The Green Bay Packers rose slightly in the NFL power rankings following a primetime win over the Carolina Panthers, including a one-spot jump to No. 11 in USA Today's updated power rankings from Nate Davis.
The Packers kicked off Week 8 with a 27-19 win, which featured three touchdown passes from Jordan Love and six sacks from Jonathan Gannon's defense. While concerns remain with the run game and offensive line, there's excitement around the looming return of All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, who is expected to begin practicing this week.
From Davis: "If their season wasn't already belatedly taking off, it's about to gain some serious altitude with defensive game wrecker Micah Parsons set to rejoin practice this week."
The Packers have won four
of the last five games since a 1-2 start and have stabilized as one of the playoff contenders in the NFC, even if Matt LaFleur's team is in last place in the NFC North. If the season ended today, the Packers would be the seventh seed in the NFC playoffs for the fourth straight year.
A big test is coming this week. The Packers are going on the road to play the New England Patriots, who moved up three spots and now rank No. 5 in the USA Today power rankings entering Week 9. The Sunday showdown begins a crucial stretch of games for the Packers, who will face the defending AFC champs and NFC playoff contenders in the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams in Week 10 and Week 12, respectively. Parsons could be back for Thanksgiving Eve against the Rams.
Packers power rankings by week (USA Today)
- Week 1: No. 16
- Week 2: No. 22
- Week 3: No. 20
- Week 4: No. 26
- Week 5: No. 26
- Week 6: No. 19
- Week 7: No. 17
- Week 8: No. 12
- Week 9: No. 11
Here's where the Packers rank in other national power rankings entering Week 9:
ESPN: No. 14 (up 1 spot)
From Rob Demovsky on team's best in-season trade: "When it comes to in-season trades, the Packers might be known for one of the worst ones of all time: giving up two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a third-rounder to get quarterback John Hadl from the Rams in 1974. Perhaps future Packers GMs learned from that mistake because they haven't been overly active at the trade deadline since. If anything, they have been more prone to trading players, the way they did in 2004 when McKenzie was a contract holdout. On Oct. 4, the Packers sent the disgruntled cornerback to the Saints for backup quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan and a second-round pick in 2005. That draft pick became Collins, who had a pick-six in the Packers' Super Bowl XLV victory."
SI.com: No. 8 (up 2 spots)
From Conor Orr: "A note on Green Bay, Josh Jacobs and NFL teams backsliding on morality once again."
Yahoo Sports: No. 14 (up 1 spot)
From Frank Schwab: "The Packers are one of a few teams in need of a running back and it's a different situation than the rest. If Josh Jacobs was a sure thing the rest of the season, the Packers might concentrate on more offensive line help or simply hold tight, knowing Micah Parsons is on the way soon. But Jacobs' legal situation took a turn over the weekend after more allegations of abuse were reported. He denied wrongdoing, but the NFL can revisit the case. We have seen how poor the Packers' running game was without Jacobs. Green Bay doesn't want to be stuck again in that situation if Jacobs faces further punishment. Adding a viable starter would allow the Packers to move on from Jacobs entirely."
CBS Sports: No. 12 (up 1 spot)
From Pete Prisco: "With Jordan Love and a much-improved defense, they have a chance to really soar when Micah Parsons gets back. He's practicing this week. Do they make a deal for a back?"
The Athletic: No. 14 (up 2 spots)
From Josh Kendall and Chad Graff on a reality check: "Jordan Love and the defense have been great, but Josh Jacobs’ return has not fixed the run game, and it’s going to be a problem moving forward. Jacobs averaged 1.9 yards per carry on 21 carries against Carolina, and Green Bay is 31st in the league in rushing success rate (31.5 percent)."
FOX Sports: No. 15 (up 3 spots)
From Ralph Vacchiano: "The Packers really can’t run the ball, and that’s going to be a problem for them, unless they ditch RB Josh Jacobs (as they should) and trade for Jonathan Taylor. But they showed in their Week 8 win over the Panthers that all the other elements are in place. QB Jordan Love is playing at an elite level. He has strong receivers. The defense is playing well, and they’re about to get pass-rusher Micah Parsons back. And Matt LaFleur is a pretty good coach. If they could run the ball even a little, they’d have a much better shot in the loaded NFC North."
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers rise slightly in Week 9 NFL power rankings
