Week 9 NFL Power Rankings

Week 9 featured quite a few snoozes, but it was plenty made up for by a couple of upsets and a furious rally by the Buccaneers, who now feature a very dangerous quarterback.  The Patriots separated themselves from the Jets and the rest of the AFC.  The Seahawks had a chance to separate themselves from the NFC West but show they are just as mediocre as the rest of that division.  The Redskins could have made up ground in the NFC East but were upset by the Lions thanks to a questionable coaching decision.  So, with another week in the books......the Week 9 Power Rankings:

Cream of the Crop

1. New England Patriots (6-1): The Patriots don't seem to miss Randy Moss, although it's entirely possible he could return to New England.  The Patriots seem to be on a collision course with the Colts in the AFC Championship.
2. Indianapolis Colts (5-2): The Colts handled the Texans with ease in the first half, and stuck it out in the second half for the win.  Decimated by injuries on both sides of the ball, the Colts keep on truckin'.
3. Baltimore Ravens (5-2): Fresh off their bye week, they have a tough match up with the Dolphins.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2): The Steelers looked overwhelmed by the Saints pass rush this week.  Next up: The Bengals Monday night.  Sounds like an easy W, but Cincy plays the AFC North tough.
5. New York Giants (5-2): Best record in the NFC with the tie breaker.  New York doesn't fare well in Seattle, but the Seahawks aren't the team they used to be.
6. Atlanta Falcons (5-2): The Falcons have a tough schedule ahead with TB, BAL, StL, GB, TB all coming off wins.
7. New York Jets (5-2): Looked unimpressive in a 9-0 loss to the Packers.  Two road games upcoming against teams that should be easily beaten by the Jets.
8. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2): Barely outlasted the tough-luck Bills on a last second overtime field goal.  The defense is definitely for real.
9. Green Bay Packers (5-3): Packers' Clay Matthews leads the league in sacks.  The defense was impressive in NY.
10. New Orleans Saints (5-3): Pass rush and depleted secondary looked suffocating in 20-10 victory over Pittsburgh.  Brees made some nice throws in a good bounce back effort.
11. Tennessee Titans (5-3): Vince Young was hurt in Sunday's loss to the Chargers.  Defense was exposed often on third downs.

Best of the Rest

12. Houston Texans (4-3): Texans split the season series with the Colts.  That's the upside.  The downside?  Houston's young defense is not looking good.
13. Philadelphia Eagles (4-3): Vick will be back under center for the Eagles.  Can he propel them to the playoffs?
14. Miami Dolphins (4-3): Dolphins are still perfect on the road.  Henne showed nice poise on the game winning drive, but Carpenter won't be 5/5 every week in field goals.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2):  Still don't buy this team as a contender.  But Josh Freeman is doing everything he can to prove me wrong.
16. San Diego Chargers (3-5): Needed a win against a tough team, and they got one against the Titans.
17. Chicago Bears (4-3): Not a Cutler fan.  Especially when he doesn't have a top tier receiver like he did in Denver.
18. Oakland Raiders (4-4): Don't look now.  Tom Cable has the Raiders playing well!  Jason Campbell is having a better season than Donovan McNabb.  Don't tell Dan Snyder.
19. St. Louis Rams (4-4): Sam Bradford quite possibly could carry this team into the playoffs.  Stephen Jackson needs to get healthy.
20. Washington Redskins (4-4): Donovan McNabb lost this game for the Redski.....wait no he didn't.  Shannahan lost this game for the Redskins by benching McNabb in favor of wait for it............Rex Grossman?
21. Seattle Seahawks (4-3): Shutdown by the Oakland Raiders defense.  Blown out by the Oakland Raiders offense.
22. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4): MJD ran the ball well.  Garrard threw the ball well.  But it was against the Cowboys who seem to have given up.

Mediocrity and Messes

23. Arizona Cardinals (3-4): Lost on a late rally by Josh Freeman and the Buccaneers.  Max Hall and Derek Anderson are not the answers for this team.
24. Minnesota Vikings (2-5): Favre has a broken ankle and now 8 stitches on his face.  When will he not care about his record and start caring about the Vikings record.
25. Detroit Lions (2-5): Dangerous team offensively.  Contenders beware.
26. Cincinnati Bengals (2-5): One of the biggest disappointments of the year.  With talent all over the field on offense, this team should be at least 4-3.
27. San Francisco 49ers (2-6): Troy Smith might have won himself a job in London.
28. Cleveland Browns (2-5): Can they take that energy they had in New Orleans back to Cleveland against the Patriots.  No.
29. Denver Broncos (2-6):  Kyle Orton has played well this year, but the defense has let the Broncos down.
30. Dallas Cowboys (1-6): Looks like this team has thrown in the towel.  And in the face of Wade Phillips.  Time for Jerry Jones to make a change.
31. Carolina Panthers (1-6): Matt Moore is just brutal to watch.  Jimmy Clausen should not be learning from this guy.
32. Buffalo Bills (0-7): Made the Chiefs squirm, but for the second week in a row, they lost in heartbreaking fashion.