Our Week 10 NFL Power Rankings open with an NFC team, the New York Giants, ending the AFC's dominant run at the top. It's hard to shrug off what the Giants have done during a five-game win streak, especially in light of Sunday's beatdown of the Seahawks in Seattle.
But a two-loss New York team topping the rankings further highlights the NFL's parity-filled status in 2010. No team has less than two losses, and four teams with more than two losses sit in the top 10.
What's that mean? Well, it means that these rankings probably won't be worth a dime come next week, when there will no doubt be more major movement up and down the list. But for now, here's how things look:
- 1. Giants (6-2) | Last Week: 4
At the start of the season, the NFC East looked like the class of the NFL. The possibility of that division claiming three playoff spots even seemed likely. Now, New York's threatening to run away and hide. If the Giants are still riding a win streak after a Week 11 trip to Philadelphia, this division's over. -- Chris Burke - 2. Ravens (6-2) | Last Week: 3
The Baltimore defense looked much more together in a Week 9 win over Miami than it did in a Week 7 squeaker vs. Buffalo. But a short week and trip to Atlanta Thursday provide a test -- these Thursday night games are never easy to predict. -- CB - 3. Falcons (6-2) | Last Week: 6
The Falcons keep finding ways to win, and share the best record in the NFC with the New York Giants. The last few weeks haven't been pretty wins for Atlanta, but they are wins, nonetheless. With Baltimore in town on a short week this Thursday, the Falcons need to shore up their play and show they're worthy of league-wide praise -- not just NFC South accolades. -- Knox Bardeen - 4. Patriots (6-2) | Last Week: 1
The fact that New England lost to Cleveland isn't as troubling as how New England lost to Cleveland. Watching the Browns' Peyton Hillis run wild against the Patriots' front is a terrible sign for this team. Tom Brady's offense being held to 14 points wasn't particularly encouraging, either. -- CB - 5. Steelers (6-2) | Last Week: 5
Pittsburgh's defense looked surprisingly shaky in nearly blowing a 20-point lead at Cincinnati Monday. But two bigger problems surfaced: 1) The health of Maurkice Pouncey -- he exited Monday's game briefly and the Steelers' line fell apart, so he has to get back to 100 percent; and 2) Jeff Reed missed another clutch kick. -- CB - 6. Packers (6-3) | Last Week: 7
The Packers took advantage of a listless Dallas team, walloping the Cowboys on national television and giving Jerry Jones an excuse to make waves with a coaching change Monday. For Green Bay to stay on top of the NFC North, it still needs to get healthier, because the Vikings and Bears will give the Packers fits in the second half of the season. - 7. Jets (6-2) | Last Week: 8
The good news is that the Jets' offense woke up just in time to steal a relatively undeserved victory from the Lions. But the bad news is that Detroit knocked the Jets around for much of the game, and pretty much did what it wanted offensively until Matthew Stafford's injury. -- CB - 8. Colts (5-3) | Last Week: 2
It's been awhile since the Colts generally seemed to be in trouble in the AFC South, but here ya go. Indianapolis is now tied with Tennessee for the division lead, and may have just lost Austin Collie for several weeks. Even Peyton Manning will slow down if every other player on the offense is hurt. -- CB - 9. Saints (6-3) | Last Week: 9
After squeaking by teams early in the season -- and dropping a few games along the way -- the Saints have convincingly won three of their last four. They now head into a bye week that will greatly help some of their injured players get closer to a Week 11 return. -- KB - 10. Eagles (5-3) | Last Week: 12
Huge win over Indianapolis in Week 9, but the bigger news was the play of Michael Vick. Returning from injury, he looked extremely dangerous again as a dual-threat guy. These next two weeks -- at Washington, home vs. the Giants -- are huge for Philly. -- CB - 11. Titans (5-3) | Last Week: 14
It's time to unleash the Randy Moss Experience on the AFC South, as the mercurial WR makes his debut in a Week 11 trip to Miami. If he fits in -- and doesn't blow up -- the Titans might be the team to beat in the AFC South. -- CB - 12. Raiders (5-4) | Last Week: 15
No AFC team is hotter than the Radiers -- the Raiders! -- after wins against two division leaders and another in Denver. If this team can somehow pull off a fourth straight win after the bye in a matchup in Pittsburgh, the Raiders could have legitimate title aspirations. Just another crazy NFL season. -- R.J. White - 13. Dolphins (4-4) | Last Week: 10
Miami again looked like a middle-of-the-road team against Baltimore, a fact supported by the Dolphins' .500 record. With Oakland surging, the Jets and Patriots looking strong, Pittsburgh and Baltimore battling in the AFC North, and several teams staying competitive in the AFC South, it's hard to imagine where MIami would fit in the playoff picture. -- CB - 14. Chiefs (5-3) | Last Week: 11
Who could have imagined a Week 9 game between the Chiefs and Raiders could wind up deciding the AFC West divisional race. The Chiefs played valiantly in Oakland, yet still lost. After Thomas Jones found no running room in the game, it's high time the full awesomeness of Jamaal Charles is unleashed. -- RW - 15. Buccaneers (5-3) | Last Week: 13
The Buccaneers team that served as divisional fodder over the past few seasons is now here to play with the big boys. Josh Freeman shows poise and precision beyond his years, and even though the Bucs lost to division-leading Atlanta last Sunday, they valiantly fought back from an early deficit. Tampa Bay isn't far off from being a force to be reckoned with. -- KB - 16. Bears (5-3) | Last Week: 17
While everyone continues to marvel at their ability to stay afloat, the Bears should not apologize for their 5-3 record. It might not be pretty, but Chicago competes, and it's been in every game. The Bears might not look like they belong, but they're just a half-game out of first place in a division still up for grabs. - 17. Chargers (4-5) | Last Week: 19
Two wins in a row mean the Chargers are setting off on their annual second-half, juggernaut-like run. Philip Rivers is winning games with Randy McMichael and Seyi Ajirotutu as his primary weapons. Imagine this offense with Vincent Jackson, Antonio Gates and Malcom Floyd in December. -- RW - 18. Redskins (4-4) | Last Week: 18
This is it for Washington. The next four weeks -- Philadelphia, at Tennessee, Minnesota, at the Giants -- will determine how this Redskins season ends up. Either Donovan McNabb and Mike Shanahan kiss and make-up and the Redskins rally for a playoff spot, or the wheels come off completely. -- CB - 19. Jaguars (4-4) | Last Week: 20
This has to be one of the least exciting 4-4 clubs in recent memory, but the Jaguars are still right in the thick of things -- and can really serve notice that they're in the hunt with a Week 10 victory over the Texans. -- CB - 20. Texans (4-4) | Last Week: 16
Another week and another missed opportunity for Houston. We're nine weeks into the season now and it's hard not to think "Same old Texans." This roller coaster of a team is on pace for 8-8 and that feels about right. -- CB - 21. Browns (3-5) | Last Week: 23
Well, now. Cleveland absolutely stomped New England, just a couple of weeks after winning in New Orleans. If the Browns can find a way past the Jets on Sunday, we might have to thrust their name into the AFC playoff race. -- CB - 22. Rams (4-4) | Last Week: 22
Rested after a Week 9 bye, the Rams seem to be in the driver's seat in the NFC West. Sam Bradford has done a lot with little at receiver all year, and coach Steve Spagnuolo has the defense playing very well. This week's road game against division rival San Francisco will be another big test for the upstart Rams. -- RW - 23. Vikings (3-5) | Last Week: 28
A win is a win, but the Vikings shouldn't celebrate too much. They haven't won a road game in over a year, and it won't be easy for them to end the streak in Chicago. Brett Favre looked great on Sunday, so now the challenge is carrying it over into consecutive games. - 24. Lions (2-6) | Last Week: 24
Only the Lions could lose a game where they had to use their defensive tackle as a backup kicker, while the other team's kicker didn't know the game was over when he hit the overtime winner. Another injury to Matthew Stafford adds to this team's misery, because they continue to find ways to lose excruciatingly close games. - 25. Seahawks (4-4) | Last Week: 21
Has a division leader ever played worse than Seattle did in Week 9 against the Giants? This offensive line is lost without rookie Russell Okung, and injuries have made the offense completely stagnant. For a team that still has a better-than-average shot at the playoffs, positive changes have to be made immediately. -- RW - 26. Cardinals (3-5) | Last Week: 25
The Cardinals again found a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, falling in overtime to Brett Favre and the Vikings. Favre had the most passing yards in any game of his career last week against Arizona; which tells us this defense needs to play much better. -- RW - 27. Bengals (2-6) | Last Week: 26
Kudos to the Bengals for their hard-fought rally against Pittsburgh, but Chad Ochocinco is a ticking time bomb. He looked furious about his lack of involvement in the Cincinnati offense Monday, and with this season just about toast, could be on the verge of a meltdown. -- CB - 28. 49ers (2-6) | Last Week: 27
Week 9 was one of the few where the 49ers didn't look bad, maybe because they didn't have a game. Another week they looked pretty decent (I'd hate to call any aspect of their game good right now) was Week 8 with Troy Smith at QB. Is he the spark this offense needed? -- RW - 29. Broncos (2-6) | Last Week: 29
At times the Broncos' passing offense has looked unstoppable, but a glance at the team's 2-6 record shows that, overall, this team's been abundantly stoppable all year. Coming out of the bye on a four-game losing streak, Week 10's matchup at home with division leader Kansas City is critical to show that Denver has something left in the tank. -- RW - 30. Bills (0-8) | Last Week: 31
Well, here's your chance, Buffalo. If the Bills want to avoid all that 0-16 talk, then they'd be wise to win Sunday against a Detroit team riding a 24-game road losing streak and likely starting Drew Stanton at quarterback. -- CB - 31. Panthers (1-7) | Last Week: 30
For a team struggling in every facet of the game this season, Monday's announcement that quarterback Matt Moore and linebacker Dan Connor were lost for the season due to injuries just serves as the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. It doesn't matter whether Jimmy Clausen or Tony Pike takes over at quarterback. What matters is that this team finds a way to learn over the second half of the season and comes back for the 2011 campaign with a chip on their shoulder. -- KB - 32. Cowboys (1-7) | Last Week: 32
Wade Phillips is out, Jason Garrett is in, and the Cowboys are done being relevant until at least the 2011 NFL Draft. It'll be interesting to see how Dallas responds to the coaching change, but it's about all that's worth watching here. -- CB
