NFL Tiers: Post Week 9

In each tier, the teams aren’t ranked. I also did change the tiers up some this week.

The contenders

• Kansas City Chiefs

The good

• Baltimore Raven
• Pittsburgh Steelers
• Tennessee Titans
• New Orleans Saints
• Green Bay Packers
• Seattle Seahawks
• Miami Dolphins

The above average

• Arizona Cardinals
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Indianapolis Colts
• San Francisco 49ers
• Buffalo Bills
• Los Angles Rams

The average

• Carolina Panthers
• Los Vegas Raiders
• Chicago Bears
• Cleveland Browns

The below average

• New England Patriots
• Cincinnati Bengals
• Philadelphia Eagles
• Minnesota Vikings
• Los Angles Chargers
• Detroit Lions
• Denver Broncos

The bad

• New York Giants
• Washington Redskins
• Dallas Cowboys
• Atlanta Falcons
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Houston Texans

2017 Cleveland Browns bad

• New York Jets

Explanations

• To me, Arizona and Green Bay are two very similar teams: they have elite quarterbacks but their supporting cast might be too weak. I put GB in the good tier and Arizona in the above average tier because Aaron Rodgers is a seasoned veteran while Kyler Murry is still in his second year.
• Baltimore is better than Pittsburg. It took 4 turnovers from Lamar Jackson, losing 2 offensive linemen midgame, and one of their best defenders for Pittsburgh to win. AND Baltimore still was one completion from winning. That said, they could be back in the contenders tier soon. If they go 3-0 over the next few weeks, they will be back in. If they go 2-1, they might be back in. Till then, Kansas City looks to remain alone.
• I usually don’t drop a team because of a single lose but New Orleans stomping Tampa Bay did that. Tampa Bay has a serious chance as missing the playoffs if the lose the division. Chicago, Los Angeles, Arizona, San Francisco, and Seattle all have paths to 10 wins.
• I have a problem with the Los Angeles Chargers. I keep overvaluing them. They have a great coach, lots of talent, and a fantastic rookie QB, but they keep losing close games. I keep thinking they will turn the corner and they just don’t.

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