Week 9 NFL Powerless Ranking: The votes are in and these teams are trash

It’s time to check in on the teams that can’t get out of their own way. We’re officially halfway through the 2022 NFL season, and it’s been unpredictable at times, but there are always a few teams we expect to disappoint their fan bases. Now let’s get into the powerless ranking for Week 9.

Teams on the doorstep: Arizona Cardinals (3-6), Green Bay Packers (3-6), Jacksonville Jaguars (3-6), Denver Broncos (3-5)

Another game, another loss for the Raiders — this time to the Jaguars in Jacksonville. Davante Adams had another big game catching 10 of his 17 targets for 146 yards and both of Derek Carr’s touchdown strikes. No other Las Vegas wide receiver had more than three catches and 42 yards against the Jags.

This Raiders offense is as one-dimensional as the term. Josh Jacobs, the fourth-leading rusher in the league, had a mediocre day gaining just 67 yards on the ground. Jacksonville shut out Las Vegas in the second half, 17-10, and that was your ball game. It’ll be intriguing to see what direction the Raiders go after the season if they continue on this track. If Las Vegas finishes the year with less than five wins following a campaign where it made the playoffs, Josh McDaniels would have to be on the hot seat heading into the offseason.

The Panthers got their asses smashed. The final score of 42-21 makes this game look much closer, but the Bengals led 35-0 at halftime. This game got so bad so fast that Carolina went back to Baker Mayfield after a tough start for P.J. Walker. It was so bad that Walker barely registered a quarterback rating, completing just three of his 10 pass attempts for nine yards and a 2.6 QBR.

Mayfield did play well in garbage time, throwing two TDs for 78 yards. Interim Panthers head coach Steve Wilks has already named Walker the starter for the team’s Week 10 division battle against the Falcons. So, Baker came in, played well in a relief role, and will go right back to the bench. The way their season has gone, we’ll likely see Mayfield back on the field again — unless the Panthers turn to recently reactivated Sam Darnold.

The Steelers slid down a spot this week primarily because they did not play. It’s too bad they can’t have a bye every week. Pittsburgh’s offense is ranked in the bottom third of the NFL in most statistical categories, and they are dead last in points, having scored just 120 in eight games. And they traded wide receiver Chase Claypool at the deadline last week, which is one less weapon for rookie QB Kenny Pickett. Anyone holding out hope for these Steelers making a run might want to cash their chips in now and save themselves the heartache. This season isn’t going to get much better anytime soon.

Detroit captured its second win of the season in Week 9 against the artists formerly known as the Green Bay Packers. The Lions held an Aaron Rodgers-led offense to nine measly points while scoring just 15 themselves. Green Bay is dangerously close to making its way onto this list for the first time ever. So, while Detroit got the win, this suddenly inept Green Bay offense should receive a good portion of the credit.

The Lions are the worst defense in the league and stifled Rodgers and the Packers, forcing two interceptions in the red zone. Detroit did allow Rodgers to pass for 291 yards, but when you force a future first-ballot Hall of Famer into three INTs and a QBR of 25, it’s safe to say your defense had it’s coming out party at the right time.

It was only a matter of time before Houston reclaimed its throne as the most powerless team in the NFL. The Texans are the only team in the league that doesn’t have at least two wins and the only team yet to win a home game. Houston is 0-3-1 at home. That’s how rough it’s been this year.

Davis Mills looks more like the third-round pick he was last year than the guy who showed potential to be a capable starter in the league. Rookie running back Dameon Pierce has been the breakout star on offense this season as he rushed for 139 yards in Houston’s loss to Philadelphia Thursday, 29-17. Pierce has 678 yards on the ground this year, ranking him sixth in the league. The Texans haven’t given fans much hope other than a few bright defensive spots.