For the first time all season, the No. 1 spot on the RADIO.COM NFL Power Rankings was up for grabs.
Last week's No. 1 team, the San Francisco 49ers, lost on Monday Night Football 27-24 to the Seattle Seahawks, in what may have been the best game of the 2019 season. The Seahawks manned the fifth spot on last week's rankings.
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints were shockingly blown out at home by the Atlanta Falcons, pushing them both out of the No. 2 spot and the discussion for the new No. 1.
Ultimately, it came down to the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens for the top spot, with the two teams just two weeks removed from a Sunday Night Football showdown.
Here's a look at this week's RADIO.COM NFL Power Rankings:
1. Baltimore Ravens (Last Week: No. 4)
Lamar Jackson is an MVP favorite.(Joseph Maiorana/USA Today)Over the past two weeks, the Ravens have upset the previously undefeated New England Patriots and blown out the Cincinnati Bengals, who remains winless. Lamar Jackson is playing at a Michael Vick-type level - perhaps even better - and is at the top of the NFL MVP discussion.
2. New England Patriots (Last Week: No. 3)
Tom Brady and the Patriots are coming off their bye week.(Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)The Patriots will return from their bye week in Week 10, after being blown out by the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football two weeks ago. They're 8-1, but their previously dominant defense allowed 37 points to the Ravens in Week 9, and they seem to lack an explosive offensive playmaker. They need to - and probably will - make a statement in Philadelphia.
3. Green Bay Packers (Last Week: No. 6)
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers defeated the Panthers in Week 10.(Dylan Buell/Getty Images)After a surprising loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 9, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers bounced back in Week 10 for a 24-16 win over the Carolina Panthers at a snowy Lambeau Field. They are 8-2, and in the thick of the race for one of the two first-round byes in the NFC playoffs.
4. Seattle Seahawks (Last Week: No. 5)
Russell Wilson and the Seahawks defeated the previously undefeated 49ers.(Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)Though it took a missed field goal attempt by Chase McLaughlin, the Seahawks overcame Russell Wilson being picked off in overtime to defeat the previously undefeated San Francisco 49ers. At 8-2, the Seahawks are very much in the discussion for one of the top two seeds in the NFC and Russell Wilson is at the forefront of the NFL MVP race. What's scary is that for as much as made about the home-field advantage at CenturyLink Field, the Seahawks are now 5-0 on the road in 2019.
5. San Francisco 49ers (Last Week: No. 1)
The 49ers suffered their first loss of the 2019 season in Week 10.(Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)Perhaps if Robbie Gould was healthy, the 49ers would be 9-0 right now. Instead, after he drilled a kick to send them to overtime, rookie kicker Chase McLaughlin missed the potential game-winning field goal in the 49ers eventual overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10. At 8-1, the 49ers are still in first place in the NFC West and control their own destiny in terms of landing the No. 1 spot in the NFC. But even with a defense that often looks historically dominant, there were moments Monday night where you wondered if Jimmy Garoppolo is up to the task of going blow-for-blow with some of the game's elite quarterbacks.
6. New Orleans Saints (Last Week: No. 2)
Drew Brees and the Saints suffered a bad loss in Week 10.(Sean Gardner/Getty Images)Had they won in Week 10, the Saints likely would have assumed the top spot in this week's power rankings. Instead, Drew Brees was sacked six times in an ugly 26-9 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, who had previously won just one game in 2019. The guess here is that it was a one-off loss to a Falcons team that was coming off the bye and energized by having a new defensive play-caller. The Saints will look to rebound in Tampa Bay in Week 11.
7. Minnesota Vikings (Last Week: No. 9)
Dalvin Cook and the Vikings defeated the Cowboys in Dallas.(Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Without three starters, the Vikings went into Dallas and defeated the Cowboys 28-24 on Sunday Night Football in Week 10 to move to 7-3. They'll face a bigger test in Week 13 when they travel to Seattle, but before that they'll host the Denver Broncos and have their bye week. If they can leapfrog the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North, the Vikings are still in the discussion for a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs.
8. Kansas City Chiefs (Last Week: No. 8)
The Chiefs lost in Patrick Mahomes' return.(Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)Patrick Mahomes was a superstar in his return, throwing for 446 yards and three touchdowns. He set the Chiefs up to hit a game-tying field goal as time expired, though Harrison Butker's attempt was ultimately blocked. While it did appear that the Titans were offsides on the blocked attempt, it ultimately wasn't called. More concerning from a long-term perspective is that the Chiefs continue to get gashed on the ground, as they allowed Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill to rush for 225 yards combined in Week 10.
9. Houston Texans (Last Week: No. 10)
Deshaun Watson and the Texans are in control of the AFC South.(Martin Leitch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Deshaun Watson and the Texans return from their bye week in control of the top spot in the AFC South after consecutive losses by the Indianapolis Colts. We'll have a better idea if they're a legitimate threat in the AFC as a whole after Week 11, when they play Lamar Jackson and the Ravens in Baltimore.
10. Carolina Panthers (Last Week: No. 13)
Kyle Allen nearly led the Panthers back from a 14-point deficit in Green Bay.(Stacy Revere/Getty Images)In one of the best games of the 2019 season, the Panthers came inches away from forcing a two-point conversion attempt to potentially send their matchup with the Green Bay Packers to overtime. Ultimately, Christian McCaffrey was stopped just shy of the goal line, but he still ran for 108 yards and added in six catches to continue what's been a miraculous season. Kyle Allen needs to curtail his fumbling issues, but it says something that he nearly led the team back from a 14-point deficit against one of the best teams in the NFL.
11. Dallas Cowboys (Last Week: No. 11)
Dak Prescott and the Cowboys are 5-4.(Tom Pennington/Getty Images)Even after a loss on Sunday Night Football to the Minnesota Vikings, the 5-4 Cowboys still own a tiebreaker over the Philadelphia Eagles, who they defeated in Week 7, in the NFC East. While their next two matchups - in Detroit and in New England - don't seem favorable, the Eagles will host the Patriots and Seattle Seahawks the next two weeks. The NFC East may come down to who can win the Week 16 matchup between the Cowboys and Eagles in Philadelphia.
12. Los Angeles Rams (Last Week: No. 7)
Jared Goff and the Rams have disappointed in 2019.(Harry How/Getty Images)With the amount of talent on their roster, it feels hard to imagine the Rams having fallen this far. But they're 5-4, which makes a path to usurping the Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings hard to envision. And unlike the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, the Rams are essentially out of their division race at 5-4.
13. Philadelphia Eagles (Last Week: No. 14)
Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard may have to carry the Eagles to the postseason.(Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)Though the focus on the Eagles is often on quarterback Carson Wentz, with DeSean Jackson likely out for the season and Alshon Jeffery having taken a noticeable step back, the Eagles best path to the postseason may be leaning on the running back tandem of Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard. At 5-4, the Eagles playoff hopes are very much alive in a weak NFC East, but they have their work cut out over the next two weeks, as they'll host the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.
14. Oakland Raiders (Last Week: No. 16)
Derek Carr has had a bounce-back season in 2019 for the Raiders.(Kyle Terada/USA Today)The Raiders are 5-4, which is nothing short of remarkable when you consider they had arguably the most tumultuous preseason in NFL history dealing with Antonio Brown, and are relocating after 2019. Jon Gruden deserves serious consideration for the Coach of the Year, and Derek Carr has had quite the bounce-back, as he's thrown for 14 touchdowns and just four interceptions.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers (Last Week: No. 19)
Minkah Fitzpatrick and the Steelers are on a roll.(Joe Sargent/Getty Images)With four consecutive victories, the Steelers have clawed their way back into the AFC Wild Card picture at 5-4. While their offense certainly appears to have a ceiling right now, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Devin Bush and T.J. Watt lead what's been an opportunistic defense the past month. The Steelers have a chance to stick a fork in the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football this week.
16. Buffalo Bills (Last Week: No. 15)
The Bills have lost two of their last three games.(Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)This sentiment was overheard in the RADIO.COM offices last week; "The Bills are the worst 6-2 team in NFL history." Whether that's the case or not, they've now lost two of their last three. For as stout as their defense is, they're averaging just 19.3 points-per-game in 2019. With that type of offensive output, you're going to have a ceiling, and the Bills appear to be hitting it.
17. Tennessee Titans (Last Week: No. 22)
Ryan Tannehill has had a strong showing since taking over as Titans starter.(Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)Ryan Tannehill and the Titans held on by the skin of their teeth to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 35-32. Tannehill didn't exactly go throw-for-throw with Patrick Mahomes, but he did throw for two touchdowns and run for 37 yards. Quietly, the Titans are 5-5, and 3-1 since Tannehill replaced Marcus Mariota as the team's starting quarterback. If Cam Newton or Philip Rivers don't become options for the Titans this offseason, it's not hard to imagine them entering 2020 with Tannehill as their starting quarterback.
18. Indianapolis Colts (Last Week: No. 12)
Brian Hoyer and the Colts have lost in consecutive weeks.(Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)There's only so many times you can say "next man up." Without quarterback Jacoby Brissett and wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, the Colts have lost back-to-back games. Their next three games are divisional matchups, starting in Week 11, when they'll host the Jacksonville Jaguars.
19. Chicago Bears (Last Week: No. 23)
Mitchell Trubisky led the Bears to a win in Week 10.(David Banks/Getty Images)Though it continues to feel difficult to imagine Mitchell Trubisky starting for the Bears for another season, he tossed three touchdowns in a 20-13 win over the Matthew Stafford-less Detroit Lions in Week 10. Still, the Bears are just 4-5 and have a date in Los Angeles against the Rams in Week 11 as they look to climb back into the postseason race.
20. Detroit Lions (Last Week: No. 17)
The Lions lost to the Bears in Week 10.(David Banks/Getty Images)While the Lions have been a very competitive team in 2019, they're now 3-5-1 and in last place in the NFC North after losing 20-13 to the division-rival Chicago Bears in Week 10. As the Lions get ready to host the Dallas Cowboys, it's unclear what the status of quarterback Matthew Stafford is, after a back injury forced the 31-year-old to miss his first game since 2010.
21. Jacksonville Jaguars (Last Week: No. 18)
Nick Foles will return for the Jaguars this week.(James Gilbert/Getty Images)Given what he did as a late-season replacement for an injured Carson Wentz in Philadelphia the past two weeks, would it really be that surprising if Nick Foles found a way to lead the 4-5 Jaguars to the postseason? As he returns from a broken collarbone that he suffered in Week 1, Foles has his work cut out for him, but these are the types of moments he's typically thrived in.
22. Arizona Cardinals (Last Week: No. 20)
Kyler Murray has had a strong rookie season.(Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)The Cardinals 3-6-1 record isn't inspiring on the surface, but four of their six losses have come by a touchdown or less. Considering they were the worst team in the sport a year ago, how competitive they've been in 2019 is very encouraging for their future. Though he had a bad turnover in the fourth quarter of the team's Week 10 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kyler Murray has thrown just five picks in his rookie season. Both he and head coach Kliff Klingsbury have had strong rookie seasons.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Last Week: No. 24)
Jameis Winston's 2019 season has been a mixed bag.(Will Vragovic/Getty Images)Week 10 was peak Jameis Winston. The former No. 1 overall pick threw for 358 yards in the Buccaneers first home win of the 2019 season, but he also threw two interceptions. Winston has been picked off an NFL-leading 14 times, which leads you to think the team may go in another direction at the conclusion of the season, when his rookie contract expires. However, while it wouldn't be difficult to find a quarterback that manages the game better than Winston, it may be a tougher task to find an option that has as much upside as Winston does when he's locked in.
24. Los Angeles Chargers (Last Week: No. 21)
After winning 12 games in 2018, the Chargers have floundered in 2019.(Kirby Lee/USA Today)After the Chargers upset the Green Bay Packers in Week 9 for their second consecutive win, it felt like they may go on a second-half run. Instead, they dealt with a week of rumors about potential relocation to London, and lost by two points to the division-rival Raiders to fall to 4-6. Philip Rivers is going to turn 38 next month, and has been picked off 10 times in 2019. Expect speculation about his future with the Chargers to continue to grow louder if this turns out to be a lost season for the team.
25. Cleveland Browns (Last Week: No. 26)
Kareem Hunt returned from his suspension in Week 10.(Jason Miller/Getty Images)The Browns edged out a 19-16 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 10, but their offense is far from the explosive unit that many thought it would be prior to the season. Odell Beckham Jr. is averaging just 70.2 receiving yards per game, which doesn't reflect well on embattled head coach Freddie Kitchens. Of note, though, is that Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt combined for 147 rushing yards in Week 10. The best path to Kitchens saving his job may be to lean on his two star running backs.
26. Atlanta Falcons (Last Week: No. 28)
The Falcons defense shut the Saints down in a Week 10 upset.(Sean Gardner/Getty Images)It may have just been a blip on the radar of an otherwise disastrous season, but in Jeff Ulbrich's first game as Falcons defensive coordinator, Drew Brees was sacked six times and the New Orleans Saints didn't score a touchdown. The Falcons are still only 2-7 in 2019, but their 26-9 upset over the Saints in New Orleans was a welcome development as Dan Quinn looks to save his job.
27. Denver Broncos (Last Week: No. 25)
Phillip Lindsay and the Broncos are returning from their bye week.(Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)Though they defeated a struggling Cleveland Browns team in Week 9, the Broncos return from their bye week with two difficult road matchups, as they'll play in Minnesota in Week 11 and Buffalo in Week 12. Whether they lose enough games in the remainder of the season to be in position to be tempted to select one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft remains to be seen.
28. Miami Dolphins (Last Week: No. 29)
Brian Flores' Dolphins have won back-to-back games.(Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)The Dolphins, a team engineered to go 0-16 and secure the No. 1 pick, have won two consecutive games. Coaches and players obviously aren't going to throw games in the attempt to secure a future draft pick they may not even be around to see, but it's hard to see how these two wins have been good from an organizational sense. There's now a chance that both Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and LSU quarterback Joe Burrow are off the board before the Dolphins even get a chance to make their first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
29. New York Jets (Last Week: No. 30)
The Jets snapped a three-game losing streak in Week 10.(Elsa/Getty Images)It was vital for Adam Gase's job security that the Jets defeat the cross-town rival New York Giants, which they did, winning 34-27. Sam Darnold threw for 230 yards, with both Demaryius Thomas and Jamison Crowder recording over 80 receiving yards. Still, Le'Veon Bell ran for just 34 yards on 18 carries, and Gase's inability to get the two-time All-Pro going consistently on the ground is perhaps the biggest indictment of the job he's done in his first season at the helm for the Jets.
30. New York Giants (Last Week: No. 27)
Saquon Barkley struggled mightily against the Jets.(Al Bello/Getty Images)Saquon Barkley's father didn't ultimately attend the New York Giants-New York Jets game, though he would have had mixed emotions if he did. The Jets, the team he has tattooed on his arm, won a competitive game, 34-27. However, his son had his worst game of his young career, rushing for just one yard on 13 carries. Barkley's struggles were poorly timed, because the rest of the Giants offense was excellent in Week 10, with Daniel Jones throwing for four touchdowns, all four of which were hauled in by the wide receiving duo of Darius Slayton and Golden Tate.
31. Washington Redskins (Last Week: No. 31)
Dwayne Haskins will start for the Redskins for the rest of 2019.(Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)The 1-8 Redskins are a terrible football team, but they're worth watching the rest of the season. 2019 first-round pick Dwayne Haskins will start at quarterback in each of the team's last seven games. Considering they are in contention for the No. 1 overall pick, this very much feels like an audition for Haskins. By extension, it also remains an audition for interim head coach Bill Callahan. It also feels likely this could be the home stretch for future Hall of Fame running back Adrian Peterson.
32. Cincinnati Bengals (Last Week: No. 32)
The Bengals are winless in 2019.(David Kohl/USA Today)As ESPN's Field Yates said Saturday, watching Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and LSU quarterback Joe Burrow go blow-for-blow in their tilt this weekend was the highlight of the Bengals 2019 season. One of those two quarterbacks will almost certainly be the top overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and after Ryan Finley and the Bengals were blown out by the Ravens, they are 0-9 and on pace to have the No. 1 pick.
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