NFL

2017 NFL Power Rankings: Week 9

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Teams Ranked 32nd to 23rd

While the middle of the league may be a jumbled mess, we do seem to have a pretty clear idea of who the bad teams are. Of this group, only Tennessee can even sniff the playoffs.

Rank Team nERD Rec Playoff Odds Off. NEP Rank Def. NEP Rank Change
32 Indianapolis Colts -16.52 2-6 0.00% 29 32 0
31 San Francisco 49ers -12.87 0-8 0.00% 31 29 0
30 Cleveland Browns -9.58 0-8 0.00% 28 24 0
29 Miami Dolphins -8.63 4-3 3.60% 32 17 -2
28 Arizona Cardinals -7.46 3-4 2.10% 27 22 +1
27 New York Jets -7 3-5 0.70% 21 26 +1
26 Oakland Raiders -4.59 3-5 1.80% 14 30 0
25 Tennessee Titans -3.84 4-3 29.70% 19 21 0
24 Cincinnati Bengals -2.81 3-4 9.20% 23 14 -1
23 Tampa Bay Buccaneers -2.61 2-5 2.80% 15 27 -2


As I wrote last week
, the Titans were popular preseason sleepers, but they have been pretty mediocre. Their defense being below average is not a surprise, as it ranked 24th in NEP per play last year, but the offense has been a disappointment.

Tennessee was 13th in Adjusted Offensive NEP per play in 2016 and seemed to be on the upswing, but the Titans are just 19th so far this year. The running game remains strong (7th in NEP per play), but the passing game is only 25th.

Marcus Mariota’s unadjusted stats look decent enough (6.5 adjusted net yards per dropback, which is 14th) but they have come against a very easy schedule. According to Pro-Football-Reference, only the Rams have played an easier slate of opponents.