NFL Power Rankings entering Week 9
Uglier than ugly
The New York Giants set the passing game back decades. The Broncos finally solved the Chiefs. Week 8 of the 2023 season was complex and perplexing on other accounts. As the NFL season moves ahead to Week 9, here’s how all 32 teams stack up…
32. New York Giants (2-6, lost to New York Jets)
The game was ugly. The decision that cost the Giants the game was uglier. This was just bad football.
31. Las Vegas Raiders (3-5, lost to Detroit Lions)
Jimmy Garoppolo was battered, and the Raiders failed to muster an offense in the loss to the Lions. Josh McDaniels is not doing well. Good to know the bottom two teams in the Power Rankings meet in Week 9.
30. Carolina Panthers (1-6, defeated Houston Texans)
Congratulations to Frank Reich and Bryce Young. You are no longer winless. That doesn’t mean you are going to earn many more victories.
29. Green Bay Packers (2-5, lost to Minnesota Vikings
This will be a fascinating team to watch. If the Packers continue to lose and wind up with a high draft pick, do they stick with Jordan Love or look to the selection process for a QB?
28. Arizona Cardinals (1-7, lost to Baltimore Ravens)
The Cardinals find a way to play just good enough to lose.
27. Denver Broncos (3-5, defeated Kansas City Chiefs)
The Broncos appear to be headed in the right direction. That makes two wins in a row, and they snapped the hex the Chiefs had over them.
26. Washington Commanders (3-5, lost to Philadelphia Eagles)
The Commanders got a huge game from Sam Howell but lost to the Eagles for the second time. They scored 65 points in the losses and allowed 75. That’s the difference between a contender and a pretender.
25. Chicago Bears (2-6, lost to LA Chargers)
At least Tyson Bagent can tell friends and family he won one game as a starter for the Chicago Bears. Has NBC stopped showing Justin Fields on the sidelines yet?
24. New England Patriots (2-6, lost to Miami Dolphins)
The win over the Buffalo Bills provided a glimmer of hope last week. Then, reality set in with a road trip to Miami. The Patriots are now the AFC East bottom-feeders, the only team in the division below .500.
23. Tennessee Titans (3-4, defeated Atlanta Falcons)
Will Levis’ starting debut was wonderful, with 4 TD passes. Did it seriously take this long for the Titans to recognize D’andre Hopkins as a game-breaker? Why did it take this long?
22. Los Angeles Chargers (3-4, defeated Chicago Bears)
Finally, a game that Brendon Staley couldn’t lose through his reliance on analytics. Amazing what happens when you actually let the Bolts’ talent do its thing. This team needs Austin Ekeler to stay healthy.
21. Indianapolis Colts (3-5, lost to New Orleans Saints)
The Colts are a fun team to watch. The problem is they have now wound up on the short end of the score three weeks in a row, despite all the offensive excitement.
20. Houston Texans (3-4, lost to Carolina Panthers)
The Texans almost pulled it off at Carolina. There will be games like this no matter the opponent for a young team that will fondly remember this season as one that built the foundation for success.
19. Atlanta Falcons (4-4, lost to Tennessee Titans)
The Falcons are mediocre at best, so a .500 record is absolutely splendid for now.
18. Los Angeles Rams (3-5, lost to Dallas Cowboys)
Burn this tape, Sean McVay. The Cowboys could have checked out in the first half and still cruised over the Rams.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4, lost to Buffalo Bills)
That 3-1 start to the season under Baker Mayfield has regressed into three straight defeats. Todd Bowles will be on the hot seat, if he isn’t already.
16. Minnesota Vikings (4-4, defeated Green Bay Packers)
It will be difficult to keep the momentum of the three-game winning streak going with Kirk Cousins likely lost for the season.
15. New Orleans Saints (4-4, defeated Indianapolis Colts)
Taysom Hill had a massive game and the Saints are back at .500. The division is theirs for the taking. Just play smart and use Hill whenever you can. He is a difference-maker.
14. New York Jets (4-3, defeated New York Giants)
It doesn’t get uglier than the win over the Giants. Brian Daboll practically handed the Jets a chance to tie, and then win. The fact they had to scramble for a “W” against a team that threw for negative net passing yards is not wonderful.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3, lost to Jacksonville Jaguars)
Kenny Pickett went out, and so did the Steelers’ chances to win. Diontae Johnson wasn’t happy with the officials, but they didn’t beat the Steelers. The Jaguars played better.
12. Cleveland Browns (4-3, lost to Seattle Seahawks)
The Browns gave a great effort in Seattle. Imagine how good this team would be if it didn’t have the injuries to Nick Chubb and others. Kevin Stefanski is doing a nice job.
11. Buffalo Bills (5-3 defeated Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Starting to wonder if it is possible the issue is that Ken Dorsey is not Brian Daboll?
10. San Francisco 49ers (5-3, lost to Cincinnati Bengals)
The 49ers head into a bye with three straight losses. Has the Brock Purdy magic disintegrated?
9. Cincinnati Bengals (4-3, defeated San Francisco 49ers)
Joe Burrow and the Bengals are humming. The QB had a great game in front of Joe Montana as Cincinnati downed the 49ers. This is the best last-place team in the league.
8. Dallas Cowboys (5-2, defeated LA Rams)
This was a dominant performance in all three phases of the game. Makes you wonder why Dallas is such a roller coaster instead of a bulldozer.
7. Miami Dolphins (6-2, defeated New England Patriots)
The Fish beat teams they are supposed to throttle—the way that it is expected. Still want to see them do something against a real contender. The losses came against the best teams Miami has played.
6. Seattle Seahawks (5-2, defeated Cleveland Browns)
What team is in first place in the NFC West? (Wrong. Not that one in San Fran or the one in LA.) It is the Seattle Seahawks. Pete Carroll is a magician.
5. Detroit Lions (6-2, defeated Las Vegas Raiders)
The Lions shut down the Raiders. They have to be more careful with the ball, avoiding those multiple turnovers. But this is an intriguing team—again, if it can hold onto the football.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (6-2, lost to Denver Broncos)
Kansas City’s run over Denver ended and the Chiefs had a rare sloppy game. Interesting to see how they rebound in Frankfurt against Miami.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2, defeated Pittsburgh Steelers)
A strong road win for a team that has now won five in a row. Quietly becoming one of the best in the AFC, if not the league.
2. Baltimore Ravens (6-2, defeated Arizona Cardinals)
The Ravens are gaining momentum at the right time, with Lamar Jackson running a solid offensive attack. At the same time, the defense is performing close to what a Ravens squad is usually expected to do.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (7-1. defeated Washington Commanders)
The Commanders get up for the Birds. However, Philly seems to always find a way to come away with a victory. In the NFL, a win is a win. And this Philly team has consistently found a way to do that, making them the best of the best (for now).
