The 2024 NFL season is halfway complete, and teams are opting to make trades to improve their teams before the deadline. But how do these recent trades and games impact their rankings in The Dallas Express Power Rankings?
The official power rankings heading into Week 10 of the NFL season have arrived:
1. Kansas City Chiefs (Previous Ranking: 1)
The Chiefs’ consistent first-overall ranking should not be a surprise, as they will remain at the top until they lose and could be at the top even after their first loss of the season. Any back-to-back Super Bowl champion that brings back the best quarterback, coach, and defense in the league should be considered the heavy favorite to win the Super Bowl for a third straight time.
2. Detroit Lions (Previous Ranking: 2)
Detroit might have the most well-rounded roster in the entire league. Additionally, they have the largest margin of victory of any team through the nine weeks. Capturing the top overall seed, which looks more likely every week, would also vastly improve their odds of making a run to the Super Bowl. The Lions are the clear favorites to win the NFC and should be the favorites to take down the Chiefs in a potential Super Bowl matchup.
3. Baltimore Ravens (Previous Ranking: 3)
Derrick Henry continues his dominant season after rushing for over 100 yards for the fifth time this season in a blowout win over the Broncos in Week 9. The combination of Henry and Lamar Jackson, along with wide receivers Zay Flowers and newly acquired Diontae Johnson, make any defense fearful of the Ravens’ offensive firepower. Baltimore’s biggest concern is their pass defense, which is an issue that may persist for the remainder of the season after Baltimore opted against any trades at the deadline.
4. Buffalo Bills (Previous Ranking: 5)
Buffalo keeps winning on the back of Josh Allen, walking away with a 30-27 win over the Dolphins despite wide receiver Amari Cooper missing the game with an injury. The Bills have essentially won the AFC East just halfway through the season and should be one of the top seeds in the conference by the end of the regular season. Coaching and defensive concerns could cost the Bills once the playoffs arrive, but Allen can cover up for many of those issues on his own.
5. Washington Commanders (Previous Ranking: 7)
Washington’s slow climb to the top of the power rankings continued with a win over the Giants in Week 9 despite missing running back Brian Robinson Jr. The one concern for this team throughout the majority of the season has been its secondary, which the organization addressed by trading for Marshon Lattimore at the trade deadline. Washington is poised to be one of the most disruptive playoff teams in the NFC and could make a deep run with the right matchups.
6. Philadelphia Eagles (Previous Ranking: 8)
Philadelphia has now won four straight games and looks dominant again since returning from their bye week, with running back Saquon Barkley proving to be one of the most impactful free-agent signings in the league. Similar to the Bills, Philadelphia could face issues with coaching and defense once the playoffs roll around. However, the offensive firepower on this team should carry them in the majority of games and could help them make another deep playoff run.
7. Green Bay Packers (Previous Ranking: 4)
The Packers can beat any team in the league when they are playing their best, but that seems to be a rare occurrence for a team that has struggled with drops and penalties all season. Green Bay’s defense looks better than last season, but the organization also opted to trade away Preston Smith, the most effective edge rusher on the team and failed to make any other moves by the deadline. Recapturing their play from the second half of the 2023 season would thrust this team back into serious contention, but a difficult schedule in the back half of this season could create issues if they do not find that momentum.
8. Houston Texans (Previous Ranking: 6)
Nico Collins is scheduled to return for the Texans in either Week 10 or 11, which is desperately needed for a team that is just 1-2 in its last three games. Houston has the pieces to be one of the most dangerous teams in the league, but injuries and offensive line issues could lead to its eventual downfall.
9. Minnesota Vikings (Previous Ranking: 9)
Minnesota walked away with a close win in Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts. Still, the Colts have been up and down all season and were undergoing a quarterback controversy that seemingly shook up the locker room. The Vikings have earned a place in the upper portion of the power rankings, but there are still legitimate concerns about whether Sam Darnold can lead this team deep in the playoffs.
10. San Francisco 49ers (Previous Ranking: 10)
The 49ers’ goal through the first half of the season was to be within striking distance of the playoffs by the time players began returning from injuries. That time has seemingly come, with Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel both expected to return in Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. San Francisco has already lost some key divisional games this season, but a healthy 49ers team could quickly move up in the overall standings and The Dallas Express power rankings in the coming weeks.
11. Atlanta Falcons (Previous Ranking: 11)
Atlanta took on a depleted Cowboys team in Week 9 and still did not look dominant despite leading 27-13 in the fourth quarter. The Falcons’ pass rush leaves much to be desired, but this team is the clear favorite to win the NFC South and is almost a lock to make the playoffs after their 6-3 start.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers (Previous Ranking: 12)
The Steelers had a bye in Week 9 but improved their team with the additions of wide receiver Mike Williams and edge rusher Preston Smith at the trade deadline. The Pittsburgh defense is still one of the league’s most disruptive units, and Russell Wilson has seemingly improved the team’s offense. Although the Steelers may not be considered a real threat to make the Super Bowl, they have a path to winning the division and making some noise in the playoffs.
13. Cincinnati Bengals (Previous Ranking: 16)
Don’t look now, but the Cincinnati Bengals are slowly climbing back into the playoff picture after starting the season with just 1-4. Cincinnati is just 4-5 through the first half of the season but is only one game behind the Denver Broncos for the last wild card spot in the AFC. The Bengals are often locked into close games despite the skill level of their opponents, which creates a difficult path to the playoffs but should bode well for the team if they manage to make the postseason.
14. Arizona Cardinals (Previous Ranking: 17)
The Cardinals might be a legitimate contender to win the NFC West this season. Although they are just one game above .500, Arizona is currently first in their division with wins over the 49ers and Rams. Kyler Murray is still one of the most electric and dynamic players in the league, and winning certain matchups against divisional opponents in the second half of the season could result in the Cardinals claiming the top spot in their division.
15. Los Angeles Rams (Previous Ranking: 18)
A fully healthy Rams team is very dangerous for the rest of the NFC, evidenced by their climb back to playoff relevancy despite starting 1-4. The race for the division title in the NFC West is incredibly close, and the key to the Rams’ victory is beating their divisional opponents. With Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back on the field, there is a legitimate shot for the Rams to finish the season with a top-four seed in the conference.
16. Los Angeles Chargers (Previous Ranking: 19)
The Chargers are one of the most simple teams in the league under Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, but his game plans are some of the most effective in the league, and Los Angeles is firmly in the playoff hunt with a record of 5-3 on the season.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Previous Ranking: 14)
The Buccaneers could easily be 6-3 this season if they had won the coin toss in both of their overtime games; however, that was not the result, and Tampa Bay is now just 4-5 on the season and faces a difficult path to the playoffs. The good news for Tampa Bay is that they have not lost to any other teams fighting for a wild card spot in the NFC, meaning they could still claim tiebreakers later in the season. However, the loss of Chris Godwin for the remainder of the season and Mike Evans’ prolonged absence could prove to be a major issue if this team loses a few more games.
18. Chicago Bears (Previous Ranking: 13)
Change might be coming for the Bears following two straight disastrous losses to the Commanders and Cardinals. The performance of Bears’ players has been lackluster in recent weeks but the majority of the blame will be placed on the coaching staff for these losses. Week 10 is the season’s most important game, as a loss to the New England Patriots would likely end the Bears’ chances for a playoff push. Head Coach Matt Eberflus is already on the hot seat, and losing one more game within the coming weeks could end his time in Chicago.
19. Denver Broncos (Previous Ranking: 15)
Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton has performed incredibly well through the first nine weeks of the season, but this roster still has clear deficiencies that will be difficult to make up for on a weekly basis. Denver is currently 5-4 and seventh in the AFC standings, but all five of those losses have come against teams that are currently below .500 on the season. The Broncos do not have an incredibly difficult schedule to end the year, but they will likely have to upset a few teams to guarantee a playoff berth.
20. New York Jets (Previous Ranking: 22)
The Jets finally ended a five-game losing streak with a win over the Texans in Week 9, but this team is still far from competing for a spot in the playoffs. New York would likely have to finish the season at least 7-1 to earn a wild-card playoff berth, which will not happen for a team that has had issues on both offense and defense to start the season. The Jets could spoil other teams’ seasons but are unlikely to make any meaningful movement in the standings.
21. Seattle Seahawks (Previous Ranking: 21)
Seattle is currently last in the NFC West, but there is still a path to winning the division despite their 4-5 record. The Seahawks have already lost to both the 49ers and Rams, but winning the division will come down to which team can have the most success against divisional opponents in the back half of the season. Although it seems unlikely to happen this late in the season, a defensive turnaround by the Seahawks could carry the team to a playoff berth.
22. Dallas Cowboys (Previous Ranking: 20)
The Cowboys are bordering on a disastrous season following the news that Dak Prescott will be out for multiple games. America’s Team has already struggled to pick up wins and could see their season end in the coming weeks with a few more losses. The front office has been equally disappointing, making a questionable trade for wide receiver Jonathan Mingo at the trade deadline. While the Cowboys are not completely finished this season, their playoff hopes might be coming to a close.
23. Miami Dolphins (Previous Ranking: 26)
The Dolphins will not make the playoffs this season, but they are still difficult to take down when Tua Tagovailoa is at quarterback. Miami likely has to finish the year 7-1 to make the playoffs, but a demanding schedule and defense issues will prevent this. Despite losing to the Bills in Week 9, the Dolphins are moving up in the power rankings due to Tagovailoa’s return and the history of an explosive offense when he plays. Players on this team should begin focusing on creating havoc for other teams while the front office has to shift their attention to the NFL Draft.
24. Indianapolis Colts (Previous Ranking: 24)
The Colts are in a weird position after benching Anthony Richardson, who has started just 10 NFL games and shown flashes of being amazing. Indianapolis still has a path to making the playoffs as they are just 4-5 on the season, but a 39-year-old Joe Flacco will not win this team a Super Bowl this year, meaning the Colts should commit to helping the young prospect grow and develop for the rest of the season. The rest of the roster is ready to compete at a high level, and letting Richardson learn could pay dividends in the future. However, this might be a pipe dream as Head Coach Shane Steichen said the expectation is that Flacco will remain the starter for the rest of the season.
25. Cleveland Browns (Previous Ranking: 25)
The Browns are not going to win any meaningful games this season, but Jameis Winston is a breath of fresh air for an offense that struggled to move the ball under Deshaun Watson. Winston is bound to have games where he looks terrible, but there will also be games where he looks impressive, and the offense consistently moves the ball. Cleveland is now just 2-7 this season and will miss the playoffs, but they could join the list of teams that spoil the season for their opponents if they win the right games.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars (Previous Ranking: 27)
The Jaguars continue to show that they might be slightly better than their record shows, yet they also continue to lose games and have now fallen to 2-7 on the season. When Jacksonville is playing well, they can compete with most teams in the NFL, but they are unlikely to close out those games, and they often come out flat and find themselves trailing early in the game. Trevor Lawrence is currently dealing with multiple injuries and could miss Jacksonville’s Week 10 matchup against the Vikings, but losing games might be the best option for this team’s future. There are clear holes on this roster that could be addressed quickly with the right off-season process, but that process might include losing games and obtaining a high selection in the draft.
27. New Orleans Saints (Previous Ranking: 23)
This season is over for New Orleans. The Saints have now lost seven straight games, fired Head Coach Dennis Allen, and traded star cornerback Marshon Lattimore in exchange for draft compensation. The offense has looked unable to put together meaningful drives during this losing streak, and the defense is poised to get worse with the loss of Lattimore. Combine these issues with the disastrous salary cap situation should be a sign that Saints fans might need to begin preparing for a rough few seasons in the future.
28. Tennessee Titans (Previous Ranking: 30)
The Titans looked better overall in Week 9 against New England, but the Patriots are also one of the worst teams in the league, and this win is likely not indicative of things to come for Tennessee. Although they are not the worst team in the league based on the standings, Tennessee has struggled to put together any impressive wins on the season through their first eight games. Despite the decision to bench quarterback Will Levis earlier this season, the Titans should consider naming him as the starter in the back half of the season to determine whether he has grown enough to be a potential answer.
29. Carolina Panthers (Previous Ranking: 32)
Carolina finally won their second game of the season. It is rare that a young quarterback bounces back in a significant way after being benched by the team that drafted them, but Bryce Young has looked much more comfortable in recent weeks since reclaiming the starting position. Carolina now must hope these improvements are signs of the future, but there is still a lot left to be desired on the rest of the roster.
30. Las Vegas Raiders (Previous Ranking: 29)
The Raiders are a mess at the quarterback position, with Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew seemingly fighting for the starting role on the team in a battle that has lasted for nearly the entire season. The Raiders have been linked to multiple quarterbacks in the draft and should commit to finding a star in the upcoming draft because a few other positions on this team have looked solid this season and could help the team win games next year.
31. New England Patriots (Previous Ranking: 28)
The Patriots were never destined to be a great team this season due to the lack of impactful pass catchers and offensive linemen. However, the Patriots’ future looks bright with Drake Maye at quarterback and another season of solid defense. Revamping the offense around Maye next season could make the Patriots a surprisingly solid team.
32. New York Giants (Previous Ranking: 31)
The Giants should begin searching for their next franchise quarterback in the upcoming draft, as there is a good chance the organization will have their choice of whichever prospect they want in the 2025 NFL Draft. New York has lost four straight games and is currently last in the league with a record of just 2-7.