NFL Power Rankings: Week Nine

Rank Team   LW 2008
Record Ups and Downs
1 Titans 1 8-0 The Pack gave them a thrill, but the Titans still pulled it out – even on Rob Bironas' suddenly shaky leg. Still, the best team left.
2 Giants 2 7-1 While beating the Cowboys had to be fun and satisfying, it's fair to say that even I could have picked that first Brooks Bollinger pass.
3 Panthers 3 6-2 The Bucs nearly handed the Panthers another half-game lead in the division... and Steve Smith would have run with it to an NFC title.
4 Steelers 6 6-2 The win helps them hold onto a one-game lead in the division with the Ravens closing. But the real question is Big Ben's injury. Does anyone believe this team can continue to succeed behind Leftwich?
5 Buccaneers 7 6-3 It wasn't pretty, but who said it had to 			be?
6 Redskins 5 6-3 Clinton Portis shut down. Jason Campbell throws a pick. Suddenly this team looks more human. And yet, still so dangerous. We had to expect more at home, though.
7 Ravens 14 5-3 The offense has come alive in the past three weeks as the Ravens have averaged over 30 points a game. Now, the opponents may have been weak, but we've always said if the Ravens could score behind that defense...
8 Eagles 12 5-3 Their recent win streak has them back in the playoff discussion, but until they unseat the Giants or 'Skins, they're still just fighting for a spot in the NFC's playoff race.
9 Bears 11 5-3 For ten minutes, the Bears let Dan 			Orlovsky look like a Pro Bowler. Then it was back to reality.
10 Cardinals 13 5-3 Three full games is an insurmountable lead for any of their division rivals. Congratulations, Cards, you're unofficially in the playoffs in my book.
11 Patriots 4 5-3 Losing to the Colts in Indy usually isn't so bad. But when the loss puts you within one game of last place in your division, there's gotta be some concern there.
12 Packers 10 4-4 Hard to fault a team that played the Titans as close as anyone this season. But the loss is going to hurt big-time in the NFC, where 4-4 looks beyond mediocre. It looks bad.
13 Falcons 17 5-3 No matter the opponent, holding onto a shutout is a tough thing to do. The real question facing the Falcons: Can they run the ball when they absolutely need to?
14 Jets 19 5-3 With a victory over the Bills, the Jets not only put themselves in a tie for the lead of their division, they may have decimated the Bills hopes for good.
15 Colts 18 4-4 Beating the Pats isn't quite the feat it was last year or the year before, but it still counts for something. Unfortunately, in the AFC, the Colts are still just treading water.
16 Bills 8 5-3 After starting 4-0, the Bills have dropped three of four – and not to the league's strongest teams either. Not only have they lost ground on the Pats, they're about to be passed by the Fins too.
17 Saints 16 4-4 The bye week cost the Saints ground in a 			tight race for an NFC Wild Card spot.
18 Cowboys 9 5-4 The Cowboys are bouncing around this poll more than anyone. After another embarrassing loss, it's time to say it clear: the problems with this team go deeper than missing Tony Romo.
19 Dolphins 23 4-4 Hard to believe that at 4-4 this team is 			just one game back of the division lead ... and yet somehow still 			in last place.
20 Broncos 15 4-4 The Broncos are the Dolphins opposite. Somehow sitting at 4-4 and yet... remarkably... comfortable in first in their division. What-huh?
21 Vikings 25 4-4 Gus Frerotte is at it again. But as with 			many of his epics, this one will probably fail to find an 			“afterword” as well.
22 Chargers 22 3-5 The Broncos just gave the Chargers new life with another inconceivable loss. But until they win with some consistency, this Chargers teams can't be trusted.
23 Texans 20 3-5 It was the week of grand comebacks...and 			the Texans fell short. Sorry.
24 Browns 21 3-5 They may have been higher, but announcing that Brady Quinn is taking over cost them. Sorry, but it wasn't Derek Anderson that gave up 30 points. Nor did he drop a ball in his breadbasket that could have changed the game.
25 Jaguars 24 3-5 Jack del Rio's suddenly lost his magic. The defense is lost, the offense is lost, the fans are cutting eye holes in paper bags...
26 Rams 26 2-6 Stat of the Week: Marc Bulger leads the Rams in rushing, ahead of Stephen Jackson and Michael Pittman, with a whopping 33 yards.
27 Seahawks 27 2-6 Seneca Wallace made his mark in Seahawks history with a 90-yard pass. Then he packed it up and called it a day, while the Eagles made their mark on the Seahawks.
28 Raiders 28 2-6 The Falcons may not be pushovers, but you 			figure the Raiders could eke out a point or two (or three or six) 			against 'em.
29 49ers 29 2-6 Word this week that Mike Singletary dropped trou at halftime of their game last week. I suppose he thinks things are as bad as they can be in San Fran, but the worst might be to come.
30 Bengals 32 1-8 They slid past 			the Jags, which a lot of teams seem to be doing these days. And 			we're still not sure why.
31 Chiefs 30 1-7 Speaking of not sure... still not sure 			why Herm Edwards has a job in Kansas City.
32 Lions 31 0-8 Did they really blow that lead? Really? 			Man, you all deserve to go 0-16. Your back in Pop Warner.
Rank	Team	LW	2008 Record	Ups and Downs
1	Titans	1	8-0	The Pack gave them a thrill, but the Titans still pulled it out – even on Rob Bironas' suddenly shaky leg. Still, the best team left.
2	Giants	2	7-1	While beating the Cowboys had to be fun and satisfying, it's fair to say that even I could have picked that first Brooks Bollinger pass.
3	Panthers	3	6-2	The Bucs nearly handed the Panthers another half-game lead in the division... and Steve Smith would have run with it to an NFC title.
4	Steelers	6	6-2	The win helps them hold onto a one-game lead in the division with the Ravens closing. But the real question is Big Ben's injury. Does anyone believe this team can continue to succeed behind Leftwich?
5	Buccaneers	7	6-3	It wasn't pretty, but who said it had to be?
6	Redskins	5	6-3	Clinton Portis shut down. Jason Campbell throws a pick. Suddenly this team looks more human. And yet, still so dangerous. We had to expect more at home, though.
7	Ravens	14	5-3	The offense has come alive in the past three weeks as the Ravens have averaged over 30 points a game. Now, the opponents may have been weak, but we've always said if the Ravens could score behind that defense...
8	Eagles	12	5-3	Their recent win streak has them back in the playoff discussion, but until they unseat the Giants or 'Skins, they're still just fighting for a spot in the NFC's playoff race.
9	Bears	11	5-3	For ten minutes, the Bears let Dan Orlovsky look like a Pro Bowler. Then it was back to reality.
10	Cardinals	13	5-3	Three full games is an insurmountable lead for any of their division rivals. Congratulations, Cards, you're unofficially in the playoffs in my book.
11	Patriots	4	5-3	Losing to the Colts in Indy usually isn't so bad. But when the loss puts you within one game of last place in your division, there's gotta be some concern there.
12	Packers	10	4-4	Hard to fault a team that played the Titans as close as anyone this season. But the loss is going to hurt big-time in the NFC, where 4-4 looks beyond mediocre. It looks bad.
13	Falcons	17	5-3	No matter the opponent, holding onto a shutout is a tough thing to do. The real question facing the Falcons: Can they run the ball when they absolutely need to?
14	Jets	19	5-3	With a victory over the Bills, the Jets not only put themselves in a tie for the lead of their division, they may have decimated the Bills hopes for good.
15	Colts	18	4-4	Beating the Pats isn't quite the feat it was last year or the year before, but it still counts for something. Unfortunately, in the AFC, the Colts are still just treading water.
16	Bills	8	5-3	After starting 4-0, the Bills have dropped three of four – and not to the league's strongest teams either. Not only have they lost ground on the Pats, they're about to be passed by the Fins too.
17	Saints	16	4-4	The bye week cost the Saints ground in a tight race for an NFC Wild Card spot.
18	Cowboys	9	5-4	The Cowboys are bouncing around this poll more than anyone. After another embarrassing loss, it's time to say it clear: the problems with this team go deeper than missing Tony Romo.
19	Dolphins	23	4-4	Hard to believe that at 4-4 this team is just one game back of the division lead ... and yet somehow still in last place.
20	Broncos	15	4-4	The Broncos are the Dolphins opposite. Somehow sitting at 4-4 and yet... remarkably... comfortable in first in their division. What-huh?
21	Vikings	25	4-4	Gus Frerotte is at it again. But as with many of his epics, this one will probably fail to find an “afterword” as well.
22	Chargers	22	3-5	The Broncos just gave the Chargers new life with another inconceivable loss. But until they win with some consistency, this Chargers teams can't be trusted.
23	Texans	20	3-5	It was the week of grand comebacks...and the Texans fell short. Sorry.
24	Browns	21	3-5	They may have been higher, but announcing that Brady Quinn is taking over cost them. Sorry, but it wasn't Derek Anderson that gave up 30 points. Nor did he drop a ball in his breadbasket that could have changed the game.
25	Jaguars	24	3-5	Jack del Rio's suddenly lost his magic. The defense is lost, the offense is lost, the fans are cutting eye holes in paper bags...
26	Rams	26	2-6	Stat of the Week: Marc Bulger leads the Rams in rushing, ahead of Stephen Jackson and Michael Pittman, with a whopping 33 yards.
27	Seahawks	27	2-6	Seneca Wallace made his mark in Seahawks history with a 90-yard pass. Then he packed it up and called it a day, while the Eagles made their mark on the Seahawks.
28	Raiders	28	2-6	The Falcons may not be pushovers, but you figure the Raiders could eke out a point or two (or three or six) against 'em.
29	49ers	29	2-6	Word this week that Mike Singletary dropped trou at halftime of their game last week. I suppose he thinks things are as bad as they can be in San Fran, but the worst might be to come.
30	Bengals	32	1-8	They slid past the Jags, which a lot of teams seem to be doing these days. And we're still not sure why.
31	Chiefs	30	1-7	Speaking of not sure... still not sure why Herm Edwards has a job in Kansas City.
32	Lions	31	0-8	Did they really blow that lead? Really? Man, you all deserve to go 0-16. Your back in Pop Warner.