DTTWSB Week 9 NFL Power Rankings

We are now through to the second half of the season. The month of November is crucial for positioning yourself in the playoffs. A few teams in the AFC are just head and shoulders above the rest of the league in my opinion. For everyone else, it's going to be a dogfight all the way to January. With that said, here are the DTTWSB Week 9 NFL power rankings.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2): After last Sunday night I still feel as though the Steelers are the best team in football. They went into a tough environment and lost to the defending Super Bowl champs. I expect Pittsburgh to get it fixed and bounce back nicely.

2. New England Patriots (6-1): The Patriots have surprised me this season, although I'm not sure as to why though. I mean they do have one of the best quarterbacks of all time and one of the best head coaches of all time. There is a winning culture that is infectious in that Patriots locker room. Recipe for a deep playoff run.

3. New York Jets (5-2): Last week the Jets showed their immaturity as a team and coaching staff against the Packers. I still feel as though they are one of the best teams in the league. They just need to quit trying to be cute and play ground and pound football like they were during their five-game winning streak.

4. Baltimore Ravens (5-2): Hopefully the week off gave the Ravens some time to regroup because they needed. Safety Ed Reed will surely start to get his legs back which should have the defense playing at even a higher level. They have a tough matchup against a Dolphins team who has yet to lose on the road so far in 2010.

5. Indianapolis Colts (5-2): With a much needed win this past week on Monday Night Football the Colts took back the reigns of the AFC South. Quarterback Peyton Manning is a machine that demands excellence from everyone around him. As long as he is at the helm it's hard to bet against the Colts.

6. New York Giants (5-2): I think this team is the best in the NFC. It will be interesting if they can consistently play that way because in the past they have been notorious for letting their foot of the gas. Quarterback Eli Manning has been red hot of late. Overall, this team is clicking on all cyllinders.

7. Green Bay Packers (5-3): Just when you thought the Packers were dead they come back with a huge road win over an elite team. Their defense, which is led by corner back Charles Woodson and outside linebacker Clay Matthews, was playing lights out last Sunday. I'm still concerned about their offensive line because quarterback Aaron Rodgers had no time to throw against the Jets.

8. Tennessee Titans (5-3): Even though the Titans lost last week to the Chargers, I still feel as though they are one of the better teams in the league. Making that trip out to the west coast can be tough on even good teams. One concern about the Titans is the health of quarterback Vince Young. Also losing wide receiver Kenny Britt for a significant amount of time hurts as well.

9. New Orleans Saints (5-3): After that embarassing performance against the Browns, the Saints showed up big against the Steelers on Sunday night. If they can keep up this play they will be tough to beat once they get running backs Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush back. The defense has been aggressive and been giving opposing offenses fits.

10. Atlanta Falcons (5-2): This week the Falcons have a huge matchup against a division rival. The good thing for Atlanta is that they are coming off a bye week which gives them extra time to prepare. Wide receiver Roddy White has been the story this year for the Falcons. He is playing at an elite level which is opening up everything for their offense. Time will tell if he can keep it up.