We should preface the following with a vital disclaimer. Anyone who is out on Bryce Young right now is foolish. A mere seven starts isn’t nearly enough time to evaluate a rookie quarterback still learning the nuances of the game. Down the line, there is a chance that the 2023 top pick can become a franchise quarterback.
It’d be silly to suggest anything otherwise.
That said, it’s hard not to wonder what the Carolina Panthers would look like if they had drafted C.J. Stroud instead — the runaway favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year and perhaps the best rookie quarterback ever. Because it’s not as if Stroud’s situation in Houston, on paper anyway, is all that much better than Young’s in Carolina. Even with promising young weapons like Tank Dell, the Texans are a bad team. They have no business hanging around .500 halfway through the season. Yet Stroud is somehow elevating them, giving his team a chance to win every single week.
Conversely, Young has resembled, well, a young quarterback. But his inexperience shouldn’t excuse how pedestrian he looks from week to week. The three interceptions he threw against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday — including two pick-sixes to Kenny Moore — are three times more than Stroud’s entire 2023 pick output. And with an atrocious roster from top to bottom, the Panthers have placed Young in an impossible position, virtually guaranteeing his development will be stunted.
But seeing how Stroud has thrived anyway amidst similar circumstances should sting Panthers brass. He could’ve and probably should’ve been their quarterback of the future. Heck, I’m sure some people in Charlotte have already privately waved the white flag on the guy they got instead. How could they not? Some quarterbacks are built to rise above it. Bryce Young might not be.
Drafting him is a mistake Carolina may likely regret for years to come.
Young’s woeful Panthers are a crucial segment of For The Win‘s Week 10 NFL power rankings, which also features not one but two AFC North powers on the rise.
32
Carolina Panthers
Last week’s rank: 29
Bryce Young’s reprieve from being Charlotte’s unfortunate punching bag lasted a single week. The No. 1 overall pick looked flat-out lost against the Colts, rarely showing any signs of hope. Worse yet, while C.J. Stroud — the man drafted just after Young — pieced together one of the finest games from anyone in 2023, Young threw three awful interceptions in defeat. Stroud has thrown one interception all season. Brace yourselves, Panthers fans. This quarterback decision is probably gonna hurt for a long time. — Robert Zeglinski
31
Arizona Cardinals
Last week’s rank: 32
Clayton Tune’s expected points added (EPA) Sunday was … -34.3!!! NEGATIVE THIRTY-FOUR POINT THREE! He only attempted five passes that traveled more than five yards downfield and had twice as many interceptions on those throws than completions. Congratulations to Kyler Murray, who now has the lowest possible bar to clear in his recovery from a torn ACL. — Christian D’Andrea
30
New York Giants
Last week’s rank: 27
The Giants aren’t just bad. They’re nearly impossible to watch from an unironic standpoint. They’re down two quarterbacks, lost their newly acquired top pass-catcher (Darren Waller), traded away their top defender (Leonard Williams), and have scored five offensive touchdowns in the last five games. From a schadenfreude standpoint, however, the Tommy DeVito show is earning stellar ratings. — CD
29
Chicago Bears
Last week’s rank: 31
Justin Fields could return to the Bears’ starting lineup this Thursday, and boy, have they missed him. In Fields’ absence while recovering from a thumb injury, backup Tyson Bagent has led Chicago to at least 20 points just once on three occasions. It remains to be seen whether Fields is still in the Bears’ long-term plans. But provided he can stay healthy this time, the polarizing third-year quarterback has nearly an entire second half for his audition. — RZ
28
Las Vegas Raiders
Last week’s rank: 30
The Raiders missed Josh McDaniels so much they cruised to a 24-point win which they celebrated with victory cigars. I reiterate. After firing McDaniels, the Raiders celebrated an early November regular-season victory with cigars. Unless he can somehow trick another owner into giving him millions of dollars to sabotage a team from the inside, this professional doofus will likely never be an NFL head coach again. — RZ
27
New England Patriots
Last week’s rank: 26
Every 2023 offseason addition seems to have made this team worse. Swapping Jonnu Smith out for Mike Gesicki? Awful. Jakobi Meyers for JuJu Smith-Schuster? Regrettable. Any and all offensive line moves? Worthless. On the bright side, a top-five draft pick awaits. Just think of how many second-rounders Bill Belichick could turn that into. — CD
26
Los Angeles Rams
Last week’s rank: 20
Matthew Stafford is injured, and Brett Rypien is definitely not his uncle Mark, a Pro Bowl quarterback for the 1991 Super Bowl champion Washington Commanders. That’s … all we learned about Sean McVay’s Rams in Week 9. I’m not sure we will glean anything more meaningful from this uninspiring group until 2024. — RZ
25
Green Bay Packers
Last week’s rank: 28
Congrats on beating Brett Rypien. Jordan Love is still juuuuust a little bit off, particularly with his downfield throws that don’t quite hit his targets in stride. Credit Matt LaFleur for scheming a young receiving corps open, but a more accurate quarterback would have this team in the thick of the playoff hunt. — CD
24
Denver Broncos
Last week’s rank: 25
Russell Wilson’s first-half EPA per play: 0.158. His second-half EPA per play? 0.027. I’m not sold on his comeback but would throw my head back laughing if he dents the playoff hopes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills in consecutive games. — CD
23
Indianapolis Colts
Last week’s rank: 24
I find myself so captivated by Shane Steichen’s incredible first-time coaching job. The Colts have no business hanging around .500, let alone an actual spot in the postseason. But every time we glance over at them, they’re scoring around 30 points and more than handling themselves with a backup quarterback. If Indy can build more consistent momentum in the win column, I know who my vote for Coach of the Year is. — RZ
22
Tennessee Titans
Last week’s rank: 19
The fledgling Titans never get up off the mat without the rise of Will Levis. The rookie gunslinger has shown some promising traits through his first two NFL starts. He’s made a lot of layered throws and displayed impressive poise while taking a beating behind a leaky Tennessee offensive line. He’s also made some unnecessarily risky throws and has been a little too confident in his ability to make plays off-schedule. In other words, Levis is a brash young quarterback. In time, he might be a great one. — RZ
21
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last week’s rank: 23
Baker Mayfield got a little lucky but did enough to deserve a win in Houston. He didn’t get it, but his comeback season churns on. His 56.6 QBR is the second-highest of his career, and his 0.139 EPA/play paints him just outside the top 10 when it comes to this fall’s most efficient quarterbacks. — CD
20
Washington Commanders
Last week’s rank: 22
In Sam Howell, Jonathan Allen thinks Washington has finally found its first legitimate franchise quarterback in decades. Some weighty advanced statistics help bear out that conclusion, like Howell’s 15th-best EPA and completion percentage over expected (CPOE) — which, thus far, ranks better than Geno Smith and Joe Burrow. Though, there’s one key caveat. Allen once shared a similar endorsement of Taylor Heinicke (no longer with the Commanders). Yeah, I say we continue waiting and seeing here. — RZ
19
Atlanta Falcons
Last week’s rank: 16
Losing to Josh Dobbs five days into his Vikings career wasn’t ideal, but the Falcons still hold the top spot in an NFC South where nine wins will probably be enough to host a playoff game. Taylor Heinicke was mostly inoffensive in his first start of 2023, which consists of a step up from Desmond Ridder even if his ceiling remains “one and done postseason participant.” Let’s see how he does with Drake London back in the lineup –who missed Week 9 with a groin injury– before passing final judgment. — CD
18
Minnesota Vikings
Last week’s rank: 21
They’ve gotta roll with Dobbs now, even if his Cardinals tenure earlier this season suggests there’s only so much he can do before opposing defenses catch up to him. The NFC will offer an opportunity for a journeyman backup quarterback to lead a team that started 1-3 to the postseason despite a string of injuries that took most of its best skill players off the field. That’s wild, and if nothing else, it makes Minnesota easy to root for. — CD
17
Pittsburgh Steelers
Last week’s rank: 18
The Steelers are the first NFL team ever to have a winning record through eight games despite being outgained in every single instance. It raises an essential question about who is to blame for Pittsburgh trekking through muck every week. Is an atrocious Kenny Pickett, who only comes alive for a few sparkling throws in the fourth quarter, the issue? Or has Mike Tomlin finally lost his fastball? Yes. — RZ
16
Cleveland Browns
Last week’s rank: 15
Every squad that has ever bumbled its way to success with a stout defense and anemic offense must be so proud of these Browns. Cleveland is tops in the league in most relevant defensive metrics, and it possesses the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett. No one will want to play the Browns if they make it to the Big Dance (a.k.a. the playoffs). What I’m saying is that Deshaun Watson, who once faced more than 20 allegations of sexual misconduct in what the NFL would later characterize as “predatory behavior,” deserves minimal credit for the Browns’ revival. And that’s probably being rather generous to a mediocre signal-caller. — RZ
15
Houston Texans
Last week’s rank: 17
The Texans owe Panthers team owner David Tepper a fruit basket for allowing C.J. Stroud to slide to them at the No. 2 overall pick. The Ohio State quarterback just had arguably the greatest regular season game any rookie has ever seen after throwing for 470 yards and five touchdowns — the last coming with six seconds left — in a comeback home win over the Buccaneers. The defense remains uneven, but Houston is in the postseason hunt at the season’s halfway mark for the first time since 2019. — CD
14
New Orleans Saints
Last week’s rank: 14
New Orleans doesn’t feel like a team with a high ceiling, but that also applies to most of its NFC counterparts. The more interesting revelation on the Louisiana Bayou is the Saints’ resolve. After he was pilloried for an atrocious national TV performance, Derek Carr has responded with two of the steadier performances of his veteran career. Meanwhile, Dennis Allen’s defense has forced six turnovers in that same time frame. If the Saints have more room to grow, perhaps we’re underestimating their potential. — RZ
13
New York Jets
Last week’s rank: 12
Man, this defense deserves so much more than the offense that can only score more than 10 points in regulation if buoyed by multiple turnovers (that’s a real thing. New York’s max points in a game where the defense hasn’t gotten the ball back is 13, and that was in overtime against the Giants. It was a mess). Zach Wilson plays quarterback like a child trying to pick up all the marbles he just dropped. — CD
12
Los Angeles Chargers
Last week’s rank: 13
Last year’s Khalil Mack trade is paying dividends, as he’s up to nine sacks in eight games. His QB knockdown numbers suggest he probably won’t sustain that pace, but 2023 should still be his first double-digit sack season since 2018. — CD
11
Buffalo Bills
Last week’s rank: 11
Sean McDermott’s clock management was brutal in Cincinnati, cutting a potential Bills rally short in the fourth quarter. Buffalo was also undone by familiar foes like defensive injuries and a lack of receiving depth, leaving this team once again painfully short of the Super Bowl breakthrough for which its fans have waited more than three decades. — CD
10
Jacksonville Jaguars
Last week’s rank: 10
On a bye week, we didn’t see fit to reward the Jaguars’ dormancy. To be sure, this is a solid team purportedly built in all the right places. But we won’t understand the Jaguars’ true mettle until we see how they fare through a second half that features four games against contenders and a rival Texans squad that already humiliated them earlier this year. — RZ
9
Seattle Seahawks
Last week’s rank: 6
Welp. Talk about laying a giant egg. The Seahawks didn’t merely lose to the Ravens. They got flat-out steamrolled. Baltimore not only outgained Seattle in total yards (515 to 151), but it also had 29 first downs to Seattle’s six (!). We billed this interconference matchup as one between two bona fide contenders. Instead, Pete Carroll’s crew showed us they’re more hollow pretenders than anything else. If it’s any consolation, at least Geno Smith has a great track record of rebounding after tough outings. — RZ
8
Miami Dolphins
Last week’s rank: 4
The Dolphins are not “frauds” because they haven’t beaten a winning team since Week 3 of last season. Most NFL teams should be envious of a roster that features Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, and Jaylen Waddle as its main offensive Cerberus. However, it’s long past time we wonder whether Mike McDaniel’s bunch has enough juice to seriously contend for a championship. Because it’s not as if the Dolphins are just seeing poor fortune. Except for a snow-capped battle in Buffalo last December, none of these losses have been close. Unless something changes dramatically in the coming weeks, Miami looks destined for another quick postseason exit. — RZ
7
Dallas Cowboys
Last week’s rank: 9
All three of Dallas’ losses have come on the road, which adds a layer of explanation to each defeat but also bodes poorly for a team whose path to a division title is blocked by a Philadelphia Eagles team that holds a 2.5-game lead over it in the NFC East. Dak Prescott has played some of the best football of his career and cut his 2022 interception rate in half, though a lack of receiving depth is keeping his offense from being truly terrifying. — CD
6
San Francisco 49ers
Last week’s rank: 7
Will a bye week be enough to fix this team’s woes and end a three-game losing streak? Brock Purdy began the season as the league’s most efficient quarterback but has five interceptions in his last three games, recording a worse EPA per play than Kenny Pickett since Week 6 (ew). Of less concern, but still concerning, is a defense that has given up at least 400 yards in each of its last two games. Aside from Chase Young, the 49ers opted against adding veteran help at this year’s trade deadline. — CD
5
Cincinnati Bengals
Last week’s rank: 8
Sunday night served as a message to the rest of the NFL. After navigating through the dark catacombs of a Joe Burrow calf injury, the Bengals are once again a superpower. To toy around with the rival Bills in much the same they did in their January postseason meeting shows that they aren’t messing around in the slightest. These jungle tigers are prepared to blaze through the trail through the heart of the AFC, and I’m not sure who can stop them. Lou Anarumo’s underrated defense looks especially formidable. Godspeed to the Texans: Cincinnati’s next opponent. — RZ
4
Detroit Lions
Last week’s rank: 5
The Lions can take solace that they aren’t the only NFC team to be thoroughly embarrassed by the Baltimore Ravens this season. The stage is set for what would be the second 12-plus win campaign in franchise history as long as Jared Goff can continue his mid-career resurgence. Just as important: a defense that ranks fifth in yards allowed (but only 14th in points given up) continues to play like a bunch of hungry goblins. — CD
3
Kansas City Chiefs
Last week’s rank: 2
What is the reason for Patrick Mahomes’ less-than-stellar play this year? Is it the stagnancy of offensive coordinator Matt Nagy? Is it a lack of consistent outside receiving threats? By his high standards, the two-time MVP is enjoying one of the worst seasons of his future Hall of Fame career. The trouble for the Chiefs is that we’re past the point of a small sample size where we can wave off Mahomes’ occasionally troubling play. The far bigger trouble for other AFC titans is that even a lower-power Mahomes remains an elite quarterback. — RZ
2
Baltimore Ravens
Last week’s rank: 3
In a league increasingly defined by parity, we appreciate the Ravens and their tough-as-nails attitude. Baltimore has four victories over other apparent contenders, including two decisive disassemblies of the upstart Lions and Seahawks. It’s also one of the few teams that has made C.J. Stroud look mortal all year. Lamar Jackson will have to consistently unlock the more nuanced aspects of his passing game for the Ravens to reach their (entirely reasonable) Super Bowl ambitions. But he and offensive coordinator Todd Monken can afford to experiment with a lockdown defense providing the ultimate cushion. — RZ
1
Philadelphia Eagles
Last week’s rank: 1
Philadelphia keeps winning hideous games, leading to the type of disassociation between fan expectations and the actual record for which Eagles fans have become known. Sure, their Pythagorean record — a review of what their wins and losses should be based on total scores — paints them as a 5.8-win team at this point. Doesn’t matter. This team has the talent to bury you, even if questions about its execution remain. — CD
