Week Nine power rankings

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1. Eagles (8-1; last week No. 1): Scoring 51 against the defense that won Super Bowl 50 may be the clearest sign yet that this team is headed for Super Bowl LII.

2. Patriots (6-2; No. 2): Who better than an oft-injured quarterback to back up a never-injured starter?

3. Steelers (6-2; No. 3): With everyone assuming that the Steelers are headed for a playoff bye, it’s just about time for them to assume the position of tripping over their shoelaces against an inferior foe.

4. Rams (6-2; No. 8): The guy who reminds many of Jon Gruden is having the same impact Gruden had on the 2002 Bucs.

5. Vikings (6-2; No. 6): The schedule gets a lot harder, right now.

6. Saints (6-2; No. 9): The schedule gets a lot harder, right now.

7. Chiefs (6-3; No. 4): The good news is that Andy Reid almost never loses his first game after a bye. The bad news is that this year’s break is being wasted on the Giants, an opponent they could beat on one day’s rest.

8. Seahawks (5-3; No. 5): Vikings fans knew it was just a matter of time before Blair Walsh started costing Seattle games.

9. Panthers (6-3; No. 10): After Carolina’s next win, Cam Newton will compare the team to the Hindenburg.

10. Cowboys (5-3; No. 16): They’ll need to forget about a Week 11 showdown with the Eagles long enough to provide the Falcons with the latest reminder that they’re not the team they were a year ago.

11. Washington (4-4; No. 13): They’re playing just well enough to have no choice but to use the franchise tag again on Kirk Cousins, at more than $34 million for one more year.

12. Jaguars (5-3; No. 15): Jacksonville at Tennessee for the AFC South crown is the early favorite for prime-time in Week 17.

13. Bills (5-3; No. 7): We doubt them and they prove us wrong. And then we believe in them, and they prove us wrong.

14. Titans (5-3; No. 14): As Marcus Mariota‘s hamstring keeps healing, he’ll keep becoming more dangerous to opposing defenses.

15. Lions (4-4; No. 19): A softening schedule could mean an NFC North crown.

16. Falcons (4-4; No. 11): The Falcons don’t have a Super Bowl hangover. They’re still drunk.

17. Raiders (4-5; No. 21): Marshall Newhouse won’t be replacing Marshawn Lynch any time soon.

18. Ravens (4-5; No. 17): They should replace the helmet logo with a picture of a yo-yo.

19. Chargers (3-5; No. 20): A run for the division title isn’t as crazy as it would seem.

20. Jets (4-5; No. 26): Josh McCown for MVP? Josh McCown for MVP.

21. Dolphins (4-4; No. 18): It’s getting harder and harder to remember how this team won four games.

22. Cardinals (4-4; No. 29): Adrian Peterson could end up having 70 total carries only four days apart.

23. Bengals (3-5; No. 23): For two straight years, they won’t be losing in the first round of the playoffs. #silverlining.

24. Texans (3-5; No. 12): Tom Savage got benched in Week One for Deshaun Watson. When does Savage get benched for T.J. Yates?

25. Bears (3-5; No. 25): The oldest rivalry in football will be a battle for the basement.

26. Broncos (3-5; No. 24): Brock 2.0 threw only 2.0 interceptions, which gives him start 2.0 against a team he somehow beat 2.0 years ago.

27. Packers (4-4; No. 22): “Did you just listen to that question that I just answered?”

28. Colts (3-6; No. 28): It’s probably good that they have Jacoby Brissett under contract for two more years.

29. Buccaneers (2-6; No. 27): They may want to “eat a W,” but they’re being force-fed a bunch of Ls.

30. 49ers (0-9; No. 31): Six years after the 49ers hosted the Giants for a berth in the Super Bowl, they’re playing for draft-pick positioning.

31. Giants (1-7; No. 30): Eli Manning may finally be regretting not wanting to play for the Chargers.

32. Browns (0-8; No. 32): As the second half of the season begins, the question is whether Hue Jackson can win enough games in order to secure the ability to lose a bunch of games in 2018.

97 responses to “Week Nine power rankings

  1. Eagles should remain at #1 spot after they put up 51 points on the number one ranked defense in the NFL (Broncos) and second ranked run defense (Broncos) with the Eagles defense being ranked #1 in run defense. Eagles dominate in all 3 phases of the game!!

  2. Still grinding out his agenda with his Packers comment. Just can’t let it go. Tell you what…His performance better be all that you’ve campaigned it to be if/when He gets signed. If not, you have a lot to answer for.

  3. Cowboys and Seahawks need to be flipped. Bills, Jags and Titans are all worse then their records and I think will falter in second half. Turd Bay playing to stay out of the cellar will drop a few more spots next week when they get pummeled by the Bears.
    Overall its a good ranking though.

  4. Sorry, but even as an Eagles fan, I think Dallas deserves to be at least 7. Is Seattle or Carolina playing anywhere near as good as them right now?

  5. .
    The Steelers remaining schedule :

    @Indy
    Tenn
    GB
    @Cin
    Balt
    NE
    @Hou
    CLE

    With Luck, Aaron Rogers and Deshaun Watson already on IR the Steelers have a clear path to the #1seed in the AFC. The Patriots will need to win out in order to secure home field advantage throughout.
    .

  6. Packers are 4 spots too high, and I’m even skeptical that they could beat the Browns at this point. How bad would this team be if Rodgers wouldn’t have fallen into their laps?

  7. Vikings second half schedule is actually easier than the first half. Guess you didn’t check. Rams will be coming back to earth in the coming weeks. Wait till Goff faces the Zimmer D. Won’t be so easy.

  8. With the Bills, Dolphins, Ravens, Bengals, and Chiefs all losing to otherwise unthreatening or NFC teams, the Patriots and Steelers basically swept their bye weeks without lifting a finger.

  9. terripet says:
    November 7, 2017 at 12:15 pm
    Eagles
    Steelers
    Rams
    Chiefs
    Patriots

    ————
    I don’t see your Colts on your list. Where are they ranked?

  10. The Saints repairing their defense and actually climbing in ratings is surprising.

    Watching the Panthers play makes them being in the top 10 seem miraculous.

    The Falcons having mid-season woes and dropping down further and further makes little sense with all that talent.

    The Bucs are where I said they would be at the beginning of the season when so many were over-hyping them.

  11. I do not usually paying any attention to power rankings but this has become any favorite weekly post. Not because of who is ranked where but because who has ran away and disappeared from the comment section.

  12. The average ranking of the Vikings’ most recent six opponents is 24.3. The average ranking of their next five opponents is 11.2, and four of those games are on the road. So yeah, the schedule gets a lot harder. If they can win two of those five games, they’ll be in good shape because their last three opponents’ average ranking is 25.0. One of those wins had better be at Detroit, because the Lions’ other seven opponents over the rest of the season have an average ranking of 25.6.

  13. tyelee says:
    The Falcons having mid-season woes and dropping down further and further makes little sense with all that talent.
    —–
    Kyle Shannahan vs Steve Sarkisian

  14. I have favor to ask…If you’re going to predict a slide, collapse or a “coming back down to earth” for any of the top teams (Vikings, Rams, Saints, Eagles, etc.), please provide logical reasons for your thoughts. Oh…and “They haven’t played anyone yet” doesn’t count.

  15. 6ball says:
    November 7, 2017 at 12:21 pm
    .
    The Steelers remaining schedule :
    @Indy
    Tenn
    GB
    @Cin
    Balt
    NE
    @Hou
    CLE
    With Luck, Aaron Rogers and Deshaun Watson already on IR the Steelers have a clear path to the #1seed in the AFC. The Patriots will need to win out in order to secure home field advantage throughout.

    ———–

    Steelers definitely have the easiest path, but you are wrong about the Patriots needing to win out. 13-3 including a win @Steelers will likely do it. So they can definitely afford to lose one more. The only issue with that would be if KC also finishes 13-3, but I assume since they already have 3 losses with 7 games to play that they will lose at least one more.

  16. 4. Rams (6-2; No. 8): The guy who reminds many of Jon Gruden is having the same impact Gruden had on the 2002 Bucs.

    ——————–
    He’s winning games with Tony Dungy’s players?

  17. Packers have got to be the #30 team right now. That Lions game last night was drama-free after the 1st quarter. There was no threat at any point. The defense got shredded every drive, not even mentioning the offense.

  18. Would be real Philly like for a bad finish. Only to be followed for Wentz being driven out of town.

    Eagles are the only fans who HATE one of their best players in the past 20 years, Donovan McNabb.

  19. 26. Broncos (3-5; No. 24): Brock 2.0 threw only 2.0 interceptions, which gives him start 2.0 against a team he somehow beat 2.0 years ago.
    ————————

    “Somehow”..? LOL

    Try.. Goodell’s henchmen in black and white stripes got involved with creepy phantom calls left anf right to get Denver back into it, and ensure Gomer Manning would get homefield over the Pats in the title game.

    We all saw what Goodell did there.

  20. I generally agree with the top half of this ranking with one exception: Panthers are way too high. I’ve watched them a few times in the last several weeks and they just look bad offensively and that D that is supposed to be so good is average at best.

  21. Zimmers full attention is beating Cousins into the ground behind their O-line, not pointless power rankings. And then come home to take on a red hot Rams team before heading off to Mo-town for the game of the year in the NFC North.

  22. 250dollarnflowner says:
    November 7, 2017 at 12:09 pm
    packers are 5 spots too high. if they win another game this season, i’ll eat my shorts!
    ______________________________________________

    You should take a look at their schedule and start looking for some good shorts recipes.

  23. objectivefootballfan says:
    November 7, 2017 at 1:04 pm
    All you Eagles haters need to realize they are the best team in the NFL and its not even close!!

    ———–

    They are currently the best team in the NFL. However, they did lose a game to the Chiefs… they can be beat. At this point it only matters if they can close out the first seed and win 3 playoff games with at least two against good teams.

  24. twinfan24 says:
    November 7, 2017 at 1:13 pm
    4. Rams (6-2; No. 8): The guy who reminds many of Jon Gruden is having the same impact Gruden had on the 2002 Bucs.

    ——————–
    He’s winning games with Tony Dungy’s players?
    ——————————————————————————-
    Christ. This will never die.

    – Tony Dungy never got over the hump with Dungy’s Players.
    – Jon Gruden brought in 28 new players from the previous season alone.
    – Jon Grudens offense created mismatches the previous regime couldn’t which allowed
    them to finally beat Philly.
    – You’re Welcome.

  25. tylawspick6 says:
    November 7, 2017 at 1:21 pm
    26. Broncos (3-5; No. 24): Brock 2.0 threw only 2.0 interceptions, which gives him start 2.0 against a team he somehow beat 2.0 years ago.
    ————————

    Try.. Goodell’s henchmen in black and white stripes got involved with creepy phantom calls left anf right to get Denver back into it, and ensure Gomer Manning would get homefield over the Pats in the title game.

    ——————————————————————————————————————————
    I’m a Pats fan, but c’mon man. The Denver game was well in hand when Chris Harper muffed a punt no one should have been back to field anyway. And none of this would have mattered anyway if the Patriots had beaten Miami in the last game of the year. I.e. no one to blame but themselves.

    We all saw what Goodell did there.

  26. I love the way the season is unfolding. The Philadelphia Eagles are built to go into the post season with a great running game and sound defense. With Darby coming back this week they will look to improve in the secondary. They have three big tests left in the season, Dallas after the bye week and facing to west coast teams back to back in Seattle then LA.

  27. Now we know who is finally going to sign Cousins…no one. He is going to run out this current situation and then retire early with more money than he knows what to do with.

  28. Week 11 won’t be a “test” for the Eagles. They could get outplayed by the Cowboys and still win, thanks to the advantage of being extra-rested with a week off (Dallas is more susceptible than most teams to facing rested teams, because its gameplan is built around wearing opposing teams down). Unless the Cowboys win going away (which is quite unlikely), we won’t learn anything about either team in the event of a close Dallas win, close Philadelphia win, or handy Philadelphia win.

  29. 9. Panthers (6-3; No. 10): After Carolina’s next win, Cam Newton will compare the team to the Hindenburg.
    ——

    Yeah, I listen to Bob and Tom too. Way to steal their line.

  30. I’m a numbers geek, and this is by far my favorite PFT series. I have a spreadsheet with the preseason and weekly rankings.

    Some tidbits:

    There are 5 teams whose average PFT ranking through week 9 is 10 or more spots above their pre-season rank (call this the “much better than expected” group). In order of highest to lowest average rating above preseason, those teams are the Rams, Jags, Redskins, Eagles, and Bills.

    At the other end, only the Giants have an average ranking at least 10 spots below their preseason rank (at a whopping -18.1 differential – despite a healthy Eli Manning, they are “much worse than expected”). QB injuries could cause the Bucs, Packers, Texans or someone else to join them at double digit differential as the season goes forward.

    Browns and Niners are as bad as expected, and the Steelers and Pats are as good as expected. The rest of the list is just the normal week-to-week fluctuation based on which teams won or lost.

    Thumbs up if you found this useful, thumbs down if not.

  31. Is there a prime time game in week 17 for the possible AFC title match to go to?

    The schedule doesn’t show one. It’s new years eve.

  32. Interested to see how the iggles will react to being the hunted in the second half of the season !

  33. Jags have the Chargers, Browns, Cardinals, and Colts in the next 4 weeks. I don’t see any way they aren’t 8-4, and maybe 9-3 a month from now. That defense is outstanding.

  34. Teren Huntley says:

    November 7, 2017 at 12:26 pm

    Vikings second half schedule is actually easier than the first half. Guess you didn’t check. Rams will be coming back to earth in the coming weeks. Wait till Goff faces the Zimmer D. Won’t be so easy.

    ____________

    Well the Rams played and beat the Jaguars who have a better pass defense than the Vikings. But I guess you didn’t check.

  35. 6. Saints (6-2; No. 9): The schedule gets a lot harder, right now.

    The only problem with your statement is that they had one of the hardiest schedules to start the season. Taking a look at the games for the rest of the season an argument can be made it actually gets easier. Next week the Bills in NY, tough road game but definitely winnable. Then at home against the Redskins, definitely winnable. Next at the Rams who have had the Saints number as of late and I will say the Rams will win that game. After that its the Panthers in the dome, think it will be a toss up for that one. Go to Atlanta, definitely a win there. Jets at home another win. Then end the season with Falcons and Bucs which we should win. So at worst they might lose 2-3 of those games. It definitely isn’t as tough as the beginning of the season with the games against the Vikings on the road, Pats at home, Panthers on the road and then the Dolphins in London.

  36. I didn’t realize that the Steelers and Saints were considered not hard games for the Vikings schedule.

  37. 6ball says:
    November 7, 2017 at 12:21 pm

    With Luck, Aaron Rogers and Deshaun Watson already on IR the Steelers have a clear path to the #1seed in the AFC. The Patriots will need to win out in order to secure home field advantage throughout.
    —————————-
    Yeah b/c the Steelers never lose games they should win. Oh wait, they do that every year, multiple times most seasons. The Bears and Jags games comes to mind this year, looks like their due 1 or 2 more this year. Last year it was the Eagles and Dolphins games, the Browns, Jets and Bucs in 2015. Matter of fact the Steelers almost lost their 1st game this year to the worst team in the league over the last decade, the Browns, winning 21-18.

  38. Vikings have a lot of talent, all phases. They just have to stay mentally tough & healthy. Many of these teams they play in the 2nd half HAVENT faced such a stellar defense. Time will tell how bad they want it. I agree Thankgiving game @ Detroit is a MUST win. It’s their division to lose.

  39. twinfan24
    Nov 7, 2017, 12:13 PM CST
    4. Rams (6-2; No. 8): The guy who reminds many of Jon Gruden is having the same impact Gruden had on the 2002 Bucs.

    ——————–
    He’s winning games with Tony Dungy’s players?

    Kind of a stupid statement seeing how Gruden’s former team played Gruden’s new team in he super bowl right after he got there.

  40. 6ball says:

    November 7, 2017 at 12:21 pm

    .
    The Steelers remaining schedule :

    @Indy
    Tenn
    GB
    @Cin
    Balt
    NE
    @Hou
    CLE

    With Luck, Aaron Rogers and Deshaun Watson already on IR the Steelers have a clear path to the #1seed in the AFC. The Patriots will need to win out in order to secure home field advantage throughout.

    ______________

    Or the Pats can just win the AFC title in Pittsburgh for the 3rd time.

  41. goldilocks1 says:
    November 7, 2017 at 12:36 pm
    Let’s see how Wentz & co fare when the chips are down.
    —————————————————–
    When the chips are down? Hmmm? Like when they lose one of the best left tackles in the league (Jason Peters) to a season-ending injury? Or when they lose their best cornerback (Darby) in game 1? Or when they loses Darren Sproles for the season? Or when they lose their best linebacker to a season-ending injury (Hicks)? Or when they have to play against the #1 defense in football (Denver) without their leading receiver (Ertz)? Or when they lose their kicker for the season? Or when they lose their special teams ace for the season?
    But hey…here’s hoping they fare well when the chips are down..lol!

  42. Doesn’t matter nobody is touching the Eagles until FA tears that team apart! Wentz is the next Brady/Rodgers.
    Vikings fan here, but come ON! Who is going to touch them? You don’t score a half a buck on the best D in the League and make some of us believers!
    As much as I would love a Home Super Bowl the Vikings just aren’t there on offense yet. Perhaps another Manning as the Vikings love creeky old Vet QBs, Bradford is Done,If Bridgewater has lost his wheels he is done,

  43. redsoxu571 says:
    November 7, 2017 at 1:51 pm
    Week 11 won’t be a “test” for the Eagles. They could get outplayed by the Cowboys and still win, thanks to the advantage of being extra-rested with a week off (Dallas is more susceptible than most teams to facing rested teams, because its gameplan is built around wearing opposing teams down). Unless the Cowboys win going away (which is quite unlikely), we won’t learn anything about either team in the event of a close Dallas win, close Philadelphia win, or handy Philadelphia win.

    ********************************************************
    Not only is Dallas playing a 1st place schedule thanks to their 13-3 record last year, but they have had to face 3 really good teams coming off extended rest. They played the Rams who played on Thursday the week before the Cowboys game, they had 10 days rest, the very next week they played the 3-1 Packers who also played the Thursday before the Cowboys game and had 10 days rest. They will have to face 8-1 Philly coming off a bye week.

  44. A broken down Redskins team just beat Seattle at home and they’re ranked behind them. What is the logic with that one?

    The media is so vested in Seattle that they consider it a win due to the missed field goals.

    That standard never gets applied to anyone else except Dallas.

  45. Hilarious all the Packer haters on here. Yeah, they suck right now. There’s next year, I guess. But what does it say about the Vikings fans that obsess more over the Packers losing than the success of their own team?

  46. Teren Huntley says:
    November 7, 2017 at 12:26 pm

    Vikings second half schedule is actually easier than the first half. Guess you didn’t check. Rams will be coming back to earth in the coming weeks. Wait till Goff faces the Zimmer D. Won’t be so easy.
    _________

    Please explain how the second half is easier. Three home games instead of five. The next five are against playoff contenders, whereas there were only three games against playoff contenders in the first half.

  47. ctiggs says:
    November 7, 2017 at 12:47 pm

    Browns are better than my 49ers. hate to say it, but they would beat us.
    ———————–

    It would likely be a tie game at 0-0.

  48. I can’t believe I am saying this, but florio you are spot on with the Steelers comment!

  49. Not only is Dallas playing a 1st place schedule thanks to their 13-3 record last year, but they have had to face 3 really good teams coming off extended rest. They played the Rams who played on Thursday the week before the Cowboys game, they had 10 days rest, the very next week they played the 3-1 Packers who also played the Thursday before the Cowboys game and had 10 days rest. They will have to face 8-1 Philly coming off a bye week.

    ****************************

    That’s funny because the Eagles are 8-1 and the only difference between the Cowboys schedule and the Eagles schedule is 2 games. Eagles do play the Bears while Cowboys played the Packers with Rodgers (advantage Eagles for sure), however, the Eagles did not even play the Bears yet. The other different game is the Cowboys play the 4-4 Falcons while the Eagles had to play (and beat) the 6-3 Panthers (advantage Dallas).

    So please… Spare me with the usual Cowboy fan excuses and rhetoric.

  50. jquaste says:
    November 7, 2017 at 1:00 pm
    I have favor to ask…If you’re going to predict a slide, collapse or a “coming back down to earth” for any of the top teams (Vikings, Rams, Saints, Eagles, etc.), please provide logical reasons for your thoughts. Oh…and “They haven’t played anyone yet” doesn’t count.

    —————

    Vikings, Saints are winning, but they aren’t great. They are just good. Case Keenum isn’t winning a playoff game and the Saints defense isn’t winning a playoff game. The Rams and Eagles are for real.

  51. charliecharger says:
    November 7, 2017 at 4:22 pm

    Could it be an all Pennsylvania Super Bowl? Steelers vs. Eagles.
    ———————

    No way the league will allow that to happen. The Steelers likely won’t even make it anyway.

  52. As a Vikings fan I would honestly say they are ranked too high at #5. It helps that Teddy is back on roster, but he is an unknown. It is still better than last year when we had to trade 1st rd pick for Bradford and struggle with the worst OL in football. This year is clearly different with a much improved OL and a running game that is at least solid. However, I can’t hang my hat on Keenum, just haven’t seen him long enough to know whether he will revert to the player he was last year. The defense is legit, but lets see how they do against the Redskins and Rams before putting them in the top 5.

  53. Packers have a mediocre record, and yet you rank them 27? Either way, I’m glad to see so many Viking fans triggered by their ranking instead of enjoying their own team’s success. Hope it keeps bothering you, skol trolls.

  54. Please for my sake never rank the Vikings above top 10 until we find an actual QB for the long term. A real Franchise QB. I love Teddy, but he needs to prove his worth before I can jump on that bandwagon. I love the guy as a person though. I really just don’t want to get my hopes up, because I’m not solid on two fronts. I love a well-rounded team that just needs a serviceable QB, but on the other hand, I see what a guy like Rogers can do for his team, but how bad they can be without him any given Sunday, Monday or Thursday. In the end, I’m always hoping for the best my team can be…

  55. The path forward LOOKS smoother for Pittsburgh but there are NO “homecomings” in the NFL. On paper, Seattle should have obliterated a Washington team, in front of “The12” and Washington was missing 6 starters.

  56. I am loving the Eagles season as an Eagles fan but the best team this season will be the one hoisting the trophy come the end of the year. As of right now, New England Patriots are the defending champs. I’m tired of hearing the Eagles are the best team in the league. I’ll believe when they win it all. Yes, they are playing awesome but we have another half of the season to go and the playoffs before we can declare the victor.

  57. Well the Rams played and beat the Jaguars who have a better pass defense than the Vikings. But I guess you didn’t check.
    —————

    Did you watch the game? Goff was 11 for 121 yards. Special Teams blunders cost the Jags that game.

  58. Some act so surprised the Saints won their last 6 games in a row. Not me, I was surprised they lost their first two. I guess it just took awhile for all of the new players and coaches on defense to gel. It’s now looking eerily similar to the 2009 Saints.

  59. Interesting to see Packers fans more irked by Vikings fans post but not irked by the disgrace of a “team” the packers trot out on the field.

    Mad at Vikings fans but not the packers coaches or front office.

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