NFL Power Rankings Week 9: Aaron Rodgers' first full season with the Jets is already unraveling

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Last week’s rank: 31

Bryce Young showed immoderate signs of life successful his return to nan starting lineup. He besides threw a brace of interceptions and grounded to propose he’s a amended full-time action for nan Panthers than 37-year-old Andy Dalton, which, yeesh. — Christian D’Andrea

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Last week’s rank: 29

Tennessee went from tied astatine 14 to trailing 28-14 successful a span of 74 seconds Sunday. Things did not get amended from there. The Detroit Lions rolled to a 52-14 triumph contempt outgaining Detroit 416 yards to 225. But hey, nan New England Patriots won, pushing nan Titans 1 nonaccomplishment person to a franchise backmost astatine nan apical of adjacent spring’s draft. — CD

Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Last week’s rank: 32

A week aft Jerod Mayo received weird backlash for calling nan Patriots “soft,” they backed him up by pounding nan Jets. I mean that literally. New England won a section crippled successful which it saw astir 150 mixed passing yards from Drake Maye and Jacoby Brissett. Folks, Mayo tin coach. — Robert Zeglinski

Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

Last week’s rank: 27

Las Vegas poked nan carnivore this offseason pinch its Kermit nan Frog/Patrick Mahomes preseason mash-up. But nan Raiders managed to limit Mahomes’s harm successful Week 8. Not capable to win, but hey, successful 2024, that’s progress. — CD

Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Last week’s rank: 28

Is it excessively early to person THAT speech astir Trevor Lawrence? Because, astir 4 years into his NFL career, it doesn’t look readily evident nan once-Golden Boy is gaining immoderate meaningful traction. There are galore different extenuating factors baked into nan Jaguars’ 2-6 start, but nary matter arsenic overmuch arsenic Lawrence failing to propulsion his weight arsenic nan hopeful look of nan franchise. — RZ

Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Last week’s rank: 25

Anthony Richardson is simply a poorly-moored cannon, arsenic tin of devastating opponents aliases his ain offense. His 44 percent completion complaint is 1 of nan lowest for a full-time backmost this millennium. But hey, Jonathan Taylor returned and looked decent, truthful that’s something. — CD

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Last week’s rank: 22

Spencer Rattler has yet to propulsion for astatine slightest 200 yards connected a azygous Sunday, while nan Saints person allowed astatine slightest 26 points successful 5 consecutive games. And astatine nan moment, New Orleans has antagonistic $72.6 cardinal successful net headdress abstraction for 2025. This squad is an animated, decrepit husk from nan Sean Payton-Drew Brees glory days. — RZ

Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Last week’s rank: 30

Deshaun Watson, who erstwhile faced much than 20 allegations of intersexual misconduct successful what nan NFL would later qualify arsenic “predatory behavior,” has yet to propulsion for 300 yards successful 19 abstracted Browns starts. It took Jameis Winston 1 full crippled to eclipse him successful this regard. Gee, I wonderment who nan problem is successful Cleveland? — RZ

Oct 28, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Giants protect tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) sacks Pittsburgh Steelers backmost Russell Wilson (3) during nan 2nd 4th astatine Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Last week’s rank: 24

There’s bad, past there’s “getting many times roasted downfield by wideouts for illustration Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin” bad. New York landed successful nan 2nd bucket past nighttime arsenic it trudges toward nan extremity of nan Daniel Jones era. But hey, Dexter Lawrence is beautiful good! — CD

David Butler II-Imagn Images

Last week’s rank: 23

Aaron Rodgers is really, really gonna want to support his teammates distant from media headlines this week. Rodgers’s play hasn’t been terrible, but he was promised to New York arsenic a savior and has a worse grounds (2-6) than Zach Wilson did (4-4) astatine this constituent past season. — CD

Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Last week’s rank: 26

Tua Tagovailoa’s return made nan Dolphins look much watchable and cohesive, but Miami’s usually stout defense — which is 13th successful expected points added per play (EPA) — fto it down en way to its 5th nonaccomplishment of nan season. What sadistic irony for an unmoored organization. — RZ

Sam Hodde/Getty Images

Last week’s rank: 18

Sunday nighttime delivered nan fakest (and astir enjoyable) of Cowboys rallies. After falling down by 17 points, Dallas yet woke up successful nan 4th fourth to springiness nan 49ers a existent scare. With a chance to return nan lead and triumph nan crippled successful nan last moments, Dak Prescott past promptly threw 4 consecutive incompletions to move it complete connected downs. You couldn’t perchance book expected Cowboys’ misery immoderate better. — RZ

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Last week’s rank: 17

The Eagles squashed Cincinnati’s quest to get to .500, and now nan separator of correction is razor-thin complete nan last 9 games. The Bengals had recovered a measurement to glean much from little defensively nether coordinator Lou Anarumo, but nan magic escaped him early successful 2024. His portion ranks 27th successful expected points added (EPA) allowed this fall. — CD

Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Last week’s rank: 20

Matthew Stafford is simply a gamer, and astatine this rate, we’re talking astir a early Hall of Famer. That’s nan only conclusion aft watching nan wily seasoned trim up a Brian Flores Minnesota defense that, up until past Thursday night, had flummoxed everyone. Even much encouraging for nan Rams was Puka Nacua’s performance, who caught 7 passes for complete 100 yards successful his first crippled backmost from injury. Don’t constitute these Rams disconnected yet. They mightiness person a fewer much tricks up their sleeve. — RZ

Norm Hall/Getty Images

Last week’s rank: 19

Arizona ruined Tua Tagovailoa’s comeback and turned an unwanted Patriots kicker, Chad Ryland, into a hero. The New England castoff drilled a 57-yard footwear and a 34-yard game-winner to thief erase a nine-point Miami fourth-quarter lead. Oh, and Kyler Murray’s first 300-plus-yard passing crippled since 2022 helped, too. — CD

Gus Stark/Getty Images

Last week’s rank: 21

Denver is 5-3 successful an uninspiring measurement — conscionable 1 of those victories came complete a squad pinch much than 2 wins done 8 weeks. But Bo Nix is showing signs of life aft shredding nan intermediate scope against nan Carolina Panthers. Nix went 8 for 11 connected throws betwixt 10 and 25 yards downfield successful a 28-14 win. — CD

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Last week’s rank: 16

Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers person nan NFL’s second-best defense successful EPA per play and a bruising moving game. It should beryllium nary astonishment they are 4-3. What this squad accomplishes, though, will apt hinge connected whether they tin unleash Justin Herbert’s explosive passing efforts again. Herbert has conscionable 1 crippled of astatine slightest 300 passing yards each season. — RZ

Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Last week’s rank: 14

DK Metcalf was missed, to opportunity nan least. Without nan Seahawks’ champion receiver successful nan fold, Seattle managed conscionable 5 full first downs successful nan first half against nan Bills, each of which came connected 1 thrust that ended pinch halfway Connor Williams tripping Geno Smith into a fumble. That was capable for nan Bills to build what yet became an “insurmountable” 14-3 lead. The vibes are disconnected successful nan Pacific Northwest, and it mightiness beryllium clip to springiness up connected a accordant rebound successful 2024. — RZ

Luke Hales/Getty Images

Last week’s rank: 15

Philadelphia needed a connection triumph amidst a confusing play and sewage one, dusting nan Bengals acknowledgment to a 27-7 constituent differential successful nan 2nd half. Jalen Hurts had 4 touchdowns successful his champion crippled of nan play truthful far, but nan much important improvement whitethorn person been a defense that put nan clamps connected Joe Burrow, albeit connected a time erstwhile he didn’t person Tee Higgins successful nan lineup. — CD

Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Last week’s rank: 11

Caleb Williams shook disconnected a unspeakable commencement to lead a second-half comeback from a 12-0 deficit, engineering a 62-yard touchdown thrust to return a 15-12 lead. This didn’t matter because of what came next, but astatine slightest this time, nan Bears’ heartbreaking nonaccomplishment wasn’t (entirely) nan quarterback’s fault. — CD

Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images

Last week’s rank: 13

San Francisco stabilized pinch a win, but its nonaccomplishment to put distant a disheveled Cowboys squad was acold from a bully look. But Brock Purdy stabilized by spamming throws to George Kittle, and nan 49ers’ defense came done erstwhile needed to support this team’s Super Bowl model open. — CD

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Last week’s rank: 12

In nan first section of their caller rivalry, Jayden Daniels outplayed Caleb Williams. But nan mode successful which Washington seemingly did everything to springiness nan Bears a chance pre-Hail Mary is disconcerting. For example, really does it negociate only 18 points contempt amassing astir 500 yards of production? Putting up a fat zero successful nan reddish area is abysmal for an discourtesy of this caliber. And why is Dan Quinn punting connected 4th and inches precocious successful nan 4th quarter? These are questions nan Commanders will person to reply arsenic they play each 3 different NFC East section rivals complete nan adjacent month. — RZ

Oct 28, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (19) scores a touchdown connected a seventy-five gait punt return against nan New York Giants during nan 3rd 4th astatine Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Last week’s rank: 10

Russell Wilson spammed lightly underthrown heavy balls for nan 2nd consecutive week and watched his wideouts set for large gains. It’s not a cleanable strategy, but it useful truthful it surely isn’t a stupid one. He still looks somewhat uncomfortable connected nan move, but it’s reliable to reason pinch Mike Tomlin’s determination to commencement him complete Justin Fields. — CD

Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

Last week’s rank: 7

Baker Mayfield rode Cade Otton arsenic agelong arsenic he could Sunday, but nan absence of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin yet led to a second-straight nonaccomplishment successful Tampa. Even if Evans returns, nan Bucs’ shoddy walk defense feels for illustration a fatal flaw travel playoff time. — CD

Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

Last week’s rank: 9

Kirk Cousins is maximizing his weapons successful Atlanta, turning Drake London into a existent WR1, reviving Kyle Pitts’ value, and making Darnell Mooney radiance again. That hasn’t put nan Falcons successful nan circle of spot yet, but Tampa Bay’s wounded woes person carved a clear way to nan apical of nan NFC South. —CD

Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

Last week’s rank: 4

With 2 consecutive losses, nan bloom is yet disconnected nan roseate for Sam Darnold’s Vikings. But it’s not nan discourtesy letting Minnesota down. It’s Brian Flores’ antecedently confusing defense that has now allowed astatine slightest 30 points successful 2 consecutive games. The thought down nan Vikings being a morganatic contender was ever predicted astir Flores’ portion being dominant. That calculus changes if he can’t get nan Vikings’ defense to find its shape again. — RZ

Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Last week’s rank: 8

I proceed to find myself uninspired by nan Texans’ triumph profile. In nary way, shape, aliases shape should an ostensible contender hit a squad led by Anthony Richardson by conscionable 3 points. There is thing missing successful nan concealed condiment for Houston. But hey, nan Texans are 6-2, and these are each problems for nan early Texans. So, for now (gets up connected apical of a medium-sized descent astatine nan playground): weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. — RZ

Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images

Last week’s rank: 5

Green Bay is either building acquisition successful winning adjacent games aliases failing to animate assurance by letting teams for illustration nan Jaguars bent around. Ultimately, Malik Willis led this week’s comeback effort, and Matt LaFleur furthered his fable arsenic 1 of nan astir effective discourtesy minds successful nan game. — CD

Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Last week’s rank: 6

No 1 thumps up connected bottom-feeders rather for illustration Sean McDermott’s Bills. That’s now back-to-back games wherever this group won by astatine slightest 3 touchdowns. The mobility for nan Bills, arsenic it ever will beryllium pinch Josh Allen, is really they fare pinch contenders. Because nan past 2 times they played existent teams, nan Baltimore Ravens destroyed them, and nan Texans hit them pinch moderately little stupidity. (Looks astatine nan schedule) Oh, hey, Patrick Mahomes is coming to municipality successful a fewer weeks! — RZ

Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

Last week’s rank: 3

The Browns sewage their post-Deshaun Watson boost, and nan Ravens played unfortunate thanks, successful part, to a dropped Kyle Hamilton interception that would person ended nan game. Was that a motion of protect struggles to come? Or is it simply a blip for a squad aimed toward nan postseason breakthrough it’s spent nan past decade chasing? — CD

Junfu Han/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Last week’s rank: 2

The Lions scored 52 points pinch little than 230 yards of discourtesy connected Sunday. That is not a typo. It speaks to nan spot and equilibrium of this Detroit squad that it tin predominate this overmuch pinch an all-worldly typical teams capacity successful nan return and punting game. Even without Aidan Hutchinson, nan Lions person intelligibly separated themselves from nan NFC pack. Though, pinch this benignant of opportunity, they should still make a waste and acquisition for a pass-rusher sooner alternatively than later. — RZ

Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Last week’s rank: 1

Patrick Mahomes didn’t rather get nan revenge capacity he whitethorn person hoped against a Raiders squad that mocked him this preseason, but a win’s a win, and Kansas City’s nan only undefeated squad near standing. DeAndre Hopkins had a ray assistance successful his Chiefs debut, but his emergence successful nan passing crippled could beryllium nan cardinal to a Chiefs’ three-peat. — CD