NFL Power Rankings Week 9: Latest Outlook and 2014-15 Super Bowl Odds

From elite teams falling in tough matchups to recent letdowns emerging with bounce-back wins, the NFL power rankings have been shaken up once again following an exciting Week 8 slate.

As the season passes the halfway mark, it's apparent that there remains plenty of time for almost every team to get back in contention. But after so many results in recent weeks with implications down the road, a pecking order is beginning to be established.

Let's take a look at Super Bowl odds for every team entering Week 9, as well as power rankings for the entire league.

Team	Odds
Denver Broncos	13-5
Seattle Seahawks	8-1
Dallas Cowboys	8-1
Green Bay Packers	10-1
New England Patriots	10-1
San Francisco 49ers	14-1
Indianapolis Colts	16-1
Arizona Cardinals	16-1
New Orleans Saints	20-1
Philadelphia Eagles	20-1
Detroit Lions	22-1
Cincinnati Bengals	25-1
San Diego Chargers	25-1
Baltimore Ravens	28-1
Pittsburgh Steelers	40-1
Kansas City Chiefs	40-1
Miami Dolphins	66-1
New York Giants	75-1
Buffalo Bills	75-1
Carolina Panthers	75-1
Houston Texans	100-1
Cleveland Browns	100-1
Chicago Bears	150-1
Minnesota Vikings	250-1
Atlanta Falcons	300-1
Washington Redskins	400-1
St. Louis Rams	500-1
Tennessee Titans	1000-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	2000-1
New York Jets	2000-1
Jacksonville Jaguars	3000-1
Oakland Raiders	5000-1

Note: Super Bowl odds courtesy of Odds Shark, last updated Oct. 27 at 11 a.m. ET

32. Oakland Raiders

David Richard/Associated Press

The Raiders are still winless after letting a tight game in Cleveland slip away, and now it's becoming more and more inevitable that 0-16 just might be on the horizon.

Derek Carr has made strides as the franchise quarterback Oakland hopes he can be, but the league's worst rushing attack isn't helping him out very much. To make matters worse for the Raiders, they face a murderer's row of upcoming games: at Seattle, home against Denver and at San Diego.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars

For all of the steps forward Jacksonville took in its Week 7 victory against the Browns—its first win of the year—the Jags fell backward once again with a 27-13 loss at home to the Dolphins.

The Jaguars are getting great rushing from running back Denard Robinson and even Blake Bortles, but turnovers are still a regular occurrence and the offensive line isn't keeping the rookie quarterback upright. As long as that continues, Jacksonville's improving defense won't lead it to many wins.

30. Tennessee Titans

The first game of the Zach Mettenberger era was an ugly one, with the Titans amassing three first-half first downs in a 30-16 drubbing from the Texans that was more lopsided than the final score suggests.

To make the disappointing start even more disheartening, all-business JJ Watt took his time to criticize the selfie-happy rookie afterward, per NFL on ESPN:

Mettenberger's gunslinger mentality should allow for him to generate some success if Ken Whisenhunt sticks with him, but this is just far from a winning roster. The defense is a paltry 27th in stopping the run, and the offense has been lethargic at best.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

While the Titans have been incompetent lately, the Bucs showed some improvement coming off the bye but to no avail. They fell 19-13 in overtime to the Vikings, thanks to a late Anthony Barr strip and score.

The Bucs do have some winnable games upcoming against Cleveland and Atlanta, and a win in either of those would be much needed for Lovie Smith's 1-6 squad.

28. New York Jets

The Jets remain just barely out of the league cellar, which has a lot more to do with the incompetence of Oakland, Jacksonville, Tennessee and Tampa Bay than anything positive in New York's own play.

Rex Ryan's squad is a poor 1-7 on the season following a distasteful 43-23 loss at home to Buffalo. It was perhaps Geno Smith's worst performance ever, throwing more interceptions (three) than completions (two) and being pulled before the first quarter ended.

27. Washington Redskins

The Redskins will have a huge shot to rise up the rankings fast with a Monday Night Football visit to Dallas, but it's hard to see them hanging in against Tony Romo and DeMarco Murray despite playing Seattle and Arizona tough in recent weekends.

Still, Jay Gruden and Co. will get a chance to prove themselves with games against the hapless Vikings and Bucs in upcoming weeks.

26. Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons came out firing en route to a 21-0 halftime lead in London over the Lions, but by the time most of the United States woke up to see them, they were forking it over by way of a late Detroit comeback.

That result was the last thing Mike Smith needed following four straight defeats by 10 or more points. Atlanta heads into its Week 9 bye with its coach on the hot seat and a locker room likely in turmoil following five straight losses.

25. New York Giants

The Giants enjoyed a much-needed Week 8 bye, but the season's tone turned sour just before with back-to-back losses to NFC East rivals Philadelphia and Dallas. New York's defense is lacking, and there's no way the Giants get through an upcoming four-game slate of Indianapolis, Seattle, San Francisco and Dallas still in playoff contention.

24. Minnesota Vikings

Reinhold Matay/Associated Press

The Vikings had been making strides for weeks now, and it finally paid off with an overtime win on the road at Tampa Bay. But with the ceiling only so high for rookie Teddy Bridgewater on offense right now, Minnesota struggles to hang with run-of-the-mill teams.

Luckily for them, the Washington Redskins in Week 9 present a favorable matchup.

23. St. Louis Rams

The Rams have proven in 2014 that they won't be an easy out for anyone, but it's also becoming apparent with their Week 8 loss to Kansas City that they're also still not quite at contending status.

A lot of that has to do with a porous run defense, which gives up 145 yards per game on the ground—second-worst in the league. Austin Davis has been more than serviceable at quarterback, but the defensive front that was talked about all offseason needs to start producing.

22. Buffalo Bills

While part of the Bills' 43-23 win in New York had to do with the Jets' poor play, it can't be overstated how strong Buffalo looked for a second straight week. Kyle Orton threw four touchdowns on 10 completions, and has a budding partnership with rookie wideout Sammy Watkins.

21. Miami Dolphins

Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins seemed to take offense to anyone expecting the Jaguars to beat them in Week 8, drubbing Jacksonville 27-13 on the road.

Miami is looking more and more like it is going to make another late-season playoff push. The Dolphins have won three of their last four games—the last two by 13 or more points—with the only defeat a late heartbreaker against Green Bay.

20. Cleveland Browns

After turning heads early in the season, the Browns are falling right back to their usual place in the power rankings. Well, they might not be close to the bottom like they're used to, but the 4-3 Browns are certainly reeling.

Winning is the best remedy, however, and Cleveland got back in the win column with a 23-13 win over Oakland. Still, the passing game with Brian Hoyer doesn't look too strong at the moment and the Browns will be hard-pressed to stay above .500.

19. Houston Texans

Wade Payne/Associated Press

To get back in the win column, the Texans just needed to face a team they could get up on early after three straight comeback efforts were thwarted. That's exactly what the doctor prescribed with a 30-16 win over Tennessee.

J.J. Watt is a man among boys on the defensive side of the ball, and every game that he doesn't snare in a touchdown, he's just barely dropping pick-sixes. Now that Jadeveon Clowney is back in the fold, look out.

18. Carolina Panthers

Desperate for a win, the Carolina Panthers came oh-so-close to knocking off the reigning-champion Seahawks before a late Russell Wilson touchdown ended said efforts. But this defense that has looked so porous against the run (28th in the league) showed signs of life against the league's most bruising attack.

A 3-4-1 record presently has the Panthers on the outside looking in at the playoffs, but they could get back into the postseason picture with a home game against the Saints preluding a road trip to Philadelphia.

17. Chicago Bears

Sometimes locker-room tiffs can galvanize a team in the middle of the season and lead to a playoff push. For the Bears, it's looking to have the opposite effect.

After tensions boiled over following a loss to Miami in Week 7, the Bears were absolutely smashed by the Patriots 51-23. Needless to say, the team's Week 9 bye is coming at an ideal time, as there is plenty to work on.

16. Kansas City Chiefs

Man, that 26-10 loss to Tennessee in Week 1 sure seems like a long time ago. Since then, the Chiefs have four wins with their only two losses coming in close affairs to San Francisco and Denver—on the road.

Jamaal Charles is back healthy and running better than ever, giving the Chiefs the third-ranked rushing offense in the game. Add that to a stingy pass defense that is giving up an NFL-low 195 yards per game, and you have yourself a team looking to improving to 6-3 with an impending Week 9 win at home over the Jets followed by a trip to Buffalo. 

15. New Orleans Saints

The desperation was high in New Orleans with the Saints needing a win at home over the mighty Packers to get over .500, but Drew Brees responded like you'd expect, rattling off a 44-23 win on Sunday Night Football.

By far the most encouraging sign, however, was the Saints' 31st-ranked pass defense recording more interceptions (two) than touchdowns allowed (one) against Aaron Rodgers—despite his 418 yards passing.

14. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are a great example of the NFL's parity. After being just smoked by the Browns two weeks prior, Pittsburgh has bounced back with two impressive home wins over the Texans and Colts.

The AFC North is hotly contested with all four teams over the .500 mark, but with Ben Roethlisberger coming off a 522-yard, six-touchdown performance, the Steelers are right in the thick of it.

13. Detroit Lions

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Calvin Johnson or no Calvin Johnson, the Lions continue to find ways to win. Despite falling in a 21-0 hole, the defense stiffened in the second half in London to give Matthew Stafford a shot at a 22-21 comeback.

The Lions are 6-2 and have their Week 9 bye upcoming. They'll go into the second half of the season rested and hoping they don't fork over a playoff spot like in 2013.

12. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens played division-rival Cincinnati for the second and final time this regular season, and Baltimore won't be complaining about that after being swept by the Bengals in Week 8.

Joe Flacco is still throwing the cover off the ball, however, and the Ravens have looked the part of playoff contenders in almost every game they've played in 2014—even the losses. A big test looms in Week 9 with a trip to Pittsburgh.

11. Cincinnati Bengals

While the Ravens are happy to be done with Cincinnati in 2014, the Bengals wouldn't mind playing Baltimore a few more times. But they won't be too upset with their Week 9 draw, facing the Jacksonville Jaguars at home.

The Bengals defense hasn't been close to its 2013 dominance, but it's still playing well enough to dominate Jacksonville and enter a Week 10 matchup with the Browns at 5-2-1.

10. San Francisco 49ers

Despite a 42-17 drubbing to Denver heading into their Week 8 bye, the 49ers emerge from their off week well rested and ready to take it to the St. Louis Rams in Week 9.

After coming back to beat the Rams 31-17 on the road two weeks ago, San Francisco should have no trouble remaining in the thick of the NFC West hunt with a home win over St. Louis.

9. Green Bay Packers

Rogelio Solis/Associated Press

One indicator of a true championship-caliber team is being able to win in the Superdome, and the Packers couldn't pull off that feat in Week 8, falling to the Saints 44-23.

If the Packers' woes in stopping the run weren't apparent enough before Week 8, they are now. The pass-happy Saints scampered for 193 yards on the ground, with Mark Ingram accumulating 172 of them.

8. New England Patriots

After most pundits wrote them off early in the season, the Patriots are emerging as one of the NFL's best teams in the middle of 2014. New England sports four straight victories after falling to the Chiefs on Monday Night Football in Week 4.

The Pats' biggest test yet is to come, with Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos coming to town for a Week 9 showdown before New England's Week 10 bye.

7. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles showed their fight by hanging with the Cardinals on the road in Week 8, but their struggling defense couldn't make plays when it mattered the most, and Arizona struck for a late touchdown bomb to pull out the win.

Despite that loss, the 5-2 Eagles aren't going anywhere in the NFC playoff race. But with so many problems on defense, it's tough to say they're a serious Super Bowl contender.

6. San Diego Chargers

The Chargers are coming off two straight losses, but even in defeat their status as one of the AFC's best hasn't been in question. They'll have a chance to prove that on the road against a surging Miami Dolphins team in Week 9, but with so many impressive teams around them in the rankings a loss there could send them outside of the top 10.

5. Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals cannot stop their opponents' quarterbacks to save their life, but as long as Carson Palmer is taking care of the ball, Arizona has the overall roster to pull out wins against almost any team. They'll have the chance to prove that against the tough-nosed Cowboys in Week 9.

4. Indianapolis Colts

Despite a shaky secondary, the Colts had avoided giving up huge passing plays all season long, but the holes in the back end of the defense were exposed big time in Week 8 by way of a 522-yard game from Roethlisberger. But even though Indianapolis' pass defense now ranks 21st, Andrew Luck's dominance is going to keep them in any game.

3. Seattle Seahawks

Chuck Burton/Associated Press

It hasn't been an ideal couple of weeks for the Super Bowl champions, but winning cures everything as the Seahawks learned in a late comeback win over the Panthers in Week 8.

Seattle will trounce Oakland in Week 9 and begin to make its late-season surge toward the top of a hotly contested NFC West.

2. Dallas Cowboys

DeMarco Murray is receiving quite the heavy workload, but he continues to show why the Cowboys shouldn't even think about limiting his carries. He has a chance to surpass 1,000 rushing yards in Week 9 against the Redskins.

With Dallas' bye coming in Week 11, the Cowboys could very well be 9-1 when that break in the schedule comes, if they can get past Arizona and Jacksonville.

1. Denver Broncos

The Broncos have distanced themselves from the rest when it comes to the NFL's power rankings.

Peyton Manning broke the all-time career passing touchdowns record and with him looking better than ever, he's sure to add three or four—or five—touchdowns to that tally each and every week. Add that to an improving Broncos defense that has been dominating the line of scrimmage, and you have a near-impossible team to beat.