NFL power rankings entering Week 9 of the 2024 season (previous rank in parentheses):
1. Kansas City Chiefs (1): Guess who now owns the most receptions (945) among active players. Travis Kelce after his breakout 10-catch performance in Sunday’s win at Las Vegas. And also DeAndre Hopkins after his two-grab K.C. debut in Sunday’s win at Las Vegas. Not only that, the Chiefs also just acquired LB Josh Uche, who averages roughly six sacks and 17 pressures per 17 games, to a top-five defense that continues to anchor the champs. Kansas City still hasn’t truly put together a dominant performance, yet there still hasn’t been a losing one, either.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
5. Minnesota Vikings (4): Flexed into their third exclusive broadcast window in the past four games, the listing Vikes must again prove they’re ready for prime time without injured Christian Darrisaw, one of the league’s best left tackles.
7. Washington Commanders (10): Amazingly, a team led by a rookie quarterback (Jayden Daniels) is also on pace for 500 points – though Sunday was the first time it was held to fewer than 20 this season. Crucial stretch upcoming for the NFC East leaders, who will see all three of their divisional foes over the next four weeks.
9. Houston Texans (6): A club that’s averaged 166 net passing yards over the past three weeks heads into Thursday night without injured WRs Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs, the latter now out for the season with a torn ACL … but maybe that’s not that big a deal – for one night anyway – against the smoldering Jets.
All NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter.
22. Seattle Seahawks (18): So much for that supposed home-field advantage at Lumen Field, where the Seahawks have lost three in a row and put up bigger fights on their own sideline than between the lines.
23. Cleveland Browns (32): Since the infamous 2022 acquisition of Deshaun Watson, two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski is 9-10 with the quarterback in the starting lineup and 11-12 without him. Essentially a wash, but QB Jameis Winston’s performance Sunday was also a reminder that this was a playoff outfit last season – mostly thanks to the leadership of another veteran passer, Joe Flacco.
24. Miami Dolphins (24): The league’s lowest-scoring offense naturally operates at a much higher level with QB Tua Tagovailoa on the field. Yet, oddly, the defense allows more than five points fewer per game when Tagovailoa doesn’t play.
27. New York Jets (22): … what does that make this team?
(This story has been updated to include new information.)
***
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis.
