Yardbarker NFL Blogger Poll: Week 9

RANK	TEAM	PREV	REC	LAST	RESULT
1		1		WON	Atlanta 27, New Orleans 35
2		2	(7-0)	WON	San Francisco 14, Indianapolis 18
3		5	(7-1)	WON	Minnesota 38, Green Bay 26
4		4	(5-2)	BYE
5		3	(6-1)	LOST	Denver 7, Baltimore 30
6		6	(5-2)	BYE
7		10	(5-2)	WON	NYG 17, Philadelphia 40
8		11		LOST	Atlanta 27, New Orleans 35
9		14	(4-3)	WON	Denver 7, Baltimore 30
10		9	(5-2)	BYE
11		19	(4-3)	WON	Cleveland 6, Chicago 30
12		7	(5-3)	LOST	NYG 17, Philadelphia 40
13		13	(5-2)	WON	Seattle 17, Dallas 38
14		8	(4-3)	LOST	Minnesota 38, Green Bay 26
15		16	(5-3)	WON	Houston 31, Buffalo 10
16		17	(4-3)	WON	Oakland 16, San Diego 24
17		12	(4-3)	LOST	Carolina 34, Arizona 21
18		24	(3-4)	WON	Carolina 34, Arizona 21
19		20	(3-4)	WON	Miami 30, NYJ 25
20		15	(4-4)	LOST	Miami 30, NYJ 25
21		18	(3-4)	LOST	San Francisco 14, Indianapolis 18
22		21	(2-5)	LOST	Seattle 17, Dallas 38
23		23	(3-5)	LOST	Houston 31, Buffalo 10
24		22	(3-4)	LOST	Jacksonville 13, Tennessee 30
25		25	(2-5)	BYE
26		26	(2-6)	LOST	Oakland 16, San Diego 24
27		29	(1-6)	WON	Jacksonville 13, Tennessee 30
28		28	(1-6)	BYE
29		32	(1-7)	WON	St. Louis 17, Detroit 10
30		27	(1-6)	LOST	St. Louis 17, Detroit 10
31		30	(1-7)	LOST	Cleveland 6, Chicago 30
32		31	(0-7)	BYE

Greg Moore, the editor of the Denver Post, dropped the hammer on his sports section's talking heads this past week. No more NFL predictions or rankings. Boom. Mr. Moore determined that this regular newspaper staple is faulty; scribes offering picks/rankings about teams they're covering is a no-no because they could show biased favoritism.

Frankly, we can't believe any reader is forking over this week's grocery money based on what some local writer says. Seriously. Look at some of these guys. But that's besides the point.

Thankfully for us (and you the readers), the fine folks at Yardbarker and Gillette Fusion believe in the objectivity of this ranking panel. And dammit, we believe in ourselves, too. And the Rams, for that matter. Our number men ranked the Rams dead last in every previous week, and with a solid win over the always gritty, um, Lions, they vaulted ahead of the Bucs and the Browns.

The Saints remain in first place for the second consecutive week and if this were Beckett Magazine, we'd place a cute little flame icon next to their logo because they are getting "steamy hot" - they received 7 of 8 possible first place votes.

- Matt / Joe Sports Fan

Panel Insights:

Black Sports Online: Right now Brett Favre making the Super Bowl is a distinct possibility. At that point I may have to shut off my TV, Internet & radio until game time. I would not be able able to handle the bath water slurping that would take place. Sorry just needed to get that out of my system.

Rumors & Rants: Once again the Saints and Colts held serve at the top of the league. Denver finally looked like everyone assumed they would all season, while the Eagles looked downright dominant. Now that we're into the meat of the season, expect the perennial contenders to begin their rise back to the top.

Cold Hard Football Facts: Is it too early to declare Saints safety Darren Sharper the NFL MVP? The offense gets all the attention, as offenses always do, but the New Orleans pass defense right now is THE statistical story of 2009: No. 1 in Defensive Passer Rating (53.4) and No. 1 in INTs (16), with Sharper leading the way (NFL best 7).

Sportz Assassin: Several of the top teams struggled this weekend. The Colts and Saints had trouble hanging on to their undefeated mark while the Broncos suffered their first loss. The team to watch in my eyes is the New England Patriots. They entered their bye week on a roll and it will be interesting to see how they come out over a tough November.

Awful Announcing: I think the Saints finally deserve the top spot. It's true that the Colts have won 16 games in a row (dating back to last season), but they haven't played the level of competition that New Orleans has.

Midwest Sports Fan: Saints and Colts continue to roll, Giants continue to spiral. Broncos finally lose, but are still tough. Eagles take control of NFC East heading into matchup with Dallas. What a great week of football.