2022 NFL Power Rankings – Week 09

1. Philadelphia Eagles (7-0): The Eagles lead the NFL in turnover margin with a +14. The closest team is the Cowboys with a +6 margin. The Eagles have a top 5 offense and a top 5 defense. They are clearly the team to beat in the NFC. Next: -14 at Houston Texans – Thu, Nov. 3 – O/U: 45 (ATS: 5-2 – O/U: 4-3)

2. Buffalo Bills (6-1): The Bills acquired Colts running back Nyheim Hines before the trade deadline. The Bills are sending back running back Zack Moss and a conditional 6th round pick in 2023 to the Colts. Hines is an excellent receiver out of the backfield, with 235 career receptions in his since he was drafted in the fourth round in 2018. Next: -11.5 at New York Jets - Sun, Nov. 6 – O/U 46 (ATS: 4-2-1 – O/U: 1-6)

3. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2): The Chiefs have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, with two of those starters from the 2021 NFL Draft. Center Creed Humphrey was drafted in third round out of Oklahoma and right guard Trey Smith was drafted in the sixth round out of Tennessee. Next: -12.5 vs Tennessee Titans - Sun, Nov. 6 – O/U: 46.5 (ATS: 3-4 – O/U: 4-3)

4. Dallas Cowboys (6-2): The Cowboys were without star running back Ezekiel Elliott but turned to running back Tony Pollard, who rushed for 131 yards and three touchdowns on just 14 carries in the 49-29 rout of the Bears. Pollard also caught 1 pass for 16 yards. Next: Bye – Following week: N/A at Green Bay Packers - Sun, Nov. 13 – O/U: N/A (ATS: 6-2 – O/U: 3-5)

5. Minnesota Vikings (6-1): The Viking lead the NFC North division by 3.5 games and four games in the loss column. The Packers and Bears are tied for second at 3-5 and the Lions are 1-6. The Vikings acquired tight end T.J. Hockenson from the Lions, a trade within the division that could only happen when one team is headed for the playoffs and the other team is looking ahead to the 2023 NFL draft. Next: -3 at Washington Commanders – Sun, Nov. 6 – O/U: 43.5 (ATS: 3-4 – O/U: 4-3)

6. Seattle Seahawks (5-3): Just when you think the game has passed him by, head coach Pete Carroll is showing that he is still one of the best coaches in the game. The Seahawks are alone in first place in the NFC West and are a surprise team in the NFL. Carroll is the Coach of the Year if he gets this team to 11 wins and a playoff berth. Next: +2 at Arizona Cardinals - Sun, Nov. 6 – O/U: 49.5 (ATS: 5-3 – O/U: 4-4)

7. Miami Dolphins (5-3): The Dolphins acquired Pro Bowl edge rusher Bradley Chubb before the trade deadline. The Dolphins will send a 2023 first-round pick, a 2024 fourth-round pick and running back Chase Edmonds to the Broncos. The Broncos are tossing in a 2025 fifth-round pick as part of the deal. Next: -4 at Chicago Bears - Sun, Nov. 6 – O/U: 45.5 (ATS: 4-4 – O/U: 3-5)

8. Baltimore Ravens (5-3): The Ravens became the latest teams to knock off the Bucs, winning 27-22 in Tampa Bay. The Ravens also acquired linebacker Roquan Smith for a 2023 second round pick and a 2023 fifth round pick. Smith leads the NFL in tackles with 83. This trade looks like a steal for the Ravens. Next: -2.5 at New Orleans Saints – Mon, Nov. 7 – O/U 48 (ATS: 3-4-1 – O/U: 3-5)

9. Tennessee Titans (5-2): Running back Derrick Henry carried the load on Sunday, rushing 32 times for 219 yards and two touchdowns in the Titans victory over the Texans. The Titans have a solid two game lead over the second place Colts in the AFC South. Next: +12.5 at Kansas City Chiefs - Sun, Nov. 6 – O/U 46.5 (ATS: 5-2 – O/U: 2-5)

10. New York Giants (6-2): The Giants or the "Smoke & Mirrors Gang" as we like to call them, finally looked like the Giants team that we remember fondly from past seasons. The Seahawks scored two fourth quarter touchdowns to break the game open and win 27-13. Next: Bye – Following week: N/A vs Houston Texans – Sun, Nov. 13 - O/U: N/A (ATS: 6-2 – O/U: 2-6)

11. San Francisco 49ers (4-4): Running back Christian McCaffrey ran for a touchdown, caught a touchdown pass, and threw a touchdown pass in the 49ers victory over the Rams. With McCaffrey on the roster, the 49ers felt that they could move running back Jeff Wilson, who leads the team in rushing with 468 yards and a 5.1 yards per carry average. Wilson was traded to the Dolphins for a fifth-round draft pick in 2023. Next: Bye – Following week: N/A vs Los Angeles Chargers – Sun, Nov. 13 – O/U: N/A (ATS: 4-4 – O/U: 3-5)

12. New York Jets (5-3): As usual, the Jets lost to the Pats, 22-17. The Jets have not beaten the Pats since the 2015 season and have lost 13 consecutive games to the Pats. The Jets have a 5-3 record and a bright future, but they are not ready to challenge for a division title. Next: +11.5 vs Buffalo Bills - Sun, Nov. 6 – O/U: 46 (ATS: 5-3 – O/U: 3-5)

13. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3): The good news for the Chargers is that wide receiver Josh Palmer has been cleared from concussion protocol and is available to play in Week 9. The bad news is that wide receiver Mike Williams will be out with an ankle injury and wide receiver Keenan Allen is doubtful due to a hamstring pull. The Chargers will be very thin at wideout this weekend against the Falcons. Next: -3 at Atlanta Falcons, Sun, Nov. 6 – O/U: 49.5 (ATS: 4-3 – O/U: 4-3)

14. New England Patriots (4-4): What happened to Hunter Henry in the Patriots offense? Henry has 15 receptions in eight games, for a total of 190 yards and one touchdown. The former Charger has become a non-factor in the Pats offense and is tracking for the worst season in his career. Next: -6 vs Indianapolis Colts – Sun, Nov. 6 – O/U: 40.5 (ATS: 4-3-1 – O/U: 4-4)

15. Cincinnati Bengals (4-4): The Bengals were embarrassed by the Browns on Monday Night, 32-13. Quarterback Joe Burrow was sacked five times and the Browns led 25-0 after three quarters. This team is suffering from a Super Bowl loss hangover. Next: -7.5 vs Carolina Panthers - Sun, Nov. 6 – O/U: 42.5 (ATS: 5-3 – O/U: 2-5-1)

16. Atlanta Falcons (4-4): The Falcons pulled out a win in overtime over the Panthers to move into first place in the NFC South. The Falcons are averaging 158.1 yards per game rushing, which is 5th in the NFL. The rushing attack will be a challenge for the Chargers to stop or slow down this week. Next: +3 vs Los Angeles Chargers – Sun, Nov. 6 – O/U: 49.5 (ATS: 6-2 – O/U: 5-3)

17. Washington Commanders (4-4): The Commanders have a three-game winning streak, which proves that anything is possible in the NFL. Despite the winning streak, they are still in last place in the NFC East. They are a playoff team in the NFC South. Next: +3 vs Minnesota Vikings – Sun, Nov. 30 – O/U: 43.5 (ATS: 4-4 – O/U: 3-5)

18. Cleveland Browns (3-5): The Browns crushed the Bengals on Monday Night, 32-13 in Cleveland. The Browns led 25-0 after three quarters. They had 440 yards in offense, and the defense came up with five sacks and two turnovers. Next: Bye – Following week: N/A at Miami Dolphins – Sun, Nov. 13 – O/U: N/A (ATS: 4-4 – O/U: 5-2-1)

19. Los Angeles Rams (3-4): The Rams loss to the 49ers on Sunday to fall below .500 for the season, but more importantly, does anyone in Southern California care? The sea of red at SoFi Stadium would seem to indicate that they don't. As 49er head coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game, "There was definitely more red. Definitely started to feel like we were at home." Next: +3 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Sun, Nov. 6 – O/U: 42.5 (ATS: 2-5 – O/U: 2-5)

20. Arizona Cardinals (3-5): The Cardinals really missed wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins when he was out with a six-game suspension to start the season. Hopkins has played in two games for the Cardinals and has 22 receptions for 262 yards and a touchdown. The offense has suddenly come alive. Next: -2 vs Seattle Seahawks - Sun, Nov. 6 – O/U: 49.5 (ATS: 4-4 – O/U: 3-4-1)

21. Indianapolis Colts (3-4-1): The Colts fired offensive coordinator Marcus Brady after their 17-16 loss to the Commanders. They also traded running back Nyheim Hines to the Bills for running back Zack Moss and a conditional 6th round pick in 2023, apparently because they wanted to do the Bills a solid. Next: +6 at New England Patriots – Sun, Nov. 6 – O/U: 40.5 (ATS: 3-5 – O/U: 1-7)

22. Green Bay Packers (3-5): As expected, the Packers lost to the Bills on Sunday Night in Buffalo, 27-17. The Packers have a four-game losing streak and failed to make a move at the trade deadline that might help improve the roster. It will be a long winter in Green Bay this year. Next: -3.5 at Detroit Lions - Sun, Nov. 6 – O/U: 49.5 (ATS: 3-5 – O/U: 3-5)

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5): The Bucs have lost five of their last six games and have fallen to 3-5 for the season. Even in the NFC South, that is not good enough for first place. Buy they are tied for second place with the Saints, and just one game behind the Falcons. Next: -3 vs Los Angeles Rams - Sun, Nov. 6 – O/U: 42.5 (ATS: 2-6 – O/U: 2-6)

24. Chicago Bears (3-5): The Bears traded star linebacker Roquan Smith, their best defensive player, for a 2023 second round pick and a 2023 fifth round pick, then acquired wide receiver Chase Claypool from the Steelers for a second-round draft pick. The Bears are in the process of rebuilding, again. Next: +4 vs Miami Dolphins - Sun, Nov. 6 – O/U: 45.5 (ATS: 3-4-1 – O/U: 4-4)

25. Denver Broncos (3-5): The Broncos defeated the Jaguars in London to get their third win of the season. The trade of pro bowl edge rusher Bradley Chubb to the Dolphins for a first-round pick is indicative of where the Broncos are today. They are not a playoff team in 2022 and they know it. Next: Bye – Following week: N/A at Tennessee Titans - Sun, Nov. 13 – O/U: N/A (ATS: 3-5 – O/U: 1-7)

26. New Orleans Saints (3-5): The good news is that the Saints easily defeated the hapless Raiders, 24-0 this weekend. The bad news is that wide receiver Michael Thomas has been placed on the injured reserve with a toe injury and is likely done for the season. Next: +2.5 vs Baltimore Ravens – Mon, Nov. 7 – O/U: 48 (ATS: 3-5 – O/U: 5-3)

27. Las Vegas Raiders (2-5): The Raiders were embarrassed in New Orleans against the Saints, getting shutout 24-0. The Raiders did not cross the 50-yard-line until a garbage-time final drive. The Raiders are coming off a 10-7 season and a playoff berth in 2021. With the addition of All-Pro wide receiver Devante Adams, the Raiders should not be 2-5 and getting shutout by anyone in the NFL. Next: -1.5 at Jacksonville Jaguars - Sun, Nov. 6 – O/U: 48 (ATS: 3-4 – O/U: 4-2-1)

28. Carolina Panthers (2-6): Kicker Eddy Piñeiro missed a pair of potential game winning kicks, one an extra point and the other a 32-yard field goal attempt in overtime and the Panther lost to the Falcons, 37-34. Had the Panthers won, they would have been in a four-way tie for first place in the NFC South at 3-5. Next: +7.5 at Cincinnati Bengals - Sun, Nov. 6 – O/U: 42.5 (ATS: 3-5 – O/U: 3-5)

29. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-6): The Steelers lost for the sixth time in seven games, this time to the Eagles in a blowout 35-13 loss. They subsequently traded wide receiver Chase Claypool to the Chicago Bears for a 2nd round draft pick in 2023. They are looking ahead to next season. Next: Bye – Following week: N/A vs New Orleans Saints – Sun, Nov. 13 – O/U: N/A (ATS: 3-4-1 – O/U: 3-5)

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6): The Jaguars have lost five in a row since their stunning blowout win over the Chargers on the road. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is struggling. Former journeyman quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick thinks Lawrence "needs more alpha in him." Ouch! Next: +1.5 vs Las Vegas Raiders - Sun, Nov. 6 – O/U: 48 (ATS: 2-6 – O/U: 4-4)

31. Houston Texans (1-5-1): The Texans failed to trade wide receiver Brandin Cooks before the trade deadline, and is usually the case, the money was the stumbling block. Cooks has a fully guaranteed base salary of $18 million in 2023. The obvious question for Texan management should be: why did you agree to a contract with Brandin Cooks for $18 million in guaranteed salary in 2023? Next: +14 vs Philadelphia Eagles – Thu, Nov. 3 – O/U 45 (ATS: 3-3-1 – O/U: 3-4)

32. Detroit Lions (1-6): The Lions lost again in heartbreaking fashion, giving up an 11-yard touchdown pass with 12 seconds remaining to the Dolphins, and losing 31-27. The Lions decided that T.J. Hockenson, a pro bowl tight end and former top ten NFL draft pick, was expendable and traded him along with a 2023 fourth-round draft pick and a conditional 2024 fourth-round draft pick to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a 2023 second-round pick and a 2024 third-round draft pick. This was about money, as the Lions owed Hockenson $9.3 million in 2023. Next: +3.5 vs Green Bay Packers – Sun, Nov. 6 – O/U: 49.5 (ATS: 3-5 – O/U: 5-2)