This weeks top five sees a change of order. The Def Pen Sports team has analyzed the Week 8 games and made the needed adjustments for Week 9 the 2021 NFL Power Rankings. The contributors to this week’s rankings are Dylan Hargis and Xavier Santos. Team names will be followed by their record and the number of spots they moved up or down from last week’s rankings.
2021 NFL Power Rankings: Week 9
1. Green Bay Packers (+4)
This team shouldn’t be 7-1. Their offensive line has been a mess without Bakhtiari. Their cornerbacks struggle in man coverage. Their pass rush has been inconsistent since the loss of Z’Darius Smith, and yet, here we are. Aaron Rodger’s brilliance is the lipstick on the proverbial pig. He is still one of the best players in the league and as long as he is healthy the Packers should be considered among the favorites to play in the Super Bowl.
2. Arizona Cardinals 7-1 (-1)
The football world is patiently awaiting the results of Kyler Murray’s MRI. He appeared to have rolled his ankle late in the loss to the Packers and the severity of his injury is still unknown. Even a brief absence could prove to be troublesome for the Cardinals who have to continue to keep pace with the Packers, Rams, and Buccanneers.
3. Los Angeles Rams 7-1 (-)
Von Miller is no longer the dominant pass rusher of years past but he doesn’t have to be. Aaron Donald’s presence will put Miller in more one-on-one situations where he can still be a disruptive force. For the Rams, they have tripled down on their desire to win a ring this season. Contrary to popular belief, the salary cap is real and the bill will eventually come due. For now, the Rams see a wide-open NFC and believe they have a legitimate chance to come out of the loaded NFC.
4. Dallas Cowboys 6-1 (-)
It wasn’t pretty but the Cowboys pulled out a win behind a late-game drive-by Cooper Rush. It allows them to keep pace in a year where a first-round bye will be of the utmost importance. The Cowboys stay in the top five of the 2021 NFL Power Rankings.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6-2 (-3)
Sunday’s loss shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. The Saints are one of the few teams that match up well in man coverage against Tampa Bay’s receivers. That allows them to put more defenders in the box and take away the short passing game that has been Tom Brady’s bread and butter. None of the other elite teams have the cornerback depth the Saints do and the Buccaneers’ long-term outlook remains the same.
6. Buffalo Bills 5-2 (+1)
The Bills continue to look like the best team in the AFC right now. There isn’t much reason to believe the Titans, Ravens, or Bengals will be able to challenge them right now. Josh Allen is still a dynamic passer and runner on the field. The defense has taken a major step up through eight weeks.
7. Tennessee Titans 6-2 (+4)
The Titans got a much-needed win against their division rivals against the Indianapolis Colts. That being said it is hard to not be pessimistic about the Titans moving forward without Derrick Henry. Adrain Peterson is a legend, but he is well past his prime at this point. They may still win the division, but for now, it is questionable at best.
8. New Orleans Saints 5-2 (+7)
We were shocked to learn the Saints are 5-2. All of the credit goes to Sean Payton and that sting defense. While Jameis Winston’s injury is less than ideal, the return of Taysom Hill will help soften the blow. The offense struggled with Jameis behind center and a new look scheme with Hill may help give them a spark. Their defense will keep them competitive but this team was a quarterback away from being a true contender even with a healthy Winston.
9. Las Vegas Raiders 5-2 (-)
BYE WEEK
10. Baltimore Ravens 5-2 (-)
BYE WEEK
11. Cincinnati Bengals 5-3 (-5)
Losing a game to the New York Jets is embarrassing and the Bengals defense should feel exactly that right now. Giving up 400 yards and 34 points to Mike White is unthinkable. This team clearly plays up or down to their level of competition. A game like that can’t happen again if they want to win the AFC North.
12. Los Angeles Chargers 4-3 (-4)
The Chargers’ biggest problem right now is their youth and inexperience throughout the entire team. A young quarterback and Head Coach doesn’t make a great combination. This team might be a year away from winning close games like Sunday’s matchup against New England.
13. Kansas City Chiefs 4-4 (-)
The Chiefs got an ugly win against the Giants, but the usual problems this season were present during the game. This offense can’t stop turning the ball over and the defense just isn’t playing well by any measure. 4-4 is a solid record considering how they played. Are the Chiefs a playoff team? Probably, but it’s a question mark right now.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers 4-3 (+3)
The Steelers won a gritty game against the Browns in a matchup that might have decided who would finish at the bottom of that division. Ben Roethlisberger still doesn’t really look like he used to, but the defense and his weapons on offense are making up for it right now.
15. Denver Broncos 4-4 (+1)
Von Miller being traded truly is the end of an era for the Denver Broncos. A fire sale of players could happen before the trade deadline. The Broncos are trending down in the 2021 NFL Power Rankings and a true rebuild may be on the way.
16. Cleveland Browns 4-4 (-4)
Baker Mayfield is clearly not healthy enough to be on the football field right now and the game plan isn’t working even with Nick Chubb back. This team needs to trade Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry away if they don’t plan to get them more involved on offense.
17. Carolina Panthers 4-4 (-3)
It was an ugly and uninspiring win. The return of Christian McCaffrey will help but it’s Sam Darnold’s play that will determine how high this team’s ceiling is. The Panthers may continue to slide on the 2021 NFL Power Rankings.
18. New England Patriots 4-4 (+5)
It looks like the Patriots have started to figure some things out and find themselves at .500 through Week 8. This team might be in consideration for a wildcard spot if they continue this level of play, but let’s see them win a few more games first.
19. San Francisco 49ers 3-4 (+3)
The time is now for the 49ers. With Jimmy Garoppolo back, this team will have to go on a run to solidify itself as a playoff contender. They took care of business against a struggling Bears team but that path forward involves a number of divisional games that will define their season.
20. Minnesota Vikings 3-4 (-)
Kirk Cousins was electric in late-game situations early in the season. Lately, he has failed to put his team in a position to win. The offense has struggled and as long as they rely on late-game heroics from their much-maligned quarterback, expect them to have a high week-to-week variance.
21. Indianapolis Colts 3-5 (-)
The Colts would have every reason to have little hope of winning the AFC South this year after the overtime loss to the Titans. That being said Derrick Henry is set to miss serious time and maybe even the rest of the season. They may not deserve to feel it, but there is now hope for the Colts.
22. Chicago Bears 3-5 (-3)
Justin Fields and the offense are playing better but the bar was in the basement. Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace are certainly on their way out and the rest of the season should be about evaluating who will be on the team next year and beyond.
23. Philadelphia Eagles 3-5 (+1)
That was as much a Lions loss as it was an Eagles win. They are who we thought they were despite a win against an overmatched Detroit team. The Eagles have not impressed enough to move further up the 2021 NFL Power Rankings.
24. Seattle Seahawks 3-5 (+1)
Geno Smith has played better than expected but one has to wonder if 3-5 is too deep a hole for Russell Wilson to dig them out of when he does return to the field.
25. Atlanta Falcons 3-4 (-7)
It’s hard to bash them after they lost their star wide receiver for the foreseeable future due to him focusing on his mental health. Kyle Pitts alone isn’t enough to elevate that offense. They should start thinking about draft positions and whether winning games is in the best interest of the team.
26. Washington Football Team 2-6 (-)
Ultimately, they couldn’t generate enough winning plays on offense. Much of the Heinicke magic has worn off and their skill position groups are in disarray. JD McKissic appears to have taken over the starting role ahead of Antonio Gibson while the team continues to struggle to get the ball in the hands of Terry McLaurin. This team is further away than their fans would like to admit.
27. New York Giants 2-6 (-)
The giants are not in a position to win games right now with their injuries and poor offensive play calling. Kansas City is always a tough matchup and the Giants defense kept it close. The offense failing to win the game will hurt Giants fans this week.
28. New York Jets 2-5 (+1)
The Jets for the second time this year have absolutely shocked us by winning a game. Mike White looked like the second coming of Tom Brady against the Bengals. Will the magic last? No, probably not, but Jets fans can enjoy it while it lasts.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars 1-6 (-1)
The Jaguars are a hot mess and the Khan family might want to focus on football for once since they’ve owned the team. Urban Meyer needs to go and the entire roster needs to be evaluated for next year. Nine Days from tonight, nine weeks from tonight. or even nine months from tonight the Jaguars stink.
30. Miami Dolphins 1-7 (+1)
We want to be clear here when we say this. The Dolphins only gained one spot because of how bad the Texans look. At least the Dolphins didn’t look completely pathetic. A quarterback will not save this team and it is clear the Dolphins are years away from contention.
31. Houston Texans 1-7 (-1)
This team is lucky it played the Jaguars to start the season. Their rematch is sure to be a snooze fest, but the loser might get the second overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
32. Detroit Lions 0-8 (-)
0-17 is in play.
* The biggest movers of this week were the New Orleans Saints (+7) and the Atlanta Falcons (-7) *
