NFL Power Rankings Week 9: Breaking Down Each Team Headed into Second Half

After a thrilling Thursday night tilt between the Miami Dolphins and the Cincinnati Bengals, Week 9 is officially underway. As we enter the second half of the season, we have a pretty good snapshot of how each team looks.

In this Week 9 edition of the NFL power rankings, we'll break down where each team stands headed into the second half of the season. 

1. Kansas City Chiefs (8-0)

The Chiefs are a wonderful story, but the better news is that they are for real. Dominant defense, good enough on offense. Are they a Super Bowl team? The road to get there won't be easy, but there is a significant chance that they travel to New York in February. 

2. Denver Broncos (7-1)

The Broncos are lucky the Washington Redskins aren't that good because they were not at their best. Peyton Manning threw three picks in an uncharacteristic performance. I've said it once, and I'll say it 1,000 times: Unless the defense improves, the Broncos will not be able to survive a mediocre game by Manning. If it happens in the playoffs, they're in big trouble.

3. Indianapolis Colts (5-2)

They have two bad losses, but they also have some fantastic wins against the Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. If they play to their competition, it seems like they'll be just fine in the postseason.

4. Seattle Seahawks (7-1)

A ferocious defense, a devastating running game and a clutch quarterback with moxie. Seems to me like they are the team to beat in the NFC.

5. San Francisco 49ers (6-2)

They're finally starting to round into form, and the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars just wasn't fair. Frank Gore might be the best pure runner in the league right now, and it looks like Colin Kaepernick is shaking off whatever was plaguing him early in the season.

6. New Orleans Saints (6-1)

The defense is starting to come down to earth. After giving up an average of just under 13 points in the first three games, the Saints have given up an average of 20.5 points in the last four weeks. Big problems ahead if the downward trend continues.

7. New England Patriots (6-2)

For my money, Tom Brady should be the MVP. To do what he's doing with the type of receivers on the field? Simply remarkable. The more Danny Amendola and Rob Gronkowski become integrated into the offense, the better. The Patriots cannot be counted out.

8. Green Bay Packers (5-2)

Do you get the sense that the Packers should be better than they are? I do. Aaron Rodgers is fantastic, like he always is. But they're dealing with a lot of injuries, especially at wide receiver, and the defense is mediocre at best. They should be running away with the NFC North, but they're letting the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears hang around too long.

9. Cincinnati Bengals (6-3)

Tough loss against Miami Thursday night, but Bengals fans shouldn't be too worried. Their defense is still fantastic, ranking ninth in pass defense and 12th in rush defense. That will take them a long way. Their wins against New England, Green Bay and Detroit are impressive.

10. Detroit Lions (5-3)

Matthew Stafford grew up last week, leading a remarkable last-minute drive against Dallas. Their only "bad" loss is against Arizona. I think it's safe to say that, as long as the defense continues to hold up, this team is for real.

11. Carolina Panthers (4-3)

I've been high on the Panthers all season, and now they're starting to enter the national consciousness. Their defense is ranked 11th against the pass and second against the run. Cam Newton has been pretty good, and the run game is always dangerous. I think they could sneak into the postseason.

12. San Diego Chargers (4-3)

It's a bit unfair to the Chargers that they are in a division with the Chiefs and Broncos. But Philip Rivers is playing the best football of his career and should be in the MVP conversation, even if he won't win. Playoffs? Certainly possible.

13. Chicago Bears (4-3)

The injury to Jay Cutler is a huge blow, without a doubt. They had a chance to overtake the Packers in the NFC North. Now, Josh McCown has to just hold down the fort. He was 14-of-20 for 204 yards and a touchdown in relief of Cutler.

14. Dallas Cowboys (4-4)

Tough loss against Detroit, and the Dez Bryant saga shows that the locker room may be divided. They should win the NFC East, but I can't see them making it past the first round. They are quite lucky the NFC East is so bad.

15. Baltimore Ravens (3-4)

Injuries have not helped this team, to be sure. But 3-4? After winning the Super Bowl? Maybe the loss of Ray Lewis has hurt more than we thought. Sure, he might've lost a few steps, but he was the soul of the Ravens. They look lost without him.

16. Miami Dolphins (4-4)

That's a great win against the Bengals. They showed a lot of moxie. But Ryan Tannehill has thrown nine picks, and the run game is only average. It will still be an uphill climb to make the postseason.

17. Tennessee Titans (3-4)

The injury to Jake Locker really set them back. Now that he's healthy, they'll have the chance to go on a run. Locker, though, has shown enough to get Tennessee fans excited, if not for this season, then certainly next year.

18. New York Jets (4-4)

If Geno Smith was consistent and did not turn the ball over, the Jets would be one of the best teams in the league. But he does turn the ball over, far too much. He has 13 picks. That's unacceptable. He can still be a good quarterback, but he is really hurting his team.

19. Arizona Cardinals (4-4)

Good win against Atlanta, and Andre Ellington looks like a keeper at running back. They have to start thinking about the offensive line (as always) and quarterback. Carson Palmer seems overmatched.

20. Buffalo Bills (3-5)

Thad Lewis has filled in admirably, even if he is not a long-term solution. The Bills have beaten the Panthers and Dolphins, and they took the Bengals to overtime. Things are looking up in Buffalo.

21. Oakland Raiders (3-4)

Terrelle Pryor needs to be the quarterback going forward. He needs to be developed as a passer, to be sure, but the skill set is there to be a star. He's done so many impressive things while being so raw. If he can become refined, watch out.

22. Washington Redskins (2-5)

RG3 is back, but the rest of the team has yet to meet him. Was last year a fluke? Or have injuries and the slow start by RG3 held them back? The more I see the defense, the more I start to think that last year was a fluke.

23. St. Louis Rams (3-5)

Gritty performance by Kellen Clemens against the Seahawks on Monday night. Clemens is not a starting quarterback, but seeing how the team rallied around him begs the question: Are the Rams better off without Sam Bradford?

24. Cleveland Browns (3-5)

Jason Campbell has been pretty good so far this season. Is he the long-term solution in Cleveland? I doubt it. But if he continues this, the Browns may be forced to stay with him. Given how good the quarterbacks in the 2014 draft are, that may be a bad thing.

25. Atlanta Falcons (2-5)

The season is pretty much over. This is a fluke, in my opinion. They've just suffered way too many injuries to too many key players. No team can overcome this many injuries. They'll be back next season.

26. Philadelphia Eagles (3-5)

It's becoming clearer every day: The Eagles need a quarterback. Could Chip Kelly bring in his old friend Marcus Mariota? He would certainly be an upgrade.

27. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-5)

A lost season for the Steelers. They need to invest in the offensive line. Ben Roethlisberger is running around like a mad man. Big Ben often excels on the move, but he also needs some time to create. He hasn't had that all year.

28. New York Giants (2-6)

Two straight wins! But they were ugly wins against the Eagles and Minnesota Vikings. This is still a really bad team that needs a lot of help in nearly every area. 

29. Houston Texans (2-5)

I don't think Case Keenum is the answer. In my opinion, it's time to blow it up and start over. They could re-invigorate the franchise with someone like Johnny Manziel.

30. Minnesota Vikings (1-6)

Josh Freeman obviously needs an offseason to digest the offense and create chemistry with the receivers. I have the feeling it's going to be a rough end to the season. They'll get a high pick and start to reload. This was a playoff team only a year ago.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7)

The Greg Schiano watch has to be officially on. I give him three more weeks before he's shown the door.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-8)

If the Jaguars do end up with the No. 1 overall pick, the easy choice will be quarterback, probably Teddy Bridgewater. But there are just so many needs, you wonder if they are better off trading down and stockpiling picks.