Thursday, October 31st, 2024

GRIDIRON POWER RANKINGS: WEEK 9

Nicholas McGee

GRIDIRON POWER RANKINGS: WEEK 9

Nicholas McGee NFL

Welcome to Gridiron’s Week 9 power ranking. 

Heading into Week 9, we have a new leader atop the dais. Although the Kansas City Chiefs still remain as the only team unbeaten, they’ve looked far less than convincing, and with the Detroit Lions scoring 52 points over the weekend, the side from ‘Motor City’ are deservedly leading the way. 

 

GRIDIRON POWER RANKINGS: WEEK 9

1 Detroit Lions (6-1) +2

The Lions scoring 52 points in a game in which Jared Goff only had 85 passing yards is a reflection of the desperate state in which the Tennessee Titans find themselves, but it also illustrates just how well-rounded the Lions are as a team. Questions about how the defense will fare long term without Aidan Hutchinson remain but, with how they are performing right now, it is difficult to look past the Lions as the best and most complete team in football, even if they don’t have the best record.

 

2. Kansas City Chiefs (7-0) =

If you thought a hugely unconvincing win over the Las Vegas Raiders would be enough to lift the defending Super Bowl champions to the top of the power rankings, you were sorely mistaken. Kansas City might have suffered their first defeat if the Raiders weren’t so inept in the red zone, and there was little to suggest DeAndre Hopkins will immediately ignite the offense. Still, all that matters for the Chiefs is January, and they’re in an outstanding position to make a push for the three-peat come playoff time.

 

3. Baltimore Ravens (6-2) -2

It’s important not to overreact to a game that went right to the final snap against an emotionally charged Browns team featuring a still very strong defense. The outcome could have been very different had Rashod Bateman not lost a superbly thrown deep ball from Lamar Jackson in the sun and, though the Ravens are at a disadvantage due to the difficulty of their division, with a quarterback playing at an MVP level once again and a diverse offense continuing to the thrive, Baltimore should get back on track in a hurry.

 

4. Buffalo Bills (6-2) +3

The rain couldn’t stop the Bills, and the Seahawks certainly couldn’t. Josh Allen stands as the betting favourite for MVP after Buffalo emphatically swept aside Seattle, and the Bills’ performance in dreadful conditions served as an emphatic statement that this is a team built for the bruising tests the playoffs will provide. The heavy presence of the Bills Mafia meant the environment was not as hostile as it usually is in Seattle, but that shouldn’t take away from the impressive nature of Buffalo’s latest triumph.

 

5. Green Bay Packers (6-2) =

Once again the Packers are dealing with another Jordan Love injury, but it’s a testament to the coaching of Matt LaFleur and the talent at Green Bay’s disposal that his absence made no difference as the Packers held off the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Packers have proven they can win games with Malik Willis, but Love needs to be healthy for their game with the Lions this weekend for it to live up to its blockbuster status.

 

6. Washington Commanders (6-2) +2

Had Tyrique Stevenson focused on doing his job rather than goading Commanders fans, the post-game discussions about Washington’s absorbing low-scoring battle with the Chicago Bears would be dramatically different. As it is, Jayden Daniels’ Hail Mary to Noah Brown is the latest compelling evidence that the Commanders are in the midst of a special season that could bring their first playoff win since the 2005 campaign.

 

7. Minnesota Vikings (5-2) -3

The Vikings’ slide stops here. They’ve built up plenty of credit in the bank after a red-hot start, but, with back-to-back defeats and left tackle Christian Darrisaw out for the season, there is plenty for Minnesota to be concerned about. If the Darrisaw injury leaves the Vikings unable to adequately protect Sam Darnold, their hopes of a deep playoff run could soon dissipate.

 

8. Houston Texans (6-2) -2

The Texans, despite holding off an Indianapolis Colts team led by a quarterback in Anthony Richardson who has since been benched, have plenty of problems. Stefon Diggs is out for the season with a torn ACL and the protection of C.J. Stroud has been terrible. They may win the AFC South by default, but the Texans don’t look like the force many expected them to be in the AFC this year.

 

9. San Francisco 49ers (4-4) =

San Francisco fans had to suffer through a very uncomfortable fourth quarter as the 49ers threatened to throw away a 17-point lead, meaning questions about their ability to finish games are unlikely to stop anytime soon. Yet the Niners are tied for the lead of their division following their primetime win over the Dallas Cowboys and should get Christian McCaffrey back after the bye. Things could be much worse for the reigning NFC champions.

 

10. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2) +2

The Steelers have a case for being kept in the top 10 on the back of improving to 6-2, but the nature of their Monday Night win over the New York Giants doesn’t really merit Pittsburgh staying in such a lofty position. Instead, we’ve swapped out one Pennsylvania team for another, with the Eagles domineering victory over the Cincinnati Bengals serving as a reminder to the rest of the NFC that they are to be taken seriously.

WHO YOU GOT?

Well, we’ve put our necks on the line, but what do you think? Eagles at a (tush) push? Chiefs complete the...