
Injuries and upsets dominated this week’s edition of NFL Sunday. The Def Pen Sports team has analyzed the Week 9 games and made the needed adjustments for Week 10 the 2021 NFL Power Rankings. The contributors to this week’s rankings are Dylan Hargis and Xavier Santos. Team names will be followed by their record and the number of spots they moved up or down from last week’s rankings.
2021 NFL Power Rankings: Week 10
1. Arizona Cardinals 8-1 (+1)
We owe the Cardinals an apology. Their defense is for real. James Connor is for real. With Chase Edmonds out with a high ankle sprain, we will see what the numbers Connor is capable of with a full workhorse load.
2. Green Bay Packers 7-2 (-1)
Aaron Rodgers would have liked to see his team win but there is a part of him that enjoyed watching Jordan Love struggle. As his career as a Packers comes to an end, Sunday’s game did little to give fans hope about the post-Rodgers era.
3. Tennessee Titans 7-2 (+4)
Even without Derrick Henry on the field, the Titans dominated a talented Rams team on Sunday Night Football. The defense had Matthew Stafford looking like a high school quarterback in some moments. Is this sustainable? No, but for now the Titians are on top of the AFC.
4. Los Angeles Rams 7-2 (-1)
That was Stafford’s worst performance as a Ram. They’ll be fine. It was a weird week and we believe that was a one-week aberration. The Rams should stay in the top five of the 2021 NFL Power Rankings.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6-2 (-)
BYE WEEK
6. Baltimore Ravens 6-2 (+4)
The Ravens continue to find ways to win games despite their defense making it very hard on Lamar Jackson so far this season. This team is in real trouble if Jackson is unable to go for any reason this season.
7. Dallas Cowboys 6-2 (-3)
Dak couldn’t hit the side of a barn on Sunday. He left a ton of plays on the field and it was an uncharacteristic performance from him. Like the Rams, we believe they’ll be fine and we expect to see a better version of Dak moving forward.
8. Buffalo Bills 5-3 (-2)
What was that? A pathetic showing from Josh Allen and the Bills led to a 9-6 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Much like the Rams and the Cowboys, we think this is a fluke game. That loss has to be weighing on the entire team right now.
9. New Orleans Saints 5-3 (-1)
Trevor Simien isn’t the answer. Can Taysom Hill be that answer? We have an inkling we will soon find out. The win against the Buccaneers feels like a lifetime ago now.
10. Los Angeles Chargers 5-3 (+2)
The Chargers have looked rough for a few weeks now, but they did pull out a win against the Eagles. The AFC West race is wide open and it’s anyone’s guess on who will end up on top at the end. Los Angeles needs to clean up some problems moving forward.
11. Las Vegas Raiders 5-3 (-2)
A weird week aside, we have been predicting a collapse by the Raiders with all the drama circulating the team this season. Did we see the beginnings of just that this week against the Giants?
12. Kansas City Chiefs 5-4 (+1)
An ugly win is still a win and that seems to be the only way that Kansas City can win this year. This team is still a threat to the entire AFC and if they make the Playoffs teams need to watch out.
13. Denver Broncos 5-4 (+2)
The Broncos played to the best of their ability on Sunday and had Dak Prescott confused for most of the game. This team could sneak into the playoffs this year with some help, but they could also finish with less than eight wins.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers 5-3 (-)
A close Monday Night game against the Bears scared the Steelers, but this team is trending up after a rough start to the season. With the Browns and Bengals struggling the Steelers may once again be the only team that can seriously challenge the Ravens.
15. Cleveland Browns 5-4 (+1)
This team responded well after Odell Beckham Jr. was released, but this game also highlighted why Baker Mayfield isn’t really a franchise quarterback. The Browns will go as far as Nick Chubb and the running game can carry them.

16. Cincinnati Bengals 5-4 (-5)
The early season concerns about the Bengals’ offensive line and defense have resurfaced over the past few weeks. Nick Chubb ran all over this team and the offense was not able to respond well enough this week.
17. New England Patriots 5-4 (+1)
The Patriots are a very average team, but against Sam Darnold, any team can shine. New England excels against the former Jets’ quarterback. That being said this team could quietly sneak into the playoffs.
18. Indianapolis Colts 4-5 (+3)
The biggest problem the Colts have right now is the Titans are winning games and they’ve already been beaten by them twice. This team is figuring some things out, but after a rough start to the season, it may already be too late.
19. Atlanta Falcons 4-4 (+6)
The Falcons continue to baffle from week to week and a win over the Saints puts them at 4-4. A playoff berth isn’t likely this year without Calvin Ridley, but the team has shown some life this year.
20. Carolina Panthers 4-5 (-3)
It should be PJ Walker time in Carolina soon. Sam Darnold is not the long-term answer for the Panthers and they may need to join the race to the bottom of the 2021 NFL Power Rankings and top of the draft order.
21. San Francisco 49ers 3-5 (-2)
At a certain point, will Kyle Shanahan’s seat increase in temperature? The coach’s genius has yet to translate to too many wins for the 49ers. It may be hasty to think he should lose his job but it is a results-driven league.
22. Chicago Bears 3-6 (-)
The Bears’ defense looked sloppy and undisciplined on the Steelers’ final drive that ended with what ultimately became the game-winning field goal. Matt Nagy is the biggest factor holding this team back and Justin Fields deserves better.
23. Minnesota Vikings 3-5 (-3)
The Vikings had a tremendous start to the game but we all knew the Ravens would end up making it interesting. The defense wore down and was unable to contain Lamar Jackson in the second half.
24. Seattle Seahawks 3-5 (-)
BYE WEEK
25. New York Giants 3-6 (+2)
That game was more about the dysfunction the Raiders have had to play through more than competence from the Giants. Kyle Rudolph led all players in targets. Kadarius Toney was nowhere to be found. The win is of little consequence. The approach to the game plan continues to be an issue for Jason Garrett and the Giants.
26. Washington Football Team 2-6 (-)
BYE WEEK
27. Philadelphia Eagles 3-6 (-4)
Jalen Hurts had one of his more impressive games. Ultimately, the Chargers had more talent and made a few more plays that ended up being the difference in the game. The Eagles continue to fall on the 2021 NFL Power Rankings.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars 2-6 (+1)
Sunday was a bizarre game and what is more bizarre than a win by Urban Meyer and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Josh Allen and the Bills looked bad all game long. The Jaguars defense gets all of the credit.
29. New York Jets 2-6 (-1)
The team has shown a lot of fight the past few weeks, but they just aren’t ready to win games yet with this roster. Michael Carter is the running back of the future for this team, but the quarterback is still a bit murky.
30. Miami Dolphins 2-7 (-)
This team is nowhere near contending for the Playoffs and barely beating the Texans proves that. The entire team needs a hard reset at this rate.
31. Houston Texans 1-8 (-)
This team is lucky the Jaguars exist.
32. Detroit Lions 0-8 (-)
BYE WEEK
* The biggest movers of the week were the Atlanta Falcons (+6) and the Cincinnati Bengals (-5) *