Week 8 was an interesting mix of big upsets and statement games. Some teams kept fading from high perches, while others have revived their season at midseason.
That makes for a very interesting edition of Sporting News' latest NFL power rankings ahead of Week 9. There's a new No. 1 team of course, after two previous top occupants went cold. But's also notable how two other Super Bowl contenders, both from the AFC, flexed when needed most on the road.
Sporting News breaks down the latest look at the league's hierarchy from 1-32, with big changes from top to bottom:
NFL WEEK 9 PICKS: Straight up | Against the spread
NFL power rankings Week 9
1. Philadelphia Eagles 7-1 (previous week: 2)
The Eagles made it another wild game with the Commanders this season but they showed their offense with Jalen Hurts is fine getting it done when it can't really run. A.J. Brown seems to have become unstoppable downfield.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars 6-2 (5)
The Jaguars are the hottest team in the AFC, having won five consecutive games. They have taken care of the Bills and Steelers far away from Jacksonville along the way. The defense keeps making key plays and the offense gets it done however it feels with Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne. Only the bye cools them off.
3. Baltimore Ravens 6-2 (3)
The Ravens don't get a lot of style points for getting a little sloppy defensively at the end of their game at Arizona, but keep in mind they were riding the high of the Lions rout and had a mini letdown ahead of bigger matchups. Still, Lamar Jackson and the running game kept doing their thing.
4. Kansas City Chiefs 6-2 (1)
It was eventual that Patrick Mahomes would lose to a losing team and also lose to the Broncos. He got it out of his system with a turnover mess in Denver that set up their first loss since Week 1. Perhaps they were also caught looking ahead to the track meet with the team now right behind them in Germany next week.
5. Miami Dolphins 6-2 (6)
The Dolphins took care of their trap game at home against the Patriots by unleashing their usual brand of offense, backed by key improved pressure and coverage defense. It will be fun when Mahomes and Hill are on the same field again in Frankfurt. Watch out, autobahn.
6. Detroit Lions 6-2 (7)
The Lions stumbled for a second time this season against the Ravens in Week 8 after losing earlier to the Seahawks. They got well with everything, especially the running game and defense, vs. the Raiders at home on Monday night.
7. Dallas Cowboys 5-2 (8)
The Cowboys tend to rock after a bye with Dak Prescott and he was the big reason for the massive victory over the Rams. Prescott had his best passing game, confident throwing everywhere downfield. The defense and special teams got back into their complementary mojo, too.
8. San Francisco 49ers 5-3 (4)
The 49ers have hit a low with a three-game losing streak. It's all tied to Brock Purdy coming down to earth and making more mistakes than big plays. He is still using his weapons well but they do miss Deebo Samuel. The bigger question is, what happened to the defense dominating?
9. Cincinnati Bengals 4-3 (12)
The Bengals have the real Joe Burrow back after their injury-riddled start. Now looking at it, they are right there with the Ravens, Steelers and Browns in the tough AFC North battle. They put it all together at the right time ahead of facing the Bills in a playoff rematch.
10. Buffalo Bills 5-3 (10)
Speaking of the Bills, they went back to letting Josh Allen loose with his running and passing and it got the offense somewhat going again, with major help from a traditional rushing attack. But the defense still is undergoing transitional pains vs. the pass.
11. Seattle Seahawks 5-2 (13)
Geno Smith hasn't quite lit it up. The running game is up and down. The defense is trying to figure out more answers after a slot start. Yet, the Seahawks, thanks to the 49ers losing, are in first place in the division. They'll get a good test in Baltimore next week to see just how complete they are this time under Pete Carroll.
12. New York Jets 4-3 (15)
Zach Wilson isn't playing at an elite level, but he's playing well enough to win and facilitate game-changing playmakers Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson in big-time situations. The defense keeps making the burden easier on the third-year QB.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers 4-3 (9)
The Steelers' offense ran into a tough matchup against vs. the Jaguars and the results were predictable after no running game and just flashes of big pass plays while Kenny Pickett (ribs) also got hurt. They can still win plenty with defense, but not against more complete teams.
14. Cleveland Browns 4-3 (11)
The Browns also are working to hide their limited offense and it's admirable what they've done with their running backs and receivers to lift P.J. Walker. But Myles Garrett needs help from wreaking havoc on the other side and the run defense leaks just enough at times.
15. Minnesota Vikings 4-4 (18)
The Vikings have rallied to win three consecutive games to erase an 0-3 start and get right back into the NFC wild-card race. But losing Justin Jefferson is one thing when they have receiving depth. Losing Kirk Cousins with nothing behind him to inspire too much confidence in Nick Mullens and rookie Jaren Hall.
16. New Orleans Saints 4-4 (20)
Taysom Hill remains a hybrid sensation. He was the missing piece, go figure for Derek Carr, to settle down and for the Saints to unlock more versatility and explosiveness in their offense. They needed it in Indianapolis because the defense has a lot more holes than usual for Dennis Allen.
17. Atlanta Falcons 4-4 (14)
The Falcons needed to make a QB change in Tennessee and they got a spark from Taylor Heinicke after their defense was ripped apart by a rookie QB making his debut. Put Arthur Smith on a slightly hotter seat.
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3-4 (17)
The Buccaneers showed more fight with Baker Mayfield and his weapons in Buffalo, but they just can't block well enough to get offensively consistency to help a pretty good defense.
19. Los Angeles Chargers 3-4 (24)
The Chargers saw the real Justin Herbert in get-well game for his passing on Sunday night vs. the Bears. That might be a key springboard with tough games vs. the Jets and Lions next.
20. Los Angeles Rams 3-5 (19)
The Rams' worst fears were realized in Dallas with Matthew Stafford going down again with a thumb injury. The offensive pop in the passing game went dormant and the defense snapped back to reality. The crossroads part of the season may be headed for a scary detour now.
21. Houston Texans 3-4 (16)
The Texans felt confident with C.J. Stroud after the bye, but the offensive line woes caught up to the team a bit against an inspired Panthers defense on the road. There's some midseason regression to below the mean happening for DeMeco Ryans' young team.
22. Indianapolis Colts 3-5 (21)
The Colts are exciting to watch offensively with Gardner Minshew, Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs as shootouts with Shane Steichen tend to break out at home. But their defense has totally fallen apart with injuries and ineffectiveness.
23. Washington Commanders 3-5 (23)
The Commanders get some props for staying competitive with the Eagles a second time and even leading them well for a while. But as the defense continues to unravel, it's not good news ahead for Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio.
24. Denver Broncos 3-5 (29)
The Broncos have life again. Their defense is playing with effort and energy to take advantage of their best talent. Russell Wilson is surviving the pressure to spread the ball around well with a revived running game, to boot.
25. Tennessee Titans 3-4 (28)
The Titans unleashed a new style of aggressive downfield passing offense with rookie QB Will Levis in his debut and it was a great look with DeAndre Hopkins. It also got Derrick Henry and the running game with new lanes. Mike Vrabel rocked it after the bye and the youth movement can pay off sooner rather than later.
26. Las Vegas Raiders 3-5 (22)
The Raiders are in crisis mode after the return of Jimmy Garoppolo didn't keep them in the AFC wild-card race, now fading closer to pretending. The run defense is a major problem they can't overcome.
27. Green Bay Packers 2-5 (24)
The Packers are disappearing offensively early in games and by the time Jordan Love gets it going, they are trying to dig out of a big hole. The defense can do only so much as the the roller-coaster for the first-time QB has had more dips.
28. New England Patriots 2-6 (26)
The Patriots are trying their best to rev up their offense consistently around Mac Jones but don't have a clear rushing or passing identity. The defense simply is breaking down without key personnel.
29. Chicago Bears 2-6 (30)
The Bears are doing their best to remain competitive with Tyson Bagent sparking the offense, but against the Chargers, there was a big reminder of how much of a problem the defense has been overall.
30. New York Giants 2-6 (27)
The Giants keep losing key offensive players and are now down two quarterbacks with Tyrod Taylor (ribs) being knocked out vs. the Jets. Their season is unraveling fast, the polar opposite of last year's good vibes for Brian Daboll.
31. Carolina Panthers 1-6 (32)
The Panthers got on the winning board after the bye with much improved overall defense and some clutch play from Bryce Young in a tough spot for the passing game vs. the Texans. They could get on a mini streak at home vs. the Colts.
32. Arizona Cardinals 1-7 (31)
The Cardinals have been feisty with some of their offensive players around Josh Dobbs, but their defense puts them in impossible situations under Jonathan Gannon. They will hope to get a needed spark from Kyler Murray, but first it's Clayton Tune?.
