Each week of the NFL season, The Baltimore Sun will rank all 32 NFL groups. The rankings will have in mind not simply weekly efficiency, accidents and roster depth, however how nicely every workforce measures up as Super Bowl contenders.
Here are the rankings heading into Week 9:
Super Bowl favorites
1. Buffalo Bills (6-1, No. 1 final week)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (7-0, No. 2)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2, No. 3)
The Bills appeared as dominant as ever for stretches of Sunday night time’s 27-17 win over the Packers, however there are some issues in regards to the league’s finest workforce. For pretty much as good as quarterback Josh Allen has been, he nonetheless makes some head-scratching performs every now and then, together with an interception close to the aim line within the fourth quarter Sunday. Jordan Poyer additionally left the sport with what he stated “felt like a pop” in his elbow, which may put him on injured reserve alongside fellow Pro Bowl security Micah Hyde. The looming return of star cornerback Tre’Davious White will assist, however the protection can ill-afford one other harm after getting pushed round by the Packers. While Green Bay struggled to complete drives and turned the ball over twice, it averaged 6.7 yards per carry and dominated time of possession. That may come again to chew Buffalo in opposition to a greater opponent.
The Eagles’ offense stays simply as scary because the Bills’, particularly when huge receiver A.J. Brown delivers a efficiency like Sunday’s: six catches, 156 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-13 win over the Steelers. Sometimes it’s simply so simple as throwing the ball as much as the 6-foot-1, 226-pound star. Since NFL Next Gen Stats started monitoring routes in 2018, Brown is the primary participant to file three landing catches on “Go” routes in a single sport. After punishing defenses on the bottom, Jalen Hurts confirmed off his arm, ending 19-for-28 for 285 yards and 4 touchdowns to turn out to be the primary Eagles quarterback to win 10 straight regular-season video games. All 4 of his landing passes have been 25 yards or extra; solely Hall of Famer Dan Marino has thrown extra in a single sport since 1980. Right now, it’s a two-man race for MVP between Allen and Hurts.
The flawed contenders
4. Baltimore Ravens (5-3, No. 6)
5. Minnesota Vikings (6-1, No. 5)
6. Dallas Cowboys (6-2, No. 8)
7. Miami Dolphins (5-3, No. 9)
The Ravens confirmed some mettle Thursday night time, beating Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, 27-22, to safe back-to-back wins for the primary time this season. They might need rediscovered their profitable components, too, scoring 24 factors within the second half on the energy of 206 dashing yards after totaling simply three factors within the opening two quarters behind a pass-heavy assault. But it got here at a value, as tight finish Mark Andrews (shoulder), huge receiver Rashod Bateman (foot) and operating again Gus Edwards (hamstring) all suffered accidents that would hold them out for not less than every week, and even longer in Bateman’s case. Despite these setbacks, the Ravens have risen to No. 4 in DVOA, Football Outsiders’ measurement of general effectivity, and will begin to pile up wins in opposition to one of many league’s weakest remaining schedules. They additionally added some reinforcements earlier than the commerce deadline, buying Bears linebacker Roquan Smith, the NFL’s main tackler, to solidify the center of a banged-up entrance seven. With the always-dangerous Lamar Jackson main the offense and the looming returns of outdoor linebacker Tyus Bowser, security Marcus Williams and doubtlessly rookie move rusher David Ojabo on protection, this might simply be one of many league’s finest groups by the point the playoffs roll round. Despite how bleak issues sorted an unconscionable run of blown second-half results in begin the season, the Ravens are proper the place they must be.
The Vikings’ file is spectacular, however the groups they’ve crushed are a mixed 20-24. They let the Cardinals hold round earlier than forcing three turnovers and recording two sacks down the stretch to safe a 34-26 win Sunday, their fifth straight. The offense struggled to maintain drives, going three-and-out 4 occasions within the second half to provide Arizona an opportunity to return again. Quarterback Kirk Cousins has been environment friendly and operating again Dalvin Cook seems to be like his previous self, however the Vikings have been fairly common by most metrics. They rank sixteenth in DVOA and proper round impartial in anticipated factors added per play on offense and protection, which suggests they aren’t getting probably the most out of a proficient roster. They’re in place to win the NFC North due to the Packers’ early struggles, however they’re not a severe playoff contender but.
The wild playing cards
8. Seattle Seahawks (5-3, No. 14)
9. San Francisco 49ers (4-4, No. 17)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (4-4, No. 7)
11. New York Giants (6-2, No. 4)
12. Tennessee Titans (5-2, No. 13)
13. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3, No. 15)
14. Los Angeles Rams (3-4, No. 11)
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5, No. 12)
Eight weeks into the season, it’s fairly clear who received the Russell Wilson commerce. Geno Smith threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns, together with the 33-yard rating to Tyler Lockett within the fourth quarter, to carry the Seahawks over the Giants, 27-13, and into first place within the vaunted NFC West. After the sport, Lockett stated “it’s amazing what we can accomplish when no one cares who gets the credit,” maybe poking enjoyable at his former quarterback. Seattle actually seems to be rejuvenated, with usually conservative coach Pete Carroll even going for it on fourth down extra usually this season. The Seahawks face an uphill battle to carry off the 49ers and Rams within the division, however there’s a powerful younger core in place that’s proving fairly formidable.
Speaking of these 49ers, it’s clear Christian McCaffrey modifications all the pieces. The star operating again acquired from the Panthers actually did all of it in a 31-14 win over the Rams, turning into the primary participant within the Super Bowl period to have not less than 30 yards and one landing dashing, passing and receiving in a single sport. While the worth of operating backs has been diminished through the years, McCaffrey is the uncommon game-changer as each a operating and receiving risk. Once Deebo Samuel returns from his hamstring harm, this could possibly be the most effective offenses within the league, even with Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback. Pair that with a stellar protection, and it’s not loopy to assume San Francisco could possibly be proper again within the NFC Championship sport.
Playoff hopefuls
16. Washington Commanders (4-4, No. 20)
17. New England Patriots (4-4, No. 22)
18. New York Jets (5-3, No. 10)
19. Atlanta Falcons (4-4, No. 25)
Commanders huge receiver Terry McLaurin reminded everybody that Indianapolis is his metropolis when he made a outstanding catch over cornerback Stephon Gilmore on the 1-yard line within the closing minute to arrange Taylor Heinicke’s go-ahead landing plunge in a 17-16 win over the Colts. Washington has all of a sudden received three straight to place itself within the playoff hunt, and there appears to be real perception that it might probably hold profitable behind Heinicke, who’s 2-0 since changing injured starter Carson Wentz. The protection has been simply as resilient, forcing two crimson zone turnovers to maintain the Colts and backup quarterback Sam Ehlinger off the board. A two-week stretch in opposition to the Vikings and Eagles ought to reveal if the Commanders needs to be taken critically.
As outstanding because the end was between Washington and Indianapolis, it doesn’t beat the thrill of Atlanta’s 37-34 time beyond regulation win over Carolina. P.J. Walker’s 62-yard landing move to DJ Moore with 12 seconds left seemingly gave the Panthers a surprising win, however Moore eliminated his helmet after the play and was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, transferring the additional level try again 15 yards. Eddy Pineiro missed the potential game-winning kick, then missed a 32-yard try in time beyond regulation after Carolina intercepted Marcus Mariota on the Falcons’ opening possession. Younghoe Koo hit a 41-yarder to provide Atlanta the win and first place within the NFC South. Perhaps the surest signal but of Atlanta’s legitimacy as a playoff contender is that they nonetheless received regardless of all of the essential errors. For a franchise that’s used to arising quick in probably the most agonizing methods, possibly, simply possibly, issues shall be totally different underneath second-year coach Arthur Smith.
Not accomplished but
20. Green Bay Packers (3-5, No. 18)
21. Cleveland Browns (3-5, No. 26)
22. Denver Broncos (3-5, No. 27)
23. Arizona Cardinals (3-5, No. 16)
24. New Orleans Saints (3-5, No. 30)
25. Chicago Bears (3-5, No. 21)
Is it time for a shake-up in Arizona? The Cardinals’ offense began sluggish once more in Sunday’s loss to the Vikings, and it price them. They’ve now scored simply 9 factors within the first quarter all season, a head-scratching growth for a workforce with a proficient quarterback in Kyler Murray and a supposed offensive mastermind in coach Kliff Kingsbury. The return of huge receiver DeAndre Hopkins from a performance-enhancing drug suspension has helped, nevertheless it hasn’t been sufficient to shake the offense out of its droop. Even when the offense did get going within the second half Sunday, two interceptions, a botched snap and a muffed punt halted any likelihood of a comeback. It’s onerous to see Arizona climbing out from the underside of the NFC West except there’s a significant change, whether or not that’s a brand new coach or a big commerce.
The basement
26. Las Vegas Raiders (2-5, No. 19)
27. Indianapolis Colts (3-4-1, No. 24)
28. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6, No. 23)
29. Carolina Panthers (2-6, No. 29)
30. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-6, No. 28)
31. Detroit Lions (1-6, No. 31)
32. Houston Texans (1-5-1, No. 32)
Is there a extra disappointing workforce this season than the Raiders? The addition of star receiver Davante Adams and coach Josh McDaniels was supposed to assist this workforce compete with the Chiefs and Chargers atop the AFC West, however Adams was held to only one catch for 3 yards in Sunday’s 24-0 loss to the Saints. Las Vegas didn’t cross midfield till there have been two minutes left within the sport, and Derek Carr averaged simply 3.9 yards per try whereas throwing most of his passes behind or close to the road of scrimmage. It was a wierd efficiency from a workforce that appeared prepared to show the nook after a depressing begin. There could possibly be a change coming at quarterback subsequent season if Carr doesn’t flip it round.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com