Week 9 Power Rankings: Top 10 split between conferences

By Connor Byrne  |   Wednesday, November 07, 2007  |  Comments( 13 )

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Every Wednesday during the NFL regular season, RealFootball365.com brings you its power poll, ranking the teams from the worst of the moment to the best. This is the ninth installment of 2007.

32. Miami Dolphins (Last week: 32; 0-8) - The Dolphins had their bye week, and now it's time to start losing again.

31. St. Louis Rams (LW: 32; 0-8) - Good news for the Rams: After New Orleans destroys them this week, they play San Francisco, which can't get out of its own way, on Nov. 18. St. Louis might actually win one in the near future.

30. New York Jets (LW: 30; 1-8) - Arkansas running back Darren McFadden would look nice in green and white, right, Jets fans?

29. San Francisco 49ers (LW: 29; 2-6) - Just when you think the 49ers can't possibly get any worse, they lose to the Falcons. Unbelievable.

28. Oakland Raiders (LW: 27; 2-6) - Why Lane Kiffin shouldn't be an NFL head coach: Facing a fourth-and-9 situation at Houston's 46, down 14-0 with 1:15 left in the first half, Kiffin sent kicker Sebastian Janikowski onto the field for a 64-yard attempt. Janikowski had the distance, but the kick hit the upright; then, the Texans advanced down the short field and added three more points, putting them up by 17. Game over. Nice call, coach.

27. Atlanta Falcons (LW: 28; 2-6) - Atlanta, by beating the 49ers 23-16, proved to be the lesser of two awfuls in Week 9. Color me unimpressed.

26. Arizona Cardinals (LW: 25; 3-5) - If preseason hype could win Super Bowls, the Cardinals would be the greatest dynasty in league history. In reality, they're terrible again.

25. Cincinnati Bengals (LW: 24; 2-6) - The Bengals, leading Buffalo 21-16 entering the fourth quarter last weekend, were outscored 17-0 in the final 15 minutes. Game over. Season over.

24. Denver Broncos (LW: 13; 3-5) - Someone explain to me how the Broncos, who lost 44-7 to Detroit last Sunday, beat the Steelers this year.

23. Philadelphia Eagles (LW: 20; 3-5) - It's time for the Eagles to start making some changes. First, insert second-round rookie Kevin Kolb into the starting lineup. Donovan McNabb's tank is almost on empty.

22. Carolina Panthers (LW: 21; 4-4) - Carolina will probably beat the Falcons this week, but it's only a matter of time until the Panthers implode and fade from the NFC playoff race.

21. Baltimore Ravens (LW: 19; 4-4) - One thing's for sure: Baltimore had better use its first pick on a quarterback in next April's draft. Steve McNair, despite all his past accomplishments, might be the worst starting signal-caller in the league right now.

20. Houston Texans (LW: 23; 4-5) - One has to wonder where Houston would be right now had it enjoyed better luck in terms of health. Losing wide receiver Andre Johnson was a killer; luckily, Sage Rosenfels has done a respectable job at QB in Matt Schaub's stead.

19. Chicago Bears (LW: 22; 3-5) - Chicago had two weeks to prepare for its upcoming game in Oakland. If the Bears don't win, their season is officially in the books.

18. Seattle Seahawks (LW: 16; 4-4) - Seattle is probably going to take the NFC West, yet it would likely be a two-win team at best in the AFC. The NFC is truly inept.

17. San Diego Chargers (LW: 6; 4-4) - "This week's game in Minnesota ought to be a mere tuneup for San Diego, one of the league's hottest teams. The real fun will begin in Week 10 against Indianapolis." Could I have been more wrong about the Bolts last week? If it means anything, I don't expect the Chargers to have much of any fun against Indianapolis.

16. Minnesota Vikings (LW: 26; 3-5) - Maybe Minnesota's franchise should change its name from the Vikings to the Petersons. After all, Adrian is their whole team. He'll deserve serious MVP consideration at year's end, regardless of where the Petersons finish in the standings.

15. Buffalo Bills (LW: 18; 4-4) - After they beat Miami this week, the Bills, once 0-3, will be above .500 nine games into the season. Who saw that coming?

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (LW: 17; 5-4) - Tampa has its bye week, then a road game in Atlanta and a home contest against Washington. The Bucs could realistically be 7-4 by the time they go to New Orleans on Dec. 2 for what could be an NFC South-deciding matchup.

13. Kansas City Chiefs (LW: 12; 4-4) - What a huge win it would have been for the Chiefs had they hung on against Green Bay. Alas, Kansas City let it slip away, and now it'll likely be without Larry Johnson (foot injury) for a while.

12. Washington Redskins (LW: 14; 5-3) - The 'Skins needed overtime to beat the lowly Jets, but it was a good bounce-back win after a 52-7 loss to New England the week prior.

11. Jacksonville Jaguars (LW: 8; 5-3) - The Jaguars were 5-3 through eight games a season ago. They finished 8-8. Frankly, given its difficult upcoming schedule, the injury to QB David Garrard and suspension of DT Marcus Stroud, it wouldn't be the least bit surprising if Jacksonville folds down the stretch yet again and misses the playoffs.

10. New Orleans Saints (LW: 15; 4-4) - The only team in league history to begin a season 0-4 and make the playoffs was the '92 Chargers, who finished 11-5. New Orleans, now at .500 for the first time this year, is going to become the first team since that San Diego club to accomplish the feat.

9. Cleveland Browns (LW: 10; 5-3) - To think, the sentiment in Cleveland was negative toward head coach Romeo Crennel before the season. If he's not the leading candidate for coach of the year honors right now, I don't know who is.

8. Tennessee Titans (LW: 9; 6-2) - Tennessee's 20-7 triumph over Carolina was yet another businesslike win for the men from Nashville. It's hard to figure out how the Titans keep winning games, but you can't argue with results.

7. Detroit Lions (LW: 11; 6-2) - Jon Kitna said before the season that Detroit would win 10 games this year, and many scoffed at his bold prediction. Through eight games, though, the Lions are on pace for 12 victories. Not too shabby.

6. New York Giants (LW: 7; 6-2) - The G-men started 6-2 in 2006, then finished the year on a 2-6 skid and sneaked into the playoffs at 8-8. Don't expect New York, coming off a bye, to back into the postseason this year. In fact, look for the Giants to put up quite a fight against Dallas this weekend in an NFC East showdown to determine midseason supremacy.

5. Green Bay Packers (LW: 5; 7-1) - Green Bay has Minnesota and Carolina, two mediocre teams, before its Thanksgiving game in Detroit. That means the Packers, if all goes according to plan, should be 9-1 when they face the Lions. Incredible.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (LW: 4; 6-2) - At home this Sunday, the Steelers will have a chance to knock the surprising Browns from the AFC North race and all but lock up the division. Whether Pittsburgh takes advantage of its opportunity is a completely different matter; it certainly won't be easy, that's for sure.

3. Dallas Cowboys (LW: 3; 7-1) - With a win over the Giants this Sunday, the Cowboys will have swept New York on the season, moved to 8-1 and pretty much sewn up the NFC East. Of course, chances are the Giants, with an extra week of rest, will give Dallas all it can handle and then some.

2. Indianapolis Colts (LW: 2; 7-1) - The Colts should be encouraged right now. They were missing all-world wide receiver Marvin Harrison and sensational rookie left tackle Tony Ugoh, but they only lost by four to the Patriots on Sunday. It's safe to say Indianapolis' defense is for real.

1. New England Patriots (LW: 1; 9-0) - Is there a less likable figure in sports than Darth Belichick?

RealFootball365.com: The place to go every Wednesday for NFL power rankings.
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