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Aaron Rodgers finally gets back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2010, wins his second ring and still forces his way out of Green Bay to make his point about management.
The soap-opera script to play out in January, February and March is easy to forecast at the midpoint of the season because Rodgers — one of the NFL’s great grudge-holders — has led the Packers to seven straight wins. It seems like forever ago that there was chatter he might retire rather than play for the Packers this season, but it’s not true that winning cures all. There still is a lot to settle here.
What is clear right now? The NFC is better than the AFC — and the Packers are the class of the NFC.
Here are The Post’s power rankings for Week 9:
1. Green Bay Packers, 7-1 (Last week: 3)
The Packers went on the road to face the NFL’s last undefeated team without three top receivers, including All-Pro Davante Adams. No problem. Randall Cobb turned back the clock, which shows Rodgers is a smart general manager — he demanded a preseason trade for Cobb — as well as a Hall of Fame quarterback. Journeyman Rasul Douglas’ end-zone interception sealed the 24-21 win.
2. Arizona Cardinals, 7-1 (1)
Needing a field goal to tie or a touchdown to beat the Packers, the Cardinals drove 94 yards on their final possession — and still didn’t score because A.J. Green didn’t try to catch the pass that Douglas intercepted. J.J. Watt could miss the rest of the season, which is a bummer for a former Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.
3. Los Angeles Rams, 7-1 (2)
Two weeks after building a 38-3 lead on the Giants, the Rams built a 38-0 lead on the Texans. With Matthew Stafford on the bench, the Texans rallied for the final 22 points to make the score deceivingly competitive. The Rams have won 43 straight games (including playoffs) when leading at halftime — the second-longest streak in NFL history.
4. Tennessee Titans, 6-2 (6)
The AFC South is all but wrapped up after the Titans’ 34-31 win in Indianapolis to sweep the regular-season series. Kevin Byard committed a 42-yard pass interference penalty that helped the Colts tie the score late in regulation, but his interception on the third series of overtime was redemption.
5. Dallas Cowboys, 6-1 (5)
Cooper Rush first joined the Cowboys on April 30, 2017. He made his first start Sunday in place of Dak Prescott and threw for 325 yards, including the perfectly placed game-winning touchdown to beat the Vikings in the final minute. Prescott needs to return next week or panic sets in that his calf injury is worse than let on.
6. Buffalo Bills, 5-2 (8)
It took a half for the Bills to shake off the rust of the bye. But the Dolphins couldn’t take advantage and the game was deadlocked in a 3-3 tie until the Bills scored 23 points on their final four possessions. The Bills have beaten the Dolphins a series-record seven straight times — and Josh Allen taunted fans on his touchdown run.
7. New Orleans Saints, 5-2 (11)
The Saints lost to the Buccaneers in the playoffs last year with Drew Brees at quarterback but gained a small measure of revenge Sunday behind … Trevor Siemian? Jameis Winston was injured after Taysom Hill already was ruled out, so the third-stringer led five scoring drives. P.J. Williams sealed the win with a pick-six.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 6-2 (4)
Tom Brady threw four touchdowns but committed three turnovers. The Buccaneers rallied from 16 points down to take a short-lived lead but trailed 29-27 when Brady, who has 50 career game-winning drives in the fourth quarter and overtime, took possession with 1:41 to go. His interception was a rare sign of mortality.
9. Baltimore Ravens, 5-2 (9)
All four teams in the AFC North are at least .500. It looked like the Ravens were the class of the division until they were leveled by the Bengals, who turned around and lost to the Jets. That’s the kind of inexcusable letdown very rarely suffered by the consistent Ravens, who will come off a bye.
10. Las Vegas Raiders, 5-2 (13)
The surprise leaders of the AFC West are 2-0 since interim head coach Rich Bisaccia took over for the fired Jon Gruden. Learn the name Maxx Crosby. The third-year pro and former fourth-round draft pick is a top candidate for Defensive Player of the Year after totaling seven sacks, 12 quarterback hits and 47 pressures in seven games.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers, 4-3 (15)
12. Cincinnati Bengals, 5-3 (7)
13. Kansas City Chiefs, 4-4 (14)
14. New England Patriots, 4-4 (19)
15. Los Angeles Chargers, 4-3 (1
16. Indianapolis Colts, 3-5 (16)
17. San Francisco 49ers, 3-4 (18)
18. Cleveland Browns, 4-4 (12)
19. Seattle Seahawks, 3-5 (21)
20. Minnesota Vikings, 3-4 (17)
21. Denver Broncos, 4-4 (22)
22. Chicago Bears, 3-5 (20)
23. Carolina Panthers, 4-4 (27)
24. Atlanta Falcons, 3-4 (24)
25. Philadelphia Eagles, 3-5 (26)
26. New York Jets, 2-5 (30)
With injured rookie Zach Wilson looking on, Mike White used his first career start to become the first Jets’ 400-yard passer since 2000. Suddenly, offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur — under fire over the first six games — didn’t look so overmatched. The Jets have wins over the Titans and Bengals — two of the AFC’s best.
27. New York Giants, 2-6 (25)
28. Washington Football Team, 2-6 (23)
29. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1-6 (28)
30. Miami Dolphins, 1-7 (29)
31. Houston Texans, 1-7 (31)
32. Detroit Lions, 0-8 (32)
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