Week 9 of the NFL is in the books and another slice of the picture has been revealed. The NFL season is a small sample size in nature, but the midpoint of the 2023 has arrived and the pecking order is clearly being established. There’s a handful of teams who have only suffered one or two losses. Then there are the teams who’ve suffered three defeats and they are divided into two groups.
The first group is composed of teams which look like they could be championship contenders but have lost games they shouldn’t have. The ither group is composed of teams whose records seem to be above their level.
Sunday’s games brought a couple of huge matchups in each conference. The early contest saw the Kansas City Chiefs outlast the Miami Dolphins in Germany. The national game saw the Eagles fend off the Dallas Cowboys ’ late charge in Philadelphia. The two teams will both get a bye week before squaring off in a Super Bowl rematch. With three of the top teams in the league on a bye (San Francisco, Jacksonville and Detroit), here’s a look at the latest power rankings after all of the action.
Sep 10, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) after a loss against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
Jan 15, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; New York Giants cornerback Adoree’ Jackson (22) reacts after a play against the Minnesota Vikings during the fourth quarter during a wild card game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports Oct 14, 2018; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; A Chicago Bears helmet and gloves sit on the field prior to the game between the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (90) and defensive end Dorance Armstrong (92) rush New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports Sep 17, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) drops back to pass against the Atlanta Falcons in the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports Dec 26, 2020; Paradise, Nevada, USA; A general view of a Las Vegas Raiders helmet outside of Allegiant Stadium before the game against the Miami Dolphins. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2022; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) runs during a Denver Broncos mini camp at UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) is congratulated by quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) after scoring a touchdown against the Chicago Bears during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports Atlanta Falcons (4-5) | Last Week: 19 Dec 18, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; General view of a Atlanta Falcons helmet during warm ups against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports Oct 29, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) attempts to sack Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Head coach Shane Steichen of the Indianapolis Colts looks on against the Baltimore Ravens in the second half at M&T Bank Stadium on September 24, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) Oct 2, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera watches the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (12) celebrates with Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) after a touchdown Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, during a game against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium in Houston Los Angeles Chargers (2-4) Will update after MNF | Last Week: 17INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 16: DeMarcus Lawrence #90 of the Dallas Cowboys and Markquese Bell #14 sack Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers in the first half at SoFi Stadium on October 16, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) New York Jets (4-3) Will update after MNF | Last Week: 16Sep 17, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) is sacked by Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports Minnesota Vikings (5-4) | Last Week: 15 Nov 5, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs (15) throws a pass against the Atlanta Falcons in the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports New Orleans Saints (5-3) | Last Week: 14 Sep 10, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrate a touchdown pass to New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) against the Tennessee Titans during the second half at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports Dec 17, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) is introduced before the game between the Browns and the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 18: Head Coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half during the game at Heinz Field on September 18, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) Jun 11, 2019; Renton, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll answers questions during a press conference following a minicamp practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2019; Arlington, TX, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Miami Dolphins (6-3) | Last Week: 3 Dec 25, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) stands on the field during the second half against the Green Bay Packers at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) takes the field against Seattle Seahawks at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023. Dallas Cowboys (5-3) | Last Week: 5 Nov 5, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and head coach Mike McCarthy after a touchdown in the third quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports Cincinnati Bengals (5-3) | Last Week: 11 Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) takes the field for warm ups prior to a Week 2 NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.
San Francisco 49ers (5-3) | Last Week: 7 Jan 22, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) throws during the first quarter of a NFC divisional round game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2) | Last Week: 6 Dec 11, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) throws the ball during the first quarter at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean-USA TODAY Sports
Baltimore Ravens (7.-2) | Last Week: 4 Sep 24, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA;Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) reacts when a fourth down play is reviewed on the jumbotron during overt time against the Indianapolis Colts at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas City Chiefs (7-2) | Last Week: 2 Nov 7, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) warms up before the game against the Green Bay Packers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia Eagles (8-1) | Last Week: 1 Nov 5, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) reacts after a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Story originally appeared on Cowboys Wire