NFL Power Rankings: Patriots Continue Dominance
With the Houston Texans’ shocking Monday Night Football victory over the previously undefeated Cincinnati Bengals in the past, the latest installments of NFL Power Rankings from across the web have been released. After an incredibly exciting 27-26 victory over the New York Giants on the road, the New England Patriots continue to sit extremely well in these rankings.
The Patriots are now sitting at 9-0, and will host the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football this week. While injuries may prove to be too much for New England to overcome, the Patriots keep on rolling, and appear to have a legitimate chance to go undefeated. The latest batch of NFL Power Rankings certainly helps keep the undefeated hopes alive.
Staff at Fansided.com, Power Ranking: 1st
"Just when you think the Patriots are going to get caught or be bested, they turn in a performance like they did on Sunday against the Giants. They were trailing for most of the game but turned it on late to make sure they stayed undefeated and didn’t fall victim to the trap game. Tom Brady is still hellbent on making the NFL look foolish for trying to suspend him, and is embarrassing everyone he can. But as we saw with the Packers and Broncos, it’s a slipper slope for teams who drop games they should have won. Yet the unconcerned Patriots have found a way to remain perfect."
Peter King of Monday Morning Quarterback, Power Ranking: 1st
"A left tackle starting his first game at the position, a right tackle starting his first game at the position, three rookie starting interior offensive linemen, the starting back lost for the year to ACL surgery, the most important wide receiver lost in the first half against the Giants. Beat goes on. Pats 27, Giants 26."
Mark Maske of the Washington Post, Power Ranking: 1st
"The injuries on offense, from those that have caused the juggling along the offensive line to the losses of RB Dion Lewis and WR Julian Edelman, are significant. No one is saying that the Patriots cannot go 16-0 during the regular season. No one is saying that they don’t still have a good chance of securing another Super Bowl title. As long as Bill Belichick is on the sideline and Tom Brady is at QB, the Patriots’ chances remain very good. But they’re not the team that they were even a few weeks ago and there are meaningful adjustments that must be made."
Elliot Harrison of NFL.com, Power Ranking: 1st
"Tom Brady didn’t look Canton-bound Sunday. All the more reason to crown him MVP — even on an off day, he hunted and pecked his way to Pats 9, NFL 0. Spoke with a colleague who has watched the Patriots closely over the Bill Belichick era. His takeaway: The offense looks so different sans Julian Edelman. The injured receiver’s ability to get separation is vastly underrated. While Brady and Belichick have been known to make players like Edelman or Dion Lewis (or even Troy Brown) better, you can’t coach shiftiness."
Frank Schwab of Yahoo Sports, Power Ranking: 1st
"The Julian Edelman injury is obviously a huge blow. Danny Amendola isn’t a huge dropoff, though he’s not as good as Edelman. The big problem is what happens when the inevitable Amendola injury comes."
Danny Kelly of SB Nation, Power Ranking: 1st
"New England narrowly defeated the Giants in New York with the help of a Stephen Gostkowski 52-yard field goal as time ran out. Danny Amendola stepped in for an injured Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski continued to do Rob Gronkowski things and Tom Brady benefited from a little bit of luck as Landon Collins dropped what would’ve been a game-sealing interception on that pivotal drive."
Next: Free Agent WRs Who Could Help Pats Deal with Edelman Injury
I am sure there is an online publication out there somewhere who does not have the Patriots atop their NFL Power Rankings, but I did not find them. It is fair to worry about the injuries, but the Patriots continue to do an incredible job of handling adversity.
That can change at any minute, but I have absolute faith in Brady and Belichick to continue to lead this team to the promise land. Based on the NFL Power Rankings from across the web, I am not alone.