Week 9 NFL Power Rankings: Vikings climb, Titans fall

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 01: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks to pass the ball against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 01, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 01: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks to pass the ball against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 01, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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Detroit Lions safety Jayron Kearse (42) rushes Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers during the second half at Ford Field, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020.Lions
Detroit Lions safety Jayron Kearse (42) rushes Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers during the second half at Ford Field, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020.Lions

20. Detroit Lions (-3)

The Lions are a talented team, but they scream 8-8 or worse because they can’t take a step forward without immediately taking one back.

Detroit has the receivers and the weapons to be very scary on offense, but they can’t stop much on defense and they can’t get any consistency in the running game. That is a recipe for a very volatile team.

19. Indianapolis Colts (+3)

Indianapolis continues to beat up on bad teams, but the wins take their tolls.

The Colts walked out of this game at 5-2, but they also lost T.Y. Hilton to a groin injury and are now thin at receiver again.

Now that might be alright for a while because the defense has been doing so well that there isn’t a lot of stress on the passing game to carry their weight. In fact, dump-offs and passes to the tight end are a staple of this team with Phil Rivers and that is likely what they will lean on along with that talented defense.

I still can’t figure out if the Colts are good, but they are good enough and that is moving them up the power rankings.

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