Of the 14 NFL teams with winning records, four share a home.
The AFC North is bidding to become the first division in NFL modern history (since 1970) to have every team finish with a winning record.
In that time, 13 last-place finishers went .500.
The Ravens appear to be in the driver’s seat, especially as Lamar Jackson learns his new offense, but also have the NFL’s most difficult remaining schedule, according to Tankathon.com.
Could that create an opening?
The Browns boast the NFL’s top-ranked defense, the fundamentally sound Steelers rank second in the NFL in defensive takeaways and turnover margin, and the Bengals suddenly look like a Super Bowl contender again with a healthy Joe Burrow.
What will it all mean in January? It’s anyone’s guess.
What does it all mean now?
A logjam of rivals in the top half of The Post’s NFL power rankings for Week 9:
1. Eagles 7-1 (2)
For whatever reason, the Eagles always get pushed to the limit by the Commanders … and win anyway. Playing on an injured knee that limited his scrambling, Jalen Hurts threw for 319 yards and four touchdowns, including two to A.J. Brown and one to newcomer Julio Jones to overcome an 11-point, first-half deficit and seven-point, fourth-quarter deficit in a 38-31 win.
2. Chiefs 6-2 (1)
All good streaks must come to an end. By losing 24-9 to the Broncos, Patrick Mahomes’ 12-game winning streak against Denver and his 16-game winning streak on the road within the AFC West both ended. Mahomes had a measly 59.2 quarterback rating while playing through flu-like symptoms, and Kansas City committed four turnovers without scoring a touchdown.
3. Dolphins 6-2 (4)
Tua Tagovailoa is to Bill Belichick what Belichick has been to so many quarterbacks: a tormentor. Tagovailoa threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-17 victory against the Patriots to improve to 6-0 all time against Belichick. The Dolphins have won 16 of their last 18 home games and are off to a 6-2 start for the first time since 2001.
4. Jaguars 6-2 (5)
The Jaguars won five games in four cities, including London, during an unbeaten October. The latest victory was a 20-10 soggy slugfest against the Steelers. Travis Etienne had 149 yards from scrimmage. The defense surrendered just 261 yards to a spiraling offense that was worsened when Mitch Trubisky threw two interceptions as a second-half injury replacement.
5. Ravens 6-2 (6)
Is a trade for a running back before Tuesday’s deadline coming? Not if Gus Edwards’ final say has anything to do with it. Edwards ran for three touchdowns to pick up the slack amid a quiet game from Jackson in a 31-24 victory against the Cardinals. The defense also did its job with four sacks and two interceptions.
6. Lions 6-2 (7)
Hosting a “Monday Night Football” game for the first time since 2018, the Lions outclassed the Raiders entering their bye week. Rookie Jahmyr Gibbs’ coming-out party included 31 touches for 189 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in a 26-14 victory. Alex Anzalone and Alim McNeil tallied two sacks apiece. Amon-Ra St. Brown enjoyed his third consecutive 100-yard receiving game.
7. 49ers 5-3 (3)
Forget challenging the Eagles atop the NFC. The 49ers are not even leading the West now after a third straight loss, 31-17, to the Bengals. Brock Purdy came out of concussion protocol to throw for 365 yards but two interceptions. Christian McCaffrey scored a touchdown for an NFL-record-tying 17th straight game. But their vaunted defense came up small.
8. Cowboys 5-2 (8)
Dak Prescott’s best game of the season was a four touchdown-pass gem that helped Dallas build a 30-point first-half lead in a 43-20 victory against the Rams. DaRon Bland’s NFL-leading third pick-six of the season was part of a 17-point first-quarter outburst. A blocked punt added a safety. CeeDee Lamb set career highs with 12 catches for 158 yards.
9. Bengals 4-3 (12)
Look who’s back in the mix. Left for dead by some after a poor start, Cincinnati beat the 49ers for its third straight win. Burrow looks to be past his early-season calf injury after throwing three touchdowns and completing 19 straight passes. Linebacker Germaine Pratt upped his interception total to five in the last three games.
10. Bills 5-3 (11)
It took surviving a Hail Mary that could’ve been caught, but Buffalo topped the Buccaneers, 24-18, to bounce back from a bad loss behind Josh Allen’s two touchdowns through the air and his 43rd on the ground (tied for second all-time among quarterbacks). Gabe Davis had a career-high nine catches, and rookie Dalton Kincaid scored his first touchdown.
11. Seahawks 5-2 (13)
12. Steelers 4-3 (9)
13. Browns 4-3 (11)
14. Jets 4-3 (16)
Even the Jets were left wondering how they beat the Giants, 13-10 in overtime, when they had a 0.01 percent chance to win with about one minute left in regulation. The Jets’ made three offensive plays — a first-half 50-yard touchdown catch by Breece Hall and back-to-back 29-yard receptions to set up the tying field goal. Greg Zuerlein made his two pressurized field goals.
15. Vikings 4-4 (19)
16. Chargers 3-4 (20)
17. Saints 4-4 (22)
18. Titans 3-4 (23)
19. Falcons 4-4 (14)
20. Texans 3-4 (15)
21. Rams 3-5 (17)
22. Buccaneers 3-4 (18)
23. Broncos 3-5 (29)
24. Colts 3-5 (21)
25. Raiders 3-5 (25)
26. Commanders 3-5 (28)
27. Patriots 2-6 (26)
28. Bears 2-6 (24)
29. Giants 2-6 (27)
Graham Gano missed a 35-yard field goal that could’ve iced a victory, and a dominant defense that thought it had sealed a win couldn’t relocate the gas in a stunning overtime loss to the Jets. Saquon Barkley somehow rushed for 128 yards playing in a one-dimensional offense that managed minus-9 net passing yards. Defensive lineman Leonard Williams was subsequently traded.
