NFL Power Rankings Week Nine: The Talent And The Torment

Ab Stanley

Week nine serves as the last week of the halfway mark of the NFL season. After this week, there will be no more trade opportunities and all teams will have played eight games.

With the NFL kicking the idea of making the playoffs a 16 team event, a few more teams could see a ray of hope for the postseason. Regardless of what the league does, the playoff picture will start to be dissected and broken down ad nauseum until they actually start.

 

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-0)
Pittsburgh has played two playoff contenders in a row and they’ve won both games to remain undefeated. Ben Roethlisberger has thrown 15 touchdown passes and only four interceptions.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (7-1)
The Chiefs played the Jets on Sunday. That should pretty much sum up the results of the game.

3. Seattle Seahawks (6-1)
Russell Wilson has thrown 26 touchdowns and is averaging 307.3 pass yards per game. His MVP campaign heads to Buffalo for a tilt with the Bills.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2)
Tom Brady has thrown a touchdown pass to eight different teammates so far this season. He has thrown 20 touchdowns overall and only four interceptions.

5. Buffalo Bills (6-2)
Buffalo has actually given up more points on the season than they’ve scored. Regardless of that fact, they sit at the top of the AFC East.

6. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)
In two losses Baltimore has allowed a total of 62 points. They’ve allowed a total of 70 points in their five victories.

7. Tennessee Titans (5-2)
The Titans have lost two in a row, giving up a total of 58 points in the process. They have scored a total of 44 points during that stretch. They scored a total of 84 points in the two games prior to the losing streak.

8. Green Bay Packers (5-2)
The Packers have lost two out of their last three games. They have allowed a total of 331 rushing yards in the two losses.

9. Arizona Cardinals (5-2)
The Cardinals come off their bye week to host the Miami Dolphins and then the Buffalo Bills.

10. Indianapolis Colts (5-2)
The Colts remain in the top ten in most defensive categories. It’s been a team effort as none of their defenders have over 40 tackles and none of them have multiple interceptions.

11. New Orleans Saints (5-2)
The Saints have won four straight games and they’re getting it done on the ground. They’re averaging 129.7 rushing yards per game during that stretch.

12. Chicago Bears (5-3)
Chicago is averaging 3.8 yards per carry and have only scored two rushing touchdowns. They average 85.6 rushing yards per game.

13. Los Angeles Rams (5-3)
Jared Goff should be happy he doesn’t have to see a Brian Flores led defense any time in the near future again. He finished with two interceptions, but that easily could’ve been five if the Dolphins held on to a few more errant passes.

14. Cleveland Browns (5-3)
The Browns’ offense is missing it’s top running back, wide receiver and tight end. That was very evident on Sunday when they only managed two field goals and no touchdowns.

15. Las Vegas Raiders (4-3)
The Raiders allowed only six points on Sunday after struggling to keep teams under 30 for most of the season. They allow an average of 29.0 points per game.

16. Miami Dolphins (4-3)
Miami has allowed a total of 34 points during their three game winning streak. They’ve moved up to number one in points allowed, but most people still don’t believe they are ready to make a run at the playoffs. (Most people)

17. San Francisco 49ers (4-4)
The 49ers’ injuries have just been a bit too much to overcome. They play Green Bay and New Orleans in their next two games.

18. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4-1)
Going into their bye week, Philadelphia has won two in a row against two division rivals.

19. Carolina Panthers (3-5)
Carolina is on a three games losing streak and their next two games won’t be a picnic. They travel to Kansas City and then host division leader Tampa Bay.

20. Detroit Lions (3-4)
Detroit had it’s two game winning streak snapped, while completing their first game with multiple turnovers. Detroit is actually very good at holding onto the ball, ranking top five in overall turnovers.

21. Denver Broncos (3-4)
Denver is ranked 27th in both points scored and total yards. They are tied for 30th in the NFL with 15 turnovers.

22. Los Angeles Chargers (2-5)
The Chargers point differential is -6 on the season. They’ve been right there in line to win games but can’t pull them out. It seems like growing pains for a team led by a young quarterback.

23. New England Patriots (2-5)
The Patriots’ four game losing streak can be most attributed to turnovers. Only two teams in the league have more turnovers than New England.

24. Cincinnati Bengals (2-5-1)
Joe Burrow has thrown for 655 yards and five touchdowns in Cincinnati’s last two contests. He is definitely on his way to Offensive Rookie of the Year.

25. Atlanta Falcons (2-6)
Matt Ryan leads the NFL with 2,462 passing yards. Raheem Morris has a 2-1 record as the Falcons’ interim head coach. If only the season started in week six.

26. Minnesota Vikings (2-5)
It can’t be a coincidence that the Vikings have won the only two games where they didn’t turn the ball over.

27. Washington Football Team (2-5)
Washington comes off their bye week to face the Giants, Lions and Bengals in their next three games.

28. Dallas Cowboys (2-6)
The Cowboys have given up the most points in the NFL. Sunday marked only the third time all season they didn’t allow 30 points.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-6)
Despite the overall team record, Gardner Minshew has played well this season. He’s thrown 13 touchdowns and only five interceptions, while averaging 265.0 passing yards per game.

30. New York Giants (1-7)
The Giants have lost their last two games by a total of three points. They’ve been close enough to have three or four wins by now this season.

31. Houston Texans (1-6)
The Texans come off their bye week to face the Jacksonville Jaguars. Houston’s only win of the season came against Jacksonville back in week five.

32. New York Jets (0-8)
The Jets’ point differential is -144 on the season. They’ve allowed 238 points and they haven’t reached the century mark in scoring after eight games.

Ab Stanley

Atlanta, GA

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