NFL power rankings: Philadelphia Eagles’ unbeaten season over; here’s our new No. 1
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We have a change at the top of this week’s NFL power rankings. For the first time since late September, the Philadelphia Eagles are not No. 1.
The Eagles saw their undefeated season come to an end Monday night against the Washington Commanders, and it wasn’t without controversy.
Officials missed a clear facemask penalty on Washington’s Jamin Davis early in the fourth quarter on a play that led to an Eagles fumble. The Commanders led 23-21 at the time, tacked on an insurance field goal four plays later and forced two more Eagles turnovers to close out their fourth win in five weeks.
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) is tackled by Washington Commanders linebacker Jamin Davis before fumbling the ball.
The Commanders have turned their season around after a 1-4 start, and for whatever help they got from officials Monday night, they outplayed the Eagles.
Washington forced four turnovers, dominated time of possession with 49 rushing attempts and took advantage of a careless Philadelphia penalty late.
Yes, officials should have caught the facemask, and, no, Brandon Graham’s late hit wasn’t the most egregious of violations, but complaints about officiating tend to fall on deaf ears with me, especially when you commit more turnovers on one night than you have all season.
MORE LIONS:At 3-6, Lions aren’t far off from playoff contention
The Eagles still are the class of the NFC. They beat the NFL’s only other 8-1 team, the Minnesota Vikings, in Week 2. But I have the Kansas City Chiefs back atop this week’s power rankings.
The Chiefs have the perfect marriage of coach and quarterback, and that’s allowed them to not miss a beat while retooling their skill positions this offseason. Patrick Mahomes is the midseason favorite for MVP, and the Chiefs’ upcoming schedule sets up nicely for a run at a seventh straight division title and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
I don’t know how many people were counting Kansas City out entering the season, but many predicted they would take a step back in what was supposed to be a tough AFC West.
That seems laughable now. While perennial contenders like the Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have fallen on hard times, Mahomes has kept the Chiefs rolling in impressive fashion.
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The Bills, despite a two-game losing streak, and high-flying Miami Dolphins, led by Mahomes’ old teammate, Tyreek Hill, are dangerous, too, but Kansas City right now is the class of the NFL.
MORE LIONS: Making plays late? Avoiding big mistakes? Lions have us wondering, ‘who are these guys’?
1. Kansas City Chiefs (7-2)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (8-1)
3. Minnesota Vikings (8-1)
4. Buffalo Bills (6-3)
5. Miami Dolphins (7-3)
6. Baltimore Ravens (6-3)
7. Tennessee Titans (6-3)
8. Dallas Cowboys (6-3)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez tackles Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III during the second half at Ford Field, Oct. 2, 2022.
9. Seattle Seahawks (6-4)
10. San Francisco 49ers (5-4)
11. New York Jets (6-3)
12. New York Giants (7-2)
13. Cincinnati Bengals (5-4)
14. Los Angeles Chargers (5-4)
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-5)
16. New England Patriots (5-4)
17. Washington Commanders (5-5)
18. Green Bay Packers (4-6)
19. Cleveland Browns (3-6)
20. Arizona Cardinals (4-6)
21. Los Angeles Rams (3-6)
22. Atlanta Falcons (4-6)
23. Denver Broncos (3-6)
24. Indianapolis Colts (4-5-1)
25. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-6)
26. Detroit Lions (3-6)
27. New Orleans Saints (3-7)
28. Chicago Bears (3-7)
29. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)
30. Carolina Panthers (3-7)
31. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7)
32. Houston Texans (1-7-1)
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: NFL power rankings: New No. 1 after Eagles’ first loss