Culver City Observer -

2018 NFL Power Rankings - Week 9

1. New Orleans Saints (7-1) - The Saints have won seven straight since their opening game loss at home to Tampa Bay. In the last three weeks, the Saints have won at Baltimore, at Minnesota and at home against the Rams. Next: -5.5 at Cincinnati Bengals - Sun, Nov. 11

2. Kansas City Chiefs (8-1) - The Chiefs improved to 31st in defense, just ahead of the Bengals. The Saints can match the Chiefs offensively and they are better defensively, which is why the Chiefs remain #2 in this week's rankings. Next: -16.5 vs Arizona Cardinals - Sun, Nov. 11

3. Los Angeles Rams (8-1) - The Rams finally lost this week, ending their eight-game winning streak. That is the bad news. The good news is that with a win over Seattle this weekend, the Rams magic number for winning the division will be two with seven weeks left in the season. Next: -10 vs Seattle Seahawks, Sun, Nov.11

4. New England Patriots (7-2) - Cordarrelle Patterson has found a new position on the field at running back. The 2013 first round pick of the Vikings has been a good kick returner and mediocre wide receiver with great speed. Against the Packers, he rushed for 61 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries. Next: -6.5 at Tennessee Titans - Sun, Nov. 11

5. Los Angeles Chargers (6-2) - The Chargers won their fifth straight game to solidify their playoff position in the AFC. At 6-2, they are off to their best start since 2006, when Philip Rivers became the starter and began a streak of consecutive starts that reached 200 on Sunday in Seattle. Next: -10 at Oakland Raiders - Sun, Nov. 11

6. Carolina Panthers (6-2) - Tight End Greg Olsen has caught a touchdown passes in three consecutive games since his return from a foot injury. Olsen needs six receptions to pass Ozzie Newsome on the all-time tight end reception list. Next: +4 at Pittsburgh Steelers - Thu, Nov. 8

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2-1) - Mike Tomlin, when asked about running back Le'Veon Bell, said the team "needs volunteers, not hostages." Another way of calling Bell a hostage and his replacement, James Conner, a volunteer. Tomlin has moved on from Bell. Next: -4 vs Carolina Panthers - Thu, Nov. 8

8. Minnesota Vikings (5-3-1) - e Vikings are getting better on defense at the right time, as they showed at home against the Lions on Sunday. The Vikings sacked Matthew Stafford ten times and returned a fumble for a touchdown. Next: N/A at Chicago Bears - Sun, Nov. 18

9. Houston Texans (6-3) - The Texans won their sixth straight in Denver, with recently traded Bronco wide receiver Demaryius Thomas catching three passes for 61 yards. Thomas looked like a good fit with the Texan offense and ex-teammate and receiver coach Wes Welker agrees. Next: N/A at Washington Redskins - Sun, Nov. 18

10. Chicago Bears (5-3) - Rookie Linebacker Roquan Smith had an impressive game against the Bills with 12 tackles. The Bears Linebacker coach said after the game, "I don't think that he's had a complete best game yet." Smith and Khalil Mack will terrorize defenses for years. Next: -6.5 vs Detroit Lions - Sun, Nov. 11

11. Washington Redskins (5-3) - The Redskins loss more than a game against the Falcons this weekend, they also loss three starters on offense. Right guard Brandon Scherff, Left Guard Shawn Lauvao and Wide Receiver Paul Richardson are done for the season. Next: +3 at Tampa Bay - Sun, Nov. 11

12. Cincinnati Bengals (5-3) - A.J. Green will miss at least two games with a foot injury, which will make Andy Dalton's job even more difficult. Adding to the difficulty, the Bengals play the Saints and the Ravens in the next two weeks. Next: +5.5 vs New Orleans Saints - Sun, Nov. 11

13. Atlanta Falcons (4-4) - Matt Ryan and the Falcons went on the road to Washington and crushed the Redskins behind 491 yards in offense and four Ryan touchdown passes. The Falcons are the best 4-4 team in the NFL. Next: -4 at Cleveland Browns - Sun, Nov. 11

14. Philadelphia Eagles (4-4) - The Eagles play a tough stretch of games starting with the Cowboys on Sunday Night. They play five division games plus the Saints, Rams and Texans. Getting to ten wins this season will be a challenge. Next: -6.5 vs Dallas Cowboys - Sun, Nov. 11

15. Seattle Seahawks (4-4) - Russell Wilson threw only the third pick-6 of his career and it turned out to be the difference in a loss to the Chargers. This week will not be any easier, as the Seahawks travel to Los Angeles to play the Rams. Next: +10 at Los Angeles Rams - Sun, Nov. 11

16. Green Bay Packers (3-4-1) - For the second week in a row, the Packers lost a key fumble late in the game to cost them a chance for a victory on the road. The Packers need a win to stay in the playoff race and the Dolphins are coming to town just in the nick of time. Next: -9.5 vs Miami Dolphins - Sun, Nov. 11

17. Tennessee Titans (4-4) - The Titans scored a season high of 28 points in their victory over the Cowboys. Marcus Mariota threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in his best performance of the season. Next: +10 vs New England Patriots - Sun, Nov. 11

18. Miami Dolphins (5-4) - The Dolphins failed to score an offensive touchdown this week against the Jets. Ryan Tannehill will miss his fifth consecutive game due to a shoulder injury, which will not help the underperforming offense. Next: +9.5 at Green Bay Packers - Sun, Nov. 11

19. Baltimore Ravens (4-5) - The Ravens have lost three in a row to fall to 4-5. The #1 ranked defense in the NFL should not be in the position they are in. The Ravens need to get Lamar Jackson more involved in the offense. Next: N/A vs Cincinnati Bengals - Sun, Nov. 18

20. Detroit Lions (3-5) - No quarterback should take the beating that Matthew Stafford took on Sunday in Minnesota. Stafford was sacked 10 times and hit 17 times. With the Bears, Panthers and Rams coming up, this is a problem that needs to get fixed fast. Next: +6.5 at Chicago Bears - Sun, Nov. 11

21. Dallas Cowboys (3-5) - Troy Aikman thinks the Cowboys need a "complete overhaul." Good luck with that suggestion. Jerry Jones does not agree, and the Raiders have their first-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft.. Next: +6.5 at Philadelphia Eagles - Sun, Nov. 11

22. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-5) - The Jaguars were 0-4 in the month of October. They needed the bye to avoid another weekend of losing. They will attempt to break their losing streak against an improving Colts team on the road. Next: +3 at Indianapolis Colts - Sun, Nov. 11

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5) - The Bucs defense are last in scoring defense in the NFL and are on a pace to set an NFL record for points in a season. The Bucs are also last in the NFL in turnover margin at a -15, which is contributing to the record pace in points allowed. Next: -3 vs Washington Redskins - Sun, Nov. 11

24. Indianapolis Colts (3-5) - Rookie Linebacker Darius Leonard is leading the NFL in tackles with 88 and in solo tackles with 58, despite missing a game due to injury. The 2nd round pick out of South Carolina State also has four sacks. Next: -3 vs Jacksonville Jaguars - Sun, Nov. 11

25. Cleveland Browns (2-6-1) - The Browns lead the NFL in turnover ratio with a +11 and have created an NFL best 23 turnovers on defense. Creating turnovers has been a major emphasis of defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who is now the Head Coach with the firing of Hue Jackson. Next: +4 vs Atlanta Falcons - Sun, Nov. 11

26. Denver Broncos (3-6) - Broncos general manager John Elway told reporters last week he had seen enough "good things" to remain confident. Translation: Head Coach Vance Joseph will be fired at the end of the season. Next: N/A at Los Angeles Chargers - Sun, Nov. 11

27. San Francisco 49ers (2-7) - The 49ers crushed the Raiders 34-3 behind Nick Mullens' impressive rookie debut, in which he threw for 262 yards and three scores. Mullens gets another one-win team this week in the Giants. Lucky guy. Next: -3 vs New York Giants - Mon, Nov. 12

28. New York Jets (3-6) - Sam Darnold said after Sunday's loss to the Dolphins that, "I have to have a better plan when I get to the line of scrimmage." The understatement of the year. Darnold threw four interceptions in a 13-6 loss to the Dolphins. He leads the NFL in interceptions at 14. Next: -6.5 vs Buffalo Bills - Sun, Nov. 11

29. Arizona Cardinals (2-6) - The Cardinals cut quarterback Sam Bradford due to a degenerative condition in his left knee. Bradford made $15.9 million for the three games he played in. This will go down as one of the worst free agent signings in NFL history. Next: +16.5 at Kansas City Chiefs - Sun, Nov. 11

Jevone Moore

Rams cornerback Marcus Peters looks to rebound against the Seahawks

30. New York Giants (1-7) - The Giants made left tackle Nate Solder the NFL's highest-paid offensive lineman with a four-year, $62 million contract. This has not helped to fix the offensive line issues for the Giants, who also recently cut right tackle and former first round pick Erik Flowers. Next: +3 at San Francisco 49ers – Mon, Nov. 12

31. Buffalo Bills (2-7) - The Bills continue to field the most inept offense in the NFL. They are last in scoring offense, last in passing yardage per game and their quarterbacks have combined to throw 3 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions in nine games. Next: +6.5 at New York Jets - Sun, Nov. 11

32. Oakland Raiders (1-7) - Al Davis was quoted as saying, "The fire that burns brightest in the Raiders organization is the will to win." There is a fire sale in the organization, which will likely lead to winning the #1 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Next: +10 vs Los Angeles Chargers - Sun, Nov. 11