Craig: Week 9 Picks & Power Rankings

What would you rather do on a Sunday morning than wake up early and read weekly picks and power rankings involving 32 teams that basically are of equal strength and ability to beat, lose to or tie anyone on any given Sunday, Monday, Saturday, Thursday (and some day, when the revenue ceiling needs to be extended to a gazillion bazillion dollars, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday as well)?

CRAIG'S NFL POWER RANKINGS
BEST OF THE BUNCH
1. Broncos (6-1)
Why: Let's see. The Broncos have the best quarterback, the best run defense, the No. 4 overall defense, the top scoring offense and are tied for the best record. Hmm. They look so darn unbeatable by today's NFL standards, they're bound to lose ASAP. It's the NFL way. Let's see. Who do they play today? At New England? Uh-oh.

THE REST

2. Cardinals (6-1); 3. Patriots (6-2); 4. Eagles (5-2); 5. Chiefs (4-3); 6. Lions (6-2); 7. Steelers (5-3); 8. Colts (5-3); 9. Bengals (4-2-1); 10. 49ers (4-3); 11. Chargers (5-3); 12. Ravens (5-3); 13. Dolphins (4-3); 14. Redskins (3-5); 15. Cowboys (6-2); 16. Seahawks (4-3); 17. Saints (4-4); 18. Bills (5-3); 19. Packers (5-3); 20. Texans (4-4); 21. Giants (3-4); 22. Browns (4-3); 23. Panthers (3-5-1).

THE VIKINGS
24. Vikings 3-5 (Last week: 27): A win today over the team from Washington that calls itself by a name that makes certain fans want to beat the snot out of sports writers would give the Vikings their first back-to-back victories since Leslie Frazier closed the 2012 regular season with four straight wins. Yeah, beating the Bucs and then the R-word at home isn't exactly beating the Steelers of the '70s and the 49ers of the '80s. But in today's league, it would be a big deal heading into the bye.

THE REST OF THE REST
25. Bears (3-5); 26. Rams (2-5); 27. Jaguars (1-7); 28. Titans (2-6); 29. Jets (1-7); 30. Raiders (0-7); 31. Falcons (2-6).

WORST OF THE BUNCH
32: Buccaneers (1-6): Last in offense, last in defense, 0-4 at home, last in the NFC in wins. It's hard to make Greg Schiano look good, but Lovie is pulling it off.

1, Barring injury, Anthony Barr will win defensive rookie of the year and start winning All-Pro honors very soon. To have a player this good and this versatile continue to grow will make Mike Zimmer an even more creative coach.

2, Jerick McKinnon is getting more comfortable and confident as he's been given more opportunities to develop the rhythm that a running back needs. Once he gets better at pass protection, he'll be able to play more when the Vikings reach obvious passing situations.

3, Teddy Bridgewater didn't turn the ball over in a close game on the road last week. He also looks comfortable in hurry-up situations. Perhaps it's time to up the tempo and run some no-huddle throughout the game.

THREE REASONS FOR VIKINGS FANS TO BE NERVOUS

1, If the R-words went after a veteran like Tony Romo with as much reckless abandon as they did on Monday night, what in the world will they do against a rookie QB such as Teddy B? Washington sent seven- and eight-man blitz packages. And I'm sure you're well aware by now that the Vikings' offensive line doesn't handle extra bodies and exotic stunts very well.

3, The special teams have been good for so long that it feels odd to list them here. But the penalties and Jeff Locke's head-scratching touchbacks must stop. This team isn't good enough for the special teams to have off days.

THE PICKS

VIKINGS
R-words plus-2 ½ at Vikings. The pick Vikings 17, Redskins 10

Why: The R-words have won two straight for the first time in 25 games. They just beat the Cowboys in Dallas on a Monday night, thereby snapping Dallas' six-game win streak. All NFL-mandated mediocrity signs point to Washington doing what most NFL teams do: Flatten out when they get too high or too low. Yes, this will require the Vikings to block one of the better pass rushing teams. So there is great risk in this pick becoming reality.

Last week: Vikings plus-3 at Buccaneers. The pick: Vikings 28, Buccaneers 21. The final: Vikings 19, Buccaneers 13. Vikings pick record: 5-3.

Broncos minus-3 at Patriots: The pick: Patriots 38, Broncos 28

Why: The Patriots are at home, they're on a roll and, yeah, they realize the Broncos are favored. No one handles a "prove-it" situation like this better than the Patriots.

Last week: Colts minus-3 at Steelers. The pick: Steelers 24, Colts 17. The final: Steelers 51, Colts 34. Record: 2-6.

THE REST
Chargers plus-2 ½ at Dolphins: Chargers by 7

Jaguars plus-11 at Bengals: Bengals by 3

Rams plus-10 at 49ers: 49ers by 14

Eagles minus-2 at Texans: Texans by 3

Jets plus-9 ½ at Chiefs: Chiefs by 3

Cardinals plus-4 at Cowboys: Cardinals by 3

Raiders plus-15 at Seahawks: Seahawks by 10

Colts minus-3 ½ at Giants: Giants by 7