NFL Power Rankings – Packers on Top, Bengals on the Rise

The Pack are still No 1, but hey – how ‘bout them Bengals? Frank Doyle ranks ‘em after Week 9.

1 (-). Green Bay Packers (8-0, 6-2-0 ATS).
Maybe it’s just as well ESPN has come up with their new quarterback rating now that Aaron Rodgers has chosen 2011 to destroy the old one.

2 (-). San Francisco 49ers (7-1, 8-0-0 ATS).
Still the only team that’s perfect against the spread.

3 (+2). Baltimore Ravens (6-2, 5-3-0 ATS).
The Ravens can’t follow up their epic win at Pittsburgh with another trap game loss at Seattle. They just can’t do that to people.

4 (-1). Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3, 4-5-0 ATS).
Sunday will sting in Steeltown for quite some time.

5 (-1). Detroit Lions (6-2, 5-3-0 ATS).
This Sunday’s visit to Soldier Field is the Lions’ chance to prove they’re for real.

6 (+3). Cincinnati Bengals (6-2, 7-1-0 ATS).
And that goes double for the Bengals, who welcome the Steelers to the Queen City. Cincinnati is enjoying its best start to the season since Icky Woods was shuffling in the backfield – a win makes the Bengals legit beyond all question.

7 (-1). New England Patriots (5-3, 3-4-1 ATS).
The sun is setting on the Patriot era. They were good while they lasted but it looks now like their time has passed.

8 (-). New Orleans Saints (6-3, 5-4-0 ATS).
Huge game for New Orleans this weekend at Atlanta.

9 (+1). New York Giants (6-2, 4-3-1 ATS).
Eli Manning is having a terrific season. He is delivering in the clutch and that’s what has the Giants at the top of the NFC East.

10 (+2). Houston Texans (6-3, 5-3-1 ATS).
After many years of being one of the most explosive offenses in the League with no trips to the playoffs to show for it, the Texans are winning with a more old-fashioned brand of football.

11 (-4). Buffalo Bills (5-3, 5-2-1 ATS).
The wheels are wobbling very badly on the Bills’ wagon. They could really do with a win at Dallas on Sunday.

12 (+1). Chicago Bears (5-3, 4-4-0 ATS).
The Bears will play their biggest game against the Lions since the late 1950s on Sunday at Soldier Field. That’s how long it’s been since they’ve both been contenders at the same time.

13 (+2). New York Jets (5-3, 4-3-1 ATS).
The Jets have shook off whatever ailed them at the start of the season. They’re just the last team the Patriots want to meet right now.

14 (+2). Atlanta Falcons (5-3, 4-4-0 ATS).
Huge, huge game in the Georgia Dome on Sunday against the Saints.

15 (-4). Oakland Raiders (4-4, 4-4-0 ATS).
It’s not Carson’s Palmer’s fault, but right now that trade really doesn’t look very clever. Huge pressure on the Raiders to deliver on Thursday night at the Chargers.

16 (-2). Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4, 3-5-0 ATS).
One of the more disappointing teams in the League.

17 (+1). San Diego Chargers (4-4, 2-6-0 ATS).
As is San Diego. But credit is due the Chargers – when you watched the Packers waltz through some pretty gentle tackles for those pick-six TDs in the first quarter, did you really think the Chargers could get within one score of Green Bay by the end?

18 (+3). Dallas Cowboys (4-4, 3-5-0 ATS).
I’m open to suggestions on what to make of the Cowboys. Damned if I can figure them out.

19 (-2). Philadelphia Eagles (3-5, 3-5-0 ATS).
Dream team on Elm Street, maybe. Not anywhere else.

20 (-1). Kansas City Chiefs (4-4, 5-3-0 ATS).
The Chiefs didn’t so much shoot themselves in the foot as blow the entire leg off in that loss at Arrowhead against Miami. Inexplicable. Inexcusable.

21 (-1). Tennessee Titans (4-4, 4-4-0 ATS).
It’s amazing to think the Titans are still .500.

22 (-). Washington Redskins (3-5, 3-5-0 ATS).
Shanihanigans. At least Washington has given us a great new word this year. They’ll have something to show for the season.

23 (-). Cleveland Browns (3-5, 1-7-0 ATS).
The Browns break more hearts than Angelina Jolie.

24 (-). Carolina Panthers (2-6, 5-2-1 ATS).
Carolina won’t be in the playoffs, but the Panthers will stop at least one team getting there.

25 (+2). Denver Broncos (3-5, 3-5-0 ATS).
John Fox was able to adjust his game plan to his players. You have to let guys do what they do and not ask them to do what they can’t.

26 (-1). Seattle Seahawks (2-6, 5-3-0 ATS).
Pete Carroll must be getting ready for the ultimate trap game when Baltimore visits Seattle.

27 (-1). Minnesota Vikings (2-6, 5-3-0 ATS).
On a bye this week. Surely looking forward to seeing Green Bay again.

28 (-). Arizona Cardinals (2-6, 3-4-1 ATS).
Bet the Cards wish they could return punts on every play.

29 (-). Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6, 2-5-1 ATS).
Getting ready for its Super Bowl at Indianapolis.

30 (-). St. Louis Rams (1-7, 1-7-0 ATS).
St Louis travels to Cleveland on Sunday. Of specialist interest to those historians of professional football who remember that the Rams started out in Cleveland. Hard to see anyone else caring too much about this one.

31 (-). Miami Dolphins (1-7, 3-5-0 ATS).
The Dolphins have always played for their coach even though they all know he’s cooked. They deserved their win at Arrowhead.

32 (-). Indianapolis Colts (0-9, 2-7-0 ATS).
It’s a sign of just how far the Colts have fallen that they’re an NFL betting underdog at home in the one game they absolutely, positively must win this year.