NFL Power Rankings after Week 9: Chiefs OT win keep them at top spot, Lions kings of North, Ravens rebound

Midway through the season, and the Kansas City Chiefs are still perfect in their pursuit of a three-peat. The Detroit Lions won a battle of NFC powerhouses on a rainy afternoon in Green Bay and the Ravens rebounded with a big win over the Broncos in Baltimore. Those three teams have looked like the top three in the league, but will that be the case throughout the second half of the season? The Bills and Eagles might have something to say about that when it’s all said and done.

Here are our latest NFC Power Rankings after Week 9.

1) Kansas City Chiefs 8-0, last week 1

The Kansas City Chiefs have been perfect without being perfect. Another game, and another one possession win. This time to the Buccaneers on Monday night. The Chiefs keep coming up with people to fill the holes on their decimated roster, and this week it was DeAndre Hopkins’ time to shine. The guy who just moved to KC a week and a half ago shredded the Bucs defense on a night in which Patrick Mahomes might have had his finest hour of the season, and Kareem Hunt had is best game since returning to the team that drafted him. We say it week after week. The Chiefs find ways to win in tight games late in the fourth quarter. It’s what championship teams are supposed to do, but it’s not what teams who are as injury laden up as the Chiefs are supposed to do. If they can stay undefeated until Pacheco gets back and Smith-Schuster return, the Chiefs might have a run at a perfect season.

2) Detroit Lions 7-1, last week 2

The Lions hadn’t had to play a game outside all season. That changed on Sunday in the Tundra. What didn’t change was the Lions looking like the best team in the league. They played a complete 60 minutes and dominated every facet of the game in Lambeau. The defense came up with the biggest play of the day with a pick six late in the first half, and then a 4th and 1 stop as the Packers were gaining momentum in the fourth quarter. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs went for 138 combined yards on the ground, while Jared Goff was nearly perfect again, this time with torrential downpours and wind gusts up to 40 mph. I’m not sure what, if anything, can knock this team off track, but it certainly won’t be playing outside, having to weathering the storm. They showed us they are more than capable of that from Lambeau field.

3) Baltimore Ravens 6-3, last week 3

After a minor bump in the road last week in Cleveland, the Ravens reminded us that they are probably the best team in the league when everything is clicking. Lamar Jackson was perfect, or at least had a perfect passer rating on a day in which he had 280 yards and 3 TDs on 16/19 passing and Derrick Henry had 106 yards and 2 TDs on 23 carries. If those two put up those kinds of numbers, there is no chance for their opponents. That’s what the Broncos found out on Sunday in Baltimore. That’s what the Ravens are going to try and show the Texans next Sunday night in a battle of contenders in the AFC.

4) Buffalo Bills 7-2, last week 4

Four straight wins for the Bills who are currently the second seeded team in the AFC after nine weeks. It wasn’t easy against the Miami Dolphins who might have exposed some weakness on the defensive side of the ball, but as usual Josh Allen came to the rescue on a three TD day from Orchard Park. The Bills have the Dolphins number, especially at Orchard Park, but that wasn’t an easy game against a desperate division rival looking to keep their season alive. Luckily for Bills fans Buffalo had the ball last in a second half that had seven straight scoring drives. Allen put the Bills in field goal range, and Tyler Bass drilled a career long 61 yard field goal to down the Dolphins and snuggle into the No. 2 spot in the AFC.

5) Philadelphia Eagles 6-2, last week 7

Each and every week we see Saquon Barkley be the running back he was never allowed the opportunity to be in New York and each and every week we marvel at his brilliance. That play he had where he hurdled a defender backwards was something that we have never seen before. That’s the kind of player Saquon is. He’s one of a kind and it’s hard to say he’s solely responsible for the Eagles being 6-2, but where would this team be without him? It wasn’t perfect against the Jags, and they almost blew a 22 point lead. He wasn’t perfect against the Jags. He gave up a fumble that was returned for a TD and gave Jacksonville new life, but the Eagles hung on and are right there among the top teams in the NFC.

6) Washington Commanders 7-2, last week 8

One of the most impressive things about rookie Jayden Daniels aside from his poise, his accuracy and his maturity, is his ability to confide in everyone on the roster. He completed his 15 passes to seven different receivers, and his top target, Terri McLaurin caught just two balls. They have seven wins in nine games, but we are going to see who this team really is over the next month when they play the Steelers, Eagles and Cowboys.

7) Green Bay Packers 6-3, last week 5

First things first. Jordan Love wasn’t at the top of his game. His banged up groin was obviously bothering him on a rainy, windy night in Green Bay. That may be the case but nothing excuses the decision he made at the end of the first half that essentially handed the game to the Lions. Throwing a pick six with less than a minute to go in the first half isn’t a product of his limited mobility from an injured groin. That was a mental lapse. He got better as the game went on, but the Lions went into the Packers house, in front of their fans, in their weather conditions and smacked them around. There was a visible difference between the two teams on the field at Lambeau.

8) Pittsburgh Steelers 6-2, last week 9

BYE

9) Minnesota Vikings 6-2, last week 10

After a two game skid, the Vikings got back to basics. They let the defense carry them for most of the way and the offense made plays when they needed to. It looked ugly for the first half, as the offense gave up more points than they scored, but Sam Darnold had a second half that should shake off some of the cob webs from their midseason slide. He had 290 yards and 3 TDs against the Colts, the most important one was the pass to Jamie Oliver which closed out Indy and secured the Vikings a must win game. They have got some very winnable games coming up over the next few weeks, and this team might find that same stride from early in the season in their games against the Jags, Titans, Bears and Cardinals.

10) Houston Texans 6-3, last week 6

Until Thursday night I truly believed this team has what it takes to challenge the Chiefs and the Ravens in the AFC. I no longer believe that is the case, and I hate to point the finger at someone I root for and love to watch, but C.J. Stroud is the primary one responsible for these doubts creeping into my mind. In the three games the Texans have lost, Stroud has been locked down by opposing defenses. He’s 41/82 with 1 TD and 2 INTs in those losses and is averaging 164 yards passing in those games. I get there are injury issues at the WR position, but the Texans still have weapons available. It’s not going to get much easier for Stroud and Houston who have to play the Lions in primetime next week. So far the Texans are 0-2 against the NFC North.

11) Atlanta Falcons 6-3, last week 11

The Atlanta Falcons are who the Cowboys wish they were. The Falcons went into their game against Dallas and still hadn’t convinced everyone around the league of how good of a team they were. I think Mike McCarthy and company figured that out as Cousins and the Falcons offense frustrated the Cowboys and controlled the game from start to finish. We were warned early in the season when this team was crawling to the finish line of games, that they needed time. Midway through the season they are in control of the NFC South, and lingering around the top of the conference as they look to keep pace with the Lions and the rest of the NFC’s elite.

12) San Francisco 49ers 4-4, last week 13

BYE

13) Arizona Cardinals 5-4, last week 16

We have seen glimpses of the Cardinals being a high octane, big play, explosive offense from time to time this season. That hasn’t always been the case, and we have seen them look terrible at times. The comforting thing in Arizona has to be that the players have shown they are capable of plays that we haven’t seen in a long time in the desert. This group of players is still figuring out how to be a team, but in the meantime they’ll take a three game win streak and a lead in the NFC West.

14) Los Angeles Rams 4-4, last week 17

The Rams are rolling heading into the second half of the season. Three straight wins after a 1-4 start and this team is starting to get healthy at the right time. The defense came up with some game winning plays in the fourth quarter, picking off Geno Smith twice in the red zone and taking one of those back 103 yards for a TD. The Rams needed those plays on a day that Puka Nacua was ejected for throwing a punch in the first half and that slowed the Rams offense down. Luckily for LA, Demarcus Robinson stepped to the stage and stole the show with two incredible TD catches including a one handed game winner that sunk the Seahawks in overtime.

15) Denver Broncos 5-4, last week 12

This is what Broncos fans had to be afraid of. They had won five of the first eight games in Bo Nix’s short career which was impressive, but there was a shadow of a doubt about the teams they had beaten up to this point. They got their toughest test of the season against an actual good team in Baltimore and they were destroyed. Starting the game with an interception and two turnovers on downs didn’t help Nix or the offense. That allowed the Ravens to find their groove and score on seven straight possessions. The defense got shredded. Nix couldn’t move the ball as the Broncos got blown out. We weren’t exactly sold with Denver’s record heading into the halfway point of the season, and I’d be surprised if this team finish the season over .500.

16) Cincinnati Bengals 4-5, last week 20

Hello Joe Brrrr, or Joe Cool or whatever he wants us to call him. When you throw five touchdowns in a game, then you have earned it. He came out last week and gave a bold statement following the Bengals loss to the Eagles last week. He said 10 wins should get them into the playoffs, which means they would have to win seven of their final nine games. They’ve got their first win of the final stretch of the season, and if they can some how beat the Ravens this Thursday the belief in Bengals nation will be at an all time high. Next week is almost a do or die game for them and that is going to make for must see TV.

17) Los Angeles Chargers 5-3, last week 18

It’s hard to ask for much more from the Chargers who are in the thick of the Wild Card race in a year that they went through a coaching change and lost a big core of their offense. This team has survived the “get to know each other” phase and now we can expect them to start playing their best ball. It hasn’t been aesthetically pleasing, and I’ve got on their case more than a few times for being boring. They can be boring if they need to, but they will have to get better because four of their five wins have come against teams with two wins after nine weeks.

18) Chicago Bears 4-4, last week 14

There could be a storm brewing in the Windy City. Everything seemed to be going smoothly before the BYE week. The team was starting to gel. Caleb Williams was playing the best football we have seen from him in his young career. The week off seemed to have the opposite effect on this team who came out sluggish against the Commanders before having their hearts ripped out on Jayden Daniels Hail Mary. They looked like they were still feeling the affects of that devastating loss in Arizona when they got smoked by the Cardinals. They better win their game against the Patriots next week, because they may not win another game until after Christmas. They have five NFC North games and a game against the San Francisco 49ers nestled in between over the the next six weeks.

19) Seattle Seahawks 4-5, last week 15

You don’t usually throw two fourth quarter red zone interceptions and still have a chance to win the game. That was the position Geno Smith and the Seahawks were in against the Rams on Sunday. Give credit to the defense for keeping Stafford and Kupp quiet and allowing the Seahawks to force overtime with a late TD. This offense isn’t the same without DK Metcalf, but Seattle still had their chances to win this game thanks to Jaxon Smith-Njigba who had 180 yards and two TDs. The Seahawks have a BYE this week, and should get Metcalf back the following week. If their defense continues to play like they did against the Rams and Smith-Njigba keeps up his rhythm, this team could make a run at the NFC West despite losing five of their last six games.

20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-5, last week 19

It was another courageous effort from Baker Mayfield and the Bucs who went into Arrowhead and went toe-to-toe with the two time defending champions. With his top two receivers hurt, Mayfield willed his team to overtime with a heroic two minute drill. The only thing he didn’t do for his team on Monday night is call the coin toss, and his reaction said it all. When you give the Chiefs the ball first in overtime, the chances of ever seeing the ball again are slim to none. The Bucs are now under .500 and have a big game against the Niners next week before their BYE. If they can somehow head into their off week at 5-5, they will get some players back and this team might have a chance to make a run to the post season.

21) Indianapolis Colts 4-5, last week 21

What’s that saying about being stuck up some creek without a paddle? That’s where Indy is right now. The Colts did what many people had been asking of them. They benched Anthony Richardson for Joe Flacco, because “he gives them the best chance to win now” according to the profound words of yours truly in the last couple editions of our Power Rankings. Well, Flacco and the Colts offense scored just 6 points, and had the worst offensive game of the season on a day that they didn’t even get into the red zone. So now what do they do? Do they stick with Flacco? Do they go back to Richardson? I have no idea and I’m done pretending I know what’s best for this team. Hopefully head coach Shane Steichen has a better idea than I do.

22) New York Jets 3-6, last week 25

They have given us no reason to believe there is a chance that they might make the playoffs in the first half of the season, but if you listened to Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit on Thursday Night Football, you know that Aaron Rodgers convinced them that there is a chance for this team. They are going to have to win out, but if they play like they did against the Texans they might have a crack at it. The Jets defense gave C.J. Stroud all kinds of problems, sacking him EIGHT times. Aaron Rodgers threw three TDs, and Garrett Wilson looks like he’s in the midst of a break out season after the Davante Adams trade. It’s only fitting that a 3-6 team still has hope in New York. We can’t have the soap opera surrounding Aaron Rodgers and the Jets end half way through the season. It’s a long, long, long shot, but if the Jets pick up some steam, watch out.

23) Dallas Cowboys 3-5, last week 22

The Cowboys have gone from bad to worse to screwed. They were a bad team before their BYE in Week 7, and things have only gone south from there. They have lost both of their games after the BYE, and on Sunday in Atlanta, Dak Prescott suffered a non contact hamstring injury that will have him sidelined for a few weeks. To make matters worse they have three tough games before their Thanksgiving match up with the Giants. What’s even more troubling is that six of their final nine games are at home, so Cowboys fans might have an up close and personal view of a the debacle to come in the final half of the season.

24) Cleveland Browns 2-7, last week 24

It was bound to happen. The Browns weren’t the only one who got hyped up around the Jameis Winston buzz. I did. The internet did. Everyone did. After a heroic showing against the Ravens last week, Cleveland fans were ready to build a shrine to Winston outside Huntington Bank Field. The excitement was short lived as Winston reminded us why he has been a career backup. He tossed three interceptions, one of those on the LA 4 yard line which was the 100th of his career. Last year, the Browns had a momentary ray of light shine on their everlasting gray and murky history, but they look like they are back to being the same old Browns as always.

25) Jacksonville Jaguars 2-7, last week 23

Jacksonville lost in very Jacksonville fashion on Sunday in Philly. They are a bad team, but not as bad as they showed in the first two quarters and change when they were losing 22-0 to the Eagles. A muffed punt to start the game, two three and outs, a turnover on downs and an interception. That’s how the Jags started the game, only to have a chance to take the lead with under 2:00 left. The Jags are in every game. They compete in almost every game. It’s just never enough, and their slow starts (to game and to the season) will be what the Jags point their finger at once the season is chalked up as a loss, which won’t be too long from now.

26) Miami Dolphins 2-6, last week 30

Sometimes you just can’t fight the forces of nature. The Miami Dolphins can not beat the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park. The last time it happened, Tua Tagovailoa was playing on Fridays and doing algebra homework. Tua actually couldn’t have played much better, completing 25 of his 28 passes, in a game that started slow but ended with six straight scoring drives. Unfortunately for the Fins, Buffalo had the ball last, and Josh Allen set up a Tyler Bass career long field goal as the Buffalo Blues struck Miami for yet another year.

27) New York Giants 2-7, last week 27

Daniel Jones finally exploded for three TDs in the Meadowlands after over 650 days without accounting for a touchdown at Metlife Stadium. They stunk when he wasn’t creating touchdowns for almost two years, and even though they were more competitive when he did throw for two and run another TD in, they still stunk. It’s just about over for the Giants who really didn’t come into the season expecting to be in the playoff race, but certainly didn’t expect to be out of contention this early.

28) Las Vegas Raiders 2-7, last week 26

How in the world did this team ever beat the Baltimore Ravens? The Raiders don’t just look lost, they look like a team in peril. This is the same franchise that benched Derek Carr and sent him packing with dreams of something bigger and better. Who exactly is bigger and better? Gardner Minshew? Desmond Ridder? The Raiders are now in Panthers territory. No good this season, and really nothing in recent history should give their fans any reason to hold on to hope that things will get better.

29) New Orleans Saints 2-7, last week 29

The Saints have gone from being one of the hot picks to make a run after the first two weeks of the season to dropping 7 straight games. In what has been an all too familiar scene for the Saints this season, Derek Carr returned to action but then his favorite target Chris Olave was carted off the field after taking a huge hit in what was a scary moment from the Super Dome. Luckily he was able to post a message on social media to thank everyone for the love, but that was about the only good news for the Saints who fired their coach Dennis Allen after Week 9.

30) Carolina Panthers 2-7, last week 31

Can’t help but be happy for Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers. It’s been a long road, and it will continue to be a long road for the rest of the season but these guys have become the lovable losers that you can’t help but cheer for. Who knows what the Panthers have planned for the QB position for the final nine weeks of the season, but every time Young gets on the field he is auditioning to keep his NFL career alive. There won’t be many reasons to rejoice in Carolina this year, so enjoy this win because who knows when the next one is coming?

31) New England Patriots 2-7, last week 28

New England lost to the Titans in a matchup of the AFC’s worst teams. That’s the bad news. The good news is their rookie Drake Maye had one of those games that will allow them to dream about the what’s to come in Foxborough in the not so distant future. His numbers weren’t great against one of the better defensive units in the league, but he made big plays and winning plays late in the game. The numbers will get better as he gets more and more familiar with the speed and schemes of the NFL, but the play he had to send the game into OT was a play that winners make, and New England hasn’t had a winner under center since the GOAT left for Tampa Bay.

32) Tennessee Titans 2-6, last week 32

The last thing anybody wanted to see was overtime in the battle of the bottom feeders between the Titans and the Patriots from Tennessee. In the end both teams gave us an entertaining finish after three and a half quarters of trash football. What does the overtime win do for this team? Not much. It doesn’t put them in the playoff picture. It doesn’t secure Mason Rudolph as the QB of the future. In fact the only thing it does is put their No. 1 overall pick in jeopardy for next year’s draft.