As we enter Week 10 of the 2024 NFL season, let’s evaluate the power rankings following the 4 p.m. ET trade deadline on Tuesday (previous rankings shown in parentheses):

1. Kansas City Chiefs (1): A true sign of a championship team is the readiness to take risks and seize opportunities while keeping a steady focus on excellence. Head Coach Andy Reid and General Manager Brett Veach have been extremely active lately, making significant trades, including acquiring WR DeAndre Hopkins, who caught 2 TDs in Monday night’s victory, and LB Joshua Uche. Moreover, they brought back RB Kareem Hunt, who scored the decisive touchdown in overtime. This suggests that the defending champs are poised to compete for a historic Super Bowl three-peat. Currently, they remain undefeated and hold a franchise-record 14-game winning streak (including playoffs), yet they are still working on achieving their full potential.

2. Detroit Lions (2): Despite the loss of injured DE Aidan Hutchinson, the NFC leaders managed to acquire Za’Darius Smith from Cleveland, which should help cushion the blow to their defense that’s only amassed 12½ sacks apart from Hutchinson’s contributions. However, the offense is performing exceptionally well, with QB Jared Goff and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown maintaining an impressive connection—30 successful targets in a row since Week 3, the longest such streak for any wide receiver since 2016.

3. Baltimore Ravens (3): In a recent 31-point victory over Denver, backup QB Josh Johnson contributed as much during the cleanup as new WR Diontae Johnson did, who was a recent trade acquisition just before the game. While Johnson may not significantly boost the offense, the real question is whether their defense can hold up, especially since Lamar Jackson and his squad consistently score over 30 points each week.

4. Buffalo Bills (4): WR Amari Cooper has only made five receptions since his acquisition and missed Sunday’s game due to a wrist issue. Despite this, the Bills are charging toward their fifth consecutive AFC East title and will need Cooper to shine during the playoffs in January. Following Sunday’s game, it seems unlikely Buffalo will trade their once-struggling kicker.

5. Washington Commanders (7): While QB Jayden Daniels has led a strong offense, the Commanders realize they can’t solely depend on it to win games like Detroit and Baltimore do. Their defense is improving but still allows teams like the Giants to appear competent. Acquiring four-time Pro Bowler CB Marshon Lattimore is a promising move, assuming he stays healthy.

6. Minnesota Vikings (5): This season is pivotal for QB Sam Darnold as the team signals a desire to win now, bringing in LT Cam Robinson and RB Cam Akers to strengthen the roster. The return of T.J. Hockenson to the lineup is almost like making a significant trade, considering the Vikings’ past investment in him.

7. Green Bay Packers (6): Tied for the most interceptions in the league with 10 despite missing two games, Jordan Love is eager to break a streak of eight consecutive games with an interception. The upcoming bye week should aid the ailing quarterback, who struggled last Sunday due to a groin injury. It’s puzzling why a contending team would trade away veteran pass-rusher Preston Smith to Pittsburgh, but this could lead to an expanded role for Lukas Van Ness, a first-round pick from 2023.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (12): According to the opponents’ winning percentage, only three teams face a tougher schedule going forward. The burning question is whether veteran QB Russell Wilson will prove to be the solution. This challenging schedule will provide insights, and the recent addition of WR Mike Williams might assist Wilson in navigating this tough stretch. However, trading away a fifth-round pick for just nine games with Williams—who had only 12 receptions with the Jets last season following an ACL injury—was quite a gamble. Yet, bolstering the defense by adding Smith could balance things out.

9. Atlanta Falcons (8): The Falcons won’t have another home game until December. Despite not making waves in the trade market, they have a chance to solidify their grip on the NFC South if they can secure victories against struggling teams like the Saints and Broncos.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (10): After a scare regarding WR A.J. Brown’s knee, the Eagles are fortunate to avoid desperately seeking reinforcements for their depth chart, particularly before facing Dallas and Washington in their upcoming games.

11. Arizona Cardinals (14): The NFC West leaders saw a diverse group of 16 defenders pressure the QB during their recent victory, according to Next Gen Stats. In response, they added OLB Baron Browning to enhance their growing defense, which will face pass-happy teams like the Jets and Seahawks next.

12. Houston Texans (9): Over the last three weeks, C.J. Stroud’s performance includes a 52.3% passing completion rate, one touchdown, and a 76.0 QB rating. While sitting atop the AFC South, the Texans have only managed a narrow margin over their opponents, scoring 201 to 200 combined. They will need WR Nico Collins to return from IR to make a difference, especially with the Lions visiting in the coming Sunday night matchup.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13): Was Cade Otton the best Tight on a field he shared with Travis Kelce on Monday night? Possibly. Looking at the bigger picture, the Buccaneers just need to endure until their Week 11 bye. However, with Otton and a returning squad led by injured WR Mike Evans, this team could see a revival after the break, especially since Tampa Bay will face six teams with significantly losing records over their final seven games.

14. Chicago Bears (11): The offense has been struggling, scoring only 24 points in the last two games, which may be shaking confidence in head coach Matt Eberflus. They have a crucial three-game homestand starting with the Patriots, representing a key opportunity – and potentially a make-or-break moment for a team facing the toughest remaining schedule in the league, including all six difficult divisional games.

15. Los Angeles Rams (15): Out of their next six games, three will be played in prime time, a fitting showcase for a Hollywood team that is working its way back into the spotlight.

16. San Francisco 49ers (16): In the upcoming four weeks, they will travel to play against Tampa Bay, Green Bay, and Buffalo. It would be the perfect time to regain RB Christian McCaffrey, assuming he can do what most of the offense has struggled to achieve – stay healthy.

17. Los Angeles Chargers (18): While they are performing well overall – although against a softer schedule – it might have been a bit early for this improving team to explore the trade market. Still, the NFL has recognized their potential by scheduling them for a Sunday Night game in Week 11.

18. Cincinnati Bengals (21): Although they have been playing relatively well – albeit against a lenient schedule – it’s noteworthy that this improving team ventured into the trade market, making a minor move for ex-Chicago RB Khalil Herbert. Perhaps that’s why the NFL is giving them a Sunday night slot in Week 11.

19. Denver Broncos (19): They faced a harsh reality check in Baltimore on Sunday and soon began selling off assets, with Browning departing the team a day later.

20. New York Jets (27): It took a few weeks for the connection between Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams to bear fruit – culminating in their first touchdown together in nearly three years during a much-needed victory on Thursday night. Looking at the glass half full, the Jets have moved up to second place in the AFC East, just two games shy of a wild-card playoff spot. However, viewed negatively, they need more Thursday games as they currently hold a 1-6 record throughout the rest of the week this season. On another note, GM Joe Douglas traded Williams, likely no better than a WR4 here, for a fifth-round pick from Pittsburgh for next year.

21. Indianapolis Colts (20): They would do anything to resolve their long-standing quarterback issues, as the promotion of Joe Flacco resulted in zero offensive touchdowns and Indy’s first loss of the season by more than six points on Sunday night.

22. Seattle Seahawks (22): Having lost five of their last six matches, they now sit at the bottom of the NFC West  yet remain just one game behind the leaders. One trade isn’t going to solve their issues in the trenches or the unbalanced nature of their offense.

23. Miami Dolphins (24): With QB Tua Tagovailoa back two weeks ago, they are averaging 27 points per game. However, they have lost both contests, a stark reminder of their attempts to address defensive weaknesses inexpensively during the offseason.

24. Cleveland Browns (23): It seemed fitting that new QB1 Jameis Winston made his 100th NFL appearance on Sunday, throwing his 100th, 101st, and 102nd interceptions. This disappointing performance likely contributed to Za’Darius Smith’s exit from a struggling 2-7 team that needs to regroup.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (25): It’s remarkable how close this 2-7 team is to having a 7-2 record, but that’s the nature of the NFL. It seems that the Jags require a fundamental reset, though finding the right deal for that might be challenging.

26. Dallas Cowboys (17): Just when it seems they’ve hit their lowest point, they’re making changes again. Three of their next four games are against NFC East rivals, and the other is a Monday night game at home against the state’s top team, the Texans. Owner Jerry Jones wouldn’t be pleased to accept defeat here, especially with QB Dak Prescott set to miss all of these games due to a hamstring injury at a minimum. At least QB2 Cooper Rush will have  recently acquired WR Jonathan Mingo to target? Well, that’s something.

27. New England Patriots (26): A strong effort from rookie QB Drake Maye and company in a Sunday overtime loss in Nashville. However, it feels like the Patriots are starting to plot a course for the future, possibly looking at a high pick in the 2025 draft. It might have been shortsighted to strip the team of lower-tier assets that could aid in Maye’s development in the remaining weeks. They might have been better off standing pat.

28. Carolina Panthers (30): They are beginning to gain a bit of momentum with second-year QB Bryce Young, despite the recent trades that trimmed their receiving corps after dealing Johnson and Mingo. They could see a boost if rookie RB Jonathon Brooks is activated this week, which is anticipated. What more could the NFL fans in Munich want?

29. New York Giants (28): They seem to be losing steam as they navigate the end of QB Daniel Jones’s tenure. They could have gained a different kind of boost if empowered GM Joe Schoen had leveraged part of the roster for crucial future assets. But for now, what more could NFL fans in Munich ask for than to watch OLB Azeez Ojulari and WR Darius Slayton play on German soil?

30. Tennessee Titans (32): It looks like second-year QB Will Levis might return just in time  to take on the Chargers’ formidable defense on the road.

31. New Orleans Saints (29): After suffering a league-worst seven-game losing streak, their longest since 1999, they announced the departure of head coach Dennis Allen on Monday. It’s unclear what they hope to gain from such a change at this point. And thanks for your contributions, Marshon.

32. Las Vegas Raiders (31): Following an AFC-worst five-game losing streak, their longest since moving to Las Vegas, they made changes, releasing OC Luke Getsy and others on Sunday night. The intentions behind this decision are unclear, especially considering that Norv Turner, who hasn’t been the club’s head coach in two decades, is being considered as a fallback option.

(This story has been updated to include new information.)

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