Week 9 Power Rankings Roundup: Eagles universally acknowledged as NFL’s top team

Victor Williams
October 31, 2023
Eagles
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The Eagles sit atop the NFL at 7-1 following last Sunday’s narrow victory over Washington.

AJ Brown continues to put up historic numbers — he and Tyreek Hill are on pace to shatter the single-season record for receiving yards. Jalen Hurts remains resilient despite a nagging knee injury, as the offense produced 21 fourth-quarter points to ice out the Commanders.

With Kansas City and San Francisco losing in Week 8, has Philadelphia overtaken them in the latest Power Rankings? Let’s take a look:

NFL.com

Last Week: 1

This Week: 1

If Tyreek Hill is an MVP candidate in Miami, then A.J. Brown absolutely should be in that discussion, too. Brown has been on a six-week tear, logging 125-plus receiving yards in every game over that span, adding another two TDs in Sunday’s heroic performance.

The Eagles don’t beat the Commanders without the greatness of Brown and Jalen Hurts, both of whom were in peak form. It was once again a rough day in the red zone (Philly went 3-for-5, but lost two fumbles inside the 5-yard line), which has been a lingering issue, and the defense really had few answers for Sam Howell.

The Eagles won in spite of those factors. Of course, expecting to do the same in Week 9’s massive showdown with the Cowboys would be foolish.

ESPN

Last Week: 2

This Week: 1

Jalen Hurts is coming off arguably his best performance of the season in which he completed 76.3% of his throws and tossed four touchdown passes to push the Eagles past the Washington Commanders.

It hasn’t been the smoothest of rides to this point — he is playing through left knee pain and has thrown eight interceptions already on the year after being picked off just six times last season. But he has made a number of dazzling plays and tends to come up big in crucial moments, guiding the Eagles to the best record in football.

CBS Sports

Last Week: 2

This Week: 1

It wasn’t always pretty against the Commanders, but they got it done in the second half. Now they face a big one with Dallas this week.

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Bleacher Report

Last Week: 1

This Week: 1

And then there was one.

By virtue of Kansas City’s loss in Denver, the Eagles are now the NFL’s lone one-loss team. While the Washington Commanders gave the Eagles all they could handle for the second time this season, Jalen Hurts and Co. found a way to get the win and stay atop the NFC East ahead of next week’s big matchup with the Dallas Cowboys.

The victory was all the more impressive given that Hurts threw four touchdown passes on a balky knee.

The Ringer

Last Week: 2

This Week: 1

The Eagles are the NFL’s only one-loss team, and they have shown in recent weeks that they can find different ways to win.

In Week 7, they got a masterful defensive performance to take down the Dolphins. In Week 8, that defense got lit up by the Commanders, but wide receiver A.J. Brown put the team on his back. Brown’s 939 receiving yards through eight games are second to only Tyreek Hill.

The Eagles can’t get too comfortable, though. They’ve got a big one at home in Week 9 against the NFC East rival Cowboys.

ProFootballTalk

Last Week: 2

This Week: 1

A.J. Brown is making a case for MVP.