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NFL Nation, ESPN
Welcome to Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season. Down went the No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs to the Buffalo Bills. After K.C.’s loss on Sunday, how do our Power Rankings shake out this week?
Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions obliterated the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers beat their division foes to climb to 8-2 in the standings.
Are the Chiefs still No. 1? Or has another team earned that spot?
In addition to the rankings, we asked our NFL Nation reporters to take a look back at whom they nominated for the hot seat in our preseason rankings. How do they rate that hot seat now? Burnt (if they are no longer with the team), boiling, hot, cold or freezing. Some of those coaches, general managers and players have made significant improvements, while others’ seats are hotter than ever.
Our power panel of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities evaluates how NFL teams stack up against one another, ranking them from 1 to 32.
Previous rankings: Preseason | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11
Jump to a team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
Week 11 result: Beat the Jaguars 52-6
Week 11 ranking: 2
Preseason hot seat: WR Jameson Williams
Current temperature of hot seat: Cold
Williams has been a huge part of the Lions’ high-powered offense and might even have exceeded most on-field expectations with his stellar play as a deep threat. After a slow start to his NFL career, the No. 12 pick of the 2022 draft is the team’s second-leading receiver through Week 11 (behind All-Pro WR Amon-Ra St. Brown) despite being suspended two games for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy. Williams exploded for a career-best 124 receiving yards and a 64-yard touchdown against Jacksonville. — Eric Woodyard
Week 11 result: Lost to the Bills 30-21
Week 11 ranking: 1
Preseason hot seat: WR Rashee Rice
Current temperature of hot seat: Cold
Rice was off to a great start to the season, leading the NFL with 24 receptions and the second-most receiving yards (288) before Week 4. Then he injured his right knee in an accidental collision with Patrick Mahomes and had posterolateral corner surgery in early October. The concern before the season was Rice’s legal troubles, which still haven’t been resolved. But he was crucial as the Chiefs’ leading receiver prior to his injury. — Adam Teicher
Week 11 result: Beat the Chiefs 30-21
Week 11 ranking: 4
Preseason hot seat: Coach Sean McDermott
Current temperature of hot seat: Freezing
This was never about job security but instead about the challenge facing McDermott due to the many changes to the Bills’ roster. He has aced the task and put himself in conversation for NFL Coach of the Year. Buffalo is off to its best start since 1992 and goes into the bye week having taken down the defending Super Bowl champions and keeping the No. 1 seed in play. Despite injuries and new faces, McDermott has impressively coached the Bills to a 9-2 start. — Alaina Getzenberg
Week 11 result: Beat the Commanders 26-18
Week 11 ranking: 6
Preseason hot seat: Coach Nick Sirianni
Current temperature of hot seat: Cold
A 2-2 start and some questionable in-game decision-making did nothing to cool Sirianni’s seat on the heels of a 1-6 collapse down the stretch last season. But the Eagles have since rattled off six straight wins to establish themselves as NFC contenders. The fuse is always short in Philadelphia, and particularly so with this head coach. There’s little to complain about right now, however, with the Eagles boasting a top-10 scoring offense (25.7 points per game) and a top-10 defense (allowing 17.9 PPG) and with the team vibing under Sirianni. — Tim McManus
Week 11 result: Beat the Ravens 18-16
Week 11 ranking: 5
Preseason hot seat: WR George Pickens
Current temperature of hot seat: Cold
Pickens’ effectiveness has increased even more since quarterback Russell Wilson took over the starting job. The third-year wideout is averaging 91 receiving yards per game with Wilson, up from 60.5 with Justin Fields at quarterback. But for all of his improbable circus catches and field-stretching capabilities, Pickens is still battling some immaturity. Early in the season, he wore eye black with an explicit message, and he was fined $16,000 after suplexing a Washington defensive back and staying on top of him after a play. For Pickens, the good far outweighs the bad, but his mercurial tendencies keep his seat from being freezing. — Brooke Pryor
Week 11 result: Beat the Titans 23-13
Week 11 ranking: 8
Preseason hot seat: GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
Current temperature of hot seat: Cold
Adofo-Mensah is the general manager of a team that has surprised the NFL by starting 8-2 despite the season-long loss of rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee). His 2024 draft hasn’t helped much, similar to the 2022 and 2023 drafts, but Adofo-Mensah’s free agent class — including linebackers Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman, along with cornerback Stephon Gilmore — has been fantastic. There was never a high likelihood that Adofo-Mensah would be fired this winter, but the team’s performance raises the chances that he will receive a contract extension. — Kevin Seifert
1:17
Brian Flores: I would certainly love to be a head coach again
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores joins the “Adam Schefter Podcast” to talk about his interest in being a head coach again.
Week 11 result: Lost to the Steelers 18-16
Week 11 ranking: 3
Preseason hot seat: OT Ronnie Stanley
Current temperature of hot seat: Cold
This has been an impressive bounce-back year for Stanley. He is ninth among starting tackles in pass block win rate (92.7%), allowing one sack this season. When the Ravens run to Stanley’s side, they are averaging an NFL-best 6.8 yards per carry. The other key is Stanley staying healthy. He is playing over 90% of Baltimore’s snaps for the first time since 2019, which was his only Pro Bowl campaign. This is all very timely for Stanley, as his improved play could set him up for a sizable payday in free agency. — Jamison Hensley
Week 11 result: Beat the Bears 20-19
Week 11 ranking: 9
Preseason hot seat: K Anders Carlson
Current temperature of hot seat: Burnt
He never even made it to Week 1. The Packers released him at the end of the preseason, keeping Greg Joseph for one day before getting Brayden Narveson off waivers. They eventually moved on from Narveson in favor of Brandon McManus. Carlson has, however, made appearances with the 49ers and Jets this season, hitting a 58-yard field goal on Sunday for New York. — Rob Demovsky
Week 11 result: Beat the Bengals 34-27
Week 11 ranking: 11
Preseason hot seat: WR Quentin Johnston
Current temperature of hot seat: Cold
After struggling with drops as a rookie, there were questions coming into this season about whether Johnston was an NFL-caliber wideout. He has silenced any doubt this season, with a team-high six receiving touchdowns. In L.A.’s win over Cincinnati, he became the first Charger since 2021 to have a receiving touchdown in three straight games. “Honestly, if nobody else believed in me, I still had full confidence in myself,” Johnston said. “It was just a matter of going out and proving it.” — Kris Rhim
Week 11 result: Lost to the Eagles 26-18
Week 11 ranking: 7
Preseason hot seat: CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
Current temperature of hot seat: Boiling
Forbes opened the season as the starter, but he missed two games with a thumb injury, and he hasn’t started since. The 2023 first-round pick has played just eight snaps in the past four games combined. Washington needed him to improve from a tough rookie season, but he has not, which in part precipitated a trade for corner Marshon Lattimore. Washington will need to address the position even more after the season. If it cuts Forbes before June 1, it will cost them $9.1 million in dead cap money and provide no cap relief — and actually would cost them $4.9 million. That could mean he sticks around another year. — John Keim
Week 11 result: Bye
Week 11 ranking: 10
Preseason hot seat: LB Dennis Gardeck
Current temperature of hot seat: Hot
Gardeck’s temperature is a little more than hot, but his situation is complicated since he is out for the season with a torn ACL. He is in the final year of his contract and will be rehabbing, so his status for next season is unknown at this point. He could be back by June or even later, which likely would leave him as a free agent until he’s healthy. — Josh Weinfuss
Week 11 result: Beat the Cowboys 34-10
Week 11 ranking: 13
Preseason hot seat: WR Stefon Diggs
Current temperature of hot seat: Hot
Diggs suffered a torn ACL in a contract year, as the former Bills receiver is a free agent after the season. He averaged 62 receiving yards per game, the third-lowest mark of his career. But he was still an effective No. 2 option for quarterback C.J. Stroud by being tied for the team lead in touchdowns (three) before he went down. He will be age 31 and coming off an injury going into next season, so his market will be murky. — DJ Bien-Aime
Week 11 result: Lost to the Seahawks 20-17
Week 11 ranking: 12
Preseason hot seat: WR Deebo Samuel Sr.
Current temperature of hot seat: Hot
The 49ers restructured Samuel’s contract in September, saving them more than $16 million against this year’s salary cap and over $8 million in 2025. The deal doesn’t guarantee Samuel will remain a Niner beyond this season, though that is still possible. This season, he is dealing with a myriad of nagging injuries and has been less effective in the run game (2.9 yards per carry, down from a career average of 6.3). With Brandon Aiyuk coming off a significant knee injury, the 49ers could need Samuel beyond 2024. — Nick Wagoner
5:50
Are the 49ers in danger of missing the playoffs?
Stephen A. Smith, Damien Woody and Shannon Sharpe debate if the 49ers are in danger of missing the playoffs.
Week 11 result: Beat the Falcons 38-6
Week 11 ranking: 16
Preseason hot seat: TE Greg Dulcich
Current temperature of hot seat: Boiling
Coach Sean Payton has said Dulcich is “working his tail off, he’s doing all of the things we’re asking of him.” But Payton just won’t play him. Payton once said Dulcich had the chance to play the “Joker” role in the offense — a role Reggie Bush, Darren Sproles and Alvin Kamara flourished in when Payton coached the Saints. Instead, Dulcich has been a game-day inactive for the past seven contests. He had five receptions in the first two games and none since. A two-drop day in Week 2 seemed to send the proverbial train off the tracks for the third-year tight end, and it makes the future shaky for him. — Jeff Legwold
Week 11 result: Beat the Patriots 28-22
Week 11 ranking: 15
Preseason hot seat: WR Tutu Atwell
Current temperature of hot seat: Hot
Atwell, a 2021 second-round pick, is entering the final season of his rookie deal and isn’t expected to sign a second contract in Los Angeles. Since wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua returned from injury, Atwell has seen his snaps decrease, finishing with four total catches in his past four games. In 10 games this season, Atwell has 27 catches for 393 yards. The Rams have seven wideouts on their active roster, and their top three are clear: Kupp, Nacua and Demarcus Robinson. — Sarah Barshop
Week 11 result: Beat the 49ers 20-17
Week 11 ranking: 19
Preseason hot seat: QB Geno Smith
Current temperature of hot seat: Cold
At the very least, it’s cooling after Smith led another game-winning drive Sunday to end a streak of six consecutive losses to the 49ers. Smith isn’t playing well enough to make it a sure thing he’ll get a new contract this offseason to secure his long-term future in Seattle. But he’s faring about as well as can be expected for a quarterback with a struggling offensive line and poor run game. — Brady Henderson
Week 11 result: Lost to the Broncos 38-6
Week 11 ranking: 14
Preseason hot seat: CB A.J. Terrell
Current temperature of hot seat: Freezing
The Falcons committed to Terrell in August, making him one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in the league with a four-year, $81 million contract. The fifth-year player has responded with two interceptions this season, his most since 2021. Atlanta’s defense has struggled so far, but Terrell has largely been a bright spot against the opposing team’s top receiver. There were questions in training camp about Terrell’s future, but the Atlanta native won’t be leaving his hometown franchise any time soon. — Marc Raimondi
Week 11 result: Bye
Week 11 ranking: 17
Preseason hot seat: OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
Current temperature of hot seat: Hot
Tryon-Shoyinka has notched two sacks so far this season, which is tied with a pair of other outside linebackers on the team (Yaya Diaby and Anthony Nelson). Chris Braswell has a half-sack, so Tryon-Shoyinka isn’t being outplayed by anyone, as the group as a whole needs to play better. It’s hard to single him out here because the entire D needs to be better. (The Bucs are, however, getting some good push up the middle.) But Tryon-Shoyinka isn’t making a compelling case for himself right now. — Jenna Laine
0:50
How Bucky Irving has ‘definitively seized’ RB2 fantasy status for Bucs
Liz Loza praises Bucky Irving’s rise alongside Rachaad White in the Buccaneers run game.
Week 11 result: Beat the Jets 28-27
Week 11 ranking: 20
Preseason hot seat: S Nick Cross
Current temperature of hot seat: Cold
Cross is a third-year player who had lost his job as a rookie and performed poorly in limited action last season. But he has rewarded the Colts’ faith in leaning on him as a key starter in the secondary this season, recording 2 interceptions, 102 tackles (second most on the team), 3 pass deflections and a forced fumble. He has been all over the field, making plays in run support and against the pass. — Stephen Holder
Week 11 result: Lost to the Chargers 34-27
Week 11 ranking: 18
Preseason hot seat: OL Alex Cappa
Current temperature of hot seat: Hot
Going off the numbers, Cappa did not have a very good campaign in 2023. And those same metrics suggest this season hasn’t gone much better. Cincinnati’s right guard ranks 60th out of 62 qualifying players in pass block win rate at that position (87%). Sure, the Bengals’ offensive linemen are under more duress than their peers because of how much Cincinnati drops back to pass. But after being a priority signing following the team’s Super Bowl LVI loss, Cappa is part of an interior group that has struggled at times. — Ben Baby
Week 11 result: Beat the Raiders 34-19
Week 11 ranking: 23
Preseason hot seat: OL Liam Eichenberg
Current temperature of hot seat: Hot
Eichenberg’s current 90.1% pass block win rate is better than his previous career high (90%), set in 2022, but his run block win rate is on pace for a career-low 66.9%. He also is on track to allow seven sacks this season, which would be his most since giving up 14 as a rookie in 2021. He is one of the most versatile linemen in the NFL, capable of playing all five positions. But rebuilding the interior offensive line should be one of the Dolphins’ priorities this offseason, and they must decide whether to bring Eichenberg back, as he will be an unrestricted free agent. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Week 11 result: Beat the Browns 35-14
Week 11 ranking: 25
Preseason hot seat: Coach Dennis Allen
Current temperature of hot seat: Burnt
The Saints started hot with two straight wins, but Allen was fired after the team lost seven straight for the first time since 1999. His last game was a 23-22 loss to the Panthers, with embattled Carolina quarterback Bryce Young directing a late drive to take the lead. The Saints replaced Allen with special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi, and they are 2-0 since the coaching change. New Orleans will be one of several teams looking for a permanent coach in the offseason. — Katherine Terrell
Week 11 result: Lost to the Packers 20-19
Week 11 ranking: 21
Preseason hot seat: Coach Matt Eberflus
Current temperature of hot seat: Boiling
Chicago was expected to be a lot better than this with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, and the strikes against Eberflus continue to mount. The coach hired Shane Waldron as his offensive coordinator over eight other candidates (including five who became OCs elsewhere) and fired Waldron after nine games. Coaching decisions — like not getting closer to the end zone before Green Bay blocked a Cairo Santos field goal to preserve a winning streak against the Bears dating back to 2018 — reflect poorly on him. With the NFL’s toughest remaining strength of schedule, it’s hard to see the Bears winning many games and even harder to envision the organization retaining Eberflus. The Bears have accumulated a 5-17 record in one-score games under his direction, marking the worst record in the league since he was hired in 2022. — Courtney Cronin
Week 11 result: Lost to the Texans 34-10
Week 11 ranking: 22
Preseason hot seat: Owner/GM Jerry Jones
Current temperature of hot seat: Hot
The poor 2024 campaign does nothing to change Jones’ status as owner and general manager, but the fans have been as vocal with their displeasure of this season as any in recent memory. It will all add up to the Cowboys starting over again in 2025 and Jones still calling the shots. — Todd Archer
1:44
Piece of metal falls from roof of Cowboys’ stadium
Lisa Salters reports on a piece of metal falling to the AT&T Stadium field while the roof was being opened prior to Texans vs. Cowboys on “Monday Night Football.”
Week 11 result: Lost to the Rams 28-22
Week 11 ranking: 26
Preseason hot seat: OL Mike Onwenu
Current temperature of hot seat: Cold
Onwenu is the only Patriots offensive lineman to play every snap this season, and he was described by O-coordinator Alex Van Pelt as the team’s best player up front. However, Onwenu said he isn’t playing up to his standard, which could be a result of coaches bouncing him between right tackle and right guard because of the instability around him. The Patriots started a different configuration on the O-line in each of the first seven games. — Mike Reiss
Week 11 result: Bye
Week 11 ranking: 28
Preseason hot seat: QB Bryce Young
Current temperature of hot seat: Cold*
This probably should be somewhere between hot and cold, as in cool. Young was benched in favor of Andy Dalton after an 0-2 start, but Young has won his past two starts. There’s a glimmer of hope that he can live up to the expectations of being the top draft pick in 2023. His numbers haven’t been hot in those wins (171 and 126 passing yards, respectively), but Young has managed to finish strong in each. — David Newton
Week 11 result: Lost to the Colts 28-27
Week 11 ranking: 24
Preseason hot seat: Coach Robert Saleh
Current temperature of hot seat: Burnt
Saleh was fired after a 2-3 start. Team owner Woody Johnson lost patience sooner than anyone could’ve imagined, resulting in the Jets’ first in-season such firing in almost 50 years. The decision has backfired. The Jets are 1-5 under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich, whose defense — without Saleh’s guidance — has fallen off a cliff. The Jets, who allowed only 17 points per game in Weeks 1-5, have surrendered 26 points per game since the coaching change. More changes loom in the offseason. — Rich Cimini
Week 11 result: Lost to the Saints 28-22
Week 11 ranking: 27
Preseason hot seat: LT Jedrick Wills Jr.
Current temperature of hot seat: Boiling
Wills missed three of the first four games of the season as he returned from last year’s season-ending knee injury. He then sat out the Week 8 game against the Ravens with a hyperextended left knee, which he deemed a “business decision.” He was benched in favor of Dawand Jones, but coach Kevin Stefanski said Wills’ comments played no role in the decision. With Jones now out for the season due to a left leg fracture, Wills is back in the starting lineup in a contract year. Wills’ 65.7% run block win rate would rank fourth worst among qualifying tackles. — Daniel Oyefusi
Week 11 result: Lost to the Vikings 23-13
Week 11 ranking: 30
Preseason hot seat: RG Dillon Radunz
Current temperature of hot seat: Cold
Radunz has settled in nicely now that he knows he can focus on one position — in 2023, he made starts at right tackle, left guard, left tackle and right guard. He has started nine out of 10 games and has been a big factor in the rushing attack. Running back Tony Pollard benefited directly from Radunz’s blocks on two of his longest runs this season. His pass protection could stand to improve, especially after Radunz gave up a sack in each of the past two weeks. But he has played his way into what should be a multiyear contract. — Turron Davenport
Week 11 result: Lost to the Lions 52-6
Week 11 ranking: 29
Preseason hot seat: OC Press Taylor
Current temperature of hot seat: Boiling
To be fair, everyone’s seat is boiling because of the 2-9 start and the worst loss in franchise history on Sunday. Taylor’s offense, behind backup quarterback Mac Jones, has scored 13 points combined over the past two games. But Ryan Nielsen’s defense just gave up 645 yards and a franchise-worst 52 points to the Lions. The jobs of coach Doug Pederson and GM Trent Baalke are in jeopardy too. It could be a complete organizational reset when the season ends. — Mike DiRocco
Week 11 result: Bye
Week 11 ranking: 31
Preseason hot seat: QB Daniel Jones
Current temperature of hot seat: Boiling
Jones has been benched and will spend the remainder of the campaign buried as the third quarterback. He most likely will be released after the season. Ultimately, it just didn’t work out in the six years he was the Giants’ starter. Jones just wasn’t good enough. Nothing around him was good enough. “That’s on everybody. That’s just not on Daniel,” coach Brian Daboll said. The final tally was that Jones went 3-13 with 10 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions after signing the four-year, $160 million deal. — Jordan Raanan
Week 11 result: Lost to the Dolphins 34-19
Week 11 ranking: 32
Preseason hot seat: WR Davante Adams
Current temperature of hot seat: Burnt
The Adams saga — which included social media clues, paid appearances in which Adams claimed he was not the instigator in any of the drama and a hamstring injury — came to a merciful end with his forced trade to the Jets on Oct. 15. Ironically, Tom Brady was confirmed as a Raiders minority owner on that same day. As Raiders owner Mark Davis joked, “We traded Davante Adams for Tom Brady and a third-round pick today.” From the fans’ perspective, no player in Raiders history had gone from so revered to so reviled in such a short amount of time. — Paul Gutierrez