My 2016 NFL Power Rankings Week 9

Since yesterday was kind of a big day here in America I figured it was best to wait a day to dole out my latest NFL Power Rankings. Election day has come and gone. The votes have all been tallied and a winner has been declared. The Donald Trump Era is upon us. Whether that is good or bad doesn’t really matter here. The only votes that matter are from my esteemed committee of one. The fate of your team lies in my hands. Well, really it lies in their hands but you know what I mean. So let’s tally up the votes for Week 9 and see how the teams stack up.

1. New England Patriots (7-1) ~ The Pats remain atop the rankings and didn’t even need to play a game to stay there. Even though they were off that didn’t mean they weren’t in the news. Have you heard that Tom Brady’s kids don’t like candy? They tried a piece and didn’t like the taste so they gave it away to other kids. What kid doesn’t like candy! Inconceivable! (Last Week’s Ranking 1)
2. Dallas Cowboys (7-1) ~ Dak Prescott is rewriting the Dallas rookie quarterback record book. On Sunday he overtook Hall of Famer Troy Aikman in touchdowns and completions. With another eight games remaining he may own all of them by season’s end. (LWR 2)
3. Oakland Raiders (7-2) ~ At the midway point of the season the Raiders (yes, the Raiders!) are alone atop the AFC West which cannot be taken lightly. This may be the best division in all of football. And remember kids, If it ain’t da Raiders… (LWR 4)
4. Seattle Seahawks (5-2-1) ~ Russell Wilson looked like Russell Wilson and Jimmy Graham looked like Jimmy Graham. Seattle needs those things to continue, however, they also need some sort of running game. Over the past two weeks Christine Michael has totaled just 41 yards on 15 carries including just one yard in Monday night’s win over Buffalo. (LWR 6)
5. Atlanta Falcons (6-3) ~ Julio Jones is just 30 yards away from reaching 1,000 yards for the third straight season. As long as he and Matt Ryan stay healthy this team will continue to pile up the yards and points. (LWR 9)
6. Kansas City Chiefs (6-2) ~ A week without Alex Smith and Spencer Ware and another win for Kansas City. Now they will have both back this week for their matchup against Carolina. Jeremy Maclin’s status is still up in the air after he was forced to leave Sunday’s game with a groin injury. (LWR 10)
7. Denver Broncos (6-3) ~ Everyone raves about Denver’s defense and that’s fine. They are a top flight defense. For the most part. What’s plaguing them this year is the ability to stop the run. Denver ranks 30^th in rushing yards allowed, ahead of only Cleveland and San Francisco. (LWR 3)
8. Minnesota Vikings (5-3) ~ A last-second 58-yard field goal sent the game to overtime which they eventually lost to division rival Detroit. The Vikes had their chances but I’ll put more stock into their last-minute drive to score the go-ahead touchdown than giving up the long field goal and falling in OT. This team isn’t perfect but they’re still darn good. (LWR 5)
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-4) ~ Ben Roethlisberger looked rusty but he was less than three weeks removed from meniscus surgery. I’ll give him a pass in a divisional game on the road. That said, at 4-4, the Steelers are running out of the leeway that I give most good teams. A home loss to Dallas this weekend would drop them below .500 more than halfway through the season. (LWR 7)
10. Green Bay Packers (4-4) ~ Just like the Steelers the Packers are running out of that leeway with me. They did not look good in a home loss to the Colts and really the only time the crowd showed life was when a squirrel was running around the end zone. Aaron Rodgers may have to dust off that relax speech again sometime soon. (LWR 8)
11. New York Giants (5-3) ~ I watch the Giants play twice a year. Whenever my Eagles clash with the G-Men the game is on. Being that this is the one game I watched in its entirety over the weekend I can unequivocally say that the game stunk. The Giants looked like a flawed team. The Eagles looked like a flawed team. One of them had to win I guess so the Giants get the small boost in the ranking this week. It’s my most uncertain ranking for sure. (LWR 13)
12. Washington Redskins (4-3-1) ~ If you had one guess as to who the leading yardage receiver was for the Redskins odds are you’d get that wrong. Jamison Crowder would not be the first name out of your mouth. Not for a team that has pass-catching threats such as Jordan Reed, DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon. (LWR 12)
13. Detroit Lions (5-4) ~ In each of Detroit’s five wins this season they have been trailing in the fourth quarter. That isn’t exactly a recipe for success but it sure makes for an exciting game. Do I trust this team? Not really. That magic eventually runs out, doesn’t it? (LWR 17)
14. Cincinnati Bengals (3-4-1) ~ Probably the best team in the league with a losing record at the halfway point. The Bengals offense will be firing on all cylinders now that tight end Tyler Eifert is back to full action. In his last game he hauled in nine passes for over 100 yards and a score. That makes life easier for any offense. (LWR 14)
15. Philadelphia Eagles (4-4) ~ Another tight divisional loss and the Eagles 3-0 start to the season is but a distant memory. The team is competitive, but you can only ask so much from a rookie quarterback and a rookie coach. (LWR 11)
16. Arizona Cardinals (3-4-1) ~ Rumors are swirling that this could be Larry Fitzgerald’s last season. If that is the case, pay attention while you still can. The future Hall of Famer is on pace for yet another season of 100 catches and 1,000 yards. Not many would walk away when they can continue to put up that type of production. (LWR 15)
17. Houston Texans (5-3) ~ Houston is undefeated at home and winless on the road. This week they travel to Jacksonville. Can they snap the streak? (LWR 16)
18. New Orleans Saints (4-4) ~ Rookie wide receiver Michael Thomas is coming into his own. He leads the team with 47 catches and has found the end zone in three straight. The Saints have won four of five after starting the year 0-3. As long as Drew Brees is under center this team cannot be counted out. (LWR 19)
19. Baltimore Ravens (4-4) ~ Mike Wallace is having a renaissance in Baltimore. The former Pittsburgh standout disappeared during his time in Miami and Minnesota but he is leading the Ravens with 614 yards receiving and four touchdowns. (LWR 20)
20. San Diego Chargers (4-5) ~ The last piece of the tough AFC West and they might be ranked a little low. Melvin Gordon has been terrific this year with 768 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. He is looking a lot like the back the Chargers expected when they drafted him 15^th overall in 2015. (LWR 21)
21. Buffalo Bills (4-5) ~ Can someone please explain the bullshit that occurred right before halftime of Monday night’s game? Richard Sherman was clearly offside on a field goal attempt and then he blasted the kicker. How is that not a 15-yard penalty? How did the Bills then have to run a play to spike the ball? How does the clock start when it is a defensive penalty? Anyone? Bueller? (LWR 18)
22. Carolina Panthers (3-5) ~ Are the Panthers beginning to right the ship? Maybe. But they have a lot of work to do. They are ahead of only the Bears, Rams and 49ers in the NFC. You’ll notice that none of those teams have appeared yet on the rankings. (LWR 23)
23. Indianapolis Colts (4-5) ~ Donte Moncrief is back from a shoulder injury and has found the end zone in each of his last two games. If he can stay healthy that could create more opportunities for standout T.Y. Hilton on the opposite side. The Colts like to throw the ball and having healthy receivers certainly makes that easier. (LWR 26)
24. Tennessee Titans (4-5) ~ The Titans are 12^th in the league in scoring at just over 24 points per game but the defense is giving up just over 25 points a game. In fact, they’ve only held their opponents under 25 points four times all year. They are 3-1 when they hold them under 25 so maybe that’s the magic number. (LWR 22)
25. Miami Dolphins (4-4) ~ He didn’t go off for 200 again but Jay Ajayi eclipsed the century mark and found the end zone for the third straight week. Miami has also won three in a row. Coincidence? I think not. As the running game goes, so go the Dolphins. (LWR 27)
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5) ~ It’s running back roulette down in Tampa. Doug Martin, Charles Sims, Jacquizz Rodgers, Peyton Barber and Antone Smith have all been given significant carries for Tampa but none of them can stay on the field. Martin is at least back in practice but no team has suffered as many injuries at one position as Tampa has in the running back department. (LWR 25)
27. Los Angeles Rams (3-5) ~ Remember when the Rams were 3-1? If it seems like a long time ago it’s because it was. L.A. is averaging just 16.3 points per game which is an NFL-low. Even the Browns are better. (LWR 24)
28. New York Jets (3-6) ~ Another week and another Jets loss. Will head coach Todd Bowles stick with Ryan Fitzpatrick or will he turn to someone like Bryce Petty? Another loss and the Jets can officially kiss the season goodbye. (LWR 28)
29. Chicago Bears (2-6) ~ The Rams offense is bad and the Bears are right there with them. Chicago has scored more than 20 points in a game just once all year and it was in a losing effort to boot. It’s really hard to win in the NFL when you can’t put points on the board. (LWR 30)
30. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) ~ Marquise Lee is having himself a very hush-hush solid season. His 34 catches for 442 yards have him neck-and-neck with the more heralded Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. Is he ready to live up to the hype that got him drafted 39^th overall in 2014? (LWR 29)
31. San Francisco 49ers (1-7) ~ Colin Kaepernick has received a lot of press this season for his stance on the national anthem. He then went on record saying he was not voting in this year’s election. Sorry, Kaepernick, but if you choose not to voice yourself through the election you can no longer be upset. You gave up your voice. (LWR 31)

32. Cleveland Browns (0-8) ~ Well, they’re halfway there. The 0-16 watch is officially on. (LWR 32)

That's all she wrote folks. Questions? Comments? Feel free to leave them right here. Or if that's not good enough you can follow/harass me on Twitter @therichwhiteguy. It wouldn't be the biggest waste of your time.