John McClain’s Week 9 NFL power rankings

Posted on October 28, 2014 | By

<big><center><b>#32. </b>Oakland Raiders (0-7) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#32 <h3></h3> Going back to last season, the Raiders have lost 13 consecutive games. Dating back to 2009, they’re 0-16 in the eastern time zone. <big><center><b>#31. </b>Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-6) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#31 <h3></h3> The woeful Bucs, who are 0-4 at home, have lost 16 consecutive games when their opponent scores before they do. <big><center><b>#30. </b>NY Jets (1-7) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#30 <h3></h3> The Jets have a seven-game losing streak for the first time since 2005. They’ve allowed a league-worst 228 points. <big><center><b>#29. </b>Jacksonville Jaguars (1-7) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#29 <h3></h3> Rookie Blake Bortles has thrown twice as many interceptions (12) as touchdowns (6). Four interceptions have been returned for touchdowns. <big><center><b>#28. </b>Tennessee Titnas (2-6) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#28 <h3></h3> In their last 10 games at LP Field, the Titans are 2-8. They’ve scored more than 17 points in one of their last seven games this season. <big><center><b>#27. </b>Atlanta Falcons (2-6) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#25 <h3></h3> When the Falcons blew the 21-point lead to Detroit in London, it marked the largest lead Atlanta has lost in franchise history. <big><center><b>#26. </b>St. Louis Rams (2-5) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#23 <h3></h3> In an effort to add a physical presence on defense, the Rams stole safety Mark Barron from the Bucs for fourth- and sixth-round picks. <big><center><b>#25. </b>Chicago Bears (3-5) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#20 <h3></h3> In Sunday’s 51-23 loss at New England, the Bears surrendered 38 points in the first half, the most in the storied history of the franchise. <big><center><b>#24. </b>Carolina Panthers (3-4-1) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#22 <h3></h3> In losses to Seattle in each of the last three seasons, Cam Newton has averaged 145.6 yards passing, with one touchdown pass and eight sacks. <big><center><b>#23.</b> Minnesota Vikings (3-5) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#26 <h3></h3> Rookie outside linebacker Anthony Barr became the fourth player in history to return a fumble for a touchdown to win in overtime. <big><center><b>#22. </b>Washington Redskins (3-5) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#27 <h3></h3> If he beats Minnesota for a 2-0 record as a starter, don’t expect Colt McCoy to start over Robert Griffin III when they return from their bye. <big><center><b>#21. </b>NY Giants (3-4) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#19 <h3></h3> Eli Manning, in the NFL since 2004, has started 158 straight games, the league's longest active streak. <big><center><b>#20. </b>New Orleans Saints (3-4) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#24 <h3></h3> Brandin Cooks, the first-round pick from Oregon State, has 40 catches, more than any rookie receiver in the league. <big><center><b>#19. </b>Houston Texans (4-4) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#21 <h3></h3> In the month of October, the Texans led the league in rushing with 164 yards a game. They were fifth against the run (86.3 yards). <big><center><b>#18. </b>Cleveland Browns (4-3) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#18 <h3></h3> When the Browns beat Oakland, they avoided becoming the first team to lose consecutive games to winless teams after the sixth game. <big><center><b>#17. </b>Buffalo Bills (5-3) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#20 <h3></h3> Sammy Watkins leads rookie receivers with 590 yards. His 157 yards Sunday were the most by a Bills rookie since Jerry Butler’s 255 in 1979. <big><center><b>#16. </b>Miami Dolphins (4-3) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#16 <h3></h3> The Dolphins host the Chargers. Miami is 14-1 when quarterback Ryan Tannehill has a passer rating of at least 90.0. <big><center><b>#15. </b>San Francisco 49ers (4-3) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#12 <h3></h3> Counting the playoffs, the 49ers have a 15-1 record (.938) since Colin Kaepernick became their starting quarterback. <big><center><b>#14. </b>Baltimore Ravens (5-3) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#6 <h3></h3> The Ravens play the Steelers. They’ve won five of their last seven against Pittsburgh. Joe Flacco has nine touchdowns and one interception. <big><center><b>#13. </b>San Diego Chargers (5-3) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#7 <h3></h3> Tight end Antonio Gates has 9,610 yards receiving, breaking the team record of 9,584 set by Hall of Fame wide receiver Lance Alworth. <big><center><b>#12. </b>Indianapolis Colts (5-3) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#3 <h3></h3> Third-year quarterback Andrew Luck has thrown for at least 300 yards in six consecutive games, a franchise record. <big><center><b>#11. </b>Kansas City Chiefs (4-3) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#13 <h3></h3> When quarterback Alex Smith compiles a passer rating of at least 100.0, the Chiefs have a 21-2-1 (.896) record. <big><center><b>#10. </b>Seattle Seahawks (4-3) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#11 <h3></h3> Since 2012, quarterback Russell Wilson has 10 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime, second to Tony Romo’s 12. <big><center><b>#9. </b>Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#15 <h3></h3> Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s 522 yards passing against the Colts tied Boomer Esiason (1996) for the fourth-most in league history. <big><center><b>#8. </b>Cincinnati Bengals (4-2-1) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#17 <h3></h3> By sweeping the Ravens for the first time since 2009, the Bengals lead the AFC North. They hope to win their first playoff game since 1990. <big><center><b>#7. </b>Green Bay Packers (5-3) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#5 <h3></h3> The Packers host Chicago, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers is on a pace to throw 38 touchdown passes and six interceptions. <big><center><b>#6. </b>Philadelphia Eagles (5-2) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#4 <h3></h3> Quarterback Nick Foles has won his last three games against AFC teams. He has 10 touchdown passes, two interceptions and a 118.0 rating. <big><center><b>#5. </b>Detroit Lions (6-2) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#10 <h3></h3> Since 1966, Matthew Stafford is one of three quarterbacks to help his team overcome deficits of at least 21 points and win. <big><center><b>#4. </b>Dallas Cowboys (6-2) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#1 <h3></h3> In their overtime loss to Washington, Tony Romo and Jason Witten became the first quarterback/tight end combo to connect at least 600 times. <big><center><b>#3. </b>Arizona Cardinals 6-1 <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#9 <h3></h3> The Cardinals have a three-game winning streak going into their Dallas game. They’re off to their best start since the 1974 season. <big><center><b>#2. </b>New England Patriots (6-2) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#8 <h3></h3> The Patriots host the Broncos. Tom Brady has a 10-5 record against Peyton Manning, including victories in three of the last four games. <big><center><b>#1. </b>Denver Broncos (6-1) <h3></h3> <b>Last week: </b>#2 <h3></h3> Peyton Manning has engineered 173 victories in 17 seasons, second in NFL career victories to Brett Favre’s 186.

Categories: 2014 season
John McClain