NFL Power Rankings heading into 2018’s fourth quarter

#10 Seattle Seahawks (7-5)

If there is one team I was completely wrong about heading into this season, it would be the Seahawks. I thought they would be in a rebuilding or retooling year and I saw some serious weaknesses on their team. Most importantly, I didn’t believe in their offensive line and at the start of the season they looked the way I expected them to.

People got beat one-on-one constantly, they failed to communicate and pass on assignments against different stunts and even Russell Wilson was to blame for some of the sacks he took by not getting the ball out on time. The biggest reason for their improvement has been the re-emergence of a punishing rushing attack, Since their 0-2 start against the Broncos and Bears, the Seahawks are averaging 166.7 rushing yards per game and even with that start, they are clearly the number one team in terms of yardage on the ground. Chris Carson runs as hard as anybody else in the league, rookie Rashaad Penny threatens defenses to take it to the edge more and Mike Davis is another tough runner, who has been productive in all different spots.

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Russell Wilson coming off play-action and having time to set his feet before letting it fly is a very dangerous sighting. Establishing the rule has taken pressure off those offensive linemen because it slows down the opposing pass rushers and they are just not in that many true dropback situations. Plus when those safeties start sucking up against the run, it creates downfield opportunities for guys like Tyler Lockett, leading to twelve plays of 40+ yards through the air already.

Defensively they are a completely different team compared to those Legion of Boom days. Their entire secondary is gone (with Earl Thomas on IR) and they don’t have Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril rushing the passer. However, they kept that defensive scheme and found new guys to plug into it, while Bobby Wagner has become the key piece to that unit. Over the last three years combined I think it has been a two-man race for the title of best middle linebacker in the game between Wagner and Carolina’s Luke Kuechly – and I would give the Seahawks LB the nod.

Shaquill Griffin fits in perfectly as that long corner to play press-bail, their young safety tandem has been a very pleasant surprise, Jarran Reed is proving people wrong that thought he was a pure run stuffer coming out of Alabama and whenever you look at who gets to the quarterback in those big moments, Frank Clark shows up. Plus I think they have the most versatile punter in the league already.

#11 Baltimore Ravens (7-5)

When you put on the tape and watch Baltimore play, the first thing that jumps off the screen is just how big they are. It was particularly noticeable when you compared them to a Falcons team that is primarily built on speed and lacks some size as it is. It might have only been a ten-point game when you look at the box score, but I felt like the Ravens pushed around a much smaller Atlanta squad all afternoon. They ran the ball a grand total of 49 times and picked up 25 first downs on offense, while holding Matt Ryan and company to 56 yards on offense prior to that one offensive touchdown they had late.

The only other score came off a Vic Beasley fumble recovery to the house when Lamar Jackson didn’t protect the ball well enough. These guys just aren’t afraid to line up 11 versus 11 and try to beat you down. Let’s get to the rookie – I know Lamar is definitely not perfect. There are some exchange problems on those zone read plays, his feet get to narrow at times and he would rather move around to create clear openings instead of anticipating throws from the pocket, but boy is that dude exciting. The Ravens offense with Joe Flacco under center had its moments and he definitely gives you more of a downfield passing threat, but the offense and the entire team seems to have so much more juice when Jackson is out there making plays.

Obviously there is a lot to learn still, but Lamar’s ability to extend plays, move linebackers out of the way by shifting to one side before coming back behind them and the way he can create first downs with his legs time and time again is what this team need. They are built on pushing people around in the run game and now extending drives with Jackson’s ability to create on third downs. That’s what works best to complement their defense. Baltimore’s D is now first in total yards and points allowed. They might not have one elite defensive linemen, but they are all big to control the point of attack and they can shrink the pocket from all sides.

C.J. Mosley is what keeps this unit together, as we have seen in his absence in the past, and Eric Weddle controls the back-end for them. However what I think sets them apart is the fact that they trust four of their cornerbacks to match up against opposing receivers one-on-one and say “beat us”.