NFL Power Rankings heading into the fourth quarter of 2019

#5 Seattle Seahawks (10-2)

And just like that, the Hawks lead the NFC West. You might ask why I have San Francisco over Seattle despite the Hawks leading the division and already having beaten them at Levi’s Stadium, but I just think Seattle doesn’t have the same amount of talent or advantages in scheme creativity that the 49ers do.

I know it seems like he always comes through anyway, but Russell Wilson can’t bail his team out in every third-and-long situation with an offensive line that struggles in obvious passing situations. More importantly, however, we have seen this team get burnt in the secondary on multiple occasions – the Bucs went off on them with 34 points and the Vikings had a lot of success through the air even with Dalvin Cook out for most of the second with another 30 points.

With all that being said, the Seahawks' only two losses have come against my number one and three teams while they already beat number two – so I can’t really drop them outside the top five. Russ has been a magician for them once again, but this year he finally has a shot to actually win the MVP trophy if his team earns a first-round bye.

I love seeing Rashaad Penny finally getting going and they have several receivers, who they can target deep. On defense their two biggest additions have paid off – Jadeveon Clowney absolutely wrecked that 49ers game and has scored two touchdowns already to go with blowing up a bunch of plays and safety Quandre Diggs has already paid off with a few big hits.

#6 Kansas City Chiefs (8-4)

So over the last week plus we have gone from “Could the Raiders still win the AFC West?” to “Are the Chiefs that third team in the AFC” and my answer is yes. I know Josh Jacobs went for over 100 yards against what people think is a really bad rush defense, but they never allowed that guy to control the game. I really like what they have shown on the back-end with mixing up coverages in recent weeks and how aggressive they have been with their blitz packages.

That’s how I want them to play because even if they get burnt sometimes, they want to be in more high-scoring affairs anyway. With that offense starting to get healthy – look the hell out! Nobody stresses you more with vertical concepts and ridiculous off-script plays, to go with creative play-design by an all-timer in Andy Reid than these guys have done over the last two years. We have seen the recipe to beat this team when you can punch them in the mouth with a strong rushing attack and by keeping Mahomes and company off the field, but if they get a head-start in games, they get you to play their game.

Both the Chargers and Raiders averaged 4.9 yards a carry in those last two games, but they also combined for seven turnovers towards an opportunistic defense that has some playmakers. A guy I just picked up in fantasy myself in rookie back Darwin Thompson, who could be a true difference-maker down the stretch for them. If they win at Foxborough this weekend, I’m not counting them out for anything.

#7 Green Bay Packers (9-3)

It was awesome to see a vintage Aaron Rodgers performance in the snowstorm. The entire offense has been running more smoothly from week to week, with Allen Lazard emerging as that second-favorite target on those post routes, both backs getting involved in the passing game and some other guys sprinkling in a few grabs. Defensively, I have always liked Mike Pettine’s scheme and the additions the Pack made over the offseason, but I’m not sure how I am supposed to really trust them.

The Smith Brothers can absolutely get after the passer and they are loaded with young talent in the secondary, but they have been vulnerable right down the middle against the run and their youth on the back-end has shown at times against coordinators, who know how to attack their looks. That has led to allowing 6.1 yards per play – the worst mark only behind the Bengals, Cardinals, and Dolphins.

Overall I would like to buy into a team that has shown several flashes on defense, a balanced offensive attack and Aaron Rodgers making some magical plays, but I would put Green Bay just outside those three elites in the NFC, since I still have a bad taste in my mouth from that beatdown in San Francisco. They have a good shot at winning out with Washington coming to town and the rematches with all three divisional opponents, so if they win out, they could still earn a top seed, but if they slip once and lose a tight one at Minnesota, they could fall all the way to the Wildcard.

#8 Buffalo Bills (9-3)

Are you finally a believer now? Leading up to their Thanksgiving game at Jerry’s World, everybody talked about how the Bills hadn’t played anybody and that they are frauds at 8-3. I also had the Cowboys winning that game because I saw the possibility of Zeke going off against a defense that has struggled against the top ground games, but after finally looking like the guy who has led the league in rushing, his coaches decided to just ignore him in the game-plan going forward.

So that is still a concern for me to some degree, but if this group can get you in likely passing situations, they will make you hold the ball because of the way they take away areas you want to attack with the way they are taught situationally, and they have guys who can get home with their rush.

Top draft pick Ed Oliver has really come along recently and made big plays for this unit. On offense, the Bills might not be the most exciting crew, but they are heavily underrated in my opinion. Josh Allen has quietly thrown 11 touchdowns compared to only one INT since their bye in week six, looking like one of the top ten QBs in the league.

John Brown has re-emerged as a go-to guy, Cole Beasley has been dependable in the slot and rookie Devin Singletary is only getting better every time he touches the ball. While nobody really talks about it, Brian Daboll has made this offense much more capable by calling plays from the booth and changing to a more fast-paced approach.