NFL 2014 Week 9 news and Power Rankings

Week 9 Takeaways
1.  The AFC v NFC imbalance is growing.  The NFC has only three teams in the Top Ten, while the AFC has seven.  Furthermore, the AFC has 11 teams with winning records while the NFC has only six.  While the NFC has the team with the best record, the power seems to centralized in the AFC.

2.  Dallas seems to have started their decline early.  They have lost two in a row and have fallen from the Top Ten.  They get Jacksonville this week, so they can reverse their losing streak, but we have to wonder how far the Cowboys can really go this season.

3.  The Rams are a force in the NFC West!  While they can't seem to do anything outside their division, they have beaten both Seattle and San Francisco in successive division match-ups.  This week they face Arizona.  Can they shock the league-leading Cardinals?

4.  The Saints have the best momentum of any team.  They have won three of their last four (and the loss was by a single point) after a poor start, and those three wins have been strong.  They face the sputtering 49ers this week to gain a winning record, and face four teams with losing records to close out the season.  The Saints seem playoff-bound, and may have the best momentum of any team entering the playoffs.  That could propel them all the way to the NFC Championship Game.

Top Ten [Last week's position]
1.  ARIZONA CARDINALS (7-1) [2] : The Cards become the team with the best record in the league, and Carson Palmer returns to the starting lineup.  With the crushing defense they have, they could continue to roll
2.  New England Patriots (7-2) [3] : Another dominant victory makes the Pats a fearsome foe.  Most of the league is happy they have a bye this week
3.  Denver Broncos (6-2) [1] : The Broncos lost, but they still have dominated most of their opponents.  The Pats have frequently overwhelmed Peyton, so I don't think this week was a good indication of what they will do against other teams.
4.  Philadelphia Eagles (6-2) [5] : If even a mediocre QB like Mark Sanchez can succeed in this offense, Chip Kelly definitely has developed a great scheme
5.  Indianapolis Colts (6-3) [8] : Another team with consecutive dominant victories
6.  Kansas City Chiefs (5-3) [11] : The AFC version of the Saints, they have shifted a poor beginning into a tremendous stretch
7.  Miami Dolphins (5-3) [13] : Amazing shut-out of the dynamic San Diego offense!  Has the "No Name" defense returned to Miami?
8.  Detroit Lions (6-2) [7]
9.  Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) [14] : Perhaps the best team in the AFC North right now, they now lead the division
10. Baltimore Ravens (5-4) [6]  : And here's the team who the Steelers knocked off the top of the division

Divisional Rankings [Last week's position]
1.  AFC North [2] : Though no overwhelmingly dominant team, overall this division has the best record.  They have been the only division without a losing team for weeks
2.(tie).  AFC West [1] : Three huge losses knocked this division down
2 (tie).  AFC East [4] : Big wins by New England and Miami boost the division, despite a loss by the Jets
4.  NFC West [4] : The 49ers are falling, but an uptick by the Rams and the cruising Cards keep the division afloat
5.  NFC East [3] : Tough week, as Philly was the only winner
6.  NFC North [6] : Mostly byes, although the Vikings spoiled RGIII's return to the Skins
7.  AFC South [7] : The gap is so large, I don't see this division moving up, even as the Colts improve
8.  NFC South [8] : The Saints are moving up, but the rest of the division languishes with losing records