For the first time during the 2021 season, the Green Bay Packers are in possession of the top spot in the USA TODAY NFL power rankings.
The Packers shut out the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday to improve to 8-2, while the Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams all lost this week. The results allowed Matt LaFleur’s team to jump from No. 3 last week to No. 1 entering Week 11.
If the season ended today, the Packers would be the No. 1 seed in the NFC and get a first-round bye. A dominant defense that now ranks in the top three in scoring and yards is finally combining with Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams to make the Packers a legit title contender.
FiveThirtyEight has the Packers with an NFC-best 45 percent chance to be the top seed in the conference, and a 16 percent chance of winning the Super Bowl, tied with the Tennessee Titans for the best in the NFL.
This week, the Packers go on the road to play the Minnesota Vikings, who improved from No. 18 to No. 11 after beating the Los Angeles Chargers away from home on Sunday. The showdown will mark the first game between the two NFC North rival this season and a key crossroads in the race to win the division.
The No. 2 team in the ranking is Mike McCarthy’s Dallas Cowboys, who beat the Atlanta Falcons by 40 points on Sunday. Could a playoff clash be on the horizon for the two teams?
Packers in USA TODAY power rankings
Week 1: No. 4
Week 2: No. 14
Week 3: No. 16
Week 4: No. 13
Week 5: No. 10
Week 6: No. 9
Week 7: No. 6
Week 8: No. 5
Week 9: No. 2
Week 10: No. 3
Week 11: No. 1
