NFL post week nine power rankings

San Francisco 49ers:

For the first time this season there is a new team sitting atop the rankings, and that goes to the only undefeated team left this season. The 49ers will face their biggest test to date this season when they host the MVP candidate quarterback Russell Wilson and his Seattle Seahawks. This game gives San Francisco an opportunity to cement themselves as true front runner candidates of the NFC. A win would give them a stranglehold lead on the NFC West title.

New England Patriots

New England falls, deservingly, for the first time this season after getting thoroughly beaten by the Ravens in Baltimore. The Ravens were simply the better team on Sunday night, as quarterback Lamar Jackson’s athleticism demanded too much individual attention from the Patriots defense, exposing the weak front seven that has been overshadowed by one of the best secondaries in league history. Now, New England heads into the bye week with a chance to get settled and regroup before they face the most difficult stretch in their schedule with matchups coming against the Eagles, Cowboys, Texans and Chiefs.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints are coming off their bye week, giving quarterback Drew Brees more time to come back to normal form. Doing so should not be a difficult task this weekend when they take on Dan Quinn’s maligned Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons, missing key pieces on both sides of the ball, including quarterback Matt Ryan, have essentially given up on their season and are aiming for the 2020 draft. Head coach Sean Payton’s squad currently sits in sole possession of the second seed in the NFC and has its eyes on number one, as their deep roster being recharged with their experienced leader looks to be the prime contender against Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens made a statement Sunday night, running all over Bill Belichick’s defense and controlling the time of possession battle, giving quarterback Tom Brady and the offense limited opportunities to work. The Ravens took full advantage of the mistakes New England made, which is what you have to do to beat the Patriots. Lamar Jackson was electrifying and the Patriots did not have an answer. That game could pay dividends for playoff implications as Baltimore would now have the tie-breaker over New England.

Green Bay Packers

Sunday afternoon’s game in Los Angeles was an uphill battle for quarterback Aaron Rodgers and company. The offense couldn’t seem to find its spark, as Rodgers was held to just 161 passing yards and a touchdown while running for his life against defensive ends Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. The run game was not much help either, as running back Aaron Jones only picked up 30 yards on eight carries. Fortunately for Green Bay, every other team in their division lost this past week as well, so this loss didn’t diminish their one-game lead over Minnesota. However, the loss hands over sole possession of the second seed to the Saints. On the other hand, Green Bay has a fairly easy schedule down the stretch and could likely take the first-round bye right back.

Seattle Seahawks

Wilson continues to add to his MVP resume. He threw for 378 yards and five touchdowns to zero interceptions in a shootout with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The defense is still a question mark for the Seahawks, but with the way Wilson is performing, the defense forcing a turnover or three-and-out on occasion has been all they’ve needed. Adding wide receiver Josh Gordon off of waivers to an already strong receiving core consisting of speedster Tyler Lockett and physical specimen D.K. Metcalf projects to give Wilson and Seattle a true shootout offense.

Houston Texans

The Texans are back in first place in their division following the early Sunday morning game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Running back Carlos Hyde had a day against his former team, rushing for 160 yards on only 19 carries. Houston’s defense, following the news that defensive end JJ Watt will be out for the rest of the season, answered the call left by their leader and forced quarterback Gardner Minshew to turn the ball over three drives in a row late in the game to keep the Jaguars out of the contest. The Texans head into the bye week with a half-game lead on the Indianapolis Colts, who currently would win the tie-breakers based on head-to-head matchups within the division.

Kansas City Chiefs

After ruling out quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs were able to get a big win at home over a red hot Minnesota Vikings squad. With the victory, Kansas City holds on to a more comfortable lead in their division over the Raiders and Chargers who are still hanging around. Mahomes’ has been confirmed to take the field against Tennessee in week 10, and head coach Andy Reid looks to go back to the fireworks show that Mahomes conducted pre-injury.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills picked up another win, this week against the one-win Redskins, and with the Patriots dropping their game against Baltimore it brings Buffalo right back in arms reach of the AFC East. The Bills’ next opponent is the Cleveland Browns, who are seemingly falling apart from the inside out. The Bills will likely be within one game of the Patriots after this week and will continue to try and end New England’s streak of winning the AFC East 10 years and running.

Dallas Cowboys

After an alarmingly slow start in the Meadowlands, the Cowboys picked up the pace in the second half and controlled the game from that point on. The most promising part of Monday Night’s game for Dallas was shutting electric running back Saquon Barkley down, holding him to only 20 yards on 10 carries. The Cowboys additionally sacked quarterback Daniel Jones five times, while additionally forcing three turnovers out of the rookie signal-caller.