Grandstander Power Rankings - Through Week 10

The Grandstander departs from the usual format today, and lists a Top Ten for the NFL Grandstander Power Rankings.  I will also include some selected commentary as well.

1. Eagles 8-1
2. Chiefs 7-2
3. Ravens 7-3
4. 49ers 6-3
5. Lions 7-2
6. Dolphins 6-3
7. Browns 6-3
8. Vikings 6-4
9. Jaguars 6-3
10. Steelers 6-3

Others receiving consideration: Bengals, Bills, Cowboys, Saints, Seahawks, Texans.

Now for the commentary, presented in bullet point form and in no particular order of importance.

• With the Eagles idle last week I was prepared to move the Ravens into the #1 spot had they beat the Browns.  I suppose that it can't be considered a surprise that the Browns beat the Ravens, but to score 33 points on what was perceived to be one of the better defenses in the NFL?  That was a shocker.  So, the Ravens not only don't move up, but they also drop below the Chiefs, who were also idle last week.
• The 49'ers, who had lost three in a row as Brock Purdy appeared to begin looking like the last player drafted two years ago, came back from their  bye week with a roar by laying a 34-3 beatdown on Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars.  The Jags were a team that I thought might move up this week, but that thrashing by SF puts those plans on hold for the time being.
• Three teams from the AFC North are in the top Ten, with a fourth knocking at the door.  This portion of the rankings will no doubt appear much different after this weekend with games between the Ravens-Bengals and the Steelers-Browns, followed by a Week 12 matchup between the Steelers-Bengals.
• Speaking of the Bengals, their loss to Houston dropped them out of the If-The-Season-Ended-Today playoff picture, and they now face back-to-back games with Baltimore and Pittsburgh.  It is not an exaggeration to say that these next two games are "must win" for the Bungles.
• Speaking of North, I have two NFC North teams in here, the Lions and the Vikings.  Detroit outlasted the Chargers on Sunday, and they appear to be the goods.  I'm not so sure about the Vikings over the long haul, but how can you not love the Josh Dobbs Story that is unfolding up in the Land of Hubert Humphrey and Marge Gunderson?

Then, as John Facenda once intoned, there are the Pittsburgh Steelers.  I admit that my inclusion of the Steelers in the Top Ten may be our provincialism and Fanboy blindness on my part, but, as the Bill Parcels cliche goes, "you are what your record says you are."  I've watched this team for all nine games, and I can't say how they are 6-3.  Much of the time, they sure don't look like a 6-3 team, and it often appears that their opponent is a better team.  However here is what they have going for them right now.

• While Kenny Pickett has not made anyone forget Big Ben, he has not thrown an interception in over 160 some passes, and the team does appear to respond to his leadership.
• In the last two games, they have rushed for 166 and 205 yards.  This comes after first round draft pick Broderick Jones was inserted as a starter at right tackle.  That can't be a coincidence.
• Their Defense.  While the team defense ranks low in the NFL in most categories, I say that this is a case of the three kinds of lies:  "Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics." (Per well known football analyst Benjamin Disraeli.)  The numbers say that they aren't great, but my eyes see TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith, other teams settling for field goals and not touchdowns, and a squad that forces turnovers at the most opportune times.  (See the last plays of the last two games.)

I don't know how sustainable this brand of football is, and I am still waiting for win by something like a 34-7 score, but until then, the Steelers fan is going to enjoy the ride while freaking out on RENEGADE.  Oh, mama!