November 26, 2025 • 24 mins
Coming up on the Power Rankings Podcast, Mike Yam and Eric Edholm deliver the latest power rankings leading into NFL Week 13!
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
NFL Power Rankings is a production of the NFL in
partnership with iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Well, welcome to a brand new edition of NFL Power
Rankings along with Eric at home Mike am with you.
A complete list of all thirty two teams and where
they sit according to Eric, available on NFL dot com.
Before we jump into these rankings, Eric, I gotta tell you, like,
heading into week number twelve, you almost felt like it
was must win scenario for a few teams that got
it done and are still alive in the playoff lines.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Yeah, there's really about twenty teams that are still in
this mix. I think we're going to sort a lot
out this week, obviously starting with a great Thanksgiving lineup,
but I love the fact that we've got a deep
field and only one team I think has been eliminated.
Sorry about your Giants, Mike.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
We don't need to go there, Although I try to say,
do we need to talk about the lions of what transpired?
Speaker 4 (00:53):
We will do that.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Coming up in just a couple of minutes. But let's
take a closer look at the rankings. Team number one
and the Rams are showing they might be the class
of the NFL. Sitting at number one of the power rankings.
The Seahawks ree rebounded off that loss to the Rams
with a win against the Titans. They sit at number two.
The Broncos were idle. They sit at three, the Colts
at four, the Patriots at five. Will discuss them in
(01:14):
just a few moments. Philadelphia has some concerns. I feel
like there's always been concerns all year, even when they've
been winning games.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
But they've dropped three spots to six.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
They got the Packers and those lines sitting at seven
and eight respectively. All right, let's focus in at number one.
We got a Rams team that once again handles business.
Are you ready to say, I know the rankings you
have in one. It's a fluid situation every single week here,
But are the Rams the best team in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
That's why they're top to my list. I mean, look,
I know it's been one of these seasons where we've
had a rotating cast the characters up there, but right now,
at this point, it certainly feels like if there is
no such thing as a perfect team, right and we
have seen some higher end defenses kind of sink their
teeth have a little success against the Rams Texans, Eagles, Seahawks,
even the Ravens a couple weeks ago. But there's a
(01:58):
reason Matthew Stafford is an MVP candidate. He's playing terrific.
The interceptions are low, the touchdowns are high. That is
always a good thing to elite receivers, all those tight ends.
You know, we'll see if the old line can handle
a great D line. That's gonna be maybe a litmus
test for them. But they seem to have a kicker too.
Harrison Nebs makes a fifty two yard or Sean McVay
starts smiling. I mean, that's one of the things that
(02:20):
had been their achilles heel up to this point. So
if they've solved the kicking issue, Mike, we might be
talking about the best all around team in terms of
fewest weaknesses and most strengths.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Yeah, and all of a sudden, you know, you get
some shrewd moves, and I think there were some questions
about this team secondary and yet the reality as a
couple of those guys are now balling out, not necessarily
worried about the pressure that they can get on quarterbacks
holistically speaking, but right now as complete as you could
look at this point, of the season. Hopefully they stay
healthy the rest of the way. Now, the culture a
team that sit four on your power rankings. I know
(02:54):
they lost to the Chiefs here, but are you concerned
about what this team can be?
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Yeah, it's hard not to notice the trend recently of
the offense kind of sagging. Right, this is still the
top scoring off in the league, but they're kind of
still living off their laurels what they did the first
eight or so weeks of the season. If you take
Jonathan Taylor out of the game like the Chiefs did Sunday,
had that one twenty seven yard run, did virtually nothing
else the rest of the day, you can have some
success at least the last few games a period to
(03:19):
have shown that. So you know, defensively, they tried their
best to slow Mahomes down, kept the score in their
favor most of the game, but late in the game
they hit those big pass plays and it really started
to kind of unravel from there. I think settling for
a couple of field goals early in the second half
ended up being the difference. They were up twenty to nine,
but that wasn't enough. They needed to score at least
one touchdown. If not to there, So Yeah, it's just
(03:41):
been this lack of deep shots. They got real conservative
late in the game. My twelve plays in the fourth
quarter in overtime thirteen yards, no first downs, no points.
And that's really the story of that game. Sunday, will
it carry over? They got a big game this week
against Houston and the divisions all of a sudden up
for grabs.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Yeah, and a Houston team that is starting to surge
all of a sudden, with yeah, Davis Mills as their quarterback.
That defense is really scary. The Colts are going to
have a significant challenge. Hopefully Jonathan Taylor gets it going.
For those Colts fans that are out there.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
Let's take a.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Closer look at the AFC East, Eric, I look at
the odds to go and win this thing. The Patriots
the favorite at minus six hundred, the Bills at plus
four to eighty at plus thirty thousand, the Miami Dolphins.
The Jets don't even have odds because they can't go
and win this division. But from a Patriots perspective, this
is a team that's won nine straight.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
It didn't necessarily look the way that it has looked.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
I think there were some questions really about how proficient
this offense was, and I think that's a fair assessment
after what we witnessed there. Take me through why you
have the Patriots still is one of the better teams
in the NFL and arguably a team that could make
a run to the Super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Yeah, I like the Colts. I have some worries here,
right And the two big things that just happen on
Sunday injuries to Will Campbell Jared Wilson, two rookie offensive
linemen we're playing great, could miss multiple games. We'll have
to see on that. Of course, giants bring the pass rush.
We'll see them on Money Night Football. But yeah, those
are the two biggest things right now. Drake May didn't
have a great first quarter against the Bengals. They moved
(05:11):
the ball consistently all game after that. However, two stalls,
if you will, at the goal line. One was a
turnover on downs, one a field goal. Really kind of
kept this game a lot closer than it should have been,
so they could have blown them out a little bit early.
Defense did pretty good work against Joe Flacco. Kind of
lucky they didn't get Jamar Chase and T Higgins also
got hurt, but yeah, some little signs of worry kind
(05:33):
of kicking in a little bit here. They haven't played
the toughest of schedules either, so there are still some
doubters out there. Is this a super Bowl caliber team
right now? Their record says it is, and a lot
of the numbers suggest they are. But I'm still kind
of holding back slightly until I see this how this
group fares without two starters up front.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Yeah, and I think from a Cincinnati perspective, Joe Burrow
making his return, we'll get that on Thanksgivin. We'll talk
about the Bengals a little bit later. There's some juice
now all of a sudden around that team. I'm really
looking forward to seeing, though, how a ball club that
is maybe not as experienced as some of those other
teams in the Patriots that is, how they're able to
navigate the next couple weeks of the season, because they
(06:12):
are still in the driver's seat not only for the division,
but to make a deep run in the postseason.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
The Eagles, it's almost like we're waiting for.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
The other shoot to fall off with this squad, right,
I Mean, it seems like even when they win, there's
negative vibes around this team.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
They go and lose.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
They had a twenty one point lead against the Dallas Cowboys,
biggest comeback that Deck Prescott has had in his career.
They go on and win this thing. Late panic button
for you, Like, are we stomping on it? Are we
saying hey, it's okay, Like we'll be okay? From an
Eagles fans.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Yeah, On the one head, obviously the numbers suggest they are.
They're the major, major, major favor to win the NFCS.
Getting in the playoffs should not be a problem. But
what kind of shape are they going to be in,
especially offensively when they do get there? And you know,
Sunday was an encapsulation of it. They seem determined to
come out wanting to prove people they can throw the
football in the intermediate part of the field, you know,
(07:00):
exploring parts of the field they haven't really thrown to
a lot, had success, three touchdowns and three drives, and
then everything really fell apart. And I've just seen a
bad habit of and whether it's Nick Sirianni or somebody
else on staff there, but they've been a little bit
conservative at the ends of first half. Strangely, they've been
very aggressive at the ends of games with leads, but
(07:22):
you know, not going for points with two timeouts still
had twenty seconds on the clock. I don't know if
they felt like that lead was good with their defense,
but you know, in recent games, everything's been so tight,
offensively so limited, you'd think they'd want to take some chances.
Look Lane Johnson's out. I mean, there are reasons why
they can't run the football. There are reasons why Saquon
Barkley is having trouble getting going hits. Such a high
(07:43):
workload last year, they can't lean on them the way
they used to. But they should be able to move
the ball more consistently and avoid a meltdown like that.
I didn't think this team was capable of blowing a
twenty one point lead, even against the arrival on the road.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Especially because the way the defense has played. Eric Like,
if you tell me, hey, you give them twenty one.
This defense has been kind of their calling card this year.
For as much as we talk about Jalen Hertz and
Saquon Barkley and AJ Brown and the drama, it always
seems to center around their offense. But the reality is
this defense is ridiculously good. It's surprising to see a
Dallas comeback the way that it all had transpired. But look,
(08:17):
we get them on Black Friday, we'll get an opportunity
to see them. Packers sitting at number seven right now.
This is a team that has been sort of like
this a wave all season long.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
Here.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
I thought it was impressive, even without Josh Jacobs, still
finding a way to go get it done. But to me,
are speaking a defense five sacks, ten quarterback hits. Green
Bay's defense. They showed up in a meaningful way against Minnesota.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Yeah, and it seems strange to say people aren't really
talking about Micah Parsons, but he had a big imprint
on this game. He's had as an imprint on several
other games as well. And look, outside of the Dallas game,
maybe one or two other contests. They've been terrific defensively.
Eight of their eleven opponents have been held to twenty
points or fewer. When they score twenty three or more.
They have not lost the game this year, just a
(08:59):
one tie against Dallas. So that's the formula. That's really
what's born out of this stand that you know Tucker
Craft's out for the year, you can't get him back.
There's only so much you can get from the receiver
position until Matthew Golden and you know Reid come back
and people like that. So you know, Jacobs will find
his place eventually. Wilson stepped in, like you said, and
had a great game. But I think we have to
(09:21):
temper our expectations offensively and understand that. You know, twenty
three points is kind of the mark. Now. If you
do that, you should be able to win football games.
But they fallen short of that against the Eagles and
other tough teams. So you know, again, it's it's gonna
be a litmus test on Thursday and going forward to
see if they can produce scoring drives more than once
or twice a game.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Yeah, and look, we'll see what they can do on
Thanksgiving against the Lion's team that sits eighth right now
in the power rankings. I think the one thing for
me is you sort of assess this matchup Detroit. You know,
two weeks ago we're sitting there going, hey, what happens
to this offense? Three weeks ago we're saying, oh, Dan
Campbell play calling, look at look at the explosion here.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
Now, all of a sudden from a defensive perspective.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Look, it's it's my giant, So I can se New
York played well offensively against this team. Are we just
at a point now with Detroit where getting a complete
game might be a little bit much to ask for.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Yeah, I mean it's it's been a minute now since
you've had that three phase game where everything's kind of
been locked in. And look, I don't know if they
let up early or if they were kind of victims
to some of those trick plays that they called. And
jamis obviously a fearless guy, is gonna let it rip
at every opportunity. But you know, with the number of
pieces of the Giants are missing, this is a little
bit concerning. They will get Marcus Davenport back. They you know,
(10:35):
they will get Josh Pascal back at some point. The
secondary is getting better. Eventually Kirby Joseph and Terry Arnold
will be back. But you know, DJ Reid's still working
his way back into a full workload and all that.
But you know, the low percentage throws that were being
completed on Thursday on Sunday, excuse me, that's the kind
of thing you have to worry about. That's you know,
(10:56):
against better quarterbacks and better teams. You know that that's
the kind of play that they haven't really been able
to stop. So you know it starts Thursday. As you mentioned,
this game I think means more to Detroit than it
does to Green Bay. Not that it doesn't mean something
to the Packers, but Detroit's in that stocking position. They're
outside of the playoffs looking in right now, and they
need every single victory they can get against this brutal
schedule they face this season.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
Yeah, that guy, Jimior Gibbs is really good. To see
how fast he is.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
I mean, you got NFL DB's chasing him and they
can't catch.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
Up to him. It really is remarkable. Goes back to
like positional value in the draft. And I know you're
going to be in the weeks. I think, Eric, you're
heading into the Senior Bowl.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
But I remember when they drafted him in the first round,
people like, oh, you can't take a running back that high.
If he's a baller, you can because he's helping you
win some football games. Premieer Gibbs an absolute monster. Just
getting started here on NFL Power Rankings, we'll focus in
on a Kansas City Chiefs team that might have saved
their season. We still have some other questions on some
other talented squads as well, including the Buffalo Bills. Where
(11:53):
they sit in the rankings is still to come. Welcome
back to Power Rankings. Getting ready for Thanksgiving the fourth
annual John Madden Thanksgiving soe Lebration. It starts off at
one Eastern time. We got the Packers in lines, a
very meaningful game between the Chiefs and the Cowboys at
four thirty eastern. We will talk about both of those
teams coming up in just a bit. Joe Burrow making
(12:15):
his return, Bengals and Ravens. Let's get you to teams
nine through sixteen right now. The Niners figure out a
way on Monday Night football. You don't win too many
games from your quarterback throws three interceptions. They did, though,
the Bills sitting at ten at the Chicago Bears eaten three.
At number eleven, the Chiefs saved their season. They are
at twelve. That Raven squad, they keep winning games, it
(12:35):
just doesn't look great at times. We'll see what they
look like on Thanksgiving. The Jags at fourteen, the Texans
and Steelers rounding it out at fifteen, and sixteen. All right,
postgame Monday Night Football, We're sitting there and I'm watching
Kyle Shanahan kind of say, hey, it's not that big
of a deal, right, He kind of like downplayed those
interceptions from Brock Purty. Brock even said, hey, I felt
(12:57):
good about the ree. It's just where the ball was
thrown in place a little late. That was a problem.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
Should I be concerned about three picks?
Speaker 3 (13:03):
I think you should, right. I under the reasoning behind it.
I understand the thinking. But and credits to Brock, I
mean he dialed into the second half, didn't miss a throw.
I think it was nine for nine off the top
of my head, so you know he figured it out.
Of course, J C. Horn wasn't out there for much
of it, so you know the fact that the guy
who picked him off twice wasn't involved may have had
something to do with it. But he got figured out.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Now.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
I know mac Jones' interception total has been much lower,
but you know, Christian McCaffrey, they're going to ride him
till the wheels come off. It was great to see
George Kittle back in the kind of the driver's seat
as a huge player. The script is way different than
we thought it would be in August. But there's still
finding ways to win games. And boy, I don't know
if they can do it against the elite offenses. But
this defense turned into performance. And you know, the next
(13:46):
few games aren't against the most terrifying offenses, so we'll
have to see till they face the Colts and the
Bears and the Seahawks the final time whether they can
slow down those elite groups. But credits to that defense
missing three big players up front, they really made a
difference on Sunday or Monday night. Excuse me, only.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Other thing I'll add to this conversation. He's been so
great this season. I have to say this, Christian McCaffrey.
He is on pace for four hundred and twenty two touches.
He leads the NFL in receptions with eighty one. Not
running backs, he leads the NFL in receptions. The guy
has been masterful so far this season. At number ten,
we got a Bills team that has dropped three spots.
Eric Josh Allen was under constant darrest. I know Houston's
(14:25):
defense is really good, though how good is this Bills team?
Because now I'm starting to question how far this squad
can really go.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
We can't say they're in the playoffs definitively. It feels
like the AFC East is out of reach. I mean
this season, you know, the trajectory has changed completely. There
have been a lot of issues. The pass protection was
never a problem in the pass very rarely, I should say.
If it was, it was on Josh. I think some
of these were obviously on Allen holding onto the ball,
trying to get receivers to uncover. It wasn't happening. That
(14:54):
lack of a true separator at receiver, especially beyond the
you know, the sticks, that's really what I think they're
lacking offensively. You know, the way that the forty nine
ers using McCaffrey is the way that the Bills are
not using James Cook too. If they're going to try to,
you know, justify making this guy a high paid running back,
why not use him like that kind of a weapon.
(15:15):
Give him more than three catches, give him more than
seventeen touches out of the backfield. So you know that
there's still that that offensive identity question, and then all
the defensive you know, sort of limitations. I guess you
would say some games they're pretty good, but kind of
like we were saying with the Niners too, against the
elite offenses, you're not going to see them play that
outstanding level of ball, I don't think on the defensive side.
(15:37):
So yeah, those questions all exist. Firepower is there, but
it comes out way too infrequently for my liking.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
Now they get the Steelers this coming week. At number eleven.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
It's the Chicago Bears, who moved up three spots on
your rankings. I'm actually really excited about this Black Friday
game against Philadelphia because I think the Eagles are in
desperation mode and maybe we get some clarity on this question.
Speaker 4 (15:59):
Are the Bears a good football team?
Speaker 3 (16:02):
I think they are right obviously, look at the point
differential and you look at you know who they've played
in some of the metrics and doesn't quite add up.
And that's, you know, part of the reason why I've
kind of held back. Record wise, they should be higher
on this list, but you know, until they have some
of these signature victories and there you know, they missed
Aaron Rodgers on Sunday, still had a you know, Mason
Rudolph had the ball in his hand with a chance
(16:23):
to either win or tie the game late, so they
do sort of leave you questioning their their their strength
just a little bit. But Ben Johnson has made this
offense a whole lot better. They have an identity now
Caleb Williams misfire but also made some great plays as well.
Want to see a little more consistency catching the football
too from Dj Moore and Roman Dunes and those guys
(16:43):
Luthor Burden, et cetera. But you know, if their secondary
is getting healthier and some of these games will provide
a little bit better tests. So yeah, I'm with you.
I think this game is going to be an outstanding it.
Their strengths and weaknesses and the Eagles kind of kind
of oil and vinegar situation setting up, So it's gonna
tell us a lot about both the Eagles and the Bears.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
I think, yeah, six and one in one score games,
they're battle tested right now. Yep, they once again move
up three spots on your rankings.
Speaker 4 (17:10):
There's another team that moved up three spots. That's the
Kansas City Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Is it as simple as me saying Eric, they saved
their season with that win against the Colts.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
I think you're right. I think if they lose that
game at home, where they've been very good this year,
only the one lost previously to the Eagles, So you know,
I think if that had happened at twenty to nine
down in the fourth quarter, it looked to entirely possible.
You know, we're probably talking about them not only on
the outside looking in, but what is the future of
this team, What do they look like next year? We're
not there yet. Patrick Mahomes had some great moments late,
(17:40):
the receivers stepped up. You know, the offensive line with
Trey Smith out, did its best job. I think secondary
defense played really great down the stretch, and those are
all positive things, but they did put themselves in a
little bit of a hole, and you know, kind of
like last year, we're always questioning their level of dominance
because they're in close games. But at least they got
the one score victory that was so common in twenty
(18:02):
twenty four and so absent this season. That was their
first of the year. That tells a lot about where
they are right now in the standings. But still on
the whole, I think this is a team most opponents
will fear, given that their history has proven that they
can hang with it. Virtually anybody at any time in
any field.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
I actually think this is going to be a great
game on Thanksgiving because Cowboys, all of a sudden look
like a very complete team. And I can't believe I'm
speaking those words after what I saw just a few
weeks ago.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
This season, they've really turned it around. More on them
in just a moment.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
But the Houston Texans, explain to me what's gone on
with this team?
Speaker 4 (18:39):
They couldn't figure out ways to win now all of
a sudden.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
It's the defense that's been pretty good all season long,
but my god, what they did against Josh Allen was impressive.
Speaker 4 (18:46):
And David they don't even have the quarterback. Davis Mills
is three and I was a starter.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Yeah, and this third game was probably his weakest game,
but he did settle down after a really slow start.
He's likely heading back to the bench. We're probably going
to see CJ. Stroud, assuming he's healthy, down the stretch.
But I think the pressure in the bar has been
kind of raised for CJ. Here. I mean, Davis Mills
played better than what you would expect out of a
replacement level backup, so he did his job very well. CJ.
(19:10):
Stroud now has to kind of answer and kind of
raise the bar a little bit for this offense. So
not all on him, but got to get the ball
to the Higgins and those young receivers. Nico Collins has
to be a playmaker as well, and that old line
has to obviously hold up. But you know, like you said,
when you have a defense of this caliber that can
rush the passer, you know, fast flow linebackers stopping the run,
(19:30):
and also secondary members who can change the game. Cayden
Bullock had an outstanding game on Thursday night. That is
the indicator of a team that nobody wants to face,
even with some of their offensive limitations.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Yeah, they got a big game against the Colts. This
division still up for grabs. Another thing that I didn't
think i'd say just a few weeks ago, considering how
Indianapolis has been able to play.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
We got more to come.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Here on Power Rankings Team seventeen through thirty two, the
Dallas Cowboys might be the scariest of the rest of
the teams that we haven't even named. Checks where they
could potentially finish this season.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
Answer to that is coming up next.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Back here on Power Rankings, Eric's team seventeen through twenty four,
The Chargers right now sitting in that seventeen spot. We'll
talk Cowboys in just a moment. The Panthers at nineteen.
The Bucks are free falling right now at twenty. More
on them in just a moment. The Falcons at twenty one,
the Dolphins at twenty two, and then it's the Vikings
and Arizona Cardinals checking in at twenty three and twenty four.
(20:31):
So you got a Cowboys squad that sits eighteenth right
now in your rankings. Dare I say they're one of
the more complete teams in the NFL. Offensively, they look
really strong running the football. Dak has got two of
the better weapons in the NFL, and now the defense
is healthy with some new additions, and they have special
teams like Eric.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
Like, am I crazy to think that they can make
a run here?
Speaker 3 (20:50):
Yeah? They still made lots of mistakes in this game,
even after they were chipping their way back from twenty
one down. But when Dak was on like he was,
you know, pretty much after the first quarter, and Brandon
Aubrey kind of shook off that miss to make the
game winner, you know, all of a sudden, you say, hey,
look look at this defense. Look what Quinn Williams has
added and he was banged up in that game too.
He was all over the place, incredible pressure, Sam Williams,
(21:12):
Osa dig Azua. You know the guys up front, you
have overshown back in the lineup. I love the way
this defense played on Sunday and I thought they were,
you know, much better than we've seen pretty much all seasons.
So if they can play to that level defensively, all
of a sudden, very scary team. You don't want to
be facing Pickens and Lamb and Prescott and have to
soow those guys down.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
You know, you and I earlier this season were pretty
high on Tampa Bay. We were believing in Baker Mayfield.
At one point they were number one in your power rankings.
That was week number seven. They drop eight spots. They
are twentieth right now, What in the world is going
on with this team?
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Health is a big issue. Obviously, Bicker's trying to do
too much and he got banged up in that game.
It sounds like that injury is not nearly as bad.
It's his left a non throwing shoulders, so a little
bit of relief there, but they're not able to generate
those big plays offensively and they're not able to stop
those big plays defensively. I mean, I think the latter
is really the bigger issue. But at least you could
(22:07):
see the Bucks kind of win shootouts before. I don't
think they're that team anymore. They're gonna get Bucky Irving
back at some point. They're still the favorites in this division.
Carolina losing Monday obviously helped quite a bit, but you know,
you have to question whether this is a team capble
of making a Super Bowl run like I thought they
were when they were at full strength, you know, six seven,
eight weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Yeah, they were able to navigate for a good stretch.
There's some of these injuries, but they are piling up
and that that didn't look, I think the way some
had thought this past weekend against the Rams. Let's get
to teams twenty five through thirty two, right now, Cincinnati,
Joe Burrow, let's go back in the saddle on Thanksgiving.
We'll see him the Commanders at twenty six, the Browns
at twenty seven. We got the Giants at twenty eight,
(22:48):
followed by the Jets, the Saints, the Titans, and then
the Raiders, who also made a change. Chip Kelly was
relieved of his duties, but we knew know from a
Browns perspective at twenty seven here, Sador Sanders is their guy.
Speaker 4 (23:01):
We saw a couple explosive plays here. You like this move?
Speaker 3 (23:05):
Well, look, I mean it's interesting because Kevin Stefanski is
a guy who wants to play within structure. You see
a little check down here, that's exactly what he wants
from his quarterback. But the play before the long touchdown throw,
that was a play out of structure, and that's really
where I think sher creates the most magic. That's the
question I have. Is he compatible with Kevin Stefanski as
the head coach. It looked decent the first game, even
(23:26):
with an interception where he got fooled little bit. But
there're three biggest plays of the year happened in this game,
so you can't say he didn't add a little something
to the offense there. We'll see if you can keep
it up. But fairly promising, even with plenty of work
to do. I'm looking forward to the next effort.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
I had ten sacks of the game as well. That'll help.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Thanks for watching, Happy thanksgiving everyone out there.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
NFL power Rankings is a production of the NFL in
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NFL Power Rankings is a production of the NFL in
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Speaker 2 (00:10):
Well, welcome to a brand new edition of NFL Power
Rankings along with Eric at home Mike am with you.
A complete list of all thirty two teams and where
they sit according to Eric, available on NFL dot com.
Before we jump into these rankings, Eric, I gotta tell you, like,
heading into week number twelve, you almost felt like it
was must win scenario for a few teams that got
it done and are still alive in the playoff lines.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Yeah, there's really about twenty teams that are still in
this mix. I think we're going to sort a lot
out this week, obviously starting with a great Thanksgiving lineup,
but I love the fact that we've got a deep
field and only one team I think has been eliminated.
Sorry about your Giants, Mike.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
We don't need to go there, Although I try to say,
do we need to talk about the lions of what transpired?
Speaker 4 (00:53):
We will do that.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Coming up in just a couple of minutes. But let's
take a closer look at the rankings. Team number one
and the Rams are showing they might be the class
of the NFL. Sitting at number one of the power rankings.
The Seahawks ree rebounded off that loss to the Rams
with a win against the Titans. They sit at number two.
The Broncos were idle. They sit at three, the Colts
at four, the Patriots at five. Will discuss them in
(01:14):
just a few moments. Philadelphia has some concerns. I feel
like there's always been concerns all year, even when they've
been winning games.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
But they've dropped three spots to six.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
They got the Packers and those lines sitting at seven
and eight respectively. All right, let's focus in at number one.
We got a Rams team that once again handles business.
Are you ready to say, I know the rankings you
have in one. It's a fluid situation every single week here,
But are the Rams the best team in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
That's why they're top to my list. I mean, look,
I know it's been one of these seasons where we've
had a rotating cast the characters up there, but right now,
at this point, it certainly feels like if there is
no such thing as a perfect team, right and we
have seen some higher end defenses kind of sink their
teeth have a little success against the Rams Texans, Eagles, Seahawks,
even the Ravens a couple weeks ago. But there's a
(01:58):
reason Matthew Stafford is an MVP candidate. He's playing terrific.
The interceptions are low, the touchdowns are high. That is
always a good thing to elite receivers, all those tight ends.
You know, we'll see if the old line can handle
a great D line. That's gonna be maybe a litmus
test for them. But they seem to have a kicker too.
Harrison Nebs makes a fifty two yard or Sean McVay
starts smiling. I mean, that's one of the things that
(02:20):
had been their achilles heel up to this point. So
if they've solved the kicking issue, Mike, we might be
talking about the best all around team in terms of
fewest weaknesses and most strengths.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Yeah, and all of a sudden, you know, you get
some shrewd moves, and I think there were some questions
about this team secondary and yet the reality as a
couple of those guys are now balling out, not necessarily
worried about the pressure that they can get on quarterbacks
holistically speaking, but right now as complete as you could
look at this point, of the season. Hopefully they stay
healthy the rest of the way. Now, the culture a
team that sit four on your power rankings. I know
(02:54):
they lost to the Chiefs here, but are you concerned
about what this team can be?
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Yeah, it's hard not to notice the trend recently of
the offense kind of sagging. Right, this is still the
top scoring off in the league, but they're kind of
still living off their laurels what they did the first
eight or so weeks of the season. If you take
Jonathan Taylor out of the game like the Chiefs did Sunday,
had that one twenty seven yard run, did virtually nothing
else the rest of the day, you can have some
success at least the last few games a period to
(03:19):
have shown that. So you know, defensively, they tried their
best to slow Mahomes down, kept the score in their
favor most of the game, but late in the game
they hit those big pass plays and it really started
to kind of unravel from there. I think settling for
a couple of field goals early in the second half
ended up being the difference. They were up twenty to nine,
but that wasn't enough. They needed to score at least
one touchdown. If not to there, So Yeah, it's just
(03:41):
been this lack of deep shots. They got real conservative
late in the game. My twelve plays in the fourth
quarter in overtime thirteen yards, no first downs, no points.
And that's really the story of that game. Sunday, will
it carry over? They got a big game this week
against Houston and the divisions all of a sudden up
for grabs.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Yeah, and a Houston team that is starting to surge
all of a sudden, with yeah, Davis Mills as their quarterback.
That defense is really scary. The Colts are going to
have a significant challenge. Hopefully Jonathan Taylor gets it going.
For those Colts fans that are out there.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
Let's take a.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Closer look at the AFC East, Eric, I look at
the odds to go and win this thing. The Patriots
the favorite at minus six hundred, the Bills at plus
four to eighty at plus thirty thousand, the Miami Dolphins.
The Jets don't even have odds because they can't go
and win this division. But from a Patriots perspective, this
is a team that's won nine straight.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
It didn't necessarily look the way that it has looked.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
I think there were some questions really about how proficient
this offense was, and I think that's a fair assessment
after what we witnessed there. Take me through why you
have the Patriots still is one of the better teams
in the NFL and arguably a team that could make
a run to the Super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Yeah, I like the Colts. I have some worries here,
right And the two big things that just happen on
Sunday injuries to Will Campbell Jared Wilson, two rookie offensive
linemen we're playing great, could miss multiple games. We'll have
to see on that. Of course, giants bring the pass rush.
We'll see them on Money Night Football. But yeah, those
are the two biggest things right now. Drake May didn't
have a great first quarter against the Bengals. They moved
(05:11):
the ball consistently all game after that. However, two stalls,
if you will, at the goal line. One was a
turnover on downs, one a field goal. Really kind of
kept this game a lot closer than it should have been,
so they could have blown them out a little bit early.
Defense did pretty good work against Joe Flacco. Kind of
lucky they didn't get Jamar Chase and T Higgins also
got hurt, but yeah, some little signs of worry kind
(05:33):
of kicking in a little bit here. They haven't played
the toughest of schedules either, so there are still some
doubters out there. Is this a super Bowl caliber team
right now? Their record says it is, and a lot
of the numbers suggest they are. But I'm still kind
of holding back slightly until I see this how this
group fares without two starters up front.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Yeah, and I think from a Cincinnati perspective, Joe Burrow
making his return, we'll get that on Thanksgivin. We'll talk
about the Bengals a little bit later. There's some juice
now all of a sudden around that team. I'm really
looking forward to seeing, though, how a ball club that
is maybe not as experienced as some of those other
teams in the Patriots that is, how they're able to
navigate the next couple weeks of the season, because they
(06:12):
are still in the driver's seat not only for the division,
but to make a deep run in the postseason.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
The Eagles, it's almost like we're waiting for.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
The other shoot to fall off with this squad, right,
I Mean, it seems like even when they win, there's
negative vibes around this team.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
They go and lose.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
They had a twenty one point lead against the Dallas Cowboys,
biggest comeback that Deck Prescott has had in his career.
They go on and win this thing. Late panic button
for you, Like, are we stomping on it? Are we
saying hey, it's okay, Like we'll be okay? From an
Eagles fans.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Yeah, On the one head, obviously the numbers suggest they are.
They're the major, major, major favor to win the NFCS.
Getting in the playoffs should not be a problem. But
what kind of shape are they going to be in,
especially offensively when they do get there? And you know,
Sunday was an encapsulation of it. They seem determined to
come out wanting to prove people they can throw the
football in the intermediate part of the field, you know,
(07:00):
exploring parts of the field they haven't really thrown to
a lot, had success, three touchdowns and three drives, and
then everything really fell apart. And I've just seen a
bad habit of and whether it's Nick Sirianni or somebody
else on staff there, but they've been a little bit
conservative at the ends of first half. Strangely, they've been
very aggressive at the ends of games with leads, but
(07:22):
you know, not going for points with two timeouts still
had twenty seconds on the clock. I don't know if
they felt like that lead was good with their defense,
but you know, in recent games, everything's been so tight,
offensively so limited, you'd think they'd want to take some chances.
Look Lane Johnson's out. I mean, there are reasons why
they can't run the football. There are reasons why Saquon
Barkley is having trouble getting going hits. Such a high
(07:43):
workload last year, they can't lean on them the way
they used to. But they should be able to move
the ball more consistently and avoid a meltdown like that.
I didn't think this team was capable of blowing a
twenty one point lead, even against the arrival on the road.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Especially because the way the defense has played. Eric Like,
if you tell me, hey, you give them twenty one.
This defense has been kind of their calling card this year.
For as much as we talk about Jalen Hertz and
Saquon Barkley and AJ Brown and the drama, it always
seems to center around their offense. But the reality is
this defense is ridiculously good. It's surprising to see a
Dallas comeback the way that it all had transpired. But look,
(08:17):
we get them on Black Friday, we'll get an opportunity
to see them. Packers sitting at number seven right now.
This is a team that has been sort of like
this a wave all season long.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
Here.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
I thought it was impressive, even without Josh Jacobs, still
finding a way to go get it done. But to me,
are speaking a defense five sacks, ten quarterback hits. Green
Bay's defense. They showed up in a meaningful way against Minnesota.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Yeah, and it seems strange to say people aren't really
talking about Micah Parsons, but he had a big imprint
on this game. He's had as an imprint on several
other games as well. And look, outside of the Dallas game,
maybe one or two other contests. They've been terrific defensively.
Eight of their eleven opponents have been held to twenty
points or fewer. When they score twenty three or more.
They have not lost the game this year, just a
(08:59):
one tie against Dallas. So that's the formula. That's really
what's born out of this stand that you know Tucker
Craft's out for the year, you can't get him back.
There's only so much you can get from the receiver
position until Matthew Golden and you know Reid come back
and people like that. So you know, Jacobs will find
his place eventually. Wilson stepped in, like you said, and
had a great game. But I think we have to
(09:21):
temper our expectations offensively and understand that. You know, twenty
three points is kind of the mark. Now. If you
do that, you should be able to win football games.
But they fallen short of that against the Eagles and
other tough teams. So you know, again, it's it's gonna
be a litmus test on Thursday and going forward to
see if they can produce scoring drives more than once
or twice a game.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Yeah, and look, we'll see what they can do on
Thanksgiving against the Lion's team that sits eighth right now
in the power rankings. I think the one thing for
me is you sort of assess this matchup Detroit. You know,
two weeks ago we're sitting there going, hey, what happens
to this offense? Three weeks ago we're saying, oh, Dan
Campbell play calling, look at look at the explosion here.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
Now, all of a sudden from a defensive perspective.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Look, it's it's my giant, So I can se New
York played well offensively against this team. Are we just
at a point now with Detroit where getting a complete
game might be a little bit much to ask for.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Yeah, I mean it's it's been a minute now since
you've had that three phase game where everything's kind of
been locked in. And look, I don't know if they
let up early or if they were kind of victims
to some of those trick plays that they called. And
jamis obviously a fearless guy, is gonna let it rip
at every opportunity. But you know, with the number of
pieces of the Giants are missing, this is a little
bit concerning. They will get Marcus Davenport back. They you know,
(10:35):
they will get Josh Pascal back at some point. The
secondary is getting better. Eventually Kirby Joseph and Terry Arnold
will be back. But you know, DJ Reid's still working
his way back into a full workload and all that.
But you know, the low percentage throws that were being
completed on Thursday on Sunday, excuse me, that's the kind
of thing you have to worry about. That's you know,
(10:56):
against better quarterbacks and better teams. You know that that's
the kind of play that they haven't really been able
to stop. So you know it starts Thursday. As you mentioned,
this game I think means more to Detroit than it
does to Green Bay. Not that it doesn't mean something
to the Packers, but Detroit's in that stocking position. They're
outside of the playoffs looking in right now, and they
need every single victory they can get against this brutal
schedule they face this season.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
Yeah, that guy, Jimior Gibbs is really good. To see
how fast he is.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
I mean, you got NFL DB's chasing him and they
can't catch.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
Up to him. It really is remarkable. Goes back to
like positional value in the draft. And I know you're
going to be in the weeks. I think, Eric, you're
heading into the Senior Bowl.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
But I remember when they drafted him in the first round,
people like, oh, you can't take a running back that high.
If he's a baller, you can because he's helping you
win some football games. Premieer Gibbs an absolute monster. Just
getting started here on NFL Power Rankings, we'll focus in
on a Kansas City Chiefs team that might have saved
their season. We still have some other questions on some
other talented squads as well, including the Buffalo Bills. Where
(11:53):
they sit in the rankings is still to come. Welcome
back to Power Rankings. Getting ready for Thanksgiving the fourth
annual John Madden Thanksgiving soe Lebration. It starts off at
one Eastern time. We got the Packers in lines, a
very meaningful game between the Chiefs and the Cowboys at
four thirty eastern. We will talk about both of those
teams coming up in just a bit. Joe Burrow making
(12:15):
his return, Bengals and Ravens. Let's get you to teams
nine through sixteen right now. The Niners figure out a
way on Monday Night football. You don't win too many
games from your quarterback throws three interceptions. They did, though,
the Bills sitting at ten at the Chicago Bears eaten three.
At number eleven, the Chiefs saved their season. They are
at twelve. That Raven squad, they keep winning games, it
(12:35):
just doesn't look great at times. We'll see what they
look like on Thanksgiving. The Jags at fourteen, the Texans
and Steelers rounding it out at fifteen, and sixteen. All right,
postgame Monday Night Football, We're sitting there and I'm watching
Kyle Shanahan kind of say, hey, it's not that big
of a deal, right, He kind of like downplayed those
interceptions from Brock Purty. Brock even said, hey, I felt
(12:57):
good about the ree. It's just where the ball was
thrown in place a little late. That was a problem.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
Should I be concerned about three picks?
Speaker 3 (13:03):
I think you should, right. I under the reasoning behind it.
I understand the thinking. But and credits to Brock, I
mean he dialed into the second half, didn't miss a throw.
I think it was nine for nine off the top
of my head, so you know he figured it out.
Of course, J C. Horn wasn't out there for much
of it, so you know the fact that the guy
who picked him off twice wasn't involved may have had
something to do with it. But he got figured out.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Now.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
I know mac Jones' interception total has been much lower,
but you know, Christian McCaffrey, they're going to ride him
till the wheels come off. It was great to see
George Kittle back in the kind of the driver's seat
as a huge player. The script is way different than
we thought it would be in August. But there's still
finding ways to win games. And boy, I don't know
if they can do it against the elite offenses. But
this defense turned into performance. And you know, the next
(13:46):
few games aren't against the most terrifying offenses, so we'll
have to see till they face the Colts and the
Bears and the Seahawks the final time whether they can
slow down those elite groups. But credits to that defense
missing three big players up front, they really made a
difference on Sunday or Monday night. Excuse me, only.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Other thing I'll add to this conversation. He's been so
great this season. I have to say this, Christian McCaffrey.
He is on pace for four hundred and twenty two touches.
He leads the NFL in receptions with eighty one. Not
running backs, he leads the NFL in receptions. The guy
has been masterful so far this season. At number ten,
we got a Bills team that has dropped three spots.
Eric Josh Allen was under constant darrest. I know Houston's
(14:25):
defense is really good, though how good is this Bills team?
Because now I'm starting to question how far this squad
can really go.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
We can't say they're in the playoffs definitively. It feels
like the AFC East is out of reach. I mean
this season, you know, the trajectory has changed completely. There
have been a lot of issues. The pass protection was
never a problem in the pass very rarely, I should say.
If it was, it was on Josh. I think some
of these were obviously on Allen holding onto the ball,
trying to get receivers to uncover. It wasn't happening. That
(14:54):
lack of a true separator at receiver, especially beyond the
you know, the sticks, that's really what I think they're
lacking offensively. You know, the way that the forty nine
ers using McCaffrey is the way that the Bills are
not using James Cook too. If they're going to try to,
you know, justify making this guy a high paid running back,
why not use him like that kind of a weapon.
(15:15):
Give him more than three catches, give him more than
seventeen touches out of the backfield. So you know that
there's still that that offensive identity question, and then all
the defensive you know, sort of limitations. I guess you
would say some games they're pretty good, but kind of
like we were saying with the Niners too, against the
elite offenses, you're not going to see them play that
outstanding level of ball, I don't think on the defensive side.
(15:37):
So yeah, those questions all exist. Firepower is there, but
it comes out way too infrequently for my liking.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
Now they get the Steelers this coming week. At number eleven.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
It's the Chicago Bears, who moved up three spots on
your rankings. I'm actually really excited about this Black Friday
game against Philadelphia because I think the Eagles are in
desperation mode and maybe we get some clarity on this question.
Speaker 4 (15:59):
Are the Bears a good football team?
Speaker 3 (16:02):
I think they are right obviously, look at the point
differential and you look at you know who they've played
in some of the metrics and doesn't quite add up.
And that's, you know, part of the reason why I've
kind of held back. Record wise, they should be higher
on this list, but you know, until they have some
of these signature victories and there you know, they missed
Aaron Rodgers on Sunday, still had a you know, Mason
Rudolph had the ball in his hand with a chance
(16:23):
to either win or tie the game late, so they
do sort of leave you questioning their their their strength
just a little bit. But Ben Johnson has made this
offense a whole lot better. They have an identity now
Caleb Williams misfire but also made some great plays as well.
Want to see a little more consistency catching the football
too from Dj Moore and Roman Dunes and those guys
(16:43):
Luthor Burden, et cetera. But you know, if their secondary
is getting healthier and some of these games will provide
a little bit better tests. So yeah, I'm with you.
I think this game is going to be an outstanding it.
Their strengths and weaknesses and the Eagles kind of kind
of oil and vinegar situation setting up, So it's gonna
tell us a lot about both the Eagles and the Bears.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
I think, yeah, six and one in one score games,
they're battle tested right now. Yep, they once again move
up three spots on your rankings.
Speaker 4 (17:10):
There's another team that moved up three spots. That's the
Kansas City Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Is it as simple as me saying Eric, they saved
their season with that win against the Colts.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
I think you're right. I think if they lose that
game at home, where they've been very good this year,
only the one lost previously to the Eagles, So you know,
I think if that had happened at twenty to nine
down in the fourth quarter, it looked to entirely possible.
You know, we're probably talking about them not only on
the outside looking in, but what is the future of
this team, What do they look like next year? We're
not there yet. Patrick Mahomes had some great moments late,
(17:40):
the receivers stepped up. You know, the offensive line with
Trey Smith out, did its best job. I think secondary
defense played really great down the stretch, and those are
all positive things, but they did put themselves in a
little bit of a hole, and you know, kind of
like last year, we're always questioning their level of dominance
because they're in close games. But at least they got
the one score victory that was so common in twenty
(18:02):
twenty four and so absent this season. That was their
first of the year. That tells a lot about where
they are right now in the standings. But still on
the whole, I think this is a team most opponents
will fear, given that their history has proven that they
can hang with it. Virtually anybody at any time in
any field.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
I actually think this is going to be a great
game on Thanksgiving because Cowboys, all of a sudden look
like a very complete team. And I can't believe I'm
speaking those words after what I saw just a few
weeks ago.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
This season, they've really turned it around. More on them
in just a moment.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
But the Houston Texans, explain to me what's gone on
with this team?
Speaker 4 (18:39):
They couldn't figure out ways to win now all of
a sudden.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
It's the defense that's been pretty good all season long,
but my god, what they did against Josh Allen was impressive.
Speaker 4 (18:46):
And David they don't even have the quarterback. Davis Mills
is three and I was a starter.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Yeah, and this third game was probably his weakest game,
but he did settle down after a really slow start.
He's likely heading back to the bench. We're probably going
to see CJ. Stroud, assuming he's healthy, down the stretch.
But I think the pressure in the bar has been
kind of raised for CJ. Here. I mean, Davis Mills
played better than what you would expect out of a
replacement level backup, so he did his job very well. CJ.
(19:10):
Stroud now has to kind of answer and kind of
raise the bar a little bit for this offense. So
not all on him, but got to get the ball
to the Higgins and those young receivers. Nico Collins has
to be a playmaker as well, and that old line
has to obviously hold up. But you know, like you said,
when you have a defense of this caliber that can
rush the passer, you know, fast flow linebackers stopping the run,
(19:30):
and also secondary members who can change the game. Cayden
Bullock had an outstanding game on Thursday night. That is
the indicator of a team that nobody wants to face,
even with some of their offensive limitations.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Yeah, they got a big game against the Colts. This
division still up for grabs. Another thing that I didn't
think i'd say just a few weeks ago, considering how
Indianapolis has been able to play.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
We got more to come.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Here on Power Rankings Team seventeen through thirty two, the
Dallas Cowboys might be the scariest of the rest of
the teams that we haven't even named. Checks where they
could potentially finish this season.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
Answer to that is coming up next.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Back here on Power Rankings, Eric's team seventeen through twenty four,
The Chargers right now sitting in that seventeen spot. We'll
talk Cowboys in just a moment. The Panthers at nineteen.
The Bucks are free falling right now at twenty. More
on them in just a moment. The Falcons at twenty one,
the Dolphins at twenty two, and then it's the Vikings
and Arizona Cardinals checking in at twenty three and twenty four.
(20:31):
So you got a Cowboys squad that sits eighteenth right
now in your rankings. Dare I say they're one of
the more complete teams in the NFL. Offensively, they look
really strong running the football. Dak has got two of
the better weapons in the NFL, and now the defense
is healthy with some new additions, and they have special
teams like Eric.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
Like, am I crazy to think that they can make
a run here?
Speaker 3 (20:50):
Yeah? They still made lots of mistakes in this game,
even after they were chipping their way back from twenty
one down. But when Dak was on like he was,
you know, pretty much after the first quarter, and Brandon
Aubrey kind of shook off that miss to make the
game winner, you know, all of a sudden, you say, hey,
look look at this defense. Look what Quinn Williams has
added and he was banged up in that game too.
He was all over the place, incredible pressure, Sam Williams,
(21:12):
Osa dig Azua. You know the guys up front, you
have overshown back in the lineup. I love the way
this defense played on Sunday and I thought they were,
you know, much better than we've seen pretty much all seasons.
So if they can play to that level defensively, all
of a sudden, very scary team. You don't want to
be facing Pickens and Lamb and Prescott and have to
soow those guys down.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
You know, you and I earlier this season were pretty
high on Tampa Bay. We were believing in Baker Mayfield.
At one point they were number one in your power rankings.
That was week number seven. They drop eight spots. They
are twentieth right now, What in the world is going
on with this team?
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Health is a big issue. Obviously, Bicker's trying to do
too much and he got banged up in that game.
It sounds like that injury is not nearly as bad.
It's his left a non throwing shoulders, so a little
bit of relief there, but they're not able to generate
those big plays offensively and they're not able to stop
those big plays defensively. I mean, I think the latter
is really the bigger issue. But at least you could
(22:07):
see the Bucks kind of win shootouts before. I don't
think they're that team anymore. They're gonna get Bucky Irving
back at some point. They're still the favorites in this division.
Carolina losing Monday obviously helped quite a bit, but you know,
you have to question whether this is a team capble
of making a Super Bowl run like I thought they
were when they were at full strength, you know, six seven,
eight weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Yeah, they were able to navigate for a good stretch.
There's some of these injuries, but they are piling up
and that that didn't look, I think the way some
had thought this past weekend against the Rams. Let's get
to teams twenty five through thirty two, right now, Cincinnati,
Joe Burrow, let's go back in the saddle on Thanksgiving.
We'll see him the Commanders at twenty six, the Browns
at twenty seven. We got the Giants at twenty eight,
(22:48):
followed by the Jets, the Saints, the Titans, and then
the Raiders, who also made a change. Chip Kelly was
relieved of his duties, but we knew know from a
Browns perspective at twenty seven here, Sador Sanders is their guy.
Speaker 4 (23:01):
We saw a couple explosive plays here. You like this move?
Speaker 3 (23:05):
Well, look, I mean it's interesting because Kevin Stefanski is
a guy who wants to play within structure. You see
a little check down here, that's exactly what he wants
from his quarterback. But the play before the long touchdown throw,
that was a play out of structure, and that's really
where I think sher creates the most magic. That's the
question I have. Is he compatible with Kevin Stefanski as
the head coach. It looked decent the first game, even
(23:26):
with an interception where he got fooled little bit. But
there're three biggest plays of the year happened in this game,
so you can't say he didn't add a little something
to the offense there. We'll see if you can keep
it up. But fairly promising, even with plenty of work
to do. I'm looking forward to the next effort.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
I had ten sacks of the game as well. That'll help.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Thanks for watching, Happy thanksgiving everyone out there.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
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