Losses by the Chiefs, Falcons and Packers — and wins by the Eagles, Patriots and Steelers — mean that the top of our board has been shaken up this week. Read on for the latest update.
1. Eagles (6-1 — last week, No. 2): Are we really doing this? Yeah, after Monday night, I’m not sure we have any choice, at least at this point in the season. Carson Wentz is the front-runner for MVP, and if they stay healthy, they’ll be 8-1 in a heartbeat. Yeah, we’re all in on this Eagles team -- even with the Jason Peters injury. Next week: vs. Niners.
2. Chiefs (5-2 — last week, No. 1): Oh, man, what a great game that Thursday night contest was in Oakland. Loved the way it all went down, but the late loss was enough to drop the Chiefs out of the top spot for the first time since Week One. Next week: vs. Broncos.
3. Patriots (5-2 — last week, No. 3): Tough going back and forth here, but we still had to give Kansas City the No. 2 spot, even though New England posted its best win of the season against the Falcons. But there’s a distinct vibe that the Patriots are starting to ... wake up. Remember the feeling when Skynet became self-aware in “Terminator”? Kinda like that. Next week: vs. Chargers.
4. Steelers (5-2 — last week, No. 4): I’m not sure if Patriots’ fans should be terrified or amused. Even when they win, there’s drama. In the wake of their victory over the Bengals, Martavis Bryant ripped Ju-Ju Smith-Schuster on Instagram. There’s so much talent on both sides of the ball there, but they can’t seem to stop the in-fighting. Next week: at Lions.
5. Rams (5-2 — last week, No. 8): If it wasn’t for Philly, this team would be the feel-good story of the season. Next challenge for this young team? Playing and winning a 1 p.m. game on the East Coast, a sizable test for any West Coast squad. Next week: at Giants.
6. Seahawks (4-2 — last week, No. 9): We’re putting them here for a couple of reasons: one, they have a pedigree that suggests they’ll be able to stay competitive, even when things get dicey. And two, because of a few bad losses, the rest of the landscape has shifted where most of the other teams in this vicinity don’t deserve a spot in the top six. Good test looms against the Texans and Redskins in next two contests. Next week: vs. Houston.
7. Texans (4-3 — last week, No. 7): Holdout left tackle Duane Brown returned this week, which should provide even more security for Deshaun Watson. Next week: at Seahawks.
8. Falcons (3-3 — last week, No. 5): Not sure they should have let Steve Sarkisian on the plane back to Atlanta after that Sunday night game in Foxborough. There’s also some clear Super Bowl hangover here. Next week: at Jets.
9. Vikings (5-2, last week, No. 12): Minnesota has done well to take advantage of the situations that have been placed in front of them so far, but now, with a spot in the top 10 and first place in the NFC North at (almost) the midway point, the Vikings now enter the land of increased expectations. Let’s see what you’ve got, fellas. Next week: at Browns.
10. Packers (4-3 — last week, No. 6): Green Bay had to fundamentally hit the reset button with Brett Hundley, and predictably, the Packers struggled. They’ve got a week to try and figure things out before they have a couple of key divisional matchups that could ultimately define their season. Next week: Bye.
11. Bills (4-2 — last week, No. 13):
#Bills fan jumps on table and catches fire. ? Fans pour there ?
on him to save him.#BillsMafia #BuffaloBIlls pic.twitter.com/UnOXQVKJ7M
— StubOrder.com ?? (@StubOrder) October 23, 2017
Mitch Trubisky arrives to game in hot pink sport coat, Bears possibly win by 6,000 today: https://t.co/PmN1qmkgdc#CARvsCHI pic.twitter.com/dxV0qUX4W8
— Allan Bell, Jr. (@AllanBell247) October 22, 2017