Zak Drapeau's Updated NFL Power Rankings Post Week 9
- Zak Drapeau
- Nov 4
- 10 min read
by Zak Drapeau 11/4/2-25 Sportz Nation
1. Buffalo Bills /\4
6-2
Last Week: 28-21 Win vs KC
This week's rankings probably have the closest bunch at the top that I've ranked since the season started. To be frank, any team in the Top-11 could be seen as the best in the league but for my money, the Bills statement win over the Chiefs has earned them the top spot. The Bills needed to fix some things in their BYE Week 7 and after back to back great wins, they seem to be rolling.
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2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers /\1
6-2
Last Week: BYE Week
The Buccs may be injured at receiver and don't have the deepest of Secondaries but man everything else about this team yells "Contender" to me. With an extra week in prep before another Top-10 team in the Patriots come to town, this week will be a big show for both teams especially the Buccs who will need to prove that they can score points through injuries.
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3. Philadelphia Eagles /\4
6-2
Last Week: BYE Week
The Eagles are a weird team when looking at them in a vacuum. They have losses at home and to the Giants but they're still one of the best rosters in the sport. A clear step down on offense from last season, it all starts with running the ball. Saquon Barkley is still having a very pedestrian season for his standards and if they can get better at running the ball this team could be scary.
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4. Detroit Lions \/3
6-2
Last Week: 27-24 Loss vs MIN
My top team for the past two weeks, the Lions only drop 3 spots even after losing at home because of the circumstances in their loss. Yes they played their worst game of the season and lost at home but the Vikings looked a lot sharper with McCarthy and Detroit still looked competitive throughout. I wouldn't be worried at all; they'll bounce back
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5. Denver Broncos /\3
7-2
Last Week: 18-15 Win at HOU
Tied for the longest win streak in the game, the Broncos have rattled off 6 in a row including a gritty win in Houston this week. It may have been sloppy, but don't forget that Bo Nix has been one of the hottest Quarterbacks since October and the Denver defense is clearly a Top-5 unit in the league.
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6. Los Angeles Rams /\3
6-2
Last Week: 34-10 Win vs NO
The Rams have been tough to beat all year and that goes double when at home, With Matt Stafford refusing to "Fall Off" anytime soon and their defense getting better every week, it's going to take an amazing effort to beat this team in a game that really counts.
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7. Seattle Seahawks /\3
6-2
Last Week: 38-14 Win at WAS
I'm not sure just how much of that game was that the Commanders are a step away or that the Seahawks or elite but I'm definitely coming around that the Seahawks are "them". Their defense has never been in question to me but now with Sam Darnold looking better each week and Jaxon Smith-Njigba ALWAYS open, this team could really do some things.
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8. Kansas City Chiefs \/2
5-4
Last Week: 28-21 Loss at BUF
The Chiefs are home field merchants this season and there is no catch or speculation about it anymore. On the season they are 4-1 at home and 1-3 on the road including their only road win being against the Giants. Their defense is still good not great and Pat Mahomes has been elite this season but this team is clearly missing something.
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9. New England Patriots /\2
7-2
Last Week: 24-23 Win vs ATL
Okay this is one of the teams that I'm still not sure where they should go so I'm putting them at #9. The Pats have had one of the easier schedules in the league so far even after their win in Buffalo but they are on a 6-game win streak nonetheless. More impressively is their run defense which is 1st in the league. Drake Maye has started turning the ball over again just a bit though and with a huge game in Tampa this week, that could be costly.
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10. Green Bay Packers \/8
5-2-1
Last Week: 16-13 Loss vs CAR
Part 2 of the "I have no idea how good this team is" series; the Packers have had some really high-highs and very low-lows. It seems like the Packers tend to rise to occasion against the good teams but fall short against teams they overlook like the Browns, Panthers and even the Cowboys. It also seems like Jordan Love can be inconsistent on the season and even if they're roster is seemingly LOADED, they could just as easily be 3-5 on the season.
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11. Indianapolis Colts \/7
7-2
Last Week: 27-20 Loss at PIT
I may be biased but I still believe the Colts are a Top-7ish team however I can't deny they fell short in their two toughest games of the season. I believe the Colts had their worst game on the season in a tough road stadium and still only lost by 7 after turning the ball over 5 times. With a brutal schedule upcoming, we're going to see just how much their easy first-half schedule made them look better than they are.
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12. Los Angeles Chargers /\1
6-3
Last Week: 27-20 Win vs TEN
The Chargers might be Top-5 if they weren't so banged up on the O-line and it's a testament to how good they are that they're still #12. Top-5 in both passing offense and passing defense, this team has adjusted well to playing the hand they were dealt and if they can't move the trenches because of injuries Harbaugh, Roman and Minter have been fine with just slinging it with Herbert even if they have a clear ceiling.
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13. Jacksonville Jaguars \/1
5-3
Last Week: 30-29 Win at LV
The Jaguars are maybe the biggest over-achievers in the league right now and it's because of games like Vegas where they really should have lost but they pull it out in the end. Totally mid in every category, the Jags get extra points because they do have a knack for winning close games but it's a recipe they shouldn't rely on especially down the stretch.
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14. San Francisco 49ers /\1
6-3
Last Week: 34-24 Win at NYG
Can you imagine how good the 49ers would be if they were totally healthy? I realize their win this week was only against the Giants but they seriously have 8 starters for their team out right now and are still 6-3. They'll lose to the best teams when it comes down to it but then again, they should be getting Purdy and Aiyuk back very soon so who knows. In Shanahan and Saleh they trust.
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15. Baltimore Ravens /\5
3-5
28-6 Win at MIA
The Ravens are getting healthy and truthfully I wanted to put them a lot higher than this. For my money the best team in the league, they're dominant win in Lamar's first game back shouldn't be read into TOO too much since it was against Miami but still, they looked like the Ravens of the past two years and if they get back to that level, a Top-10 or higher ranking is in their future.
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16. Minnesota Vikings /\6
4-4
Last Week: 27-24 Win at DET
Is J.J. McCarthy legit? I mean I know how good their defense can be and Kevin O'Connell is a wiz kid but if McCarthy can really be the high-potential game manager he was projected as the Vikings can do things like win in Detroit apparently. If they can do that in his first game back from injury nonetheless, what else can they do?
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17. Pittsburgh Steelers /\1
5-3
Last Week: 27-20 Win vs IND
After the beginning of the season's woes on defense the Steelers just played their best defensive game of the season against the league's best offense. Yes it almost came crumbling down at the end of the game but T.J. Watt and company were pressuring Daniel Jones on every play and turned it into 5 turnovers while the offense just played smart. THAT is how these Steelers have to play and could turn this seaosn into another AFC North title.
_________________________________ 18. Carolina Panthers /\1
5-4
Last Week: 16-13 Win at GB
The Panthers have been one of the shakiest teams in the league but can pull off these weird, out-of-nowhere wins like this. It all starts with Rico Dowdle who is having an outstanding run in his past 5 games, averaging 130 rush yards per. The Panthers don't strike fear in a week-to-week basis because of Bryce Young in particular but the rest of this team is actually coming along.
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19. Houston Texans \/5
3-5
Last Week: 18-15 Loss vs DEN
Still one of the best defenses in the league, they narrowly lost to Denver even without C.J. Stroud for most of the game. Houston's defensive identity and ability to control turnovers make they're ranking a LOT better than their record would indicate. With a ROUGH second half schedule upcoming, the Texans need to solve their offensive problems fast.
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20. Chicago Bears \/3
5-3
Last Week: 47-42 Win at CIN
The Bears are 5-3 but boy should their record be a lot worse. Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson's offense has had a lot of good this year but they haven't beaten a team over .500 yet on the season and with this week's game showing some holes in their defense, the Bears still have yet to play a well-rounded game this year.
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21. Atlanta Falcons \/5
3-5
Last Week: 24-23
The Falcons are very similar to the Panthers in that I have no idea what team they'll be week-to-week. I'd argue they were the better team against the Patriots this week but a missed extra point attempt and they fall to 3-5. On their best day, this defense is Top-10 and with the offensive weapons they have their potential is a Top-10 team but I've yet to see them stay at that level with any consistency.
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22. Arizona Cardinals /\5
3-5
Last Week: 27-17 Win at DAL
The Cardinals have a very interesting QB-situation on their hands after Jacoby Brissett has looked good in their past two games. After finally breaking their 5-game losing streak in Dallas this week, could Kyler Murray get benched even if he is healthy?
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23. Washington Commanders \/2
3-6
Last Week: 38-14 Loss vs SEA
The Commanders just lost Jayden Daniels for possibly the rest of the season and already weren't looking so hot without him the past month or so. The defense has some real holes in it and now with Mariota at the helm and the offensive injuries they have, I see a lot of losing in Washington's future.
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24. Dallas Cowboys \/1
3-6
Last Week: 27-17 Loss vs ARI
The Cowboys had a decent second half last night but their problems remain; a bottom-3 defense in the league and an offense that needs all the help it can get. Even worse for the boys is their schedule after this week's BYE; Eagles, Chiefs, Lions, Vikings and Chargers... oh boy.
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25. Cincinnati Bengals --
3-6
Last Week: 47-42 Loss vs CHI
Great showing for Flacco this week as the ageless wonder continues to fit in in Cincy's offense but BOY this defense sucks. Now with the news that they're trading Logan Wilson to Dallas this morning, can the Bengals even stop a nosebleed? _________________________________
26. New York Giants \/2
2-7
Last Week: 34-24 Loss vs SF
The Giants had a fun run for a few weeks there but they are firmly back to being the Giants again. With a bright future in the horizon behind Dart, Sakttebo and Nabers, the first thing they need to do is get a better head coach and I really believe 2026 could be a whole new story for the New York Giants.
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27. Cleveland Browns /\1
2-6
Last Week: BYE Week
Cleveland has the right pieces and Head Coach for the job but without the right Quarterback it's all for not. Similarly to the Giants they have a great cast of potential stars on their team and could be a Franchise QB away from turning around but for now, they will need a LOT of things to go right just to win another game.
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28. Miami Dolphins \/2
2-7
Last Week: 28-6 Loss vs BAL
Terrible defense? Check. Head Coach about to be fired? Check. Quarterback who throws more turnovers than Touchdowns? Check. The Dolphins are spiraling but do have potential to still get wins on the year... that what's so frustrating. They just can't reach their potential.
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29. Las Vegas Raiders /\2
2-6
Last Week: 30-29 Loss vs JAX
The Raiders looked a lot better after their BYE Week but still lost at home to an albeit better team. Their team will rely on the trenches which has been their weakness all year, especially running the ball. There is NO reason why the best Running Back prospect I've seen in almost a decade should be averaging just over 50 yards a game.
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30. New Orleans Saints \/1
1-8
Last Week: 34-10 Loss at LAR
I am giving up on my "the Saints are the best-worst team in the league" theory and have now decided that they just can't win. Not that they really want to, likely already tanking for a draft pick. Still, this team has a high-potential O-line and decent defense that could turn around nicely if the right man for the job is in town next season.
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31. New York Jets \/1
1-8
Last Week: BYE Week
In my opinion, the team with the lowest ceiling in the league but just barely better RIGHT NOW than the #32 spot, There's not much to say besides that the Jets need to overhaul their roster and get back to the stingy defense that has seen this team have its only success in the past 3 decades.
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32. Tennessee Titans --
1-8
Last Week: 27-20 Loss vs LAC
The Titans have been in my #32 spot for 6 of the 9 rankings list I've had and no amount of close calls with the Chargers will change that. Cam Ward truly has potential... I believe that. But whoever comes in to coach this team next year will have their work cut out for them but maaaaaay have the luxury of the #1 pick to do so.
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-Z.D.
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