Week 9 of the NFL season continued to be a rollercoaster ride. The Colts, Packers, and Lions were all defeated by one score. The Rams, Seahawks, Broncos, and Patriots all won six straight games, despite the ugly results. We’ll see how everyone is doing heading into Monday night’s Cardinals-Cowboys contest. 1 spot. The defending champs have rounded into form, while adding pieces like Jaelan Phillips (and Brandon Graham) who could make them invincible down the stretch. If star receiver A.J. Brown buys into the offensive approach, the Eagles could pull off a rare back-to-back run at season’s end. The Patriots are always gritty and not pretty. Mike Vrabel’s squad finds various ways to win behind emerging quarterback Drake Maye and a scrappy defense. The Patriots’ exceptional execution of complementary football gives them a chance to knock off superior squads in the postseason tournament.Credit Sean McDermott and Josh Allen for finding various paths to victory in big games. The Bills are known for their chameleon like approach and the stoic coach and quarterback can create and execute game plans that confuse opponents. Bills’ roster is the most versatile in the NFL, able to thrive in either shootouts or grind it out games. Baker Mayfield & Co. needed the bye week to rest and recover from a grueling early-season slate. Mike Evans’ and Chris Godwin’s eventual return to a passing attack that is flourishing with Emeka egbuka, could help the Buccaneers reach the top of NFC going into the playoffs. Don’t sleep on this underrated team from the Pacific Northwest. Sam Darnold is making the Seahawks’ offensive humming, with young playmakers like Jaxon-Smith-Njigba and Tory Horton terrorizing their opponents. With the defense bullying opponents behind a group of trench warriors (Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II, Uchenna Nwosu and DeMarcus Lawrence) with freakish athleticism and heavy hands, the Seahawks have emerged as legitimate contenders in Mike Macdonald’s second season. Matthew Stafford can make the Rams a formidable opponent for any team. The veteran quarterback is known as a fearless gunslinger who has pinpoint accuracy and precision ball placement. The master of the no-look pass, Stafford’s ability to squeeze the football into tight windows makes the Rams’ passing game nearly impossible to defend. As opponents load up to defend the Rams’ lethal running game, the old man will continue to shred defenses unable to deal with his fastballs.Despite an impressive start that catapulted the Colts to the top of the AFC, the team’s Week 9 loss exposed some of the team’s flaws as a contender. Daniel Jones is an excellent game manager, but he is not the best playmaker for a team that has a powerful running game. As a ball-control team that must play with a lead and execute complementary football at a high level to win against the league’s heavyweights, the Colts need their QB1 to avoid turnovers to win down the stretch. Broncos’ playing style may not make them the sexiest in the league, but a combination of a stifling defence and an efficient offense could give them a shot at a deep postseason run. With a disruptive rush to the quarterback’s pocket, the defense can control the game. No one wants to take on the Broncos in the postseason, as their defensive backfield provides sticky coverage whether Patrick Surtain or not. Jordan Love’s inconsistencies are the only thing keeping the Packers from running roughshod over the league. The quarterback’s head-scratching throws and boneheaded decisions prove costly in big games. Though the turnover-obsessed defense can overcome some of Love’s failings, the Packers will not challenge for a Super Bowl crown until their QB1 consistently plays at an elite level. When you thought that the Lions would be back on track as title contenders, they lose a divisional match at home. Detroit’s loss against the Vikings may have been a minor hiccup but it showed that the Lions can’t just run over opponents with the ball. With shoddy execution marring a strong showing from Jared Goff & Co., the Lions must go back to the drawing board to get back on track.Bucky Brooks is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports. Brooks also analyzes games for NFL Network, and is a co-host of the podcast “Moving the Sticks”. Follow him on twitter @BuckyBrooks. Want the best stories delivered to your mailbox? Sign up for a FOX Sports account or create one. Follow leagues, players and teams to receive daily personalized emails.
2025-11-03 14:56:12
NFL Top 10 Rankings: Who’s No. 1? Eagles, Bills, Rams Climb; Colts, Packers Tumble
