There has been some significant separation of power happening in the NFL in a wild 2022 season. A few powerhouses have continued their march toward strong playoff positions toward getting to Super Bowl 57.
Behind the still undefeated NFC team and the clear-cut favorite AFC team, there are some surprise risers and fading fallers. At the midway point of the season, many teams have well established identities, while several are still figuring it out.
Putting all 32 teams into a blender after their most recent performances in Week 8, here are Sporting News’ latest NFL power rankings:
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NFL power rankings Week 9
1. Philadelphia Eagles 7-0 (previous ranking: 1)
The Eagles had no issues stomping the cross-state Steelers with Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown getting hot again after the bye. Their defense continues to make a shutdown statement. There’s no question they remain the best team in the NFC with the developing most favorable path to the Super Bowl at midseason.
MORE: Why the Brown-Hurts connection has a familiar Super Bowl feel
2. Buffalo Bills 6-1 (2)
The Bills keep on rolling with their aggressive, attacking passing offense with Josh Allen and their strong swarming zone defense. There are little cracks in their armor as an AFC powerhouse as they stay on track for a collision course with the Eagles.
3. Kansas City Chiefs 5-2 (3)
The Chiefs deserved to get some rest after showing more exciting and explosive offense around Patrick Mahomes before the bye. They are rolling with more big-play ability than last season, which also will help the defense in more favorable second-half situations.
4. Minnesota Vikings 6-1 (5)
The Vikings keep getting the job done with just the right combination of scoring and not giving up points in high-leverage situations. Kevin O’Connell is now pushing Pete Carroll and Brian Daboll for coach of the year with his offensive scheming to set up a better complementary defense. There’s nothing fluky about Minnesota’s mighty NFC North lead.
5. Dallas Cowboys 6-2 (6)
The Cowboys have taken a run-heavier approach of late and it’s paying off big-time, especially with the explosive Tony Pollard helping a healthy Dak Prescott. The defense is still in complete tee off mode with Micah Parsons and friends.
MORE: What Pollard’s performance means for future in Cowboys backfield
6. Seattle Seahawks 5-3 (11)
The Seahawks made their latest statement in stomping the Giants with their defense and the running game, with only a couple rare mistakes by Tyler Lockett making the game closer than it was. Pete Carroll is the oldest coach in the NFL and now deserves youthful coach of the year love.
7. New York Giants 6-2 (4)
The Giants’ offensive limitations beyond the running game for Daniel Jones and defensive limitations overall caught up to them in Seattle. They are still playing with house money but can’t rest for the playoff push, only in third place in the NFC East.
8. Baltimore Ravens 5-3 (9)
The Ravens tried to open up the passing game too much at first in Tampa Bay, before a return to running it creatively got more efficient overall play from Lamar Jackson. The defense keeps improving with better scheming each week, too.
9. Cincinnati Bengals 4-3 (7)
The Bengals will be without Ja’Marr Chase for a while but the elite passing of Joe Burrow with great depth in the offense overall, along with a very favorable schedule before the next big challenge against the Chiefs in the second half.
10. Tennessee Titans 5-2 (10)
Having no Ryan Tannehill didn’t matter much in Houston as Derrick Henry continued to destroy the Texans on the ground. But how about that defense starting to bring it vs. run and pass? Mike Vrabel has done it again.
MORE: How Henry made Titans history in Houston
11. San Francisco 49ers 4-4 (15)
Christian McCaffrey walked this way to San Francisco and it was the Run and Pass and Receive CMC show to make up for no Deebo Samuel in L.A. The 49ers proved exactly why they wanted him as another explosive cog for their offense.
MORE: McCaffrey has rare passing, receiving, rushing TD feat vs. Rams
12. Los Angeles Chargers 4-3 (12)
The Chargers have been ravaged by injuries everywhere but they will be highly competitive for an AFC playoff spot as long as Justin Herbert and Austin Ekeler stay healthy. They will hope some offensive and defensive reinforcements can help soon.
13. Miami Dolphins 5-3 (13)
The Dolphins started slowly in Detroit but got up to speed quickly with plenty of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Tua Tagovailoa is playing better again removed from his injuries and the defense pulled off the right containment late.
14. New York Jets 5-3 (8)
The Jets cannot win games when not running the ball, stopping the run and depending on Zach Wilson too much. That’s exactly what happened to them against the Patriots. Will they need to pivot to Joe Flacco for their playoff chances minus Breece Hall?
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3-5 (14)
The Buccaneers’ fundamental problems with their offensive and defensive fronts, former strengths, have been shocking. Tom Brady has lost some confidence, too. Tampa Bay is running out of time to turn things around.
16. Los Angeles Rams 3-4 (16)
The Rams got their offense looking better early but then it disappeared again with no running game and limited passing weapons. Matthew Stafford isn’t playing as poorly, but the defensive holes are getting more worrisome.
17. Green Bay Packers 3-5 (17)
The Packers showed some good fight with their running game and some flashes of defense in Buffalo, but they were overmatched talent-wise and physically with their injuries and inexperience. Aaron Rodgers is officially beyond R-E-L-A-X mode.
18. New England Patriots 4-4 (20)
The Patriots cleaned up a lot of their defensive mistakes from the Bears game to rip into Wilson. They still need cleaner play from Mac Jones, however, playing off the running game, to be more than a .500 last-place team in a tough division.
19. Washington Commanders 4-4 (21)
The Commanders have been indeed sparked again by Taylor Heinicke, who took care of Carson Wentz’s revenge in Indianapolis by out-gritting Sam Ehlinger. Washington is still the worst of the new best division in the NFL.
MORE: Terry McLaurin has happy homecoming in Indianapolis
20. Atlanta Falcons 4-4 (22)
Marcus Mariota and the Falcons opened up the passing game a little more with great results against the Panthers, making up for a depleted and struggling defense. They are a flimsy first-place team, but they have overachieved by most standards to be at .500 at midseason.
21. Indianapolis Colts 3-4-1 (18)
The Colts did play only a little better offense with Sam Ehlinger. They didn’t have big mistakes from QB, but Jonathan Taylor continues to be a major injury-riddled disappointment to throw off their old winning formula.
22. Arizona Cardinals 3-5 (19)
The Cardinals have revved up their offense more with Kyler Murray getting DeAndre Hopkins back, but the defense is giving up too many big pass plays and too much in the running game at bad times, too big-play dependent its own right. The little mistakes are also adding up to big disappointment.
23. New Orleans Saints 3-5 (28)
The Saints stuck with Andy Dalton to facilitate their playmakers, Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave. But they needed that kind of defensive performance for Dennis Allen to get some confidence back there. They are right back in the NFC South race.
24. Denver Broncos 3-5 (27)
The Broncos didn’t fix everything in London with Russell Wilson, but they were much more competent offensively by leaning more on the run. The defensive backbone continues to be strong despite leaks against the run.
25. Las Vegas Raiders 2-5 (25)
What was that? The Raiders got dominated defensively by the shorthanded Saints in the ultimate revenge from former coach Dennis Allen. Not scoring a point with Derek Carr, Josh Jacobs and others under Josh McDaniels is a terrible look. They have replaced the Broncos as the AFC West’s most disappointing team.
26. Chicago Bears 3-5 (24)
The Bears are showing tremendous fight in their run-heavy attack fueled more by speedy Justin Fields. But now their defense is getting overwhelmed by both run and pass with limited stoppers in each capacity.
27. Cleveland Browns 2-5 (29)
The Browns are hitting an offensive wall with Jacoby Brissett having lesser reliable weapons. Nick Chubb and the running game can take them only so far when the defense is getting gashed by the run.
28. Pittsburgh Steelers 2-6 (25)
The Steelers are facing their first-ever losing season under Mike Tomlin with some rare but brutal offensive and defense transitions. They need to keep playing their young players to come back stronger with more roster improvements in 2023.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars 2-6 (26)
The Jaguars have gone into freefall since playing the Eagles in the rain. Travis Etienne Jr. is the bright spot and the young defense keeps making some plays, but it’s not enough when Trevor Lawrence can’t stay hot after good starts.
30. Carolina Panthers 2-6 (30)
The Panthers have showed more energy and life with P.J. Walker and D’Onta Foreman leading the offense of late, but they can’t be consistent enough on either side of the ball to have it show up more in the win column.
31. Houston Texans 1-5-1 (31)
The Texans just cannot do anything good against the run and Davis Mills has been well exposed in the passing game. Lovie Smith’s team can be decent with a true franchise QB and more defensive draft capital next year.
32. Detroit Lions 1-6 (32)
The Lions can keep scoring some big points when all their key weapons are around Jared Goff, but it’s clear their defense cannot stop anything when games matter despite building any kind of leads.
