NFL Power Ranking after Week 9: Colts, Lions and Chiefs all fall, Bills back to top

The first half of the NFL season is in the books and if the first nine weeks have shown us anything is that there is no out and out favorite to win the Super Bowl. Teams rise and fall and lately everyone we put in the top spot loses the next week. We have new contenders that look like they might be for real but only time will tell. We have former giants that look mortal and franchises that have been obsolete for years suddenly ready to be taken seriously.

These are our halfway point Power Rankings through Week 9 of the NFL.

1) Buffalo Bills (6-2), last week 6

It was the game we had all been waiting for, no one more than Josh Allen after getting knocked out of the playoffs again by Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs last season. He beat his nemesis once again as the BUF defense held the KC QB to his worst completion percentage in a regular season game ever and the ground game steamrolled over the Chiefs D. Call me crazy, but the Bills are looking like the best team in the league, and this might be their year to knock off the Chiefs in the postseason.

2) Indianapolis Colts (7-2), last week 2

The doubters will tell you they expected a loss like the Colts suffered in Pittsburgh for a long time. I was once one of those doubters, but now I believe in this team, but they have to show me how they respond in the face of their first bit of adversity this season. They have ATL and KC in the next couple of games so I’m not going to crown them, or count them out until I see them play a couple of huge midseason games over the coming weeks.

3) Seattle Seahawks (6-2), last week 7

Coming off of their BYE, hosting a Washington team that came to Seattle limping into the halfway point of the season, Sam Darnold and the Seahawks showed no mercy on the Commanders. They put them to the sword and made their case for being the top team in the NFC all the while putting an end to Washington’s season. Darnold should be in the MVP conversation for a second straight year, and the defense has only allowed more than 20 points once this year. That’s a recipe for a team that can make a deep run in the playoffs.

4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2), last week 4

BYE

5) Philadelphia Eagles (6-2), last week 5

BYE

6) Los Angeles Rams (6-2), last week 8

There was no doubt about the Rams returning home for a tune up game against the New Orleans Saints. It’s easy to think of this Rams team as and finesse, explosive team that are led by their offense especially when Matthew Stafford is throwing four TDs a game, but how about we give it up to the defense. They have allowed 20 total points in the last three games and this coming week they will be all in for their revenge game against the Niners from LA.

7) Kansas City Chiefs (5-4), last week 3

We haven’t seen Patrick Mahomes play like that in a long time, if ever. Getting Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice back made the Chiefs offense look like the unstoppable juggernaut of yesteryear. The one that you would never count out of a game, no matter how much they were down. The one that won Super Bowls, and cemented a dynasty. That wasn’t the case in Orchard Park. Mahomes was under pressure all day, the WRs barely had time to get open, and the run game without Pacheco suffered. The defense still hasn’t caught that same stride they’ve had for the last couple years. We all assume the Chiefs will get to the playoffs, but they are currently on the outside of the postseason picture looking in.

8) Detroit Lions (5-3), last week 1

We put the Lions up at the top of the Power Rankings two weeks ago knowing they would hold on to that position for at least another week during their BYE, but as soon as they got the chance they gave up the position over the weekend in a divisional loss to the VIkings. It’s been a reoccurring theme on our Rankings, and now the NFC North is wide open with three five win teams and a four win team that just beat Detroit.

9) New England Patriots (7-2), last week 9

Ladies and gentlemen, the hottest team in the league. Only two of their six straight wins have come against winning teams, but still, not bad. Their run looks even more impressive considering the Colts fell to the Steelers on Sunday. When you win six in a row, there will be some that don’t always look perfect but the important thing is winning those games. The Pats almost gave up a 10 point fourth quarter lead, but a missed PAT yielded them the win and New England are the AFC East midseason champs. Not that that means anything.

10) Denver Broncos (7-2), last week 11

It wasn’t pretty but sometimes in the NFL it doesn’t have to be. Bo Nix and the Broncs have become experts in making 4th quarter comebacks. They were down 8 and scored 11 straight points to topple the Texans in Houston. They can blow teams out like they did against the Cowboys last week, but once those games in late December and early January come around you have to know how to win these kinds of games. I can’t say they are the best team in the league, but they aren’t far off.

11) San Francisco 49ers (6-3), last week 12

The Niners went East on the heels of a terrible performance against the Texans last week, and things could have got real bad in the Bay had they lost a second straight game against a sub par team. Luckily for Niners fans Kyle Shannahan had his guys primed and prepped for a no nonsense game against the Giants. After McCaffrey rushed for just 25 yards last week in Houston, San Fran fed their work horse and he repaid them with 169 total yards and two TDs. Purdy’s return should be getting closer and closer and the Niners will eventually go back to their starter, but how will that transition look? They’ve got a huge game against the Rams next week, and the question is who will be under center for that game if Purdy is healthy?

12) Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3), last week 13

After getting spanked and dragged through the mud against the Packers last week, the Steelers responded like you would think a Mike Tomlin coached team would respond. Sometimes it takes a loss like the one the suffered against Green Bay to bring out the best in a team, and if anyone can do that it’s Tomlin. The defense finally switched it on and shut down Daniel Jones and the Colts high powered offense and turned them over six times. Suddenly the AFC is wide open and the Steelers are one of the teams nipping at the Colts, Pats and Broncos for the one seed in the AFC.

13) Green Bay Packers (5-2-1), last week 10

The Packers might be the most frustrating team in the league. Notice I didn’t use the word overrated, because I think they are better than they play. We saw a glimpse of that last week, but they went back home and flatlined in front of their home fans. Even worse is the long term effect that game is going to have on the team, as Tucker Kraft walked off the field for the last time this season. The Packers’ leading receiver in yards and TDs tore his ACL and Jordan Love is now without his favorite target.

14) Los Angeles Chargers (6-3), last week 14

The Chargers-Titans game shouldn’t have been as interesting as it was, but an early pick six thrown by Justin Herbet and a punt return given up to the Tennessee special teams put the Titans in a place their offense never could. The Chargers won the game in unspectacular fashion, and suffered a huge loss to Joe Alt who will have to have season ending surgery. This team is not the same without their all-pro lineman, and they have the Broncos and the Chiefs to keep up with in maybe the toughest division in football.

15) Minnesota Vikings (4-4), last week 17

Minnesota just needed a little McCarthy magic in the backfield to bring the spark back to U.S. Bank Field. His numbers weren’t spectacular, but he helped put the Vikings up in the first quarter and the defense was able to hold off the Lions by keeping Goff constantly on the move. All seemed loss for Minnesota not too long ago, but this team is right back in the thick of it in the NFC North.

16) Chicago Bears (5-3), last week 18

It must feel nice for Bears fans who woke up on Monday with a sensation they probably aren’t too used to. For the first time maybe ever, things broke the Bears way and they won a game they probably should have lost. They never been put in that position anyway considering they were up 14 with under 2:00 to go, but the Bengals miracle was spoiled by Colston Loveland’s game winning 58 yard TD that capped one of the most entertaining games we’ll see all year.

17) Baltimore Ravens (3-5), last week 23

After an eternal wait for Lamar Jackson’s return, Ravens fans finally had their faith restored in Miami on Thursday night. It was the perfect game for Jackson to return from injury seeing as the Dolphins pass rush barely brushed the two time MVP who dropped 4 TDs and 204 yards on 18/23 passing. It was the Dolphins, and they stink, but maybe even more impressive than Jackson in his return was the defense that held Miami to just 6 points. Again the Dolphins wreak, so take that into account.

18) Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3), last week 15

After going into their BYE on a two game losing streak, and losing credibility in the contender conversation, the Jags went across the country and played a terrible Raiders team and needed overtime and a missed two point conversion to beat Las Vegas. It’s not the way to calm nerves in Jacksonville following a terrible couple games heading into the BYE. History suggests this is when the Jags stumble and show they aren’t the playoff shoe ins they looked like not too long ago.

19) Carolina Panthers (5-4), last week 24

I have no idea what to think about this Panthers team. I do know however, that I owe Dave Campos and Bryce Young (who wasn’t even playing last week) a big apology. This is a different team with Bryce in at QB, but the real reason this team has turned things around is Rico Dowdle. Finally Carolina is giving their fan base something to get excited about, and their win over the Packers in Green Bay might have been the biggest win they have had since the Cam Newton era.

20) Dallas Cowboys (3-5-1), last week 16

The Cowboys defense has been their weak link all season, but Dak and the offense have been able to keep them in games for most of the year. That wasn’t the case in Dallas on Monday night. Dak moved the ball, but the Cowboys couldn’t get into the end zone and paid the price in the end. They missed a chance to go into their BYE with a little momentum for the second half of the season, and now they will have the sour taste of defeat in their mouths for the next two weeks.

21) Houston Texans (3-5), last week 20

For the second straight week the Texans were favored against a team with a considerably better record than theirs. They did play Denver close but their offensive struggles amplified when C.J. Stroud was hit late and forced out of the game with a concussion. Terrible to see a player knocked out of the game on a play that was a penalty, and now the slim hopes the Houston have to string a win streak together and get back into the playoff picture has become even slimmer.

22) Atlanta Falcons (3-5), last week 22

I think I remember saying early in the season that the Falcons were going to regret letting go of Younghoe Kim after he missed a field goal in the first or second game of the season that could have won the game for them. Well, the missed PAT to tie the game at the end of their loss to the Pats must have felt great for Kim who was probably watching with a smile from ear to ear. That wasn’t the case for Drake London who made a spectacular catch on what looked like the game tying TD. Doesn’t matter that London is playing great, or that they almost beat the red hot Pats, they have lost three in a row and are falling behind in the playoff race.

23) Arizona Cardinals (3-5), last week 27

The five game slump is suddenly over in the desert and the Cardinals did it with defense. They went into Dallas and shut down the top offense in the league, and Jacoby Brissett is quickly turning into the favorite to win the QB1 job once Kyler Murray is back to 100%. Their five losses came in four point games or less, but on Monday night they were able to hold off the Cowboys and keep from collapsing in the 4th quarter. It’s not season saving, but it’s a step in the right direction.

24) Cincinnati Bengals (3-6), last week 21

This one hurts, but we saw it coming since before the season began. The defense was going to be the weak link on this team and it was going to come back to bite them at some point or another. Without Joe Burrow, the Bengals are in this situation sooner than they would have ever expected but Flacco, and the offense did plenty to win that game, and all Ja’Marr Chase, and Chase Brown were asking for from the defense was one stop when the game was on the line.

25) Washington Commanders (3-6), last week 19

Just a tragic scene in Seattle as the Commanders season came to an end and hope flew out the window in Washington. After Jayden Daniels’ mom had to go on social media and plead for the franchise not to turn her son into the next Robert Griffin III, Daniels was still playing in a 38-7 game in the 4th quarter and what happens? He gets tackled, dislocates his elbow and is likely to miss the rest of the season. At 3-6 with their face of the franchise sidelined most likely for the season, Commanders fans can close the book on this season, and so will we in the Power Rankings.

26) New York Giants (2-7), last week 25

Life in the post Skatteboo era is awfully depressing in New York. The other bash brother, Jaxson Dart, tried to carry the spark alone but it was always going to be tough against a good Niners team that was coming off a disappointing loss the previous week. It was Dart’s best passing day, but that’s a bad sign. He needs the help of the running game and everyone else around him to bring the best out of his arm, and his legs.

27) Cleveland Browns (2-6), last week 26

BYE

28) Las Vegas Raiders (2-6), last week 28

At least the Raiders put on a show. It was a terrible fist half chalked full of field goals but both teams came to life and at least scored some point and gave the paying fans a few minutes of free football in overtime. They couldn’t deliver the win for their home fans, but most of the fans in Allegiant Stadium are cheering on the visiting team anyway.

29) Miami Dolphins (2-7), last week 29

Their may have been two 2-loss teams on the field at Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday night, but there was only one that looked like they actually had a reason to suit up and play the rest of the season. This is the most uninspired team I have seen in a long time, and with Mike McDaniels being guaranteed a place on the sideline until the end of the season, it’s only going to get worse in Miami.

30) New Orleans Saints (1-8), last week 30

The Saints don’t have many other options or tricks up their sleeve to try and turn things around in New Orleans. They changed QBs, and that’s not going to do much for Kellen Moore or the offense. I suppose these next nine months are going to be a development period for Shough but really they are just gearing up for the Arch Manning sweepstakes in the Big Easy.

31) New York Jets (1-7), last week 31

BYE

32) Tennessee Titans (1-7), last week 32

The Titans made a game of it as the Chargers came to town on Sunday afternoon, but unfortunately their rookie QB didn’t have much to do with the 20 points Tennessee scored. A pick six and a punt return for a TD in the first quarter put them up early, but the offense didn’t do much to build to that lead, and eventually Justin Herbert put the Chargers up top late in the game.

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