NFL Week Nine power rankings

By Rick Morris

NOTE: Previous ratings in parentheses.

FIRST TIER: PLAYOFF LOCKS
1 New Orleans (1)
2 Indianapolis (2)
3 Minnesota (3)
4 Pittsburgh (6)
5 New England (7)
6 Denver (4)
SECOND TIER: PLAYOFF CONTENDERS
7 Philadelphia (13)
8 NY Giants (5)
9 Baltimore (12)
10 Dallas (10)
11 Atlanta (8)
12 Cincinnati (11)
THIRD TIER: OTHER PLAYOFF POSSIBILITIES
13 Houston (15)
14 Arizona (9)
15 NY Jets (16)
16 San Diego (18)
17 Miami (19)
18 Green Bay (14)
19 Chicago (17)
20 San Francisco (20)
21 Carolina (24)
FOURTH TIER: VERY BAD, BUT NOT THE WORST
22 Buffalo (23)
23 Seattle (21)
24 Jacksonville (22)
25 Washington (25)
FIFTH TIER: TEAMS WITHOUT ANY REDEEMING VALUE WHATSOEVER
26 Tennessee (28)
27 Kansas City (29)
28 Oakland (27)
29 St. Louis (32)
30 Detroit (26)
31 Cleveland (30)
32 Tampa Bay (31)

BIGGEST RISERS: Philadelphia (6 spots), Baltimore, Carolina and St. Louis (3 spots)
BIGGEST FALLERS: Arizona (5 spots), Detroit and Green Bay (4 spots), Atlanta and New York Giants (3 spots)