NFL Power Rankings: Breaking Down the State of Each Team Going into Week 10

Wins, losses and/or injuries can dramatically change the state of a team from week to week, and the conclusion of Week 9 is no different in this NFL season.

The Kansas City Chiefs won yet another game to stay unbeaten and things couldn't be going any better for head coach Andy Reid's squad.

On the flip side, the Green Bay Packers are in serious turmoil now that quarterback Aaron Rodgers is expected to miss time with a collarbone injury, per Adam Schefter of ESPN:

"

More definitive scans today but initial tests showed small fracture in Aaron Rodgers' collarbone that could sideline him about three weeks.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 5, 2013"

The injury to Rodgers is just one example of how quickly things can go from good to bad in this league. Let's take a look at the rest of the teams in the NFL and find out where they stand after nine weeks.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-0)

The Chiefs remain the only undefeated team in the NFL after topping the Buffalo Bills in Week 9. Kansas City's schedule is about to get a lot tougher in the coming weeks after the bye with two games against Denver coming up and a game versus the San Diego Chargers sandwiched in between.

It's clear this team has an elite defense, but the jury is still out on quarterback Alex Smith and the Chiefs offense being able to score points on a consistent basis after not finding the end zone once versus the Bills.

2. Indianapolis Colts (6-2)

Indianapolis looked dead in the water against the Houston Texans in Week 9 going into halftime down 21-3. But great teams have the ability to come back from such deficits and that's exactly what the Colts did en route to a win.

The Colts have beat many top teams this season and remain among the league's elite following an impressive win in Week 9. Andrew Luck is one of the most clutch QBs in the NFL, and the Colts' defense has stepped up in a big way in 2013-14, exceeding expectations as the seventh-best squad in the points allowed per game category.

3. Denver Broncos (7-1)

Peyton Manning and Co. enjoyed a bye week this week and will now travel to San Diego for a divisional showdown with the Chargers.

The Broncos' offense is scoring more points per contest than any team in the league, but it's defense that has been the issue in Denver, as evidenced by the Broncos being ranked No. 25 in points allowed per game.

4. Seattle Seahawks (8-1)

I know close games are a normal thing in the NFL, but you've got to be kidding me with the Seahawks. Seattle nearly lost to the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers after trailing 21-7 at the half only to come back and take a three-point win. The narrow victory was this team's fifth win by a touchdown or less.

Running back Marshawn Lynch continues to be the backbone of the offense as the Seahawks own the No. 5 rushing attack in football. Russell Wilson did step up big time in Week 9 to help his team come back, so that was encouraging to see. On defense, the Seahawks should be concerned with a run defense that has allowed 405 yards on the ground in its last two games.

5. San Francisco 49ers (6-2)

With a bye in Week 9, the Niners got some much-needed rest in order to prepare for what will be a very tough game against a surging Carolina Panthers squad.

Health is becoming a positive for the Niners as the weeks go on this season. Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com reports that the Niners have activated Mario Manningham from the PUP list and that Michael Crabtree isn't far behind. That should help bolster a Niners passing attack that is dead last in the NFL and is the biggest weakness on a Niners squad that is mostly solid all-around.

6. New England Patriots (7-2)

The Patriots got into a bit of a shootout with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 9 and prevailed by scoring 55 points to secure the win.

New England's offense needed a game like this as it has struggled all season long thanks to injuries to its receiving corps and a lackluster offensive line that is also dealing with injuries. Now that tight end Rob Gronkowski is back and wide receiver Danny Amendola is healthy, New England looks primed to be an elite offense once again.

7. New Orleans Saints (6-2)

I'm not sure if anyone picked the New York Jets to beat the Saints in Week 9, but that's exactly what happened, thus adding to the unpredictable nature of the sport.

Both of the Saints losses have come on the road this season, and it leaves open the question: Just how good can the Saints be away from the dome? Even in their two other road wins, they beat the Chicago Bears by just eight points and the Bucs by two. Not great results in either instance, which will only fuel the fire of doubt against the Saints being road warriors.

8. Cincinnati Bengals (6-3)

A loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 9 on Thursday night further proved that while the Bengals are talented, they can also be unpredictable and inconsistent in the same breath.

Quarterback Andy Dalton remains the key to his team's success in 2013-14. Dalton had three huge games in a row the past three weeks, but fell flat on his face in Miami following a three-pick performance without getting into the end zone. There's no question this team can play defense with the best of them, it just remains to be seen if the offense can carry enough of the load on a regular basis to dominate opponents.

9. Carolina Panthers (5-3)

After a beat down of the Atlanta Falcons last week, the Panthers have now won five of their last six games and are breathing down the neck of the Saints in the NFC South, trailing by just one game.

Carolina's defense has been stellar this season as is owns a top-10 ranking against both the pass and run. Complementing that great defense is a Panthers offense that has scored 30 points or more in each of its wins this season.

10. Detroit Lions (5-3)

Even though they had a bye in Week 9, the Lions were still able to move into first place thanks to a loss by the Packers at the hands of the Chicago Bears.

Detroit's chances of winning the NFC North have just gotten a lot better now that the Packers' QB is out with an injury. If Rodgers misses an extended period of time, the Lions will become a favorite to win the division along with the Bears as both teams attempt to make the most of such a devastating loss for the Packers.

11. Chicago Bears (5-3)

Thankfully for the Bears, Rodgers left Monday night's game early, and that helped Chicago not only win, but take first place in the process, a position they share with Green Bay and Detroit for the moment.

Good news for the Bears is that starting quarterback Jay Cutler looks ready to return in Week 10 just in time for an all-important divisional matchup with the Lions for first place, per Chris Mortensen of ESPN:

"

Bears injured QB Jay Cutler plans to return this week and, barring no setback, start vs Lions on Sunday, per team source.

— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) November 5, 2013"

Despite the fact that backup Josh McCown did solid work in place of Cutler, the Bears couldn't be happier to get their starting QB back. Now all that's left is for the Bears' defense to improve from its place as the fourth-worst team in the points allowed per game category, which will be tough if star linebacker Lance Briggs is out for awhile.

12. New York Jets (5-4)

The Jets shocked the world in Week 9 with a win over the mighty Saints at MetLife Stadium, helping to add more credibility to a team that certainly deserves it with wins over the Saints and Patriots this season.

If the playoffs started today, the Jets would be in. What a drastic turnaround for a team that was picked by this writer to be in the hunt for the No. 1 pick in next year's NFL draft. Rookie quarterback Geno Smith continues to mature and make better decisions week to week, and the Jets' defense can keep the team in any game.

13. Green Bay Packers (5-3)

Even bigger than the loss to the Bears last week was the fact that Rodgers had to leave the game early with a shoulder injury that could sideline him for up to three weeks:

"

More definitive scans today but initial tests showed small fracture in Aaron Rodgers' collarbone that could sideline him about three weeks.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 5, 2013"

Should Rodgers be hurt for longer than three weeks, the Packers season would effectively be over. There isn't a single quarterback on the scrap heap who can replace an elite signal-caller like Rodgers, and while the Packers' defense (No. 14 in points allowed per game) and rushing attack (No. 2) make Green Bay a more complete team, it simply isn't enough to compensate for the loss of Rodgers.

14. Dallas Cowboys (5-4)

The Cowboys' consistency problems are abundantly clear after nearly losing to the horrid Minnesota Vikings in Week 9.

All of the teams Dallas has beaten this season currently own a record below .500, but teams at or above .500 are undefeated against the Cowboys in 2013-14. Dallas' offense continues to be solid (No. 4 in points per game), but it's on defense where the Cowboys are struggling now as they are the second-worst team against the pass and No. 16 against the run.

15. Miami Dolphins (4-4)

Miami's downward spiral finally halted last week after a big win over a tough Bengals team that can be considered a top squad in the NFL this season.

A normally stagnant run game for the Dolphins (No. 22 in NFL) finally showed a big sign of life after totaling 157 yards against a Bengals defense that ranks No. 10 against the run. Despite a fumble from Lamar Miller, the sophomore back had one of his best games as a pro, and it's obvious that pounding the rock is something Miami must continue to do in order to have success on offense.

16. San Diego Chargers (4-4)

The Chargers looked like a team ready to make a playoff run until losing to the Washington Redskins on Sunday.

Granted, San Diego is still very much in the hunt, but they will now need to hop some teams in front of them after losing their spot as the final playoff team. San Diego's inconsistency is proven by the fact that they have won games against tough teams like the Colts and Cowboys, but lost to lesser squads like the Redskins and Raiders, amongst others.

17. Tennessee Titans (4-4)

The Titans enjoyed a win over the Sam Bradford-less St. Louis Rams in Week 9, albeit a narrow one that took a late touchdown in the fourth quarter to accomplish.

Tennessee has finally righted the ship after losing three straight games and now things are looking up for this squad. The Titans have a favorable schedule to finish out the season with two games against Jacksonville and one each versus Oakland, Arizona and Houston.

18. Philadelphia Eagles (4-5)

A seven-touchdown performance against the Raiders pushed quarterback Nick Foles into the history books on Sunday and gave new life to an Eagles team that has dealt with injuries at the position all season.

The Eagles were able to keep pace with the first-place Cowboys with the win and remain just one game back in the division. If Foles can keep playing well enough and feed the various weapons on Philly's offense, the Eagles should have enough to cover the woes of their defense (No. 21 in points allowed per game) moving forward.

19. Cleveland Browns (4-5)

Cleveland scored a divisional victory over their foe, the Baltimore Ravens, and gained a game on the Bengals after they lost to the Dolphins.

The Browns' offense has plenty of potential. That is as long as there is a competent quarterback behind center, which Jason Campbell appears to be after tossing three touchdowns on Sunday. As long as Campbell can keep his team's defense off the field for a respectable amount of time, the Browns can stop almost any offense in the NFL and are extremely dangerous moving forward.

20. Arizona Cardinals (4-4)

The Cardinals had a bye in Week 9 and will now welcome the struggling Texans into town in Week 10.

Arizona's defense has been a key in its victories this season as it has allowed 21 points or fewer in the winning efforts. The Cards have been a bit inconsistent on offense (No. 18 and No. 24 in the pass and run, respectively), but if that changes, this team can make some noise and a playoff run.

21. Washington Redskins (3-5)

In a season marred by utter disappointment, Washington's win over San Diego is of the variety that should give this squad some momentum moving forward.

Despite a slow start, the Redskins remain in the thick of things in the NFC East as they sit just one game back in the loss column behind the Cowboys. Defense is where Washington must improve most, as the defensive unit is allowing the second-most points per game this season.

22. Baltimore Ravens (3-5)

Baltimore fell back into third place after losing a Week 9 matchup to the Browns in a game that saw the Ravens unable to make a late stop to give themselves a chance to win.

The Ravens' strong suit has been defense (No. 10 in points allowed per game) this season while their offense has sputtered of late having failed to score 20 points or more in three straight contests.

23. Oakland Raiders (3-5)

Week 9 was one to forget in Oakland as the Raiders allowed an NFL record-tying seven touchdown passes to Nick Foles and the Eagles in a rout.

While quarterback Terrelle Pryor continues to show how dynamic he can be and is improving on a weekly basis, the Raiders' pass defense (No. 25) has been dreadful, and now running back Darren McFadden may miss time after reaggravating his hamstring injury, per Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com.

24. Buffalo Bills (3-6)

The Bills gave a valiant effort against the undefeated Chiefs but were unable to build on a 10-3 halftime lead, instead succumbing to a superior Kansas City squad in the second half.

No shame in losing to one of the best teams in the NFL, but a lackluster performance by backup quarterback Jeff Tuel leaves questions behind center. Good news is coming for the Bills, however, as rookie quarterback and starter EJ Manuel has been cleared to return, according to the Bills' official Twitter feed:

"

#Bills QB EJ Manuel has been cleared to return.

— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) November 4, 2013"

25. Houston Texans (2-6)

Just when things seemed to be looking up for the Texans with a 21-3 halftime lead over an elite squad in the Colts, Indy comes storming back in the second half, outscoring Houston 24-3 in the final two frames.

Aside from the fact that the Texans collapsed in the second half, it must also be noted that running back Arian Foster had to leave the game early with a back injury (per Texans Twitter account), which adds to the list of walking wounded as backup Ben Tate is dealing with broken ribs.

"

RB Arian Foster is out with a back injury. #TexansGameday

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) November 4, 2013"

On the bright side, rookie quarterback Case Keenum did have a great game against the Colts with 350 yards and three touchdowns while connecting with star receiver Andre Johnson for an overall stellar night for both.

26. St. Louis Rams (3-6)

Even though backup Kellen Clemens was solid and running back Zac Stacy compiled 178 total yards of offense, the Rams still found a way to lose against the Titans in Week 9.

As has been the case all season, the Rams' run defense (No. 28) failed them once again after allowing 198 yards on the ground—150 of which came from Chris Johnson alone. While it appears St. Louis finally has a rushing attack, it comes too late as the team's franchise quarterback won't return this season.

27. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-6)

The Steelers actually looked good on offense in a loss to the Patriots, but unfortunately for this troubled squad, their defense allowed 55 points to Tom Brady and Co.

With the loss, the Steelers fall further out of contention in the division and playoff race as a whole. At this point, the Steelers clearly don't have enough talent to overcome their weakness (rushing attack, run defense, offensive line), and it's now a race to get a top pick as they continue to look to the future.

28. New York Giants (2-6)

The G-Men were off last week, and while they sat at home, the G-Men lost ground to each team in their division as Washington, Philadelphia and Dallas all won.

The return of Andre Brown (per Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News) will be a huge lift for a Giants team that ranks No. 30 in the ground game this season. Finally, quarterback Eli Manning may have something to take the pressure off him, and maybe the Giants defense can continue to improve as the team is able to sustain long drives on a consistent basis.

29. Atlanta Falcons (2-6)

The Falcons are done. If they weren't able to get up for a divisional game against the Panthers in Week 9, I have no clue what will help get this team's act together.

You can't even blame injuries for the Falcons' woes this season as its quite clear their defense is the biggest problem. Atlanta has allowed 23 points or more in each game this season, and quarterback Matt Ryan hasn't had a shred of help on offense as the Falcons own the worst rushing attack in football.

30. Minnesota Vikings (1-7)

The Vikings were oh-so-close to beating the Cowboys in what would have been an epic upset. Minnesota is a team that just doesn't know how to win games right now.

Things are a mess in Minnesota after another failed effort in the quest to make Christian Ponder a viable starting quarterback in the NFL. What was a staple of this team in recent years, its defense, is now an afterthought as the Vikes are allowing the third-most points per game this season.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-8)

The Bucs were another squad in the midst of a dreadful season to almost come out with a win over a good team, but were unable to get it done despite owning a 21-7 halftime lead.

At 0-8, the Bucs must have tunnel vision to the future, which may include rookie quarterback Mike Glennon, who has shown some positive things so far in his young career. Sadly for head coach Greg Schiano, the first step to becoming relevant again includes letting him go after this season.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-8) 

Good news for the Jags: NFL teams can't lose during bye weeks.

The bad news is that the Jags are still the worst team in the NFL, which is something that hasn't changed throughout the 2013-14 campaign. "Tanking for Teddy (Bridgewater)" should be the slogan now.