NFL Week 9 Power Rankings

We’re officially on to the back end of the regular season as the playoff picture becomes more and more clear. There is obviously still a lot of football to be played, with many juicy matchups still on the slate.

At this point, it feels like the two teams atop the Power Ranking have a gap between them and the rest of the top ten, while the difference between teams three though nine seems almost negligible. All of them have what appear to be fatal flaws, but will unquestionably be in the mix until the latest possible moment. Meanwhile, there is a group of 5-3 teams who will all be jockeying for the final playoff spots, but again there is not a lot to separate much of those teams.

On the whole, no team feels unbeatable, but there is certainly an upper echelon of teams. Can they close out the season and solidify their positions? We’ll see, but here are how things stand in my Power Rankings with just eight game weeks left on the schedule.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-0) 

In back to back weeks now the Steelers have relied on a pass breakup on the final play of the game to secure a win – last week’s was far more impressive. The Steelers didn’t look impressive against the Garrett Gilbert-led Dallas Cowboys, and are seemingly falling into the trap of playing to the level of their opponent. It hasn’t yet, but that could cost them as the season goes on. 

2. Kansas City Chiefs (8-1) 

No matter what happens, Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid seem to have something new or impressive to bail the team out. The defensive performance once again showed some issues, but that just doesn’t seem to matter. There is no doubt that Reid is one step ahead, with those few new plays or wrinkles ready and rehearsed, to unleash with his plethora of weapons.

3. Baltimore Ravens (6-2) +2

Sunday was a significant win for the Ravens. The Indianapolis Colts may not be the best of the best, but they are a playoff contender, and they have a nasty defense. The Ravens got off to a slow start, trailing 7-10 at the half with no offensive points, but the second half was hopefully the sign of things to come. The offense was firing and the defense played lights out. Playing like they did in the second half this team is more like the team we all expected in the pre-season, now it is a case of stringing those performances together. 

4. New Orleans Saints (6-2) +4

What a win. The Saints have been slightly disappointing since beating the Buccaneers in Week 1, failing to play to the level of their talent, but Sunday night was an emphatic showing of what they can be. The NFC South absolutely runs through New Orleans, and now healthier and with this win under their belt, the NFC may run through New Orleans, too.

5. Green Bay Packers (6-2) +2

When Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams are on, nobody is stopping them. The last two losses have shown significant issues – struggles against the run and an over-reliance on Aaron Jones and Adams – but the Packers are still among the elites in the NFC.

6. Tennessee Titans (6-2)

The Titans shut out the Chicago Bears for three quarters before conceding 17 points in the fourth quarter. This game wasn’t pretty, and the fourth quarter wasn’t very impressive, but the defense came up with big plays, which is a positive sign for a team needing to see more from that unit. 

7. Buffalo Bills (7-2) +2

Sunday provided an incredibly impressive win for the Bills, as they contained Russell Wilson and co. on the Seahawks offense and Josh Allen was back to the MVP caliber form he displayed through Week 3. This game showed the ceiling of this team, which is very high, now it has to be a case of maintaining this level going forward.

8. Seattle Seahawks (6-2) -5 

Despite having Jamal Adams back in the lineup, and newly acquired Carlos Dunlap added to the pass rush, this defense was still horrible. They were absolutely shredded by Allen and the Bills. With this standard of defense, the offense can’t make any mistakes – but the inability to get stops is perhaps forcing the offense to push a little too hard. There is no questioning the quality of this offense, but with a defense this leaky it won’t be able to carry this team to the heights Seattle expects.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3) -5

Ouch. Sunday was night was tough. Though I am very happy to attribute it to the early signs of bad karma for signing Antonio Brown. The Bucs played an all-around horrible game of football. Everything was off, everybody was off, and it resulted in Tom Brady’s heaviest defeat in his career. This team is undeniably talented, though, and will absolutely be in the mix for the Super Bowl.

10. Arizona Cardinals (5-3)

Tenth may seem high, but the gap between ninth and 10th is fairly pronounced. This team has shown it can challenge some of the best teams in the NFL - beating the Seahawks - but there are enough shortcomings on this roster that will limit their ceiling. 

11. Las Vegas Raiders (5-3)

There isn’t all that much to dislike about this team. Of course, they aren’t among the elite in the NFL, but they’re certainly comfortably in the upper-good portion of the league. The offense is playing very well, utilizing multiple weapons depending on the gameplan, and the defense is creating plays when they need them. Derek Carr is also playing very well, and that is a very positive sign for this team moving closer to the playoffs.

12. Miami Dolphins (5-3) +5

I am as amazed as you are that through nine weeks of the season the Dolphins are 12^th in my Power Rankings. But, when you watch them play, it’s pretty hard to argue. Brian Flores has this defense playing very good football. They may give up plays, but they’re routinely creating big ones and making it very tough on opposing offenses. Meanwhile, Tua Tagovailoa’s performance goes a long way to proving Flores’ decision to play him right.

13. Los Angeles Rams (5-3)

Sean McVay’s Rams had a bye in Week 9, and will return to play just one game back in the NFC West and well within the playoff picture.

14. Indianapolis Colts (5-3) -3

The Colts offense is a concern. They may have faced one of the toughest defenses in the league, but the ground game was unproductive and the passing game was poor. This defense is playing very good football, but much like the Bears, the offense is just very far off where it needs to be – and it shows against better opposition.

15. Cleveland Browns (5-3) 

Even during a bye week the Browns managed to have a negative headline. Baker Mayfield was added to the COVID-list having had close contact with someone who tested positive. He is expected to be able to play in Week 10, when the Browns have to try to maintain pace in a competitive AFC.

16. Chicago Bears (5-4)

Here comes the collapse. After starting the season 5-1, the Bears have lost three straight as the offense has continued to look poor, and the defense can’t do everything in every game. There have been individual highlights and strong defensive performances, but the offense really is bad, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Bears eventually slip behind a surging Minnesota Vikings team.

17. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4-1) +2

The Eagles had a bye week and sit a game and a half ahead of their rivals in the NFC East. They needed a break to try and get anyone healthier and get some of their mismatch offensive pieces in sync.

18. Carolina Panthers (3-6) 

If nothing else, you have to love this team’s fight. They are playing very hard every week, and they gave the Chiefs a real run for their money. Big issues remain, but this team has shown an ability to put up points and play competitive football, which will pay dividends going forward.

19. Minnesota Vikings (3-5) +5

Dalvin Cook is a monster. What’s so remarkable is every team knows exactly what the Vikings want to do – pound the ball with Cook – and yet they still can’t stop it. He has 478 total yards with six total touchdowns in the last two games, and as long as he is healthy this team may roll to several more wins and find themselves in the playoffs. 

20. San Francisco 49ers (4-5) -6

Thursday Night Football was a preview of what we should expect from the 49ers going forward. Richard Sherman is close to his return, and once the team’s spate of COVID cases calms they’ll see their receivers return, but with Nick Mullens at QB I can’t see this team winning too many games, especially with games against the Saints, Rams, Bills, Cardinals and Seahawks among their seven remaining games.

21. Atlanta Falcons (3-6) +5

Make it three wins in four for Raheem Morris as the Falcons again managed to hold a fourth quarter lead – just. More and more frequently this team is showing off some of the talent they have, and they’re now getting some results to go with it. They’re very unlikely to sniff the playoffs, but this team will continue to win some games as the season goes on. Amazingly, the Falcons have the second most offensive snaps with a lead in the NFL, but have one fewer loss than the rest of the top five combined. 

22. New England Patriots (3-5) +1

The Patriots finally got back in the win column having lost their last four games. It wasn’t pretty, but it was progress this team needed if they wanted to get this season back on track. The pass defense really struggled for much of the game – against Joe Flacco and Breshad Perriman of the New York Jets, no less – and faced a 10-point deficit in the second half. Encouragingly, Cam Newton played significantly better and Jacobi Meyers had what will hopefully be his breakout game.

23. Denver Broncos (3-5) -2

Another game, another slow start. The Broncos don’t seem able to start a game well and it is blatantly costing them. If you looked at only their second half performances in the last two weeks you’d think they were one of the most potent offenses in the NFL – They’ve scored 52 combined points in the final two quarters of the last two games, 42 just in the fourth. They’re clearly capable of moving the ball and creating big plays, they just have to unlock it earlier in the game to avoid frantic comeback attempts.

24. Cincinnati Bengals (2-5-1) -1

Joe Burrow and his Bengals had a bye this week as they look to capitalize on their win over the Titans and upset some more teams going forward.

25. Detroit Lions (3-5) -5

It was another tough week for the Lions, as the Vikings rode Dalvin Cook to an emphatic victory over Matt Patricia’s squad. The Lions put together an astounding comeback win over the Falcons, only to come out completely flat in back-to-back games. It should be rebuild time in Detroit after this season.

26. Los Angeles Chargers (2-6) -1  

Can the Chargers just finish a game? Week after week this team finds a way to hurt their fans. This week it was a brutal touchdown overruling which overturned an 11-point comeback win. Justin Herbert just keeps getting better, and the offense should get Austin Ekeler back in the coming weeks, but the defense has to do a better job. At least they have the nicest set of uniforms in the NFL. 

27. New York Giants (2-7) +3

The Giants are showing improvement across the board, it is now on Daniel Jones to play well and show the same improvement. The offensive line is playing well and is clearly coming together as a unit, and the defense is playing well, too. They may still technically be last in the NFC East, but the Giants are the biggest threat to the Eagles for the NFC East crown.

28. Houston Texans (2-6) -1

I feel so bad for Deshaun Watson and J.J. Watt. They don’t deserve this. They should not be on a team that is destined for a top 10 pick – especially when the team won’t even have that pick having traded it away. The Texans may have won, but there is really very little going on with this team to have much hope for the immediate future.

29. Washington Football Team (2-6)

Is there a team which has worse QB health luck than Washington? When Alex Smith first got hurt they saw their backups fall, and now they have watched Kyle Allen – who, for what it’s worth, was showing signs of progress – dislocate his ankle. Alex Smith will now be the starter, so it will be fascinating to see how he can play now as the starter.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-7) -2

Has Gardner Minshew played his last snap as the Jaguars starter? He may have. Jake Luton won the starting job over Mike Glennon in Minshew’s absence and he put together a good performance. It was against the Texans, but the offense looked far better under his guidance. He’ll start again in Week 10, and if he puts in another good performance I wouldn’t be surprised to see him retain the role once Minshew is healthy.

31. Dallas Cowboys (2-7)

Amazingly, the Cowboys didn’t get completely blown out by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and actually could have won if not for a few plays. Be it the redzone interception early in the fourth, or either of the two penalties on Jaylon Smith, the Cowboys were in position to win. Nevertheless, this game may have been this team’s high water mark for the rest of the year.

32. New York Jets (0-9)

Yup. Still winless. The Jets really should have won their game against the Pats, but a bad interception by Joe Flacco, followed by some questionable defense and effort late in the fourth quarter, derailed what would have been a satisfying and meaningful win. Instead they stay on track for the number one overall pick, which isn’t the worst consolation.