NFL Power Rankings – Week 9, John Crowe

NFL Power Rankings – Week 9, John Crowe

Hard to believe it NFL fans, but with week 9 upon us, we’ve made it halfway through our pro football season.

Has it been clunky? Sure. Have we missed some games and some of our favorite players along the way due to the Worldwide COVID-19 pandemic? Absolutely. Have we seen things we’ve thought we’d never see before? You bet!

The Patriots at 2-5 is mind-boggling. Tom Brady throwing for 20 touchdowns already in Tampa is mind-blowing. The Jets at 0-8? Not so far-fetched though. But, beware Pats Nation, New York has never started 0-9 as they host New England Monday night.

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The NFL, determined as ever, is plowing through its schedule no matter what. Just this week, 10 different teams were impacted by COVID-19 positive results in their organizations. Yet, no games have been postponed or canceled. The powers that be, i.e. Commissioner Roger Goodell in particular, are going to get this season in and have fans, at 20% capacity, at the Super Bowl in Tampa come February 2021. Count on that my football friends!

Now, as for who will be in Tampa. Our old Foxboro friends, Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski along with their newest teammate Antonio Brown remain the favorites in the NFC to become the first team to host a Super Bowl game. And based on everything we’ve seen so far in the AFC, it would be Brown, if he’s still on the Bucs at the point, facing his first former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in that championship contest.

But, as we’ve seen this week in the Presidential election, let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves and let the votes, I mean the game, play all the way out.

Best of rest: Tennessee Titans (5-2, Last week: ranked 4th)

Losing back-to-back games including a road game at Cincinnati to a previously one-win Bengals team has sent the Titans sinking from the top spot to almost out of our weekly power rankings. It’s the defense, ranked 25th overall, that’s letting Mike Vrabel down these days. They’ve surrendered nearly 32 points the past three weeks (36,27, 31). Titans can’t afford another loss as they’ll welcome Indy to town for a Thursday night tilt in week 10.

10. Indianapolis Colts (5-2, Last week: not ranked)

Getting Darius Leonard back is a positive sign for the Colts. Seeing T.Y. Hilton go down with a groin injury is not. The Colts offense found themselves in Detroit in their 41-21 win. If they keep scoring like that, they’ll help out that elite defense that could keep them as leaders in the AFC South. Tough test this week as the Ravens come to town before heading off to Tennessee in week 10.

9. Arizona Cardinals (5-2, Last week: ranked 8th)

A bye week gives the Cardinals some extra time to prepare for the suddenly surging Miami Dolphins, who’ve won three in row and bring Tua Tagovailoa to town in his first road start. Tua vs. Kyler Murray should be entertaining as heck as Murray has the Cards in the number one spot on offense, averaging 419 yards per game.

8. Buffalo Bills (6-2, Last week: ranked 9th)

Was it a changing of the guard last week in Buffalo as the Bills beat the Patriots for head coach Sean McDermott’s first win against New England? Sure, Cam Newton’s fumble on the 14-yard line while going for what could’ve been the go-ahead score in the final minutes helped. But the Bills have a chance to add to that momentum when they host Seattle this Sunday.

7. Green Bay Packers (6-2*, Last week: ranked 5th  * - already played in week 9) 

Just when you think the Packers have it figured out; they lay a sticker at home against the Vikings. Then, on top of that loss, Green Bay’s running backs room gets hit by COVID-19 as Jamaal Williams and AJ Dillon sat out Thursday’s game in San Francisco. Packers didn’t need them. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers (4 touchdowns, 305 yards passing) and wide receiver Davante Adams (1 touchdown, 173 yards receiving) paired up to overwhelm the injury-decimated Niners, 34-17 in a contest that was over early in the first quarter. The question now is can Green Bay stay consistent the rest of the season.

6. Baltimore Ravens (5-2, Last week: ranked 6th)

We told you that something wasn’t just right with Lamar Jackson and last week against Pittsburgh proved it. A pair of costly turnovers gave the Steelers the lead and then Jackson had two shots at bring the Ravens back for a win and couldn’t cash in. The Ravens need to step it up or they could be on the outs come playoff time as Pittsburgh already has a two-game edge and the tiebreaker in the AFC North.

5. New Orleans Saints (5-2, Last week: ranked Best of Rest)

HUGE week for the Saints. It’s the second division match-up with the NFC South leading Bucs in Tampa. New Orleans took the opening game victory and should get Michael Thomas, who’s been out the last six games (questionable Friday with ankle/hamstring injuries) and Emmanuel Sanders (COVID-19) back in what could be the game of the week. The Saints are top 10 in both team offense (10th) and team defense (8th) while winning three in a row over the Panthers and Bears.

4. Seattle Seahawks (6-1, Last week: ranked 7th)

Seattle’s win last Sunday over San Francisco was easier than expected. Russell Wilson tossed another four touchdowns as they beat up on the beaten down 49ers, who lost quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and George Kittle to injuries during the game. The Seahawks will be tested in Buffalo this week.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2, Last week: ranked 3rd)

Last year, the Bucs would’ve lost Monday night at the Giants. Instead, this season Tampa saw Tom Brady and crew rally from a 14-3 deficit and see a last-second penalty flag get picked up (it was pass interference) on what would’ve been a tying two-points Giants conversion. Winning breads winning. Brady and company are making sure the little things are getting done. This Sunday, it’s a battle of the two-best touchdown throwing quarterbacks of this generation as Brady takes on Drew Brees in primetime Sunday night football. And don’t look now, but the 43-year old Mr. Brady is ranked 4th in passing yards (2189) and 20 touchdowns.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (7-1, Last week: ranked 2nd)

Ho-hum. Just your average 416 yards, 5 touchdown day for Patrick Mahomes against the Jets. Just when you think the Chiefs were back to the run first, especially with Le’Veon Bell in a revenge game against New York, Kansas City turns back to the air attack. Something to watch: Chris Jones was on the COVID-19 list this week but made it back to practice Friday heading into Sunday’s game with Carolina.  

1.Pittsburgh Steelers (7-0, Last week: ranked 1st)

The trip through Tennessee and Baltimore should’ve taken the Steelers down a peg. Not only did it not, it gave Pittsburgh a pair of last-second victories and confirmed their spot as the NFL’s best team. For their reward, the Steelers stay on the road to face a hapless Dallas offense led by a fourth-string quarterback (likely to be Garret Gilbert or Cooper Rush).

Last week:
Best of rest: Saints, Browns
10. Rams
9. Bills
8. Cardinals
7. Seahawks
6. Ravens
5. Packers
4. Titans
3. Buccaneers
2. Chiefs
1. Steelers