NFL Power Ranks: Week 9

So why would my picture this week be of the Buccaneers? Especially wearing what they are wearing? Believe it or not, their win over Green Bay in Week 9 didn't propel them all the way to the top of the computerized power ranks, since I normally put a picture of the #1 ranked team up top. Instead, they actually managed to climb out of the bottom 5 teams by finally getting their first win of the season. Sadly, I will now have to go back to using their current logo in the top 5/bottom 5 grid, since I said I would leave it as "Bucco Bruce" until they finally won a game. How ironic is it that they finally won that game wearing the creamsicle jerseys, a uniform they rarely ever won with?

Anyways, the Colts and Saints are still #1 and #2 while staying undefeated. The Eagles loss dropped them 5 spots to #8 which allowed the Partiots to move to #3 while the Cowboys jumped all the way up to #4 now that they have taken control of the NFC East. The Vikings still get no respect (or is it justified?) staying at #5.

As I mentioned above, with the awful teams in the NFL this season, a single win can bump you up several spots. Tampa went from dead last to #27. Detroit is back where they belong, at the bottom of the ranks. The Rams stayed put at #31, the "surging" Titans jumped all the way to #24, which bumped Cleveland and Oakland down a few spots, and I would like the welcome the Washington Redskins to the bottom 5, you earned it.

The biggest gainers this week were Seattle (who still suck, but are playing slightly better), Dallas, and Tampa. The biggest losers were the Eagles and Bears, who dropped 5 spots each. I was also going to rip on my favorite team, the 49ers, for falling from #1 all the way to #25 in just a few weeks, but their win over the Bears last night gets them off the hook.

Projected Playoff Matchups
NFC
First Round Byes: #2 Saints, #4 Cowboys
#8 Eagles @ #13 Cardinals
#10 Falcons @ #5 Vikings
Top 3 Out: #14 Packers, #17 Giants, #19 Seahawks

AFC
First Round Byes: #1 Colts, #3 Patriots
#11 Texans @ #6 Steelers
#7 Bengals @ #9 Broncos
Top 3 Out: #12 Chargers, #15 Ravens, #16 Jets

Full Ranks:
1. Colts - 87.71 - Even
2. Saints - 84.05 - Even
3. Patriots - 75.26 - +1
4. Cowboys - 74.53 - +5
5. Vikings - 72.90 - Even
6. Steelers - 70.74 - +1
7. Bengals - 68.87 - +1
8. Eagles - 65.46 - -5
9. Broncos - 63.09 - -3
10. Falcons - 60.60 - +2
11. Texans - 60.54 - Even
12. Chargers - 59.61 - +2
13. Cardinals - 57.39 - +2
14. Packers - 57.28 - -4
15. Ravens - 53.37 - -2
16. Jets - 48.62 - +3
17. Giants - 45.24 - +1
18. Bills - 45.20 - +2
19. Seahawks - 44.59 - +6
20. Dolphins - 44.58 - -4
21. Jaguars - 44.16 - +2
22. Bears - 42.10 - -5
23. Panthers - 38.59 - -2
24. Titans - 35.46 - +4
25. 49ers - 31.91 - -3
26. Chiefs - 28.46 - Even
27. Buccaneers - 27.46 - +5
28. Redskins - 25.86 - -4
29. Raiders - 25.50 - -2
30. Browns - 22.44 - -1
31. Rams - 19.51 - Even
32. Lions - 18.09 - -2

Photo: AP/Chris O'Meara