Week 8's results led to a shakeup in the power rankings as four of last week's top five teams went down to defeat. Only the top spot remains the same heading into Week 9 as the Denver Broncos picked up a decisive 35-21 win over the San Diego Chargers. The loss drops the Chargers three spots to #7.
The New England Patriots' steady climb since their Week 4 shellacking by the Kansas City Chiefs finds them at #3 this week. The Patriots beat up a bad Chicago Bears team 51-23 at Gillette Stadium. How much the Patriots have recovered will be determined this Sunday as they host the Broncos.
The continued demise of the Bears finds them tumbling seven spots to #24 this week. The Bears have now lost four of their last five games and head into their bye with serious questions about their defense, offensive line, and the play of their quarterback.
The top five should encounter more changes in Week 9 with the Broncos playing the Patriots and the #5 Dallas Cowboys hosting this week's #2 ranked team, the Arizona Cardinals.
Rank | Prev. | Team | Record | Remarks |
1 | 1 | Broncos | 6-1 | Emmanuel Sanders had a career game against the Chargers, catching all three of Manning's touchdown passes. Next Up: at Broncos |
2 | 6 | Cardinals | 6-1 | The Cardinals defense is as aggressive as they come. They blitz on 45% of their plays which leads the NFL. Next Up: at Cowboys |
3 | 9 | Patriots | 6-2 | Tom Brady threw as many touchdowns (5) as he did incompletions (30-of-35 for 354 yards). The Patriots have put together four straight wins since their debacle in Kansas City. Next Up: vs Broncos |
4 | 3 | Eagles | 5-2 | Nick Foles was 8-of-19 when blitzed on Sunday by the Cardinals. Next Up: at Texans |
5 | 2 | Cowboys | 5-2 | The Cowboys suffer a tough loss to the Redskins at home. Inconceivably, the Cowboys go away from DeMarco Murray on their sole possession in overtime. Murray gained eight yards on first down then the Cowboys pass on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th downs. Next Up: vs Cardinals |
6 | 12 | Lions | 6-2 | The Lions, down 21 points at halftime, mounted their third-largest comeback in franchise history in a 22-21 win over the Falcons in London. Matthew Stafford became the Lions' all-time leader in TD's with his 119th and 120th on Sunday. Next Up: Bye |
7 | 4 | Chargers | 5-3 | The Chargers were unable to run the ball in order to keep Peyton Manning off the field as they did in their win over the Broncos last year on "Thursday Night Football". Branden Oliver managed only 36 yards on 13 carries. Antonio Gates became the Chargers' career leader in receiving yards (9,610). Next Up: at Dolphins |
8 | 5 | Colts | 5-3 | The Colts defense had been perceived as much improved until their game in Pittsburgh. The Colts defense gave up 639 yards of total offense. They came into the game with the #1 ranked third down defense but allowed the Steelers to convert on 8-of-13 opportunities (61.5%). Next Up: at Giants |
9 | 7 | Packers | 5-3 | Aaron Rodgers "tweaks" his hamstring on the first possession of the third quarter. Rodgers goes into the shotgun the rest of the game and the Packers' offense isn't the same. Rodgers was 14-of-19 for 298 yards and a touchdown before the hamstring. Afterward he is 14-of-20 for 120 yards and two interceptions. Next Up: Bye |
10 | 8 | Ravens | 5-3 | The Ravens offense was unable to finish drives against a Bengals defense that was giving up 500 yards or more in two of their last three games. Good example is a 18-play drive that ended on the Bengals' 1-yard line with a failed fourth- down conversion, a franchise record. Next Up: at Steelers |
11 | 11 | 49ers | 4-3 | The 49ers were on a bye. Next Up: vs Rams |
12 | 10 | Seahawks | 4-3 | Seahawks snapped their two game losing streak in an unimpressive 13-9 win over the Panthers. Russell Wilson was 4-of-4 for 53 yards in the game-winning drive that resulted in the Seahawks only touchdown of the day. Next Up: vs Raiders |
13 | 13 | Chiefs | 4-3 | The Chiefs scored 34 unanswered points in their 34-7 win over the Rams. Alex Smith did not attempt a pass of more than 10 yards in the game. Next Up: vs Jets |
14 | 14 | Bills | 5-3 | Kyle Orton throws four touchdowns as he improves to 3-1 as starter. Orton was 6-of-8 for 184 yards and three touchdowns when the Jets blitzed him on Sunday. Next Up: Bye |
15 | 15 | Bengals | 4-2-1 | Andy Dalton scored the game-winning touchdown on a 1-yard run on fourth-and-goal. The Bengals were the last team to convert on fourth down. Next Up: vs Jaguars |
16 | 16 | Steelers | 5-3 | Ben Roethlisberger exploded for 522 yards and six touchdowns as the Steelers made a statement against the Colts. The win gives Big Ben an 18-1 home record in October. Next Up: vs Ravens |
17 | 18 | Browns | 4-3 | The Browns regained some momentum in a 23-13 win over the Raiders. The running game hasn't been effective since the loss of center Alex Mack. Next Up: vs Buccaneers |
18 | 20 | Dolphins | 4-3 | The Dolphins were flat after a big win in Chicago last week. The Dolphins capitalized on two Blake Bortles turnovers for touchdowns in a lifeless 27-13 win. Next Up: vs Chargers |
19 | 21 | Texans | 4-4 | The Texans finally saw the return of Jadeveon Clowney from injury but it was Arian Foster who provided the fireworks. Foster rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns in the 30-16 win over the Titans. Next Up: vs Eagles |
20 | 19 | Giants | 3-4 | The Giants were on a bye. Next Up: vs Colts |
21 | 22 | Panthers | 3-4-1 | The Panthers defense finally showed up as they held the Seahawks to just one touchdown. Unfortunately for Carolina that one touchdown came with :47 left in the game and ended up being the deciding score. Cam Newton and the Panthers offense was anemic despite being in the redzone several times, including their first three drives of the game. Next Up: vs Saints |
22 | 23 | Saints | 3-4 | Drew Brees was more like his old self in Sunday night's 44-23 win over the Packers. However, the win was at home where the Saints are 3-0. The road is where their misery begins and that is where they will be next Sunday. Next Up: at Panthers |
23 | 27 | Redskins | 3-5 | Huge win over their rival in Dallas as the Redskins come away with a 20-17 win in OT. Colt McCoy, who took over in the second half of last week's game against the Titans, has led the Redskins to two straight wins. Next Up: at Vikings |
24 | 17 | Bears | 3-5 | How much worse can it get in Chicago? They suffer their worst defeat of the year against the Patriots in a 51-23 rout. Jay Cutler's poor play continues as he threw a pick-6 and had a fumble returned for a Patriots' touchdown. Next Up: Bye |
25 | 26 | Vikings | 3-5 | Linebacker Anthony Barr's strip and fumble return for a touchdown 17 seconds into OT was the fastest since overtime was instituted in 1974. Next Up: vs Redskins |
26 | 24 | Rams | 2-5 | Terrible news for the Rams as they lose left tackle Jake Long for the season with his second right ACL tear in less than a year. Next Up: at 49ers |
27 | 25 | Falcons | 2-6 | The Falcons blow a 21 point halftime lead and calls for head coach Mike Smith's head grows louder. Next Up: Bye |
28 | 28 | Titans | 2-6 | Titans switched to rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger but similar results followed. The Titans are unable to run the ball and are killing themselves with penalties. Next Up: Bye |
29 | 30 | Buccaneers | 1-6 | The Buccaneers took a 13-10 lead over the Vikings with 2:02 remaining in the game. But with a defense that ranks last in yards-allowed and points-per-game the Vikings tied the game and won it in OT. Next Up: at Browns |
30 | 29 | Jets | 1-7 | Geno Smith has been benched and it will be Michael Vick starting in the game at the Chiefs on Sunday. The Jets are a disaster at quarterback with no help coming this season. Next Up: at Chiefs |
31 | 31 | Jaguars | 1-7 | Blake Bortles is one of three players to throw at least four pick sixes in their rookie season. His four pick sixes lead the NFL this season. Next Up: at Bengals |
32 | 32 | Raiders | 0-7 | Raiders defense performed well against the Browns in their 16-6 loss. They held the offense to just 39 yards on the ground and a 14% conversion rate on third downs. Next Up: at Seahawks |