NFL Week 11 Power Rankings: Packers show they are more than Aaron Rodgers to regain top spot

It’s become the norm this year to have a new No. 1 team in my NFL Power Rankings almost every week, and it’s no different this week.

This time, it’s the Green Bay Packers, a team that had previously been in the top spot once this season, much to the chagrin of many when they were there. It’s a team that has ascended back to that spot behind something that most didn’t see being the reason — the defense. 

The Packers are not just Aaron Rodgers and the passing game anymore. It’s a stark contrast to the way things have been around Green Bay for most of the Rodgers era. The Packers are the third-ranked defense in the league right now, In three consecutive games, they have limited some of the best quarterbacks in the game, winning two and losing to Kansas City only when Rodgers was out with COVID-19.

In the three games against Arizona’s Kyler Murray, Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and Seattle’s Russell Wilson, the Packers allowed one touchdown pass and four picks and held the three to a combined 34 points. The 17-0 shutout of the Seahawks Sunday was the team’s first shutout since 2018 and was also the first time Wilson was shut out in his career.

What makes the play of the defense even much more impressive is the Packers are doing it without top cornerback Jaire Alexander and pass-rusher Za’Darius Smith, who are both out recovering from injuries. Both could be back in December. 

Credit goes to first-year defensive coordinator Joe Barry, who has helped mold this unit into one of the best in the NFL. It’s helped that players like Rashan Gary, who could miss some time after suffering an elbow injury Sunday, corner Kevin King and down lineman Dean Lowry have taken their games up a notch. Rookie corner Eric Stokes has also showed off his improving cover skills, while free agent linebacker De’Vondre Campbell has proved to be a good signing. The safety tandem of Darnell Savage and Adrian Amos has been fantastic. 

The Packers had two end-zone interceptions against Wilson to preserve the shutout, which was needed since the offense, with Rodgers back from COVID, not playing well. That will change. Even if running back Aaron Jones misses some time with a knee injury, the offense will get back on track since AJ Dillon can handle the running game, which he showed against Seattle.

The Packers can win slugfests now, even if that’s not what it’s been for most of Rodgers’ time with the team. That’s a good sign for the postseason because you know he can still sling it when he has to do so.

That’s why this Green Bay team is so different. It can throw it, run it and play a physical brand of defense. That sure seems like a combination that can win it all — a style that has the Packers back on top of these rankings.

Biggest Movers

Rk	Teams		Chg	Rcrd
1	Packers	Yes, getting Aaron Rodgers back is huge for this team, but it’s the defense that has them at the top. They face a tough one at Minnesota this week.	1	8-2-0
2	Titans	They just keep winning games, even without Derrick Henry. The schedule is soft the rest of the way. They will be the top seed in the AFC.	1	8-2-0
3	Bills	Nothing like beating up on the Jets to get your season back on track. They can’t let up with the way the Patriots are playing.	3	6-3-0
4	Cardinals	Playing without Kyler Murray bled through to the entire team against Carolina. They were lifeless. They need him back in the worst way.	3	8-2-0
5	Cowboys	The offense got cranked up again against Atlanta, which is what we expected to see. They will be tough to beat come playoff time.	3	7-2-0
6	Rams	They have lost two straight games and the “dream team” has to be searching for answers. What has happened to the offense?	1	7-3-0
7	Buccaneers	Whatever that was against Washington, they better get past it quickly. They sure didn’t look like a Super Bowl team last week. The defense has to be better.	3	6-3-0
8	Ravens	The Miami game was a disaster all the way around. They didn’t seem prepared for the Miami game plan. That’s not a good look.	3	6-3-0
9	Patriots	This team is playing outstanding football on both sides of the ball. This might be Bill Belichick’s best coaching job.	3	6-4-0
10	Chiefs	Are they back? Patrick Mahomes and the offense sure seemed like it against the Raiders. They are ready to make a real run.	1	6-4-0
11	Chargers	They just don’t look like the same offense in terms of productivity that they were a year ago. Justin Herbert isn’t putting up big numbers, which is on the coaching staff.	2	5-4-0
12	Saints	They have lost two straight games with their backup quarterback, which really limits the offense. The defense, which has played well, is now forced to play ever better. That’s tough.	2	5-4-0
13	Steelers	Playing without Ben Roethlisberger was tough against the Lions. But what happened to the defense? The tie should never have happened.	—	5-3-1
14	Colts	They didn’t play great against the Jaguars, but they found a way. They have to be more consistent on offense as they ready to play the Bills.	3	5-5-0
15	Panthers	With Cam Newton back, they have a real chance to make a playoff push. The defense is playing good football and getting better.	7	5-5-0
16	Raiders	The Raiders have defensive issues that showed up against the Chiefs. Two straight losses have them reeling.	2	5-4-0
17	Bengals	They come off their bye in a good place since two of the division teams lost and one tied last week. They face a tough road trip to play the Raiders.	1	5-4-0
18	Browns	It’s hard to believe they are down this low. The season has come unglued. They are not a good team right now.	3	5-5-0
19	Vikings	That was an impressive road victory over the Chargers. But now they face a big one at home against the Packers. It’s a big game for Kirk Cousins.	2	4-5-0
20	49ers	That was a season-saving victory against the Rams. Now they face a long road trip to play the Jaguars on a short week, which won’t be easy.	3	4-5-0
21	Broncos	They got badly outplayed by the Eagles and Teddy Bridgewater doesn’t appear to be getting it done at quarterback. Could a change be coming?	2	5-5-0
22	Seahawks	At 3-6, they are in real danger of being out of the playoffs. Even with Russell Wilson back, the offense was nonexistent against the Packers.	4	3-6-0
23	Falcons	So much for the idea that this was a surging team. They were dominated by the Cowboys in every way possible. Now here come the Patriots.	3	4-5-0
24	Giants	They come off their bye with tough Monday night road game against the Bucs on the road. At least they are getting some guys back from injury.	—	3-6-0
25	Dolphins	The defense was sensational against the Ravens, but the quarterback situation is still dicey with both Tua Tagovailoa and Jacoby Brissett banged up as they ready to face the Jets. It looks like Tagovailoa will start.	5	3-7-0
26	Eagles	They did a lot of good things winning at Denver. They got the running game going in a big way, which led to a dominant showing.	1	4-6-0
27	Football Team	By beating the Bucs, they are still alive in the playoff race. But losing Chase Young is a big blow to their defense – even if he wasn’t playing as well as expected.	—	3-6-0
28	Bears	They come off the bye with a tough home game against a Ravens team that will be rested, having played last Thursday. The rest of the season is all about the growth of Justin Fields.	2	3-6-0
29	Jaguars	They’ve made big strides on defense, which is a good sign for next year. The offense simply lacks playmakers, and that can’t be fixed this season.	1	2-7-0
30	Jets	The Mike White experiment needs to be over. It’s time to play Zach Wilson the rest of the way.	1	2-7-0
31	Texans	They come off their bye with a tough road game against the Titans. Remember when those two teams used to be comparable? They aren’t anymore.	—	1-8-0
32	Lions	The good news is they won’t be going 0-17. The bad news is they still haven’t won yet after tying the Steelers. They’re getting closer.	—	0-8-1