The NFL is becoming more top heavy than expected this season. With Week 9 coming up, the midway point has a lot of playoff hopefuls revved up for a stretch run to play their best football in November and December with the goal to play through January and early February.
Some good teams are bound to be left out of the playoffs. Meanwhile, one bad team will need to end up earning the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2026. Here’s the latest look at the league from reigning Super Bowl champions at the top to rock bottom:
NFL Power Rankings
1. Green Bay Packers 5-1-1 (previous ranking: 1)
The Packers’ defense has been bringing it with Micah Parsons but they really needed a boost from Jordan Love and the offense going off to feel like the team was a complete Super Bowl contender. All of that happened in Pittsburgh as Green Bay rose to the challenge of facing Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers.
MORE: How Tucker Kraft erupted for a career night vs. Steelers
2. Philadelphia Eagles 6-2 (3)
The Eagles found their running game and the 2024 version of Saquon Barkley again to crush the Giants in a key rematch and Jalen Hurts also was able to stay hot in the passing game without A.J. Brown. Their defense also got well again.
3. Kansas City Chiefs 5-3 (4)
The Chiefs are the current favorites to win Super Bowl 60 despite having three losses through Week 8 and just getting back above .500. Everyone can see Patrick Mahomes is a quarterback possessed and it’s not fair they still have a top defense, too. The Bills present a great next litmus test after walkovers vs. the Raiders and Commanders.
4. Indianapolis Colts 7-1 (5)
The Colts keep rolling with Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor doing pretty much anything they want against any kind of weak defense. The Colts’ own defense needs to get more credit, too. Coach Shane Steichen and GM Chris Ballard have gone from the hot seat to award-worthy.
MORE: How Jonathan Taylor regained the title of NFL’s best running back
5. Buffalo Bills 5-2 (6)
The Bills needed to find their ultimate offense again after the bye and it’s not a surprise that James Cook sparked everything with more of his breakout big-time running. He was the catalyst to get Josh Allen back on track and also help the defense find some complementary energy.
6. Detroit Lions 5-2 (7)
The Lions got a needed bye week as they attempt to make a second-half surge to repeat in the tough NFC North over the Packers and Bears. Jared Goff can have a big second half with a more favorable schedule with much of the toughness behind Dan Campbell’s team.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6-2 (8)
The Buccaneers didn’t need much of Baker Mayfield or the offense in general to rip the Saints with Todd Bowles’ defense rising to a much-needed challenge to shut the door early on an inferior overall team on the road. That was a good rebound from the Lions game.
8. Los Angeles Rams 5-2 (9)
The Rams needed their bye to get Puka Nacua and others healthy to rev up for the stretch run with Matthew Stafford, Davante Adams and the rest of their seasoned offense and exciting young defense. They get a nice tuneup against the Saints before ramping back up for the 49ers.
9. New England Patriots 6-2 (11)
The Patriots don’t need to worry about Drake Maye starting slow. He can get going in a hurry with Josh McDaniels’ offense full of big plays, even when facing a tough Browns pass rush early. That was a great test to pass toward earning true supremacy over the Bills in the AFC contention picture.
10. Denver Broncos 6-2 (12)
The Broncos kept on scoring against the Cowboys after that massive Bo Nix-fueled comeback against the Giants and this time didn’t see their defense stumble to keep a lead. Now the concern will be the health of DPOY cornerback Pat Surtain II.
MORE: Patrick Surtain II injury updates
11. San Francisco 49ers 5-3 (2)
The 49ers’ rash of offensive injuries caught up to them against a good Houston defense that had the players to slow down Christian McCaffrey and their own defense couldn’t keep overachieving on the road. They can get well against the Giants next week before a rematch with the Rams.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers 5-3 (10)
The Steelers’ defense isn’t a strength when they’re in games with teams that are getting the ball out quickly and running well. The offense is incapable of overcoming big holes with Rodgers. Pittsburgh is fortunate to lead the weak AFC North.
MORE: Aaron Rodgers enjoys solid day in loss to Green Bay
13. Seattle Seahawks 5-2 (13)
The Seahawks are still trying to find their total identity on offense and defense for Mike Macdonald and Klint Kubiak. They are “a running team” that is often better at passing with Sam Darnold. They have little margin for error and need to keep the pressure on the 49ers and Rams.
14. Los Angeles Chargers 5-3 (14)
The Chargers needed a massive clean and dominant game from Justin Herbert and got it for the most part against a tough Vikings’ defense. The running game coming to life again to help him also was welcome for Jim Harbaugh.
15. Jacksonville Jaguars 4-3 (15)
The Jaguars got back from London reeling and need Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne to provide reliable offensive consistency for Liam Coen to have any chance of getting into the AFC playoff race after a solid first half of the season.
16. Chicago Bears 4-3 (16)
The Bears ran into a tricky assignment vs. the rested and adjusted Ravens on the road. Caleb Williams tried his best to make it a game but Baltimore was able to play its kind of game with Derrick Henry. That could be huge later in terms of losing ground in the wild-card race.
17. Carolina Panthers 4-4 (17)
The Panthers had been overachieving against lesser foes with improved defense but ran into a buzzsaw against the Buffalo Bills and their fans at Bank of America Stadium. At least they found out Bryce Young is officially a better starting QB than Andy Dalton.
18. Dallas Cowboys 3-4-1 (18)
The Cowboys’ defense wasn’t meant to hold up vs. rather competent offensive schemes with their lacking pass rush, often big-play yielding run defense and bad coverage. It will affect Dak Prescott even more when he sees a nasty defense.
MORE: Javonte Williams scores 2 TDs against former team Broncos
19. Houston Texans 3-4 (23)
The Texans are putting it together with C.J. Stroud and the offense, even when Nico Collins isn’t playing. The defense has been a given so watch out for DeMeco Ryans’ team to get hot and push for a wild card spot in the second half of the season.
20. Atlanta Falcons 3-4 (19)
The Falcons are an enigma wrapped up in a riddle inside a mystery. They should have been dominant against the Dolphins, even with Kirk Cousins starting for Michael Penix Jr. and Drake London out, thanks to plenty of Bijan Robinson. Raheem Morris and Zac Robinson have to be frustrated about the inconsistent execution for the offense.
21. Minnesota Vikings 3-4 (20)
The Vikings’ quarterback situation hasn’t gone according to plan as J.J. McCarthy must return to give the offense more of a chance with its talented receiving corps. The defense cannot compensate for Carson Wentz’s mistakes.
22. Baltimore Ravens 2-5 (24)
The Ravens needed the jolt from returning backup QB Tyler Huntley to bring back their offensive competence and match some renewed defensive confidence against the Bears. They now have a long shot playoff pulse.
23. Washington Commanders 3-5 (22)
The Commanders got the expected losing result in Kansas City with Marcus Mariota playing for an injured Jayden Daniels with the offense struggling to create anything. The defense cannot hold up against better passing offenses, either.
24. Cincinnati Bengals 3-5 (21)
The Bengals will look back on blowing a lead to the previous winless Jets while getting another big performance from Joe Flacco as what might cost them a shot at the playoffs when Joe Burrow can return. They must rebound to beat the Bears to prepare for a much more difficult AFC-heavy schedule.
25. Arizona Cardinals 2-5 (25)
The Cardinals will hope to get Kyler Murray back healthy and playing better overall after the bye. They cannot afford any more injury issues offensively with their defensive inconsistency.
26. New York Giants 2-6 (26)
The Giants were feeling good late in Week 7 until the crumble against the Broncos and the Week 8 rematch against the Eagles went ugly in a hurry after Cam Skattebo a scary ankle injury. Jaxson Dart will need to fly a futile solo mission.
MORE:
27. Cleveland Browns 2-6 (27)
The Browns did their best to get going with Myles Garrett leading the pass rush in New England but their defense just doesn’t get the same job done on the road. When that happens, it’s lights out for the limited offense.
MORE: Where Myles Garrett’s five-sack day vs. Patriots ranks on all-time list
28. Miami Dolphins 2-6 (31)
The Dolphins went from thinking about benching Tua Tagovailoa to lighting up one of the NFL’s best pass defenses on road. Furthermore, how the heck did they stop the Falcons’ running game? Will this carry over into the Ravens game on Thursday?
29. Las Vegas Raiders 2-5 (28)
The Raiders need to get their running game going with Ashton Jeanty after the bye and hope their defense can be more respectable, because pass-happy football gives them little chance.
30. New York Jets 1-7 (32)
The Jets were threw Justin Fields under the bus until he rode Breece Hall and the running game to outduel ageless darling Joe Flacco. They actually have a chance to win two in a row with the Browns next.
MORE: NFL world mourns death of former Jets center Nick Mangold
Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
31. New Orleans Saints 1-7 (29)
The Saints might be marching toward starting rookie Tyler Shough with Spencer Rattler and the offense falling apart like never before against the Buccaneers.
32. Tennessee Titans 1-7 (30)
The Titans are seeing flashes from Cam Ward, but that’s the end of their offensive promise as their defense keeps putting the rookie QB in tough spots.
