Who has surprised in 2023: Charting how the NFL power rankings have shifted this season
We’ve been charting our weekly USA TODAY Power Rankings since the start of the 2023 season. Some teams have barely budged. Others have jumped or tumbled.
The Philadelphia Eagles (2), Kansas City Chiefs (3) and San Francisco 49ers (4) remain at the top of the league, while the Carolina Panthers (30) and the Arizona Cardinals (32) scuffle at the bottom.
In between, we watched our expectations rise for some and fall for others. Some have done a little bit of both.
With about half the season completed (Some teams have played nine of their 17 games, others eight), it seems appropriate to look back at how our perceptions and, ultimately, our ratings have changed. NFL power rankings entering Week 10 of the 2023 season (previous rank in parentheses):
The happy surprises – so far
1. Ravens (2) hopped atop the USA TODAY Power Rankings this week with a 34-point win over the now 5-3 Seahawks. The Ravens (7-2) were considered in a playoff contender – ranked No. 8 – as the season started, but after some early stumbles, they have won four consecutive games and have allowed the fewest points per game (13.8).
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AFC South: Most experts expected the Titans to be in the middle of the pack, which they are. The 15. Texans (22) and 17 Colts (21), though? Most, also, figured top rookie quarterbacks would be only part of the teams' rebuilds. With last-second heroics like he engineered last Sunday, Houston QB C.J. Stroud has helped the Texans to 4-4 record. And even without injured rookie QB Anthony Richardson, the Colts are a win away from .500.
6. Bengals (10) and, to a lesser extent, 14. Chargers (14) have turned around the trajectories of their seasons. Bengals Joe Burrow is looking more like the quarterback he was in Super Bowl 56 as Cincinnati has won four consecutive. The 4-4 Chargers are on a two-game winning streak – admittedly the last win came against the Jets in the category below.
The unhappy surprises – so far
No. 18 Jets (15) are 4-4 and in the middle of the pack, but they started the season at No. 6 with hopes that now injured QB Aaron Rodgers could jumpstart their offense. With Zach Wilson back at quarterback the team has averaged just one offensive touchdown per game. On the other side of the Rodgers trade, hopes for 26. Packers (28) have sunk, although they picked up a win in Week 9 against the Rams – another team in this category.
The 29. Patriots (27) are averaging just over two touchdowns a game while the 31. Giants (26) have managed just over 11 points. Both have fallen to basement of the NFL with just two wins each. As of Tuesday, the Giants were more than two touchdown underdogs to the 5-3 Cowboys. Oddsmakers are giving the edge to the Colts in their 9:30 a.m. ET meeting with the Patriots in Frankfurt, Germany.
The 21. Buccaneers (19) and 23. Rams (16) have both come back to earth after surprising starts. The 3-5 Buccaneers were on the losing side of Stroud's breakout 470-yard, 5-TD performance last week and now face the Titans with their rookie QB Will Levis, who has looked, at times, like he could be Tennessee's quarterback of the future. The Rams get their bye week, hoping to turn around their season. They've gone 1-4 since the return of WR Cooper Kupp.
NFL Week 10 games, odds and TV schedule
The searchable list below shows each upcoming scheduled and unscheduled matchup. For example, if you just want to see the Kansas City Chiefs' remaining schedule, just type "Chiefs" into the search bar. Or, if you'd like to see the Week 12 games, just type WK 12.
Compare NFL power rankings for Week 10 and rest of 2023 season
Click on a logo below to see the changes in a single team's power ranking this season. Click on additional logos to see how they compare.
Contributing: Nate Davis