The top of the NFL stayed mostly steady in Week 10, but there was still one notable shakeup: the Chiefs climbed into the top five after a convincing win, while the Bills held onto No. 1 with another statement victory.
Buffalo remains the team to beat at 7-1 after knocking off the Vikings, a result that handed Minnesota its second straight loss following an undefeated start. That win gave the Bills a three-game cushion in the AFC East, and they’re now in position to keep pushing toward the AFC’s top seed if the wins keep coming.
San Francisco kept pace right behind them at 7-1. The 49ers rolled past the Raiders and continue to sit comfortably atop the NFC West. With the NFC described as noticeably weaker than the AFC, and with what the rankings note is arguably the next top four teams in the conference all in the same division, the 49ers just need to keep stacking wins to lock up the NFC’s top playoff spot.
Denver stayed at No. 3 after beating the Panthers to move to 7-2. The Broncos still lead the AFC West, though the grip isn’t as secure as they’d like. Even so, they continue to look like a legitimate AFC contender.
Chicago sits fourth at 7-2 and is now in control of the path to an NFC North title. Whatever uncertainty came with Caleb Williams’s injury feels far behind them now, and the Bears are looking every bit like one of the league’s best teams.
Kansas City rounds out the top five after flattening the Jets. The Broncos’ win over them a couple of weeks ago pushed the Chiefs out of first in the AFC West, but they’re still firmly in the AFC’s elite tier and proved it again this week.
Below the top five, Pittsburgh, Detroit and Jacksonville all check in at 6-2, followed by Cincinnati at 5-2 and Minnesota at 6-2. Green Bay lands at No. 11 at 6-3, with Seattle, the Rams, the Giants, the Patriots and the Browns filling out the next stretch of the rankings.
The bottom half brings a long list of teams trying to climb out of the mud, including the Cowboys at 17, the Raiders at 19, the Ravens at 20 and the Cardinals and Buccaneers at 21 and 22. Carolina, Washington, Atlanta and New Orleans all sit in the 20s as well, while the Eagles are down at 27, followed by the Colts, Jets, Titans, Dolphins and Chargers at the very bottom.
In Other News...
Saints Top Draft Slot Could Reshape Two Trouble Spots
With the draft board starting to take shape, the Saints are looking at a first-round decision that could help solve two of their biggest roster questions at once. Offensive tackle Zeroue Williams and edge rusher Devan Thompkins both fit areas where New Orleans could use a long-term boost, and each brings a different kind of appeal depending on how the team wants to attack the 12th pick.
Williams offers the kind of size and positional profile that can stabilize the line, while Thompkins would give the Saints another way to pressure opposing quarterbacks. The coaching staffs direction will matter here, as will how the front office weighs immediate need against overall value, but the larger point is clear: this pick could be the one that starts to reshape two trouble spots on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Pass Rush Is Suddenly Raising A Bigger Question
The Saints have found a real edge off the corner in Chase Young and Carl Granderson, and it has changed the feel of their defense this season. Young sits second in the league in sacks, Granderson is tied for fourth, and together they have become one of the NFLs most productive pass-rushing pairs. Grandersons recent run has been especially notable, with multiple sacks in four straight games, something the franchise had not seen since 2013.
For a team trying to build on its defensive identity, the obvious next question is how sustainable this surge really is. Young and Granderson have given New Orleans a legitimate weekly pressure threat, but the bigger challenge now is whether the Saints can keep getting that kind of disruption when opponents start adjusting their protections and game plans around them. [Read more 🡒]
Chase Young Is Giving The Saints Defense A New Edge
Chase Young has settled into a more prominent role since arriving in New Orleans, and the edge rusher sounds like a player who knows exactly what kind of impact he can still make. Through parts of three seasons with the Saints, he has produced 23.5 sacks, a sign that his game has found some consistency after earlier stops with Washington and San Francisco. For a defense trying to keep the Saints in the mix in a competitive NFC South, that kind of presence matters.
Young spoke confidently this week about his ability to win against blockers and about how much he has grown since his earlier years in the league. At 3-5, New Orleans still has work to do, but the Saints have reason to lean on him as one of the tone-setters on that side of the ball. The bigger question now is how far that edge can carry a defense that needs more than just flashes to stay in the hunt. [Read more 🡒]