NFL Power Rankings - Week 10: Every team's most important remaining game
The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.
With eight weeks left in the season, we identify the biggest game left on every team's schedule.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (8-1)
David Eulitt / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 2
Week 11 at Raiders: The Chiefs have upcoming road games against the Saints and Bucs remaining, but a post-bye meeting with Vegas is their most crucial. Getting revenge over the Raiders is an important step in Kansas City's hunt for the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-0)Previous Rank: 1
Week 12 vs. Ravens: It doesn't get any better than Steelers-Ravens. A perfect record, first-round bye, and the division title are among the things potentially on the line in two weeks.
3. New Orleans Saints (6-2)Previous Rank: 9
Week 14 at Eagles: The most difficult stretch of games on New Orleans' schedule is over, so a late-season victory over an Eagles team with a lot to play for would give Sean Payton's squad the edge in the race for the NFC's top seed.
4. Baltimore Ravens (6-2)Previous Rank: 5
Week 12 at Steelers: This one's fairly obvious. Baltimore appears locked into a playoff spot regardless, but a rematch with Pittsburgh could also impact the AFC North race. Few remaining games for any franchise have greater postseason ramifications.
5. Green Bay Packers (6-2)
Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 6
Week 17 at Bears: The battle for the NFC's No. 1 record is likely to come down to the wire, and a victory in the final week over their bitter rivals would put the Packers in a good spot.
6. Buffalo Bills (7-2)Previous Rank: 8
Week 17 vs. Dolphins: Sorry, Bills Mafia, but your club doesn't appear likely to catch Pittsburgh or Kansas City for the AFC's top two seeds. Fear not, as a win over the streaking Dolphins in the season finale would likely clinch Buffalo's first division title since 1995.
7. Seattle Seahawks (6-2)Previous Rank: 3
Week 11 vs. Cardinals: Seattle's second-half schedule doesn't appear particularly frightening, so a rebound win over the Cardinals would go a long way in a fight for the NFC West crown and the conference's No. 1 seed.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3)Previous Rank: 4
Week 11 vs. Rams: The NFC's fifth seed is a coveted spot this year, as the holder receives a date with the NFC East champion. It's a winnable playoff game, to say the least, and a victory over the Rams would likely see Tampa emerge as the favorites for the matchup.
9. Tennessee Titans (6-2)
Frederick Breedon / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 10
Week 12 at Colts: It's fairly simple for Mike Vrabel. Only Tennessee and the Colts are in contention for the AFC South crown with eight weeks to go, and a road win over the division rival would go a long way in solidifying its current spot.
10. Miami Dolphins (5-3)Previous Rank: 15
Week 16 at Raiders: Miami stands a legitimate chance of staying hot with upcoming matchups against the Chargers, Broncos, Jets, and Bengals. However, with a number of clubs in the playoff hunt, more than just playoff seeding could be on the line versus the Raiders.
11. Arizona Cardinals (5-3)Previous Rank: 7
Week 11 at Seahawks: While a handful of NFC clubs have wild-card aspirations, Kyler Murray and Arizona can dream bigger. A win over Seattle next Thursday - remember, they already have one from Week 7 - would put the Cardinals in excellent position to capture the NFC West title with winnable matchups down the stretch.
12. Las Vegas Raiders (5-3)Previous Rank: 12
Week 16 vs. Dolphins: The AFC playoff race is as competitive as it's been in recent years, so Vegas' season may be on the line in this pivotal late-season meeting. Jon Gruden versus Brian Flores will be fun to watch, too.
13. Indianapolis Colts (5-3)
Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 11
Week 12 vs. Titans: Either game against the Titans can be listed here, but the AFC South front-runner will likely be decided in the latter of the two matchups. A pivotal home game in January is up for grabs.
14. Los Angeles Rams (5-3)Previous Rank: 13
Week 13 at Cardinals: It's no secret the NFC West features three strong teams with playoff aspirations, so the Rams have a tough second half incoming. However, Sean McVay's meeting with Kliff Kingsbury in three weeks has serious postseason ramifications.
15. Cleveland Browns (5-3)Previous Rank: 16
Week 13 at Titans: Currently sitting just outside the postseason bubble, the Browns' tilt against Tennessee represents both their toughest game outside the division and a meeting with another franchise fighting for its playoff life.
16. San Francisco 49ers (4-5)Previous Rank: 14
Week 10 at Saints: Plagued with injuries but not quite bad enough to compete for a high draft slot, the Niners have one more matchup before their bye. After that, a handful of players could return for the stretch run.
17. Chicago Bears (5-4)
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious Rank: 17
Week 12 at Packers: Sure, Chicago's upcoming game against the Vikings feels like a must-win before a Week 11 bye, but this rivalry showdown will be just as crucial. Lose, and Matt Nagy can likely kiss playoff hopes - and his job - goodbye.
18. Carolina Panthers (3-6)Previous Rank: 20
Week 10 vs. Buccaneers: Sunday represents a crucial day for first-year head coach Matt Rhule. The Panthers have looked solid despite a four-game losing streak, and a contest against a reeling Bucs squad could be just what the doctor ordered to get back on track.
19. Minnesota Vikings (3-5)Previous Rank: 22
Week 14 at Buccaneers: Don't look now, but the Vikings aren't out of the playoff hunt just yet. Winnable games versus Chicago, Dallas, Carolina, and Jacksonville are up next, leaving the late-season tilt with Tampa Bay an important one.
20. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4-1)Previous Rank: 19
Week 17 vs. Washington: Philadelphia is currently in first place in the NFC East, but hiccups are sure to come with matchups against the Saints, Seahawks, and Packers remaining. This bizarre division is likely to be decided in the final week.
21. New England Patriots (3-5)
Boston Globe / Boston Globe / GettyPrevious Rank: 21
Week 10 vs. Ravens: Bill Belichick must begin stringing together wins if the Patriots are going to make a run at the postseason. This matchup will determine which direction New England is headed. It's also fitting that Belichick's most important game remaining is his next one.
22. Atlanta Falcons (3-6)Previous Rank: 28
Week 11 at Saints: Are the Falcons truly gunning for a playoff spot amid a brief winning streak, or should this team focus on earning as high a draft pick as possible? We'll find out after this week's bye.
23. Cincinnati Bengals (2-5-1)Previous Rank: 25
Week 10 at Steelers: The Bengals are in a good spot coming off a bye and a win over the Titans the week prior. Joe Burrow leads an exciting turnaround in Cincinnati, and his play Sunday against the Steelers may determine how high his ceiling is.
24. Denver Broncos (3-5)Previous Rank: 18
Week 16 at Chargers: Vic Fangio may be on the hot seat. The Broncos' end-of-season slate looks brutal, and a loss to the Chargers could force John Elway to head in another direction.
25. Detroit Lions (3-5)
Hannah Foslien / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 23
Week 17 vs. Vikings: A season finale against the Vikings will have ramifications impacting Detroit's draft positioning and Matt Patricia's job security.
26. Houston Texans (2-6)Previous Rank: 26
Week 16 vs. Bengals: Sorry, Texans fans, but your club has very little to play for as 2020 winds down. Without a first- or second-round pick, Houston will try to string together victories to justify its offseason moves. The simplest matchup on paper comes at home to Cincinnati.
27. Los Angeles Chargers (2-6)Previous Rank: 27
Week 10 at Dolphins: This week's contest is crucial on a number of levels. The Chargers are losers in six of their last seven games, and as a result, Anthony Lynn's fate as head coach could be decided against Miami - even if he isn't immediately fired. We'd also love to see how Justin Herbert fares versus one of the league's premier defenses.
28. New York Giants (2-7)Previous Rank: 30
Week 10 vs. Eagles: Amazingly, the Giants still have life. Unlike the other teams in the NFL's worst division, we'll know exactly where New York stands after this Sunday. You can all but count out Joe Judge's squad if it suffers a second loss to Philly.
29. Washington Football Team (2-6)
Greg Fiume / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 24
Week 17 at Eagles: Let's be honest - games outside the NFC East matter little for Washington. Philadelphia has a tough remaining schedule, so the division crown will likely be be up for grabs in the season's final week.
30. Dallas Cowboys (2-7)Previous Rank: 29
Week 16 vs. Eagles: Despite their recent (humiliating) struggles, the Cowboys aren't out of the NFC East race just yet with Andy Dalton set to return sooner rather than later. However, a loss against the rival Eagles would officially close the book on a disastrous campaign.
31. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-7)Previous Rank: 31
Week 17 at Colts: Jacksonville appears to be the only legitimate threat to the Jets for next year's No. 1 overall pick. Even if New York clinches the spot, the Jaguars can lock up the second selection with a road loss to Indy.
32. New York Jets (0-9)Previous Rank: 32
Week 16 vs. Browns: With the Dolphins, Raiders, Seahawks, and Rams featuring on New York's late-season schedule, Adam Gase's squad (well, until he gets fired) could lock up the first overall pick by Week 16. Trevor Lawrence is within reach, so losing has never been more important.
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