NFL POWER RANKINGS: WEEK 9

BY ADAM GREENE

It’s time to deliver our praise and punishment and, man, do we have plenty of the latter to dole out this week.

1. LOS ANGELES RAMS (7-1)

For the first time since Week 4 the Rams return to the top spot in the Power Rankings. It’s not just because the Arizona Cardinals lost, though that alone would have done it. Once again LA has not let an NFL trade deadline go without making a splash, this time bringing in future Pro Football Hall of Famer Von Miller to a defense already leading the NFL in sacks. Last week: No. 2

2. GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-1)

Alright, we have a lot to parse through here. I’m sticking the Packers at No. 2 in spite of the fact that Aaron Rodgers not only caught COVID-19, but publicly lied about being vaccinated. It turns out Rodgers felt he was “immunized” by some sort of holistic nonsense that probably involved a shaman, a crystal and a big pile of peyote. Either way, Rodgers has been violating the NFL’s established Covid protocols all season and there’s a hundred plus hours of video and thousands of photos to prove it. Just pull up Youtube and look for a recent press conference. All unvaccinated players are required, by rule, to wear masks indoors. It’s why Lamar Jackson does his press conferences in a mask. And Carson Wentz too. And yet here is unvaccinated Aaron Rodgers talking to reporters last Thursday. Now, the NFL has tossed Green Bay under the bus, saying it’s up to them to enforce the COVID-19 policy (which they obviously weren’t), because of course they have. So here’s where we are. Hopefully Aaron Rodgers recovers from Covid and is fine. Then, he needs to be suspended maybe for the rest of the year and levied a huge fine. The Packers too need to be fined in hundreds of thousands range and be forced to forfeit draft picks, starting with their 2022 first rounder. This is the established punishment for such an act by a player and the organization that attempted to cover it up. Just ask the New England Patriots and Tom Brady. Being a plague rat and lying about it is way worse than deflating a few footballs.  Last week: No. 4

3. ARIZONA CARDINALS (7-1)

The Cardinals weren’t going undefeated and dropping a game to Packers isn’t bad, especially if it’s the last game Aaron Rodgers plays this season (and it should be). But now Arizona’s weaknesses are on display and they have to react. And they have to do it without J.J. Watt on defense because it’s Week 9 and that means what it always means with Watt, he’s injured and out for the rest of the season. Last week: No. 1

4. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (6-2)

The Bucs were swept by the New Orleans Saints last year in the regular season, but got revenge in the playoffs on their way to the Super Bowl. Apparently they feel like that strategy worked for them and if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Last week: No. 3

5. TENNESSEE TITANS (6-2)

The Titans had every excuse to lose last Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, especially with the loss of Derrick Henry for the rest of the regular season (at least). But they didn’t and now they’re atop the AFC rankings and all they have to do to stay there is keep winning. They get their first shot at holding the top spot Sunday Night against the Power Rankings’ No. 1 team on the road in what could be a Super Bowl preview. Last week: No. 6

6. DALLAS COWBOYS (6-1)

Even more than the Titans, the Cowboys could have folded their tents and took a loss at Minnesota last Sunday night. Instead, they rallied around Cooper Rush and played decent football. It helped that the Vikings played like ass, but you take the wins you can. Last week: No. 8

7. BUFFALO BILLS (5-2)

The Bills are ranked below the Titans here, but if and when these two teams play again, I’m betting Buffalo probably gets it done. The AFC is wide open and, frankly, nothing would surprise me at this point, but the Bills look like an AFC Championship squad at worst. Last week: No. 9

8. CINCINNATI BENGALS (5-3)

Losing to the Jets is an old school Bungles move for a team trying to exorcise that stink from their facility. Most teams get a mulligan a year, but Cincinnati has now used up two with losses to the Chicago Bears and Jets. All they have to do to fix it is knock off a slumping Cleveland Browns team Sunday. Last week: No. 5

9. BALTIMORE RAVENS (5-2)

The Ravens have a chance to retake the lead in the AFC home field rankings with a win over the Vikings and a Rams victory over the Titans. And they’ve had a bye week to prepare to do it. Last week: No. 7

10. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (5-2)

I’m not sure what cursed idol the Raiders have in their facility right now, but someone needs to scour the place and get it back to Peter Brady where it belongs. Las Vegas isn’t snake bit. They’ve been chomped, choked and digested by a Titanoboa at this point. Last week: No. `10

11. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-2)

Jameis Winston is lost for the year, but if there’s one thing Sean Payton has proven he can do, it’s win with back up quarterbacks. Still, I’d give Cam Newton (who is vaccinated with the actual vaccine and not the shaman blessed clay and crystals Aaron Rodgers claimed) a call.  Last week: No. 13

12. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-3)

Ben Roethlisberger reclaimed his FirstEnergy Stadium belt from Baker Mayfield last weekend and if he retires at the end of the year (and I think he will), he gets to keep it. Last week: No. 16

13. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (4-3)

Man, reality comes at you fast and the Chargers are still a playoff team (and probably AFC West champs), but that loss to the New England Patriots was uglier than Mac Jones without a shirt. Last week: No. 11

14. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (4-4)

Barely hanging on to beat the New York Giants is a bad look for any team, let alone the defending AFC Champions. Now they get the Packers with Jordan Love making his debut. They better not take him, or Green Bay, lightly. Last week: No. 14

15. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (4-4)

For the first time this season, the Patriots have defeated a team not starting a rookie quarterback. It just so happened to be the Chargers, starting a second year QB. And while I could make a joke about that, Justin Herbert is the real deal and that was a big win over a squad that will be playing in January. Last week: No. 19

16. DENVER BRONCOS (4-4)

I respect that the Broncos took an honest assessment of their roster and chances and decided to go ahead and arm up for next year. It doesn’t mean they won’t make the playoffs. At .500 right now, they’re as in it for a sixth or seventh seed as much as the Browns, Steelers and Chiefs, but that’s their top out. Making it and exiting quickly. Frankly, for their draft capital and likely trade opportunities, it would be better for them to miss the postseason. Last week: No. 20

17. CLEVELAND BROWNS (4-4)

I’m losing count of how many times Baker Mayfield has been given the ball down a score with plenty of time on the clock with an opportunity to win in the fourth quarter and not delivered. It’s his thing now. Last week: No. 12

18. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (3-4)

The 49ers gave up some all time highlight plays against the Chicago Bears but still managed to win. A victory over the Cardinals not only puts them back in the potential playoff seeding halfway through the season, but gives them an outside mathematical shot at the NFC West title. Last week: No. 15

19. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (3-5)

Carson Wentz hadn’t thrown an interception in weeks, then unleashed two against the Titans at the worst possible time. Because of that, Indianapolis finds its season on the line Thursday night when they host the New York Jets. Last week: No. 17

20. CAROLINA PANTHERS (4-4)

The Panthers halted their four game losing streak with a win over the Falcons because of course they did. Last week: No. 22

21. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (3-5)

Geno Smith didn’t have to come from behind and get a victory this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars and I think that might just be the only way he can deliver for Seattle. Now they get the week off with a chance to put Russell Wilson back on the field in time to face the (maybe Rodgers-less) Packers on Nov. 14. Last week: No. 23

22. CHICAGO BEARS (3-5)

It’s too bad Justin Fields doesn’t have a shot at the Heisman, because he made some elite looking and spectacular plays last week. In the NFL, though, all that gets you is a pretty loss. Last week: No. 18

23. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-4)

There’s bad losses, then there’s losses to a depleted Cowboys team playing their back up quarterback. The good news for Mike Zimmer is that he’s probably back on the chopping block. Last week: No. 21

24. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (3-5)

We’re eight games into the season and I’m not sure if I’ve picked an Eagles game correctly all season. As mysteries go, Philly is a conundrum and one that might not be worth solving. Last week: No. 26

25. ATLANTA FALCONS (3-4)

For a team discovering new ways to lose every season, dropping a home game to a worthless Panthers squad should be carved in polished marble and placed in the Louvre. Last week: No. 24

26. WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM (2-6)

How many Washington games will I watch end on NFL Red Zone with a Hail Mary attempt? What’s the over-under on that? Last Week: No. 25

27. NEW YORK JETS (2-5)

The Jets have won two games this year and they both happen to be against two of the best teams in the AFC; the Titans and the Bengals. New York is taking the old axiom of “Any Given Sunday” to the extreme. Last week: No. 30

28. NEW YORK GIANTS (2-6)

The fact that the Giants kept it close against the Chiefs probably says more about Kansas City than it does about New York. Last week: No. 27

29. MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-7)

Well, the good news for Tua Tagovailoa is that he gets to remain in Miami as the team couldn’t get the price right in a trade with the Houston Texans for Deshaun Watson. The bad news is, his team wanted to trade for Deshaun Watson. He now has eight games left to make them happy he’s still behind center… something he’s been unable to do over the season’s first two months. Last week: No. 28

30. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-6)

Getting dominated by a team starting its back up QB to the tune of 31-7 is the lackluster Ohio restaurant bar lapdance of losses. Last week: No. 29

31. HOUSTON TEXANS (1-7)

The Texans are now stuck with Watson after reportedly attempting to change his trade price at the last minute. Now they’ll keep paying him to set new high scores on Fruit Ninja while racking up losses and still possibly not securing the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft. Last week: No. 31

32. DETROIT LIONS (0-8)

Jared Goff is now 0-15 lifetime without Sean McVay as his head coach and last week, against the Philadelphia Eagles, he didn’t even manage to make it interesting. I guess Dan Campbell’s squad got their fill of kneecaps, shins and ankles the week before. Last week: No. 32

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