Week 9 AP NFL Power Rankings: The best separate from the rest

If you had money on multiple games this week, then chances are you lost it as week 8 saw multiple upsets. It’s becoming clear that there are very few really good teams, but there are multiple mediocre squads.

This week’s voters were Matt Stagner, Pete Sweeney, Ron Kopp and myself.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (1st)

The Chiefs defense dancing is my personal highlight of the season so far.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (2nd)

There’s every possibility this team will go 16-0 or 15-1. Realistically, they’re the only team that can stop the Chiefs from having home-field advantage.

3. Seattle Seahawks (3rd)

Four touchdowns for Russ against the 49ers. The Seahawks defense is going to be their Achilles heel in January.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5th)

Probably the most likely threat to Seattle in the battle for the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

5. Baltimore Ravens (4th)

They will be itching to get that one back against the Steelers on Thanksgiving.

6. Green Bay Packers (6th)

The defense simply couldn’t stop Dalvin Cook. It’s been an up-and-down few weeks for Green Bay.

7. New Orleans Saints (8th)

On a bit of a roll after a slowish start to the season. They’re playing the Bucs this week. Should be a classic.

8. Tennessee Titans (7th)

They lost to the Bengals. They’re dropping.

9. Buffalo Bills (10th)

Breathing space for the Bills at the top of the AFC East, but they needed a last minute fumble from Cam Newton to get it.

10. Arizona Cardinals (9th)

No game this week for the Cardinals.

11. Indianapolis Colts (14th)

The Nyheim Hines touchdowns are a must-watch.

12. Las Vegas Raiders (15th)

You have to go all the way back to 2015 for the last time the Raiders scored 16 points or less and won a game.

13. Miami Dolphins (19th) | This week’s high riser

Every time I turned Red Zone on the Dolphins were scoring or creating turnovers.

14. San Francisco 49ers (11th)

Bottom of the division with a 4-4 record. Football can be so unfair sometimes.

15. Cleveland Browns (13th)

Six points against the Las Vegas Raiders… Pitiful.

16. Los Angeles Rams (12th) | This week’s big faller

It was only two years ago that Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes were being compared. How times have changed.

17. Carolina Panthers (17th)

Christian McCaffery will be returning against the Chiefs. Their playoff hopes are hanging by a thread.

18. Chicago Bears (16th)

Why do people punch others in the helmet?

19. New England Patriots (18th)

Oh Cam! Look after the ball.

20. Los Angeles Chargers (20th)

The Chargers might have a quarterback, but they can’t get out of their own way right now.

21. Minnesota Vikings (24th)

How about you just feed Dalvin Cook and play smothering defense every week?

22. Philadelphia Eagles (22nd)

Whose idea was it to put an all-NFC East game on primetime? With three wins, the Eagles likely only need three more for the playoffs.

23. Denver Broncos (23rd)

What a comeback. Kudos. But please stop dancing, Drew Lock. Your future kids are already embarrassed.

24. Detroit Lions (21st)

Matt Patricia is now 12-25-1 as the head coach of the Detroit Lions.

25. Cincinnati Bengals (26th)

What a scalp for this young side. Look for them to kick on.

26. Atlanta Falcons (27th)

A good win for the Falcons on Thursday Night Football after the heartbreaking loss to the Lions.

27. Houston Texans (25rd)

A week off for Houston. I wonder if JJ Watt has calmed down?

28. Dallas Cowboys (28th)

Here’s the plan Jerry:

Tag and trade Dak Prescott and then draft Trevor Lawrence.

29. New York Giants (30th)

Do you think the Giants wish they took Josh Allen instead?

30. Washington Football Team (29th)

No game this week for the football team.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (31st)

Jake Luton will be starting at quarterback in Week 9, as the Jaguars give Gardner Minshew some time to get over his hand injuries.

32. New York Jets (32nd)

The Jets actually played OK in the first half against Kansas City. What was said at halftime that made them play so badly in the second?