NFL Power Rankings Week 9: Not Even Bye Week Can Derail Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers are rolling right now. They are so fantastic that they managed to stay elite despite not playing. In fact, there is no way to argue they are not the best team after a week of other teams trying to claim otherwise. 

 And really, you can't expect a team that has looked as marvelous as the Packers to fall a notch during a bye week, not when we have experienced a season of wackiness such as this. 

The Patriots were forever poised to take a stab at the top spot. They then laid an egg to the Pittsburgh Steelers. If the Packers could gain anything from a week of vacation it's that a secondary is not some mythical entity. 

The Packers have the same defensive deficiencies that the Patriots have. Just because the Packers haven't been exploited because of a soft secondary doesn't mean they won't. They would do well to learn from the Patriots cautionary tale.

What we have is a mess after the No. 1 spot. A team that was supposed to be a year away from contending has surged under new coach Jim Harbaugh.

Despite early success, many will find fault in crowning them the No. 2 team in the league. I just don't see the other side of the argument.

The Niners have been far more consistent than the Steelers, who are only now beginning to show their mettle.

The startling thing is that the Packers have been the only truly dominant team. Yet they continue to have issues on defense. That is more a testament to the talent of Aaron Rodgers and this dangerous offense than it is anything else.

The Patriots proved you need to address both sides of the ball to continue wining. Somehow, the Packers are a foil to that sentiment.

They may get their comeuppance at some point. But at the halfway mark, it's the Packers and everyone else.  

Gabe Zaldivar's Week 9 NFL Power Rankings
1. Green Bay Packers
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Detroit Lions
5. Baltimore Ravens
6. New England Patriots
7. New Orleans Saints
8. San Diego Chargers
9. Buffalo Bills
10. Chicago Bears
11. New York Giants
12. Houston Texans
13. New York Jets
14. Atlanta Falcons
15. Oakland Raiders
16. Cincinnati Bengals
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
18. Philadelphia Eagles
19. Tennessee Titans
20. Kansas City Chiefs
21. Dallas Cowboys
22. Washington Redskins
23. Carolina Panthers
24. Cleveland Browns
25. Jacksonville Jaguars
26. Seattle Seahawks
27. Minnesota Vikings
28. Denver Broncos
29. Arizona Cardinals
30. St. Louis Rams
31. Indianapolis Colts
32. Miami Dolphins