exception of a last-minute drive at the end of the first half.

Back-to-back wins haven’t yet convinced most experts that the Dolphins are in the top half of the NFL. But they’ve continue to inch forward in most rankings.

Here’s where experts now rank the Dolphins heading into Week 12:

Miami will face the 3-8 New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday in a Week 12 matchup.

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NFL Power Rankings: How do the Titans fare heading into Week 12?

Here’s where the Titans land in a multitude of NFL power rankings.

The Tennessee Titans fell to 2-8 with a 23-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11. Even with the loss, the Titans looked functionally better. Unforced errors and a lot of penalties (a few were controversial) hampered their efforts to win, but collectively, they looked halfway decent for the first time under Will Levis this season.

The Titans face a tough task again in Week 12 when they head to Texas to face the Houston Texans. It’s just their second divisional game this season, with the first being a loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6. Save for games against the Washington Commanders and Cincinnati Bengals, the Titans’ remaining schedule is against division opponents.

As we enter Week 12, here’s a look at where the Titans place in a multitude of power rankings.

Nate Davis, USA TODAY:

They don’t score much – their 18 TDs the AFC’s second fewest – but they get their money’s worth. WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine’s 98-yarder Sunday was the longest touchdown reception in the league this season.

Barry Werner, List Wire:

The Titans put up a fight. Per usual, it was a losing fight.

NFL Nation, ESPN:

Preseason hot seat: RG Dillon Radunz
Current temperature of hot seat: Cold

Radunz has settled in nicely now that he knows he can focus on one position — in 2023, he made starts at right tackle, left guard, left tackle and right guard. He has started nine out of 10 games and has been a big factor in the rushing attack. Running back Tony Pollard benefited directly from Radunz’s blocks on two of his longest runs this season. His pass protection could stand to improve, especially after Radunz gave up a sack in each of the past two weeks. But he has played his way into what should be a multiyear contract.

Ben Rolfe, Pro Football Network:

It’s hard to be too positive about the Tennessee Titans, who have now lost five of their last six games. Tennessee’s defense continues to fall away compared to the strong start, and unfortunately, the offense is barely registering a pulse. Will Levis looked better this week, and that is kind of all you can ask for at this stage.

The Titans will benefit more from losing and gaining draft position than from winning and keeping any faint playoff hopes alive. Levis’ development and evaluating the roster are the key elements of the last seven games.

Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News:

The Titans have been overwhelmed in Will Levis’ second season, as their pass-reliant ways also put a decent defense in more harm’s way than expected. Brian Callahan is also learning how to coach from week to week.

Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports:

Will Levis’ last two games: 470 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, 103.2 passer rating. It’s far from perfect, but it’s giving him some momentum. A strong finish could be very important for him and the Titans.

Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk:

The moments that provide a spark are too short, too few, and too far between.

Diante Lee, The Ringer:

If you’re ever fortunate enough to watch the Titans play against your favorite team, relish the opportunity to witness the wide range of outcomes possible in a game with Levis at quarterback. If the first read isn’t there for him, all bets are off. On throws of 2.5 seconds or longer, Levis ranks 29th in passer rating out of 36 qualifying quarterbacks and has been sacked the eighth-most times despite starting just seven games. Levis isn’t a good quarterback when he gets the ball out quickly, but operating on time makes the offense much more viable. The main issue is that the scheme has no guardrails in place to keep Levis from making terrible decisions. After he took five sacks and committed a turnover on Sunday, I have to wonder when the coaching staff will bench him to cover their own behinds.

Eric Edholm, NFL.com:

Will Levis’ bomb to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine that went for a 98-yard score gave the Titans life, and the offense put a few plays together in the second half. But in the fourth quarter Sunday, they settled for a field goal and turned it over twice on downs before Levis’ game-sealing pick. The Titans were also doomed by their earlier mistakes, including several drive-extending penalties that helped the Vikings offense significantly. This game came down to execution, and Minnesota was clearly superior in that department. One of the biggest differences between Brian Callahan’s Titans and the Bengals team he came from is that Cincinnati under Zac Taylor has been one of the more disciplined clubs, flags-wise, since becoming a head coach. But Tennessee now has 82 accepted penalties through 10 games under Callahan, with 67 of those setbacks coming in the past seven games. The Titans are also minus-11 in turnover differential, the second-worst mark in the league, so it’s no shock they’ve only won once since September.

NFL Power Rankings: How do the Commanders fare entering Week 12?

Here’s where the Commanders landed in a multitude of power rankings heading into Week 12.

The Washington Commanders suffered back-to-back losses for the first time in 2024 when they fell to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday. It also made their road to the playoffs more difficult, although still attainable.

The Commanders had no answer for Saquon Barkley, and Jayden Daniels playing through a rib injury is taking its toll on the offense. Things aren’t running as smoothly right now, and it’s affecting the team’s momentum. Team morale, though, remains high as everyone feels this team is capable of doing great things.

In Week 12, the Commanders face another division rival in the Dallas Cowboys. But without Dak Prescott, the Cowboys’ offense has been hard-pressed to do much of anything. Nothing is ever certain, and nothing is a guarantee, but the Commanders should rebound this weekend.

As we enter Week 12, here’s a look at where the Commanders place in a multitude of power rankings.

Nate Davis, USA TODAY:

The team contends nothing is wrong with rookie QB Jayden Daniels … even though he’s played his least efficient (59.1% completion rate, 74.9 passer rating) and impactful (23 rushing yards, 1 TD generated) football during the current two-game losing streak.

Barry Werner, List Wire:

There are going to be days like this no matter how fast the rebuild. The Commanders had no answer for Saquon Barkley in the fourth quarter. Jayden Daniels for one night was ordinary. Call it being a rookie.

NFL Nation, ESPN:

Preseason hot seat: CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
Current temperature of hot seat: Boiling

Forbes opened the season as the starter, but he missed two games with a thumb injury, and he hasn’t started since. The 2023 first-round pick has played just eight snaps in the past four games combined. Washington needed him to improve from a tough rookie season, but he has not, which in part precipitated a trade for corner Marshon Lattimore. Washington will need to address the position even more after the season. If it cuts Forbes before June 1, it will cost them $9.1 million in dead cap money and provide no cap relief — and actually would cost them $4.9 million. That could mean he sticks around another year.

Ben Rolfe, Pro Football Network:

The way the Washington Commanders started the season gave them some wiggle room for an almost inevitable wobble at some point. They’ve lost to four good teams this year and three who rank inside the top 10 of our rankings.

The manner of the defeat in Week 11 was not ideal, with the offense largely looking blunted. But it’s still a top-five unit, and Washington’s defense did a solid job for large parts of the game against Philly, which will be encouraging.

The Commanders’ schedule ranks as the third-easiest the rest of the way, and that starts this week with a Cowboys team that is in tatters. They must not overlook the next two weeks against Dall and Tennessee because if the Commanders can get into their bye at 9-4, they will potentially only need one more win to secure a playoff spot.

Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News:

The Commanders are looking more like a shaky wild-card team, as the tougher teams on their schedule have given them difficulty. The first-place Eagles were the latest after falling to the Ravens and Steelers. Washington has a favorable slate ahead to rebound and finish strong.

Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports:

The Commanders trailed 12-10 at Philadelphia with eight minutes left when a fourth-down gamble didn’t work. It was a closer loss than we’ll remember. If Washington handles business in its next three games vs. Dallas, Tennessee and New Orleans, the Commanders will be at 10 wins and that’ll be fine.

Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk:

The offense is getting sluggish, and the coaching on Thursday night was not good enough.

Diante Lee, The Ringer:

The 2024 season will be remembered as a success for Washington no matter how tings end, but head coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury have to find a way to regain some offensive rhythm. That unit hasn’t fallen totally off a cliff, but the passing game has come back to earth over the last few weeks and that’s shining a light on other deficiencies on this roster. Quarterback Jayden Daniels has completed just 59.5 percent of his passes in his last four games, and he hasn’t avoided pressure as easily as he did before he suffered a rib injury against the Panthers. Without his superpowers lifting the overall level of this team, it’s hard to imagine Washington looking like a true playoff threat down the stretch.

Eric Edholm, NFL.com:

It’s hard not to notice the downward trend the Commanders’ attack has been on since Jayden Daniels suffered a rib injury in Week 7. The problem is, they need their offense to carry them past their defensive issues. A step up in competition might be a factor; either way, for the first time since September, we’re starting to see some cracks in their armor. They’re a miraculous Hail Mary away from having three losses in their past four games, with two narrow wins over teams with losing records keeping them afloat in that span. Washington continues to have an 81 percent chance of making the postseason, per Next Gen Stats, but a lack of consistent playmakers and an inability to finish off games is a bit concerning. Facing the Cowboys and Titans at home gives the Commanders a chance to rebound. If they continue to struggle to move the ball or put points on the board, then it might be time to worry a little.

49ers on the wrong side of mediocrity in USA TODAY NFL power rankings

A steep fall for the 49ers in the USA TODAY power rankings:

The San Francisco 49ers can’t get the benefit of the doubt any longer. This year’s club hasn’t been able to flip the proverbial switch after a slow start, and the problems that plagued them through the first 10 weeks cropped up again in another dreary loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

USA TODAY’s NFL power rankings acted accordingly and dropped the 49ers all the way out of the top half of the league and into No. 18 overall – a well-earned seven-place dip from No. 11 where they resided after a Week 10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Perhaps the 49ers do have a switch to flip and they do so with their backs against the wall and a brutal stretch coming up where they visit the Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills in back-to-back weeks. If they fight their way out of the 5-5 corner they’re backed into and get a couple wins over two playoff teams, then we can revisit their place in the NFL hierarchy.

Linebacker Fred Warner summed it up after the team’s 20-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

“Yeah, it’s not like us,” Warner said of the team’s penchant for face-planting in crucial situations. “But that’s what we’ve shown this year, so I guess until we stop doing that, that’s who we are.”

The 49ers are 5-5, last place in their division and on the outside looking in at the NFC playoff picture. Pedigree doesn’t count for anything in the postseason formula, and until they prove they’re that caliber of team, they deserve to plummet into the range of mediocrity in the power rankings.

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NFL Week 12 power rankings: Rams’ win vs. Patriots doesn’t move the needle

The Rams bounced back with a win over the Patriots, but it didn’t move them up much in this week’s power rankings

It was critical that the Los Angeles Rams beat the New England Patriots on Sunday after suffering a disappointing and deflating loss to the Miami Dolphins the week prior. They got the job done with a 28-22 victory, a game that was much closer than it should’ve been.

Considering the Patriots were 3-7 entering Week 11, it wasn’t exactly a statement win for the Rams like their victories over the 49ers, Vikings and even Seahawks were. But in the NFL, a team will take any win it can get.

Analysts weren’t terribly impressed by the Rams’ win, barely moving Los Angeles up in their Week 12 power rankings. After having an average ranking of 18.0 last week, the Rams’ average is now 16.7.

Here’s where various outlets put the Rams heading into their Week 12 game against the Eagles.

USA Today: 17th (last week: 19th)

ESPN: 15th (last week: 18th)

NFL.com: 19th (last week: 21st)

CBS Sports: 18th (last week: 18th)

Bleacher Report: 15th (last week: 16th)

ProFootballTalk: 15th (last week: 16th)

Yahoo Sports: 19th (last week: 19th)

The Athletic: 15th (last week: 18th)

FOX Sports: 20th (last week: 21st)

The Ringer: 14th (last week: 14th)

High: 14th – Low: 20th – Average: 16.7

At 5-5, the Rams are still considered an average football team. They rank in the middle of the pack as a group that could be a playoff contender, but also could come up short if they keep playing the way they have been.

There will be plenty more tests along the way for Los Angeles in the final seven games, too. The Rams still have to face the Eagles, Bills, 49ers, Cardinals and Seahawks in the last seven weeks, all of whom are currently above .500. Their other two opponents are the Saints and Jets, who can be dangerous opponents, especially on the road.

Broncos jump 3 spots in NFL power rankings after big win

The Denver Broncos rose three spots in NFL power rankings after their big win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Following their big 38-6 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, the Denver Broncos are now No. 13 in Nate Davis’ latest NFL power rankings for USA TODAY Sports. That’s up three spots from their No. 16 rank last week.

Here is Davis’ commentary on Denver following Sunday’s win:

Perhaps the AFC version of the Vikes, the Broncos went 4-0 against the NFC South and outscored those teams by an average of 22 points.

After sweeping the NFC South, attention now turns to the AFC West, where the Broncos have three games remaining.

Elsewhere in the division, the Kansas City Chiefs are ranked No. 4, the Los Angeles Chargers are ranked No. 11 and the Las Vegas Raiders are ranked No. 27. The Broncos will host the Raiders at Empower Field at Mile High in Week 12.

The Detroit Lions are ranked No. 1 and the Jacksonville Jaguars are ranked No. 32 (last). To view the complete NFL power rankings following Week 11, visit USATODAY.com.

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NFL Power Rankings roundup: Saints rise up after win over Falcons

The New Orleans Saints knocked out the Atlanta Falcons in a surprise win this week, causing them to rise up in the latest NFL power rankings:

The New Orleans Saints are finally back to the right side of the win column, snapping a seven-game losing streak with their 20-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

This marks the beginning of the Darren Rizzi era, clearly starting off on a high note after the departure of Dennis Allen. With this, the Saints have gone from being one of the lowliest, if not the lowliest ranked teams for major media outlets, to slightly higher in the rankings.

The jury is still out on whether this was a fluke for the Saints to have beaten one of the hottest teams in the nation, or if it truly is the start of something new.

Here’s a look at where the Saints stand in the rankings across national outlets in comparison to where they stood in the previous week:

High: 23 – Low: 29  – Average: 26.7

The Saints will have a chance to stay on the right side of the win column as they face the Cleveland Browns at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday, Nov. 17 at Noon CT/1 p.m. ET.

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