NFL Power Rankings (After Week 9)

Finally, we found out the New England Patriots were beatable. And with that, they drop out of the top spot in my NFL Power Rankings and make way for the lone unbeaten team left in those rankings -- the 8-0 San Francisco 49ers.

And by virtue of that huge win, the Baltimore Ravens leap four places into the No. 3 spot, while the Patriots slip to No. 4. The New Orleans Saints could have been No. 1 -- but the bye week could not have come at the worst time for them and they hold at No. 2 this week. Otherwise, Buffalo is back in the Top 5, Seattle and Kansas City move in the Top 10, Green Bay and Minnesota fall within the rankings and Houston (hello!) is in the Top 10 this week. 

Here's where we are after Week 9:

1. (3 last week) San Francisco (8-0): It's been a bit of a journey to get to the No. 1, and no, the 49ers didn't look great against the Arizona Cardinals last Thursday night, but they are No. 1 as the lone unbeaten left. Their defense has been lights out, but next is a test with the NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks Monday night.

2. (2) New Orleans (7-1): Drew Brees and Co. sat idle with the bye week (I'm sure the Saints would have killed it in the bye week, too!), and that cost them a shot to jump to No. 1. Thems are the breaks!

3. (7) Baltimore (7-2): You just knew these Ravens meant business when they jumped out to that 17-0 lead Sunday night at home against the big, bad Patriots and cruised to the 37-20 victory. Lamar Jackson is playing with a pot full of swagger and their defense may not be as ferocious as that of the 2000 Super Bowl team, but the Ravens continue to be led by their bread-and-butter D.

4. (1) New England (8-1): The Patriots finally found someone that could punch them in the mouth and not stop punching them there. It was a humbling experience for Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and Co., but the AFC Playoffs still run through Foxborough until further notice.

5. (6) Buffalo (6-2): A lot of blowback from people who thought the Bills should have free-fallen out of the Top 5 after the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last week. But here's the sobering facts that some don't like hearing -- the Bills are good! Their defense is also on par with that of the 49ers, Ravens and Patriots. Don't think for a second the Bills are an easy out somewhere in the postseason, even as a wild card.

6. (8) Seattle (7-2): Sure, the Seahawks got pushed around Sunday by a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that has nothing to lose under first-year coach Bruce Arians, who saw enough of the Seahawks in his time as Arizona's coach. But Russell Wilson (29-of-43, 378 yards, 5 TD passes) is one of the front-runners for the league's MVP. We will know more after Monday night's tilt with No. 1 San Fran.

7. (4) Green Bay (7-2): The humble pie got sent out to Los Angeles when the London Chargers, er, Los Angeles Chargers put Aaron Rodgers down on the ground three times and pressured him multiple other times. Overall, Green Bay had 184 yards of total offense as the Chargers sobered the Packers' fast-charging train up, 26-11.

8. (10) Kansas City (6-3): Matt Moore and the Chiefs sent a message to another high-flying NFC North team, the Minnesota Vikings, that just because that Mahomes guy isn't behind center doesn't mean every team that plays them gets to feast on them. Not the case here: Moore was 25-of-35 passing for 275 yards and a TD in a 26-23 win as Damien Williams had 125 yards rushing, including a 91-yard TD run in which teammate Tyreek Hill caught him at the end (protection, it was for protection!) and Harrison Butker kicked the game-winning 44-yard TD on the final play.

9. (NEW) Houston (6-3): I've been ranting about how inconsistent these Texans have been all year. Even without superstar J.J. Watt terrorizing opposing offenses, the defense more than pulled its weight in a 26-3 thumping of the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. And Deshaun Watson has kept the Texans' boat afloat as they have won four of the last five games to scoot to the top spot in the AFC South.

10. (5) Minnesota (6-3): The Vikings simply found themselves in a battle with the feisty Kansas City Chiefs and came up second best at Arrowhead Stadium. Kirk Cousins tossed three TD passes, so he has a better idea of where the receivers are these days, but he had to do it while going 19-of-38. OK, accuracy wasn't there, but the Vikings are still good enough to be in the Top 10 … but for how long? They face off this weekend with the surging Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.