Lowly Rams Shake Up Top of NFL Power Rankings Heading into Week 9

While the Green Bay Packers were enjoying their bye week as the last unbeaten team remaining in the NFL, Week 8 went on without them with at least one inexplicable result, one divisional race turning into a runaway and other races tightening significantly.

It was a week during which the New Orleans Saints came off a 62-point explosion against the winless Indianapolis Colts to lose 31-21 to the previously winless St. Louis Rams.

It was a week during which the Baltimore Ravens continued their Monday night offensive meltdown into the first half against the Arizona Cardinals, falling behind by 21 points before righting the flight plan after intermission to come back for a 30-27 win.

The Buffalo Bills handed Mike Shanahan his first shutout loss in a 23-0 blanking of the Washington Redskins north of the border in Toronto.

The Cincinnati Bengals ignored the 12th man at Qwest Field to blow out the Seattle Seahawks 34-12 to improve to 5-2 to keep pace with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Ravens in the AFC North.

Ben Roethlisberger out-Bradyed Tom Brady as the Steelers dropped the New England Patriots 25-17 in a game that was nowhere near that close.

The Miami Dolphins came from ahead to lose for the second straight week. The Indianapolis Colts continue to lead the pack for Andrew Luck.

The San Francisco 49ers hold a four-game lead in the NFC West after eight weeks. Jim Harbaugh is the front-runner at the midpoint of the season for coach of the year honors, something that could lead to a new run on college coaches by NFL general managers.

And with that, here are the Week 9 NFL Power Rankings.

32. Indianapolis Colts (0-8)

Last week’s ranking: 32

This week: Lost at Tennessee 27-10

Next week: vs. Atlanta

Strength of victory factor: See the rule of multiplication by zero

Curtis Painter was sacked twice and intercepted twice as the Colts finished a completely imperfect first half of the season by never really threatening to win their sixth straight game against the Titans.

Indianapolis trailed 20-0 at halftime on the heels of its 62-7 pasting at New Orleans.

The Colts outgained Tennessee 399-311 but didn’t force a turnover and were penalized 10 times.

31. Miami Dolphins (0-7)

Last week’s ranking: 30

This week: Lost at New York Giants 20-17

Next week: at Kansas City

Strength of victory factor: At least it’s not a negative number

An early 14-3 lead turned into another frustrating loss for coach Tony Sparano, who spent last week hearing the rumors that the Dolphins were interested in luring Bill Cowher away from CBS. It also followed a brutal loss to the Denver Broncos in which Miami blew a 15-point lead with less than three minutes to go.

Steve Slaton and Matt Moore scored 1-yard touchdown runs on the Dolphins’ first two drives but Miami scored just three points the rest of the way and lost when the Giants scored a touchdown with 5:58 to play.

The loss overshadowed a 103-yard rushing performance by Reggie Bush, just the second 100-yard game of his career—both against the Giants.

30. St. Louis Rams (1-6)

Last week’s ranking: 31

This week: Beat New Orleans 31-21

Next week: at Arizona

Strength of victory factor: 5

The World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals were at the Edward Jones Dome to show off their new trophy, and the Rams were apparently inspired. Stephen Jackson recorded his first 100-yard game in three seasons, and St. Louis got its first win of the season by ambushing the Saints.

Jackson had 159 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries as the Rams put up 31 points after averaging less than 10 points a game through their first six games.

St. Louis sacked Drew Brees six times, three by Chris Long, after registering just 11 in the first six games.

29. Denver Broncos (2-5)

Last week’s ranking: 27

This week: Lost to Detroit 45-10

Next week: at Oakland

Strength of victory factor: 5

Tim Tebow was sacked seven times and both of his turnovers were turned into touchdowns as the Broncos were routed by the Lions and followed up the miracle in Miami with a dud in Denver.

Tebow has been sacked 13 times in his two starts but coach John Fox said Monday that the second-year quarterback from Florida will get the start at Oakland.

After Eric Decker couldn’t get both feet down in the end zone and Denver settled for a field goal on its first possession, Detroit ran off 45 unanswered points before Tebow hit Decker with a 14-yard scoring pass in the fourth quarter.

28. Arizona Cardinals (1-6)

Last week’s ranking: 29

This week: Lost at Baltimore 30-27

Next week: vs. St. Louis

Strength of victory factor: 2

Off a fumble and an 82-yard punt return by Patrick Peterson, the Cardinals scored three touchdowns in a five-minute span of the second quarter to take a 24-3 lead before the Ravens came back in the second half.

Arizona has lost six straight games, four of those by four points or less.

Kevin Kolb threw for 153 yards and a touchdown and Peterson became the first Cardinals since Vai Sikahema in 1986 to score two punt return touchdowns in a single season.

27. Seattle Seahawks (2-5)

Last week’s ranking: 24

This week: Lost to Cincinnati 34-12

Next week: at Dallas

Strength of victory factor: 6

The Seahawks held the Bengals to 252 yards of total offense, but struggles on special teams and offense turned this game into a blowout.

Trailing by eight points, Seattle went three-and-out and punted the ball back to Cincinnati with less than four minutes remaining and surrendered a touchdown on the return.

The Seahawks were in disarray much of the day, marked by running back Marshawn Lynch yelling at coaches on the sideline after Seattle was held to a field goal on the last play of the third quarter. It was the second time the Seahawks failed to get into the end zone after getting the ball inside the Bengals’ 10-yard line.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6)

Last week’s ranking: 26

This week: Lost at Houston 24-14

Next week: Spending the bye week doing accuracy drills with Blaine Gabbert

Strength of victory factor: 9

The Texans shut down Gabbert and the league’s worst offense, but the Jaguars stayed in the game by converting two Houston fumbles into touchdowns.

Jacksonville managed just 61 yards and five first downs in the second half. Gabbert, in his sixth career start, was just 10-for-30 for 97 yards and two interceptions. It was his second straight sub-100-yard performance.

The Jaguars were unable to sustain any momentum from their upset win over Baltimore the previous Monday night, with Maurice Jones-Drew held to 63 yards on 18 carries.

25. Cleveland Browns (3-4)

Last week’s ranking: 21

This week: Lost at San Francisco 20-10

Next week: at Houston

Strength of victory factor: 2

The Browns lost in the Bay Area for the second time this year, following up a loss at Oakland two weeks ago with a loss to the 49ers.

Linebacker D’Qwell Jackson helped seal Cleveland’s fate with a facemask penalty in the closing minutes that set up a San Francisco field goal that made it a two-possession game.

The beat-up Browns got better on special teams after having two field goals blocked in their win over Seattle, but were without running back Peyton Hillis for the second straight game and lost backup Montario Hardesty to a calf injury in the first half.

24. Minnesota Vikings (2-6)

Last week’s ranking: 28

This week: Won at Carolina 24-21

Next week: Basking in the glow of Christian Ponder’s first NFL win during the bye

Strength of victory factor: 3

Ponder outdueled more-heralded rookie Cam Newton to get his first victory, showing a great deal of poise on the pocket and helping the Vikings convert 7-of-14 on third down and got a lot of help from Adrian Peterson.

Peterson finished with 162 yards from scrimmage—86 rushing and 76 receiving—and scored two touchdowns and Ryan Longwell’s 31-yard field goal with 2:43 left put Minnesota ahead for good.

Ponder, taken 12th overall in April’s draft, was 18-for-28 for 236 yards.

23. Carolina Panthers (2-6)

Last week’s ranking: 22

This week: Lost to Minnesota 24-21

Next week: Trying to figure out how to turn those close losses into wins

Strength of victory factor: 5

Cam Newton threw for 290 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, but the Panthers again failed to close out the game. The loss to the Vikings was their fifth by a touchdown or less.

Carolina had its chances, going three-and-out on three straight possessions in the second half while Minnesota came from behind.

Newton appeared to lead a memorable comeback to tie the game, completing a 44-yard pass to Brandon LaFell on 4th-and-15 to get into Viking territory, but then lost a big gain by Newton to a holding call against Steve Smith. Olindo Mare’s potential game-tying field goal from 31 yards out sailed wide left with 26 seconds to go.

22. Washington Redskins (3-4)

Last week’s ranking: 20

This week: Lost to Buffalo in Toronto 23-0

Next week: vs. San Francisco

Strength of victory factor: 7

At least Mike Shanahan has still never been shut out in the United States. The Bills had nine sacks and intercepted John Beck twice to batter the injury-riddled Redskins.

Washington’s offense was utterly ineffective while being limited to 178 yards and 10 first downs. The Redskins have now lost three straight and barely resemble the team that was 3-1 going into its bye.

Missing running back Tim Hightower, wide receiver Santana Moss and tight end Chris Cooley due to injuries, Washington managed just 61 yards and three first downs on six first-half possessions.

21. Kansas City Chiefs (4-3)

Last week’s ranking: 25

This week: Beat San Diego 23-20 (OT) on Monday night

Next week: vs. Miami

Strength of victory factor: 10

The Chiefs got a late break when Chargers’ quarterback Philip Rivers mishandled a first-down snap at the Kansas City 15 with just seconds remaining. Linebacker Andy Studebaker recovered the fumble and Ryan Succop won it with a 30-yard field goal in overtime.

Kansas City became the first team in NFL history to lose its first three games and have at least a share of a division lead four games later. The Chiefs are also the first team since the 2000 Pittsburgh Steelers to win four in a row after losing their first three.

Kansas City had a chance to win in regulation, but Matt Cassel overthrew his target and was intercepted in San Diego territory.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3)

Last week’s ranking: 18

This week: Recovering from jetlag and Bear bites during their bye

Next week: at New Orleans

Strength of victory factor: 11

The Buccaneers’ highlight of the first eight weeks was their win over the Saints on Oct. 16, a game in which they had three interceptions and played turnover-free football.

But Tampa Bay also has that 48-3 disaster at San Francisco on Oct. 9 on its resume, a game in which coach Raheem Morris said his team played as if it didn’t bother to get off the plane.

Quarterback Josh Freeman has been inconsistent, with seven touchdown passes to go with 10 interceptions. His struggles have killed drives and put the defense into tough positions.

19. Dallas Cowboys (3-4)

Last week’s ranking: 14

This week: Lost at Philadelphia 34-7

Next week: vs. Seattle

Strength of victory factor: 10

Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan ate copious amounts of crow after trash-talking the Eagles over the summer about their big-name acquisitions. Ryan, the son of former Philadelphia coach Buddy Ryan, called the Eagles the “all-hype” team and predicted a Dallas victory.

Philadelphia rolled up 495 yards of total offense and held the ball for 42:09 while dominating a Cowboy defense that came in ranked seventh in the league.

DeMarcus Ware was the lone bright spot for Dallas, finishing with four sacks to run his season total to 12.

18. San Diego Chargers (4-3)

Last week’s ranking: 17

This week: Lost at Kansas City 23-20 (OT) on Monday night

Next week: vs. Green Bay

Strength of victory factor: 8

The Chargers had the ball at the Chiefs’ 15-yard line with less than a minute to go with Nick Novak ready to kick a game-winning field goal. Then Philip Rivers fumbled a snap, Kansas City recovered and the Chiefs went on to win in overtime.

San Diego won the overtime coin toss but didn’t pick up a first down, then lost after Kansas City’s only possession in the extra period.

Rivers threw for 369 yards but also had two interceptions—increasing his league-leading total to 11—and the crucial fumble.

17. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4)

Last week’s ranking: 23

This week: Beat Dallas 34-7

Next week: vs. Chicago on Monday night

Strength of victory factor: 7

LeSean McCoy had a career-best 186 yards rushing and two scores, Michael Vick threw two touchdown passes and the Eagles routed the Cowboys.

Philadelphia dominated from the start, improving to 13-0 after a bye under coach Andy Reid. The Eagles also snapped their five-game losing streak at home.

Vick was 21-for-28 for 279 yards and led Philadelphia to scores on its first six possessions. He also ran for 50 yards.

16. Tennessee Titans (4-3)

Last week’s ranking: 19

This week: Beat Indianapolis 27-10

Next week: vs. Cincinnati

Strength of victory factor: 10

The Titans snapped a two-game skid and avoided becoming the first team to lose to the Colts this season, but may have a running back controversy on their hands.

Matt Hasselbeck threw for 224 yards and a touchdowns and Nate Washington scored twice. Rob Bironas bombed field goals from 51 and 50 yards, and Jason McCourty recovered a blocked punt in the end zone.

But Chris Johnson struggled again, rushing 14 times for 34 yards and being outplayed by backup Javon Ringer, who had 60 yards on 14 carries and caught a team-high five passes for 42 yards.

15. Oakland Raiders (4-3)

Last week’s ranking: 16

This week: Teaching Carson Palmer the rest of the playbook

Next week: vs. Denver

Strength of victory factor: 14

The Raiders will work out former Cincinnati wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadah today. With Palmer now Oakland’s starting quarterback, it would be a reunion with one of his former favorite targets in Cincinnati.

The pair practiced together while Palmer was holding out from the Bengals and Houshmandzadah was trying to catch on with a team after being let go by Baltimore after last season.

The Raiders also signed former Pro Bowl cornerback Lito Sheppard, who made just two starts for Minnesota last season.

14. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)

Last week’s ranking: 15

This week: Holding meditation sessions to remind themselves they’re a run-first team

Next week: at Indianapolis

Strength of victory factor: 13

The Falcons are battling the salary cap after losing fullback Ovie Mughelli to a season-ending knee injury and signing Mike Cox to replace him.

Atlanta is just $1.641 million under the cap, according to ESPN.com. The only teams with less cap space available are Pittsburgh and the Giants.

If the Falcons have any more injuries, they’ll have to sign replacements for minimum salary, and multiple injuries could force the team to renegotiate contracts with veterans to free up additional cap room.

13. New York Jets (4-3)

Last week’s ranking: 11

This week: Resting Rex Ryan’s vocal cords

Next week: at Buffalo

Strength of victory factor: 9

The Jets are perfect at home, winless on the road and come off the bye facing a key two-game stretch in the AFC East. Gang Green visits Buffalo this week, hosts New England in a prime time game next week and could find itself leading the division or all but out of contention for the playoffs.

The Jets are 0-2 after the bye under Ryan, including a 9-0 loss at home to Green Bay last year and a 24-22 loss to Jacksonville in 2009.

Defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis spent the bye getting treatment on his sprained left ankle and may not go against the Bills, but Isaiah Trufant and Mike DeVito are expected to play while banged up Nick Mangold and David Harris were limited in practice.

12. New York Giants (5-2)

Last week’s ranking: 13

This week: Beat Miami 20-17

Next week: at New England

Strength of victory factor: 10

The Giants had no running game, the defense was missing in action in the first half, but Eli Manning stole the game from the Dolphins.

Manning threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Victor Cruz with 5:58 remaining and Big Blue avoided a post-bye meltdown.

Manning was 31-for-45 for 345 yards and two touchdowns without an interception in rallying the Giants from an 11-point halftime deficit. His totals would have been higher without drops by Jake Ballard and Hakeem Nicks on well-thrown long balls.

11. Chicago Bears (4-3)

Last week’s ranking: 9

This week: Resting their offense, also known as Matt Forte, during the bye

Next week: at Philadelphia on Monday night

Strength of victory factor: 12

Forte’s contract has been a topic of discussion all season and given his production and his value to the club, the Bears are reportedly planning to use their franchise tag on the running back barring a breakthrough in talks before the offseason.

Given the perception that running backs wear down quickly, Chicago has to be considering Forte’s durability in these negotiations. Forte averaged 327 touches a season over the first three years of his career but is on pace for 370 this year.

Chris Johnson’s struggles in Tennessee since signing his mega-deal may also be a factor for the Bears.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)

Last week’s ranking: 12

This week: Beat New England 25-17

Next week: vs. Baltimore

Strength of victory factor: 14

Ben Roethlisberger picked apart the NFL’s worst defense and the Steelers solved Tom Brady, ending the two-time MVP’s decade of dominance over Pittsburgh.

Brady was 6-1 all-time against the Steelers, but Pittsburgh controlled the ball for 39 minutes and never let Brady or the Patriots get into a rhythm.

Roethlisberger was efficient working underneath, completing 36-of-50 passes for 365 yards and two touchdowns as Pittsburgh won its fourth straight after a 2-2 start.

9. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)

Last week’s ranking: 10

This week: Won at Seattle 34-12

Next week: at Tennessee

Strength of victory factor: 12

Marvin Lewis became the Bengals’ all-time wins leader and Cincinnati surpassed its 2010 victory total by pulling away from the Seahawks late.

The Bengals are doing it with defense, rookies Andy Dalton and A.J. Green on offense and got a big special teams play in Seattle. Dalton threw two first-half touchdowns—one to Green—and Brandon Tate returned a punt 56 yards for a score with 3:22 left.

Cincinnati won its fourth straight, capped by Reggie Nelson’s 75-yard interception return for a touchdown in the final minute. It was the Bengals’ first win on the West Coast since a victory in San Diego in 2003.

8. New England Patriots (5-2)

Last week’s ranking: 6

This week: Lost at Pittsburgh 25-17

Next week: vs. New York Giants

Strength of victory factor: 15

The Patriots’ defense continued to struggle, allowing the Steelers to hold the ball for 39 minutes and allowing 365 yards and two touchdowns to Ben Roethlisberger.

Tom Brady passed for two touchdowns but had a season-low 198 yards and his attempt to lead New England to an unlikely comeback ended when Brett Keisel sacked him and forced a fumble that was slapped out of the back of the end zone for a safety with eight seconds to go.

The Steelers sacked Brady three times and held wide receiver Wes Welker—on pace to break the NFL record for receiving yards—to 39 yards on six catches.

7. New Orleans Saints (5-3)

Last week’s ranking: 5

This week: Lost at St. Louis 31-21

Next week: vs. Tampa Bay

Strength of victory factor: 13

Drew Brees was barely able to keep his streak of consecutive games with a touchdown pass alive with a meaningless score in the final seconds a week after throwing five in a 62-point explosion against the Colts. Brees was also picked off twice, including a game-clinching pick six with 2:51 remaining.

New Orleans leads the league, scoring 35 points a game, but never got the offense going against the Rams, ranked near the bottom of the league. St. Louis sacked Brees six times.

Saints receivers were controlled by a Ram secondary that was without its three best players, and New Orleans ran for just 56 yards on 20 carries. It was also reported by Saints radio that guard Carl Nicks and offensive line coach Aaron Kromer had to be separated after a sideline squabble late in the game.

6. Houston Texans (5-3)

Last week’s ranking: 8

This week: Beat Jacksonville 24-14

Next week: vs. Cleveland

Strength of victory factor: 12

Arian Foster rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown, and the Texans shut down the NFL’s worst offense. Matt Schaub threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score, and Houston took another step toward its first division title by improving to 3-0 in the AFC South.

The Texans have outscored divisional opponents by a margin of 99-28 this season. This was the closest of the three games, in part because of two Houston fumbles that the Jaguars turned into touchdowns.

Schaub was 16-for-30 and was sacked twice as the Texans again played without Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson, who missed his fourth straight game with a hamstring injury.

5. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)

Last week’s ranking: 4

This week: Beat Arizona 30-27

Next week: at Pittsburgh

Strength of victory factor: 17

Joe Flacco heard the boos from the Baltimore fans before leading the Ravens to their biggest comeback ever. Billy Cundiff kicked a 25-yard field goal as time expired, and Ray Rice scored a career-high three touchdowns.

The Ravens fell behind 24-3 before answering with 24 straight points, taking the lead on Rice’s third touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Baltimore’s previous largest comeback came in 2006, when it came back from 19 points down to beat Tennessee.

4. Buffalo Bills (5-2)

Last week’s ranking: 7

This week: Beat Washington in Toronto 23-0

Next week: vs. New York Jets

Strength of victory factor: 19

Ryan Fitzpatrick hit tight end Scott Chandler for two touchdowns, and the Bills’ defense turned in its best performance of the year with nine sacks and two interceptions to win for the first time in four games in Toronto.

The Bills are 4-0 at home to open the season for the first time since 1995. Buffalo’s defense was dominant, coming off the bye week to hold the Redskins to 178 yards and 10 first downs.

Running back Fred Jackson rushed for 120 yards and had 74 yards receiving, becoming only the fourth Bill to have more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage after seven games. Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas was the last to do it, in 1991.

3. San Francisco 49ers (6-1)

Last week’s ranking: 2

This week: Beat Cleveland 20-10

Next week: at Washington

Strength of victory factor: 23

Frank Gore had 134 yards and a touchdown—his fourth straight game with at least 125 yards and a score—and Michael Crabtree had his first touchdown catch of the season as the 49ers returned from their bye to win their fifth straight.

Gore passed Roger Craig into second place on San Francisco’s all-time rushing list. Alex Smith was 15-for-24 for 177 yards, and there was no handshake controversy this week for coach Jim Harbaugh.

The 49ers are off to their first 6-1 start since 1998.

2. Detroit Lions (6-2)

Last week’s ranking: 3

This week: Won at Denver 45-10

Next week: Tebowing the night away during the bye

Strength of victory factor: 19

The Lions sacked Tim Tebow seven times and scored two defensive touchdowns to snap their two-game losing streak.

Matthew Stafford showed few effects from his sprained right ankle, throwing for three touchdowns before sitting down in the fourth quarter. Chris Houston had the fourth 100-yard interception return in Detroit history, and Cliff Avril had a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery for a touchdown as part of the Lions’ run of 45 unanswered points after falling behind 3-0.

Stafford was 21-for-30 for 267 yards and had a 56-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Johnson, who joined Randy Moss as the only receivers since the merger in 1970 with 11 touchdown receptions in a season’s first eight games.

1. Green Bay Packers (7-0)

Last week’s ranking: 1

This week: Doing the Discount Double Check during the bye

Next week: at San Diego

Strength of victory factor: 20

The Packers got serious after the bye, holding a full-padded practice on Monday in preparation for a trip to the West Coast. The offensive and defensive lines were banging heads in the session and receivers were being jammed by the defensive backs while running backs worked on blitz pickup assignments.

Tight end Jermichael Finley is hoping to get a long-term deal but won’t be unhappy if Green Bay uses its franchise tag on him.

Running back Brandon Saine was signed from the practice squad to fill the roster spot vacated by injured Alex Green.