2021 NFL Divisional Power Rankings entering Week 9: Jets, Patriots catapult AFC East; NFC West stays on top

The NFC West confronted a significant problem with their No. 1 rating this week, because the division-leading Arizona Cardinals confronted off in opposition to the NFC North division-leading Green bay Packers. Inexperienced Bay bought the higher of Arizona within the battle of division leaders. Sadly, the remainder of the NFC North failed to point out up for the rest of the week.

In the meantime, the NFC West flexed its muscle exterior of Arizona’s loss  — showcasing the power of the division (as has been the case all through the season). That is the fantastic thing about the divisional rankings, that are decided extra by the power of the division than the division leaders. There is a motive why the NFC West has been in a position to stay on prime all through a lot of the 12 months. 

Whereas the NFC West maintained its stranglehold as the highest division, there was quite a lot of shuffling towards the underside half of the rating getting into Week 9. The largest winner was the AFC East. 

8. AFC South

Final week’s rating: 6

Whereas the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans battled in an time beyond regulation thriller, the Jacksonville Jaguars have been blown out by the Seattle Seahawks and the Houston Texans have been embarrassed by the Los Angeles Rams. In equity to the AFC South, the NFC West is considerably a greater division and the losses by the Jaguars and Texans have been anticipated. 

The Titans are first within the AFC, however misplaced MVP candidate Derrick Henry for a number of weeks — a significant hit for a workforce with Super Bowl aspirations. The Colts sit at 3-5, however have the New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars developing. This division must be carried by Tennessee and Indianapolis if it needs to take away the moniker of “worst division in soccer.” 

The AFC South is a league worst 6-15 in out-of-division video games and 11-20 total. 

7. NFC East

Final week’s rating: 7

At the least the NFC East managed to go 2-0 in opposition to the NFC North this week, because of the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. Dallas beat the Minnesota Vikings within the last minutes with backup quarterback Cooper Rush whereas Philadelphia beat the Detroit Lions by 38 factors — with wins by each groups approaching the highway. 

The Washington Soccer Workforce and New York Giants each fell to 2-6, dropping to AFC West groups and giving the division a 2-2 report in interdivisional video games for the week. With three groups underneath .500, the NFC East will not be a superb division — irrespective of how nicely the Cowboys are enjoying. 

The NFC East is 10-15 in interdivisional video games and 13-18 total. Dallas has six of these victories. 

6. NFC North

Final week’s rating: 5

The NFC North is not a superb division both, because the Inexperienced Bay Packers saved this division from complete embarrassment in Week 8 by beating the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals — on the highway. The Vikings misplaced to the Cowboys — who did not have Dak Prescott — at house whereas the Lions fell to 0-8 and have been clobbered by the Eagles. 

The Chicago Bears have been additionally defeated by the San Francisco 49ers at house, one other tough loss for the North. Inexperienced Bay is the runaway leaders of this division, which presently has three groups underneath .500. 

Inexperienced Bay’s win over Arizona deserves quite a lot of benefit, irrespective of how the remainder of the division fared. That is the one motive they’re forward of the NFC East this week. The NFC North is simply 9-14 in out-of-division video games and 13-18 total. 

5. AFC East

Final week’s rating: 8

What a banner week for the AFC East, because the New York Jets and New England Patriots represented the division proudly. The Jets got here again from a double-digit deficit with 5 minutes to play to upset the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals — with a backup quarterback making his first profession begin! The Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Chargers, who have been popping out of their bye week and have been thought to be one of many prime groups within the convention. 

Two spectacular out-of-division wins for the AFC East masked the Miami Dolphins dropping seven in a row. Miami fell to the Buffalo Bills, who lead the AFC in factors per recreation and factors allowed per recreation. Buffalo is a Tremendous Bowl contender whereas New England is stating its case for a playoff spot. Possibly this division is not as unhealthy as we thought?

The AFC East continues to be solely 7-13 in intervisional video games and 12-18 total, however the division deserves to be out of the basement this week. The Jets and Patriots may also help enhance the inventory of the division once more with matchups in opposition to the Colts and Carolina Panthers, respectively. 

4. AFC West

Final week’s rating: 4

No change within the rankings for the AFC West, whose inventory dipped a bit because of the Los Angeles Chargers falling to New England. The Denver Broncos tried to offer the sport to Washington, and dealt Von Miller to the Los Angeles Rams for 2 draft picks — indicating their plans for 2021 even with a .500 report. 

The Kansas City Chiefs weren’t all that spectacular in opposition to the New York Giants both, however they gained the sport and bought again to .500. The division main Las Vegas Raiders have been on bye this week.

Considered one of simply two divisions within the NFL the place each workforce is .500 or higher, the AFC West is 14-10 in out-of-division video games and 17-13 total. This division continues to be for the taking. 

3. NFC South

Final week’s rating: 3

A formidable week for the NFC South, even when the division did not have any interdivisional matchups in Week 8. The New Orleans Saints earned a notable win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a third-string quarterback in Trevor Siemian — whereas additionally rising as one of many energy groups within the convention. That offers the NFC South two of the convention’s energy groups, together with the NFC West. An enormous increase for the division.

The Carolina Panthers earned an enormous win over the Atlanta Falcons to get again to .500, and are the No. 7 seed within the NFC playoff image. If the season ended in the present day, the NFC South would have three groups within the playoffs. 

Carolina performs the one out-of-division recreation this week, in opposition to New England. The NFC South is a powerful 14-8 in interdivisional matchups and 18-12 total. 

2. AFC North

Final week’s rating: 2

This wasn’t every week the AFC North challenged the NFC West for the highest spot, which is discouraging given the one out-of-division recreation concerned the division-leading Cincinnati Bengals. In fact, the Bengals fell to the Jets which left a foul stain on the division — and Cincinnati misplaced the division result in the idle Baltimore Ravens because of this. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Cleveland Browns in a defensive battle, showcasing how arduous it has been to find out intra-divisional video games within the North this 12 months. All 4 groups are .500 or higher and have a possibility to grab this division as November arrives. 

The AFC North is 15-9 in out-of-division video games and 18-12 total. This division is among the most fun within the NFL, however did not do sufficient in Week 8 to dethrone the NFC West. 

1. NFC West 

Final week’s rating: 1

One other week the NFC West stays on prime, even with the Arizona Cardinals falling from the ranks of the unbeaten. Whereas Arizona fell to Inexperienced Bay in a showdown of division leaders, the remainder of the NFC West went unbeaten on the week. For this reason the West stays No. 1.

The Seattle Seahawks blew out the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Los Angeles Rams took care of the Houston Texans — as anticipated. The San Francisco 49ers profitable on the highway in opposition to the Chicago Bears was spectacular, particularly for a workforce that misplaced 4 in a row previous to the victory. 

The Rams have an enormous showdown with the Titans on “Sunday Evening Soccer” this week, so this division faces one other powerful check in opposition to one other division chief. A Los Angeles victory will hold this division on prime of the rankings once more, though the general report speaks for itself. 

The NFC West is a league finest 16-7 in interdivisional matchups and has a league-best report of 20-11 total. Dethroning the NFC West goes to be tough as the primary half of the season involves a detailed.