NFL Power Rankings, Week 9: Eagles, Ravens and Dolphins top board after shakeup; Chiefs, 49ers fall

Not too long ago, the 49ers were our clear-cut, no-questions-asked No. 1 overall team.

At the same time, the Bengals were searching for an identity.

Naturally, Cincinnati marched into Levi’s Stadium on Sunday and delivered a haymaker of a win, one that might tilt the axis for both franchises. Are the Bengals back in Super Bowl contention? Are the 49ers falling out?!

We can’t quite have the same conversation with Denver and Kansas City, but the Chiefs are facing some tough questions after getting stomped by a team they’d won 16 straight against.

I’m not jumping to conclusions with these teams, or the rest — and we had another week with some curious results across the board. Plus some wins (we’re looking at you, Jets) that shouldn’t change anyone’s Super Bowl travel plans just yet.

Let’s see what we can make of the league hierarchy as we head into the midpoint of the season.

Rank1

Philadelphia Eagles

7-1

If Tyreek Hill is an MVP candidate in Miami, then A.J. Brown absolutely should be in that discussion, too. Brown has been on a six-week tear, logging 125-plus receiving yards in every game over that span, adding another two TDs in Sunday’s heroic performance. The Eagles don’t beat the Commanders without the greatness of Brown and Jalen Hurts, both of whom were in peak form. It was once again a rough day in the red zone (Philly went 3-for-5, but lost two fumbles inside the 5-yard line), which has been a lingering issue, and the defense really had few answers for Sam Howell. The Eagles won in spite of those factors. Of course, expecting to do the same in Week 9’s massive showdown with the Cowboys would be foolish.

Rank

Baltimore Ravens

6-2

There were minimal signs of an emotional letdown for the Ravens after Week 7’s trouncing of the Lions. Lamar Jackson did little, but they didn’t need him to do much. They allowed Arizona to hang around too long, but in the end, this was a solid road win. They’ll take it, with the next three games (and six of the final nine) in Baltimore. That’s the good news. The bad? Most of the remaining opponents look fairly tough or better. And the AFC North has muscled up a bit since the Ravens last played a divisional game. Still, they’re 6-2, tied atop the AFC and arguably playing as well as anyone in the conference. This week’s opponent, the Seahawks, could be one big win away from making that claim on the NFC side. The Ravens’ steep march to the playoffs begins in earnest.

Rank3

Miami Dolphins

6-2

If they can find a way to get the offensive line in some sort of functional shape, the Dolphins should be OK. The imminent returns of Terron Armstead and Connor Williams will be a boon, although Robert Hunt’s situation tempers the optimism around that unit a bit. De’Von Achane will be eligible to come off IR after the Germany game, and that would be another big boost. The secondary also can get better from within, once Xavien Howard and Jevon Holland are in the lineup again. Jalen Ramsey’s debut in Sunday’s win over the Patriots was more than anyone could have hoped for. He had an interception, was active in run support and played nearly the whole game. It feels like Miami picked up a starter at the trade deadline.

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NFL Power Rankings, Week 9: Eagles, Ravens and Dolphins top board after shakeup; Chiefs, 49ers fall

Published: Oct 31, 2023 at 10:16 AM

Eric Edholm

Lead Draft Writer

How impressed are you with 7-1 Eagles? | ‘GMFB’

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WEEK 9

WEEK 8

WEEK 7

WEEK 6

WEEK 5

WEEK 4

WEEK 3

WEEK 2

WEEK 1

Not too long ago, the 49ers were our clear-cut, no-questions-asked No. 1 overall team.

At the same time, the Bengals were searching for an identity.

We can’t quite have the same conversation with Denver and Kansas City, but the Chiefs are facing some tough questions after getting stomped by a team they’d won 16 straight against.

Let’s see what we can make of the league hierarchy as we head into the midpoint of the season.

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2023 NFL season, Week 8: What We Learned from Lions’ win over Raiders on Monday night

2023 NFL season, Week 8: What We Learned from Sunday’s games

2023 NFL season, Week 8: What We Learned from Bills’ win over Buccaneers on Thursday night

NOTE: Up/down arrows reflect movement from the Week 8 Power Rankings.

Rank

Philadelphia Eagles

7-1

Rank

Baltimore Ravens

6-2

Rank

Miami Dolphins

6-2

Rank

Kansas City Chiefs

6-2

The Chiefs have not known life as anything but a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the playoffs under Patrick Mahomes, but if they want to maintain their hopes of securing a top seed this year, they might be looking at a must-win game this Sunday in Frankfurt, where they’ll to face the Dolphins, one of three other 6-2 AFC teams currently. The fact is, the Chiefs were beaten soundly by a team they’d defeated in 16 straight previous matchups, and Mahomes didn’t mount anything close to a comeback after falling behind early Sunday. Stricken with the flu, he didn’t play well, although a few huge drops and a suddenly shaky offensive line didn’t help.

Jacksonville Jaguars

6-2

With a five-win October, Jacksonville exorcised the demons of its 1-2 start and now is 6-2 for the first time this millennium. The victory over the Steelers lacked style points, but the Jaguars’ recent travel schedule, the number of starters they were missing and the Pittsburgh weather all were contributing factors. The Jags were lucky their three turnovers (two in the red zone, one just outside it) didn’t hurt more, and it’s a little concerning how dependent on Travis Etienne they’ve become. The Week 9 bye will provide some much-needed rest; then we’ll find out if the Jaguars can stack up against the AFC contenders left on their schedule. Right now, they look like they belong.

Rank

Dallas Cowboys

5-2

The Cowboys have picked themselves off the mat since the 49ers debacle in Week 5. A gut-check road win in Week 6, the Week 7 bye and the three-phase destruction of the Rams — a get-right game for the offense if ever there was one — have been cleansing. On Sunday, Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb were as locked in as they’ve ever been. The early pass protection was frightening, and Tyron Smith returning would be huge, although that unit settled in eventually. Since losing to San Francisco, the Cowboys have answered several questions. But more loom in Week 9, which will feature the biggest game for the Cowboys in forever, a trip to Philly that rates five out of five stars on the Madden-Summerall 4:25 ET scale.

Detroit Lions

6-2

After the blowout loss at Baltimore, I thought the Lions were poised to come out on Monday night and blow the roof off Ford Field. Instead, Detroit’s drives repeatedly bogged down in Las Vegas territory, making the game a lot tighter than it should have been. Three Lions turnovers — including a brutal, 75-yard pick-six — also allowed the Raiders to hang around. Credit Aaron Glenn’s defense for consistently harassing Jimmy Garoppolo; third-year DT Alim McNeill might be a Pro Bowler. Meanwhile, No. 12 overall pick Jahmyr Gibbs enjoyed a breakout game (189 yards and a touchdown on 31 touches), serving as Detroit’s offensive engine with David Montgomery sidelined by injury. The Lions had to shuffle some pieces on the offensive line, but the results were great, as Gibbs and Craig Reynolds really carved up Las Vegas’ run defense. Not the prettiest win, and you can bet Dan Campbell rues the sloppiness, but it was an important victory after the Lions’ credentials were questioned a bit last week.

Rank

San Francisco 49ers

5-3

During San Francisco’s first two losses, in Cleveland and Minnesota, it felt like the 49ers were a good team grinding through a rough patch. Sunday’s home defeat to the Bengals made them look vulnerable for the first time this season. Between Brock Purdy’s turnover spree and a defense that suddenly can’t get off the field in big spots, San Francisco is dealing with multiple new issues. I don’t know if the Niners can suddenly rediscover their clutch gene; either way, the Week 9 bye might be hitting at the right time. It’s pretty rare to lose three straight regular-season games and go on to win a Super Bowl, but the Rams did it a couple years ago. Though the 49ers have crashed hard, their early-season dominance backs up a potential rebound scenario. For now, we’re hanging onto them, just not as tightly as before.

NFL Power Rankings, Week 9: Eagles, Ravens and Dolphins top board after shakeup; Chiefs, 49ers fall

Not too long ago, the 49ers were our clear-cut, no-questions-asked No. 1 overall team.

At the same time, the Bengals were searching for an identity.

We can’t quite have the same conversation with Denver and Kansas City, but the Chiefs are facing some tough questions after getting stomped by a team they’d won 16 straight against.

Let’s see what we can make of the league hierarchy as we head into the midpoint of the season.

Rank1

Philadelphia Eagles

7-1

Rank2

Baltimore Ravens

6-2

Rank3

Miami Dolphins

6-2

Rank4

Kansas City Chiefs

6-2

Rank

Jacksonville Jaguars

6-2

Rank

Dallas Cowboys

5-2

Rank

Detroit Lions

6-2

Rank

San Francisco 49ers

5-3

What’s wrong with 49ers following three consecutive losses? | ‘GMFB’

Rank

Buffalo Bills

5-3

After a closer-than-it-shoulda-been win over the Buccaneers, the proving-ground portion of the schedule kicks off, starting with Sunday Night Football in Cincinnati against the scorching-hot Bengals, who thumped the Bills in the playoffs this past January. It feels like a game that will come with a playoff-like atmosphere, as could some other big roadies down the stretch: at Philly in Week 12, at Kansas City in Week 14 and at Miami in Week 18. Josh Allen’s big outing against the Bucs — though it was accompanied by a few scary moments — helped steady Buffalo’s ship a bit, but there is plenty to clean up before this gauntlet. You’d like to see the Bills close the door better in fourth quarters. With the defense as shorthanded as it is, can they do it against even better teams?

Rank

Seattle Seahawks

5-2

The win over Cleveland was Seattle’s fifth in six games, and the defense has played a big role of late. After allowing 88 points over their first three games of the season, the Seahawks have held opponents to 50 points in four games since, and now that unit is adding big Leonard Williams inside. The ‘Hawks sit atop the NFC West and are clearly going for it. Still, they were lucky Browns QB PJ Walker committed several unforced errors in the second half on Sunday — including an interception off Jamal Adams’ helmet — even if Seattle’s pressure had something to do with it. The Browns controlled the ball for just under 37 minutes, racking up 385 yards and softening the run defense. I’ve said that this offense can endure cold streaks, but going seven straight third downs without a conversion is taking it too far. Geno Smith and the passing game must tighten up prior to some upcoming defensive battles on the road.

Rank

Cincinnati Bengals

4-3

Don’t look now, but Joe Burrow and the Bengals are hot, with the offense and defense quickly making huge strides following a 1-3 start. Sunday’s victory over San Francisco marked the first time this season one could say Cincinnati resembled a team capable of winning the Super Bowl. Burrow connected on 19 straight passes at one point against the 49ers, and the Bengals’ defense forced three turnovers, holding the Niners to 10 points over the final 48-plus minutes. Getting Tee Higgins and Joe Mixon back in a little groove helped, and Cincy could have scored more, had Irv Smith Jr. not fumbled near the goal line. The Bengals are back, just in time for a huge matchup at home vs. the Bills on Sunday Night Football.

Rank

Cleveland Browns

4-3

PJ Walker has been a savior, helping keep the Browns’ season afloat amid the weekly questions about Deshaun Watson’s health. Though Walker was humming early on Sunday, his second-quarter INT deep in Seattle territory was a killer, as was his fourth-quarter pick with less than two minutes to go, which set up the game-winning score for the Seahawks. Walker’s limitations have always been clear — but now they’re embossed in neon, with him logging six turnovers and a 49.5 completion percentage over nearly three full games. The Browns erased a 14-0 deficit at a hostile road venue in Seattle, taking the lead with less than three minutes left. But the defensive breakdowns early and late, plus Walker’s inconsistency, kept them from winning a third straight in dramatic fashion.

Rank

1
New York Jets

4-3

The Jets’ social media team had a little fun at my expense Sunday, and there’s absolutely something to be said for this squad’s unwillingness to quit until the clock hits zero. It’s a big reason why the Jets are above .500. But let’s be real: They were more than lucky to win, in OT, against a Giants team with negative passing yards. The chances of that type of lightning striking again come down to slim and none. This isn’t bitterness talking; it’s reality. The Jets committed nine penalties, punted 11 times and were 2-for-15 on third down, with one of those conversion attempts ending when Zach Wilson lost a fumble in the first quarter. That just won’t cut it with a fairly tough remaining schedule.

Rank

New Orleans Saints

4-4

The offense had its most complete game in Sunday’s win over the Colts, looking nothing like the stop-start unit we’ve seen much of the season. The Taysom Hill package was expanded a bit and was as effective as it’s been in 2023. Rashid Shaheed cashed in on three deep balls. The Saints allowed one sack and one turnover, and they happened on the same play. Derek Carr was pretty darned dialed in, and the run game — often going right up the gut — was effective. Who are these guys? It was on the road, and the Colts aren’t terrible defensively most weeks. Even as the offense took two steps forward, though, the Saints’ run defense took (at least) one step backward in that unit’s worst showing. But at 4-4, New Orleans is just as much a contender in the NFC South race as anyone else.

Rank

Pittsburgh Steelers

4-3

Two straight wins had Steelers fans believing again. Then came Sunday’s defeat to the Jaguars, which was painful in multiple ways, with two of Pittsburgh’s most indispensable players, S Minkah Fitzpatrick and QB Kenny Pickett, exiting with injuries. Fitzpatrick is arguably the Steelers’ most important piece, both because of his skill and because of the drop-off behind him on the depth chart. The fact that his hamstring injury happened ahead of a short week makes it even less ideal. The next two games (home vs. the Titans and Packers) are winnable, but Tennessee enters the upcoming Thursday Night Football matchup with confidence after Will Levis’ sparkling debut. While the sailing never figured to be smooth for these Steelers, navigating this stretch — potentially with backups playing significant roles — will be key before they face a tough road duo to close out November (at Cleveland, at Cincinnati).

Rank

Houston Texans

3-4

This was a tough way for the Texans to come out of the bye, losing in the final minutes of a game they led for virtually the entire fourth quarter. The defense has done its job since the start of October, even if it couldn’t get off the field in the final six-plus minutes on Sunday, with four late penalties doing them in. But the bigger issue is that the offense has leveled off following C.J. Stroud’s hot start. The Texans’ lack of a threatening rushing attack meant the Panthers could drop seven and eight, play zone and force Stroud to take checkdowns all game. This is where first-year offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik can try to help his rookie quarterback out a little more with creative scheming, although the Texans clearly still have offensive-personnel limitations.

Rank

Atlanta Falcons

4-4

Desmond Ridder’s exit to be evaluated for a concussion opened the door for Arthur Smith to make a permanent change to Taylor Heinicke, even if Smith said after Sunday’s loss to the Titans that Ridder wasn’t benched for performance. The 23 points Sunday were the most Atlanta has scored since Week 2, though; previously, Ridder’s penchant for turnovers (he had another one Sunday before leaving) have limited the Falcons’ scoring opportunities. Ridder led Atlanta to three first-half points, while Heinicke guided four scoring drives in the second, totaling 20 points and giving Atlanta a chance to win after being down multiple scores. On top of all that, the loss of DT Grady Jarrett to a torn ACL rips a hole in the defense at a spot where the Falcons are most thin. Back to the drawing board.

Rank

Los Angeles Chargers

3-4

Justin Herbert and Brandon Staley suggested after defeating the Bears that this was exactly the kind of win the Chargers needed, and I absolutely agree — from a confidence standpoint. Sometimes you need to open it up on the highway; Herbert and the passing game certainly did that Sunday night, even if the run game still lags behind. But let’s keep the big picture in mind here. The Chargers are still swimming upstream at 3-4 (and 1-3 in the conference), and I am not convinced that taking down Chicago and a Division-II rookie QB making his second NFL start was the get-right event that immediately veers the season back on course. The Bolts face mostly tough defenses from here on out (if you believe the Broncos are fixed) and will need their own defense to tighten several screws.

Rank

Minnesota Vikings

4-4

The Vikings find themselves in a similar place to the Jets: nominally in contention, but facing some hard questions at quarterback. Kirk Cousins’ devastating Achilles injury opens up the possibility that he’s played his final game for the club, and it puts the Vikings into a fascinating short-term quandary, as they currently sit in the No. 7 playoff spot in the NFC. It doesn’t feel like there’s a Brett Favre-like answer just waiting for the phone to ring, even if everyone knows whom Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell once backed up as a Patriots player. More likely, it’s Jaren Hall or Sean Mannion or Nick Mullens, or some combination of them. If this is it for Cousins in Minnesota, it’s a cruel twist of fate. He’d been playing some really good football. Neither he nor Vikings fans deserved this.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

3-4

After a 3-1 start, Tampa has lost three straight, and now — in the thick of a tough portion of the schedule — we’ll see if this team is built to last. The Buccaneers are on the road for five of their next seven games. Their 2-1 record away from home (including Thursday’s competitive loss to the Bills) suggests they can hang with most teams. Can the offense produce more scoring chances? In three games since the early bye, they have three TDs, five field goals, five drives that ended with turnovers (two on downs) and 15 punts. If Baker Mayfield can play a little more consistently and the offensive line can avoid crippling penalties, maybe the Bucs can convert a few more of those possessions into points. They’re going to need to.

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NFL Power Rankings, Week 9: Eagles, Ravens and Dolphins top board after shakeup; Chiefs, 49ers fall

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