The Philadelphia Eagles are not the only bird soaring in the NFL.
No team has made a bigger statement over the past three weeks than the Baltimore Ravens.
Yes, the preseason theory around the league was that the AFC was much deeper at the top than the NFC, but who could’ve seen this coming: The Ravens have sandwiched blowout home victories over two NFC division leaders around a ho-hum win against the lowly Cardinals.
First, it was a 38-6 pasting of the Lions. Then, on Sunday, the Ravens doubled down by rolling over the Seahawks, 37-3. Math wizards can confirm that is a 75-9 cumulative advantage.
The scariest part is that the Ravens seem to be just scratching the surface, given that Lamar Jackson is playing well (71.5 completion percentage and a 100.8 quarterback rating) but hasn’t been the one lighting up the scoreboard (nine touchdown passes and five touchdown runs in nine games). In the best division in the league so far, there is no doubt who deserves to be the midseason king of the AFC North.
Here is The Post’s NFL power rankings for Week 10:
1. Eagles 8-1 (1)
The “Tush Push” worked for another touchdown in a 28-23 victory against the Cowboys. In addition to his franchise-record 33rd career rushing score, a hobbled Jalen Hurts threw for two touchdowns despite taking a hit directly on his already-injured left knee. The defense made a late-game stand, tackling CeeDee Lamb at the 5-yard line as time ran out.
2. Chiefs 7-2 (2)
Frankfurt, Germany hosted the NFL’s most-anticipated game of the year to date. What did the locals see? The power of jumping out to a 21-point halftime lead, which the Chiefs did on the way to a 21-14 win against the Dolphins. Bryan Cook’s 59-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the final minute of the first half was the difference.
3. Ravens 7-2 (5)
As if empowered by the Ravens not adding a running back at the trade deadline, Gus Edwards rushed for two touchdowns and rookie Keaton Mitchell ran for 138 yards and his first touchdown in the 37-3 win against the Seahawks. Odell Beckham Jr. scored his first touchdown, and the defense upped its NFL-best sack total to 35.
4. Jaguars 6-2 (4)
The Jaguars will return from the bye hoping to stay as hot as they were during a five-game winning streak going into it. Christian Kirk (43 catches for 520 yards and three receptions), Calvin Ridley (33 for 451 and two touchdowns) and Evan Engram (51 for 434) form one of the NFL’s best under-the-radar receiving trios.
5. Dolphins 6-3 (3)
Tua Tagovailoa missed a would-be easy touchdown pass and then fumbled a fourth-and-10 snap with 63 seconds remaining in the loss to the Chiefs. Tyreek Hill didn’t have the game he dreamed of against his former team, managing 65 yards from scrimmage on nine touches and committing the game-turning fumble. The high-octane offense punted seven times.
6. Lions 6-2 (6)
When last seen before their bye, the Lions unknowingly were driving the final stake into Josh McDaniels’ failed tenure coaching the Raiders. The expected cakewalk to their first division title since 1993 looks a little stiffer now that the Vikings have won four in a row. Running back David Montgomery’s eventual return will help the cause.
7. Bengals 5-3 (9)
The Bengals’ fourth straight win might have been their most impressive. Joe Burrow threw for 348 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-18 win against the Bills, further moving past an early-season calf injury. Joe Mixon gained some hard yards to move the chains and run out the final 3:32 without giving the Bills a chance to go ahead.
8. 49ers 5-3 (7)
As much as the Jaguars didn’t need their bye, the 49ers did. Three straight losses require a chance to re-examine things. Some of the magic is out of Brock Purdy, who didn’t throw an interception during a 5-0 start but has thrown five in the past three games. Christian McCaffrey leads the NFL with 652 rushing yards.
9. Cowboys 5-3 (8)
Dak Prescott giveth, Dak Prescott taketh away. He threw for 374 yards, including 191 to Lamb, but also took a devastating 11-yard red-zone sack in the final minute as the Cowboys let a three-point halftime lead disappear in a loss to the Eagles. Replay reviews also took a critical 2-point conversion away from Prescott.
10. Steelers 5-3 (12)
How can this be? The Steelers are only the 34th team in NFL history to be outgained in each of their first eight games … and the first of the 34 to emerge from that stretch with a winning record. Last week’s Houdini Act was a 20-16 victory against the Titans, sealed by an end-of-game end-zone interception. Kudos, head coach Mike Tomlin.
11. Bills 5-4 (10)
12. Seahawks 5-3 (11)
13. Browns 5-3 (13)
14. Chargers 4-4 (16)
15. Vikings 5-4 (15)
16. Jets 4-4 (14)
Zach Wilson failed to get the Jets in the end zone and his fumbles accounted for two of Gang Green’s three turnovers in an ugly 27-6 loss to the Chargers on Monday night. The Jets looked nothing like a potential playoff team, even with Aaron Rodgers throwing 50-yard passes pregame.
17. Saints 5-4 (17)
18. Texans 4-4 (20)
19. Titans 3-5 (18)
20. Colts 4-5 (24)
21. Falcons 4-5 (19)
22. Buccaneers 3-5 (22)
23. Raiders 4-5 (25)
24. Broncos 3-5 (23)
25. Commanders 4-5 (26)
26. Packers 3-5 (30)
27. Rams 3-6 (21)
28. Patriots 2-7 (27)
29. Bears 2-7 (28)
30. Giants 2-7 (29)
Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse for the Giants, Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending torn ACL in a 30-6 loss to the Raiders. Tyrod Taylor (rib cage) is already out for the next four games. Tommy DeVito or Matt Barkley will be quarterbacking the NFL’s lowest-scoring offense. Even the vaunted defense suddenly looks unreliable.
31. Panthers 1-7 (31)
32. Cardinals 1-8 (32)
Source
