NFL Week 9 Power Rankings: Top 15
NFL Week 9 Power Rankings: Top 15
Let’s not make this sophisticated. There are a lot of causes to be optimistic about this workforce. The Payments are beating a number of the league’s greatest groups from the final season (5-0 in opposition to 2021 playoff groups). Josh Allen is placing up an MVP marketing campaign with 2,452 mixed passing and dashing internet yards, the second-most by way of seven games in NFL historical past (Peyton Manning, 2013). Von Miller has made the effect the workforce hoped for and the protection leads the league in interceptions (11) regardless of dropping security Micah Hyde (neck) for the season and coping with a wide range of accidents within the secondary. Discovering the positives about this workforce is not troublesome.
Philadelphia is 7-0 for simply the second time in the franchise’s historical past, matching the 2004 workforce that is superior to Tremendous Bowl XXXIX. Goals of home-field benefit all through the playoffs are warranted: The Eagles have the best remaining energy on schedule, in response to ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index. Taking part in the resurgent NFC East, not even a divisional title is near a lock at this stage, however they could not have requested for a greater beginning or to be in a greater place for the house stretch.
The Chiefs have three comeback wins after trailing by 10-plus factors already this season. Mahomes is 13-9 (together with playoffs) after trailing by 10-plus factors he’s the one QB because at the beginning of 1950 with a profitable report after trailing by double digits (min. 10 video games). So, they’ve good cause to imagine they’re at all times within the title hunt so long as they’ve Mahomes as a quarterback. The Chiefs have many different causes to imagine they will win one other championship, together with a protection that options an improved go rush that has 19 sacks on the season already.
The protection has been the story of the primary eight games, giving up a median of solely 16.6 factors (ranked third within the league). The sun protection, although, is a fear, giving up a median of 135.1 yards.
However the offense is trending in the fitting path since Dak Prescott’s return from a fractured proper thumb. The Cowboys have proven they will run the ball with Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard no matter the circumstance, however, the passing sport is enhancing as Prescott will get re-accustomed to CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup and Dalton Schultz. They’re going to want it because the second half begins and the video games get harder and more necessary.
The Vikings’ 6-1 report is highlighted by 5 victories in one-possession games. There isn’t a doubt they’ve had some notable and regarding lulls on either side of the ball inside video games, however, they’re discovering methods to win both by way of key fourth-quarter performances or in what coach Kevin O’Connell calls “the margins.” That is a distinctive trait to have integrated because the playoff race approaches, and it’s a reminder that groups can win unbiasedly of whether or not they have a greater offense and/or protection than their opponents.
Seven of Baltimore’s remaining 9 games come in opposition to groups presently with dropping data. ESPN’s FPI signifies the Ravens have the Eleventh-easiest schedule the remainder of the way which, however appears softer than that. The mixed report of Baltimore’s remaining opponents is 23-41 (.359). The Ravens face the struggling Steelers (2-6) twice together with the Carolina Panthers (2-6) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6). Plus, Lamar Jackson is 21-7 (.750) in November and December because of the Ravens’ QB.
It’s wonderful to suppose that one 12 months in the past, the dialog surrounding Tagovailoa centered on whether or not the Dolphins would commerce for one more quarterback. In his third season, he is made these arguments look foolish. He leads the NFL in quarterback ranking and ranks third in completion proportion, fourth in touchdown-to-interception ratio and seventh in passing touchdowns regardless of lacking two full video games. Miami owns the sixth-best offense within the NFL when it comes to yards per sport, largely to the play of its quarterback.
With three straight wins and a one-game lead within the NFC West, the Seahawks have loads of causes for optimism. Their rookie class is one in every one of them, each for the long-term and the current. Six of their 9 draft picks are already big-time contributors. Charles Cross and Abe Lucas each rank within the prime half of beginning tackles in ESPN’s go-block win fee. Working again Kenneth Walker III has 5 touchdowns previously 4 games. Cornerbacks Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant have compelled a mixed eight turnovers. Exterior linebacker Boye Mafe has a pair of sacks. Undrafted security Joey Blount is making an effect on particular groups as nicely.
The Niners relied so closely on their protection within the first 5 weeks of the season that some regression was solely pure as soon as that group obtained bit by the damage bug. However the 49ers traded for Christian McCaffrey in hopes it might bolster the offense sufficiently to make up for no matter drop off the protection would possibly endure. Now, the Niners enter the second half of the season with McCaffrey, receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, operating again Jeff Wilson Jr. and tight finish George Kittle. Working again Elijah Mitchell and fullback Kyle Juszczyk are anticipated to come back again after the bye week. That is an entire lot of firepower for QB Jimmy Garoppolo.
Titans operating again Derrick Henry and the offensive line have hit a groove that features four-consecutive 100-yard dashing performances from Henry, together with Sunday’s 219-yard day. Henry carried the Titans to the AFC Championship Recreation three years in the past, so seeing him accomplish that as soon once more is not out of cause for Tennessee. As Mike Vrabel mentioned after the Texans sport, “The distinction between us and the remainder of the opposite groups is we’ve Derrick Henry.
He’s the Giants’ offense. Barkley has accounted for 38% of their complete yards to this point this season, second most of any participant this season behind Tennessee’s Henry. He is on tempo for two,057 all-purpose yards. That might prime his rookie 12 months numbers (albeit with an additional seventeenth sport). Nonetheless, Barkley alone has been definitely worth the worth of admission. So long as he stays wholesome, there is no such thing as a cause to imagine that may change. And he’ll doubtless lead this light-on-talent Giants workforce to the playoffs.
Ja’Marr Chase’s hip damage definitely places a damper on the offensive uptick in a previous couple of weeks. However with how nicely Joe Burrow appeared previous to Monday Night time Soccer, coupled with the depth on the prime of the depth chart with receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati ought to nonetheless have sufficient firepower to proceed to have one of many league’s greatest offenses. After a gradual beginning, the Bengals ranked fourth within the NFL in factors and touchdowns per drive coming into Monday. That effectivity stage is what Cincinnati lacked throughout the final season’s run to the Tremendous Bowl.
The Jets have held opponents below 23 factors in 5 straight games, and their protection is sweet sufficient to maintain them within the playoff dialog. Led by DT Quinnen Williams and cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed, the Jets are sturdy on the back and front ends. Gardner is a robust candidate for NFL Defensive Rookie of the 12 months. Williams’ six sacks already are one shy of his profession excessive. The Jets have feasted on a handful of backup QBs, an element of their No. 6 rating in complete yards allowed, however, it’s nonetheless high-quality protection.
The Rams’ offense revolves around Kupp this season, and he continues to be a constant goal for Matthew Stafford. Kupp did injure his ankle at the finish of the Rams’ loss to the 49ers on Sunday, however he mentioned after the sport he feels “fairly good proper now.” The Rams’ offense has struggled to get right into a constant rhythm for lengthy stretches, but when the unit goes to show it around this season, it can doubtless be as a result of the Stafford-Kupp connection takes over video games for Los Angeles.
Admit it, you did not have the Atlanta Falcons in first place in the midseason. It is OK. Not many individuals, if anybody, did. However the Falcons have established themselves because of the NFL’s No. 4 dashing assault by yardage. That they’ve executed it with a transformed extensive receiver (Cordarrelle Patterson), a fifth-round choice (Tyler Allgeier), an undrafted free agent (Caleb Huntley) and a former cornerback (Avery Williams) is much more spectacular. If the Falcons are going to proceed this the remainder of the season, it will include their id — which means their run sport — intact and persevering to be spectacular. Does not damage, both, that solely two Atlanta future opponents have an over-.500 reports in the intervening time.
