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Fantasy Fix: Gregg and Tiffany look at which players are worth picking up this week. (NBC Sports)

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert



We can all agree that ESPN.com’s power rankings can be a bit quirky at times. From an NFC North perspective, Week 9 is one of those times.



Green Bay moved up one spot after its home loss to Minnesota and still remains five spots ahead of the Bears, who won at home against Cleveland. Such is life. At least it means left the NFC North (15.6) with the third-best average ranking among the eight divisions, trailing only the AFC North (13.4) and NFC East (14.2).



Here is how it broke down this week:



3. Minnesota Vikings

Trending: Up one from last week.

12. Green Bay Packers

Trending: Up one from last week

17. Chicago Bears

Trending: Up one from last week

29. Detroit Lions

Trending: Down three from last week

Posted by ESPN.com’s Tim Graham



Dolfans are going to see ESPN.com’s Week 9 NFL power rankings and get a little ill.



What will stand out to them first is the Miami Dolphins had the teams ranked Nos. 1 and 2 beaten, but — to quote Dennis Green — let ‘em off the hook.



The Dolphins led the top-rated New Orleans Saints by 21 points in the first half but lost. They limited the No. 2 Indianapolis Colts to 35 plays on less than 15 minutes time of possession and lost.



But what might get Dolfans particularly riled up is where their team is slotted.



The Dolphins are 3-4, not a stellar record by any means. A No. 20 ranking doesn’t sound ridiculous based on that, but how in the world did they actually drop a spot from last week after beating the New York Jets at the Meadowlands?



The Dolphins have beaten the Jets twice, but the Jets are ranked No. 18 in the poll.



But don’t blame me.



The power rankings panel consists of ESPN senior writers John Clayton and Jeffri Chadiha, AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky and NFC West blogger Mike Sando.



No. 5 New England Patriots

• Last week’s rating: No. 5
• Best rating: No. 4 (Kuharsky)
• Worst rating: No. 6 (Sando)
• Note: The Patriots were unchanged after their bye week. All of them teams that were ahead of them in the Week 8 poll won their games.

No. 18 New York Jets

• Last week’s rating: No. 15
• Best rating: No. 21 (Sando)
• Worst rating: No. 16 (Clayton)
• Note: Only the New York Giants dropped farther than the Jets this week. The Jets slipped three spots despite holding the Dolphins to 104 total yards and one offensive touchdown. Those three third-period returns for touchdowns hurt. The five-spot discrepancy between Sando and Clayton tied for the fourth-largest of the week.

No. 20 Miami Dolphins

• Last week’s rating: No. 19
• Best rating: No. 17 (Kuharsky)
• Worst rating: No. 20 (Chadiha, Sando)
• Note: Apparently, the power-rankings panel committee wasn’t impressed by the Dolphins’ miserable offense and pedestrian defense Sunday. Their thrilling road victory toppled the Jets three spots and somehow dropped the Dolphins, too.

No. 22 Buffalo Bills

• Last week’s rating: No. 22
• Best rating: No. 22 (Clayton, Kuharsky, Sando)
• Worst rating: No. 23 (Chadiha)
• Note: The panel really loves the Bills in this neighborhood. The Bills lost to the Houston Texans but didn’t drop in the poll. The Bills were No. 21 throughout the summer and the preseason and didn’t change until Week 5. They’ve never been lower than No. 25.

Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker



Half of the division was on a bye last week. But for the first time this season the AFC North has three teams rated in the top 10.



Here is how things shook out in ESPN.com’s latest power rankings:



Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)



Last week: No. 6



Current ranking: No. 6



Analysis: Despite the bye, the Bengals held firm at No. 6. Cincinnati’s 35-point blowout of the Chicago Bears in Week 7 still resonated with the panel. The Bengals, who are in first place in the AFC North, have a chance to climb into the top five for the first time this season with another big game against the Baltimore Ravens. Cincinnati needs to be more consistent at home. The team’s two losses this year have come at Paul Brown Stadium to the Houston Texans and Denver Broncos.



Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)



Last week: No. 7



Current ranking: No. 7



Analysis: Similar to the Bengals, the defending Super Bowl champs remained at No. 7 despite the off week. Pittsburgh is playing great football and has won four games in a row. Its last win two weeks ago was over the previously unbeaten Minnesota Vikings (7-1). The Steelers have also have a chance to climb into the top five of next week’s power rankings if they can hand the Broncos (6-1) their second loss in as many weeks.



Baltimore Ravens (4-3)



Last week: No. 14



Current ranking: No. 10



Analysis: The Ravens needed a big win and got it with last weekend’s convincing, 30-7, victory over Denver. The game moved the Ravens up four spots and into the top 10 and back into the conversation of AFC contenders. Baltimore has enough talent on both sides of the football to compete with anyone. The issue this year has been finishing games. The Ravens will have another big contest this week within the division against the Bengals.



Cleveland Browns (1-7)



Last week: No. 30



Current ranking: No. 31



Analysis: Just when you thought it would be hard for the Browns to drop any further, they did. The St. Louis Rams (1-7) moved one spot ahead of Cleveland to drop the Browns to No. 31 in ESPN.com’s power rankings. Cleveland’s 30-6 loss to the Bears was another ugly showing, and this week’s firing of general manager George Kokinis also didn’t help. The only team rated behind Cleveland is the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7).

Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson



We have streamlined the voting process. I no longer have a vote.



I still have an opinion though, so here goes:



Denver



Power ranking: 4th



My ranking range: 4 to 5



Why: Denver lost some shine in the loss at Baltimore, but it still should be ranked in this area.



San Diego



Power ranking: 16th



My ranking range: 13 to 15



Why: The Chargers are slightly better than their ranking.



Oakland



Power ranking: 27th



My ranking range: 28 to 30



Why: The Raiders are lucky not to have fallen after the loss to San Diego.



Kansas City



Power ranking: 28th



My ranking range: 29 to 30



Why: The Chiefs stood pat on their bye.

Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker



BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini met with the media Tuesday.



Obviously the hot topic was this week’s firing of general manager George Kokinis, which Mangini addressed briefly.



“The decision that was made was difficult personally and professionally,” Mangini said. “George is a friend of mine and I respect him. I wish him and his family well. I can tell you that, for a variety of reasons, it didn’t work out…This was the best decision in order to move forward.”



Mangini would not field questions from the media on the subject. It’s possible that there may be legal ramifications involved as some details of Kokinis’ sudden firing remain unclear.



The Browns are in the process of adding help on the personnel side to replace Kokinis. Mangini didn’t seem opposed to the idea on Tuesday.



Cleveland is on a bye until Nov. 16 when the Browns host the Baltimore Ravens (4-3).