Week 9 NFL Power Rankings
Josh Frey
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It was a ghoulish weekend in the NFL filled with blood, backup QB wins, and a Tom Brady pick-six. A new team sneaks into the top five this week, a Super Bowl contender tumbles, and an old favorite breaks back into the playoff hunt.
1. Green Bay Packers
Last Week: 24-21 win @ ARI
Trending: +3
This Week: 11/7 @ KC
Despite losing both Davante Adams and Allen Lazard to the COVID-19 list, the Packers went into Arizona with just enough firepower to come away with a victory. The defense swarmed Kyler Murray all night, and they made things as tough as anyone has this season on one of the premier quarterbacks in the NFL.Funny enough, things probably get easier this week as they head to Kansas City.
2. Los Angeles Rams
Last Week: 38-22 win @ HOU
Trending: +1
This Week: 11/7 vs TEN
The Rams took care of business against a far inferior Houston Texans squad that only got weaker after trading RB Mark Ingram to the Saints. LA also made a blockbuster trade for LB Von Miller early this week, making this team as daunting as any moving forward.
3. Arizona Cardinals
Last Week: 21-24 loss vs GB
Trending: -2
This Week: 11/7 @ SF
JJ Watt was lost for the season prior to this game, and it certainly was evident in Arizona’s lack of a pass rush. This team is still a solid group poised to make a playoff run, but this loss just shows they are beatable.
4. Dallas Cowboys
Last Week: 20-16 win @ MIN
Trending: +1
This Week: 11/7 vs DEN
About an hour before the game, we found out that Dak Prescott would be inactive vs. the Vikings. Cooper Rush didn’t do a ton to impress in this game, but he did lead a game-winning drive to beat a spiraling Vikings team. Assuming Prescott is ready to go moving forward, they should be heavy favorites against Denver.
5. Tennessee Titans
Last Week: 34-31 win @ IND
Trending: +5
This Week: 11/7 @ LAR
The Titans got an OT win on the road in Indy to extend their division lead three games. However, they got devastating news that Derrick Henry is out for 8-10 weeks with a broken bone in his foot. The road to the playoffs got much harder, but they have a cushion to work with.
6. Baltimore Ravens
Last Week: Bye
Trending:–
This Week: 11/7 vs MIN
Lamar Jackson got a week off after Baltimore got the brakes beaten off of them against Cincinnati. After having all that pent up frustration from having to think about that, they get to take it out on the Vikings this week.
7. Buffalo Bills
Last Week: 26-11 win vs MIA
Trending: —
This Week: 11/7 @ JAX
It was a bit of a struggle through the first three quarters, but Buffalo got the job done against Miami this week. Josh Allen didn’t have the stellar performance that we’ve come to be used to, but taking control of a game later is still better than never.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last Week: 27-36 loss @ NO
Trending: -6
This Week: Bye
Not a great look for Tom Brady and the Bucs. Tampa Bay went down early and seemed to be storming back, but Brady’s pick-six with under two minutes left sealed the deal. Losing to Trevor Siemian isn’t good, but they have a bye now to get right.
9. New Orleans Saints
Last Week: 36-27 win vs TB
Trending: +3
This Week: 11/7 vs ATL
Wouldn’t you know it, the Saints won another regular season game against the Tom Brady Buccaneers. This time it wasn’t with Drew Brees under center, though. The combined efforts of Jameis Winston and Trevor Siemian were somehow enough to pull off the win. With Winston out for the season though, they need to figure out what they want to do at QB.
10. New England Patriots
Last Week: 27-24 win @ LAC
Trending: +5
This Week: 11/7 @ CAR
It might be safe to say that the Patriots just have Justin Herbert’s number. They once again shut him down, and New England just overpowered the Chargers in all aspects of the game. A huge win for a team looking hot at the right time.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers
Last Week: 15-10 win @ CLE
Trending: +5
This Week: 11/8 vs CHI
Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth are looking like two of the draft picks in this rookie class right now. Both had touchdowns this week, and particularly Harris has just carried the Steelers offense. On the backs of these two and another great defensive effort, the Steelers got a huge divisional win in Cleveland.
12. Los Angeles Chargers
Last Week: 24-27 loss vs NE
Trending: -4
This Week: 11/7 @ PHI
The Chargers are still a good team, but the brakes have to be pumped on considering them as a Super Bowl contender. New England shut down their offense for the entirety of the game that really mattered. They need a bounce back win this week.
13. Cleveland Browns
Last Week: 10-15 loss vs PIT
Trending: -2
This Week: 11/7 @ CIN
Baker Mayfield’s left arm is basically immobile at this point, and it’s obvious with the play of recent weeks. The passing offense is nonexistent right now, and with both Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb banged up, there isn’t much good going for them.
14. Cincinnati Bengals
Last Week: 31-34 loss @ NYJ
Trending: -5
This Week: 11/7 vs CLE
A loss to the Jets is ugly, but it feels like this is a game that a young, talented team just didn’t take seriously enough. Mike White got hot, Joe Burrow made a few mistakes, and the game just eventually got out of reach. Cincinnati is still a dangerous matchup for anyone, and they should prove that against the Browns.
15. San Francisco 49ers
Last Week: 33-22 win @ CHI
Trending: -1
This Week: 11/7 vs ARI
This game was the most fired up that Jimmy Garoppolo has been in a long time, and it was one of the few games this year where San Fran looked like they had a plan and stuck with it. They will need to play with a similar mentality against Arizona.
16. Las Vegas Raiders
Last Week: Bye
Trending: -1
This Week: 11/7 @ NYG
The Raiders have been through a tumultuous month, but a bye week should allow the team to regroup ahead of their game against the Giants.
17. Kansas City Chiefs
Last Week: 20-17 win vs NYG
Trending: +1
This Week: 11/7 vs GB
It’s still not a great situation in Kansas City, barely coming away with a win against the Giants. However, they’re at least winning games, and the defense looked much better in this one. Next is a showdown with the Packers.
18. Minnesota Vikings
Last Week: 16-20 loss vs DAL
Trending: -5
This Week: 11/7 @ BAL
Things are not bright in the North Star State. The Vikings went against a backup QB, in Minnesota, on prime time TV, and the defense got sliced up for 325 passing yards by Cooper Rush in his first career start. Rumbles have turned to roars calling for Mike Zimmer’s job, and the team looks another bad loss or two away from tearing down the current regime.
19. Denver Broncos
Last Week: 17-10 win vs WSH
Trending: +1
This Week: 11/7 @ DAL
Denver just keeps hanging around. After four straight losses, the team bounced back with a win against Washington to keep them sniffing around in the playoff picture. Next week they’re going to need to come up with a big performance against a high-powered Cowboys team.
20. Seattle Seahawks
Last Week: 31-7 win vs JAX
Trending: +2
This Week: Bye
Geno Smith has had his ups and downs through his first two appearances since Russell Wilson’s injury. This week though, there were a lot more ups than downs. Smith led the way for the Seahawks as they dominated the Jaguars.
21. Philadelphia Eagles
Last Week: 44-6 win @ DET
Trending: +4
This Week: 11/7 vs LAC
This was a rout from the beginning led by Philly’s defense. Jalen Hurts didn’t do a ton, throwing for just over 100 yards, but he didn’t have to. This still isn’t a great team, but that win should certainly be a confidence booster.
22. Indianapolis Colts
Last Week: 31-34 loss vs TEN
Trending: -3
This Week: 11/4 vs NYJ
The Colts needed a win against Tennessee, but with the loss, their playoff hopes are likely just about over. Carson Wentz didn’t do nearly enough to help Indy in this one, and the defense let the Titans get whatever they wanted.
23. Carolina Panthers
Last Week: 19-13 win @ ATL
Trending: +5
This Week: 11/7 vs NE
Chuba Hubbard got off to a rough start, fumbling on the second snap of the game. However, Carolina bounced back nicely from that point on and got a good win. The defense eliminated Kyle Pitts in the passing game, and Atlanta couldn’t counter with another option.
24. Atlanta Falcons
Last Week: 13-19 loss vs CAR
Trending: -3
This Week: 11/7 @ NO
No Calvin Ridley proved to be a problem for the Falcons offense this week, and it does not seem like the wide receiver will be back this week against New Orleans. This Falcons team is in for a rough stretch of games, playing teams at or above .500 in four of their next five contests.
25. Washington Football Team
Last Week: 10-17 loss @ DEN
Trending: -2
This Week: Bye
Washington’s disappointing stretch of football continues as they were unable to bounce back against a slumping Broncos team. Taylor Heinicke had multiple turnovers, and the defense couldn’t make up for it.
26. Chicago Bears
Last Week: 22-33 loss vs SF
Trending: -2
This Week: 11/8 @ PIT
Chicago lost this game, but this was easily Justin Fields’ best showing as a professional. He had multiple “wow” plays during this performance, but the defense just couldn’t help him out enough.
27. New York Jets
Last Week: 34-31 win vs CIN
Trending: +4
This Week: 11/4 @ IND
How about Mike White? The New York Jets probably don’t actually have a QB controversy on their hands, despite what head coach Robert Salah says, but White’s performance has everyone on notice.
28. New York Giants
Last Week: 17-20 loss @ KC
Trending: -1
This Week: 11/7 vs LV
Daniel Jones did not play well in this one, and it didn’t help that Sterling Shepard left the game with an injury again. As long as the Giants are as banged up as they are, they won’t be beating too many teams.
29. Miami Dolphins
Last Week: 11-26 loss @ BUF
Trending: +1
This Week: 11/7 vs HOU
Miami hung tough for three quarters, but they couldn’t get the win and fell for the seventh straight week. The Dolphins are not expected to pull off a Deshaun Watson trade prior to the deadline, so this might just be how the Dolphins’ season goes for the rest of the way.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars
Last Week: 7-31 loss @ SEA
Trending: -4
This Week: 11/7 vs BUF
The Jaguars defense was not good in this one, and the loss of James Robinson only made things worse. Even with Geno Smith on the other side, Jacksonville never really stood a chance.
31. Houston Texans
Last Week: 22-38 loss vs LAR
Trending: +1
This Week: 11/7 @ MIA
The Texans may have gotten blown out, but Davis Mills had a decent day passing the ball. It’s more than can be said of the Lions, so they move up a spot this week.
32. Detroit Lions
Last Week: 6-44 loss vs PHI
Trending: -3
This Week: Bye
Absolutely nothing went right for the Lions against Philadelphia. For a team that has played some scrappy football against some of the better teams in the league, getting blown off the field by the Eagles is embarrassing.