NFL Power Rankings Week 9: Contending Teams Destined to Fail

Several contending teams such as the San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots lost in Week 8 of the NFL season, and were unable to widen their leads atop their respective divisions.

But which teams will fall further in Week 9? Many top teams square off against one another this week.

The Chargers must take on the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers this week in a very tough matchup, and the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers renew their AFC North rivalry as well.

Let's look at three teams destined to fall in the power rankings after Week 9 of the season.

1) San Diego Chargers

After a couple poor performances in recent weeks, it's hard to imagine a scenario in which the San Diego Chargers can beat the Green Bay Packers, who are 7-0 and coming off a bye week.

Playing the best team in football is hard enough, but it's even more difficult when they are well rested. The Packers offense, led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, will destroy the Chargers pass defense, and score too many points for San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers to match.

Rivers has struggled mightily this season in regards to turning the ball over, and against a top defense on Sunday he will continue to play poorly.

2) Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers will battle with first place in the AFC North up for grabs on Sunday night.

The game is in Pittsburgh, which certainly gives the Steelers the advantage. After a thrilling comeback to beat the Arizona Cardinals last week, the Ravens still aren't playing good football. The offense isn't executing well enough and Joe Flacco did not play well in October.

The Steelers are playing extremely well on both sides of the ball, and just beat the New England Patriots in Week 8. Pittsburgh will beat Baltimore on Sunday and avenge their opening week blowout loss to the Ravens.

3) Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills are atop the AFC East division because of their head-to-head tie breaker against the New England Patriots, and face a tough division game this week at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo.

The Bills will lose to the Jets because New York's passing offense is finally starting to click and their defense is forcing turnovers.

The game is almost a must-win for the Jets because it could put them two games back of two teams in the division to start the second half of the season.

New York will get a big win against Buffalo on Sunday after a Week 8 bye.

Nicholas Goss' Week 9 NFL Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

3. New Orleans Saints

4. San Francisco 49ers

5. New England Patriots

6. New York Giants

7. Baltimore Ravens 

8. Detroit Lions

9. Buffalo Bills

10. Cincinnati Bengals

11. San Diego Chargers

12. Chicago Bears

13. New York Jets

14. Atlanta Falcons

15. Oakland Raiders

16. Houston Texans

17. Philadelphia Eagles

18. Tennessee Titans

19. Washington Redskins

20. Dallas Cowboys 

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

22. Kansas City Chiefs

23. Minnesota Vikings

24. Seattle Seahawks

25. Carolina Panthers

26. Jacksonville Jaguars

27. Arizona Cardinals

28. St. Louis Rams

29. Cleveland Browns

30. Indianapolis Colts

31. Denver Broncos

32. Miami Dolphins