2021 NFL Divisional Power Rankings entering Week 10: Ravens, Steelers help AFC North take over top spot

The NFL has lastly reached its halfway level of the 12 months and the league nonetheless has bother figuring out who the Super Bowl favorites are in every convention. There’s been chaos all through the league that is taking part in a task in division leaders not solely separating themselves from the pack, however figuring out the energy of every of the eight divisions within the league.

The final time in Week 9 or later that 4 groups with .500-or-below information every defeated division leaders on the identical day was Dec. 18, 2011 — which occurred when the Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, and New York Giants all beat first-place groups Sunday. 5 NFL divisions are led by a workforce that didn’t win its division final 12 months. Three divisions have a workforce in first place or tied for first that missed the playoffs in 2020. 11 groups are over .500 within the AFC alone! 

This chaos has shuffled the divisional energy rankings heading into Week 10, as supremacy on the prime has been challenged. The worst division in soccer additionally has a brand new proprietor. 

Buckle up. This week’s divisional energy rankings underwent an enormous shift. 

8. NFC North

Final week’s rating: 6

Aaron Rodgers being unable to play damage any probabilities of this division salvaging the inevitable destiny of being the “worst division in soccer” after this week. The Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears every had their alternatives as nicely, however Minnesota blew a 14-point second half result in the Baltimore Ravens and Chicago could not salvage Justin Fields‘ heroics late in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

This division going winless this week did not assist — though it is on model for the reason that NFC North boasts the one winless workforce within the NFL (Detroit Lions had been off). Rodgers not taking part in towards Kansas Metropolis did not lose too many factors, though the sport was winnable for Inexperienced Bay. 

The NFC North is 9-17 (.346 win share) in out-of-division video games and 13-21 general (.382). Solely Inexperienced Bay is over. 500. The division is not good. 

7. NFC East

Final week’s rating: 7

How did the NFC East not fall to final place after the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles misplaced? Thank the New York Giants for upsetting the first-place Las Vegas Raiders and salvaging a 1-2 week for the division towards the AFC West. Dallas getting blown out by Denver is a poor search for a division that has only one good workforce, questioning how good the NFC East leaders actually are. 

Washington was off this week, however the NFC East is not as poor because the NFC North. The ten-15 report (.400) in interdivisional video games helps, together with the general report of 14-20 (.412). Having three groups with three-or-fewer wins places the NFC East close to the underside, even when they don’t seem to be the worst division in soccer — but. 

6. AFC East

Final week’s rating: 5

An attention-grabbing week for the AFC East, because the New England Patriots proceed to have the look of a playoff workforce. New England is only a recreation again of the Buffalo Bills within the loss column (0.5 recreation general) after beating the Carolina Panthers and the Payments inexplicably falling to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Buffalo shedding to Jacksonville is a really unhealthy search for the division, even when the AFC East did go 2-2 on the week. 

The New York Jets had been blown out by the Indianapolis Colts, however they had been all the way down to their third-string quarterback in a recreation they weren’t presupposed to win anyway. Give credit score to the Miami Dolphins for beating the Houston Texans, even when the win wasn’t spectacular. Enjoying Baltimore on a brief week would not assist both. 

The AFC East is 9-15 (.375) in out-of-division video games and 14-20 general (.412). Buffalo and New England are each over. 500, which is why the AFC East is ranked above the NFC East. New England may also help this division with a win over the Cleveland Browns this week. 

5. AFC South

Final week’s rating: 8

What per week for the AFC South, which jumped three spots due to the Tennessee Titans flexing their muscle in blowing out the Los Angeles Rams — on the highway in primetime — and the Jacksonville Jaguars incomes an enormous upset over the Buffalo Payments. Jacksonville is definitely 2-1 in its final three video games! 

The Indianapolis Colts do not have a shot at catching Tennessee for the division in the intervening time, but have received three of their final 4 to get to 4-5 and within the hunt for a playoff spot within the AFC. The schedule is not straightforward, however Indianapolis is seeming to seek out its stride. The Houston Texans fell to Miami in a winnable recreation, however it’s exhausting to count on the Texans to win any recreation on their schedule. 

A 3-1 week for this division may be very spectacular. The AFC South remains to be simply 9-16 (.360) in interdivisional video games and 14-21 general (.400), but they’d only a .286 win share in out-of-division video games final week. Maybe this division is not as unhealthy because it portrayed many of the first half of the 12 months. 

4. NFC South

Final week’s rating: 3

There wasn’t a lot of a possibility for the NFC South to maneuver up its standing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers being idle and the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints taking part in one another. The Carolina Panthers had a possibility to carry serve towards the New England Patriots, however had been blown out at dwelling and have severe quarterback points involving Sam Darnold. 

Atlanta upsetting New Orleans at dwelling wasn’t good for the Saints’ possibilities to compete with Tampa Bay for the division, but the NFC South presently has three groups within the NFC playoff subject heading into Week 10. The division remains to be sturdy, even when it is not as highly effective as the opposite three forward of them.

The NFC South is 14-9 (.609) in out-of-division video games and 19-14 general (.573). New Orleans and Atlanta battle first-place groups in Tennessee and Dallas, respectively. 

3. AFC West 

Final week’s rating: 4

Fairly the week for the AFC West, beginning with the Denver Broncos upsetting a first-place workforce within the Cowboys — which was one of many greatest upsets of Week 9. The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs additionally beat one other first-place workforce within the Packers, albeit with out Aaron Rodgers. 

The Los Angeles Chargers survived an upset bid by the Eagles, but earned an important last-second win on the highway. The Las Vegas Raiders ought to have made this a 4-0 week for the division, however could not beat the lowly Giants in taking part in their worst recreation of the 12 months. A 3-1 week in interdivisional video games showcases how good this division may be. 

The AFC West would not have a single workforce underneath .500, as each workforce is over .500 within the division. All 4 groups are separated by half a recreation, showcasing the depth of the division. The AFC West is 17-11 in interdivisional video games (.607) and 20-14 general (.588). They’re in competition for the highest division in soccer. 

2. NFC West

Final week’s rating: 1

Lastly falling from the No. 1 spot, the NFC West has to discover a solution to reclaim the throne after a subpar Week 9. The Los Angeles Rams getting blown out by the Titans did not assist the division in a battle of first-place groups in primetime. Los Angeles remains to be an excellent workforce, but hasn’t performed nicely within the nationwide tv video games towards groups at their expertise degree. 

The underside of the NFC West is not good because the San Francisco 49ers misplaced to the Arizona Cardinals, who had been with out Kyler Murray and misplaced Chase Edmonds early within the recreation. Arizona is de facto good and has one of the best report in soccer at 8-1, however the ineptitude of the 49ers cannot maintain this division at No. 1 after they misplaced 5 of six since a 2-0 begin. The Seattle Seahawks had been idle this week, however may also help this division reclaim the highest spot if they will upset the Packers. 

The NFC West remains to be good, sporting an out-of-division report of 16-8 (.667) and an general report of 21-13 (.618). The 49ers and Seahawks being underneath .500 hurts the energy of this division. 

1. AFC North 

Final week’s rating: 2

Welcome to the No. 1 spot, AFC North! The Baltimore Ravens got here again from a double-digit deficit towards the Vikings and stored the AFC North lead in a stacked division, simply probably the most spectacular win of the weekend amongst the three victors. The Pittsburgh Steelers survived the Chicago Bears upset bid to remain above .500 whereas the Cleveland Browns blew out the Cincinnati Bengals with out Odell Beckham Jr. 

This division is the strongest within the NFL — prime to backside. Baltimore is a Super Bowl contender whereas Cleveland and Pittsburgh are making their playoff circumstances within the convention. Even after shedding two in a row, Cincinnati remains to be one of the crucial improved groups in soccer. 

The AFC North would not have a workforce underneath. 500 as each workforce is over the .500 mark. The division has two groups within the playoffs getting into Week 10 — however 4 of the 11 over .500 groups within the convention. The AFC North is 15-9 in interdivisional video games (.625) and 21-13 general (.618). This division deserves to be No. 1, particularly since every workforce within the AFC North can win each week.