NFL Power Rankings - Week 9: Cardinals move up to No. 2; Packers, Colts fall

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's NFL Editors, including David P. Woods, Michael Amato, Caitlyn Holroyd and Gino Bottero.

1. Denver Broncos

Previous Rank: 1st

Lost in the terrific play of the team's offense is how good Denver's defense has been. That unit will need to be on its game on a daunting stretch that will see the Broncos play three in a row and six of eight on the road, starting with an always tough trip to Foxborough. - Gino Bottero

2. Arizona Cardinals

Previous Rank: 4th

Is it too early to mention Cardinals and Super Bowl in the same sentence? Probably. But this team continues to prove its the real deal and could very well run away with the division. - Caitlyn Holroyd

3. New England Patriots

Previous Rank: 8th

Surprise, surprise. All those analysts who wrote about how Tom Brady was washed up earlier this season are eating crow. All it took for Brady to return to his old ways was the emergence of a finally-healthy Rob Gronkowski. - David P. Woods

4. Dallas Cowboys

Previous Rank: 2nd

Dallas slipped up on Monday to a weaker opponent and things are going to get much tougher this week. Arizona has been one of the league's best against the run, so DeMarco Murray will have his work cut out for him. Expect the Cardinals to also dial up the blitzes with a banged up Tony Romo. How the Cowboys perform on Sunday will say a lot about what they're made of. - Michael Amato

5. San Diego Chargers

Previous Rank: 5th

The Chargers had a chance to make good on all the work they've put in this season by knocking off the Broncos, but with all the bodies lost in the secondary, they never really had a chance. The team will have a long time to think about that one without a meaningful divisional matchup until Dec. 14. - Gino Bottero

6. Seattle Seahawks

Previous Rank: 9th

The Seahawks got back into the win column with a 13-9 victory over the Panthers, but it did not come easy. Seattle's offense looks like a shell of its 2013 self and is relying too much on Russell Wilson. It's clear they still have some things to figure out. - Caitlyn Holroyd

7. Detroit Lions

Previous Rank: 11th

The Lions keep coming up with improbable wins, which is the opposite of what we've come to know from this franchise in recent years. It looks like Calvin Johnson will be returning soon, but it remains to be seen how the loss of Nick Fairley will hurt their dominant defensive line. - Michael Amato

8. Philadelphia Eagles

Previous Rank: 7th

The Eagles are a tough team to figure out as they haven't had many impressive wins or troubling losses. Still, they're 5-2 and look like they can compete with anyone in the league. Trouble could be on the horizon, though, as injuries are starting to pile up on the offensive line. - Michael Amato

9. Green Bay Packers

Previous Rank: 3rd

It's tough to win in New Orleans, so don't read too much into Sunday's defeat at the hands of the Saints. However, it's evident that the Packers are struggling mightily to stop the run and that could end up being their downfall. - Michael Amato

10. Cincinnati Bengals

Previous Rank: 13th

After building a plus-47 margin in points through their first three games, the Bengals have actually been outscored for the season thanks to a minus-50 margin since their bye week. That they've been able to sweep the division rival Ravens is really all the Bengals have to hang their hat on right now. - Gino Bottero

11. Indianapolis Colts

Previous Rank: 6th

Ah, there's the Colts defense most of us expected to see this season. Even Andrew Luck can't save this team when it allows 500 yards through the air. The good news is there's plenty of time to regroup. It's not like any AFC South team can challenge the Colts for the division title. - David P. Woods

12. San Francisco 49ers

Previous Rank: 12th

The 49ers emerge from their bye week a healthier and stronger team, as Aldon Smith, NaVorro Bowman, Glenn Dorsey and Marcus Lattimore are all slated to return after lengthy absences. They will need all the healthy bodies they can get with the Saints, Seahawks and Cardinals waiting in the wings. - Caitlyn Holroyd

13. Baltimore Ravens

Previous Rank: 10th

The Ravens deserved to win in Cincinnati and would have if not for a bogus pass interference call late in that game. The team's running game has really figured things out sans-Bernard Pierce. They've also been putting up much better efforts on the road than they have in past years. - Gino Bottero

14. Kansas City Chiefs

Previous Rank: 14th

The Chiefs rolled the Rams on Sunday and while it may have been only the Rams, it's hard not to be impressed by how dominant Kansas City was in every facet of the game. Alex Smith and Jamaal Charles aren't grabbing a lot of headlines, but both are having very strong seasons. - Gino Bottero

15. Pittsburgh Steelers

Previous Rank: 16th

The Steelers lit up the Colts like a Christmas tree to buck their trend of alternating wins and losses week to week. Continuing that momentum is key as they get the Ravens on Sunday night. Weird stat: The Steelers have three rushing touchdowns for the season – only the Raiders have fewer. - Gino Bottero

16. New Orleans Saints

Previous Rank: 19th

The Saints continued their Jekyll and Hyde act in Week 8 with a dominant home victory over Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. They appear be to be back on track, but that will become more clear following Thursday's road game against the Panthers. - Caitlyn Holroyd

17. Miami Dolphins

Previous Rank: 18th

Offensive coordinator Bill Lazor "fixed" Ryan Tannehill's inability to throw accurate passes downfield by crafting an offensive scheme that simply doesn't take deep shots. Who would have thought fixing the Dolphins was that simple? - David P. Woods

18. Buffalo Bills

Previous Rank: 17th

Sammy Watkins is on pace for 76 receptions, 1,180 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie. That trade up looks pretty smart right now. - David P. Woods

19. Carolina Panthers

Previous Rank: 15th

The Panthers have struggled to find consistency since starting the season 2-0, but somehow remain atop the NFC South. They will have an opportunity to add to their lead when they host the Saints on Thursday. - Caitlyn Holroyd

20. Cleveland Browns

Previous Rank: 20th

They may have beaten the Raiders ugly, but any other way wouldn't have been fitting of this year's edition of the Browns. There's a lot of work the team needs to do on offense to get back on track. And no, Johnny Manziel is not the answer. - Gino Bottero

21. Houston Texans

Previous Rank: 22nd

Another week, another chance to call for the end of the Ryan Fitzpatrick era. Ryan Mallett's invisibility speaks volumes about what his coaches believe he's capable of. He must not be starting material. - David P. Woods

22. Chicago Bears

Previous Rank: 21st

An angry locker room following a loss to the Dolphins did nothing to fire the Bears up for a meeting with the Patriots. They didn't even show up in New England and have now lost four of five games. A critical clash with the Packers after their bye is looking like a must win at this point. - Michael Amato

23. New York Giants

Previous Rank: 23rd

It was a great weekend for the Giants, even though they were on their bye. The Cowboys and Eagles both lost, giving New York faint hope of making some noise in the NFC East. - Michael Amato

24. Washington Redskins

Previous Rank: 27th

It was only one start, but Colt McCoy ignited the Washington offense unlike anyone else this year. Now it looks like McCoy will return to the bench. Will Robert Griffin III be able to keep it going? - Michael Amato

25. St. Louis Rams

Previous Rank: 24th

The Rams looked like a much different team in Week 8 than the one that defeated the defending Super Bowl champions a week earlier and lost several key players in the process. Up next is a tough road matchup against the well-rested 49ers. - Caitlyn Holroyd

26. Minnesota Vikings

Previous Rank: 28th

Ben Roethlisberger threw six touchdown passes last Sunday. The Vikings have thrown for five all season. - Michael Amato

27. Atlanta Falcons

Previous Rank: 25th

Atlanta looked to be on its way to its third win of the season in Week 8, only to squander a 21-point lead in the second half and allow the Lions to secure the comeback victory. If the losing continues, Mike Smith could be out of a job real soon. - Caitlyn Holroyd

28. New York Jets

Previous Rank: 26th

The dumpster fire has arrived in grand fashion, with general manager John Idzik all but announcing it in a bizarre mid-season press conference that felt like a post-mortem. It's rarely fun to be a Jets fan, but this season has been especially trying – and it will only get worse from here. - David P. Woods

29. Tennessee Titans

Previous Rank: 30th

It's slightly distressing that Ken Whisenhunt forced fun-loving rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger to cut his hair and act in a more professional manner. The Titans were almost interesting, but Whisenhunt shut that down quick. - David P. Woods

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Previous Rank: 29th

A victory over the Vikings would have gone a long way towards erasing the Bucs' pre-bye week woes, but instead, they found themselves on the wrong side of an overtime loss. Optimism is fading quickly in Tampa Bay. - Caitlyn Holroyd

31. Jacksonville Jaguars

Previous Rank: 31st

Blake Bortles said he knows his frequent interceptions are "killing" his team. Whether he can work through his problems without getting shellshocked is the most important issue this franchise has faced in a long time. - David P. Woods

32. Oakland Raiders

Previous Rank: 32nd

The Raiders actually had a chance to upend the Browns, but instead faltered in countless opportunities on Cleveland's side of the field. Quarterback Derek Carr would have a better chance at success if the team had any sort of ground game to speak of. - Gino Bottero