Nine Straight Threes' NFL Power Rankings: Week 11

Welcome to Nine Straight Threes’ NFL Power Rankings. Week 11 is in the books, and we got a pair of very different thrillers at the top of the AFC, plus a shocking late comeback that further muddied the NFC West waters.

Anthony Richardson came back for the Colts and looked surprisingly good; conversely, can we please send the Jets to Hell? The only fun thing left about them is seeing how many different ways Aaron Rodgers can dance around the elephant in the room – he’s at the end of the line and should call it quits after this year – during his weekly hits on the Pat McAfee Show. Maybe they’ll break down his booger-eating video like it’s the Zapruder Film again this week. At least Joe Douglas got released from that gridiron prison.

Geno Smith played hero for Seattle, and the 49ers are officially in the danger zone, though loyal readers of these rankings are not surprised to see San Francisco on the struggle bus. The Bengals are on life support, and wouldn’t you know it, the Broncos might actually be good.

There are no undefeated teams left, so the 1972 Dolphins are popping champagne, but there is a very clear king of the NFL hill.

And, after several consecutive weeks of tardiness, these power rankings are a corporate penny-pincher’s dream; on-time and under budget.

As always, NST’s power rankings take two factors into account: Performance and watchability. Away we go.

Dead, Toe-tagged, Done

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9)

LW: 29

How have they not fired Doug Pederson yet? I’m being serious. The players did their best to get him left behind in Detroit, giving up 52 points and 645 yards of offense. Is anyone running the show in Jacksonville? Trent Baalke should also be gone, but first things first; Pederson has got to go. At the very least, give the Jaguars this: They won the race to 9 losses, becoming the first team to lock in a losing season.

Week 12: Bye

31. New York Giants (2-8)

LW: 32

Oh, look who’s back in the starting lineup – it’s Tommy DeVito! And that means we’ll have to see his agent a bunch. Fedoras for everyone! Anyway, the Giants benched Daniel Jones and said it was for “football reasons,” and definitely not because it saves them from Jones’ $23 million injury guarantee for 2025. Why is DeVito starting over Drew Lock, who is better than DeVito? Well kids, let me tell you something about “tanking.” Teams don’t do it by actively trying to lose on the field, they do it by putting players on the field who aren’t capable of winning. Hope I cleared that up for you.

Week 12: vs. Tampa Bay

30. Las Vegas Raiders (2-8)

LW: 31

Brock Bowers is objectively awesome. He’s on pace for 119 catches, 1,200 yards and 5 touchdowns this year. There is, and I want to stress this, almost nothing else of any importance happening with this team. Antonio Pierce is giving off a strong whiff of “not the right guy,” as his team seems to play the same crappy game every week. Vegas’ minus-98 point differential is third-worst in the NFL. This franchise needs a quarterback, and some direction. History suggests they won’t find either one anytime soon.

Week 12: vs. Denver

29. Cleveland Browns (2-8)

LW: 28

They fought for most of three quarters against New Orleans and then decided that was good enough, and turned a 14-14 tie into a 35-14 defeat. The Jameis Winston factor makes them fun and unpredictable at times, and he threw for almost 400 yards against the Saints, but we’re talking about a bad football team here. Maybe blow it up and start again, Browns? Is there anyone there who really deserves to keep their job? Maybe Kevin Stefanski, but ask Browns fans about him and you’ll get wildly different opinions. This franchise needs a reset. Again.

Week 12: vs. Pittsburgh

28. Dallas Cowboys (3-7)

LW: 30

I don’t know why they’re up two spots after getting mostly pasted by Houston. Thank Doug Pederson, I guess. They’ve lost five straight games, and they’ll be fortunate to win two the rest of the way. Mike McCarthy ought to be put out to pasture, as he’s seemed like a fired man coaching for weeks now. The truth of the matter is that the NFL’s most-covered franchise is rapidly turning into a farce. As long as Jerry Jones owns and runs the team, that won’t change. At least the roof in Jerry World works well…wait a minute, I’m getting some new information here.

Week 12: at Washington