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Home / frontnfl / 2024 NFL Power Rankings: Week 9
AP Photo/Matt Rourke

2024 NFL Power Rankings: Week 9


There’s a bit of shuffling in the Week 9 NFL power rankings, with two new teams entering the top five.

 

1. Kansas City Chiefs (7-0) | Last week: 1

The Chiefs defense was able to get home for five sacks of Gardner Minshew despite allowing an efficient day through the air. Still, KC stuffed the Vegas run game, and Patrick Mahomes and the passing attack showed more life with touchdowns to Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy.

 

2. Detroit Lions (6-1) | Last week: 2

I’ll give the respect to the Chiefs, but you can make a very strong case for the Lions at No. 1 in the power rankings. The offense is basically unstoppable, with point totals of 42, 47, 31, and 52 over their past four games.

 

3. Buffalo Bills (6-2) | Last week: 4 (+1)

Speaking of unstoppable, Josh Allen continues to play as well as anyone in the league this season. He was intercepted for the first time, but the Bills racked up 445 yards of offense at Seattle behind a balanced attack and suffocating defense.

 

4. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2) | Last week: 7 (+3)

A handful of teams can be up in this range, but I’ll give the Eagles some love with the way they separated from the Bengals in Cincinnati following a slow start. Philly has stunningly not scored in the first quarter this season—so if they can start faster, watch out.

 

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) | Last week: 8 (+3)

Mike Tomlin and the Steelers also deserve major love in a move up to the top five ahead of Week 9. Russell Wilson was throwing total dimes down the field to complement a determined Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren at running back, and the Pittsburgh defense always finds a way to make plays.

 

6. Houston Texans (6-2) | Last week: 6

Houston stays at No. 6 partly due to the loss of Stefon Diggs for the year due to a torn ACL. The passing game hasn’t been ultra explosive in 2024, but Joe Mixon has been among the best playmakers in football to help Houston control games.

 

7. Baltimore Ravens (5-3) | Last week: 3 (-4)

The defense giving up 401 yards and the late lead to the Browns is a concern and a reminder that the unit is still finding its footing in Year 1 under new coordinator Zach Orr. But going 2/12 combined on third and fourth downs was also a problem for Baltimore in the divisional loss—and it was perhaps a driving force behind the acquisition of wide receiver Diontae Johnson.

 

8. Green Bay Packers (6-2) | Last week: 9 (+1)

Xavier McKinney intercepted yet another pass for a Green Bay defense that did a great job of getting off the field in key situations in the 30-27 win at Jacksonville. Josh Jacobs (25 carries, 127 yards, two touchdowns) led the way while Jordan Love (groin) was at less than 100% and eventually left the game. Malik Willis, who stepped in and went 4/5 for 56 yards and a touchdown, has proven more than capable if forced back into the starting role.

 

9. San Francisco 49ers (4-4) | Last week: 10 (+1)

It was surprising to see Brock Purdy again begin somewhat off on Sunday night, but he eventually got rolling with 316 total yards and a couple of touchdowns against the Cowboys. Rookie running back Isaac Guerendo has shined with his opportunities, but now the hope is that the 49ers get superstar runner Christian McCaffrey back following the Week 9 bye.

 

10. Washington Commanders (6-2) | Last week: 15 (+5)

Good teams find a way to win, and the Commanders continue to look like a good team through nearly half the season. Their playing style of being able to run the ball and possess it is a winning formula, and the defense has surpassed expectations as of late.

 

11. Minnesota Vikings (5-2) | Last week: 5 (-6)

Coming off a tough Thursday night loss at the Rams, the big drop for the Vikings is due in large part to the loss of star left tackle Christian Darrisaw for the year to a torn ACL and MCL. They added Cam Robinson from the Jaguars, but he’s filling massive shoes. I’m interested to see how hard Minnesota focuses on shutting down Jonathan Taylor this Sunday night.

 

12. Atlanta Falcons (5-3) | Last week: 13 (+1)

Kirk Cousins threw four touchdowns (two to tight end Kyle Pitts) in the Falcons’ second win of the year over Tampa Bay, basically putting them two up in the division thanks to the tiebreaker. They host a relatively desperate Dallas team this Sunday.

 

13. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3) | Last week: 16 (+3)

Rookie receiver Ladd McConkey is looking like a steal, and he just had his biggest game with six receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns versus the Saints. The Chargers have alternated wins and losses over the past six games, and they have an opportunity to get a streak going with the Browns and the Titans over the next two weeks.

 

14. Dallas Cowboys (3-4) | Last week: 11 (-3)

They didn’t complete the comeback, but give the Cowboys credit for fighting at San Francisco to make it a game on Sunday night. The connection between Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb showed great signs, but the entire team must get going to avoid falling too far behind in the NFC East and in the conference overall.

 

15. Chicago Bears (4-3) | Last week: 14 (-1)

Losses don’t get much worse than giving up a Hail Mary while cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was taunting the Washington fans. It’s the type of outcome that can make or break a team, so we’ll see how Chicago responds at the fellow playoff-contending Cardinals this weekend.

 

16. Denver Broncos (5-3) | Last week: 17 (+1)

I like the way Sean Payton has his guys performing with an edge, playing off his own edge. He bluntly said the Panthers are a bad offense and that Denver will be tested more coming up. The mindset is there to match up with Baltimore and Kansas City the next two games—we’ll have to see if the supporting cast is potent enough around impressive rookie quarterback Bo Nix.

 

17. Seattle Seahawks (4-4) | Last week: 12 (-5)

I’d like to see the Seahawks get the inside run game going more, as Kenneth Walker III was totally bottled up by Buffalo when trying to get outside. Seattle has three divisional matchups coming up, starting this week when they host the Rams.

 

18. Arizona Cardinals (4-4) | Last week: 21 (+3)

The Cardinals have put together back-to-back wins behind stellar play from quarterback Kyler Murray in tight situations, and Marvin Harrison Jr. had a big game with six receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown at Miami.

 

19. Los Angeles Rams (3-4) | Last week: 23 (+4)

With Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back in the lineup—plus improved protection up front—the Rams looked like a different offense on TNF. They are in the thick of the NFC West race, which quickly shut down the Kupp trade talk. By the way, it’s crazy how ridiculous the totally fake report—designed to get clicks—of the Vikings trading for Matthew Stafford was.

 

20. Cincinnati Bengals (3-5) | Last week: 18 (-2)

The most disappointing performance of Week 8 was probably by the Bengals, who started fast but simply did not play well for the final quarter-plus against the Eagles. Two road games are on deck, and Cincy cannot afford a loss to the Raiders this week at home.

 

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4) | Last week: 19 (-2)

It was early, and we don’t know how things ultimately would have turned out, but the Bucs can have serious issues with the way Antoine Winfield Jr. appeared to force a goal line fumble that was not overturned. Tampa battled, but they drop to 4-4 and now must deal with the Chiefs and Niners the next two weeks.

 

22. Indianapolis Colts (4-4) | Last week: 20 (-2)

The Colts have made a quarterback switch to Joe Flacco, who has almost played too well dating back to his time last season with the Browns to not get the ball for a contending team. That said, I do not believe this is Indy completely pulling the plug on Anthony Richardson.

 

23. Miami Dolphins (2-5) | Last week: 24 (+1)

The good news is the Dolphins are a much better team with Tua Tagovailoa in the lineup. The bad news is the one-point loss to the Cardinals dropped them to 2-5 with a trip to Buffalo coming up. The running back group for Miami must control the game.

 

24. New York Jets (2-6) | Last week: 22 (-2)

I admittedly thought the offseason moves were good enough to get the Jets into a wild-card spot (not to seriously push the Bills in the AFC East), but this nightmare of a season is not surprising. Perhaps they can catch total fire and turn things around, but New York feels like a various assortment of talent as opposed to a team with an identify.

 

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) | Last week: 25

Close losses have been the name of the game for the Jaguars, with four one-possession losses having them at 2-6. Look for Doug Pederson to pull out all the stops for his second time back in Philadelphia since taking over for Jacksonville—but his squad is short-handed without receiver Christian Kirk, who is done for the season with a broken collarbone.

 

26. New York Giants (2-6) | Last week: 26

I respect the way the Giants bounced back and competed at Pittsburgh, but the run defense must improve if they’re going to beat the Commanders and Panthers the next two games and get to 4-6.

 

27. New Orleans Saints (2-6) | Last week: 27

The Saints should be a much better team and more confident all-around with Derek Carr (oblique) expected back after missing the past three games. If they’re going to get right, it starts this Sunday versus the Panthers.

 

28. Las Vegas Raiders (2-6) | Last week: 28

Treating the Chiefs matchups as their Super Bowl to some extent, it’s disappointing that Vegas couldn’t take the first round at home. The Raiders must bring the energy facing a Bengals team with its back against the wall this week.

 

29. Cleveland Browns (2-6) | Last week: 30 (+1)

New play-caller Ken Dorsey deserves credit for calling a good game, but it’s plainly obvious that Jameis Winston is a major quarterback upgrade for the Browns. They’re looking like a more competitive squad heading into a matchup with the Chargers.

 

30. New England Patriots (2-6) | Last week: 31 (+1)

Jerod Mayo called out his team a couple of weeks ago, and—while it was an odd win—they more than responded by getting a victory over the Jets as touchdown underdogs.

 

31. Tennessee Titans (1-6) | Last week: 29 (-2)

The connection between Mason Rudolph and Calvin Ridley started off very strong, but the Lions were basically overpowering once they got going. Teams have not fared well the week after facing Detroit, but the Titans now take on the two-win Pats.

 

32. Carolina Panthers (1-7) | Last week: 32

I thought Bryce Young did a fine job at Denver all things considered, and he should remain under center for the Panthers. He’ll be without Diontae Johnson at receiver moving forward, though.