FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Week 9 was an interesting one. In some ways, top teams continued to separate themselves from the pack. In other ways, six teams being on their bye week complicated things.
Key injuries changed outcomes, while a reunion for Aaron Rodgers highlighted "Sunday Night Football."
Let's take a look at all the happenings as the 2025 season nears its midway point.
Jonathan Taylor continues to make his case for MVP status, while the offense around him has put up more than 20 points in every game this year. The Colts seem like the real deal.
The Lions were on a bye week, so can't fault them for that.
Another contender on their bye means little movement at the top of this ranking.
The Bucs routed the Saints. And rain is wet.
Yes, that is another bye week for a top-five team.
It was a fumble.
The Pats are on a five-game winning streak. Outside of the Colts, are they the hottest team in football right now?
I would argue this win over the Cowboys is the best the Broncos have looked since Week 5 when they beat the Eagles.
The Bills needed a decisive win after dropping two consecutive games before their Week 7 bye. They absolutely got one against the Panthers.
Fun fact: The last time the Packers beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh the matchup featured Bart Starr and Terry Bradshaw. And Aaron Rodgers was learning his ABCs. Kidding.
Honestly, I gave the Chargers a spot on this ranking just because they weren't wearing those all-yellow uniforms anymore.
Was I a bit too harsh on the 49ers for losing to the Texans? Mayhap. Dropping seven spots seems harsh.
The Chiefs are just so difficult to beat at home in a prime-time slot. It's almost like that is when the Tay-voo-doo is at its strongest.
This many teams on bye weeks is really throwing my vibe off.
This was probably not the reunion Aaron Rodgers was wanting. One in which his successor completed 20 straight pass attempts en route to 360 passing yards.
The Bears lost to a Lamar-less Ravens team. The last team to lose to a Lamar-less Ravens team was the 2022 Falcons. You probably didn't need to know that.
The Cowboys let Bo Nix throw four touchdowns and gave up 111 rushing yards to J.K. Dobbins. That's it. That's the note.
I don't really have much to say about the Panthers' performance against the Bills. Can you blame me?
A big win for the Texans. A big day for C.J. Stroud. And a shutdown performance from a defense that has allowed the fewest amount of points scored through its first seven games of 2025. 'Nuff said.
I was so bored watching "Thursday Night Football." I blame the Vikings. But I don't blame them enough to drop them below the Falcons because they didn't lose to the team ranked No. 31 in last week's ranking.
One could argue this loss to an (at the time) one-win Miami team is worse than the loss to the Panthers in Week 3.
The Commanders made for interesting conversations at halftime. But that's as long as the Chiefs let them hang around.
Without question this was the best performance by the Ravens since Week 3. Maybe they just needed a break? You know sometimes you just need some time away to regroup.
THE GIANTS LOST CAM SKATTEBO. WHAT'S THE POINT OF ANY OF THIS ANYMORE?!
Well, well, well… another bye.
I don't know whether to point out that the Dolphins got their -ish together or that the Falcons did… not.
I swear if I have to write the words "bye week" one more time…
I mean I guess I can't really fault the Titans for losing to the No. 1 team this week. Right?
I absolutely can knock the Bengals, though, for losing to the only team that hadn't won a game yet.
The Browns are off next week and then they face the Jets. The showdown of Week 10. Mark your calendars.
THEY DID IT. THE JETS WON A GAME.
Do we think the Saints were rooting for the Jets to put something together so they can get the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft? I am not putting that outside the realm of possibility.
