2010 NFL Week 9 Power Rankings
Another No. 1 team falls and more shakeup in the top-5. At least things are starting to shake out as we head into the second half of the season.
As always, let’s get nasty, Ricky.
Check out Week 8’s Power Rankings
1. Indianapolis Colts
Previous Week: 2
I knew there was a reason I left the Colts at No. 2. Houston’s secondary is brutal, but Peyton Manning put on a clinic Monday night. Only he could turn Jacob Tamme into a star overnight.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
Previous Week: 1
I could have dropped the Steelers further down but I think they were due for a loss. They were fortunate that Big Ben’s fumble two weeks ago in Miami didn’t cost them a loss and they were beat by a desperate Saints team on the road last Sunday. It was bound to happen.
3. New York Giants
Previous Week: 5
This team didn’t do anything last week so it may be unjustified to move them ahead of the Patriots. But before compiling the rankings this week I asked myself, “Would the Giants beat the Patriots this Sunday on a neutral field?” I think you have my answer.
4. New England Patriots
Previous Week: 4
Statistically this is an average team – even below average, actually. They rank 25th in total defense and 24th in total offense and yet they’re 6-1 and are currently atop the AFC East. To me, that speaks volumes about Bill Belichick’s ability to make in-game adjustments and this team’s refusal to beat itself.
5. New York Jets
Previous Week: 3
How does this team prep for two weeks to face the Packers and not manage to score a single point at home? Inexcusable.
6. Baltimore Ravens
Previous Week: 6
We’re going to find out a lot about this Ravens team over the next two weeks. They host a Dolphins team this Sunday that has been outstanding on the road and then they travel to Atlanta to play a Falcons squad that has only lost one game at the Georgia Dome when Matt Ryan starts.
7. Green Bay Packers
Previous Week: 10
I don’t feel entirely good about moving the Packers up this far after only one win, but it was a big win so they deserve it. To shut out the Jets on their home turf when New York had two weeks to prepare was impressive. The game plan Dom Capers put together was outstanding.
8. Philadelphia Eagles
Previous Week: 8
Much like the Ravens, the Eagles will be tested over these next four weeks. They host the Colts on Sunday, play at division rival Washington next week, are home against the Giants in Week 11 and are then at Chicago in Week 12. Hope Mike Vick is ready.
9. Atlanta Falcons
Previous Week: 9
I personally think that the Bucs’ season up to this point has been a mirage but the Falcons better not overlook them this Sunday. Not with the two teams having the same record and the Saints jumping back into the NFC South race with a win last week.
10. New Orleans Saints
Previous Week: 11
Huge win for the defending champs last Sunday, although I’m not ready to have them skyrocket up the rankings yet. That loss to the Browns two weeks ago still smells of something awful.
11. Tennessee Titans
Previous Week: 7
The Titans probably don’t deserve to drop this far, but they had a prime opportunity to cement their status as a legit contender with a win over the struggling Chargers last Sunday and they fell just short. Their bye week came at a perfect time.
12. Miami Dolphins
Previous Week: 13
Man, how good have the Dolphins been on the road this year? Perfect, would describe it. Now if they could only figure out how to pick up those pesky home victories (0-3 so far).
13. Kansas City Chiefs
Previous Week: 17
The Bills gave the Chiefs all they could handle last Sunday but the mark of a good team is to overcome adversity, which is exactly what Kansas City did. The only thing that matters is wins in this league – it doesn’t matter how a team got them.
14. Houston Texans
Previous Week: 12
I thought Gary Kubiak and the rest of his staff’s game plan on Monday night was pure garbage. Arian Foster rushed for over 250 yards in Week 1 against the Colts and was chewing up the yardage again on Monday, so naturally the Texans went pass-happy for most of the game. I know the Colts opened up a decent lead in the second half, but the Texans would have been better off sticking to the ground game in the early going. That loss was as much on the coaches as it was on the defense for allowing Peyton Manning to do whatever he wanted.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Previous Week: 19
I have no idea how this team is 5-2 but they are. They beat the Falcons on Sunday in Atlanta and they’ll have the respect of everyone in the NFC.
16. Chicago Bears
Previous Week: 16
If the Bears lose this Sunday in Buffalo I’m officially starting the “Detroit Lions for 2nd place in the NFC North” campaign next week.
17. San Diego Chargers
Previous Week: 22
The Chargers are like that old girlfriend that you keep letting back into your life. They punch you in the junk one week and then they get you feeling all sentimental the next. I don’t think this a very good team but would it surprise anyone if they rattle off five in a row to get back into the AFC West race?
18. Washington Redskins
Previous Week: 14
Just when you thought things were starting to stabilize in Washington under Mike Shanahan, he pulls Donovan McNabb for Rex Grossman when the Redskins were still in the game. Then he gives JaMarcus Russell an open tryout. Are we being punk’d?
19. Seattle Seahawks
Previous Week: 18
There’s the Seattle team we all know and love. Too much time had passed for the Seahawks not to lay an egg on the road.
20. Minnesota Vikings
Previous Week: 17
As loyal TSR reader snd_dsgnr commented on one of my Randy Moss articles earlier this week, waiving the troubled receiver wasn’t the Vikings’ biggest mistake. Trading for him in the first place while giving up a third round pick was the mistake.
21. Detroit Lions
Previous Week: 28
Is it weird that I have more faith in this team than I do the Buccaneers? They have to win this Sunday against the Jets, but I actually think the Lions can get back into the NFC North race with how screwed up the rest of the teams are in the division.
22. Jacksonville Jaguars
Previous Week: 24
It’s rather amazing how good the Jaguars looked in Dallas last Sunday given how inept they looked the week before against Tennessee on Monday Night Football. What a weird league.
23. Oakland Raiders
Previous Week: 25
Raise your hand if you think the Raiders will score about six points this week after racking up 92 in their last two games. *Raises hand*
24. Arizona Cardinals
Previous Week: 21
The first thing Ken Whisenhunt should have done when the Cardinals got inside the red zone against the Bucs late in the fourth quarter on Sunday was take the game out of Derek Anderson’s hands. Everyone and their mother knew Anderson was going to throw a pick with the game on the line.
25. St. Louis Rams
Previous Week: 29
Another week, another home victory for Sam Bradford. If this team played all of their games at home, they win the NFC West. They’re close to picking up their first road victory, too.
26. Cincinnati Bengals
Previous Week: 23
This is one of the most lifeless teams in the NFL, which is amazing considering two of their receivers have their own reality show.
27. Cleveland Browns
Previous Week: 26
All right, Cleveland – dazzle me with an encore performance this Sunday against the Patriots.
28. Dallas Cowboys
Previous Week: 20
It’s the same story every week with this team: they can’t tackle, they can’t execute fundamental plays and they can’t get out of their own way. This is a horrendous football team.
29. San Francisco 49ers
Previous Week: 31
Wow, a little life out of this team! I don’t necessarily think that Troy Smith is the answer at quarterback but he deserves another shot after picking up a win last Sunday in London.
30. Denver Broncos
Previous Week: 26
The sad part is that I don’t think the Broncos are this bad but their record and their effort the past two weeks says they are. The Broncos say Josh McDaniels’ job is safe but if I were him, I wouldn’t be resting on my laurels.
31. Carolina Panthers
Previous Week: 30
Blow it up and start over.
32. Buffalo Bills
Previous Week: 32
I’m starting to feel bad for this team because of how hard it tries each and every week. They were so close to picking up their first victory and you know this team is going to fight until it finally gets into the win column.
Follow the Scores Report editors on Twitter @clevelandteams and @bullzeyedotcom.
Posted in: NFL
Tags: Anthony Stalter, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacob Tamme, NFL Power Rankings, Peyton Manning