NFL Power Rankings Week 9: Chiefs Climb and the Bengals Drop

There’s little movement at the top, New England and Houston are moving up, and Washington is on the brink. Where’s your favorite team rank in the NFL Power Rankings Week 9?

1. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-1): Good teams win games against teams they should. Great teams blow bad teams out. Indy isn’t perfect, but if they’re gonna score 30+ every game, they won’t have to be.
2. DETROIT LIONS (5-2): *Detroit had a bye week*
3. GREEN BAY PACKERS (5-1-1): The Packers struggled mightily in the first half, but were able to get it together in the second half. Jordan Love got hot after halftime, completing 20 straight completions at one point.
4. BUFFALO BILLS (5-2): James Cook should be on every shortlist for offensive player of the year. He ran for over 200 yards against Carolina, and is 2nd in the league in rushing yards.
5. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (6-2): Saquon Barkley looked like the Barkley of last season, but left early with an injury. Keep an eye on his status during Philly’s bye week.
6. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (5-3): Patrick Mahomes overcame two first half interceptions by throwing three second half touchdown passes. The Chiefs are rising. Huge game at Buffalo this week.
7. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (5-2): *Seattle had a bye week*
8. DENVER BRONCOS (6-2): Denver won by 20 points, but it cost them arguably the best defensive player in the NFL. Cornerback Patrick Surtain II suffered a pectoral injury, and will miss at least a month.
9. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (6-2): The offense struggled mightily. All the injuries have taken a toll. The bye week is coming at the right time.
10. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (6-2): Drake Maye had another solid performance, and continues to shine as one of the best quarterbacks in the league thus far.
11. LOS ANGELES RAMS (5-2): *L.A. Rams had a bye week*
12. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (5-3): The Chargers rebounded from an embarrassing 14 point loss to the Colts by blowing out Minnesota. Justin Herbert was great, and Kimani Vidal led the way on the ground with 117 yards and a touchdown.
13. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (5-3): The pass rush was a total no show yet again. Mac Jones’ honeymoon might be over. San Fran has to beef up both the offensive and defensive lines before the deadline.
14. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-3): Aaron Rodgers played well in his first game against the Packers since leaving them, but this defense sucks. Might be the worst Steelers defense ever if this keeps up.
15. CHICAGO BEARS (4-3): Penalties (11 committed) and inconsistency after the first quarter cost this team. D’Andre Swift couldn’t get anything going after rushing for 100+ yards in back-to-back games.
16. HOUSTON TEXANS (3-4): This defense is legit. Houston shut down San Francisco’s offense, and held Christian McCaffrey to his worst game of the season. C.J. Stroud played well again, passing for a season high 318 yards – without wide out Nico Collins.
17. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (3-5): This team needs a healthy Jayden Daniels. Washington has now lost three straight games, and now has to play Seattle and Detroit the next two weeks.
18. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-3): *Jacksonville had a bye week*
19. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-4): With Carson Wentz going down due to a season ending shoulder injury, J.J. McCarthy’s time is now. Is he ready? Will he get any help from the rushing attack?
20. ATLANTA FALCONS (3-4): Kirk Cousins started for an injured Michael Penix Jr., and looked very mediocre. It has been reported that Cousins would like to be traded so he can start. Will Atlanta grant him his wish?
21. DALLAS COWBOYS (3-4-1): The defense was horrid yet again, and was just let Denver do whatever it wanted to do offensively. Dak Prescott and the Dallas offense were unable to pick up the slack on their end.
22. CAROLINA PANTHERS (4-4): Just a terrible game on both sides of the ball. Andy Dalton was awful, finishing with zero touchdowns, one pick, and sacked seven times.
23. BALTIMORE RAVENS (2-5): Derrick Henry ran for two touchdowns – passing Walter Payton for fifth on the all-time rushing touchdowns list. Will Lamar Jackson be back this week at Miami?
24. CINCINNATI BENGALS (3-5): Joe Flacco and the offense put up enough points to win, but the defense was a complete disgrace. Letting this Jets offense put up over 500 yards is unacceptable.
25. ARIZONA CARDINALS (2-5): *Arizona had a bye week*
26. MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-6): Tua had his best game of the season, throwing four touchdown passes to zero turnovers. The defense was impressive, holding Bijan Robinson to just 25 yards on nine carries.
27. NEW YORK GIANTS (2-6): Cam Skattebo suffered a season ending dislocated right ankle in the loss to the Eagles. Tough loss of a fan favorite.
28. CLEVELAND BROWNS (2-6): Myles Garrett had five (!) sacks against the Patriots, and the Browns still lost by 19 points. Is another QB change on the horizon?
29. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-5): *Las Vegas had a bye week*
30. NEW YORK JETS (1-7): The offense scored more points in the 4th quarter than they did in the previous four complete games (23). Who starts at QB after the bye week?
31. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-7): Another substandard showing led to Spencer Rattler finally being replaced by rookie 2nd round pick Tyler Shough. Shough responded by playing worse than Rattler.
32. TENNESSEE TITANS (1-7): Rookie fourth round receiver Chimere Dike has been one of the best day three picks in the league this season. He just had his best receiving game as a pro (7 receptions for 93 yards), and has arguably been the best return man in the league.