NFL Power Rankings: Sorting Out a Strange Season

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5-1 (Last Week: 4)

   The Bucs are the top-rated team. Raise your hand if you saw that coming before week one.

   Weird: Tampa scores about two more points on average than they allow. This team knows how to make plays when it counts.

2. Indianapolis Colts 5-1 (Last Week: 6)

   The Colts haven’t beat an impressive list of opponents, but you can only beat who you play.

   Weird: The Colts have the fourth-rated offense, led by a quarterback many were ready to write off.

3. Detroit Lions 4-2 (Last Week: 1)

   The Lion’s defense has been disappointing, but a lot of teams would love to be “disappointing” at 4-2.

   Weird: Lions vs. Bucs used to feel like torture. This week it’s for an NFC bragging-rights claim.

4. Philadelphia Eagles 4-2 (Last Week: 2)

   The Eagles figure to make serious changes if this week’s game in Minnesota doesn’t go well.

   Weird: Philly has just two receiving touchdowns from wide receivers all year.

5. Buffalo Bills 4-2 (Last Week: 3)

   After scoring thirty or more in each of their games, Buffalo posted just twenty and fourteen in the last two.

   Weird: The Bills’ top three draft picks haven’t hit the stat sheet yet.

6. Green Bay Packers 3-1-1 (Last Week: 7)

   The Packers didn’t dominate like expected coming off a bye with the undermanned Bengals in town.

   Weird: Micah Parsons has eleven tackles this season, 11th on the team.

7. Los Angeles Rams 4-2 (Last Week: 8)

   Win at home vs. the Jags and Saints and they’re 6-2 heading into a huge divisional tilt with San Francisco.

   Weird: Davante Adams has just ten fewer targets than Puka Nacua, but 28 fewer receptions.

8. Pittsburgh 4-1 (Last Week: 10)

   The Steelers handled a soft opening slate. The schedule stiffens from here.

   Weird: Pittsburgh’s leading rusher has 184 yards.

9. Kansas City 3-3 (Last Week: Unranked)

   The Chiefs looked sharp against the Lions.

   Weird: Patrick Mahomes currently leads the Chiefs in rushing.

10. Seattle Seahawks 4-2 (Last Week: Unranked)

    Jacksonville was rolling, and Seattle walked into their building and handled business.

    Weird: The Seahawks are 3-0 on the road and 1-2 at home.

That game isn’t going to lift the Jets out of the league’s cellar. A win wasn’t expected, but producing so little on offense is a disappointment. The offense wasted the defense’s best effort of the season. The Jets hadn’t held an opponent under 27 points before Sunday against Denver.

The next three games bring the Panthers at home, the Bengals in Cincinnati, and the Browns at MetLife. This trio is the best chance for a win all year. The Jets will be without Garrett Wilson for a part if not all of this stretch. Wilson leads the team with 36 catches; the next best wide receiver has just 8. Another wideout needs to step up, and Justin Fields must read coverage better and be more accurate. If this three-game run goes poorly, it could get as bad as it has ever been for the Jets.