NFL power rankings Week 9: Commanders surge after miraculous win

The Washington Commanders can apparently do no wrong in 2024, and the Week 8 win over the Chicago Bears was yet another prime example of that.

The Commanders had one last try to win the contest against the Bears on Sunday when the team lined up for a Hail Mary attempt. And, in what is a microcosm of how special Washington's season has been to this point, star rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels converted in what was nothing short of a miraculous play.

Make no mistake, the Commanders' win on Sunday wasn't their prettiest and was a total grind from start to finish. However, good teams find a way to win games like that — and that's exactly what Washington did.

When it comes to the NFL power rankings of experts going into Week 9 of the 2024 season, the Commanders are moving up multiple spots in some of them. Here's where they stand.

NFL power rankings Week 9: Washington Commanders

Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: 6 (+3)

Iyer: "The Commanders saw Jayden Daniels add to his already immense rookie legend with a Hail Mary to beat the Bears, but they're not in position to win that game or many others without Dan Quinn's work to make the defense look a lot more daunting."

Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: 4 (+1)

Cluff: "It wasn't pretty, but Jayden Daniels and the Commanders are 4-0 at home and lead the NFC East with a 6-2 record after that Hail Mary completion."

Taylor Wirth, NBC Sports: 9 (no change)

Wirth: "What are we calling this, the Maryland Miracle? Regardless, what an incredible moment for Jayden Daniels. The Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign is back on. And possibly more?"

Matt Johnson, Sportsnaut: 7 (+3)

Johnson: "Jayden Daniels for MVP. Yes, plenty of good fortune on that hail mary led to the Washington Commanders victory. However, the Commanders drafted Daniels in large part because of his phenomenal deep ball and elite athleticism. Those two skills made the difference in that game-winning play. Lost in this win, the Commanders defense looked good. Both of those things together make this a dangerous football team moving forward."

Peter Dewey, Sports Illustrated: 9 (+2)

Dewey: "We're getting real "team of destiny" vibes out of Washington right now. At 6-2, the Commanders are in first in the NFC East and have seen their Super Bowl odds slashed from +2800 to +2200 over the past week. If Jayden Daniels can stay healthy, this team is shaping up to be a playoff team in 2024."