Nolan Anderson’s NFL Power Rankings: Post Week Nine
Halfway through the NFL 2022 season and it has been one of the most wildly competitive seasons in decades. On Sunday alone more than half the games were decided by a single score! Let’s see how the wild week affected the rankings:
CONTENDERS
- Eagles (last week #1)
The Eagles laid down some pre-emptive revenge against the city of Houston with a 29-17 shellacking of the Texans. Still undefeated!
- Vikings (last week #3)
You like that Viking fans? Its 2022 and the Vikings are 5-0 in one score games this season. Including the win over the Commanders. Winning is a skill, and the Vikings have it.
- Chiefs (last week #4)
Mahomes was the first quarterback in NFL history with +400 yards passing and +60 yards rushing. This man can do it all.
- Bills (last week #4)
Cracks in the machine? Josh Allen had two picks in their loss to the Jets, looking more like the 2019 Allen. In more bad news, on Monday it was reported he may have an UCL tear
- Cowboys (last week #5)
In an up and down year, the Cowboys enter the back half of the season as a true playoff contender.
- Ravens (last week #6)
On Monday night against the Saints, the Ravens moved the ball in every which way they pleased, dominating on the ground and precise through the air. The Ravens are cementing themselves as one of the top AFC teams in the league.
- Seahawks (last week #8)
The Seahawks are more than a fun story, this team is legit. Geno Smith is a bonafide top ten quarterback. After a disastrous pick six early in the game, Smith kept a level head and led the offense on three consecutive scoring drives and secured the win.
- Dolphins (last week 12)
Tyreek Hill for MVP? Halfway through the season and Cheetah is on pace to have the first 2000-yard season. With Jaylen Waddle on the opposite side, this offense has become one of the most explosive in the NFL.
PLAYOFF HOPEFULS
- 49ers (last week #9)
Coming off a bye week the 49ers saw half their division lose games. They are in prime position to challenge Seattle for the division crown.
- Bengals (last week #12)
Carolina, meet Joe Mixon. Mixon set a franchise record against the Panthers with five touchdowns. It was a good sign for the Bengals to see their offense humming in Ja’Marr Chase’s absence.
- Jets (last week 14)
The offense of the Jets leaves a lot to be desired, but man this defense, it may be the best in the league. Rookie cornerback Sauce Gardner isn’t just a top rookie, but a top defensive player in the NFL.
- Giants (last week #8)
The Giants will have been disappointed to have lost against the Seahawks before having a week off, but they were never going to win every game. Coming off the bye in Week Nine, they’ll be looking to get back to winning ways. Daniel Jones is not the same player he was last year; Saquan is rejuvenated and Daboll is getting the most out of these players. A wildcard birth is still not out of the question.
- Titans (last week 10)
In his last five games, running back Derek Henry has strung together consecutive 100+ rushing yard games. King Henry is back, and they Titans know how to win in January.
PLAYOFF HOPEFULS (that I don’t feel good about)
- Chargers (last week #16)
Quarterback Josh Herbert can only do so much. Even in a win, the lack of wide receiver depth was evident. Right now, running back Austin Eckler is his most reliable pass catcher.
- Commanders (last week #17)
Quarterback Taylor Heinicke may not be in the Allen or Mahomes tier, but man can this guy play! Commanders almost upset the Vikings.
- Patriots (Last week #13)
The defense hounded the Colts all game long to the tune of nine (yes nine!) sacks. On the offensive side, quarterback Mac Jones looks like a shell of himself.
- Falcons (last week #15)
The Falcons are going to Falcon. In a game full of mistakes, dropped picks, the Falcons did something familiar and lost another game to a fourth quarter comeback.
- Buccaneers (last week #23)
I’ve been watching Tom Brady play football for over 20 years, and I have never seen him look more relieved than I did after the win against the Rams. In a tumultuous season the Bucs still have hope.
- Browns (last week #19)
The bye could have not come at a better time for the Browns, giving their defense ample time to get healthy before squaring off against the Dolphins next Sunday.
- Jaguars (last week #21)
One thing is clear, the Jaguars need a true number one receiver. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence seems almost allergic to throwing the ball more than twenty yards down the field. The Jags got the win, but this offense needs work.
- Bears (last week #20)
Justin Fields is unlocked. The Bears lost, but if there ever was a moral victory, this was it. Fields finished the game with an NFL record of 178 rushing yards and was the first quarterback ever to throw for three scores and rush for another.
- Rams (last week #18)
Im starting to think those off-season rumors of potential retirements of Sean McVay and Aaron Donald had more weight than we realized. This team seems destined for 7-9.
MAYBE NEXT YEAR
- Cardinals (last week #20)
One thing to be excited about the Cardinals this season, is that they are to be featured as the in season Hard Knocks team on HBO. We are going to get an inside look at the dysfunction.
- Broncos (las week #24)
One thing the Broncos have going for them is that they are in the same division as the Raiders. It may be bad, but they are not the worst.
- Saints (last week 27)
Andy Dalton was a successful quarterback seven years ago. A team trotting him out as the starter is not going to win many games.
- Packers (last week #26)
WE are done with the Packers. This is not a good team underperforming; this is a bad team performing exactly up to par of the talent on the roster.
- Steelers (last week #28)
The bye week should give head coach Mike Tomlin a chance to really install a Kenny Picket friendly scheme. These next nine weeks will determine whether Picket is the QB of the future.
- Lions (last week #31)
The Lions had given up on average 36 points per game at home, but held the Green Bay Packers to just nine on Sunday. Three picks on Aaron Rodgers, what a result for the defense!
- Raiders (last week #29)
Maybe giving Josh McDaniels a second chance as head coach wasn’t the best idea from the Raiders front office. Star receiver Davante Adams all but called out his coach to the media post game.
- Panthers (last week #22)
PJ Walker did not last long. After a stellar performance last week, Walker was benched in the second half for Baker Mayfield.
- Texans (last week #32)
The Texans had a bye, which means they didn’t lose another game.
- Colts (last week #30)
Is there any other team that is more deserving of the last spot? The Colts had a historically bad performance on Sunday, only able to muster up 3 points, and finished off the dismal week with the firing of head coach Frankl Reich.
