PodcastFrom NFL: The Insiders
#5: Cowboys, Pats rising at quarter mark; unbeaten Vikings fall out of top 10
STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.
25 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Oct 7, 2026
Published
Wed, October 7, 2026
36
Player insights
32
Players mentioned
Topics
Brian RobinsonC.J. StroudMatthew StaffordPuka NacuaA.J. BrownBijan RobinsonBo NixCaleb WilliamsCeeDee LambChris RodriguezDeebo SamuelDeshaun WatsonDrake LondonDrake Maye
Player analysis
Player insights
A.J. Brown
PositiveDepth Chart25:19
AJ Brown is eligible to be activated from IR this week, which could provide a boost to the Patriots' offense and Drake Maye.
Insight pageBijan Robinson
PositiveUsage21:42
Bijan Robinson has been a key part of a fantastic backfield for the Falcons over the last two weeks, contributing to a 205-yard rushing performance against the Saints.
Insight pageBo Nix
NegativeProjection10:14
Bo Nix is described as a playmaker who is currently not making enough plays to help the Broncos' offense, which lacks consistency.
Insight pageBrian Robinson
NegativeUsage11:58
Brian Robinson Jr. is the center of the Jaguars' ground game, consistently recording between 68 and 73 yards per game.
Insight pagePositiveUsage21:42
Bryan Robinson is getting involved in the Falcons' backfield alongside Bijan Robinson, contributing to a strong rushing attack.
Insight pageC.J. Stroud
PositiveProjection17:07
C.J. Stroud had a fantastic game for the Texans, despite the team's inability to run the football.
Insight pagePositiveProjection26:56
CJ Stroud has been playing very well lately, though the source notes the team is currently wasting his strong performances.
Insight pageCaleb Williams
NegativeInjury23:23
Caleb Williams is currently out, but the Bears are 3-1 and have won their last two games without him.
Insight pageCeeDee Lamb
PositiveUsage15:51
CeeDee Lamb is the focal point of the Cowboys' passing attack, and the team relies heavily on him to score points.
Insight pageChris Rodriguez
PositiveUsage12:08
Chris Rodriguez Jr. serves as the spell back for the Jaguars and recorded a rushing touchdown in their recent game.
Insight pageDeebo Samuel
PositiveUsage1:45
Deebo Samuel contributed to the 49ers' offensive rhythm against the Broncos with a short touchdown reception.
Insight pageDeshaun Watson
PositiveProjection24:18
Deshaun Watson continues to show improvement every week, which the source admits was unexpected.
Insight pageDrake London
PositiveUsage22:56
Drake London was successfully utilized in the Falcons' passing game as part of a strong offensive performance against the Saints.
Insight pageDrake Maye
NegativeProjection25:04
Drake Maye is not quite 'back' yet, but he is on track according to the source.
Insight pageGeorge Kittle
PositiveUsage1:48
George Kittle caught a tight end screen pass for a touchdown, which the source described as one of the best-executed plays of its kind.
Insight pageGeorge Pickens
NegativeUsage16:58
The Cowboys are expected to rely on George Pickens to contribute to their offensive production alongside CeeDee Lamb.
Insight pageJa'Marr Chase
NegativeInjury20:32
Ja'Marr Chase suffered an injury during the Bengals' game, which hindered their ability to throw the football.
Insight pageJahan Dotson
PositiveUsage22:56
Jahan Dotson was successfully utilized in the Falcons' passing game as part of a strong offensive performance against the Saints.
Insight pageJameis Winston
NegativeProjection25:39
Jameis Winston's performance remains inconsistent, characterized by both great and terrible plays.
Insight pageJames Cook
PositiveUsage14:16
James Cook is vital to the Bills' offense; when he is bottled up, the team becomes too reliant on Josh Allen, leading to offensive struggles.
Insight pageJayden Daniels
NegativeInjury28:13
There is uncertainty regarding Jayden Daniels' status for the upcoming week as he deals with an elbow injury requiring a brace, though it is not on his throwing arm.
Insight pageJoe Burrow
NegativeUsage20:21
Joe Burrow threw 54 passes in the Bengals' recent loss, which the source suggests is too many and indicates an imbalance in the offense.
Insight pageKenneth Walker III
PositiveUsage4:01
Kenneth Walker had a massive performance against the Raiders with 22 carries for 177 yards and two touchdowns, providing the Chiefs with a reliable run game.
Insight pageKirk Cousins
PositiveProjection26:54
Kirk Cousins is playing at a high level, appearing years younger than his actual age, and is a key reason for the Raiders' success.
Insight pageKyle Pitts
PositiveUsage22:56
Kyle Pitts was successfully utilized in the Falcons' passing game as part of a strong offensive performance against the Saints.
Insight pageKyler Murray
NegativeProjection24:17
Kyler Murray looked slightly better in his recent outing but still appears uncomfortable within the Vikings' offense.
Insight pageMatthew Stafford
NegativeProjection19:16
The source notes that Matthew Stafford is starting to look his age and has been sloppy with the football, contributing to the Rams' offensive struggles.
Insight pageNegativeUsage28:27
Matthew Stafford has been sloppy with the football, throwing two interceptions against the Eagles, and is starting to show his age.
Insight pageMichael Penix Jr.
PositiveRole20:40
The Falcons' offense looks significantly different and runs much better with Michael Penix Jr. behind center, having scored 80 points over the last two weeks.
Insight pagePatrick Mahomes
NegativeUsage3:55
Patrick Mahomes finished with a 50% completion percentage against the Raiders, but the Chiefs were able to win by relying on a balanced offense and the run game.
Insight pagePuka Nacua
PositiveUsage19:42
Puka Nacua returned to action with nine catches for 125 yards, despite being on a pitch count.
Insight pagePositiveUsage30:02
Puka Nacua returned to the Rams' lineup and recorded nine catches for 125 yards despite being on a pitch count.
Insight pageRashee Rice
NegativeInjury5:12
Rashee Rice sustained an injury during the Chiefs' game against the Raiders, raising concerns about the team's wide receiver depth.
Insight pageTee Higgins
NegativeInjury21:44
Tee Higgins is currently dealing with an injury, with the team hoping the upcoming bye week will allow him to return.
Insight pageTyler Huntley
NegativeRole7:31
With Lamar Jackson injured, Tyler Huntley is expected to step in as a capable and accomplished veteran, though there are concerns about the Ravens' offensive ceiling.
Insight pageTyson Bagent
PositiveBreakout21:49
Tyson Bagent led the Bears to an impressive win over the Jets, contributing to the team's 3-1 record in Caleb Williams' absence.
Insight pageFull transcript
Episode Transcript
0:00This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human. NFL: The Insiders is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeart Radio.
0:06Welcome to NFL Power Rankings. I'm your host, Colleen Wolfe, and I'm pleased to be joined by our ranking czar, Nick Shook.
0:11Nick, how are you feeling after another week of games?
0:14I'm a big fan of defense, and if you love defense, then you love this week.
0:18Ooh! Okay, well, you guys can read Nick's full article, nfl.com slash power rankings.
0:22Let's take a look at your teams, one through eight.
0:25The top eight in the league. Hey, the Cowboys!
0:27Look at them! And up at number one, same as last week, it is the Niners.
0:31You got the Chiefs, they are number two, then Seahawks, Ravens, Broncos, Jags, Bills.
0:35The Bills are falling. And Cowboys. We'll get to them, but let's start with the Niners.
0:39How impressed were you with the Niners after their win over the Broncos?
0:43You know, for a half, I wasn't very impressed, but by this time the second half showed up and they found some
0:49offensive rhythm, then it became more of, okay, this Niners team might be for real because this is a really good defense.
0:55This is the defense that, you know, had stopped a lot of other good offenses, had stopped Jacksonville the week prior.
1:00And instead of crumbling, despite a lack of offensive production, Brock Purdy and co., they found their rhythm.
1:05Yeah! It was a short touchdown pass to Debo Samuel.
1:08It was a tight end screen to finish it off to George Kittle, one of the best executed tight end screens you're
1:14ever going to see in the NFL. And ultimately what it was, was a team passing their first legitimate test.
1:19Now, you could look at their schedule and say, oh, they played the Rams in week one, but they played the Rams in Australia.
1:25And the Rams, we had talked about their travel situation, right?
1:28So I didn't really count that as a legitimate strong, you know, check mark on their resume.
1:33The next two games were against softer opponents. This time they faced a test, they overcame adversity and they beat the Broncos at their own game.
1:40Their defense did a great job. How about that?
1:42And the fact that the 49ers, they have not allowed a sack the offensive line.
1:46Still! I mean, that is just wild! Against a team that majors in sacks.
1:50Yes! Exactly! So, okay, I get it. I respect it that they are number one.
1:54They are up there above the Chiefs. Let's get to the Chiefs right now.
1:57Why should we be impressed? I feel like this is a mean way to tee it up.
2:02Say it. I feel like the Raiders are maybe better than people are getting them credit for.
2:07Yes! And they put up a massive fight in this game.
2:09So this almost told me more about the Raiders.
2:12But we're talking about the Chiefs here. So, what is your, where are you mentally with the Chiefs now?
2:17You know, I think in previous years this would be a major red flag.
2:21But these Raiders are not the Raiders of old.
2:23Uh-huh. And I was really impressed by the Chiefs' way that they won this game.
2:27Which is overcoming a deficit in the fourth quarter.
2:29Getting some timely plays on special teams. Cashing them in.
2:32And continuing to be the team that they've been since week one.
2:35Which is a balanced offense. A team that doesn't have to rely on Patrick Mahomes who only finished with a 50% completion percentage.
2:41They were able to lean on Kenneth Walker. Puts up another huge day.
2:4522 carries, 177 yards, two touchdowns. They are multiple.
2:47They can hit you in a number of different ways.
2:50And they overcame challenges on the road. This was the feistiest Raiders crowd I've ever heard.
2:54Uh-huh. And that's with a lot of Chiefs fans still in attendance.
2:57So yes, it does, I get a lot out of it for the Raiders.
3:01But I don't believe in moral victories. And I do believe in this being a strong win for the Chiefs.
3:06Are you concerned at all about the wide receiver injuries for Kansas City?
3:10Yes. Taekwon Thornton going down with a gruesome injury.
3:12Rasheed Rice going down with an injury. That's going to concern me.
3:15But here's the thing. The Chiefs are in the same place they've been for like the last four years.
3:21I know. It's so true. They've been searching. They signed Juju Smith-Schuster twice.
3:24I mean, I know that was a few years ago.
3:27But like this is a team that's very capable of overcoming injuries at receiver.
3:30And they're more capable, better equipped now than they were in previous years because of Kenneth Walker.
3:35So they stay at number two. That is a big win that I think is going to look good in the long run on their resume.
3:42It's just such a beautiful sight to see Kansas City with a run game.
3:46Yes. And to see Andy Reid calling runs. Yes.
3:48That's something that he doesn't typically do. Not since the days of, not even Clyde Edwards-Alaire.
3:52That didn't work out either. No. Uh-uh. Let's go to your number four team, the Ravens.
3:57And at this point with Tyler Snoop Huntley, can he keep the offense going?
4:00And where does that put you with the team and Lamar's injury?
4:03This is going to be one of the toughest games to pick this week.
4:07Yeah. They sit here because they took care of business.
4:10And they actually, they bump up a spot as a product of the bills coming down.
4:14So, you know, sometimes that happens when it comes to these rankings.
4:17So by default. By default, they move up. They took care of business.
4:21They got the job done. They were clearly the better team.
4:24They built a big lead in the first half.
4:26Lamar goes out. And then they just kind of coasted to victory because they could against the Tennessee Titans.
4:31When you look forward though, against Atlanta coming up this week, it's going to be a massive game.
4:36It's in prime time. And the Falcons look very strong.
4:39And I'm a little concerned about the Ravens offense because it didn't have the greatest level of momentum in the last few weeks.
4:45Even with Lamar in there, the running game has still not been a major factor as I would like it to be.
4:51And if you take that, you take Lamar out of the equation, you get Snoop Huntley who's a very capable and accomplished veteran.
4:57Then I start to worry about your overall offensive ceiling against a Falcons offense that is just fantastic right now.
5:02So you cannot bring down Bajon Robinson. Exactly. So I think that judging by what we're going to see this week, we
5:08could see some movement from the Ravens and probably more movement from the Falcons if they come out on top.
5:13I mean, look, the Ravens are still a good football team.
5:16They are. They're just not quite as good as I thought they'd be as of now.
5:20I think a lot of people are aligned with that opinion.
5:23Let's go to the Broncos who you move them up even though they lost.
5:27Another product of just change around them, right? Look, the Broncos, they played valiantly.
5:31They still had the same issues that I have a lot of issue with, which is that their offense doesn't show up for four quarters.
5:37Didn't really show up until the fourth quarter of this game.
5:40And defensively, while they played a good game in the first half, they weren't, as you said earlier, they weren't able to get after Brock Purdy.
5:47Like their pass rush has just not been as good as it was last year.
5:51Not having Jonathan Cooper in the mix, I think, definitely affects that.
5:55It's just kind of Nick Benito out there generating the pass rush.
5:58And they haven't used Jalen Waddell to the level that I would have liked so far.
6:02And a lot of it's just because their offense lacks consistency.
6:05They want to be a team that can run the football.
6:08They did not run the football well in this game at all.
6:11And they weren't able to build the pass out of that.
6:14And, you know, Bo Nix, he's always a lightning rod of sorts.
6:17And I understand why. He's a playmaker who isn't quite making enough plays to help this offense right now.
6:22So they move up because of the Bills moving down.
6:25They move up because they were competitive against the Niners, but they're still not worthy of a top three or four spot.
6:31No. 27th in scoring. Still a good football team.
6:33Yeah. Like that is, that's not great. When you look at they've scored fewer points than the Eagles.
6:38That's got to improve. And the Eagles offense has been atrocious to watch.
6:41So, yes. I'm surprised you haven't lost sleep over the Eagles.
6:44Look at me today. It's Tuesday and I still feel like I am weathered by that game.
6:49Speaking of which, let's go to the Jaguars who will be playing the Eagles on Sunday in London.
6:54The Jags are your number six team and the defense looks good.
6:57This was the consummate Jaguars victory. I think in my opinion because yes, they have Trevor Lawrence and they can move the football.
7:03But what they've done is they've built an identity that they are willing to announce every time they arrive in your stadium
7:09or they show up at their home stadium, which is currently, you know, halfway through renovations right now.
7:14Weird picture, by the way, when you see the upper deck just tarped off and everything else.
7:18Huh. Basial Tootin is going to be the center of their ground game.
7:2217 for 73. His numbers per game are way too similar.
7:25Like you could just very much tell this is what they want to do.
7:28It's always like 68, 73 yards. Chris Rodriguez comes as the spell back, gets him a rushing touchdown in this game.
7:34But what's most important for me and why I love this Jaguars team as we continue to move into October is this defense.
7:40This defense is better than people realize. Their front is better than people realize.
7:44They're opportunistic. And they caused all kinds of problems for Joe Burrow on Sunday.
7:47They got after him a lot. They forced him to throw a couple of really ugly interceptions.
7:52This is a win, much like what I had said about an earlier team in the Chiefs, that I think is going
7:58to look really good on their resume a couple of months from now.
8:01And look, you might not like the idea of the Jaguars.
8:04I love the Jaguars right now. Yeah. Hey, I mean, I also enjoy the Jaguars.
8:08Yes. That defense. They're the only team in the NFL that they haven't allowed more than 20 points in any game this season.
8:14That is the only defense. That usually wins a game.
8:17Exactly. That's what I've heard. Let's go to the Bills, who two weeks in a row now, they've kind of looked underwhelming at home.
8:23Yeah. And I'm sure I'll attract a ton of anger from Bills fans for this.
8:27But if they're being honest with themselves. Down poor spots.
8:30Yes. If they're being honest with themselves, they'll probably agree with this to a degree.
8:34Look, this is a Patriots team that came into Buffalo last week in crisis mode.
8:38They looked terrible against Jacksonville. Scott Zolak, the color commentator, flirted with the idea of wanting to bench Drake May in the middle of last week's loss.
8:45Drake May gets back on track a little bit with his play in this game.
8:49And the Patriots end up getting the turnover they needed to seal the victory.
8:53They overcame a late deficit. They got after Josh Allen.
8:56This Bills offense, I think if you take James Cook out of the equation, which wasn't by design for Buffalo, but what
9:01New England forced them to do, they bottled up the run early and really made him ineffective for the most part.
9:07It becomes too much, too reliant on Josh Allen.
9:09They played a fantastic game and they still lose.
9:12That's how important James Cook is to them. So right now they have some questions that they have to answer, some problems
9:18that they have to work out in order to get back to where they are.
9:22And look, they're three and one and they're probably one of the lowest ranked three and one teams on this ranking.
9:27There's a couple more behind them. Yeah, but it's the fashion in which they've played the last two weeks.
9:32They got away with one against the Chargers. They couldn't do it against the Patriots.
9:36The turnovers. They need to clean up the turnover.
9:39Seven turnovers in two weeks. That's going to keep you falling down Nick Shook's power ranking.
9:43So maybe that'll be some bulletin board material for them.
9:46Yeah, clean it up. Okay, let's shine a spotlight on the Cowboys.
9:49They're up three spots. What is this team stealing?
9:51Because the offense, CeeDee Lamb, what a game he had.
9:54What a tough, I think, analysis, job to analyze this team.
9:57The Cowboys, we know they can score points. Uh-huh.
9:59And that's exactly what they did to win this game.
10:02We know their defense is going to give up a lot of points.
10:05They're going to have to outscore opponents. But as it stands right now, I'm looking at this team and I'm thinking, okay, I know what you are.
10:13You're a team that's going to rely heavily on the passing game.
10:16You're going to get enough from your running game.
10:18You're going to lean heavily on CeeDee Lamb. You're going to hope George Pickens contributes to what he usually does.
10:24And then you're going to pray that you get enough out of your defense.
10:27CeeDee Stroud had a great game in this contest.
10:30Yeah. He was fantastic. Texans can't run the football.
10:32Cowboys end up coming out victorious. And, look, I know that this is a pass-first league.
10:36This is an offensively driven league. But this is a win that I think is going to stand, you know, over the
10:42next month or so as an impressive one because of how they were able to drop a ton of points on a
10:48Texans team whose defense has a great reputation who I think we should start to question a little bit.
10:53Yeah. I think a lot of people are wondering what's going on with D'Amico Ryans and that defense.
10:58Okay, coming up, where are the Rams after their comeback win over the Eagles in Philadelphia?
11:02And how about the undefeated Vikings? Yeah, we all saw that coming.
11:05Stick around. We have more power rankings next. Back here on Power Rankings, a look at teams 9 through 16.
11:11The Bengals down one spot. They're right there up top of this tier.
11:14You got the Bears, the Vikings down two, 4-0.
11:17We'll get to that. Raiders, 3-1 team. They're down two spots though.
11:20At 12, the Rams, they stood pat at 13.
11:22The Carolina Panthers are shooting up the list here, up eight spots at 14.
11:26Same with the Falcons, up eight spots behind them at 15.
11:29And then the Lions down two at 16. But let's start with the Bengals.
11:32After starting 2-0, they looked really good, but now they've lost two in a row.
11:36They're 2-2 at this point, and this was your AFC Super Bowl contender.
11:40So how are you feeling about that? Just got to rub it in.
11:43I mean, at least I didn't pick a worse team that's 0-4 that I'm not going to reference right now.
11:49Look, the Bengals have lost two one-score games. They've been in both of them.
11:52They are going to regret losing both of these games.
11:55This one I think was especially frustrating. Yes, they gave up a ton of points to the Steelers last week, but they were in this one.
12:02They had opportunities. The Jaguars couldn't get out of their own way with all their penalties that they committed in the first half.
12:08Otherwise, they probably would have had a two or three touchdown lead.
12:11And yet, the Bengals didn't capitalize. It's one of those performances that causes a little bit of concern because there's not enough balance with this offense.
12:18I know Joe Burrow postgame was like, let's throw it more.
12:21Well, Joe, you threw it a lot in this game.
12:24Over 54 passes. He threw 54 passes. That's too many throws for Joe Burrow.
12:28There's a little bit of imbalance in this offense right now that the Bengals need to correct.
12:32They also lost Jamar Chase in this game, which hurt them and their potential to throw the football.
12:37The defense bounced back, I think. He only gave up 22 points.
12:40That was a big issue with them against the Steelers last week.
12:43So, I still like the way that they look.
12:46They're going to go play the Dolphins, get right game.
12:48Right. But make sure that you do get right.
12:51Make sure that you actually take care of business because the Dolphins are more competitive than people realize.
12:56And the nice thing too for the Bengals is they have a bye right after that.
13:00So, that will hopefully get their wide receivers enough time to get back out there and playing.
13:04Jamar Chase and Tee Higgins both dealing with injuries.
13:07Let's go to the Bears. Up two spots, right?
13:09And how impressed were you with Tyson Bajan? Is Ben Johnson quarterback proof?
13:13Oh, that's the talk now, right? Is he quarterback proof?
13:15Which quarterback can they sign and he can still win?
13:18Can we get Joe Flacco off the Bengals roster?
13:20Can we go pull somebody else out of the free agency pool right now just to test it?
13:25Let's just test this experiment. Why not? Look, they were, this is the most impressive win I think of the season for them.
13:31Which is crazy because it was with Tyson Bajan.
13:34It was against the Jets. Jets team I think is better.
13:37Well, maybe not anymore. I thought they were better than their record indicated.
13:40What was so impressive was how lopsided it was.
13:42Let's look at the play totals. 89 to 32.
13:45Okay? Ooh. That's a lot for one team and a little for the other.
13:49492 yards to 157 for the Jets. Quite the disparity.
13:51In fact, it's a miracle that they only won by 11.
13:54They probably should have won by a lot more.
13:57It's told me that Ben Johnson remains one of the best coaches in the league.
14:01One who can overcome challenges brought about by health concerns.
14:03I'm curious to see what this offense looks like when they do get Caleb Williams back eventually.
14:08But as of now, they're 3-1. They've won their last two games without Caleb.
14:12Yeah. Pretty good team. I'm glad they're in the top 10.
14:14And if they do it again, they'll probably continue to climb.
14:17Hey, they're the number one team in rushing. And they take on the Packers next week who cannot stop the run.
14:23Look, it's a rivalry and you throw the records out the window with the rivalries.
14:27That's true. I have a feeling it's going to be lopsided again.
14:30Yeah. Division games, you never know what's going to happen.
14:33Speaking of division, let's go to the Vikings who are down two spots.
14:36They're at 11. They won Sunday. They're 4-0. Undefeated.
14:39And they fell two spots. Yeah. Is this just also a product of the environment?
14:43It's a little bit of a product of the process, right?
14:46It's also a product of this team not having any offense to speak of.
14:49All 15 points they scored in this game off the foot of Will the Thrill Reichert.
14:54I think that's his nickname. Great kicker, but the offense not great.
14:57Kyler Murray looked a little bit better than he did in the previous outing, but he still looks pretty uncomfortable.
15:02Offensively, they put up 330 yards. So, like, you're looking at it and you're thinking, okay, this is pretty good, but they continue to stall.
15:09And look, I love the Dolphins. I think they're better than their 0-4 record because I see their potential in what they're trying to accomplish.
15:15But when you look at it from the bigger picture, this is kind of an embarrassing win in some ways.
15:21This is a defense first team, and they know that they're going to be an extreme challenge to any offense they face.
15:27But I don't think that formula on itself can go win you, like, a postseason game against some of the best teams in the NFL.
15:33So they've got to figure this out offensively in order to really become the team that I think they can and climb into the top 10.
15:40So that's why at 4-0 they sit at 11.
15:43You know what they're really good at, though? They are number one in the NFL in punts.
15:47They have the most punts right now. Yeah, because they cannot finish drives.
15:51Let's go to the Raiders who we, I don't know, they really put up a great fight against the Chiefs.
15:56They suffered their first loss of the season. Where are you right now with the Raiders?
16:00Because they're a lot of fun. Yeah, I mean, I'm at 12th and it pains me to put them at 12 because
16:06if they would have won that game, they'd be inside the top 10 and climbing.
16:10They're one of the most enjoyable stories to track this season in the NFL.
16:14Kirk Cousins is playing like he's years younger than his actual age.
16:17They don't have much of a running game, didn't in this game, and yet they were still able to put up a
16:23good amount of points and take the Chiefs to the wire.
16:26And, you know, we talked about earlier with the Chiefs, it's like you look at a close one over the Raiders and it's like almost a red flag.
16:33It's not because the Raiders are for real. They're getting the absolute most out of their talent.
16:38Their offseason acquisitions, you know, starting with like guys like the Kobe Dean of the defensive side have really carried them to the next level.
16:44Clint Kubiak's doing a fantastic job with them. So I know they moved down two spots as a product of losing, but this is the best.
16:51I think one of the best, not the best because the Bears are also 3-1 teams in the NFL right now.
16:57And they already matched their win total from last year.
17:00So that's a positive. And it's not even Halloween.
17:02Hey, look at that. Let's go to the Rams who had a big win against the Eagles in Philadelphia.
17:07Was it big? Was it big? Even though they had, Matthew Stafford threw two interceptions in that game and there were points
17:13off of turnovers, but the Eagles are a mess.
17:15This is about the Rams though, Chuck. This is about the Rams.
17:18I know we're going to avoid talking about your Eagles and I'm sorry, but this is a win that can be good and bad at the same time.
17:26I think both things can be true with this team because for about three and a half quarters, they look like a team destined for another loss.
17:33And one of those look long and hard in the mirror situations at dropping to one and three.
17:38Instead, they find it within themselves to mount a comeback.
17:41They scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes of this game.
17:44They sure did. To take down the Eagles, overcome a deficit that I thought was going to stand the test of time.
17:50And so it's a good sign for them and their ability to overcome adversity, but they still have a lot of things to figure out.
17:56Offensively, they got to eliminate the turnovers. Matthew Stafford, I hate to say it, but he's starting to look like his age.
18:02He's just been sloppy with the football. They got Puka Nakua back.
18:05He has nine catches for 125 yards. He was also on a pitch count.
18:09It just seems like there's not quite enough depth and diversity with this offense right now.
18:13Like they love to go heavy personnel. They were missing some of their top tight ends.
18:18So they got to get healthy more than anything.
18:20But look, you're two and two. They could be worse.
18:23Yeah. And Monday Night Football next week against the Bills.
18:25So that is appointment viewing. Yes. And it's too bad they won't have Myles Garrett for that.
18:30That's fair. Time for our Team of the Week.
18:32And it is the Atlanta Falcons. They've won back-to-back weeks in prime time on the road.
18:37Monday night, they went to New Orleans and they rolled the Saints.
18:40This offense, we talked about it a little bit earlier, but now with Michael Penix Jr.
18:44back, the offense just looks so different and runs so well.
18:47Yes. They bludgeoned the Saints last night. A Saints team that I've really had a lot of fun watching because I thought
18:53their defense was better than the sum of its parts.
18:55And yet, last night, the Falcons just took them to the woodshed.
18:59I mean, they ran all over them. 205 rushing yards for the Falcons.
19:02It wasn't just Bajan. It was also Bryan Robinson.
19:04Surname Cousins Brothers. They're not related, but I feel like there's something that we can work with marketing-wise with those two Robins.
19:10Absolutely. Yes. They've been a fantastic backfield over the last couple of weeks.
19:14Obviously carried by Bajan, but Bryan getting involved as well.
19:16The offense looks a lot better with Michael Penix behind center healing.
19:20They throw the ball 20 times. This is Kevin Stefanski at his best.
19:23When he has a running game that's strong, when he has an offensive line that is blowing the defensive line off the
19:29ball consistently, winning at the point of attack, he can do pretty much anything.
19:33Last night, they established the run. They're able to build off of that.
19:36Hit Drake London. Hit Jahan Dodson. Hit Kyle Pitts.
19:39Saints had no answer for them defensively. No. And if you look at, you know, the Saints offensively, they had some struggles
19:44against this defense that got a lot of pressure, which is, that's pretty new for the Falcons.
19:49I know! This is a very different territory that we're in.
19:5280 points in two weeks for that offense with Michael Penix.
19:55That is a joy for Atlanta fans to see.
19:57Coming up, the Drake May haters. I guess they can go away now.
20:01New England, went to Buffalo and saved their season.
20:03This is craziness that these words that I'm saying.
20:05How high does Nick Schuch have them in his power rankings?
20:08We'll find out next. It's Nick Schuch's power rankings presented by Energizer.
20:12And here are teams 17 through 24. The Browns at 3-1.
20:15They remain at 17 unchanged. The Patriots up 13 spots at 18.
20:18You have the Giants, then the Saints, then the Eagles down six spots.
20:21The Colts at 22, down two spots. The Texans up one.
20:24And then the Jets down six. So, let's start with the Browns.
20:27They're on a three-game winning streak. This is your team.
20:30Do you want to say something nice about that?
20:32Yeah, I'll say I'm sorry that they weren't moved up.
20:35This is kind of a product of just going through the whole process and looking at all these teams.
20:40And look, I mean, that was a great win.
20:43It was the inverse of how they won their last two games, which was get offense late, lean on the defense early.
20:48They got a ton of offense in the second quarter, and were able to ride that out with their defense.
20:54This looks like a competent football team. This looks like a very fun football team to watch.
20:58They're in a mix. I don't know what mix it is, but Deshaun Watson continues to get better every week, which is
21:04something I never thought I would be saying. But here we are in reality in 2026.
21:08And if they win against the Jets, which I feel like is not a trap game, but a pitfall opportunity, then I think they'll start to climb.
21:16Also, their pass rush is awesome. Awesome. And this is without Miles Garrett, something that I didn't think I would ever say either.
21:22Big tip of the cap to DC Mike Rutenberg.
21:24How about that? Let's go to Power Moves. And that is awarded to the Patriots up 13 spots after their big win in Buffalo.
21:30Yeah. Look, I understand Patriots fans. I hear you.
21:33I know that you were angry that I ranked you 31st, but it looked like one of the worst outfits in the NFL last week.
21:39Was that reactionary? Yes. Did you bounce back emphatically?
21:42Yes. Is Efton Chisholm awesome in crunch time? Perhaps.
21:44Is Drake May back? Not quite, but he's on track.
21:47So it's a good win for the Patriots. It's a divisional win, which always counts for a little more.
21:52And I feel a little bit better about them, but they got to continue to do this.
21:57It can't just be a little flash in the pan.
21:59Right. And AJ Brown eligible to be activated from IR this week.
22:02So that could be a boost for the offense and Drake May as well.
22:06The clouds may be parting. Hey, look at that.
22:09Let's go to your number 19 team. And that's the Giants.
22:11They're 3-1. They are the top team in the NFC East.
22:14Are you buying them as a final team? I don't know what to make of this team right now.
22:19I mean, Jameis Winston, I know what to make of him.
22:22It's up and down. It's great plays. It's terrible plays.
22:25They got both of that on Sunday. What was really impressive about this, though, was the defense that I thought lacked teeth.
22:31Definitely lacked teeth early. Then they find a way to bounce back and then kind of just stymie the Cardinals offense.
22:36And then the Giants offense does enough to win this game.
22:39And then they get the goal line stand as well at the end, which is second straight with the goal line stand.
22:45So what they are is they're a John Harbaugh team.
22:48I think they lack a little bit of talent in some spots, but they're getting the most out of some of their key guys.
22:54And as of now, yes, leading the NFC East.
22:57We'll see how long it lasts. Yeah. The Jameis Winston experience.
23:00We are all in it right now. Let's go to the Texans.
23:030-4 at number 23 in your rankings. Are you finished with them?
23:06You mentioned the defense. Some questions now around Amico Ryans and that side of the ball, which was always the strongest part of the ball.
23:13Yeah. Look, I was not one of the people that picked the Texans to go to the Super Bowl.
23:18And those who did will not be named on the show.
23:21But it wasn't me, by the way. They do have an opportunity to get right and get back on the winning side for the first time this year.
23:28My concern with them is that their identity has shifted.
23:31They are not a defense first team anymore. They cannot lean on this defense to bail them out.
23:36And conversely, CJ Stroud has been really good lately.
23:38And they're wasting good CJ Stroud performances. Yeah. How dare you?
23:41Exactly. How dare you? I'm upset with you, Texans.
23:43But I haven't lost my faith in them entirely yet.
23:46Okay. All right. Well, they have Tennessee coming up next week.
23:49Here is teams 25 through 32. You have the Steelers, the Cardinals, the Packers, the Commanders down seven spots, Dolphins, Bucks, Chargers down four spots.
23:56And at 32, it's the Titans. So do you have something, you know, encouraging to say about one of those bottom teams?
24:01It pained me to drop the Commanders this far because I think their defense continues to play above expectation.
24:07And they did a good job of keeping them in this game.
24:10But the quarterback situation is concerning. Even with Jaden Daniels, if he's able to come back this week playing with the elbow
24:16brace, I know it's not his throwing arm. I'm just a little hesitant about this team, but I do like them a lot more than their ranking stands.
24:23So I'm feeling good about them. Meanwhile, the Packers at 27, I think they deserve to be there.
24:28That was an ugly win over the Buccaneers. That truly was both teams just sort of in weird spots right now.
24:33I feel like. Yeah. Hey, thanks so much for hanging out with us.
24:37That's it for power rankings. We're going to be back next week.
24:40So enjoy the weekend. NFL Power Rankings is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeartRadio.
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