NFL Power Rankings Week 9 – The Long Run

The NFL trade deadline has finally come (and gone) and a few teams will pull the trigger. The real fun comes with the fallout from a made trade or from one that hasn’t been made.

You should start to see those surprise teams make their run starting now. The rest of the league is either solidifying their top position or they’re really starting to wonder where it all went wrong.

 

1. Green Bay Packers (7-1)

The Packers have pushed their win streak to seven games and simultaneously gave themselves a tie-breaker against a top NFC contender.

 

2. Los Angeles Rams (7-1)

The Rams are ranked 21st in total yards allowed and tenth in points allowed. They just traded for Von Miller, so, I’m guessing those rankings will improve.

 

3. Dallas Cowboys (6-1)

The weaponry the Cowboys possess enabled Cooper Rush to come in and look like a Pro Bowl quarterback.

 

4. Arizona Cardinals (7-1)

The A. J. Green miscue on the last play of the Thursday night game could be used as an episode of Unsolved Mysteries. Arizona failed to score 30 points for only the second time this season.

 

5. Tennessee Titans (6-2)

The Titans have won four straight, but they lost Derrick Henry for the rest of the season. They signed veteran running back Adrian Peterson to pick up some of the slack.

 

6. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)

The Ravens come off their bye to face the Vikings and then they travel to Miami.

 

7. Buffalo Bills (5-2)

Josh Allen has a career record of 7-1 versus the Miami Dolphins. He has thrown two or more touchdowns in all eight of those games.

 

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2)

Tampa Bay heads into their bye week ranked second in points scored and total yards gained.

 

9. Las Vegas Raiders (5-2)

The first place Raiders come off their bye to face the Giants followed by a showdown with the Chiefs.

 

10. New Orleans Saints (5-2)

The Saints are 3-1 versus Tom Brady since he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. New Orleans has pushed their winning streak to three games.

 

11. Cincinnati Bengals (5-3)

The Bengals snapped a two game winning streak with a tough loss to the Jets. They have a big division game versus Cleveland followed by their bye week.

 

12. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3)

The Chargers have dropped two straight games, showing a combined 30 points. They had 47 points in the game previous to the losing streak.

 

13. Cleveland Browns (4-4)

Odell Beckham Jr. has 17 catches for 232 yards and zero touchdowns. It’s just not working out in Cleveland for him.

 

14. Carolina Panthers (4-4)

Carolina snapped their four game losing streak by running the ball down the Falcons’ throat. The 203 rushing yards they had on Sunday is more than the previous two games combined.

 

15. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3)

The Steelers are officially on a hot streak, winning three in a row. They get the Bears next and then the Lions to see if they can keep it going.

 

16. Kansas City Chiefs (4-4)

The Chiefs actually won a game by playing good defense. They add linebacker Melvin Ingram just as they’re going into the toughest part of their schedule.

 

17. Minnesota Vikings (3-4)

The Vikings were riding a two game win streak until they ran into the Cowboys’ improving defense. They had their second lowest point total of the season (16) on Sunday.

 

18. Atlanta Falcons (3-4)

The Falcons blew a perfect opportunity to move up in the NFC standings while heading into a manageable part of their schedule.

 

19. Indianapolis Colts (3-5)

Even after a loss I have to tip my cap to Carson Wentz. He has 14 touchdown passes and only three interceptions on the season.

 

20. Chicago Bears (3-5)

The Bears’ struggling offense had their highest point total since week four. They are currently on a three game losing streak.

 

21. New England Patriots (4-4)

The Patriots have won two in a row, outscoring their opponents 81-37 in that span. They face the Panthers this week without Christian McCaffrey and probably Sam Darnold.

 

22. Denver Broncos (4-4)

The Broncos traded away the real reason they won their last Super Bowl. The hint is, I’m not talking about Peyton Manning.

 

23. San Francisco 49ers (3-4)

The 49ers snapped a four game win streak, finishing with their highest scoring total since week one. They get division leader Arizona this week.

 

24. New York Giants (2-6)

The Giants continue to show flashes, but they still have a tough time closing teams out.

 

25. Seattle Seahawks (3-5)

Seattle finally won a game with Geno Smith at the helm. The game was versus Jacksonville, so we shouldn’t start popping champagne bottles in Seattle, but it’s still a win.

 

26. Philadelphia Eagles (3-5)

The Eagles are 2-1 when they score 30 or more points. They don’t really fare well in the other games.

 

27. New York Jets (2-5)

Mike White came into the game and threw for 405 yards, leading the Jets to a win and a potential quarterback controversy.

 

28. Washington Football Team (2-6)

Washington is headed into their bye week on a four game losing streak. They’re ranked 27th in points allowed and total yards allowed.

 

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-6)

Jacksonville fell right back down to earth after breaking into the win column a few weeks ago.

 

30. Miami Dolphins (1-7)

The Dolphins’ defense looked more like the 2020 version of that unit. The offense fell right in line with this year’s overall foolishness.

 

31. Houston Texans (1-7)

The Texans are ranked in the 30s in points scored, total yards gained, points allowed and total yards allowed. They’re not getting it done on either side of the ball.

 

32. Detroit Lions (0-8)

Detroit is officially on the board for the number one draft pick in the 2020 draft. They can’t seem to put four quarters together.