NFL Power Rankings: Teams Whose Playoff Dreams Will Diminish in Week 9

Nicholas GossNov 5, 2011

As the NFL season moves into the second half there are many teams in desperate need of a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Teams like the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys cannot afford to lose to inferior teams in Week 9 and see their seasons come crashing down.

Let's look at three teams whose playoff dreams will diminish this week.

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1. Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins started this season 3-1, but have since dropped to 3-4. Against the NFC West leading San Francisco 49ers on Sunday they will lose all hope of making the playoffs.

The Redskins defense has not played well during their three game losing streak. In the team's first four games the most points they allowed was 21, and on their current three game skid they've allowed 76 points total.

Their offense has really struggled too. In the last three games Washington has scored just 33 points. An 11-point per game average isn't good enough to win in the NFL, and against a great 49ers defense this week the Redskins will lose again.

2. San Diego Chargers

The Chargers face the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers this week, which is not the opponent they would like to play while riding a two-game losing streak.

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has not played at the MVP level many envisioned he would at the start of the season.

He's been turning the ball over a lot this season, and against a Packers defense full of playmakers, Rivers will struggle again on Sunday.

The Packers offense is on fire and they will score too many points for the Chargers to match. San Diego will see it's playoff hopes diminish severely with a loss to Green Bay in Week 9.

3. New York Jets

The New York Jets are struggling right now, and when they lose to the AFC East leading Buffalo Bills on Sunday their playoff hopes will take a major blow.

The Jets allow 126.9 yards per game on the ground, which means the Bills and stud running back Fred Jackson will run all game and control the clock and possession of the football.

The Jets passing game led by quarterback Mark Sanchez has not taken a step forward this season, and the past few weeks they've tried to run the ball more, and have gotten mediocre results.

The Jets defense has allowed 24.6 points per game this season, and the Bills will make that average even worse on Sunday when the defeat New York.

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