Forget everything you just learned (or thought you did) about teams in the first half of the NFL season. I have a strong suspicion that a number of teams who've benefitted from some easy matchups early on in the season are about to exposed down the stretch when it matters most.
I also think the NFL schedule makers were toying with us when they released the 2019 schedule because all of the best matchups are about to take place down the final stretch, too. Just ask the Falcons, who play all six of their NFC South foes in the final eight games.
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Life for teams like the Patriots, 49ers, Saints, Seahawks and the Cowboys is about to get considerably tougher – and I expect more than a few shakeups in these power rankings in the coming weeks. New England, which sat in the No. 1 spot for the first nine weeks, drops to No. 4 this week while the surging (and unbeaten) 49ers assume the top spot ... for now.
So, without further ado, it's time for the Week 10 edition of my Wildly Important NFL Power Rankings. Enjoy.
| 1. 49ers (8-0) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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They’re the last of the unbeatens, the new top dogs. But … the schedule is about to get considerably tougher for them. | 3 |
| 2. Saints (7-1) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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They're up a spot, coming off a bye and would love to deliver a knockout blow to the Falcons. | 2 |
| 3. Ravens (6-2) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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They pushed around and beat the defending world champs. Lamar Jackson is going to be headache for opposing teams for years to come. | 5 |
| 4. Patriots (8-1) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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I told you they hadn’t played anybody outside of the Bills and their record was a tad misleading. They’re still the defending champs and will be a tough out. | 1 |
| 5. Seahawks (7-2) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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It doesn’t matter how you win or what it looks like … and the Seahawks have a knack for pulling them out. Helps when you have Russell Wilson, too. | 7 |
| 6. Packers (7-2) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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They laid an egg on the road against a team that simply wanted it more. They’re still the best team in the NFC North. | 4 |
| 7. Bills (6-2) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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They’re scrappy and they play pretty good defense. They didn’t allow a single TD for the first time all season. | 8 |
| 8. Chiefs (6-3) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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It’s a game of inches and, sometimes, 44-yard game-winning field goals as time expires. Big win. | 9 |
| 9. Vikings (6-3) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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Tough loss in an even tougher environment. They’re a talented bunch and I expect them to make a postseason push down the stretch. | 6 |
| 10. Cowboys (5-3) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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Big win on Monday night. The Cowboys have dominated the NFC East over the last two years, going 9-1. It’s everyone else they’ve struggled against, going 6-8. | 11 |
| 11. Rams (5-3) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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They’re coming off a bye and face the Steelers in Pittsburgh next. | 10 |
| 12. Panthers (5-3) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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Christian McCaffrey is carrying them offensively and, well, they’re in very good hands. | 13 |
| 13. Texans (6-3) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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How good is Deshaun Watson? Wow. And Bill O’Brien has been pretty good against the Jags, going 10-2 vs. them since 2014. | 14 |
| 14. Colts (5-3) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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They’re still a good team but they’ve taken some big hits at the QB position. They’ve now lost six straight to the Steelers, too. | 12 |
| 15. Eagles (5-4) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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Nice bounce-back game against the not-so-good Bears. | 16 |
| 16. Steelers (4-4) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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They’ve now win four of their last five. The lone loss in that stretch was in overtime, too. They’re not throwing in the (terrible) towel. I couldn’t help it. | 21 |
| 17. Lions (3-4-1) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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They’ve now lost four of their last five – and play a critical divisional game against the Bears in Chicago. | 15 |
| 18. Chargers (4-5) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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They finally played the way I expected them to all season long. Great performance against the Packers. Can they keep it going? | 23 |
| 19. Raiders (4-4) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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Here we are, eight games into the season and the Raiders are alive and well, hovering around .500. I’m not expecting much from them, but who really knows at this point. | 19 |
| 20. Jaguars (4-5) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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The Gardner Minshew Show was fun, right? So … when is Nick Foles set to return again? | 17 |
| 21. Titans (4-5) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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Ryan Tannehill threw for more than 300 yards but he also tossed two picks. The Titans just feel like they’re still a year or two away. And I say that every year, it seems. | 18 |
| 22. Bears (3-5) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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So much for Mitchell Trubisky and the Bears taking the next step and that defense playing lights out. Major disappointment. | 20 |
| 23. Cardinals (3-5-1) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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I was really impressed with how well they played against the 49ers. They were this close to pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the season. | 22 |
| 24. Broncos (3-6) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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Nice NFL debut, Brandon Allen. The Broncos head into their bye on a high note and little room for error down the stretch. | 27 |
| 25. Buccaneers (2-6) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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Say what you want, but they fought hard vs. the Seahawks and Jameis Winston didn’t turn the ball over. | 26 |
| 26. Giants (2-7) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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There are some young, bright spots on this team but the offensive line and defensive secondary aren’t very good at all. | 25 |
| 27. Browns (2-6) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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Let’s cool it once and for all with all of the Browns hype talk. They’re 2-6 and a dysfunctional mess right now. | 24 |
| 28. Falcons (1-7) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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They’re coming off their bye week and beating the Saints in New Orleans to begin the second half of their season would do wonders for this team and fan base. | 29 |
| 29. Dolphins (1-7) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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I think they’re probably still partying on South Beach after getting their first win since Week 14 … of 2018. | 31 |
| 30. Jets (1-7) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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Welp, it’s Giants vs. Jets this week. The Battle for New York, the Big Apple Bowl. … Maybe they should call it the Rotten Apple Bowl. These teams are bad. | 28 |
| 31. Redskins (1-8) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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Speaking of not-so-good teams … at least the Redskins won’t lose this week. | 30 |
| 32. Bengals (0-8) | TABEEK'S TAKE | PREVIOUS |
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They host the high-flying Ravens, who are coming off an emotional win over the defending world champs. Trap game anyone? Can winless Cincy pull of the shocker? Probably not, but we can dream. | 32 |
MAILBAG
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