Usually Dallas is deemed to be ratings gold, but the NFL and FOX decided to coverup the Cowboys in Week 11.  Dallas at Minnesota was originally slated as America’s Game of the Week without another late game, but with the teams a combined 5-12, Green Bay at Indianapolis was moved late and will be covered by Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Erin Andrews.

NFC EAST

DALLAS

The Cowboys have lost a top rookie for the rest of the season.  Michael David Smith ofProFootballTalk.com:

An injury-plagued Cowboys season just got worse.

Cowboys rookie cornerback Trevon Diggs suffered a broken foot in Sunday’s loss to the Steelers and may miss the rest of the season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The injury typically takes 4-6 weeks to heal, but realistically, within six weeks the Cowboys may be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, and so Dallas may just decide to shut him down. The Cowboys do expect Diggs to make a full recovery and be ready to go in 2021.

The 51st overall pick in this year’s NFL draft, Diggs has played well for the Cowboys as a rookie and is a big part of the reason that the Dallas defense has played much better in recent weeks than it did early in the season. The Cowboys like what they’re seeing from Diggs, but they may not see him on the field again this year.

NFC SOUTH

ATLANTA

The Falcons roster action was all TAKK.   Nick Shook of NFL.com:

Takkarist McKinley’s wish has been granted.

The Atlanta Falcons waived the former first-round pick on Monday, the team announced.

McKinley was in the midst of a contract year in a situation that had become clear would not end with him and the Falcons renewing their partnership beyond 2020. The 26th-overall pick of the 2017 draft recorded 17.5 sacks in his three-plus seasons with the Falcons, never quite living up to his first-round status. He’d recorded eight tackles and one sack in four games in 2020 before injury pushed him to the sideline.

McKinley was open last week about his desire to leave Atlanta, voicing his frustrations via Twitter with a tweet that claimed the Falcons turned down a second-round pick in a proposed deal to send McKinley elsewhere in 2019, and “multiple” offers of fifth- and sixth-round picks for McKinley in 2020.

“I only have 17.5 career sacks,” McKinley tweeted in a self-deprecating statement with the intent to push the Falcons to move him.

McKinley ended that tweet with three clown emojis. Interim head coach Raheem Morris told reporters last week McKinley “will be held accountable,” adding “the wrong way to go about it how Takk is, to pout.”

Accountability has arrived in the form of McKinley’s release. Free to go elsewhere via waiver claim, McKinley’s next destination will be decided by the league’s waiver claim order — if a team decides to claim him.

NFC WEST

SAN FRANCISCO

A confusing Bourne Protocol for the 49ers.  Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com:

For the second time in less than a week, San Francisco 49ers receiver Kendrick Bourne has landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

The Niners announced Monday that Bourne was being placed back on that list, just days after he’d been activated from it following a week in which he tested positive then registered multiple negative tests in a row.

Bourne was activated from the list on Friday after he went on it Wednesday evening. Bourne first received a positive test last Wednesday, which led to the Niners shutting down their facility and entering the league’s intensive protocols.

Additional contact tracing led to left tackle Trent Williams and wideouts Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk being designated as high-risk close contacts of Bourne’s. All four were subsequently placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and ruled out of Thursday’s game against the Green Bay Packers.

But Bourne registered negative test results on Thursday and Friday, which led to all four players being activated from the list. Had the game against the Packers been played on Sunday, the Niners would have had that quartet available, though Samuel would not have played because of a hamstring injury.

“I dealt with the disappointment yesterday,” coach Kyle Shanahan said on Friday. “Finding out that it was negative today, I was glad for Kendrick and those guys. They don’t have to worry about at least being sick right now. We dealt with that yesterday. Part of this protocol, it’s part of everything. I know it’s frustrating, but it is what it is.

“That’s what everyone in this world’s got to deal with right now. They’re doing that for the safety. Unfortunately, it wasn’t necessary, but I get why it did happen. So, got to deal with it and we obviously dealt with that last night. So, hopefully, it won’t happen going forward.”

The 49ers were off over the weekend after the loss to Green Bay, though they had to continue COVID-19 testing over the weekend as part of the league’s protocol.

Elsewhere, the Niners also activated the 21-day practice window for cornerback Richard Sherman. Sherman has been on injured reserve since after a Week 1 loss to the Arizona Cardinals with a calf injury.

The team has three weeks to activate Sherman from injured reserve and bring him back to the active roster.

Was there a Bourne Protocol book or movie involving Jason Bourne?  The answer is – no, but there should be –

Written by Robert Ludlum

The Bourne Identity (1980)

The Bourne Supremacy (1986)

The Bourne Ultimatum (1990)

Written by Eric Van Lustbader

The Bourne Legacy (2004)

The Bourne Betrayal (2007)

The Bourne Sanction (2008)

The Bourne Deception (2009)

The Bourne Objective (2010)

The Bourne Dominion (2011)

The Bourne Imperative (2012)

The Bourne Retribution (2013)

The Bourne Ascendancy (2014)

The Bourne Enigma (2016)

The Bourne Initiative (2017)

The Bourne Nemesis (2019).

Written by Brian Freeman

The Bourne Evolution (2020)

Movie titles are boldfaced.

SEATTLE

The early returns are good on the acquisition of EDGE CARLOS DUNLAP from Cincinnati.  Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com:

Good franchises find ways to work the system.

Instead of giving up a fifth-round pick for Atlanta Falcons pass-rusher Takk McKinley — who has one sack on the season, is battling a groin issue and was waived by the team Monday — Seattle got the Cincinnati Bengals’ all-time sack leader for a seventh-round pick and a veteran salary dump.

Dunlap has 83.5 career sacks, and his three tackles for loss with a sack in his Seattle debut on Sunday reminded that his sluggish play this season was likely a byproduct of unhappiness in Cincinnati.

Seattle knew this, so the team asked him to take a pay cut, turning his $4.59 million of prorated salary owed into a flat $2 million, and it actually worked. The Seahawks moved a $5 million roster bonus into 2021 but can release Dunlap if the move doesn’t work out.

After moving center/guard B.J. Finney’s $1.3 million to Cincinnati, Seattle basically paid $700,000 to address a massive hole at pass rush — a minor investment for a championship-or-bust season. Even if Dunlap is slightly above average, the trade was worth making. Plus, there’s a good chance that Dunlap, 31, will be more productive than the most coveted free-agent pass-rusher in 2020, Jadeveon Clowney, who has no sacks in his first seven games with Tennessee.

“[Dunlap’s] production was down this year, and age is an issue, but he can still play, and his length will help them,” an NFL coordinator said. “Having one war daddy on one of the edges can really help them. The interior rotation isn’t bad, and [L.J.] Collier and [Benson] Mayowa are good rotational guys. They don’t have a special nickel cover guy. But there are enough pieces to improve later in the year.”

AFC WEST

DENVER

The rookie tight end known as ALBERT O is done for the year.  Mike Klis of Channel 4:

The Broncos have lost rookie tight end Albert Okwuegbunam for the rest of the season after an MRI exam Monday revealed a torn ACL in his right knee, sources told 9NEWS.

He suffered the injury while making a 7-yard catch to convert a third-and-6 late in the third quarter of the Broncos 34-27 loss Sunday to the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which has artificial turf.

Drafted in the fourth round out of Missouri, where he was a favorite red-zone target of quarterback Drew Lock, Okwuegbunam was inactive through the Broncos’ first four games, then started making contributions as a receiver in the next four. He was a huge contributor in the Broncos’ rally from 21 points down to defeat the Los Angeles Chargers, 31-30 last Sunday as he caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Lock, plus drew two pass interference penalties on the final, game-winning drive.

Okwuegbunam finishes his first year with 11 catches for 121 yards.

AFC NORTH

CINCINNATI

Covid alert!

Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Bengals added defensive tackle Margus Hunt to the COVID-19 reserve list Monday. He becomes the fifth player the Bengals have on the list.

Right tackle Fred Johnson, linebacker Jordan Evans and cornerbacks Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander also were placed on the list since Friday.

Johnson and Waynes reportedly tested positive. It’s unknown whether the others were deemed close contacts or tested positive themselves.

Johnson replaced Bobby Hart (knee) in the team’s Week 8 victory, with left tackle Jonah Williams (stinger) also sitting out that game.

In response to the positive COVID-19 tests, the Bengals took Monday off after their bye week. They will conduct a walkthrough Tuesday.

“We feel good about how we’ve handled the entire process, and our communication with the league has been great,” Taylor said Monday, via Geoff Hobson of the team website. “We just move forward every day. We know that these next eight weeks are going to be a challenge for the entire league. We just have to be willing to be flexible.”

PITTSBURGH

Covid alert!

Did the Steelers play TE VANCE McDONALD on Sunday while he had an active Covid case?  ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor:

Days after a staff member’s positive COVID-19 test, Pittsburgh Steelers’ tight end Vance McDonald has returned his own positive test.

The Steelers were informed of the positive test Monday morning, Steelers spokesperson Burt Lauten said in a statement.

McDonald immediately self-quarantined, Lauten said, and the team remains in the intensive COVID-19 protocol.

McDonald was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, per the NFL transactions wire. He was first added to the injury report with an ‘illness’ on Friday. He still traveled and played 24 snaps Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Steelers first entered the intensive protocol — which requires players to wear face coverings during practice, among other heightened measures to stop the spread of the virus — last week after Ravens defensive back Marlon Humphrey returned a positive test shortly after playing the Steelers.

In that situation, Humphrey was sent home from the Ravens’ team facility on the Wednesday before the Steelers’ game after he reported “cold symptoms.” He then returned to practice Thursday and Friday before playing in 100% of defensive snaps against the Steelers. The NFL has maintained there is no evidence of on-field transmission, and according to NextGen Stats, Humphrey never appeared to line up across from McDonald pre-snap.

AFC SOUTH

HOUSTON

NFL execs are puzzled why the Texans did not get anything done at the trade deadline.  Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com:

The Texans did a whole lot of talking behind the scenes but finalized just one minor move: defensive tackle Eli Ankou to the Dallas Cowboys for a seventh-rounder in 2022.

A team with a top-10 quarterback shouldn’t have to blow up the roster. Perhaps Houston can make a second-half push to .500, starting with Sunday’s win over Jacksonville as a springboard. But the word from execs through the trade deadline was that the Texans wanted too much for pieces such as Will Fuller V, a 2021 free agent.

Bill O’Brien’s purge of draft capital created urgency to try to get some back, but it appears that the Texans were so desperate to recoup the high picks they lost that they eschewed trying to get the best value for April.

None of the Texans’ eight draft picks in 2021 are in the first two rounds, and four of those eight are in the sixth or seventh rounds. That’s a problem.

“I really thought they were going to unload. Start the new coach off right with more draft picks,” an AFC exec said.

J.J. Watt, whose $17.5 million 2021 salary is not guaranteed, probably would have welcomed a chance to win elsewhere. Despite age (31) and durability concerns, he has value.

INDIANAPOLIS

DE DeFOREST BUCKNER has been a great acquisition for the Colts.  Jeremy Fowler ofESPN.com:

Colts GM Chris Ballard didn’t hesitate to give the San Francisco 49ers a first-round pick in exchange for Buckner and then sign the defensive lineman to a deal worth $21 million per year.

They believed he would help transform their defense, and Buckner has done just that. The Colts rank first in total defense and third in scoring defense, compared to 16th and 18th, respectively, a year ago.

“He uses size and leverage well, doesn’t make mistakes — he’s a true anchor,” an NFL coordinator said. “He won’t dominate from a sacks standpoint, but he does everything so well that you can build your defense around him.”

The 49es would have loved to keep Buckner — who has 28 tackles and 2.5 sacks this season — but couldn’t pay him and Arik Armstead, who’s the cheaper option at $17 million per year.

Buckner has thus far earned a stellar 86.3 Pro Football Focus ranking in the first year in his new uniform.

JACKSONVILLE

PK JOSH LAMBO proved his hip was fine by smashing a 59-yard FG against Houston.  Then he hurt it again trying to recover an onside kick and is done for the year.  Gary Smitts in the Florida Times-Union:

To paraphrase Dean Martin, the Jaguars’ final play on special teams Sunday was a real kick in the head.

All-Pro kicker Josh Lambo re-injured his left hip running over to help cover his onside kick attempt after the Jaguars had cut Houston’s lead to 27-25 with 1:27 left in the game at TIAA Bank Field, and has been placed on the injured reserve list for the second time this season — which means he is out for the year.

The team re-signed Aldrick Rosas to the practice squad on Monday, but he has two more weeks to serve on an NFL suspension for violation of the personal code of conduct. Rosas made four of five field-goal attempts for the Jags against Cincinnati on Oct. 4 – one of them from 50 yards out – but injured his groin and didn’t attempt another kick before he was cut on Nov. 2.

That means the Jags will need another kicker for Sunday’s game at Green Bay and the following week at home against Pittsburgh.

“We’re working on it,” coach Doug Marrone said.

Counting Lambo, the Jaguars have used five kickers this season. Rosas was the only one who was effective and the other three, Brandon Wright, Stephen Hauschka and Jon Brown, all missed either conversions or short field-goal attempts.

Lambo kicked two field goals on Sunday, including a 59-yarder on the last play of the first half that tied the franchise record set by Josh Scobee in 2010.

However, the only reason the Jags had to try an onside kick was because Lambo missed a conversion attempt in the second quarter. When rookie quarterback Jake Luton scored on a 13-yard run late in the game, the Jags had to attempt a two-point conversion instead of a kick to tie.

Luton’s two-point pass to D.J. Chark was incomplete and the Jags had to hope for an onside recovery.

Lambo tried an unconventional method, drop-kicking the ball. It bounced to the right and when Lambo raced over to the pile, he pulled up in pain and grabbed the area behind his left hip.

Lambo’s two field goals gave him a .950 percentage as a Jaguar, the best in the NFL over the last four seasons. He also has made 12 of 13 attempts of 50 yards or longer, and has never missed on an attempt of 40 yards or shorter.

However, Lambo missed his sixth conversion attempt, and his second this season. He has missed more conversions with the Jaguars (six) than field-goal attempts (four).

He tweeted on Monday to fans, “thanks as always for the love and support. I’ll be back for the ’21 season better than ever.”

Jaguars punter Logan Cooke has practiced placement kicks but last attempted a field goal or conversion in high school. Since he also kicks off, the issue becomes one of over-working his strong right leg.

In addition, the Jags would have to find a new holder. Cooke has held on every placement kick since his rookie season in 2018.

The Jaguars did like what they saw from QB JAKE LUTON against the Texans:

Marrone said Luton, who threw for 304 yards and one touchdown in his NFL debut, will play against the Packers.

“Gardner [Minshew] is progressing but it doesn’t seem like enough to be ready so Jake will play quarterback,” Marrone said.

Marrone said aside from issues with football and throwing the ball accurately on the run, he was pleased with Luton’s game.

“He’ll get better the more he plays,” Marrone said. “It was preseason game No. 1 as far as getting out there and going to play.” 

AFC EAST

BUFFALO

QB JOSH ALLEN’s grandmother passed away on the eve of his big game.  The people of Buffalo have responded to the news.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

Bills Mafia hasn’t been able to support the team in person this season at home games. But they have supported one of their own in a very big way.

Bills fans have given more than $100,000 to Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo since Sunday, in honor of Bills quarterback Josh Allen’s grandmother. Patricia Allen, 80, passed away on Saturday.

Josh decided to play, and he played very well in leading the Bills to a win over the Seahawks and Buffalo’s first 7-2 start since 1993.

Many fans have donated in $17 increments, since that’s the number Josh wears. But you don’t have to be a Bills fan to support Josh Allen, a great young quarterback and (based on our interactions with him) a great young man.

Click here and give $17.

It’s $17. That’s peanuts. If enough of you do it, it’s a giant pile of peanuts that will go great things for the hospital, and that will show Josh and his family that all football fans appreciate him.

MIAMI

WR PRESTON WILLIAMS is ailing.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

Dolphins wide receiver Preston Williams had a productive opening 20 minutes during Sunday’s win over the Cardinals, but he wasn’t around to build on it in the second half.

Williams caught four passes for 60 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown with just over 10 minutes to play in the second quarter. That turned out to be his final play as he limped off with a foot injury and returned to the locker room.

A foot sprain was diagnosed and head coach Brian Flores said on Monday that there has not been a timeline set for his return at this point.

“We’ll evaluate it day to day,” Flores said, via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “He’s a tough kid. We’ll try to fight through things and see how that goes.”

A Cardinals defender grabbed Williams’ foot as he leaped into the end zone, but there was some thought that he was hurt during the celebration when defensive tackle Christian Wilkins jumped on him. Flores said it looked “like it was during the play” and the team will have to wait to see if Williams will be available either way.

NEW ENGLAND

The Governor of Massachusetts has ordered the Patriots to keep their stadium empty the rest of the season.  The AP:

Team officials said Monday they had been informed that an executive order from Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker prohibiting large-capacity venues from opening to the public will remain in force for the remainder of the 2020 NFL season and the pro soccer season.

Judging Week 9 NFL overreactions: Are the Bills legit? Is Dalvin Cook the best RB?

Stadium officials and Kraft Sports Entertainment tried to develop a plan to safely host a reduced number of fans that complies with guidelines issued by the CDC, the National Football League and Major League Soccer. But rising cases in the state forced the extension of the clampdown.

THIS AND THAT

POWER RANKINGS

Frank Schwab of YahooSports.com has his weekly rankings, working upwards to the Chiefs:

32. New York Jets (0-9, Last Week: 32)

In the big picture, it’s not the worst thing for the Jets to lose all their games. That said, what an awful, awful loss that was to the Patriots.

31. Dallas Cowboys (2-7, LW: 31)

At least the Cowboys played some competitive football. The Cowboys are already pessimistic about having Andy Dalton back this week, but Garrett Gilbert can keep the offense moving a little bit until Dalton returns.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-7, LW: 30)

Jake Luton was pretty good for a rookie making his first start, throwing for 304 yards and a touchdown. It seems unlikely he’d play so well the rest of the season that he’d change any plans the Jaguars have to draft a quarterback in the first round, but he’s off to a good start.

29. Washington Football Team (2-6, LW: 27)

Alex Smith was a great story when he made his first NFL appearance this season, but he looked like a quarterback who couldn’t play anymore. Smith looked a lot better on Sunday when he came in for Kyle Allen, two late interceptions aside. Sunday was not a good result for Washington, but even at 2-6 it’s still right in the NFC East race.

28. New York Giants (2-7, LW: 29)

Alfred Morris had one carry in 2019, with the Cardinals. He’s 32 years old and hadn’t been a regular starter since 2015. That’s the profile of a player who quietly fades away from the NFL. Most fans were probably shocked to hear his name when the Giants played the Buccaneers on Monday night in Week 8. But Morris has 95 yards on 17 carries in spot duty the past two games. It’s a fun, unexpected story.

27. Detroit Lions (3-5, LW: 23)

Sunday was probably the last relevant game Matt Patricia coaches for the Lions. The more intriguing question will be what happens with Matthew Stafford. He threw two awful picks on Sunday and hasn’t been near the quarterback he was for the first half of last season. He’d still presumably get plenty of interest on the trade market. But trading Stafford, one of the few reasons the Lions aren’t down in these rankings with the Cowboys and Jets, is starting a multi-year rebuild and would make the job a much tougher sell to a new coach. It’ll be a challenging offseason in Detroit.

26. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4-1, LW: 28)

Next up, the Eagles play at a feisty Giants team. Don’t forget, the Giants should have beat the Eagles earlier this season, New York just blew it in the final minutes. It would be very 2020 NFC East to see the Giants win that game and tighten up the divisional race.

25. Houston Texans (2-6, LW: 26)

J.J. Watt got his 100th career sack in his 120th game. Only Reggie White, Lawrence Taylor, DeMarcus Ware and Bruce Smith got to No. 100 faster. That’s a heck of a list.

24. Denver Broncos (3-5, LW: 18)

One of the bright spots of Sunday’s loss was rookie receiver Jerry Jeudy. He went for seven catches, 125 yards and a touchdown in a long-awaited breakout. The Broncos season likely isn’t going anywhere, but progress from their young players would be something positive for the offseason.

23. Los Angeles Chargers (2-6, LW: 22)

On the bright side, every gut-punch loss is going to move the Chargers up in the draft order. It feels like the Chargers — who should add Derwin James back to the defense next year — are one great draft class from making things interesting with the Chiefs in the AFC West. Justin Herbert’s fantastic play should accelerate the Chargers’ plans.

22. Carolina Panthers (3-6, LW: 20)

The crazy thing about Joey Slye’s 67-yard field goal attempt to beat the Chiefs is it had the distance, it just drifted wide to the right. That was a better percentage play than a Hail Mary pass and the right call, even if it didn’t work. The NFL isn’t much for moral victories, but taking the Chiefs down to the wire is a sign that the Panthers are on the right track.

21. Atlanta Falcons (3-6, LW: 24)

The Takk McKinley situation was messy. You don’t like sending a message that you can pout your way out of town, but keeping McKinley around was the much worse option. His lack of production wasn’t worth the headache anymore.

20. New England Patriots (3-5, LW: 21)

Jakobi Meyers’ breakout is the kind of thing the Patriots need. He caught 12 passes for 169 yards in Monday night’s comeback win. He was the Patriots’ best player.

19. San Francisco 49ers (4-5, LW: 17)

It’s hard to even do a fair analysis of the 49ers. Their lineup last week against the Packers didn’t even resemble what they should be playing. Injuries and now COVID-19 issues have ravaged the roster. It looks like a lost season.

18. Cincinnati Bengals (2-5-1, LW: 19)

The Bengals face the Steelers next. It’s a matchup of an offensive line that might be the NFL’s worst against a pass rush that could be the NFL’s best. Consider it a win if Joe Burrow comes out of this one upright.

17. Minnesota Vikings (3-5, LW: 25)

The Vikings might be better than the 3-5 record indicates. They have been better lately. And nobody has been hotter than Dalvin Cook. Maybe this is a team that gets on a roll in the second half of the season.

16. Chicago Bears (5-4, LW: 15)

The Bears had one run longer than 6 yards on Sunday, and it was from outside linebacker on Barkevious Mingo on a fake punt. The Bears offense is impossibly bad.

15. Cleveland Browns (5-3, LW: 14)

Nick Chubb’s return is huge for the Browns. The strength of that team is its unique 1-2 punch at running back, and Chubb and Kareem Hunt should both put up good numbers the rest of the season.

14. Arizona Cardinals (5-3, LW: 12)

Kyler Murray’s 106-yard rushing day puts him on pace for some history. Murray is on pace for 1,086 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. Mike Vick and Lamar Jackson are the only quarterbacks to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Cam Newton holds the single-season record for a quarterback with 14 rushing touchdowns.

13. Miami Dolphins (5-3, LW: 16)

Emmanuel Ogbah had a strip-sack of Kyler Murray, which was scooped up and returned for a touchdown by Shaq Lawson. That play turned out to be a big one in a close win. Ogbah has at least a half-sack in every game since being shut out in the season opener, and has been a home-run addition for the Dolphins.

12. Las Vegas Raiders (5-3, LW: 13)

Derek Carr had another good game. People will still want him benched when he has his next bad game, and everyone will speculate all offseason who the Raiders will get to replace Carr, but the NFL’s most disrespected quarterback deserves better.

11. Indianapolis Colts (5-3, LW: 10)

A team with an offensive line like the Colts have shouldn’t struggle to run the ball. Yet, the Colts are 23rd in rushing yards and 31st in rushing yards per attempt. When the Colts can’t run the ball, it puts more pressure on Philip Rivers to carry the offense, and that’s not Indianapolis’ best formula.

10. Los Angeles Rams (5-3, LW: 11)

The Rams have given up fewer than 300 yards and 20 first downs in four of their last five games. This has quietly been one of the NFL’s best defenses, and this week brings a fun matchup against the Seahawks.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3, LW: 4)

OK, let’s take a breath. It was one game. A truly horrendous game, and we might look back at that is as a warning that the Bucs’ promising start was totally fraudulent. But I doubt that. It’s easy to overreact when it comes to the NFL, and I’m willing to just bang the gong on that game for the Bucs and move on. They’re still one of the NFC’s best teams. I think.

8. Seattle Seahawks (6-2, LW: 3)

Not the first time it has been said in this space, but the Seahawks pass defense is a problem. Pete Carroll was shocked the Bills came out passing, and the most shocking thing about that is Carroll didn’t see it coming. He better get used to it; every future opponent will be passing as often as they can.

7. Buffalo Bills (7-2, LW: 9)

After a few weeks of uninspiring performances, that was the best Bills win of the season. They torched the Seahawks and the defense made plays against Russell Wilson. The trick for the Bills is keeping up this level. The Dolphins are lurking in the division.

6. Tennessee Titans (6-2, LW: 7)

The Titans’ game against the Colts is the rare Thursday night matchup that has huge playoff implications. One of those teams is going to win the AFC South, and the winner on Thursday will take a huge lead in the race.

5. New Orleans Saints (6-2, LW: 8)

There were games this season in which the Saints did not look great. Go back and watch the Chargers game, or the Bears game, and you don’t see a Super Bowl contender. But Sunday night erased those questions. That was as dominant of a performance as you’ll ever see against a good NFL team.

4. Green Bay Packers (6-2, LW: 6)

The Packers had a huge week. Not only did they get a win on the road, the Seahawks and Buccaneers lost. The Saints won, but the Packers have the tiebreaker over them (before we crown the Saints, let’s remember the Packers handled them in New Orleans). There’s only one bye in each conference in the reconfigured playoffs, and the Packers are looking good to get it.

3. Baltimore Ravens (6-2, LW: 5)

The Ravens have won six games. Five of those six wins have come by at least 14 points. It seems like this Ravens team is having a hard time finding itself, but they’ve still won most of their games by two touchdowns or more. Don’t be fooled, there’s a championship ceiling with this team.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-0, LW: 2)

The Steelers have had plenty of weird road losses against bad teams through the Mike Tomlin era. Barely beating a terrible Cowboys team won’t earn any style points, but nobody will be counting style points when the AFC North champion is decided.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (8-1, LW: 1)

We have to remember that all NFL teams are capable. Well, most of them are. Sure, the Chiefs didn’t blow out the Panthers. But they won. There’s no reason to question how good the Chiefs are just because they played a close game against a competent team.

You can compare and contrast with the rankings of Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com:

1  STEELERS  

It wasn’t pretty against the Cowboys. But good teams find ways to win games like that, and they did. They are 8-0 for the first time in their history.     No change     8-0

2  CHIEFS       

They haven’t even hit their stride yet, which is scary for the rest of the league. They made it interesting against the Panthers with a defensive regression.         No change         8-1

3  RAVENS      

That team that showed up in the second half against the Colts is the one we expected to see this season. Maybe that will get the offense cranked up.         +2        6-2

4  SAINTS       

That beating of the Bucs shows what they are capable of when healthy. They are good on both lines – and that matters.                                                   +6       6-2

5  BILLS          

Josh Allen showed against the Seahawks that he wasn’t an early-season fluke. He was special against Seattle, but the Bills defense still has issues.       +1        7-2

6  PACKERS    

They beat up on a depleted San Francisco team and hold a command of the division race. The offense has been special.                                                 +2      6-2

7  BUCCANEERS         

That was an embarrassing beatdown by the Saints. So much for being the favorite in the conference.                                                                        -3    6-3

8  SEAHAWKS 

The defense is terrible right now. That puts way too much pressure on Russell Wilson and the offense.                                                                                -5  6-2

9  TITANS        

The defense played a little better against the Bears, which is progress. That unit has to continue to grow with a key game against the Colts Thursday night.    +2        6-2

10   RAIDERS  

Give Jon Gruden credit. They’ve won two straight road games to get to 5-3 and in the playoff hunt. The defense still needs to get better.       +2        5-3

11  DOLPHINS 

It’s probably shocking to see them here. But they’ve earned it. Brian Flores has done a wonderful job with this team and Tua Tagovailoa gives them playoff hope.    +2        5-3

12  COLTS       

The offense didn’t do enough against the Ravens. But the defense continues to be a strong unit that is good enough to carry them to the postseason.       -5         5-3

13   CARDINALS          

We know the offense can score. But the defense has to be better. Losing to Miami at home is not a good look, even if Miami is improved.                              -4      5-3

14   BROWNS  

They come off their bye with Baker Mayfield on the COVID list. That’s never a good thing. 

                                                                                       No change  5-3

15   RAMS       

They come off their bye with a huge division game against Seattle. Jared Goff was awful in his last game at Miami before the bye. He has to get it going.       No change 5-3

16   BEARS     

They have crashed back to reality after the fast start. The offense struggled for most of the Tennessee game against a bad defense, which is an indictment of this offense.     No change 5-4

17   PATRIOTS

It wasn’t a thing of art against the Jets, but they broke their four-game losing streak. Now comes a home game against the Ravens.                                                           +6     3-5

18  FALCONS  

They have really turned things around under Raheem Morris. Is he earning a real shot to keep the job? It looks that way.                                                              +8               3-6

19  VIKINGS    

They have won two straight games and at 3-5 they have a soft schedule the next few weeks. Can they get back into playoff contention?                                                    +5              3-5

20  PANTHERS

Matt Rhule has this young team headed in the right direction for the future. It’s too bad Christian McCaffrey is out again.                                                                   No change    3-6

21  EAGLES    

They come off their bye in first place and getting healthier. They are the clear favorites in the NFC East now.                                                                                         +2 3-4-1

22  LIONS        

So much for the idea they could push for playoff spot. Losing like they did against the Vikings is not a good thing for Matt Patricia’s future.                                         -4    3-5

23  TEXANS    

They won at Jacksonville, but barely winning against a first-time rookie starter isn’t something to brag about. They aren’t good at all on defense.        +6     2-6

24   BRONCOS

The good news against Atlanta is that Drew Lock continued to make progress. The bad news is that it came in a loss.     -3         3-5

25   CHARGERS          

Once again, they lost a close game. It never changes, only the script to get there.   -3       2-6

26  BENGALS  

They come off their bye with a tough game against the Steelers on the road. Joe Burrow was hot before the bye, but it will be tough going against that defense.       -1        2-5-1

27  49ERS       

They just don’t have enough good players anymore. As good as Kyle Shanahan is as coach, he can’t fix this.     -10        4-5

28  COWBOYS 

They showed well against the Steelers in a tough loss, but they are undermanned and it shows. Even so, Jerry Jones says Mike McCarthy will be back.   No change         2-7

29  GIANTS      They are in the thick of the division race. Can you believe that’s true? They are playing hard every week with a big game against the Eagles this week.      +1        2-7

30  WASHINGTON

They will now have to play Alex Smith at quarterback. It’s a great story, but it’s probably not what they wanted.      -3         2-6

31  JAGUARS  

Jake Luton did some good things to give them hope going forward. Now comes a stiff road test against the Packers.      No change         1-7

32  JETS         

They had the Patriots beat. But in typical Jets fashion they blew it. At least Trevor Lawrence is still waiting. No Change 0-9