NFL Power Rankings - Week 9: Bills rising, Pats challenging Eagles for No. 1

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's NFL Editors, including Jack Browne, Michael McClymont, Mitch Sanderson, and Arun Srinivasan.

1. Philadelphia Eagles (7-1)

Previous Rank: 1st

The best team in football just got better. Jay Ajayi was hamstrung by the Dolphins' offense; now, he's set to thrive in the NFC's most talented unit. -Browne

2. New England Patriots (6-2)

Previous Rank: 3rd

Much like batters facing elite starting pitchers, opponents have to catch the Patriots early before they find their rhythm. It's no longer early. - McClymont

3. Kansas City Chiefs (6-2)

Previous Rank: 2nd

The NFL just robbed the world of watching Kareem Hunt and Ezekiel Elliott alternate amazing plays in Week 9. - Browne

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)

Previous Rank: 4th

Pittsburgh has seemed to figure out it's better when Le'Veon Bell gets plenty of carries and Martavis Bryant is on the bench. Expect more of that. - Sanderson

5. Seattle Seahawks (5-2)

Previous Rank: 6th

Deshaun Watson may have gotten all the love - even though the Texans lost - but Russell Wilson played out of his mind in Week 8, producing plays only one or two guys on the planet can make. - Browne

6. Los Angeles Rams (5-2)

Previous Rank: 5th

After a Week 9 game against the Giants, the Rams will face a gauntlet (vs. Texans, at Vikings, vs. Saints.) We'll know if the Sean McVay-led team is for real soon enough. - Browne

7. Minnesota Vikings (6-2)

Previous Rank: 7th

If Case Keenum can roll the Vikings to a 6-2 record, imagine what a healthy Teddy Bridgewater could/will do. - Sanderson

8. Buffalo Bills (5-2)

Previous Rank: 10th

The Bills keep shedding talent and piling up wins. But they've started off hot in seasons past only to miss the playoffs in the end. - McClymont

9. New Orleans Saints (5-2)

Previous Rank: 9th

Marshon Lattimore may earn All-Pro honors during his rookie year and New Orleans has quietly rattled off five straight wins. Don't look, but the Saints are marching in. - Srinivasan

10. Dallas Cowboys (4-3)

Previous Rank: 11th

There was never a good time for Elliott's suspension to be reinstated, but with the Chiefs and three divisional games scheduled during his six-game ban, the Cowboys' season will be decided before he steps back onto the field. - Browne

11. Carolina Panthers (5-3)

Previous Rank: 14th

The Panthers and Falcons have both been wildly inconsistent, inadvertently making Sunday's pivotal matchup one of the games of the year. - Srinivasan

12. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)

Previous Rank: 12th

The Falcons have proven impossible to get a read on, but at 4-3, they have ample time to seize the NFC South - Srinivasan

13. Houston Texans (3-4)

Previous Rank: 8th

It's a heartbreaking loss, but Texans fans can take solace in the fact that Deshaun Watson is both the present and future of the NFL. - Srinivasan

14. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3)

Previous Rank: 13th

Marcell Dareus ought to improve an already ferocious Jaguars defensive line. This team could be terrifying by end of year. - Srinivasan

15. Detroit Lions (3-4)

Previous Rank: 16th

Someone give Matt Stafford some help. How does a guy throw for 423 yards and score no touchdowns? - Sanderson

16. Denver Broncos (3-4)

Previous Rank: 15th

The Brock Osweiler "era" in Denver could be about to get underway - just a year-and-a-half later than originally thought. The Broncos' defense deserves so much better than this. - Browne

17. Tennessee Titans (4-3)

Previous Rank: 19th

Coming off their bye week, the Titans will be looking to assure observers that their wins over the Colts and Browns weren't fool's gold. - Srinivasan

18. Washington Redskins (3-4)

Previous Rank: 17th

Two tough losses to division opponents have Washington 3 1/2 games back in the NFC East standings. - McClymont

19. Baltimore Ravens (4-4)

Previous Rank: 26th

One man's trash is another's treasure, and the Ravens may have struck gold with running back Alex Collins. - Browne

20. Green Bay Packers (4-3)

Previous Rank: 21st

Maybe a bye week was all Brett Hundley needed to get this team turned back around. Probably not, though. - Sanderson

21. Oakland Raiders (3-5)

Previous Rank: 20th

While the defense may be awful, and the coaching leaves a lot to be desired, Derek Carr needs to be held accountable for his overly conservative play. - Browne

22. Los Angeles Chargers (3-5)

Previous Rank: 22nd

The Patriots were simply too much for the resurgent Chargers to handle. Even with the defeat, L.A. is still the Chiefs' biggest threat in the division, though not a very big one. - Browne

23. New York Jets (3-5)

Previous Rank: 23rd

The Jets are proving to be a stiff test for some of the league's best in a big departure from their preseason projections. - McClymont

24. Miami Dolphins (4-3)

Previous Rank: 18th

The offense is no better off with Matt Moore than it was with Jay Cutler. This is the ugliest 4-3 team. - McClymont

25. Arizona Cardinals (3-4)

Previous Rank: 24th

What are the chances of Bruce Arians going back on his word and benching Drew Stanton for Blaine Gabbert within one game? Extremely good, if you ask us. - Browne

26. Chicago Bears (3-5)

Previous Rank: 25th

Nothing will be sadder this season than Zach Miller almost losing his leg on a should-have-been touchdown, so things can only go up from here. - Sanderson

27. Cincinnati Bengals (3-4)

Previous Rank: 28th

Joe Mixon, just admit it: You would rather be Le’Veon Bell - or at least you'd rather be on a team as good as his. - Sanderson

28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-5)

Previous Rank: 27th

Did you know Ryan Fitzpatrick went to Harvard? Everyone might know soon, since this piece of trivia will get repeated ad nauseam if he starts in place of Jameis Winston. - Srinivasan

29. New York Giants (1-6)

Previous Rank: 29th

What a lovely week it was in Jersey. With no game, there was no drama or controversy - a welcome change. - McClymont

30. Indianapolis Colts (2-6)

Previous Rank: 30th

Andrew Luck doesn't look like he's coming back anytime soon, so the Colts should start thinking ahead to the draft. - Srinivasan

31. San Francisco 49ers (0-8)

Previous Rank: 31st

John Lynch is really taking to this whole general manager thing, right? Jimmy Garoppolo isn't a sure thing, but he's worth the risk, especially for such a reasonable price. - Browne

32. Cleveland Browns (0-8)

Previous Rank: 32nd

Remember when the Patriots wanted multiple first-rounders from Cleveland for Garoppolo and then traded him to San Fran for a second? Browns just can’t catch a break. - Sanderson