GSM NFL Power Rankings- Week 9
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With the NFL now a 17 game season, the midway point of the NFL year happened at some time yesterday afternoon.
As we reach and pass the halfway marker, the NFL looks largely as we thought it would look at the top of the food chain, with 9/10 of the preseason top 10 finding themselves in the top 10 of Week 9’s power rankings, albeit in different orders.
While the top of the NFL was fairly predictable over the first half, the latter half has been anything but with wild shifts every single week.
The second half of the NFL season will assuredly separate the contenders from the pretenders at the top, and shape up the race for the #1 draft pick and USC QB Caleb Williams at the bottom. Either way, the drama and meaning will only continue to build as we draw ever nearer to the promised land that is the playoffs.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (Prev. 2)
The Eagles possess the best record in the NFL at 7-1, and despite some close calls seem to be one of the more complete teams in the NFL at this point in time. A major matchup with Dallas next week will test this team’s mettle.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (Prev. 1)
The Chiefs had an awful day against one of the worst teams in the league on Sunday, but the loss to Denver is no backbreaker. The Chiefs are still well in control of their division, and should be able to bounce back quite easily.
3. Miami Dolphins (Prev. 4)
The Dolphins handled a bad Patriots team on Sunday. At 6-2, they control their division for the time being.
4. Dallas Cowboys (Prev. 6)
The Cowboys continue to look good against middle of the pack teams, handling the Rams on Sunday. But can they show up in big games? That question will continue to follow them for the remainder of the season.
5. Cincinnati Bengals (Prev. 10)
Joe Burrow looks fully healthy after the Bengals bye, and Cincinnati is rolling again. They’ve got some ground to make up in their division, but the sky’s the limit when this offense is cooking.
6. Baltimore Ravens (Prev. 5)
The Ravens got the win on the road against a Cardinals team that has kept just about every contest close thus far. Lamar Jackson is quietly having an MVP caliber season.
7. San Francisco 49ers (Prev. 3)
The 49ers fell for the 3rd straight week, this time to the rejuvenated Bengals. San Francisco will have the week off for the bye to try and get things straightened out.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (Prev. 7)
The Jaguars just continue to win football games. With Kansas City’s loss, the Jags now possess the longest winning streak in the NFL. Style points don’t matter as long as you get the job done.
9. Buffalo Bills (Prev. 8)
The Bills got the win, but it surely wasn’t a pretty one against the Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football. Since dominating the Dolphins a few weeks ago, the Bills have looked exceptionally mediocre.
10. Detroit Lions (Prev. 9)
The Lions bounced back from a blowout loss to the Ravens with a solid defeat of an extremely below average Raiders squad. The Lions could just about play with one hand tied behind their back for the rest of the year and still win the NFC North, so a rare Lions playoff appearance seems to be on the way.
11. Seattle Seahawks (Prev. 11)
The Seahawks lead the NFC West! Will it last? Probably not. But we have to give them this moment.
12. Los Angeles Chargers (Prev. 14)
The Chargers looked really good on Sunday Night Football, albeit against Chicago.
13. Cleveland Browns (Prev. 12)
The Browns dropped a tight one to the Seahawks on Sunday as Cleveland continues to search for an offense to pair with their monstrous defense.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (Prev. 13)
The Steelers were the latest victim of the Jaguars as QB Kenny Pickett exited just before halftime and the Matt Canada offense looked flat once again. The Steelers must get offensive production to sustain any type of success this season.
15. New Orleans Saints (Prev. 16)
The Saints won by double digits to get back to .500. In an easily winnable division, the Saints will have every opportunity to get back on track.
16. New York Jets (Prev. 17)
The Jets are quietly over .500. Some hope is potentially re emerging in Jets country.
17. Houston Texans (Prev. 15)
The Texans gave the previously winless Panthers their first win in a helpful reminder that Houston’s young team is not near competing at the moment.
18. Tennessee Titans (Prev. 20)
The Titans might just have something in rookie 2nd round pick Will Levis.
19. Indianapolis Colts (Prev. 18)
Minshew Mania has quieted considerably after a loss to the Saints at home. Indy still has a solid roster, but they won’t be competing for much of anything this season.
20. Atlanta Falcons (Prev. 21)
The Falcons usage of their skill players continues to baffle even the brightest of football minds. The Falcons are depressingly mediocre.
21. Tampa Bay (Prev. 22)
The Bucs kept it close with the Bills, but were ultimately an extremely close hail mary attempt away from the win. Like the other members of the NFC South, Tampa Bay is an extremely mid entity.
22. Los Angeles Rams (Prev. 19)
The Rams got taken to school by the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Their defense is nowhere near where it has been in previous seasons, and their offense remains sporadic, particularly in the run game.
23. Minnesota Vikings (Prev. 23)
Any new hope the Vikings had stumbled upon with two straight wins was immediately and crushingly dashed by the loss of QB Kirk Cousins to a torn Achilles late in the contest against the Packers.
24. New England Patriots (Prev. 24)
After a delightful reprieve with a win against Buffalo, the Patriots got back to what they have done best in 2023 against the Dolphins by losing 31-17 to drop to 2-5.
25. Denver Broncos (Prev. 28)
With a big win over the Chiefs, the Broncos have now won two straight games. It’s almost assuredly lightning in a bottle, but Broncos country is riding for the time being.
26. New York Giants (Prev. 25)
The Giants lost the battle of New York teams, which was considerably less exciting than it had been billed to be before the season. The Giants simply aren’t a very good football team at the moment.
27. Washington Commanders (Prev. 26)
After dropping a close one to the Eagles, the Commanders sold at the NFL trade deadline, dealing defensive studs Chase Young and Montez Sweat to the 49ers and Bears respectively. It may be tanking time in Washington.
28. Arizona Cardinals (Prev. 27)
The Cardinals fell to 1-7 with another close loss, this time at the hands of Baltimore. The Cardinals are currently in line for the top overall pick of the NFL draft, which will be a curious storyline as we enter the second half of the season.
29. Carolina Panthers (Prev. 32)
They got their first win of the season! Participation trophies for everyone!
30. Green Bay Packers (Prev. 29)
A loss to the Vikings at home pretty much ended any thoughts of a decent season in Green Bay. 6 months left until the NFL Draft.
31. Chicago Bears (Prev. 30)
Yeah, this is rough. At least they aren’t the Raiders. And they have Montez Sweat now, courtesy of the Commanders.
32. Las Vegas Raiders (Prev. 31)
The Raiders fired both head coach Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler in the middle of the night on Halloween. Needless to say, the season hasn’t been pretty so far in Las Vegas.
