NFL power rankings 2015: Week 9 (Tuesday edition)

Rolling through the NFL power rankings from Week 9 of the 2015 season.

Next: What Needs To Change In Green Bay?

Once again that midseason swoon has hit the NFL. In a season of parity (there are maybe three exceptional teams, while the rest are middling to bad) that dip feels even more pronounced.

The Packers were rolling until Week 8 and thought to be second-best team in the National Football League, and tops in the NFC. However, after a seven quarters of being manhandled by the Broncos and Panthers (along with a vibrant fourth quarter rally that fell short against Carolina), it’s time for the Pack to get back in the lab.

Speaking of Denver and Carolina, the Broncos no longer sit among the ranks of the undefeated. Peyton Manning returned to Indianapolis on Sunday, only to be repaid with two interceptions and his team’s first loss on the season. The Panthers, meanwhile, are one of the league’s most balanced teams. Cam Newton is getting better with every game (a welcome sign from a guy who owns a $100 million contract), and the defense and running games are potent.

Elsewhere, the Vikings are a legitimate dark horse in the NFC race, while the New York Jets are the same in the AFC.

As for the also-rans, injury-ravaged teams like the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers continued their slides with hard-fought, but ultimately disappointing, defeats.

On to the power rankings.

Next: NFL Power Rankings: No. 32 Detroit Lions