NFL Power Rankings after Week 9

Horrible was the only way I know how to describe last week’s football. Not only did most of my picks go awry again, but the Browns continue to lose and the Bears fall from grace. I guess it shouldn’t come as a shock it was against the Miami Dolphins, who were likely compensated by the ’72 team for their big win.

The evil team that is a guaranteed choke job in the playoffs now rules supreme.

1. Indianapolis Colts – (8-0, Last Week: 2) Beating the Patriots in their own house is no easy task. Peyton and the Colts look great now, but don’t they always?

2. Chicago Bears – (7-1, Last Week: 1) Contrary to what ESPN makes it sound like all the time, one loss is not the end of the world. Rex Grossman has to play better.

3. Denver Broncos – (6-2, Last Week: 4) I am sure the win over the Steelers seemed more like a given than it did at the beginning of the season.

4. San Diego Chargers – (6-2, Last Week: 5) The Browns gave them a scare, but LT found a way to get his usual 180 yards and three touchdowns.

5. New York Giants – (6-2, Last Week: 6) No matter how good this team looks right now, they have to be worried about all the injuries on the defensive side.

6. New England Patriots – (6-2, Last Week: 3) This team will bounce back fine after their loss to the Colts.

7. Baltimore Ravens – (6-2, Last Week: 7) Catching the Bengals while they are weak was a key victory. The offense looks better now that Jim Fassel is gone.

8. New Orleans Saints – (6-2, Last week: 10) The team just keeps on winning, and Reggie Bush really has not been the reason. Amazing.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars – (5-3, Last Week: 13) How David Garrard wins every week amazes me. He may not have fantasy value, but he knows how to win.

10. Kansas City Chiefs – (5-3, Last Week: 16) They came back from the dead and have put themselves in contention for a playoff spot. All with the back up quarterback.

11. Seattle Seahawks – (5-3, Last Week: 15) Not sure if this team will make the playoffs, but at least they win the games they are supposed to.

12. Atlanta Falcons – (5-3, Last Week: 8) Beat Pittsburg. Check. Beat Cincinnati. Check. Beat Detroit. Whoops. Missed that one.

13. Cincinnati Bengals – (4-4, Last Week: 9) My Super Bowl pick is not looking so super right now.

14. Dallas Cowboys – (4-4, Last Week: 12) And my other Super Bowl representative is just as average.

15. Carolina Panthers – (4-4, Last Week: 14) The team everyone else picked to go to the Super Bowl – also average as can be.

16. Minnesota Vikings – (4-4, Last Week: 11) One of the surprise teams from early on is coming back down to earth.

17. St. Louis Rams – (4-4, Last Week: 17) This team is better than their record, or at least their offense is.

18. New York Jets – (4-4, Last Week: 18) Will not be there when it is all said and done.

19. Philadelphia Eagles – (4-4, Last Week: 19) Much like the Rams, in every facet. Great offense that passes a lot, and a defense that cannot stop a lot.

20. San Francisco 49ers – (3-5, Last Week: 29) The worst 3-5 team in the league, but a win is a win.

21. Green Bay Packers – (3-5, Last Week: 20) Beating the Bills would have given them some playoff hopes. They are gone once again.

22. Buffalo Bills – (3-5, Last Week: 28) They caught the Packers off guard, but still are not a good football team.

23. Miami Dolphins – (2-6, Last Week: 30) They played to their potential, if only for the one week.

24. Detroit Lions – (2-6, Last Week: 26) Did they beat the Falcons, or did the Falcons beat themselves? Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.

25. Cleveland Browns – (2-6, Last Week: 22) They contained LT for about three quarters. Too bad football games last four quarters.

26. Houston Texans – (2-6, Last Week: 27) Almost beat the Giants. Almost. Put in Sage Rosenfels, and maybe it would have happened.

27. Washington Redskins – (3-5, Last Week: 31) They got luck against the Cowboys, but when a team is this bad, you take wins however you can get them.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers – (2-6, Last Week: 25) They are almost to the bottom. But the Cardinals need to win before they can fall the rest of the way.

21. Tennessee Titans – (2-6, Last Week: 21) Jacksonville just flat out embarrassed them. Vince Young is looking quite shady in his first season.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – (2-6, Last Week: 24) The Saints kicked their butts like most teams have all season. This team is just bad.

31. Oakland Raiders – (2-6, Last Week: 23) Getting shut out on Monday Night Football twice in the same season. Priceless.

32. Arizona Cardinals – (1-7, Last Week: 32) Guess how many wins Matt Lienart has so far? That is correct – a big fat zero.

ESPN’s Power Rankings