This one will likely cause some debate, so here we go!
(1) BALTIMORE RAVENS (Up five spots) -- The hottest team in the NFL, and clearly taking advantage of my hard rules regarding not advancing teams based on bye weeks, we'll roll the dice this week on the Ravens. Prove me wrong. Winners of five straight games, and outscoring their opponents 116 to 49 in the last three weeks, the Ravens have a 2 game lead over Pittsburgh (plus a tiebreaker) in the AFC North and one of the leading MVP candidates in QB Lamar Jackson.
Here's the rest of our (very different looking) top 10 list!
(2) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (Up three spots) -- The overtime road win over the previously unbeaten 49ers is awfully impressive, and it can be argued that they're the best of a crowded NFC top tier.
(3) SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (Down two spots) It was a jittery late-game effort by QB Jimmy Garoppolo, and the effects of an early bye week could come into play down the road. Not gonna overreact too much to the Monday Night loss, but an important stretch of games loom, starting this weekend against Arizona.
(4) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (No change) Maybe the most important game of the weekend for the Patriots also happens to be perhaps the most important game of the season for their opponent, the Philadelphia Eagles, who find themselves right back in the chase for NFC East supremacy. How do the Pats respond to their humbling loss two weeks ago? We're all about to find out!
(5) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (Down three spots) Head-scratching effort last weekend at home vs. the lowly Falcons, and now a suddenly important road trip against another divisional rival.
(6) GREEN BAY PACKERS (Up two spots) Now that was more like it! After a thoroughly uninspiring effort on the road at the Chargers two weeks ago, they bounce back with a notable effort against the Panthers. Perfect time for the bye week to come along before back-to-back road games at San Francisco and at the NY Giants. That's a lot of miles!
(7) KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (Down four spots) I'm tired of this narrative that they're so much better than everyone else because of an electrifying quarterback. There are glaring holes in their defense and they're going to need to patch those holes in a hurry with run-oriented teams like the Chargers and Raiders on their radar.
(8) MINNESOTA VIKINGS (Up two spots) They can't afford to look past this weekend's home game against the Broncos. They have the benefit of a Thanksgiving bye week, but that also means a chance to be complacent before coming back to action on the road at Seattle. This needs to be a statement win this weekend if they want to be taken seriously.
(9) HOUSTON TEXANS (No change) What a big time matchup this weekend between two of the more dynamic playmakers in the NFL. The Texans can wrangle back control in the rugged AFC South with a win. Those recent wins at home against Oakland and on the road at Kansas City are looking pretty good right now.
(10) DALLAS COWBOYS (Down three spots) The likelihood is that the NFC East winner will be the only team in that division to make the playoffs, which makes the road trip to Detroit this weekend a little more tricky. It's the first of three games in 11 days, two of which are on the road.