Racked & Stacked: Week 9

The Colts Seem To Lead The League, But The Jets Now Have A Mark In The Real Column…

1. Indianapolis Colts (7–1) — Upside: Complete, travel-ready formula. Downsides: Short-yard push • DB leverage busts at times • flags in scoring range.
2. Denver Broncos (6–2) — Upside: Five-game heater, defense re-centered. Downsides: Red-zone stalls • turnover spikes • WR availability week to week.
3. New England Patriots (6–2) — Upside: Clean operation, ST edges. Downsides: Limited vertical juice • run game lacks pop • drive-killing penalties.
4. Green Bay Packers (5–1–1) — Upside: Efficient QB play + stingy scoring D. Downsides: Short-yard variance • kick-coverage hiccups • young-WR timing.
5. Philadelphia Eagles (6–2) — Week 9 bye — Upside: Trenches travel; WRs winning. Downsides: Slow starts • red-zone D stress • crossers test comms.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6–2) — Week 9 bye — Upside: Timely takeaways and situational toughness. Downsides: Offense streaky vs press • WR nicks • slim margin in shootouts.
7. Seattle Seahawks (5–2) — Upside: Speed on D; pass rush alive. Downsides: Early-down rush inconsistency • flag flurries • WR depth thin.
8. Los Angeles Rams (5–2) — Upside: WR duo + creative answers stress coverages. Downsides: Red-zone finishing streaky • CB depth • swingy specials.
9. Buffalo Bills (5–2) — Upside: Top-10 balance + strong scripts. Downsides: Late-game discipline dips • leaky run fits • red-zone stalls vs shells.
10. Detroit Lions (5–2) — Upside: LOS bully ball; MNF tiebreak help landed earlier. Downsides: Red-zone swings • back-end busts on crossers • post-explosive penalties.
11. Kansas City Chiefs (5–3) — Upside: D smothered WSH on MNF; offense trending. Downsides: WR churn • red-zone bog-downs • occasional late explosives allowed.
12. Los Angeles Chargers (5–3) — Upside: Money-down offense when on schedule. Downsides: Pass-pro wobble • soft spots in zone • week-to-week swings.
13. San Francisco 49ers (5–3) — Upside: Front seven tilts fields; division tiebreaks. Downsides: Run game stalls • WR depth stress if injuries stack • third-quarter lulls.
14. Chicago Bears (4–3) — Upside: Physical template emerging. Downsides: Drive-finishing wobble • run-support variance • four-minute offense proof.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers (4–3) — Upside: Veteran D wins leverage downs. Downsides: Pass-pro strain • explosives arrive in spurts • red-zone creativity needed.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (4–3) — Upside: Defense tightening; resilient scripts. Downsides: Goal-to-go finishing • nickel run fits • backup OT vs power.
17. Carolina Panthers (4–4) — Upside: Defensive speed shows up. Downsides: QB health watch • third-down stalls • chunk runs allowed.
18. Minnesota Vikings (3–4) — Upside: Late-game poise; explosive upside. Downsides: Third-down droughts • run-fit inconsistency • protection vs pressure.
19. Dallas Cowboys (3–4–1) — Upside: Splash-play defense; ceiling intact. Downsides: Goal-line gaffes • drops in key moments • deep-ball D vs top QBs.
20. Washington Commanders (3–5) — Upside: D can carry long stretches. Downsides: Red-zone finishing • third-down rate • edge run fits (and MNF showed it).
21. Houston Texans (3–4) — Upside: Competitive vs good O’s; QB can heat up. Downsides: Costly late giveaways • pass-pro wobble • scoring droughts.
22. Cincinnati Bengals (3–5) — Upside: Division wins keep hope alive. Downsides: Negative point diff • late pass-pro strain • explosives thin.
23. Atlanta Falcons (3–4) — Upside: Scripted offense sparks; QB mobility. Downsides: Post-script lulls • RT health ripple • few explosive runs.
24. Las Vegas Raiders (2–5) — Upside: Second-half defensive adjustments. Downsides: Inefficient ground game • early coverage miscomms • flags drag drives.
25. New York Giants (2–6) — Upside: Proof-of-concept upset in pocket. Downsides: Protection issues linger • limited explosives outside scheme • rookie volatility.
26. Arizona Cardinals (2–5) — Upside: Physicality + timely rushing. Downsides: Drive finishing • handling games/stunts up front • ST hiccups.
27. Baltimore Ravens (2–5) — Upside: Fresh look off mini-reset; stars flashing. Downsides: Finishing vs top foes • injuries mounting • late-game D wilts.
28. Miami Dolphins (2–6) — Upside: Scheme still manufactures space. Downsides: WR injuries bite • secondary stress points • penalty spikes.
29. Cleveland Browns (2–6) — Week 9 bye — Upside: Disruptive front can flip games. Downsides: Red-zone finishing • light run push • quiet specials.
30. New Orleans Saints (1–7) — Upside: Young DBs flashing. Downsides: Inconsistent offense • couldn’t slow better attacks • early-down efficiency swings.
31. Tennessee Titans (1–7) — Upside: Defense keeps scores manageable. Downsides: Sacks/TOs on money downs • clunky pass timing • little second-half punch.
32. New York Jets (1–7) — Week 9 bye — Upside: Run game + QB legs provide a floor. Downsides: Penalties/TOs piling • no-takeaway stretches • late collapses.