NFL 2024 Week 9 Power Rankings and Week 10 picks

 We had quite a bit of shake-up in the Power Tankings.

Power Rankings  [Last week's rank]

1.  DETROIT LIONS (7-1) [1]

2.  Kansas City Chiefs (8-0) [2]

3.  Buffalo Bills (7-2) [3]

4.  Washington Commanders (7-2) [4]

5.  Minnesota Vikings (6-2) [9]

6.  Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) [7]

7.  Baltimore Ravens (6-3) [13]

8.  Los Angeles Chargers (5-3) [11]

9.  Philadelphia Eagles (6-2) [10]

10. Green Bay Packers (6-3) [6]

11. Atlanta Falcons (6-3) [17]

12. Denver Broncos (5-4) [5]

13. Chicago Bears (4-4) [8]

14. San Francisco 49ers (4-4) [14]

15. Houston Texans (6-3) [12]

Divisional Power Rankings  [Last week's rank]

1.  NFC North [1]

2 (tie).  AFC West [2]

2 (tie). AFC North [3]

4.  NFC East [4]

5.  NFC West [5]

6.  AFC East [6]

7.  NFC South [7]

8.  AFC South [8]

Thursday night

Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens : This divisional contest won't even be close.  RAVENS, 31-14

Sunday morning

New York Giants at Carolina Panthers : Neither team is doing well, so which one will find new life overseas?  Who knows?  I'll pick the Giants only because they've been closer in losing efforts, so their offense has some punch.  GIANTS, 16-13

Sunday early games

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints : Kurt Cousins has the Falcons offense flowing very well.  The Saints, on the other hand, are frequently off-rhythm.  The Falcons will soar.  FALCONS, 27-16

Buffalo Bills at Indianapolis Colts : The Colts can fight, but the Bills find ways to win.  This game will be close, but it will go the Bills' way.  BILLS, 31-23

Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs : This will likely be a close game.  The Broncos might be able to win, but the Chiefs seem to find ways to win in the fourth quarter.  CHIEFS, 30-27

Minnesota Vikings at Jacksonville Jaguars : Easy win for the Vikings.  VIKINGS, 34-13

New England Patriots at Chicago Bears : The Bears offense is still struggling.  So is the Patriots,  The difference in this game will be the Bears defense.  BEARS, 20-16

Pittsburgh Steelers at Washington Commanders : The most high-powered offense in the league resides in Washington.  I don't think the Steelers defense will slow them down enough to give their offense a chance to stay close.  COMMANDERS, 27-17

San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Bucs : Both of these teams are inconsistent this season.  The winner will be the one with the more consistent play, but we're not sure which one that will be.  In cases like this, I usually go with the home team.  BUCS, 23-20

Sunday late games

New York Jets at Arizona Cardinals : The Cards are surging at the right time.  CARDINALS, 20-16

Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys : Normally a hard-fought game, the Cowboys are lacking cohesion this season.  They also have a tendency to make critical mistakes at the wrong time, be them penalties, miscommunications, or poor clock management.  EAGLES, 27-17

Tennessee Titans at Los Angeles Chargers : The Chargers have become a real force.  They have a strong defense and a capable offense.  That offense sometimes sputters, but the Titans offense sputters more.  CHARGERS, 23-16

Sunday night

Detroit Lions at Houston Texans : CJ Stroud can work some magic, but the Lions offense is red hot.  LIONS, 27-20

Monday Night Football

Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Rams : Tua is back, but the Fins are still struggling.  He doesn't quite seem to have the same ZING! on this passes as he did before his injury.  So long as that is the case, the Fins offense will sputter.  RAMS, 24-20