There is still plenty to decide heading into Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season. The playoff races are heating up as new contenders emerge and others falter around the midway point. With our Power Rankings, we look to evaluate all 32 teams and examine which direction they are heading in with seven weeks of the season remaining.
Here at Pro Football Network, we’ve tried to remove the judgment element from the process by creating our PR+ metric. This metric combines our internal Offense+ and Defense+ metrics, sprinkles in some special teams, and then applies a level of correction for the strength of a team’s schedule.
Those are the top-level ingredients, but there’s much more depth that goes into creating the PFN PR+ numbers.
Is this system perfect? Absolutely not. And as we continue to research, we’ll continue tinkering with the elements that make up the PFN PR+. That may be at the Offense+ or Defense+ level, or it may be adding a fifth element that our analysis determines should be included in the overall rankings.
In the meantime, let’s examine where each team ranks after the first ten weeks of the season.
1) Detroit Lions
Record: 9-1
- Offense+ Rank: 2
- Defense+ Rank: 3
- Special Teams Rank: 11
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 21
The Detroit Lions put together another impressive performance in Week 11. We expected them to win easily, but the victory was comprehensive and exactly what you look for from a dominant team against a struggling one.
Detroit now has the league’s second-ranked offense and third-ranked defense, while their special teams ranks just outside the top 10. We should see them tested more in the final six weeks of the season, with games against the Packers, Bills, 49ers, and Vikings.
The Lions do have the chance to lay down some more markers on the road in Indianapolis before hosting the Bears.
2) Kansas City Chiefs
Record: 9-1
- Offense+ Rank: 7
- Defense+ Rank: 12
- Special Teams Rank: 22
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 18
There is no need to get too carried away with the Kansas City Chiefs’ first loss of the season. While the final score was a relatively large gap, the game was decided on very small margins and could easily have gone the Chiefs’ way. Therefore, they’re not dropping in our Power Rankings this week.
But it does remove any hint that they should be moving above the Lions just yet. The Chiefs have not been totally convincing this year but have done exactly what they need to. Their real quality comes in their calmness and ability to make smart decisions under pressure, more often or not.
That is an intangible that is hard to measure with baseline metrics, but it shows up in the win-loss column, as it has for Kansas City so far this year.
3) Buffalo Bills
Record: 9-2
- Offense+ Rank: 6
- Defense+ Rank: 14
- Special Teams Rank: 17
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 24
The Buffalo Bills gave their fans exactly what they came to the stadium looking for on Sunday and banished some of their demons from losses to the Ravens and Texans earlier in the season. Buffalo now heads into its bye week with the division virtually locked up and the potential opportunity for the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
The Bills will want to see a little more consistency from their defense, which ranks outside the top 10 despite not playing the toughest overall schedule this season. Their remaining schedule ranks as league average, with two tough games against the 49ers and Lions mixed in with games that should be “easier.”
4) Minnesota Vikings
Record: 8-2
- Offense+ Rank: 13
- Defense+ Rank: 1
- Special Teams Rank: 19
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 17
The Minnesota Vikings appear to have stabilized the ship after their back-to-back losses coming out of their bye week. However, the last three weeks haven’t been as convincing as you might like to see, and Sam Darnold’s play remains a concern in terms of this team’s ceiling.
Ultimately, the defense should continue to provide Minnesota with a rock-solid base. However, the offense needs to play its part by not costing them games against lesser teams and then stepping up to the plate in key spots in bigger matchups.
The Vikings’ remaining schedule ranks as the ninth-toughest, and there are plenty of potential stumbling blocks between now and their meeting with the Lions in Week 18.
5) Baltimore Ravens
Record: 7-4
- Offense+ Rank: 1
- Defense+ Rank: 18
- Special Teams Rank: 27
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 19
The Baltimore Ravens seem incapable of getting out of their own way. Between two costly turnovers and two missed field goals, they threw away what could have been a relatively comfortable win.
Those missed opportunities could come back to haunt the Ravens if they are left watching the Steelers win the division and having to go on the road in the first week of the playoffs.
The offense struggled against the Steelers, but that’s not exactly a surprise. Baltimore’s offense has now struggled against Cleveland and Pittsburgh, two teams who know them well and have, to some extent, built their defenses around stopping the Ravens.
Baltimore still has to play both of them again, but at least it will have home comforts.
The remaining schedule for the Ravens ranks as the 10th-hardest, which is concerning. You can make a case that they could lose four or five of those games as they go up against some tough defenses in that stretch. Baltimore’s defense has played a little better in recent weeks, but that’s not something they can rely on too much in the final six games.
6) Arizona Cardinals
Record: 6-4
- Offense+ Rank: 3
- Defense+ Rank: 26
- Special Teams Rank: 15
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 2
The bye week did not come at an ideal time for the Arizona Cardinals, who were ticking along nicely with four straight wins. Their offense had found its groove, averaging over 29 points per game in the last three weeks, while the defense had started to come to the party as well, allowing 15 points or less in three of the last four games.
Arizona will come out of its bye straight into the fire with a trio of tough matchups, starting with road games in Seattle and Minnesota before hosting the Seahawks. Those three games will set the tone for this final run and give us an indication of whether the metrics are right that this Cardinals’ team could be a top-10 unit and a serious contender this season.
7) Pittsburgh Steelers
Record: 8-2
- Offense+ Rank: 24
- Defense+ Rank: 7
- Special Teams Rank: 1
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 22
Ultimately, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ most important accomplishment is holding on to beat the Ravens at home in Week 11. The performance was far from perfect, which is why they haven’t jumped further up these rankings.
The Steelers now have a two-game cushion over the Ravens, but they have a tough run of games coming up, including five more within the division. Pittsburgh’s defense continues to be strong this year, but the offense’s wobble against a mediocre Ravens’ defense is a little concerning.
The Steelers must also not overlook games against the Browns. While Cleveland is struggling this year, going on the road in a short week will be a big test.
The Steelers should be locked in for a playoff spot, but they will be desperate to lock up the division and a home game. They are also not out of the picture for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, with a potentially defining game against the Chiefs on Christmas Day.
8) Philadelphia Eagles
Record: 8-2
- Offense+ Rank: 14
- Defense+ Rank: 4
- Special Teams Rank: 24
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 31
The Philadelphia Eagles have now won six in a row since their bye, with the most recent win over the Commanders being the most impressive of that run. Philadelphia hasn’t been thoroughly tested to this point, but that will change between now and the end of the season.
The Eagles’ defense has been very impressive, and their performance against Washington underlined that. The offense won’t be a massive concern, but it hasn’t been as effective as you might expect, given the quality of the roster and the weakness of their opponents in recent games.
There are enough soft spots on this schedule that the Eagles should be in the postseason. Yet, just one game back currently of the NFC’s No. 1 seed, they, ideally, have bigger aims.
In 2023, this is the point of the season where it fell apart for Philadelphia. The Eagles have three tough opponents within the next four weeks; if they lose two or all three, old demons could mentally resurface.
9) Green Bay Packers
Record: 7-3
- Offense+ Rank: 9
- Defense+ Rank: 19
- Special Teams Rank: 23
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 6
The Green Bay Packers won by the barest of margins in Week 11, but they have put themselves in a strong position in the NFC playoff picture down the stretch. Given Jordan Love’s injury issues, Green Bay’s offense has done well, while the defense still leaves some concerns for the coaching staff.
Green Bay has played a really tough schedule to this point, but things won’t get any easier. Their remaining schedule ranks fourth. Next month, they host the 49ers and Dolphins before traveling to Detroit and Seattle. All the Packers’ hard work could be for nothing if they let things slip away from them in that run.
10) Washington Commanders
Record: 7-4
- Offense+ Rank: 4
- Defense+ Rank: 23
- Special Teams Rank: 10
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 23
The way the Washington Commanders started the season gave them some wiggle room for an almost inevitable wobble at some point. They’ve lost to four good teams this year and three who rank inside the top 10 of our rankings.
The manner of the defeat in Week 11 was not ideal, with the offense largely looking blunted. But it’s still a top-five unit, and Washington’s defense did a solid job for large parts of the game against Philly, which will be encouraging.
The Commanders’ schedule ranks as the third-easiest the rest of the way, and that starts this week with a Cowboys team that is in tatters. They must not overlook the next two weeks against Dall and Tennessee because if the Commanders can get into their bye at 9-4, they will potentially only need one more win to secure a playoff spot.
11) Denver Broncos
Record: 6-5
- Offense+ Rank: 18
- Defense+ Rank: 2
- Special Teams Rank: 9
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 16
The last six weeks have shown us the full range of what this Denver Broncos team can be. Solid defensive performances saw them lose narrow games against the Chiefs and Chargers, but they also put themselves in position to beat lower-ranked teams like the Saints, Panthers, and Falcons.
Meanwhile, the game in Baltimore showed what can happen if they lose control of a game and have to chase it.
Denver’s defense is an excellent unit and will keep them in games for a while, even when the offense struggles. The offense has been improving across the season, and Bo Nix is playing better football seemingly every week.
The Broncos are another team that must not overlook the Raiders and Browns in the next two weeks because an 8-5 record on their bye week would put them in a great spot.
12) Los Angeles Chargers
Record: 7-3
- Offense+ Rank: 22
- Defense+ Rank: 5
- Special Teams Rank: 8
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 29
Early in the third quarter, it looked like the Los Angeles Chargers were heading toward the top 10 of our rankings, with the defense dominating again and their offense showing up against a bad defense. Things fell apart, however, and the Chargers could have easily lost to the Bengals, which would have changed the shape of their season massively.
Los Angeles’ defense is still a very good unit, but with a number of good offenses coming its way in the next month, the second-half struggles against Cincinnati will present some concerns.
The offense has now scored 25+ points in the last four games and is now growing into a true complementary unit for their defense. The Chargers should not be underestimated this season, but the next few weeks will be a tough test.
13) San Francisco 49ers
Record: 5-5
- Offense+ Rank: 8
- Defense+ Rank: 15
- Special Teams Rank: 32
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 12
The San Francisco 49ers’ story this season is becoming all too familiar. Their losses haven’t been embarrassing, but all of them are highly frustrating.
Offensively, San Francisco ranks well but just seems incapable of putting together a killer blow in most of its games. Injuries haven’t helped, but the 49ers have enough talent that they should be able to win these games despite them.
The schedule only continues to get harder for San Francisco (third-hardest), with trips to Green Bay, Buffalo, Miami, and Arizona on the docket. It’s more than possible that we see the 49ers’ season end with little more than a whimper and them missing out on the playoffs altogether.
14) Seattle Seahawks
Record: 5-5
- Offense+ Rank: 16
- Defense+ Rank: 13
- Special Teams Rank: 12
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 8
We had to see the Seattle Seahawks come out swinging after their bye, and that’s what happened. It wasn’t the most convincing performance ever, and they were probably lucky to come out on the winning side, so this won’t have banished concerns floating around the franchise. Nevertheless, Seattle stopped a two-game losing streak and now has something to build on as they head into a tough schedule that ranks eighth in the NFL.
All of the Seahawks’ units rank average or above, and they’ve navigated the eighth-hardest schedule to this point with a .500 record. They will need to up their game a little because going .500 the rest of the way likely won’t be enough.
Seattle is now 1-2 in the division and desperately needs to win at least one, if not both, games against the Cardinals in the next three weeks.
15) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Record: 4-6
- Offense+ Rank: 5
- Defense+ Rank: 28
- Special Teams Rank: 7
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 1
All season, the narrative has been that this Tampa Bay Buccaneers team is a good one that has faced a brutal schedule and dealt with tough injury luck. But with the easiest remaining schedule, the Buccaneers could also get Mike Evans and Jamel Dean back this week.
There’s no more time for narrative; now is the time for action. Tampa Bay has seven very winnable games remaining and may need to win at least six of them.
With Evans and Dean potentially back, we should see this Buccaneers team climb up our rankings. At full strength, this is probably a top-10 team, and they will be a tough out for anyone in the playoffs if they make it.
16) Houston Texans
Record: 7-4
- Offense+ Rank: 23
- Defense+ Rank: 8
- Special Teams Rank: 19
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 15
The Houston Texans are another team that righted the ship this week with a win. However, the win over the Cowboys didn’t give them a huge boost in metrics, and in some ways, that is a little concerning.
The win itself was fairly convincing, but the manner behind it (especially on offense) wasn’t typically exciting. The Texans have another two “get right” games that they should win but can’t afford to overlook.
After their bye week, things get tougher for Houston as they have the Dolphins, Chiefs, and Ravens in back-to-back-to-back weeks. Thus, the Texans need to get into their bye at 9-4 and with the division almost in their pocket already.
They may only need one win from their final four to lock things up and have the security of a Week 18 game with the Titans that they will back themselves to win.
17) Miami Dolphins
Record: 4-6
- Offense+ Rank: 15
- Defense+ Rank: 16
- Special Teams Rank: 31
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 30
The Miami Dolphins are keeping themselves in the playoff picture, but they are lacking the complete performances on both sides of the ball that you would like to see in a true playoff contender. The offense was good against the Raiders, but the defense struggled at times, which will raise concerns.
Miami has a chance to try and put together a complete game against the Patriots this week and creep closer to .500. The Dolphins have played an easy schedule to this point, and it does get tougher from here. They realistically need to win five and potentially six of their remaining games. They’ll be expected to beat the Patriots, Jets (twice), and Browns but will need to back it up with at least one win against the 49ers, Packers, or Texans.
18) Los Angeles Rams
Record: 5-5
- Offense+ Rank: 12
- Defense+ Rank: 20
- Special Teams Rank: 25
- SOS Rank Through Week 10: 9
The Los Angeles Rams bounced back against the Patriots and avoided a potentially tricky spot in an outdoor cooler-weather game.
The Rams now sit second in the division, with their defense improving week-over-week and having played a tough schedule. Unfortunately, the schedule only continues to be tough, ranking as the seventh-hardest remaining and the second-toughest in the NFC West.
If the Rams are to grab a playoff spot in 2024, they’ll have to earn it over the coming weeks with a stream of tough games and very few easy spots coming their way.
19) Indianapolis Colts
Record: 5-6
- Offense+ Rank: 21
- Defense+ Rank: 22
- Special Teams Rank: 14
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 7
It was great to see Anthony Richardson show up in a big moment this week against the Jets. That hint of his talent is what the Indianapolis Colts need to bank on over the coming weeks.
To this point, Indianapolis has been unconvincing on both sides of the ball, but the schedule has been really tough. Yet, things are set to get harder before they get easier.
Per @NextGenStats:
Anthony Richardson completed 9/12 attempts of 10+ air yards for a career-high 185 yards, including 2/2 for 56 yards on downfield passes on the #Colts’ game-winning drive.
AR's completion percentage of 75.0% on downfield pass attempts is tied for the… pic.twitter.com/bU3odpnHRm
— Cody Manning (@CodyTalksNFL) November 17, 2024
The Colts’ remaining schedule ranks as the fifth-easiest, but they square off against the Lions in Week 12 and will have a crunch game with the Broncos in Week 15 coming off their bye. Indianapolis has four very winnable games against the Patriots, Titans, Giants, and Jaguars, but to be assured of a playoff spot, likely need to beat either Detroit or Denver.
Chasing down the Texans for the division is not out of the question, but the Colts would likely need to go 5-1 or 6-0 to achieve it.
20) Cincinnati Bengals
Record: 4-7
- Offense+ Rank: 10
- Defense+ Rank: 29
- Special Teams Rank: 21
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 20
The Cincinnati Bengals defense has failed them repeatedly this season.
The offense took its time in Week 11 coming to the party but eventually pulled them back into the game. They’ve scored 25+ points in seven games this year but are just 2-5 in them. All other teams combined are 101-17 (0.856) when scoring more than 25 points this year.
Cincinnati now has its bye week to try and get the defense to a level where it can at least be competitive. They only need to be league-average the rest of the way, and then Joe Burrow and this offense can win them games.
Right now, it’s a long way from that. The Bengals’ remaining schedule isn’t that tough, and if they can figure out their defensive issues, could win five or six of their remaining games.
21) New York Jets
Record: 3-8
- Offense+ Rank: 19
- Defense+ Rank: 9
- Special Teams Rank: 28
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 11
It feels like the wheels might be about to come off the New York Jets. There was at least some fight this week, but the Jets have now lost seven of their last eight and five of the six games since Robert Saleh was fired. The defense is a fading force, and the offense is a mediocre unit at best.
The schedule hasn’t been easy, but it doesn’t get that much easier from here, either.
22) Chicago Bears
Record: 4-6
- Offense+ Rank: 26
- Defense+ Rank: 6
- Special Teams Rank: 16
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 32
It was good to see signs of life from the Chicago Bears’ defense, but there is still much more we need to see from Caleb Williams and his group.
Chicago finally broke its streak of not scoring touchdowns but still could not get over the line to break its losing streak. The defense continues to do a good job and is the main reason they’ve been in the two games since their bye.
The Bears’ schedule going forward is brutal. They have the Vikings twice, the Lions twice, the 49ers, the Seahawks, and the Packers.
That is five games against top 10 opponents and two others in the top 15. Unless the offense improves, this team may not win another game this year. After Chicago’s promising start, that would be a disastrous way to end the 2024 season.
23) Atlanta Falcons
Record: 6-5
- Offense+ Rank: 11
- Defense+ Rank: 30
- Special Teams Rank: 29
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 14
All season, the metrics have told us that this Atlanta Falcons team isn’t that great, and we’ve seen it in the last two weeks. Atlanta’s defense has been a real problem nearly all season, and when the offense fails to fire, they are in big trouble.
The Falcons enter their bye week still in control of the division, but only just. When they come out of their bye, they may have just a one-game lead over the Buccaneers, just a matter of weeks after they were looking at a potential three or four-game lead.
The overall schedule is not that difficult, with games against the Raiders, Giants, and Panthers being very winnable. However, Atlanta has three tougher games against the Chargers, Vikings, and Commanders that could hurt its playoff hopes.
24) New Orleans Saints
Record: 4-7
- Offense+ Rank: 17
- Defense+ Rank: 21
- Special Teams Rank: 6
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 25
Two weeks after firing their head coach, the New Orleans Saints are back in the race for the NFC South, having benefited from the Falcons’ inability to press home any advantage. The Saints still have a lot to do, but they are in it, and that’s all you can ask.
The metrics do not suggest that this is a playoff-caliber team, but the schedule is workable. Ultimately, getting to the nine wins New Orleans realistically needs might be too much of an ask, but the change in attitude since Dennis Allen’s departure is noticeable.
This is a team that will be tricky for opponents. The Saints’ playoff challenge may amount to nothing, but given where they were after Week 9, this is a nice turn of events.
25) Tennessee Titans
Record: 2-8
- Offense+ Rank: 31
- Defense+ Rank: 17
- Special Teams Rank: 30
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 3
It’s hard to be too positive about the Tennessee Titans, who have now lost five of their last six games. Tennessee’s defense continues to fall away compared to the strong start, and unfortunately, the offense is barely registering a pulse. Will Levis looked better this week, and that is kind of all you can ask for at this stage.
The Titans will benefit more from losing and gaining draft position than from winning and keeping any faint playoff hopes alive. Levis’ development and evaluating the roster are the key elements of the last seven games.
26) Cleveland Browns
Record: 2-8
- Offense+ Rank: 32
- Defense+ Rank: 10
- Special Teams Rank: 5
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 28
It’s hard to know what to make of the Cleveland Browns. The defense continues to be solid but is definitely showing signs of fading as the season goes on. The offense has been better under Jameis Winston, but not significantly so. They are closer to the pack offensively than they were under Deshaun Watson but still remain cut adrift.
Cleveland is not a very good team and faces a brutal schedule over the remaining weeks. The one positive is that the Browns, per the PFN NFL Playoff Predictor, are the favorites to pick No. 1 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
27) Dallas Cowboys
Record: 3-7
- Offense+ Rank: 25
- Defense+ Rank: 24
- Special Teams Rank: 4
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 5
Another week, another loss, and another blowout at home for the Dallas Cowboys. This season is already woeful, and it very well could be a complete disaster by the end of the year. The offense and defense are bad, and it’s hard to find solace in the special teams despite the unit being among the NFL’s best.
The schedule going forward is easier, but it’s difficult to see how this Cowboys team might actually win games. It’s not out of the question they finish 3-14 this season and potentially the No. 1 pick, with the possibility of seeking a new coach.
28) Las Vegas Raiders
Record: 2-8
- Offense+ Rank: 28
- Defense+ Rank: 27
- Special Teams Rank: 13
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 10
A sixth straight loss for the Las Vegas Raiders. Despite the change in offensive coaching personnel, not much really changed.
Both sides of the ball are bad, and Las Vegas is another team that is hard to envision winning another game. It could be a slugfest between the Raiders, Jaguars, Browns, and Giants for the No. 1 overall selection in 2025.
29) New England Patriots
Record: 3-8
- Offense+ Rank: 29
- Defense+ Rank: 25
- Special Teams Rank: 2
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 26
The New England Patriots are one of two teams in the bottom part of these rankings with some positivity around them. That might be because they have been at the bottom all season, and things could only get better.
Nevertheless, the positive aspect is that Drake Maye continues to flash real potential for the future, and the defense is at least improving some. There is still a long way to go, but New England is hopefully on the upswing of the rebuild.
30) Jacksonville Jaguars
Record: 2-9
- Offense+ Rank: 20
- Defense+ Rank: 31
- Special Teams Rank: 3
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 4
It seems highly probable that the Jacksonville Jaguars won’t bring Trevor Lawrence back this season unless he’s absolutely 100% fit. If he doesn’t return, Jacksonville could be looking at having a bottom-10 offense to go with their bottom-two defense by the end of the year.
The schedule does at least get easier from here, which might stop the Jaguars from having a shot at the top pick.
31) New York Giants
Record: 2-8
- Offense+ Rank: 30
- Defense+ Rank: 11
- Special Teams Rank: 26
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 13
Doesn’t it tell you everything about the New York Giants that we are not actually sure if switching from Daniel Jones to Tommy DeVito upgrades or downgrades this offense?
It very much feels like Brian Daboll is coaching for his job, and in order to do that, he needs to prove his offense can work with a different quarterback. The defense has been a ray of light this year, and they hope to build on that next season.
32) Carolina Panthers
Record: 3-7
- Offense+ Rank: 27
- Defense+ Rank: 32
- Special Teams Rank: 18
- SOS Rank Through Week 11: 27
Two wins in a row before the bye leaves the Carolina Panthers with some positivity. The performance in Munich left much to be desired, and performances are more important than results at this stage.
Bryce Young’s development and evaluation remain the key to this season. The tough balance for Carolina is getting that development and evaluation without playing themselves out of a top-five pick in the draft.
There are several holes on this roster, and they need a comprehensive rebuild this offseason.