Week Nine Power Rankings: New Orleans Saints into top four

Each week, we will list the 32 NFL teams in order of best to worst and see how far each one climbs up or falls down the list during the course of the regular season.

Last week's rankings

Here's this week's 1-32:

1 Los Angeles Rams unchanged
Record: 8-0
Last week: Won 29-27 at home to Green Bay
This week: 1.5-point underdogs at New Orleans

The LA Rams bandwagon is rolling on and they boosted their defence with the acquisition of Dante Fowler one trade-deadline day. Their time has probably come and another win over the Saints would only boost their hefty credentials.

2 New England Patriots unchanged
Record: 6-2
Last week: Won 25-6 at Buffalo
This week: 5.5-point favourites at home to Green Bay

Five straight wins have put the Pats in their customary position at the top of the AFC East and there seems little chance of them surrendering it.

3 Kansas City Chiefs unchanged
Record: 7-1
Last week: Won 30-23 at home to Denver
This week: 8.5-point favourites at Cleveland

The Chiefs continue to put up plenty of points and it has been a great first half of the season under new quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Their clash against the Rams in Mexico in Week 11 could be a Super Bowl dress rehearsal.

4 New Orleans Saints up one
Record: 6-1
Last week: Won 30-20 at Minnesota
This week: 1.5-point favourites at home to Los Angeles Rams

Victory over the Vikings was a huge boost for the Saints and expectations will go through the roof if they end the Rams' unbeaten record. As favourites, though, the pressure is on.

5 Minnesota Vikings down one
Record: 4-3-1
Last week: Lost 30-20 at home to New Orleans
This week: 4.5-point favourites at home to Detroit

Turnovers cost the Vikings against New Orleans and their season is reaching crunch time as their next three fixtures are all divisional battles in the competitive NFC North. Their chances could look a lot better or a lot worse come the end of the month.

6 Carolina Panthers up two
Record: 5-2
Last week: Won 36-21 at home to Baltimore
This week: 6.5-point favourites at home to Tampa Bay

The Panthers have won four of their last five games and the Ravens represent a decent scalp. Quarterback Cam Newton has had at least two touchdown passes in each of his last six outings, but they have played only three away games so tough tests await.

7 Los Angeles Chargers unchanged
Record: 5-2
Last week: Bye
This week: 1.5-point underdogs at Seattle

The Chargers were on a bye after their win at Wembley and if they can see off Seattle then their following matches against Oakland, Denver and Arizona give them a great chance of boosting their chances of reaching the playoffs.

8 Baltimore Ravens down two
Record: 4-4
Last week: Lost 36-21 at Carolina
This week: Three-point favourites at home to Pittsburgh

A clash with their arch-rivals Pittsburgh following defeats against the Saints and the Panthers should be the ideal focus before a bye week. They still have enough talent to be a factor.

9 Philadelphia Eagles unchanged
Record: 4-4
Last week: Won 24-18 against Jacksonville at Wembley
This week: Bye

Quarterback Carson Wentz is starting to find his form in what has been a generally up-and-down campaign for the Eagles. Four of their next five games are all-NFC East battles and are likely to decide the destiny of their campaign.

10 Green Bay Packers up one
Record: 3-3-1
Last week: Lost 29-27 at Los Angeles Rams
This week: 5.5-point underdogs at New England

The Packers fell to the Rams but ran them a close as anyone has this season so that has to be a cause for optimism. A clash with the Patriots will ensure they will not be able to rest on their laurels.

11 Jacksonville Jaguars down one
Record: 3-5
Last week: Lost 24-18 against Philadelphia at Wembley
This week: Bye

The Jags need a week to regroup. Four defeats and the creation of little on offence looks to have derailed their campaign. Even playing in what looks like a weak division, there seems little scope for an immediate transformation.

12 Pittsburgh Steelers up one
Record: 4-2-1
Last week: Won 33-18 at home to Cleveland
This week: Three-point underdogs at Baltimore

The Steelers seem to have put their off-the-field issues with running back Le'Veon Bell behind them with three straight wins that have left them at the top of the AFC North. Another divisional win this week can only enhance their chances.

13 Washington Redskins up two
Record: 5-2
Last week: Won 20-13 at New York Giants
This week: 1.5-point favourites at home to Atlanta

The Redskins have quietly made their best start to the season since 2008 and are the most consistent outfit in the NFC East, which tends to be one of the most competitive divisions. The tests come thick and fast now and, having had their bye five weeks ago, it will be tough to keep going.

14 Atlanta Falcons down two
Record: 3-4
Last week: Bye
This week: 1.5-point underdogs at Washington

Wins over Tampa Bay and the Giants put the Falcons back on track after a dismal start, but with the Saints and Panthers flying high, they still have plenty of work to do in the NFC South.

15 Denver Broncos down one
Record: 3-5
Last week: Lost 30-23 at Kansas City
This week: One-point favourites at home to Houston

Nine unanswered fourth-quarter points against the Chiefs made their defeat look closer than it actually was. It's difficult to see them forcing their way into the playoff picture with Kansas City and the Chargers looking so strong.

16 Cincinnati Bengals unchanged
Record: 5-3
Last week: Won 37-34 at home to Tampa Bay
This week: Bye

The Bengals are in a much better position than they were last year and rusher Joe Mixon was excellent against the Bucs. The fact their defeats have come against Carolina, Pittsburgh and Kansas City suggests that they may not quite be there though.

17 Chicago Bears up one
Record: 4-3
Last week: Won 24-10 at home to New York Jets
This week: Ten-point favourites at Buffalo

A solid win over the Jets provided a tonic after defeats to Miami and New England. Three straight divisional games follow their trip to Buffalo, so they have to guard against taking their eye off the ball.

18 New York Jets down one
Record: 3-5
Last week: Lost 24-10 at Chicago
This week: Three-point underdogs at Miami

The Jets will be mindful that they started last season 3-2 before winning just two of their final 11 matches. They should remain competitive enough to ensure that doesn't happen again.

19 Tennessee Titans unchanged
Record: 3-4
Last week: Bye
This week: 6.5-point underdogs at Dallas

Having had a break, the Titans have to improve offensively having scored an average of just 15.1 points per match. They won't be going anywhere if they can't arrest that slump in the second half of the campaign.

20 Houston Texans up two
Record: 5-3
Last week: Won 42-23 at home to Miami
This week: One-point underdogs at Denver

Five straight wins mean the sun is shining in Houston and they have eclipsed their win total from last year already. Their week 11 clash with Washington is the only game they have against a team with a winning first-half of the campaign, so they can continue their ascent.

21 Detroit Lions down one
Record: 3-4
Last week: Lost 28-14 at home to Seattle
This week: 4.5-point underdogs at Minnesota

The Lions had shown signs of life before their defeat to Seattle and allowing wide receiver Golden Tate to leave has raised a few eyebrows. They still have five divisional games to play and matches against Carolina and the Rams, so their schedule looks tough.

22 Seattle Seahawks up two
Record: 4-3
Last week: Won 28-14 at Detroit
This week: 1.5-point favourites at home to Los Angeles Chargers

The early-season pessimism surrounding the Seahawks appears to be premature as they have battle well, winning four of their last five and falling by only two points to the Rams. It's just unfortunate that they are in the same division as the LA outfit.

23 Miami Dolphins down two
Record: 4-4
Last week: Lost 42-23 at Houston
This week: Three-point favourites at home to New York Jets

An overtime home success against Chicago is the only win the Dolphins have posted in their last five matches. They don't appear capable of keeping pace with the Patriots in the AFC East

24 Tampa Bay Buccaneers down one
Record: 3-4
Last week: Lost 37-34 at Cincinnati
This week: 6.5-point underdogs at Carolina

Opening wins over New Orleans and Philadelphia seem like a distant memory. They have left themselves with a mountain to climb in one of the game's most difficult divisions. Quarterback Jameis Winston needs to rebuild his confidence after a dismal outing against the Bengals.

25 Dallas Cowboys unchanged
Record: 3-4
Last week: Bye
This week: 6.5-point favourites at home to Tennessee

It has been an indifferent start for the Cowboys who were unable to build on their 40-7 success over Jacksonville before last week's bye, but their last two defeats have been by three points so they are far from being a lost cause.

26 Indianapolis Colts up three
Record: 3-5
Last week: Won 42-28 at Oakland
This week: Bye

The Colts appear to have woken up, particularly offensively and for the first time this season they look as if they could be competitive in the AFC South. Following straight wins over Buffalo and Oakland, we now need to see if they can do it against better opposition.

27 Cleveland Browns down one
Record: 2-5-1
Last week: Lost 33-18 at Pittsburgh
This week: 8.5-point underdogs at home to Kansas City

The Hue Jackson era is now over in Cleveland and the only way the Browns can go is up. They are winning the turnover battle but not matches, so the ingredients should be there, but it looks like yet another season of transition.

28 Arizona Cardinals up two
Record: 2-6
Last week: Won 18-15 at home to San Francisco
This week: Bye

The Cardinals head into the bye having claimed a divisional victory. Its scale of importance is underwhelming, but the boys from the desert should grab as many positives as they can.

29 New York Giants down one
Record: 1-7
Last week: Lost 20-13 at home to Washington
This week: Bye

The Giants have the week off to reflect on what has been a dismal first half. Reaching last season's tally of three wins has to be their first target and it is difficult to look too far beyond that.

30 San Francisco 49ers down three
Record: 1-7
Last week: Lost 18-15 at Arizona
This week: 2.5-point favourites at home to Oakland

The Niners cannot get going without quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. It looks set to be another season of frustration.

31 Oakland Raiders up one
Record: 1-6
Last week: Lost 42-28 at home to Indianapolis
This week: 2.5-point underdogs at San Francisco

The raiders fell to three fourth-quarter touchdowns against the Colts but there were some encouraging signs offensively with running back Doug Martin deputising well for the injured Marshawn Lynch. That's why they are not bottom of the pile.

32 Buffalo Bills down one
Record: 2-6
Last week: Lost 25-6 at home to New England
This week: 10-point underdogs at home to Chicago

Averaging 10.9 points per match is truly dismal. The defence isn't bad but they are not giving themselves a chance.

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