NFL Power Rankings: Initial Post Sunday Breakdown Ahead of Week 9

Near the halfway point of the season, the NFL continues to slowly sort itself out. The New York Jets continue to bumble, while Peyton Manning has the Denver Broncos on a mission.

The ride thus far has been littered with twists and turns not befit for an amusement park. The Seattle Seahawks continue to look ragged. The New England Patriots have been the most erratic and downright dominant team in the span of a month.

Week 8 was no different as things continue to normalize a bit, though. The landscape surely has more twists in store, but for now, a clear view of the NFL hierarchy is a reality.

For now.

32. New York Jets (1-7)

Week 9 Matchup: at Kansas City

The New York Jets have now lost seven games in a row and have a quarterback controversy as the cherry on top.

The circus act continues.

Geno Smith tossed three interceptions in Week 9 and was benched for Michael Vick, who hardly looked much better. In the grand scheme of things, this is a season to forget. Again.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-6)

Week 9 Matchup: at Cleveland

In one of the ugliest games in recent memory, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still found a way to lose against the Minnesota Vikings. 

The team rushed for just 2.9 yards per carry, mostly because Doug Martin found just 27 yards on 10 carries.

That has been the biggest issue for the Buccaneers this year, as a run-first approach does not exactly work if it is ineffective. The league's worst pass defense is not helping matters.

30. Oakland Raiders (0-7)

Week 9 Matchup: at Seattle

Unlike some of the above teams, it at least seems like the Oakland Raiders put up a serious fight most weeks, but are actually just talent deficient.

The Raiders have yet to win, but a new coaching staff has done the team well for the most part, although 54 passes for rookie quarterback Derek Carr last week was a tad strange.

Regardless, things will get worse for the Raiders before they get better—the team next plays the Seattle Seahawks. Then the Denver Broncos. Then the San Diego Chargers.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-7)

Week 9 Matchup: at Cincinnati

Gary McCullough/Associated Press

One week removed from notching their first win of the season, the Jacksonville Jaguars reverted to their old form with a 27-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

In that loss, rookie quarterback Blake Bortles threw another two interceptions, giving him 12 on the season in six games. This is a throwaway year for the Jaguars as the front office continues to rebuild the roster, and a date with one of the NFL's top pass defenses went about as expected.

28. Tennessee Titans (2-6)

Week 9 Matchup: Bye

Outside of a two-point win over Jacksonville, the last seven weeks have been an absolute nightmare for the Tennessee Titans. 

There is some reason to hope, though, as rookie Zach Mettenberger got the first start of his career in a Week 8 loss to Houston. As Jim Wyatt of the The Tennessean points out, things did not go all that horribly:

Still, it is quite clear this is a rebuilding year at this point.

27. St. Louis Rams (2-5)

Week 9 Matchup: at San Francisco 

The St. Louis Rams are like a college team.

Not in the way most are thinking, either. A team quarterbacked by Austin Davis, as great as he has been, is certainly prone to letdowns after a major upset. That would be what happened in Week 8 with a blowout loss to Kansas City one week removed from an upset of Seattle.

These Rams are scrappy and will continue to fight, but the ebbs and flows of a mediocre, hobbled roster will be impossible to escape.

26. Minnesota Vikings (3-5)

Week 9 Matchup: vs. Washington

Teddy Bridgewater and the Vikings stopped a three-game skid by default in Week 8 thanks to a matchup with Tampa Bay.

In the ugly overtime affair, Bridgewater threw for 241 yards and a score. As Bleacher Report's Ian Kenyon notes, he is flanked by a pair of other high-upside rookies:

In other words, this is very much a rebuilding year for the Vikings. Should things stay on this course, the future is quite bright.

25. Washington (2-5)

Week 9 Matchup: at Minnesota

Washington's resume says all that really needs said at this point—wins over Jacksonville and Tennessee. 

Jay Gruden's team is a mess that is headed to Monday Night Football in Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys, with no true answers yet under center.

Surprisingly, the defense ranks in the top 12 against the rush and pass, but when the staff resorts to Colt McCoy under center, it speaks volumes as to where the team is headed.

24. Atlanta Falcons (2-6)

Week 9 Matchup: Bye

As things stand with the reeling Atlanta Falcons, an image captured by ESPN's Adam Schefter says it all:

"

A summary of the Falcons trip to London.... http://t.co/V9TFIuOJeT pic.twitter.com/MgP4CMxAxS

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 26, 2014"

Matt Ryan and the Falcons built a 21-point advantage in London by halftime, only to lose to the Detroit Lions on a last-second field goal, 22-21.

So it goes for the Falcons, a team that has beat up on New Orleans and Tampa Bay for its wins this season and ranks in the bottom five defensively against the pass and rush.

23. Houston Texans (4-4)

Week 9 Matchup: vs. Philadelphia 

Houston continues to tread water at .500, but a Week 8 win over Tennessee at least showed that the team is still fighting for relevancy thanks to the league's eighth-ranked rushing attack.

Strangely enough, the defense continues to be the issue, as the unit ranks in the bottom 20 against the rush and pass, with the aforementioned rookie Mettenberger even doing quite well against the unit.

In Week 9, J.J. Watt and Co. must find a way to slow Philadelphia.

22. Miami Dolphins (4-3)

Week 9 Matchup: vs. San Diego 

That aforementioned elite Miami pass defense can take these Dolphins places. 

Keep in mind that Brent Grimes and the defense shut down a potent Chicago offense and earlier this season kept the team in a game with Green Bay before a three-point loss.

As ESPN's James Walker notes, though, Grimes and Co. are in for a brutal test: 

How things shake out will say much about the Dolphins' fortunes in the AFC East and beyond.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3)

Week 9 Matchup: vs. Baltimore

Don Wright/Associated Press

The Pittsburgh Steelers have hit rock bottom a few times already this season. Week 4 was a last-second loss to Tampa Bay. Week 6 was a blowout at the hands of Cleveland. 

But now things seem to be back on track for Ben Roethlisberger and Co. thanks to a 51-34 triumph over Indianapolis in Week 8.

Now, the Steelers can certainly not expect 522 yards and six touchdowns from Big Ben each night, but the ability for him and the team to rise to the occasion against a contender suggests they have turned a corner at the halfway point of the season.

20. Cleveland Browns (4-3)

Week 9 Matchup: vs. Tampa Bay

All that stopped Cleveland from notching four straight wins was an awkward blowout loss to Jacksonville in Week 7. 

Like any good team, though, the Browns rebounded in Week 8 with a win over the Raiders. There, Brian Hoyer threw for 275 yards and a touchdown, an encouraging sign that he continues to be the right man for the job thanks to how he takes care of the football.

Believe it or not, the Browns are a serious threat in the AFC North, although the league's worst rush defense will need to seriously turn it around in a run-first division to prove it can belong with the big boys.

19. Kansas City Chiefs (4-3)

Week 9 Matchup: vs. NY Jets

Suddenly, the Kansas City Chiefs do not look like such a laughingstock. 

A note from ESPN Stats & Info points this out well:

Keep in mind that this Chiefs team ranks among the top three in terms of rushing and has wins over New England and San Diego. The team is a tad one-dimensional with the passing attack being downright woeful, but the ground game seems efficient enough to make up for it.

18. New Orleans Saints (3-4)

Week 9 Matchup: at Carolina 

The New Orleans Saints have been one of the most erratic teams to date after being a popular preseason Super Bowl favorite. 

Things have not gone as planned, but the Saints have two things going for them—they play in a horrible division and have plenty of home games left.

Speaking of home games, the Saints just took down the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football, meaning that if the Saints can slip into the postseason and play at home, the erratic journey could very much be an afterthought.

17. Buffalo Bills (5-3)

Week 9 Matchup: Bye

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

It is so difficult to discredit a team that has won two straight games at the pro level, but it is worth an attempt when it comes to the Buffalo Bills. 

Week 7 was a win over Minnesota by just one point. Week 8 was a blowout of the very last team on this list.

Buffalo does a lot right, highlighted by the No. 4 overall rush defense, but eventually the Kyle Orton-EJ Manuel dilemma under center will hurt the team against serious opposition.

Right?

16. New York Giants (3-4)

Week 9 Matchup: vs. Indianapolis

There was a brief moment in time when Eli Manning and the New York Giants looked like a serious threat thanks to a three-game win streak and a potent offense that finally clicked.

Now the Giants spent Week 8 on a bye after two ugly losses. The team has plenty to figure out, chief among them a defense that ranks 21st or worse against the pass and rush.

Nobody should doubt a rush led by Jason Pierre-Paul, but the rest of the unit is a mess after allowing 27 and 31 points, respectively, in its last two games.

15. Chicago Bears (3-5)

Week 9 Matchup: Bye

The Chicago Bears continue to fold against strong opposition.

Losses to Green Bay and Carolina hurt, but this recent two-game losing streak against Miami and now New England—via a 51-23 outcome—has the outlook on the season looking quite bleak.

Simply put, the offense is not moving much and the defense cannot stop anything at this juncture. Until something changes, the Bears might just be the biggest pretender of all.

14. Baltimore Ravens (5-3)

Week 9 Matchup: at Pittsburgh 

In arguably the biggest game of their season to date, the Baltimore Ravens fell flat when it mattered most against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Ravens amassed all of 294 total yards and Joe Flacco threw a pair of interceptions to lose for the second time to their AFC North rivals, meaning all tiebreakers are now out the window.

That is three losses to contenders now, the other coming against the Indianapolis Colts. That is not meant to be a slight, but the Ravens will need to step up against the best of the best to dig their way out of this hole.

13. San Francisco 49ers (4-3)

Week 9 Matchup: vs. St. Louis

The bye week could not have come at a better time for the San Francisco 49ers after getting destroyed at the hands of the Denver Broncos in Week 7. 

Really, though, the 49ers have been one of the most unpredictable teams in the league this season with wins against contenders such as Philadelphia and Dallas, but losses to pretenders such as Chicago. As the team illustrates on Twitter, it simply cannot stop suffering injuries, either:

Until the staff decides whether it wants to be a passing or running team, things will continue on their current course.

12. Carolina Panthers (3-4-1)

Week 9 Matchup: vs. New Orleans

It has been all downhill for Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers since a Week 6 tie with Cincinnati. 

The Panthers have now lost two in a row thanks to matchups with Green Bay and Seattle. While the schedule is brutal, Carolina has not exactly proved up to task as expected of a contender.

Shockingly, the biggest culprit to the team's struggles is Luke Kuechly's defense, which ranks in the bottom 10 against the rush this season. As fans have seen the past three weeks, Newton simply cannot do it all on his own.

11. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2-1)

Week 9 Matchup: vs. Jacksonville 

It sure did not seem like it thanks to a late-game collapse, but the Bengals pulled out a major win over the aforementioned Ravens to get back on course as the favorites in the AFC North.

The Bengals hit a rough patch this year with two losses and a tie, but the ability to show up in a big game without star receiver A.J. Green is a great sign for the team moving forward.

Injuries are what makes it so difficult to evaluate the current Bengals, as the team can get healthier as the season wears on, but right now the offense ranks no better than 16th in terms of the pass or rush. For now, Cincinnati hangs in a bit of a limbo.

10. New England Patriots (6-2)

Week 9 Matchup: vs. Denver

The Patriots are very much alive thanks to Tom Brady, who in Week 8 went 30-of-35 for 354 yards and five touchdowns to blow out the hapless Bears.

As SportsCenter notes, the man is having quite the month:

Things get no easier, though, as Denver comes to town in Week 9 for one of the top showdowns of the season.

9. Green Bay Packers (5-3)

Week 9 Matchup: Bye

One of the NFL's worst run defenses was on full display Sunday night in Week 8 when Green Bay allowed the Saints—a pass-first team—to roll for nearly 200 yards on the ground and better than six yards per carry. 

Green Bay has run up one of the league's better records because Aaron Rodgers is, well, Aaron Rodgers, but it is a major red flag if even he cannot overcome a deficit created by a serious defensive lapse.

The silver lining? Rodgers and Co. have a week off to right the wrongs and get back on track.

8. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2)

Week 9 Matchup: at Houston

A top-10 passing attack, the brainchild of coach Chip Kelly, was stunted in the desert in Week 8 as the Arizona Cardinals toppled the Philadelphia Eagles.

Philadelphia has lost just twice this season, but this one is a tad more concerning than most would figure. For one reason or another, the staff decided to throw it 62 times compared to 26 rushes.

There is no need to hit the panic button, but one has to wonder if better offensive balance would have produced a win in Week 8. The best teams make serious adjustments, so how the Eagles react in the coming weeks should say a lot about the team's future.

7. Seattle Seahawks (4-3)

Week 9 Matchup: vs. Oakland

Believe it or not, the defending champs were on the ropes entering Week 8 and almost went down for the count before the defense seemed to find itself late in the game.

NFL Network's Albert Breer put it best:

The win halted a two-game losing streak, and there is certainly an opportunity for the Seahawks to build a lot of momentum in the coming weeks thanks to matchups with Oakland and the New York Giants.

6. Indianapolis Colts (5-3)

Week 9 Matchup: at NY Giants

Joe Sargent/Getty Images

A winning streak that stretched as far as five games had to end at some point for the Indianapolis Colts. 

In a strange turn of events, a top-five pass defense allowed the aforementioned six touchdown passes to Big Ben and gave the Steelers a lead even Andrew Luck could not overcome on his own.

Still, the lopsided outcome feels like an anomaly more than anything, as the defense has performed so well in the past, including hanging tough with the likes of Philadelphia and Denver.

Unless it becomes a trend, expect the Colts to bounce back soon.

5. San Diego Chargers (5-3)

Week 9 Matchup: at Miami

The NFL is wild this year, with the Chargers being the perfect example.

Philip Rivers and a top-10 passing offense and defense easily forms one of the best teams in the league, but a rough two weeks has dropped the Chargers in the minds of many.

Still, a one-point loss to Arizona, a three-point loss to Kansas City and a loss to Denver is not exactly something to knock the Chargers down much for, especially with a potential MVP candidate under center.

4. Detroit Lions (6-2)

Week 9 Matchup: Bye

Outside of strange losses to Carolina and Buffalo, the Lions have taken care of business this season and are by far one of the most complete teams in the NFL.

Yes, the Lions fell in that aforementioned hole in Week 8, but most teams would have thrown in the towel. Not these Lions, which surprisingly get it done on the defensive side of the ball this year as the unit ranks in the top six against the pass and the top three against the run.

Few teams want to encounter these Lions this season. Week 9 is a bye, which may see them only get healthier, too.

3. Arizona Cardinals (6-1)

Week 9 Matchup: at Dallas

Minus a forgivable loss to Denver back in Week 5, the Cardinals have dispatched of any and all comers, regardless of who resides under center.

It helps, though, that veteran quarterback Carson Palmer has looked great as of late, having now thrown eight touchdowns to just one interception in the four games he has appeared in this season.

Palmer has some serious help, though, in the form of an elite defense against the rush, which ranks No. 2 overall. Pass defense is a serious weakness, but with Palmer taking care of the football like this, it has yet to matter.

2. Dallas Cowboys (6-1)

Week 9 Matchup: vs. Arizona

The Cowboys are arguably the best team in the league at the moment. 

Not only does Tony Romo continue to look great under center, DeMarco Murray is playing like the best back in the league and the defense has very quietly turned things around—and even ranks among the 12 best units against the pass so far this year.

All that said, a trap game on Monday Night Football in the form of an NFC East encounter with Washington will tell the world much more about these Cowboys.

1. Denver Broncos (6-1)

Week 9 Matchup: at New England

There is easily no better team in the NFL at the moment than the Broncos.

It helps that they have a guy named Peyton.

Peyton Manning not only shattered Brett Favre's touchdowns record two games ago, he then proceeded to welcome the surging Chargers to town and sent them packing with a 35-21 defeat.

This is a Denver team that still has just one loss, which came by all of six points in Seattle. Manning is great, but the league's No. 1 rush defense gets a ton of credit too.

Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com as of 1 a.m. ET on Oct. 27 unless otherwise specified.