After the Cincinnati Bengals took a blowout loss on the chin to the Philadelphia Eagles two Sundays in the past, Joe Burrow didn’t mince his phrases. With confidence, he stated the then-three-win Bengals needed to get not less than seven wins of their final 9 video games simply to qualify for the postseason. A lofty wager however not an unimaginable one. Burrow, of all individuals, didn’t sound frightened.
Burrow backed these phrases up by throwing 5 touchdowns on the expense of the Las Vegas Raiders throughout this previous Sunday’s win. Name me loopy in order for you, however that appears like a quarterback who means enterprise. Even nonetheless, with three straight matchups coming in opposition to three possible AFC playoff groups within the Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers, and Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati’s playoff odds at 4-5 stay slim.
I’m simply not going to doubt the star quarterback throwing 5 touchdowns after saying what his crew wants in the course of the stretch run. Depend Burrow’s Bengals out at your individual threat.
The Bengals are a distinguished piece of For The Win’s Week 10 NFL energy rankings. Let’s see the place they stand, together with the remainder of the league, as we formally enter November.
Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean/USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Pictures
Final week’s rank: 30
Drake Maye was liable for 301 of the Patriots’ 316 offensive yards, which included an unbelievable scramble drill landing move that despatched the sport to additional time in Nashville. He’s a certifiable Man. The subsequent step is guaranteeing his superhuman efforts result in wins. — Robert Zeglinski
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Final week’s rank: 29
Brock Bowers stat watch via 9 video games: 57 catches, 580 yards, two touchdowns. A 100-plus-catch and 1,000-yard tempo as a rookie. A lot potential! Oh, proper. What about the remainder of the Raiders? Nicely, there’s actually nothing else value giving oxygen to. This could be a recurring characteristic. — RZ
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Final week’s rank: 31
Tennessee let the Patriots again into the driving force’s seat for the highest total choose in subsequent 12 months’s draft. However hey, the Titans received’t end 2024 with only one win, in order that’s one thing. — Christian D’Andrea
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Final week’s rank: 32
Shedding to the Panthers is a fireable offense. Dennis Allen discovered that out in Week 9. Subsequent up on the possible hit checklist? Brian Daboll (vs. the New York Giants in Week 10) and Nick Sirianni (on the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 14). Neither of these guys is at the moment within the midst of a seven-game shedding streak like Allen was, however a loss to Carolina would ratchet up the warmth of their seats by a number of levels. — CD
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Final week’s rank: 28
The state of the Jaguars is their needing an opposing coach to present them alternatives to allow them to grasp round. As a result of by golly, if Trevor Lawrence can’t benefit from a topsy-turvy Philadelphia secondary, what good is he in any respect? — RZ
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Final week’s rank: 26
Alvin Kamara amassed over 200 yards from scrimmage on 35 touches on Sunday. Good job! The Saints misplaced by some extent to one of many NFL’s worst groups with a quarterback they beforehand gave up on in September. The offender? I’d say it’s in all probability Derek Carr, a.okay.a. the man Saints legend Michael Thomas doesn’t like. And I solely say that as a result of Dennis Allen is already gone. — RZ
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Final week’s rank: 25
Jameis Winston took his personal hype practice off the tracks when compelled to cope with a reliable protection, winging three interceptions earlier than discovering the top zone in rubbish time. That’s high quality as a result of the Browns lastly personal their first-round choose after dealing the final three to the Houston Texans in trade for Deshaun Watson, the league’s Thirty seventh-best quarterback who was accused of greater than 20 counts of sexual misconduct in what the NFL itself described as “predatory habits.” — CD
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Final week’s rank: 27
The Colts had been hoping for 2023 Joe Flacco and obtained the 2022 model as an alternative. That man continues to be gonna full extra passes than Anthony Richardson and try a variety of deep throws, however he’s not going to win many video games. Ah, effectively, not less than they aren’t the Jaguars. — CD
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Final week’s rank: 24
Daniel Jones threw for 176 yards within the second half of Sunday’s loss to the Washington Commanders. This was straightforward math as a result of he completed the sport with 176 yards after throwing for zero within the first two quarters. Simply eight extra video games till the Giants can dump his contract and transfer on. — CD
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Final week’s rank: 23
As a firestorm brews round Aaron Rodgers doing, effectively, something, the Jets responded like a crew with delight on Thursday evening. Form of. An uninspiring offense did sufficient, whereas the Jets protection planted C.J. Stroud into the turf any probability it obtained. New York’s odds for the postseason stay a faint dream at 3-6, however not less than it’ll go down swinging towards a snug and inevitable mediocrity. — RZ
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Final week’s rank: 22
Sunday was Miami’s final stand on a season that’s already off the rails. For a second, it even appeared like Mike McDaniel’s crew would possibly pull it out. Then Tyler Bass booted a 61-yard area objective to win the sport. Powerful scene. Them’s the breaks. It’s early, nevertheless it’s in all probability time for the 2-6 Dolphins to start out trying towards the draft. –– RZ
Sam Hodde/Getty Pictures
Final week’s rank: 21
Jerry Jones waited solely too lengthy to increase CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott, and now these two are locked into a complete of $331 million in ensures for the NFL’s Twenty fourth-best passing offense. Absolutely, he’ll study his lesson and lengthen Micah Parsons earlier than he’s set to hit free company in 2026. Or will his impulse to generate a direct turnaround go away Parsons to twist earlier than signing a megadeal on the eve of free company that when once more prices Dallas a premium on high of an already record-setting deal? I imply, everyone knows what the reply’s gonna be, proper? — CD
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Final week’s rank: 17
A 5-3 begin primed the Broncos for a step up in competitors. Then, the Ravens diminished them to an orange stain on the Baltimore turf. Ah, effectively. Bo Nix is displaying some indicators of life however badly wants assist. The one above-average ability participant in his lineup is Courtland Sutton. (However hey, possibly Troy Franklin shall be good!) — CD
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Final week’s rank: 13
Did the Commanders’ Hail Mary break Matt Eberflus’s mind? No, there was loads of proof he was already very dangerous at his job. The 2024 season is threatening to slide away from him, and if that’s the case, he received’t get a 2025. Which, for Bears followers, is the silver lining in all of this. — CD
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Final week’s rank: 15
The Seahawks are the NFL equal of a middling NBA crew that jacks up 40-plus 3-point makes an attempt in a sport. Their roster is imbalanced, they usually don’t actually have a robust identification, however the sheer actuality of random math and luck would possibly ultimately give Geno Smith an opportunity to win. This, after all, is how no constantly good crew wins, therefore Seattle’s newest additional time loss. — RZ
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Final week’s rank: 18
Kyler Murray accomplished simply 13 passes in a 20-point win over the Bears. He might do this as a result of James Conner and Emari Demercado stunned the Chicago protection any probability they might get en path to 213 crew speeding yards. Now, Arizona sits in a agency first place (???) atop the NFC West. Jonathan Gannon’s rebuild goes swimmingly. –– RZ
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Final week’s rank: 20
Joe Burrow put it finest after final week’s deflating loss to Philadelphia. The Bengals needed to possible win seven of their final 9 video games simply to have an opportunity on the playoffs. Sunday was an awesome begin, with the quarterback throwing 5 touchdowns in opposition to the hapless Raiders in a blowout win. A marquee matchup in opposition to the Ravens looms, and a season sweep by the hands of the Bengals’ largest rivals could be a catastrophe. — RZ
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Final week’s rank: 19
Matthew Stafford was sacked 16 occasions in his first 5 video games, and the Rams went 1-4. Then, regardless of nonetheless being crushed by accidents up entrance, Sean McVay and OL coach Ryan Wendell discovered a strategy to drop that quantity down to 1 sack in his final three video games. All three had been Los Angeles wins. — CD
Nov 4, 2024; Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) runs the ball in opposition to Kansas Metropolis Chiefs defensive deal with Tershawn Wharton (98) in the course of the first half at GEHA Discipline at Arrowhead Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Pictures
Final week’s rank: 9
Baker Mayfield led a two-minute drill to make the rating of Monday’s sport in opposition to the Chiefs 24-23 within the remaining seconds. Then Todd Bowles turned his again on the soccer gods by failing to go for 2. One Patrick Mahomes game-winning landing drive in additional time later, and the Bucs are 4-5 whereas, hopefully, processing a painful lesson. — CD
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Final week’s rank: 16
Justin Herbert is enjoying essentially the most environment friendly soccer of his NFL profession, and he’s doing it with Quentin Johnson, Ladd McConkey, and Joshua Palmer as his high wideouts. Jim Harbaugh could also be a wizard. — CD
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Final week’s rank: 14
The entire “Nick Sirianni is a bumbling oaf even on his finest days” factor looms over these Eagles like a haunting specter, however the high-end offensive expertise has virtually turn out to be too overwhelming to lose regardless of their coach. Jalen Hurts’ resurgence is actual. Saquon Barkley is having an All-Professional-caliber season. And A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith stay unimaginable to cowl on the similar time. Philadelphia’s operation nonetheless feels shaky, however I received’t quibble with a 6-2 report because it figures out a brand new, way more competent identification. — RZ
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Final week’s rank: 12
The bye week provides Kyle Shanahan an opportunity to piece issues collectively in an offense that can, ideally, get Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Ricky Pearsall, George Kittle, and Jauan Jennings all on the sector collectively for the primary time. — CD
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Final week’s rank: 7
Sam Darnold is floating again all the way down to earth however is usually a steady sufficient quarterback to maintain Minnesota within the playoff hunt. Fortuitously, Minnesota is nice sufficient to outlive even when the Darnold of outdated comes roaring again. The Vikings have received all three of the video games this season during which the journeyman QB has recorded adverse anticipated factors added (EPA), together with Sunday evening’s victory in opposition to the Colts. — CD
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Final week’s rank: 11
Two straight wins in evening video games had the Steelers sitting fairly throughout their bye week. However the time for real stress is now. Pittsburgh will face the juggernaut Commanders and Ravens over the following two weeks in a stretch which will outline its season. This is kind of precisely what Russell Wilson was acquired for. Let’s see if he’ll ship. — RZ
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Final week’s rank: 6
It seems that the Texans’ playmakers — particularly, Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs — could be vital. Their absence confirmed throughout Thursday evening’s loss, throughout which C.J. Stroud by no means appeared utterly snug. He accomplished simply 11 passes and was sacked eight occasions. Houston would be the extraordinarily possible AFC South champion, nevertheless it entered 2024 with Tremendous Bowl aspirations. For that to occur, it wants much more work on offense (specifically, receiver and offensive line depth) earlier than it will possibly problem the AFC’s S-tier. — RZ
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Final week’s rank: 5
Jordan Love stays a sloppy quarterback with a excessive ceiling, which makes him the proper ongoing venture for Matt LaFleur. Seeing him get the inexperienced mild whereas trailing means a variety of superbly thrown deep balls. And some that make no sense in any way. — CD
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Final week’s rank: 10
Each time we predict Jayden Daniels’ Commanders would possibly lastly fail a take a look at, they nonetheless ship. On Sunday, it was a surprisingly feisty Giants crew pushing Washington to the restrict earlier than Daniels took his crew on a clock-killing, nine-play, 67-yard drive to ice the sport. At this level, a Commanders’ playoff berth appears like a certainty. The subsequent take a look at is successful the NFC East (hi there, Eagles). — RZ
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Final week’s rank: 8
The Kirk Cousins signing continues to look good. It seems one of the best ways to maximise an offense with three top-10 draft-pick ability gamers was to provide them a quarterback higher than Desmond Ridder. Atlanta’s protection got here via in an enormous means Sunday as effectively, although its skill to get to Dak Prescott was way more a speculation on the standard of the Cowboys’ blocking than a sudden burst of high quality for the league’s worst move rush. — CD
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Final week’s rank: 4
Due to Tua Tagovailoa’s presence, the Payments in all probability sweated out Sunday’s win greater than they thought they’d. However that’s the great half. With the Dolphins pushing Buffalo’s protection, Josh Allen placed on his superhero cape for the primary time all season and confirmed he’s nonetheless obtained the juice for one of many AFC’s top-tier heavyweights. Including secondary or off-ball linebacker assist of any type appears like a should for a famous person quarterback who stays greater than able to taking his crew to final February glory. — RZ
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Final week’s rank: 3
The Ravens current essentially the most unimaginable query to NFL defenses in 2024. Do they promote out to cease Lamar Jackson, giving Derrick Henry room to run, or do they dedicate every little thing to limiting Henry, in flip letting Jackson victimize them excessive? Each solutions are unsuitable. It’s a Sophie’s Selection that makes the Ravens the clear No. 1 contender to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ title belt within the AFC. — RZ
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Final week’s rank: 2
For the third straight 12 months, the Lions went into Lambeau Discipline and punched the Packers within the mouth time and again. The league’s arguably finest offense had its means with an overmatched Inexperienced Bay protection, whereas Jordan Love discovered himself flummoxed by a shorthanded unit. Get Detroit any above-average pass-rusher to fill in for Aidan Hutchinson on the commerce deadline, and this crew appears like a lock for Tremendous Bowl 59. — RZ
Nov 4, 2024; Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, USA; Kansas Metropolis Chiefs large receiver DeAndre Hopkins (8) celebrates with teammates after scoring a landing in the course of the first half in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at GEHA Discipline at Arrowhead Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Pictures
Final week’s rank: 1
Patrick Mahomes turned DeAndre Hopkins right into a star once more, terrified people throughout Kansas and Missouri by limping off the sector within the fourth quarter, then led a come-from-behind victory anyway. Issues are beginning to really feel inevitable for the Chiefs. — CD
