Ladies and gentlemen, we’re officially halfway through the 2024 NFL regular season. Nine weeks down, nine to go. Playoff races and the battle for the two first-round byes continue to heat up.
With Week 9, let’s dive into our latest 2024 NFL power rankings.
Which teams are at the top of the NFL power rankings after week 9?
32. New England Patriots (30)
Drake Maye’s play in the Pats’ 20-17 overtime loss to the Titans can be best described as a mixed bag. 95 rushing yards but just one touchdown and two interceptions.
Then again, it’s clear he doesn’t have much to work with in the passing game outside of Hunter Henry. At this point, Pats fans may as well hope for a tank job that would net them a franchise-changing gem like Travis Hunter.
31. Carolina Panthers (32)
Bryce Young didn’t play great by any means, but the Panthers had the fortunes of playing another hapless NFL team , the New Orleans Saints. Someone had to win, and Young’s team screwed up just a little less to escape with a 23-22 victory.
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The Panthers get another winnable game this week with a showdown against the New York Giants in Munich, Germany. Another opportunity for the Panthers to play themselves out of the NFL basement!
30. Jacksonville Jaguars (29)
The Philadelphia Eagles tried handing it to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but Trevor Lawrence and company didn’t take what was handed to them on a silver platter.
Lawrence threw two awful interceptions, including a mind-numbing game-sealer in the end zone with a chance to play the hero. It’s just mistake after mistake after mistake with Doug Pederson’s squad, who have totally and inexplicably lost basic fundamentals since last year’s second-half collapse.
29. Las Vegas Raiders (28)
Not to be outdone by the other NFL bottom-feeders, the Raiders are also doing their part in tanking for the first overall pick.
Antonio Pierce’s group was no contest for Joe Burrow’s Cincinnati Bengals, who danced to an easy 41-24 victory. This was also the fourth time where the Raiders coughed up 30-plus points, a clear indicator that last season’s dominance on defense was a mirage.
It’s Team Tank, Raiders fans. At least the NHL’s Golden Knights look good.
28. Tennessee Titans (31)
Like Carolina and New Orleans, the Titans-New England Patriots game marked a showdown where one terrible NFL team had to win. Sure enough, Mason Rudolph narrowly outdueled Drake Maye to lead Tennessee to a 20-17 victory in overtime.
Calvin Ridley got going again with five catches for 73 yards. Do you think Dallas misses Tony Pollard, who tallied his first 100-yard game as a Titan in the victory?
27. New York Giants (27)
The Giants kept it closer than expected on Sunday, but a 27-22 loss to the NFC East rival Washington Commanders still resulted in another sour Sunday for Big Blue.
New York has now lost four in a row as they also, seemingly, try to out-tank the NFL’s other cellar dwellers. The Daniel Jones era can’t end soon enough. Also, can someone remind us why the G-Men let Saquon Barkley leave for nothing again?
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams After Week 8 Games
26. New Orleans Saints (26)
We’re kinda shocked that New Orleans didn’t hand Dennis Allen a three-year extension after Sunday’s sloppy loss to Carolina. For once, they did the right thing and fired him after a seventh straight loss.
On a positive note, the Saints just keep pushing themselves closer to a top-five pick!
25. Cleveland Browns (25)
Jameis Winston’s big day against Baltimore last week was clearly a mirage. “Famous Jameis” laid an egg in Sunday’s ugly 27-10 beatdown at the hands of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Most years, the Browns would be in contention for a top-three pick. Too bad that they’re only one of nine truly helpless NFL teams this year. The good news is that the Browns have a brutal schedule, so we still like their odds of out-tanking most of the other awful teams.
24. Miami Dolphins (23)
It’s time to start asking questions about Mike McDaniel. He was outcoached again by Sean McDermott in a heartbreaking 30-27 home loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Now, at 2-6, the season’s over in Miami. As fantasy owners know, Tyreek Hill hasn’t exactly been playing like a star this year. The entire offense has been painful to watch for long stretches, and the defense is virtually non-existent without Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips.
This dreadful year can’t end soon enough for the Dolphins, who’ve been among football’s greatest disappointments this season.
23. New York Jets (24)
What a difference a half makes! MetLife Stadium was erupting with boos in the first half of the Jets’ Thursday nighter against Houston. Then, vintage Aaron Rodgers returned in the second half, leading the Jets to a potential season-saving 21-13 victory.
Make no mistake, there are still plenty of wrinkles and issues on this roster. But the Jets’ have a relatively easy second-half schedule, and 10-7 probably gets them into the NFL playoffs. They can probably afford one more loss, so don’t count out Rodgers and the Jets just yet.
22. Dallas Cowboys (21)
The Cowboys’ season can be summed up with this pathetic fake punt attempt in their 27-21 road loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Oh, and Dak Prescott is out multiple weeks with a hamstring injury. Other than that, things are just fine in Big D!
The incredible part is that even if Dallas were to lose out, Jerry Jones still probably wouldn’t make any changes.. Mediocrity may as well be the man’s middle name at this point.
21. Indianapolis Colts (19)
So, uh…back to Anthony Richardson, anybody?
Shane Steichen’s master plan of teaching his young QB a lesson by benching him in favor of Joe Flacco led to a 21-13 prime-time loss to Minnesota. And with that, the maddeningly inconsistent Colts are 4-and-5 at the halfway point of their season.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (18)
Baker Mayfield and the Bucs deserve praise for keeping it close in Kansas City without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. But moral losses don’t help standings-wise, and Todd Bowles oughta be kicking himself for not attempting a game-winning two-point conversion at the end.
The banged-up Bucs are 4-5 and slipping out of the NFL playoff race. The one positive? The Chargers are the only team boasting a winning record remaining on their schedule.
19. Seattle Seahawks (15)
The Hawks are really having an identity crisis. They’re supposed to be an offensive machine, yet Geno Smith can’t stop turning the ball over. Mike Macdonald is supposed to be a defensive guru, yet his defense has surrendered 26-plus points in each of their five losses this year.
The Seahawks are now 4-5 with a brutally difficult schedule following their Week 10 bye. Not sure if this is a hot take, but we’d consider starting Sam Howell for Week 11 against San Francisco.
18. Chicago Bears (16)
It’s time to start worrying about the Bears now.
One week after losing to the Commanders on a Hail Mary, they no-showed their Week 9 road game in Arizona. Kyler Murray and the Cardinals mopped them up with a statement 29-9 victory, dropping Chicago to 4-4
The three NFC wild-card teams each have six wins. Chicago still has six divisional games on its schedule. It’s now or never for Matt Eberflus’ squad to show these aren’t your same old Bears.
17. Cincinnati Bengals (22)
Well, don’t count out Joe Burrow’s group just yet. Winners in three of their past four, the 4-5 Bengals crushed the Raiders to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The schedule does no favors with the Ravens, Chargers, and Steelers next on the slate. But these Bengals have a knack for lighting it up in the second half with Burrow, so of course, they can climb their way back into the playoff pictures.
16. Los Angeles Rams (20)
It’s Deja Vu, huh?
The Rams were 3-6 a year ago, then closed out on a 7-1 run to make the postseason. This year’s Rams were 1-4. Now they’re 4-4 and right back in the playoff race, courtesy of the returns of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua.
The Rams saved their season with a 26-20 overtime road win in Seattle. The 2-win Dolphins, two-win Patriots, and two-win Saints make up three of their next four games, so the path is clear to gain ground in the NFL playoff race.
15. San Francisco 49ers (14)
The 49ers enjoyed a much-needed bye after defeating the Cowboys in Week 8 to get back to .500. The hope now is that 023 rushing champion Christian McCaffrey will return for Sunday’s clash with the Bucs.
The Green Bay Packers hold the last wild card spot with a 6-3 record, so the 49ers realllllly need to go on a run here if they’re to sneak into the postseason.
14. Arizona Cardinals (17)
Kyler Murray and the Cardinals crushed Caleb Williams’ Bears in the first battle of the first-overall pick. With three straight wins, the 5-4 Cardinals are to be taken seriously in the NFL playoff race — and that’s with rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. NOT being much of a factor!
Arizona gets Aaron Rodgers’ Jets at home on Sunday before heading into the bye week. The vibes would go through the roof with a win there.
13. Denver Broncos (12)
Bo Nix and the Broncos were issued a harsh lesson in Sunday’s beatdown loss at the hands of the Ravens. Even though they’re in the wild-card race, this group is a long way away from competing with the top dogs.
Things don’t get easier with a road game against Kansas City next on the slate. So we wish Sean Payton’s group luck in not falling back to .500!
12. Los Angeles Chargers (13)
As they were expected to do, the Chargers made easy work of the hapless Cleveland Browns in a 27-10 victory. Jim Harbaugh has brought clean and tidy football to a Bolts team that has seemingly erased the whole “Classic Chargers” thing.
The Chargers comfortably occupy the No. 6 seed in the AFC, but a four-game stretch awaits where they’ll face the Bengals, Ravens, Falcons, and Chiefs. So hold onto your seats, Bolts fans. This playoff push is about to get wild!
11. Houston Texans (5)
NOW we’re concerned about the Texans.
Stefon Diggs’ absence was felt in Thursday night’s sloppy loss to the Jets. CJ Stroud had no time to throw behind that horrendous offensive line, and the Texans suddenly don’t look like much of a threat in the AFC.
The good news for Houston is that their division is a joke. But if they don’t clean up the pass protection issues, and if Nico Collins doesn’t return soon, this will be a one-and-done team in the NFL postseason.
10. Atlanta Falcons (11)
Kirk Cousins and the Falcons just keep on rolling, defeating the Cowboys 27-21 to improve to 6-3 on the year. Atlanta is 5-1 over its last six games, putting up over 26 points in each of those wins.
The Buccaneers have too many injuries to hang in there with the Falcons, so this division should be locked up well before Week 18. For Atlanta, it’s now about playoff seeding. The NFC South race is over.
9. Green Bay Packers (3)
It’s usually hard to panic about a 6-and-3 team. But the Packers were outclassed, outcoached, and outplayed in every aspect during their rain-filled loss to the superior Lions at Lambeau Field.
Four of Green Bay’s wins have been decided by single digits. Their three losses were against the Vikings, Eagles, and Lions. So you decide if they’re really NFL contenders or not.
Their defense can’t make stops against top-flight offenses. Jordan Love has 10 interceptions in seven games. Are they really Super Bowl players? We’ll get a better idea coming out of their Week 10 bye.
8. Minnesota Vikings (10)
It was closer than it should have been, but Kevin O’Connell’s Vikings managed to squeak out an ugly 21-13 home win over Joe Flacco’s Colts in prime time.
Take a win; however, you can get ‘em, though. Minny is still just one game behind Detroit for the NFC’s top seed, and they have three straight “should-be” wins with the Jaguars, Titans, and Bears next on the schedule.
7. Philadelphia Eagles (9)
Like Minnesota, the Eagles had little business letting an inferior opponent keep it close against them. But Nakobe Dean’s late end-zone interception off of Trevor Lawrence sealed Philly’s fourth straight win.
It still feels like people are sleeping on the Eagles. Nick Sirianni still gets too reckless with his decision-making, yes. But this team features a top-10 NFL offense AND defense. And they haven’t had a running back like Saquon Barkley since an in-his-prime LeSean McCoy.
Sleep on Philly at your own risk, but they’re not far off from the 2022 squad that won the NFC.
6. Baltimore Ravens (8)
The Ravens shrugged off a stunning Week 8 road loss in Cleveland by destroying Bo Nix and the Broncos at home by a final score of 41-10. It’s just laughable how much these guys can toy with the inferior competition.
It’s a two-way horse race between Baltimore and Pittsburgh for the AFC North, and they still have a pair of meetings ahead in the second half. Buckle up!
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (6)
Russell Wilson and the Steelers rolled into their Week 9 bye as winners of two straight. The real tests are straight ahead, however, with the Commanders and Ravens making up their next two games.
Win both of those, and Pittsburgh will be in the AFC North driver’s seat. Let’s see how Wilson and the company perform after the bye week.
4. Washington Commanders (7)
Jayden Daniels and the Commanders avoided an upset in the Meadowlands, outlasting the helpless Giants 27-22 to improve to pick up their seventh win.
The Commanders can’t let up, though. They’ve got the Eagles and Steelers next on their schedule. They’ve beaten one NFL team with a winning record heading into Week 10, so we’ll find out just how serious Dan Quinn’s group is to be taken.
3. Buffalo Bills (4)
The Bills just barely avoided an upset at home against the Dolphins, winning on a late Tyler Bass field goal that moved Buffalo to 7-2.
The AFC East race was over weeks ago. Now we see if the Bills can somehow gain ground on Kansas City for the AFC’s top seed. Hey, the two NFL teams meet at Highmark Stadium next week!
2. Detroit Lions (2)
In case you needed a reminder…
The Lions ARE far and away the most complete NFL team in the NFC. An easy 24-14 road win at Lambeau Field? Yep, Dan Campbell’s team is even more dangerous than the 49ers, Eagles, Packers, Vikings and Commanders.
Detroit is still neck-and-neck with Washington for the NFC’s top seed. But right now, this is the Lions’ conference to lose.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (1)
The Chiefs barely survived a scare from Baker Mayfield’s Bucs to pull out a 30-24 overtime win. But hey, 8-0 is 8-0. No complaints for Patrick Mahomes and company.
Kareem Hunt and Travis Kelce each had 100 yards of offense, and newcomer DeAndre Hopkins had his Chiefs’ breakout game with eight catches for 86 yards and two touchdowns. They just keep getting better offensively, and that’s a terrifying thought for the rest of the NFL.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams’ Offenses From WORST To FIRST After Week 8 Of The 2024 Season
