NFL Power Rankings Week 9 Top Five And Bottom Five: Turmoil At The Top

Another week of the NFL season has come and gone, and we head into week nine with new rankings in the top five and bottom five.

Just a few weeks ago, we all thought we had the top and bottom of the NFL figured out. That was a mistake. The last few weeks have brought huge shakeups to the power rankings, and they are certainly reflected in Week 9’s rankings.

28. Chicago Bears (2-6)

Last Week: 30-13 (L) @ Chargers
This Week: @ Saints

The Bears caught a spark when rookie Tyson Bagent started and beat the Raiders convincingly in week 7, but the clock hit midnight for the former Division II star. The Bears were soundly beaten by a talented, but struggling, Chargers team and once again reminded us that they are one of the league’s worst teams. The good news is that if the season ended today, the Bears would have the second and third-overall picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, due in part to owning the Carolina Panthers’ pick.

29. Green Bay Packers (2-5)

Last week: 24-10 (L) vs. Vikings
This week vs. Rams

You may have to go back to the early 1990s for the last time the Packers were a bottom-five team, but losing four straight, including losses to the Broncos and Raiders, earned Green Bay the dubious distinction. After showing early promise, quarterback Jordan Love has been awful, especially in first halves. He’s made things incredibly difficulty on the Packers by failing to get anything going on offense early on. Love has been better in the second half of games, but the offense is simply not good enough. The defense is respectable, but isn’t making enough big plays in close games to get this team across the finish line. It’s truly a rebuilding year in Green Bay, and for the first time in a very long time, there are major questions whether their franchise quarterback is salvageable.

30. New York Giants (2-6)

Last Week: 13-10 (L-OT) vs. Jets
This Week: @ Raiders

With Daniel Jones sidelined with injury and Tyrod Taylor picking up an injury himself on Sunday, the Giants were held to an incredible -9 passing yards. Despite that, the team still should have won the game, but a missed Graham Gano field goal in the final minute opened the door for Zach Wilson heroics to tie the game. The Giants went on to lose in overtime, which is a long-term blessing for the franchise. The good news is that 2022 top-ten pick edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux is coming into his own as one of the league’s best pass rushers.

31. Carolina Panthers (1-6)

Last Week: 15-13 (W) vs. Texans
This Week: @ Colts

There are no winless teams left, as the Panthers won the battle of the top two overall picks in the draft, 15-13, on a walk-off field goal on Sunday. But, most importantly for the Panthers is the play of Bryce Young. The first-overall pick had a rough to start to his NFL career, while the Texans’ CJ Stroud shined. But, Young has been steadily improving and was by far the better quarterback on Sunday. This Panthers season is exclusively about his development, and he is on the right track.

32. Arizona Cardinals (1-7)

Last Week: 31-24 (L) vs. Ravens
This Week: @ Browns

The team that many had on the bottom of the power rankings coming into the season played above their heads for much of the first eight weeks. But, the Cardinals finally find themselves on the bottom after five straight losses. I won’t even be incredibly negative, because this is a roster devoid of top-end talent, and head coach Jonathan Gannon has them playing hard. Kyler Murray will be returning from injury soon, and the Cardinals will get to figure out if he is their quarterback of the future or if they want to move on. Two high first round picks, their own and the Texans’, await in the draft next year.

T5. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2)

Last Week: 20-10 (W) vs. Pittsburgh
This Week: Bye

Remember that 1-2 start for the Jaguars? Yeah, me either. The winners of five straight are absolutely cruising right now and look like potential Super Bowl contenders. The development of Trevor Lawrence is right on schedule, the defense is playing at a high-level, and they have weapons galore. Those weapons are diverse too. Running back Travis Etienne has paid off former coach Urban Meyer’s decision to use a first-round pick on him. Wide Receivers Christian Kirk and Calvin Ridley team up with a resurgent Evan Engram to provide great pass-catching options. With a great play caller in head coach Doug Pederson getting more involved in the play calling, the offense has taken off. Imagine where this team would be if they took Aidan Hutchinson with the first pick instead of Trayvon Walker in 2022.

T5. Detroit Lions (6-2)

Last Week: 26-14 (W) vs Raiders
This Week: Bye

After getting stomped by the Baltimore Ravens in week 7, the Lions rebounded with a comprehensive performance on Monday Night Football against the Raiders. The game was not nearly as close as the score suggests. The Lions out-gained the Raiders a whopping 486-157 and physically dominated the game. After a slow start to his rookie year that had fantasy owners miffed, Jahmyr Gibbs has been sensational as the lead back following David Montgomery’s injury. He had 26 carries for 152 yards and a touchdown, and added 37 yards receiving on five catches. That’s just another dynamic weapon Jared Goff has at his disposal now.

4. Miami Dolphins (6-2)

Last Week 31-17 (W) vs. Patriots
This Week: vs. Chiefs (Frankfurt, Germany)

Once again, the Dolphins offense dominated an inferior opponent. And, there were two encouraging things for the offense in this game. The first is that they moved the ball efficiently despite the running game never getting going. And, Jaylen Waddle had his best game of the year, with a stat-line of 7-121-1 to go along with another 100+yard game for Tyreek Hill. Newly acquired All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey made his Dolphins debut, and picked off Mac Jones. Stars Jaelen Philips and Christian Wilkins each had a sack, and that defense is only going to get better and better. But, they need to beat a good team. They’ll have the chance to do that in Germany this weekend.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (6-2)

Last Week: 24-9 (L) @ Broncos
This Week: vs. Dolphins (Frankfurt, Germany)

The good times came to a screeching halt for the Chiefs, as their six-game winning streak this year and sixteen-game winning streak against the Broncos came to an end. Patrick Mahomes was battling the flu, but the real issue on offense is a putrid wide receiver corps that needs upgrading at the deadline. Seemingly the only guy that Mahomes trusts in the passing game is Travis Kelce, and that needs to change. I’m still loving this Chiefs defense, and they surrendered just 240 yards against the Broncos on Sunday.

2. Baltimore Ravens (6-2)

Last Week: 31-24 (W) @ Cardinals
This Week: vs. Seahawks

The best thing about this Ravens team is it may have more ways to beat you than any of the top NFL teams. And, on a day when the offense was pedestrian, it was the defense that carried the Ravens in the matchup. Don’t be fooled by the final score, it was 31-15 with under two minutes to go. Lamar Jackson continued to play efficient football, even though the Cardinals shut down Jackson in the running game. This is a team that I only think is going to continue to get better, and they’re the biggest Super Bowl sleeper in the league right now. A good performance against a Seahawks team that just missed this list would make them much less of a sleeper.

1. Philadelphia Eagles (7-1)

Last Week: 38-31 (W) @ Commanders
This Week: vs. Cowboys

Like the Ravens, the Eagles can beat teams in a variety of ways, and that was on display against the Commanders on Sunday. The defense was, frankly, not good. But, Jalen Hurts looked like the MVP candidate many expected him to be this year with his best passing game of the year. It helps to have AJ Brown to throw the ball to. Brown has now gone over 125 yards in an NFL-record six straight games. Until the secondary gets healthy, Philadelphia will find themselves in some shootouts. But, they can win those games, too. A monster matchup against the Cowboys for the inside track in the NFC North is coming up this weekend.