NFL Power Rankings - Week 9: Every team's scariest trend
The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.
This week, we're uncovering a scary trend for each team that will leave fans trembling in fear on Halloween.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (7-1)
Cooper Neill / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 1
The Eagles' secondary remains a concern after getting lit up by Sam Howell for the second time this season. Philadelphia ranks 25th in passer rating allowed.
2. Baltimore Ravens (6-2)Previous rank: 3
Odell Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman were supposed to be important pieces of the Ravens' new-look offense. So far, they've been afterthoughts. Neither player has exceeded 50 receiving yards in a game or scored a touchdown.
3. Miami Dolphins (6-2)Previous rank: 4
The Dolphins have made easy work of inferior opponents, but they've had some hiccups against better teams. Miami's defense has allowed 48 and 31 points, respectively, against top-five scoring offenses (Bills and Eagles).
4. Kansas City Chiefs (6-2)Previous rank: 2
Kansas City was banking on big leaps from its young receivers this season, but only Rashee Rice is living up to that expectation. Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore are almost anonymous, combining for just nine catches and 71 yards over the last three games.
5. Detroit Lions (6-2)
Nic Antaya / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 6
The Lions haven't gotten much out of 2022 first-rounder Jameson Williams. The promising receiver, who turned his only catch from his rookie season into a 41-yard touchdown, missed the first few weeks of the 2023 campaign due to a suspension. He has only amassed six touches in four appearances this year.
6. Dallas Cowboys (5-2)Previous rank: 7
Dallas' red-zone woes have halted the offenses' potential. The Cowboys are scoring a touchdown just 41% of the time when in the red zone, which ranks 29th in the NFL.
7. Cincinnati Bengals (4-3)Previous rank: 10
For the second straight year, the Bengals have bounced back after starting the season 1-3. However, it'll be hard for Cincinnati to maintain its momentum, as the team has the second-hardest strength of schedule left this year.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2)Previous rank: 9
Calvin Ridley hasn't been playing poorly, but the receiver has fallen short of the expectation he'd be the Jaguars' undisputed No. 1 weapon. He hasn't scored since Week 4 and has only two games with over 100 yards compared to five contests with below 40 yards.
9. Buffalo Bills (5-3)Previous rank: 8
The Bills are just 2-2 over their last four and the reason for that is turnovers. Buffalo has turned the ball over seven times in that span while Josh Allen has thrown an interception each time.
10. Seattle Seahawks (5-2)
Al Bello / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 11
Seattle remains perched atop the NFC West amid a promising start to the season. However, only good fortune can account for the team posting a 2-1 mark despite Geno Smith suffering six turnovers during a three-game stretch.
11. San Francisco 49ers (5-3)Previous rank: 5
San Francisco has a lot to fix amid its three-game skid, and penalties have been one of the biggest issues all season. The 49ers have averaged 6.9 penalties committed, the fifth-highest mark in the league.
12. Los Angeles Chargers (3-4)Previous rank: 15
The Chargers' defense has been incredibly suspect in 2023. That includes Khalil Mack, who recorded six of his seven sacks in one game. In his other six appearances this season, he's only recorded a sack and four QB hits.
13. Cleveland Browns (4-3)Previous rank: 12
No one knows when Deshaun Watson will be back. That spells trouble for the Browns considering the rest of their quarterback room has combined for one passing touchdown and eight interceptions.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3)Previous rank: 14
The Steelers' offense is a complete mess. Pittsburgh hasn't scored more than 30 points in two years with its last 30-plus point performance coming in Week 11 of the 2021 season.
15. New York Jets (4-3)
Kathryn Riley / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 17
Everything seems to be going well for the Jets amid a three-game winning streak. Beneath the surface, though, their third-down woes are just waiting to cause problems. New York is 7-of-38 on third down over the last three contests.
16. Houston Texans (3-4)Previous rank: 13
Houston was expecting to rely on its rushing attack to ease the pressure on rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. Instead, the No. 2 pick has carried the offense as the ground game falters. The Texans have barely improved as the season has gone on, ranking 30th in yards per rush attempt (3.3).
17. New Orleans Saints (4-4)Previous rank: 22
Alvin Kamara missed three games and still has seven more catches than any other NFL running back. Derek Carr racing to the checkdown has always been a problem for him, and it limits the offense's potential.
18. Tennessee Titans (3-4)Previous rank: 26
While Will Levis' bombs-away approach paid off in his NFL debut, the Titans can't rely on scoring before getting to the red zone. They're among the NFL's worst teams at converting red-zone trips into touchdowns with a 33.33% conversion rate over the last three weeks.
19. Atlanta Falcons (4-4)Previous rank: 18
Desmond Ridder left the team's Week 8 contest after getting evaluated for a concussion, and he did not return. He's off to a rough start this season, ranking 27th out of 32 qualifying quarterbacks in QBR. At least Taylor Heinicke was able to lead the offense efficiently while replacing Ridder on Sunday.
20. Los Angeles Rams (3-5)
Justin Casterline / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 19
Kicking has been one of Los Angeles' main issues. The Rams, who recently parted ways with kicker Brett Maher, have converted only 76% of their field-goal attempts and 92.3% of their extra-point attempts, ranking 28th in both categories.
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4)Previous rank: 20
Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers' offense got off to a solid start, but things have started to sputter. Tampa Bay ranks 29th in success rate on offense since Week 5, spoiling the team's 3-0 start.
22. Minnesota Vikings (4-4)Previous rank: 16
Injuries to key starters have caused big problems for the Vikings. If losing All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson to a hamstring injury for multiple weeks wasn't enough, Minnesota won't have quarterback Kirk Cousins for the remainder of the season due to an Achilles issue.
23. Indianapolis Colts (3-5)Previous rank: 21
It would be easy to go with Gardner Minshew's turnover problem, but that's to be expected from the erratic journeyman. Far more concerning is the Colts' defense, which started well but has given up 38 points per game over the last three weeks.
24. Washington Commanders (3-5)Previous rank: 24
Howell has been sacked a league-high 41 times through eight games. It will be hard for the Commanders to evaluate the young gunslinger this year if they can't keep him upright.
25. Denver Broncos (3-5)
RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images / Denver Post / GettyPrevious rank: 28
After a tumultuous start, the Broncos have started to find their footing over their past couple outings. However, Denver's run defense remains an issue, having surrendered a league-high 154.1 yards per contest.
26. New England Patriots (2-6)Previous rank: 27
Points have been hard to come by for New England's offense. The Patriots have been held to 20 or fewer points an NFL-leading seven times this season.
27. New York Giants (2-6)Previous rank: 23
The Giants' passing offense is a mess. They finished their Week 8 contest with minus-9 yards through the air, which is a microcosm of what has occurred in 2023. New York is dead last in passing yards per contest.
28. Chicago Bears (2-6)Previous rank: 25
Injuries will have sent shivers down Matt Eberflus' spine this season. Justin Fields headlines an injury list that also features Eddie Jackson, Khalil Herbert, and Braxton Jones, among others.
29. Las Vegas Raiders (3-5)Previous rank: 29
Jimmy Garoppolo becoming a turnover machine is downright terrifying for the Raiders. He has been intercepted on an NFL-high 5.4% of his passes, with P.J. Walker (5.2%) the only other quarterback over 4%.
30. Green Bay Packers (2-5)
Cooper Neill / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 30
Jordan Love's development has come to a screeching halt. Over his last four games - all losses - Love has completed only 60.9% of his passes for four touchdowns to seven interceptions, good for a 66.6 passer rating.
31. Carolina Panthers (1-6)Previous rank: 32
Carolina got its first win in Week 8, and rookie quarterback Bryce Young showed glimpses of why the team took him first overall. However, the Panthers have failed to eclipse 27 points in a game and rank 31st in yards per play on offense.
32. Arizona Cardinals (1-7)Previous rank: 31
Perhaps the most frightening reality for Arizona is a fate that's not in their control. The Texans won't be seeing ghosts with a favorable slate for the remainder of the season, which could mean the Cardinals' second first-round pick falls outside of its top-10 projected range.
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