Week 9 NFL Rankings

Of course, the marquee game last weekend was the Sunday afternoon matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots. The only good thing I have to say about that game is at least the Colts covered that 5 1/2 spread, losing only by four.

What else was notable about last weekend? Well, neither the St. Louis Rams or the Miami Dolphins lost! Then again, they didn't win either as both teams mercifully had a bye. As the battle for #32 rages on this weekend, the Rams (aka: "Lambs" - this is a vestige left over from their days here in L.A.) go to New Orleans to take on the red-hot New Orleans Saints, while the Dolphins host a hot and underrated 4-4 Buffalo Bills team. Who will finish the year with the NFL's worst record and the #1 overall draft pick? While there's been a lot of talk about the now 9-0 Patriots trying to become the second NFL team to have a perfect season - the 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only team to go undefeated in a season, people are now starting to talk about the current versions of the Rams and Dolphins equalling and/or surpassing the 0-14 record that the expansion Tampa Bay Buccanneers put up during the 1976 season. Feast or famine? What an interesting season this has been so far!

Here are this week’s rankings with last weeks rank in (). Record is only one consideration. I also take into account strength of schedule, strength of victory (or loss) and other intangibles…

1.(1) New England Patriots (9-0)
2.(2) Indianapolis Colts (7-1)
3.(3) Dallas Cowboys (7-1)
4.(4) Green Bay Packers (7-1)
5.(7) Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
6.(8) New York Giants (6-2)
7.(9) Tennessee Titans (6-2)
8.(6) Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3)
9.(12) Cleveland Browns (5-3)
10.(5) San Diego Chargers (4-4)
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11.(13) New Orleans Saints (4-4)
12.(10) Washington Redskins (5-3)
13.(16) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-4)
14.(21) Buffalo Bills (4-4)
15.(18) Detroit Lions (6-2)
16.(11) Carolina Panthers (4-4)
17.(15) Seattle Seahawks (4-4)
18.(14) Baltimore Ravens (4-4)
19.(23) Houston Texans (4-5)
20.(17) Arizona Cardinals (3-5)
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21.(19) Kansas City Chiefs (4-4)
22.(20) Philadelphia Eagles (3-5)
23.(28) Minnesota Vikings (3-5)
24.(22) Chicago Bears (3-5)
25.(25) Denver Broncos (3-5)
26.(29) Atlanta Falcons (2-6)
27.(26) Cincinnati Bengals (2-6)
28.(24) Oakland Raiders (2-6)
29.(27) San Francisco 49ers (2-6)
30.(30) New York Jets (1-8)
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31.(31) Miami Dolphins (0-8)
32.(32) St. Louis Rams (0-8)
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