Riding Cloud Nine: NFL Top 10 Power Rankings

Week Nine was probably the wildest weekend we have seen this season.

With the playoff chase starting to heat up during this odd Indian summer in early November, everyone is starting to jockey for position when Jack Frost comes nipping at everyone's nose come December.

Week Nine featured a thrilling finish in the Meadowlands between the Giants and Chargers, an unpredictable new leader in the NFC East in the Philly vs. Dallas game, as well as a near upset of the unbeaten Indianapolis Colts.

In the meantime, let's re-lock and load for another group of power rankings in the NFL.

10: Arizona Cardinals (5-3)

Well, the Cardinals don't know how to win games in their own stadium, but they sure know how to win in some chilly places on the road. The Cards are 4-0 on the road this year after blowing away the Bears in the Windy City.

Kurt Warner threw five touchdown passes, while Larry Fitzgerald hauled in nine balls for 123 yards and two scores. In short, the Cardinals kicked the Bears' butts.

On a lighter note, Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt channeled Dennis Green by telling reporters that the Cardinals "didn't let (the Bears) off the hook" this time around, harkening back to Green's explosive outburst in 2006 when he watched the Bears come all the way back to beat the Cardinals in the fourth quarter.

Very funny Ken; that is why you are coaching in the NFL and why Green is coaching in the purgatory known as the UFL.

9: San Diego Chargers (5-3)

How 'bout dem Bolts!

The San Diego Chargers can win on the East Coast! If anyone thought that the Chargers would find a way in the final minutes to beat the Giants, then you need to start picking lottery numbers and fast!

Philip Rivers showed the world why he is one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks. His last minute heroics at Giants Stadium were reminiscent of the Dan Marino fake spike against the Jets many years ago.

The Chargers are for real, and they are alive. They are only a game behind the Broncos for first in the AFC West. Can you hear footsteps, Denver?

8: Dallas Cowboys (6-2)

Well, well, well. The Dallas Cowboys can play solid football with Tony Romo as their quarterback. I guess this means that Hell can freeze over too.

The Cowboys put forth a physical and well-coached effort against the Eagles on Sunday night, derailing the NFC East favorites 20-16.

Romo looked excellent yet again, throwing for 307 yards and a touchdown to Miles Austin in the victory.

Roy Williams, who moaned and groaned the past week about not getting the ball enough, had five catches for 75 yards, so now he can shut up about not being the next T.O....for now.

All is good in Dallas, and with the next three weeks looking pretty easy, the Cowboys could be 9-2 in the blink of an eye.

7: New England Patriots (6-2)

It wasn't pretty, but the Patriots got the job done against the Dolphins.

The wildcat was somewhat effective on a couple of drives against the Patriots defense. The Pats D is not as good as it used to be, giving up 334 yards of offense to the Dolphins, but they held on.

Tom Brady was solid, throwing for 332 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Is he all the way back? We are still waiting for that breakout game from him.

Randy Moss had a breakout afternoon with six catches for 147 yards and a touchdown.

Big test in Indianapolis next weekend for New England. If the Patriots are all the way back to being a championship football team, then beating up the Colts will be a nice first step.

6: Denver Broncos (6-2)

I guess everyone will begin to jump off this bandwagon!

The Broncos amazed us all with their 6-0 start, which was highlighted by three straight victories over the Cowboys, Patriots, and Chargers, but now the Broncos have come crashing back to earth.

Maybe they should go back to those awful UPS uniforms. Just a hunch.

Kyle Orton got smacked around by both the Ravens and Steelers, and the so-called great Broncos D got spanked by Rashard Mendenhall, who ran for 155 yards on 22 carries!

The Broncos need a win, especially two weeks from now, when the Chargers come into Denver.

5: Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)

Be scared New Orleans, Indianapolis, Minnesota, and Cincinnati: Here come the World Champions!

The Pittsburgh Steelers took it to one of the league's first-half darlings last night, when they beat up the Broncos 28-10, and look poised to make another second half run to the Lombardi Trophy.

Ben Roethlisberger picked it up after fumbling away a Denver touchdown and throwing a pick inside the Denver 10-yard line by throwing three touchdowns in the second half, two to Hines Ward.

Rashard Mendenhall continues to establish himself as one of the NFL's most promising young backs, rushing for 155 yards on 22 carries. He looks like a solid replacement for Willie Parker, who has disappeared on the Pittsburgh bench.

The Steelers are going places yet again, and a win at home against Cincinnati will flip the AFC North on its head.

4: Cincinnati Bengals (6-2)

Who Dey? I can't believe the Bengals are in the top five! Hell has frozen over!

Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson could have bribed the official with a $100 bill, but it wouldn't have mattered because the Bengals defense lambasted the Ravens' high-powered offense. That's right, the Bengals defense!

The Bengals held the Ravens to 215 yards of offense and seven points. In the Bengals' first eight games, they have given up 20-plus points just three times, and 28 points is the most points they have allowed in a game!

Incredible for a unit once labeled as one of the softest in the league.

Are the Bengals for real? Ummm...ye...ummm...I don't...ummm...let's just say this: I will say yes if they beat the Steelers for the second time this season.

3: Minnesota Vikings (7-1)

Brett Favre has just arrived back in Minnesota after spending eight days on cloud nine from the incredible high of sticking it to Packers Nation on Nov. 1.

Brett the Jerk and the Vikings are 7-1 and look poised for a deep postseason run.

Now is the time we will learn whether Favre can handle another second half. Last year he threw nine interceptions in the final five games, although he did have a torn biceps tendon at the time.

If the Vikings keep running the football well with Adrian Peterson and the superior defense keeps playing at a high level, Favre can throw as many interceptions as he wants, and it won't matter—the Vikings will win the NFC North.

2: Indianapolis Colts (8-0)

Now that was scary!

The Colts should have lost to the Texans on Sunday, if it were not for a missed field goal by Kris Brown. No wonder the Steelers couldn't wait to get Brown out of town a few years back.

If one thing was revealed about Indianapolis, it is this: They need help at wide receiver. Sure, Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne are great weapons to throw to, but Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon are not going to replace Marvin Harrison and Anthony Gonzalez.

Peyton Manning still puts up big yards, but he needs another target. The Patriots could really expose the Colts offense on Sunday if Indy isn't careful.

1: New Orleans Saints (8-0)

Okay, the Saints are back to being No. 1 in my book. The Saints have scored 303 points through the first eight games and are on pace to break the NFL single season scoring record set by the 1998 Vikings and 2007 Patriots.

A team scoring over 600 points in a season is unheard of, and it looks destined to happen.

Drew Brees threw for 330 yards in the 30-20 win over the Panthers, while Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson each had over 90 yards receiving a piece.

The Saints defense is still a concern. DeAngelo Williams gashed them for 149 yards and two touchdowns. The good news is that most of Williams' numbers came in the first quarter. The Saints held the Panthers to just two field goals the rest of the way.

The defense will be the big question for New Orleans heading into the postseason.