Culver City Observer -

2018 NFL Power Rankings - Week 10

1. New Orleans Saints (8-1) - The Saints have signed wide receiver Brandon Marshall, to replace Dez Bryant, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. Marshall needs thirty more receptions to reach 1,000 in his career. He has never played on a playoff team. Next: -9 vs Philadelphia Eagles - Sun, Nov. 18

2. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1) - The Chiefs play the Rams in Los Angeles on Monday Night in a game that is not only a preview of a possible super bowl matchup, but a game they need to win to stay ahead of the streaking Chargers. Next: +3.5 at Los Angeles Rams - Mon, Nov. 19

3. Los Angeles Rams (9-1) - Cooper Kupp has a torn ACL and is lost for the season. Josh Reynolds, a 2017 4th round draft pick from Texas A&M, will take his place in the lineup. The loss of Kupp will hurt, but this offense revolves around Todd Gurley. Next: -3.5 vs Kansas City Chiefs , Mon, Nov.19

4. Los Angeles Chargers (7-2) - The Chargers have won six straight and have a two-game lead in the wild card race. The bad news is that starting middle linebacker, Denzel Perryman, is lost for the season with a knee injury. Next: -7 vs Denver Broncos - Sun, Nov. 18

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2-1) - Le'Veon Bell will miss the entire 2018 season. Bell failed to report in time and refused to sign the one-year, $14.54 million tender, making him ineligible for the season. It is James Conner time in Pittsburgh. Next: -5.5 at Jacksonville Jaguars - Sun, Nov. 18

6. New England Patriots (7-3) - The Patriots were embarrassed by the Titans and need the bye week to get healthy. The good news is that four of the remaining six games are division games against the Bills, Dolphins and Jets. Next: N/A at New York Jets - Sun, Nov. 25

7. Minnesota Vikings (6-3-1) - The Vikings have a finally healthy Dalvin Cook and that may make the difference for the Vikings in their quest for a division title. Cook rushed for 89 yards on 10 carries and caught 4 passes for 20 yards. Next: +2.5 at Chicago Bears - Sun, Nov. 18

8. Houston Texans (6-3) - The Texans are coming off a much-needed bye and the rest should have been good for everyone on the roster. DeShaun Watson has been sacked 30 times and needed the time off. Next: -0.5 at Washington Redskins - Sun, Nov. 18

9. Chicago Bears (6-3) - The Bears meet the Vikings Sunday in a battle of two top five defenses. Both teams are tough to run on and with two good quarterbacks, this game will be decided by the team that wins the turnover battle. Next: -2.5 Minnesota Vikings - Sun, Nov. 18

10. Washington Redskins (6-3) - The defense of the Redskins has slipped the past two weeks, giving up 491 yards in offense to the Falcons and 501 yards to the Bucs. The offense is not good enough to keep the pace, so the problem needs to be fixed soon. Next: +0.5 vs Houston Texans - Sun, Nov. 18

11. Carolina Panthers (6-3) - The Panthers released CJ Anderson, a 1,000-yard rusher signed as a free agent in the offseason. With Christian McCaffrey getting 96.35 percent of the snaps to 9.39 percent for Anderson, it was not working out for Anderson. He was signed for $1.7 million. Next: -4 at Detroit Lions - Sun, Nov. 18

12. Tennessee Titans (5-4) - The Titans have found their offense by committing to the running game the last two weeks. Marcus Mariota is a play-action quarterback and with a good run blocking offensive line, it makes sense to simplify the offense. Next: +2 at Indianapolis Colts - Sun, Nov. 18

13. Green Bay Packers (4-4-1) - After a weekend break to play the Dolphins, the Packers resume their nightmarish November schedule with a Thursday Night game in Seattle. Road teams are 2-8 in Thursday Night games this season. Next: +2.5 at Seattle Seahawks - Thu, Nov. 15

14. Philadelphia Eagles (4-5) - The Eagles are the defending super bowl champs, but all signs point to a different result this year. The Eagles averaged 306 yards allowed on defense in 2017. They are up to 359 yards in 2018. They had a +11 turnover ratio in 2017. They have a -6 turnover ratio in 2018. Next: +9 at New Orleans Saints - Sun, Nov. 18

15. Seattle Seahawks (4-5) - The Seahawks have had three different running backs go over 100 yards in a game this season. They lead the NFL in rushing yardage per game and gained 273 yards on the ground against the Rams on Sunday, but even that effort was not enough to beat the Rams. Next: -2.5 vs Green Bay Packers - Thu, Nov. 15

16. Cincinnati Bengals (5-4) - The Bengals have given up over 500 yards in offense in three consecutive games and are allowing 32 points per game. Head Coach Marvin Lewis fired defensive coordinator Teryl Austin after the latest loss, because he really can't fire himself. Next: +4 at Baltimore Ravens - Sun, Nov. 18

17. Dallas Cowboys (4-5) - Rookie linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, the Cowboys first round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, has been compared to Brian Urlacher, the Hall of Fame Linebacker for the Bears. Against the Eagles, Vander Esch looked the part with 13 solo tackles and an interception. Next: +3 at Atlanta Falcons - Sun, Nov. 18

18. Baltimore Ravens (4-5) - Joe Flacco has a hip injury and may not be able to play on Sunday. The likely starter is 2018 first round pick Lamar Jackson, who has thrown seven passes in the NFL. The good news is that the Ravens play the Bengals on Sunday. Next: -4 vs Cincinnati Bengals - Sun, Nov. 18

19. Miami Dolphins (5-5) - The Dolphins have lost five of their last seven games and have failed to score an offensive touchdown in their last nine quarters. While their record indicates they are contenders, they are really pretenders. Next: N/A at Indianapolis Colts - Sun, Nov. 25

20. Indianapolis Colts (4-5) - Andrew Luck has not been sacked in his last four games and the Colts have won three straight games. The team is become more balanced on offense and that is helping keep Luck upright. Next: -2 vs Tennessee Titans - Sun, Nov. 18

21. Cleveland Browns (3-6-1) - Baker Mayfield threw a season-high three touchdown passes and Nick Chubb rushed for 176 yards, including 92-yard touchdown run, as the Browns easily defeated the Falcons. Denzel Ward is playing like a shutdown cornerback, giving the Browns their best rookie class in 40 years. Next: N/A at Cincinnati Bengals - Sun, Nov. 25

22. Atlanta Falcons (4-5) - The Falcons are in the wrong division to be playing inconsistent football. They are two games behind the Panthers, who are two games behind the Saints. With a remaining schedule that consists of games at New Orleans, Green Bay and Carolina, the season is probably lost. Next: -3 vs Dallas Cowboys - Sun, Nov. 18

23. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-6) - The Jags have not won a football game since September 30th. This week's game against the Steelers has been moved from prime-time Sunday Night to Sunday afternoon. Asked if his team deserved to play Pittsburgh in front of a national TV audience, Jags head coach Doug Marrone bluntly said, "No." Next: +10 vs Pittsburgh Steelers - Sun, Nov. 18

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-6) - The amazing Bucs came up with a new twist in this week's loss to the Redskins. The Bucs had over 500 yards of offense and ended up scoring just three points. For the season, the Bucs have intercepted one pass and have been intercepted 19 times. An amazing -18 interception turnover ratio. Next: +10 at New York Giants - Sun, Nov. 18

25. Detroit Lions (3-6) - The good news is that the Lions are at home for the next three games. The bad news is that they will be receiving visits from the Panthers, Bears and Rams in the next three games. Next: +10 vs Carolina Panthers - Sun, Nov. 18

26. Buffalo Bills (3-7) - Matt Barkley signed just two weeks ago, led an offensive explosion of 41 points in a blowout win over the Jets. He had such a good game that the Bills decided to waive quarterback Nathan Peterman, who has thrown 12 interceptions in 130 passing attempts. Next: N/A vs Jacksonville Jaguars - Sun, Nov. 25

27. Denver Broncos (3-6) - The Broncos are coming off a bye and get the red-hot Chargers in Los Angeles. The Broncos have struggled to stop the run all season and the Chargers are averaging 5.1 yards per carry, tied for 3rd best in the NFL. Could be a long day for the Bronco defense. Next: +10 at Los Angeles Chargers - Sun, Nov. 18

28. New York Giants (2-7) - The Giants offensive line finally did a good job of pass blocking and Eli Manning reached back in time to throw three touchdown passes to lead the Giants to victory. The win gives the Raiders sole possession of the top pick in the 2019 draft, and they will now have an iron grip on that pick. Next: -10 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Sun, Nov. 18

29. Arizona Cardinals (2-7) - The Cardinals better hope that Josh Rosen turns out to be Jim Plunkett and not David Carr. Rosen is taking a beating just like those two quarterbacks did as rookies. It took Plunkett a few years to recover and Carr never was the same. Next: -10 vs Oakland Raiders - Sun, Nov. 18

30. San Francisco 49ers (2-8) - Rookie tight end George Kittles leads the 49ers with 50 receptions. The next closest on the team is Pierre Garcon with 24 catches. A top priority in the off-season for the 49ers is talent at wide receiver. Next: N/A at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Sun, Nov. 25

Jevone Moore

Melvin Gordon (28) rushed 18 times for 93 yards at the Oakland Raiders on Sunday

31. New York Jets (3-7) - The Jets apparently forgot that the bye week was next weekend. The Bills came into their game with the Jets with a league-low 96 points and had two touchdowns in their previous four games. They ended up crushing the Jets 41-10, outgaining the Jets 451-199 yards and scoring five touchdowns. Next: N/A vs New England Patriots - Sun, Nov. 25

32. Oakland Raiders (1-8) - The Raiders have scored a total of nine points in the last nine quarters. The defense is allowing 30 points per game, 399 yards per game and has a league low 8 sacks. Jon Gruden has apologized to fans and Mark Davis is taking responsibility, stating "that the buck stops with me." If only Raider fans could vote to have him recalled as an owner. Next: +10 at Arizona Cardinals - Sun, Nov. 18