Bears Hold Top Spot in Brady's Rankings Despite Shaky Win
Bears Hold Top Spot in Brady's Rankings Despite Shaky Win
Tom Brady kept the Chicago Bears at No. 1 in his weekly NFL power rankings following Week 9, even after the team needed a last-second field goal from Cairo Santos to escape Tampa Bay 27-24. The Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers each delivered more commanding performances, pressing their case for the top spot without yet dislodging Chicago.
Brady's rankings generally follow a simple rule: a win preserves the No. 1 ranking, regardless of how it looked on the field. That standard kept the Bears on top despite four interceptions from quarterback Caleb Williams and a defense that had to hold off Tampa Bay late. Chicago has not lost since Williams returned to the lineup and now enters a bye week. Buffalo, meanwhile, controlled Minnesota for roughly 42 minutes of possession time in a 23-6 road win, pushing its record to 7-1 with the best mark in the AFC. San Francisco posted a 38-17 win over Las Vegas, forcing five turnovers behind a three-touchdown performance from quarterback Brock Purdy. netball bets
Elsewhere in the rankings, Cincinnati entered unranked territory for the first time this season after a 34-17 win over Atlanta in Spain extended the Bengals' winning streak to four games, each with 30-plus points scored. Green Bay also jumped into the rankings after a 45-27 rout of New England, a result Brady described as unexpected. Denver remained in playoff position with a 26-21 comeback win at Carolina, improving to 7-2 and extending its winning streak to five games before a scheduled bye. Jacksonville strengthened its grip on the AFC South with a 33-10 win at Baltimore, building what Brady characterized as a three-game division lead.
Chicago's bye week leaves open the question of whether Buffalo or San Francisco could overtake the Bears next, since teams that don't play do not traditionally fall in Brady's rankings either. Buffalo next faces the New York Jets, while San Francisco travels to face Dallas. Cincinnati hosts Pittsburgh on Sunday night in a game that will decide sole possession of first place in the AFC North, a result that could also factor into next week's rankings.
