Culver City Observer -

1. San Francisco 49ers (8-1): The 49ers finally fell from the unbeaten, losing in overtime to the Seahawks at home. The difference in this game was a missed field goal in OT. They have not played a bad game this season, which the Pats, Ravens, Saints and Packers cannot say. Next: -10.5 vs Arizona Cardinals – Sun, Nov. 17

2. New England Patriots (8-1): The Patriots give up an average of 4.7 yards per carry, one of the worst in the NFL. Few teams have been able to exploit this weakness, because the Pats have always had a big lead in games, forcing teams to throw the ball to get back into the game. Next: -3.5 at Philadelphia Eagles - Sun, Nov. 17

3. Baltimore Ravens (8-2): For the second consecutive week, quarterback Lamar Jackson is the AFC Offensive Player of the Week. This is also the third time this season he has won the award. He should be a lock for the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams. Next: -4 vs Houston Texans - Sun, Nov. 17

4. Seattle Seahawks (8-2): Jadeveon Clowney had a huge game in the Seahawks win over the 49ers. Clowney had five solo tackles, one sack, five quarterback hits and returned a fumble for a touchdown. If Clowney plays this well the rest of the season, the Seahawks will be tough to beat. Next: N/A at Philadelphia Eagles - Sun, Nov. 24

5. New Orleans Saints (8-2): Drew Brees was sacked six times in a stunning loss to the Falcons at home. The Saints were held without a touchdown by a defense that had allowed 28 defensive touchdowns in their eight previous games. It is impossible to explain how this happened. Next: -5.5 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Sun, Nov. 17

6. Green Bay Packers (8-2): The Packers get a bye before preparing for a classic Sunday Night game in Santa Clara against the 49ers. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers returns home to the Bay Area, where he starred at Cal Berkeley. Rodgers played his high school football at Pleasant Valley high school in Chico. Next: N/A at San Francisco 49ers - Sun, Nov. 24

7. Minnesota Vikings (7-3): The Vikings are on a roll. They may be positioned well for a playoff run. The Vikings are 4-0 at home and 3-3 on the road. Four of their last six games are at home, with the road games being at Seattle and in Carson against the Chargers, which may serve as another home game. Next: -10.5 vs Denver Broncos - Sun, Nov. 17

8. Houston Texans (6-3): The Texans come back from a bye with three tough games in the next three weeks on the slate. They travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens, then come home for a Thursday Night battle with the Colts and follow that up with a Sunday Night home game against the Pats. Next: +4 at Baltimore Ravens - Sun, Nov. 17

9. Buffalo Bills (6-3): The Bills need to get more production from their offense if they are going to make a playoff run. This will fall on the shoulders of quarterback Josh Allen. Allen has a strong arm and he is athletic, but he needs to improve in the short to intermediate game. Next: -6.5 at Miami Dolphins - Sun, Nov. 17

10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-4): The Chiefs have lost four of their last six games. They need to win to hold on to first place in the AFC West. They travel to Mexico City this week to play the Chargers on Monday Night. With a tough remaining schedule, a loss Monday Night could make it difficult to win a 4th straight AFC West division title. Next: -3.5 at Los Angeles Chargers in Mexico City - Mon, Nov. 18

11. Dallas Cowboys (5-4): The Cowboys have lost four of their last six games and with their next two games on the road at Detroit and New England, they need to find a win in the next two weeks or their season could end without a playoff appearance. Next: -4 at Detroit Lions - Sun, Nov. 17

12. Oakland Raiders (5-4): If the Oakland Raiders beat the Bengals Sunday, as expected, they will be temporarily tied with the Chiefs for first place. If the Chiefs lose to the Chargers Monday Night, the Raiders would be all alone in first place. Who predicted that? Next: -10.5 vs Cincinnati Bengals - Sun, Nov. 17

13. Carolina Panthers (5-4): Christian McCaffrey has 989 yards rushing in nine games and will likely go over 1,000 yards for the season this weekend. He is on a pace to rush for over 1,700 yards this season. Next: -5 vs Atlanta Falcons - Sun, Nov. 17

14. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4): T.J. Watt has become a star as an edge rusher. Pro Football Focus has Watt leading all edge defenders with at least 200 total defensive snaps in overall grade (91.0) and pass-rush grade (91.6). He also ranks fifth in pass-rush win rate (21.0%) among edge defenders with at least 150 pass-rush snaps in Weeks 1-10. Watt has 9.5 sacks and 22 quarterback hits for the season. Next: +3 at Cleveland Browns – Thu, Nov. 14

15. Philadelphia Eagles (5-4): The Eagles have lost wide receiver DeSean Jackson for the season with a core muscle injury. With a group of wide receivers that includes Alshon Jeffery, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Nelson Agholor and Jordan Matthews, the Eagles will not frighten many defensive coordinators. Next: +3.5 vs New England Patriots - Sun, Nov. 17

16. Los Angeles Rams (5-4): The Rams have a problem. The Steelers, in their victory over the Rams, held Cooper Kupp without a reception. Todd Gurley, who has not rushed for 100 yards this season, did not touch the ball in the 4th quarter. The Steelers consistently got to quarterback Jared Goff with a four-man rush. Offensively, the Rams do not look like a playoff team. Next: -6.5 vs Chicago Bears - Sun, Nov. 17

17. Indianapolis Colts (5-4): The injury to quarterback Jacoby Brissett has put a dagger into the Colts playoff hopes. Backup quarterback Brian Hoyer threw three interceptions against the Dolphins in a stunning home loss. The Colts need Brissett back soon. Next: -3 vs Jacksonville Jaguars - Sun, Nov. 17

18. Chicago Bears (4-5): Quarterback Mitch Trubisky is struggling and the best thing for a struggling quarterback is a running game. Unfortunately for the Bears, they are among the worst in the NFL in rushing yardage per game. They are currently ranked 28th in rushing yardage per game. Next: +6.5 at Los Angeles Rams - Sun, Nov. 17

19. Los Angeles Chargers (4-6): What happened to wide receiver Mike Williams? The 2017 first round pick out of Clemson had ten touchdown reception last season. This season, through ten games, Williams has not caught a touchdown pass. Next: +3.5 vs Kansas City Chiefs - Mon, Nov. 18

20. Tennessee Titans (5-5): Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill has found a second life in Nashville. Tannehill is 3-1 as a starter after leading the Titans to a come-from-behind victory over the Chiefs at home. The former first round draft pick of the Dolphins should be in the long-term plans for the Titans at quarterback. Next: N/A vs Jacksonville Jaguars - Sun, Nov. 24

21. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-5): Defensive lineman Calais Campbell, is having another impressive season. Per Pro Football Focus, he has earned an impressive 91.5 overall grade and leads all at his position in run-defense grade (91.3) through the first 10 weeks of play. Campbell has 38 tackles and 5.5 sacks for the season. Next: +3 at Indianapolis Colts - Sun, Nov. 17

22. Arizona Cardinals (3-6-1): In 2018, the Cardinals gave running back David Johnson a three-year contract extension worth $39 million over three seasons, with $30 million guaranteed. Johnson has lost his starting job to Kenyon Drake, partly due to injuries. This is a prime example of why teams are afraid to pay big bucks to running backs. Next: +10.5 at San Francisco 49ers - Sun, Nov. 17

23. Detroit Lions (3-5-1): Quarterback Matthew Stafford's streak of consecutive starts has ended at 136. Stafford who played through broken bones in his back last season, apparently reinjured his back. He is week-to-week, which means the Lions are week-to-week. Next: +4 vs Dallas Cowboys - Sun, Nov. 17

24. Denver Broncos (3-6): The Broncos don't have much to brag about this season but running back Philip Lindsay has made them proud. Lindsay leads the Broncos in rushing yardage, touchdowns, total yards from scrimmage and average yards per carry at 4.9. He also has 25 receptions. Next: +10.5 at Minnesota Vikings - Sun, Nov. 17

25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-6): Quarterback Jameis Winston is an enigma. At times, he looks great, averaging over 300 yards per game passing, with 17 touchdown passes. But he has not been able to overcome the accuracy issues. Winston leads the NFL with 14 interceptions and has a completion percentage of only 59.7% for the season. Next: +5.5 vs New Orleans Saints - Sun, Nov. 17

26. Atlanta Falcons (2-7): The Falcons have beaten the Eagles and the Saints this season. They are a difficult team to predict from week-to-week. An NFL bettor would be wise to stay away from the Falcons. Next: +5 at Carolina Panthers - Sun, Nov. 17

27. Cleveland Browns (2-6): The Browns finally got a win, beating the Bills in a hard-fought game at home. They will return to home Thursday Night to take on another rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Browns are not a playoff team, but they can have a say in the Steelers making the playoffs. Next: -3 vs Pittsburgh Steelers - Thu, Nov. 14

28. Miami Dolphins (1-7): Quarterback Ryan has led the Dolphins to two consecutive wins. Yes, the Dolphins have a winning streak. Head coach Brain Flores is looking like the NFL version of Chip Kelly, as his team recovers from a horrendous start to look like a team that might have some hope for the future. Next: +6.5 vs Buffalo Bills - Sun, Nov. 17

29. New York Jets (2-7): The Jets won the Battle of MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, beating the Giants 34-27. The Jets also decided that Head Coach Adam Gase will be retained beyond this season. They may want to re-think that decision in January. Next: +1.5 at Washington Redskins - Sun, Nov. 17

Jevone Moore

Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams (81) - Zero touchdown receptions this season - Will he find the end zone in Mexico City this Monday Night Football against the Chiefs?

30. New York Giants (2-7): Against the Jets, running back Saquon Barkley rushed for 1 yard on 13 carries. Either he is playing hurt or the offensive line for the Giants is just horrible. The Giants lead the NFL in turnovers with 24 and fumbles lost with 14. This is what happens when you go with a rookie as your starting quarterback. Next: N/A at Chicago Bears - Sun, Nov. 24

31. Washington Redskins (1-8): The Redskins have decided that first round draft pick, Dwayne Haskins, is their starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. They get running back Derrius Guice back this week and they need to utilize both Guice and Adrian Peterson to give Haskins support. Next: -1.5 vs New York Jets – Sun, Nov. 17

32. Cincinnati Bengals (0-9): There is no way to sugarcoat this. The Bengals are a mess. They are ranked last in the NFL defensively, averaging 429 yards per game to their opponents. They are ranked 26th offensively. They have a turnover ratio of a -11. It is difficult to see where this team finds a win on their schedule this season. Next: +10.5 at Oakland Raiders - Sun, Nov. 17