This NFL season has become almost as confusing as the BCS championship system. Over the last several years NFL fans have become accustomed to having a few teams atop the standings that were clearly set apart from the pack. Instead, eight weeks into the season there is only one team that remains undefeated and only one with one loss. However, this is not the downfall of every single team in the NFL, but rather a leveling of the playing field.

This season has seen perennial powerhouses like the Colts, Chargers, Seahawks, and Jaguars drop drastically in the standings and common lower level teams such as Redskins, Bills, Cardinals, and Falcons in the thick of the playoff chase. However, this is no indication of who will finish on top at season end, with ESPN analyst Matt Mosley suggesting that even the 2-5 St. Louis Rams still have a legitimate chance of making the playoffs still.

The Jacksonville Jaguars, who fell to 3-4 after an embarrassing week eight loss the Cleveland Browns, are one of the many teams in the league who seem to bounce in and out of the playoff picture.

“It’s really crucial that we find a way to get that consistency that we’re looking for and that we be able to play more consistently as a football team and that’s my mission,” Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio said. “There’s only one way to go about it. You can’t just talk about it you just have to roll up your sleeves and go to work. It’s what I know; it’s what I believe in. We’re going to stay the course in terms of correcting and moving on and expect to be better going forward.”

The Jaguars next opponent will be the Cincinnati Bengals, who enter Sunday’s game with zero wins on the season. The Jaguars lead the series against the Bengals 11-5, including a 23-20 win the last time the two teams met in 2005. If the Jaguars are going to be successful in this game and the rest of the season they will need to turn to their leader on offense, David Garrard. Garrard accounted for 342 of the Jaguar’s 380 yards in last week’s loss to the Browns and has not thrown an interception since the Jags took on the Colts four weeks ago. Matt Jones, who has become the Jags leading receiver, is emerging as a major passing threat for the Jags and has already ranks third in Jags history in terms of 100- yard receiving games with five in his career.

With the Jaguars normally stellar running game playing inconsistently and the defense unable to find a rhythm, the passing game (which has normally been the Jaguars major weakness) may have to become the backbone which carries the Jaguars through the rest of the season.

Week 9 Power Rankings

1. Titans (1)
2. Giants (7)
3. Steelers (2)
4. Panthers (14)
5. Redskins (10)
6. Bills (3)
7. Cowboys (5)
8. Patriots (15)
9. Buccaneers (4)
10. Cardinals (8)
11. Bears (22)
12. Eagles (12)
13. Packers (18)
14. Falcons (17)
15. Broncos (11)
16. Jaguars (16)
17. Ravens (23)
18. Saints (20)
19. Browns (21)
20. Colts (6)
21. Jets (9)
22. Dolphins (24)
23. Texans (25)
24. Vikings (19)
25. Rams (31)
26. Chargers (13)
27. Raiders (29)
28. Seahawks (27)
29. 49ers (26)
30. Chiefs (30)
31. Bengals (28)
32. Lions (32)