NFL Week 9 Power Rankings

The Pittsburgh Steelers brought Week 9 to an end on Monday Night Football with a comfortable win over the lowly Chicago Bears. The game brought to an end a week which was nothing short of chaos.

Just a week after backup quarterbacks dominated the league, it was the turn of the underdogs as high-flying teams around the league flopped in spectacular fashion.

I’m adding an element to my Power Rankings this week: tiers. The simple 1-32 ranking doesn’t quite do justice to the difference between the teams – especially this season. In reality, it feels the NFL has clear sections, in which truly anything can happen. So, moving forward I’ll be identifying these tiers, and teams within each tier are separated by very little, no matter how many spots are between them and another.

ELITE 

These are the best of the best – truly on a different level to the rest of the league.

1.       Arizona Cardinals (8-1) +1

After their tight loss last week, and without their starting quarterback, wide receiver, defensive end, running back (for most the game), and number two receiver, the Cardinals reminded everyone they’re really for real. Colt McCoy took over for Kyler Murray and led the Cardinals to a comprehensive win over their in-division rival San Francisco 49ers. This seems to be the only team

2.       Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2) +2

Tampa Bay enjoyed a bye week in which they lost all of their biggest rivals, save the Cardinals, lose. The Bucs are getting healthier following their bye and I expect they’ll only improve from here. 

ON THE CUSP 

These are the teams who’ll be vying to lose deep into the playoffs. They’re very good teams, with excellent players and coaches, but there are just one or two fatal flaws they won’t overcome.

3.       Green Bay Packers (7-2)

Of all the poor defeats suffered by top seeds this week, the Packers get the biggest mulligan by virtue of Aaron Rodgers not being on the field – I’ll pass to KareemAbdul-Jabbar for comment on Rodgers. Jordan Love is not ready, but the defense played very well in this game despite the offense’s and special team’s best efforts to lose this game emphatically. With Rodgers on the field, this is a very good team.

4.       Tennessee Titans (7-2) +7

What a statement by Tennessee. Without Derrick Henry, the Titans went out west to LA and smacked the Rams about in their own house. What was most impressive was how they did. The defense was awesome and made the most of the Rams’ mistakes on the back of game-changing performances from Jeffery Simmons, Harold Landry, and Kevin Byard. I’m intrigued to see how the offense operates without Henry in games which don’t immediately and violently swing in their favor.

5.       Dallas Cowboys (6-2)

The Cowboys' 30-16 loss to the Denver Broncos was; much worse than the scoreline suggests; somehow only the second most surprising result of the week. I never expected the Cowboys' offense to look like that this season, especially not at the hands of the Broncos. The Cowboys showed, like everyone else, they’re susceptible to inexplicable losses. How they respond will be telling.

6.       Los Angeles Rams (7-2) -5

While unsettling, the Rams' loss to the Cardinals could be overlooked as an early season blip, but this week’s loss to the Titans is far more alarming. This is a clearly talented team, and I can’t wait to see Von Miller’s impact, but Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay have to be better against the NFL’s best for this team to do anything meaningful with its talent.

7.       Baltimore Ravens (6-2)

Most importantly, the Ravens won, but it wasn’t much of a confidence-booster. Early in the game the defense was poor, giving up big plays and showing all the issues the Cincinnati Bengals abused a week ago – thankfully they figured it out in the second half and overtime. Offensively, this team cannot just execute with any consistency. Consistency has to be the focus of this team to get anywhere close to the levels they expect.

8.       Buffalo Bills (5-3) -2

What was that, Buffalo? Seriously. How do you lose 9-6 to the 1-6 Jacksonville Jaguars? Sunday was probably the worst game in Sean McDermott’s tenure as the Bills shot themselves in the foot over and over again. Be it penalties, poor execution, or poor coaching, the Bills had a horrendous day and let each bad moment spiral into the next. The Bills have huge aspirations, and they have the talent, but are not without issues.

GOOD NOT GREAT

These teams will play for the remainder of the playoff spots. They’re good teams, they have talent and will test the league’s best, but they’ll ultimately fall short of those levels more often than not.  

9.       Los Angeles Chargers (5-3) +3

Brandon Staley and Justin Herbert ended their two game slide with a closer-than-expected win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Herbert was very efficient, completing 32/38 passes for 356 yards and two touchdowns, taking what the defense gave and not turning the ball over. It was a significant improvement on the last two games, now the defense has to bounce back and improve.

10.   Las Vegas Raiders (5-3) -2

Unlike Justin Herbert, the Raiders were not efficient. They reached the red zone six times but came away with just one touchdown, a missed field goal, and a fumble with 40 seconds left in the game. Derek Carr threw two interceptions, one of which was a pick-six, as the offense looked out of sorts when it mattered most. I am interested to see DeSean Jackson’s impact, though.

11.   Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) +2

The Steelers are very fortunate not to be 4-4 right now. Instead, they’re 5-3, riding a four game winning streak and just a game behind their arch-rival Ravens in the AFC North. Pittsburgh benefitted from some egregious officiating decisions, which undoubtedly helped them win this game, but the Steelers are working out some of their issues and are getting results. What's more, in Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth the Steelers may have two of the best picks of the 2021 NFL Draft.

12.   Cleveland Browns (5-4) +3

In one game, the Browns comprehensively put to bed the Odell Beckham Jr. fiasco and revitalized their season. Nick Chubb was back and rolling, Baker Mayfield played well, the defense was hot, and they’ll soon get back Kareem Hunt. This performance looked like the September Browns, who were contenders – they may be back.

13.   Cincinnati Bengals (5-4) -4

The high of their win over the Ravens is well and truly gone. The Bungals are coming back. Since that win, Cincy has allowed a 10+ point comeback in under five minutes to the New York Jets, then gotten shellacked 41-16 by a shaken, limping Browns team. Two weeks after being the AFC’s number one seed, they’re at the bottom of the AFC North – luckily they’re just two games behind the Ravens.

14.   New England Patriots (5-4) +2

The Patriots have their guy. Mac Jones looks very good and the Patriots are a legit playoff contender – they’re just one game behind the Bills in the AFC East. Jones is showing the ability to process the field, know where his players are, make quick decisions, and operate the offense very well. Belichick is getting the most from this roster and I don’t have any issues believing they’ll be able to get it done in the playoffs should they make it – look at how they played the Bucs and Cowboys, for instance.

15.   New Orleans Saints (5-3) -5

A week after beating the Buccaneers, it’s only right for the 2021 season that the Saints would follow with a home loss to the Atlanta Falcons. They made it interesting, with 22 fourth quarter points in an 18-point comeback, but they couldn’t hold onto their lead. Trevor Siemian wasn't bad, but the ceiling of this team feels limited due to their quarterback dilemma.

16.   Kansas City Chiefs (5-4) -2

The Chiefs won but once again it was hardly convincing and did nothing to quash the concerns for this team. They managed just 237 yards of offense. I’ll say that again: Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid managed just 237 yards of offense, at home. They aren’t connecting on any of the big plays they have in the past, they aren’t running the ball well, and they’re shooting themselves in the foot too often and getting behind the chains. This team still has a lot of soul searching to do.

NOT QUITE GOOD

You thought you were gonna be good, and you flashed it here and there, but you aren’t going anywhere. Your team is too broadly flawed and those flaws will consistently undo your best efforts.

17.   Indianapolis Colts (4-5)

Credit where credit is due, the Colts handled their business on Thursday night. After last week’s highly disappointing loss, it would be fair to call this game must-win. They did that, well, over-powering the New York Jets defense in every facet. Jonathan Taylor is one of the best running backs in the NFL and is the key to this offense – now the Colts have to do it against the good teams if they want to change their tier.

18.   Seattle Seahawks (3-5) +3

Seattle had a bye and it went almost as well as possible. Two of their division rivals lost, as did some key playoff rivals, and Russell Wilson announced he is set to return in Week 10 as the Seahawks face the Packers. He still has a huge task to lift this team into the playoffs, though.

19.   Denver Broncos (5-4) +3

What a win. After ending their four game losing streak last week, then trading the face of the franchise, the Broncos went to Dallas and embarrassed the Cowboys. I think it was likely no more than a flash in the pan, but it was an impressive win nonetheless.

20.   Minnesota Vikings (3-5) -1

Sunday’s game was the perfect illustration as to why the Vikings need to change it up and clean (some) house. They flashed their star power, with Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook showing their threat early, but after those plays the Vikings did almost nothing on offense. The Vikings intercepted Lamar Jackson twice, including near midfield in overtime, and returned a kick for a touchdown, and still lost despite having had a 14 point lead early in the third quarter. The Vikings need a revamp.

21.   Chicago Bears (3-6) +2

I’ve rarely felt more for a team that wasn’t mine. The Bears were hosed by the officials, on a night they did enough to warrant a highly improbably come from behind win in Pittsburgh over the Steelers. Justin Fields looked very good, bouncing back from early adversity and a physical beating, and is showing why he should have been the second quarterback taken. Despite Matt Nagy, who remains bad, Fields is improving. There is reason for optimism in Chicago after all.

22.   Carolina Panthers (4-5) -2

Bench Sam Darnold. Do it now, Matt Rhule. Not only for the team but for the player. Darnold is clearly struggling and is not in a position to lead an NFL team. Is P.J. Walker going to be better? Likely not significantly, but the longer they stick with Darnold, the worse it’s going to get. Stephon Gilmore was a huge addition to the defense, though.

23.   San Francisco 49ers (3-5) -5

Come back next year, San Fran. Sunday’s loss was inexcusable. The 49ers were dominated by the Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins-less Cardinals, in San Francisco no less. Kyle Shanahan is coaching himself out of a job, and it’s a matter of time until we see Trey Lance.

24.   Philadelphia Eagles (3-6)

For once, the Eagles’ production came before garbage time. Jalen Hurts played well and the offense showed competency working on schedule and throughout the game. It wasn’t enough, ultimately, as the defense tried to limit big plays but let Herbert just chip his way down the field a little to easily.

25.   Atlanta Falcons (4-4)

Despite writing this every week, I’m still surprised to see the Falcons at .500 and in a playoff spot entering Week 10. They ensured that with a very surprising victory over the Saints, though it almost wasn’t. In typical Atlanta fashion, the team gave up an 18-point lead in the fourth quarter, but in the week the Braves won the World Series, the Falcons decided they couldn’t bring the city down and drove for the winning field goal. Luckily for the Falcons, the NFC field is poor, so they’re positioned well to make a Wild Card appearance.

BAD

Try again next year. 

26.   New York Giants (3-6)

There isn’t much positive to take from this season for New York, and this week’s win doesn’t do much to change that other than affording gone week of relief to the Big Blue faithful. Buoyed by a stout defensive performance in the red zone, with two interceptions to boot, the Giants upset the Raiders for their third win of the season.

27.   Washington Football Team (2-6)

Washington had a bye. Despite the extra time to look for a fix, this team just isn’t going to compete this season.

28.   New York Jets (2-6) +1

Thursday night was forgettable. Not only did the Jets get bludgeoned on defense, they saw Mike White leave the game in the first quarter. Thankfully it isn’t serious and he should be okay to play this week, which he should. White looked good in his limited time against the Colts and gives this team the best chance to win right now – so long as the defense doesn’t falter.

29.   Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) +2

The Jaguars got their first win of the season on American soil, and what a win it was. The Jags were fortunate in some ways, considering all the self-inflicted wounds the Bills had, but the Jags took advantage of enough of those errors to get their second win of the season. It is pretty inconsequential, but it definitely feels good in Duval.

30.   Miami Dolphins (2-7) -2

Congratulations, you won, but it was against the 1-7 Houston Texans, and you turned the ball over five times. I don’t think I’ve seen an uglier game – without weather – but the Dolphins ultimately did enough to win. This team isn’t going anywhere, but they have the assets to do work in the offseason. That is the focus now.

31.   Houston Texans (1-8) -1

The only positive for the Texans this weekend is that they won the turnover battle on Sunday despite having four turnovers of their own.

32.   Detroit Lions (0-8)

Detroit had their bye. Hopefully they identified something to win at least one game this season. 

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