2013 NFL Power Ranks Week 9

Stress. We all have it. Find me someone with a stress-free job and I will find you someone who has no responsibility. Being a head coach in the NFL is probably pretty high up on the list of stressful jobs. They are always in the national spotlight with people criticizing their every move. Fans and media alike can call for a coach's head on a silver platter if the team isn't doing well. Even when things are going well the stress can still boil over. That was evidenced this past week when two of the NFL's 32 coaches were hospitalized. Now maybe stress isn't a factor but Denver coach John Fox had heart surgery and Houston coach Gary Kubiak collapsed on the field. I know my thoughts and prayers go out to them for a full and speedy recovery. Something a little less stressful? Putting together these rankings. I actually kind of like it. I guess that's good for you now isn't it?

1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-0) ~ Well, they did it again. This time the Chiefs won without an offensive touchdown. It's ok though. The defense scored two of them in Buffalo. (Last Week's Ranking 1)

2. Denver Broncos (7-1) ~ Denver better be careful not to overlook the San Diego Chargers this week in anticipation for their showdown with the undefeated Chiefs. San Diego is no slouch this year. (LWR 2)

3. Seattle Seahawks (7-1) ~ Speaking of overlooking a team the Seahawks nearly gave the Tampa Bay Buccaneers their first win of the season. In Seattle no less. Credit them for the comeback but that was an ugly game. (LWR 3)

4. Indianapolis Colts (6-2) ~ Anything you can do I can do better. Er, well, at least the same. T.Y. Hilton scored three touchdowns in the second half to match Andre Johnson's three in the first half. The difference? Hilton's team won. (LWR 5)

5. San Francisco 49ers (6-2) ~ They have to be the least talked about 6-2 team in the league. Amirite? If they handle their business against a fiesty Carolina club this weekend to increase their win streak to six in a row I have a feeling people will start talking. (LWR 7)

6. New Orleans Saints (6-2) ~ New Orleans is a different team when they play outside. Drew Brees should have had his way with the New York Jets secondary a week after Andy Dalton torched them. (LWR 4)

7. New England Patriots (7-2) ~ I believe 100% that Tom Brady decided to show up in a big, big way because he was riding my fantasy bench. There's no other explanation. (LWR 8)

8. Cincinnati Bengals (6-3) ~ I believe 100% that Andy Dalton shit the bed because he was starting on my fantasy team in place of Tom Brady. There's no other explanation. (LWR 6)

9. Detroit Lions (5-3) ~ Detroit at number ine? Yep. Detroit at number nine. They get the nod over Chicago and Green Bay in the division since they still have their starting quarterback. That's all I need. (LWR 10)

10. Carolina Panthers (5-3) ~ I praised their defense and then they went out and picked off Matt Ryan three times in a victory over Atlanta that just about puts the nail in the coffin on their season. (LWR 12)

11. Green Bay Packers (5-3) ~ Aaron Rodgers has a broken collarbone and that leads me to believe he will be out for a month or so. I really don't think Seneca Wallace can lead this team. The injuries are almost too much to bear right now. (LWR 9)

12. Chicago Bears (5-3) ~ Josh McCown looked great in a win over Green Bay. Next up on the dockett is Detroit with the winner taking the division lead. I don't think Jay Cutler will be back in time to be effective enough to play this week. McCown it is. (LWR 15)

13. Dallas Cowboys (5-4) ~ If Dallas needed a last minute touchdown to beat the lowly Minnesota Vikings at home Sunday how will they topple the Saints in New Orleans next week? (LWR 13)

14. San Diego Chargers (4-4) ~ Three plays from inside the one in the closing seconds of the game and the Chargers throw it twice? They had two timeouts. Time was not an issue. Run the ball dummy! (LWR 11)

15. New York Jets (5-4) ~ If it weren't for Kansas City the Jets would be the surprise team of the NFL. They have wins over Tom Brady and Drew Brees in the last three weeks. That's impressive no matter how you look at it. (LWR 18)

16. Miami Dolphins (4-4) ~ I don't know if I have ever seen a game end in overtime with a sack/safety. Thanks for that Miami. (LWR 16)

17. Tennessee Titans (4-4) ~ For the first time all year Chris Johnson looked like his old self toppint 100 yards and finidng the end zone on the ground for the first and second time this year. The Titans will need more of that the rest of the season if they want to make the playoffs. (LWR 17)

18. Cleveland Browns (4-5) ~ Jason Campbell is playing well in place of the injured Brian Hoyer and ineffective Brandon Weeden. While I don't think he will be the answer long term he has a nice audition lined up for the rest of the league for teams needing a quarterback. (LWR 20)

19. Arizona Cardinals (4-4) ~ Coming out of the bye week it will be interesting to see if Arizona decides to go with Andre Ellington as the starter for the rest of the year. It's the smart thing to do so we will see if it is actually what Arizona does. (LWR 19)

20. Philadelphia Eagles (4-5) ~ Nick Foles threw for an NFL record-tying seven touchdowns in Oakland Sunday. It might be safe to say that Michael Vick has started his last game for the Eagles. (LWR 23)

21. Baltimore Ravens (3-5) ~ A year after winning it all Baltimore looks lost. I can't figure out what is wrong and I am assuming the coaches can't either. The fans are all wondering what happened. (LWR 14)

22. Buffalo Bills (3-5) ~ Rumor has it that EJ Manuel could be back under center for the Bills this week. They desperately need consistency at the quarterback position. (LWR 22)

23. Washington Redskins (3-5) ~ A late goal line stand against San Diego may have saved their season. The NFC East may be bad but a sixth loss this early would almost surely spell doom. (LWR 27)

24. Atlanta Falcons (2-6) ~ Sorry Tony Gonzalez. It doesn't look like you will get that ring in what will most likely be your final season. I wish it turned out better for you. (LWR 21)

25. Houston Texans (2-6) ~ Case Keenum has looked great while filling in for Matt Schaub. The Texans season is essentially over so they might want to roll with him the rest of the year and see what they have going forward. (LWR 24)

26. St. Louis Rams (3-6) ~ For the second week in a row Zac Stacy was a beast as he found the end zone twice and rushed for over 100 yards. It looks like the Rams have found Steven Jackson's successor. (LWR 26)

27. Oakland Raiders (3-5) ~ It's not everyday your defense gives up seven touchdown passes. Unfortunately for the Raiders Sunday was that day. (LWR 25)

28. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-6) ~ Pittsburgh allowed 55 points and 610 yards of offense which are both franchise worsts, or bests depending on how you look at it really. (LWR 28)

29. New York Giants (2-6) ~ The NFC East has been awful this year and the Giants had to figure they would make up some ground this week even while on a bye. Then Dallas, Philly and Washington all won. So, nope. (LWR 29)

30. Minnesota Vikings (1-7) ~ Once again the Vikes are all Adrian Peterson. Once again they chalk another one up in the loss column. (LWR 30)

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-8) ~ Winning in Seattle would have been the upset of the year. Now they remain in the hunt for next year's number one pick. (LWR 31)

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-8) ~ Well, at least they didn't lose last week. (LWR 32)