Week 9 of the NFL season was perhaps the most chaotic yet. Multiple top teams lost, championship contenders strengthened their grip, and there were wild finishes all across the league. Here is how things stack up heading into Week 10.
32. Tennessee Titans (1-8)
Weekly Change: Neutral
Tennessee unsurprisingly lost again this week in a game that was more competitive than most expected. Barring something dramatic, the Titans are locked into the bottom spot for the rest of the season.
31. New York Jets (1-7)
Weekly Change: Neutral
The Jets were mercifully on bye this week. Maybe that comeback against Cincinnati two weeks ago gave them something to build on before facing Cleveland, but it is hard to see things changing much.
30. New Orleans Saints (1-8)
Weekly Change: Down 1
Tyler Shough’s debut was disappointing in a blowout loss to the Rams. The draft cannot come soon enough for New Orleans, who will likely have a top pick.
29. New York Giants (2-7)
Weekly Change: Down 1
The Giants are running out of steam and injuries keep piling up. The one bright spot is Jaxson Dart, who continues to play well. He will be key for a Giants team that likely will have a new head coach next season.
28. Las Vegas Raiders (2-6)
Weekly Change: Up 2
The Raiders were surprisingly competitive off the bye, losing 30-29 to Jacksonville. Maybe this is a sign of progress, but Las Vegas badly needs wins to back it up.
27. Miami Dolphins (2-7)
Weekly Change: Neutral
Miami was trounced 28-6 by the Ravens. After another poor performance from Tua Tagovailoa, it is hard to see him as the starter next season.
26. Washington Commanders (3-6)
Weekly Change: Down 7
Sunday night’s loss to Seattle was brutal for Washington. They were blown out 38-14, and star quarterback Jayden Daniels is likely done for the year. Few saw this collapse coming after last season’s playoff run.
25. Cleveland Browns (2-6)
Weekly Change: Neutral
Cleveland was on bye this week and must take care of business against the Jets on Sunday to have any chance for a respectable end to the season.
24. Cincinnati Bengals (3-6)
Weekly Change: Neutral
Cincinnati’s defense is a mess. Losing two games in a row when your offense scores 38+ points is unacceptable. Changes are coming fast and don’t expect to see Zac Taylor on the sidelines for much longer.
23. Atlanta Falcons (3-5)
Weekly Change: Neutral
Atlanta dropped another close one to New England and continues to float in mediocrity. Until something changes, their record and ranking will match their identity.
22. Dallas Cowboys (3-5-1)
Weekly Change: Down 5
Dallas fell again due to their leaky defense and this time their offense couldn’t even help them. If this team is not scoring 30 or more points, it is not winning. Period.
21. Arizona Cardinals (3-5)
Weekly Change: Up 2
Arizona snapped a five-game losing streak with a dominant win over Dallas. It was good to see some fight from this group.
20. Carolina Panthers (5-4)
Weekly Change: Up 4
Carolina shocked Green Bay this week and is suddenly back in the NFC playoff hunt. This team continues to impress with effort and resilience.
19. Chicago Bears (5-3)
Weekly Change: Up 2
The Bears are 5-3, but the wins have not been convincing. Yes they beat the horrible Bengals, but don’t forget they were also just handled easily by Baltimore a week ago. They must show more consistency to climb higher.
18. Minnesota Vikings (4-4)
Weekly Change: Up 4
Minnesota earned a big win over Detroit behind a strong performance from J.J. McCarthy and a defense that stepped up when needed.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3)
Weekly Change: Up 1
The Jaguars survived a scare in Las Vegas, nearly letting it slip away in overtime. Every team has one of those grind-it-out games over the course of a long season, and the key is finding a way to win. Jacksonville sits at 5-3, firmly in playoff position, and looks capable of climbing even higher in the weeks ahead.
16. San Francisco 49ers (6-3)
Weekly Change: Down 1
The 49ers continue to win despite a long injury list. A crucial divisional test against the Rams awaits this week.
15. Houston Texans (3-5)
Weekly Change: Down 1
Another close loss for Houston, this time against a top opponent. The Texans are better than their record and still capable of a strong finish.
14. Los Angeles Chargers (6-3)
Weekly Change: Down 2
The Chargers took care of Tennessee but lost star tackle Joe Alt for the season. That injury could prove costly for the offense.
13. Baltimore Ravens (3-5)
Weekly Change: Up 3
A 3-5 team in the top 13 might look strange, but with Lamar Jackson back and healthy, Baltimore is dangerous. Expect the Ravens to make a run and get back into the playoff picture soon.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3)
Weekly Change: Up 1
Pittsburgh’s defense looked dominant in a statement win over the Colts. If the offense stays steady, the Steelers will stay in the thick of the AFC playoff hunt.
11. New England Patriots (7-2)
Weekly Change: Neutral
New England squeezed out another win, this time over Atlanta. A win on Sunday against Tampa Bay would push them into the top ten.
10. Denver Broncos (7-2)
Weekly Change: Down 1
Denver picked up another ugly but effective win, holding off Houston. They are certainly not flashy, but the Broncos keep finding ways to win and close in on the AFC West crown.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2)
Weekly Change: Down 2
Tampa Bay had the week off. Getting healthy before facing New England will be critical.
8. Seattle Seahawks (6-2)
Weekly Change: Up 2
Seattle continues to climb into elite territory. Sam Darnold was brilliant again, throwing for 330 yards and four touchdowns in a rout of Washington.
7. Green Bay Packers (5-2-1)
Weekly Change: Down 1
Green Bay’s loss to Carolina was surprising but likely a one-off. Still, the injury to tight end Tucker Kraft hurts this offense.
6. Indianapolis Colts (7-2)
Weekly Change: Down 2
Daniel Jones struggled badly this week, but the Colts will bounce back. Few teams can handle Pittsburgh’s front seven and this is still one of the best teams in the league.
5. Detroit Lions (5-3)
Weekly Change: Down 3
Detroit dropped a close one to Minnesota, hurt by constant pressure and poor pass protection. Still a top-tier team, but cracks definitely showed and those will need to be firmed up for a deep playoff run.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (5-4)
Weekly Change: Down 3
The Chiefs lost again, but there is no reason to panic. They remain one of the most complete and dangerous teams in the league, and with Mahomes leading the way, you can never count them out.
3. Buffalo Bills (6-2)
Weekly Change: Up 5
Buffalo was outstanding in a statement win over Kansas City. Josh Allen and the offense looked sharp from start to finish, and the victory was an important one for playoff positioning.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (6-2)
Weekly Change: Up 3
The Eagles moved up despite being on bye. A huge matchup with Green Bay this week will say a lot about where this team stands.
1. Los Angeles Rams (6-2)
Weekly Change: Up 2
The Rams move up to the top spot in these rankings for the first time this year. Matthew Stafford and the offense are humming and the defense continues to stifle opposing defenses.
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