This has become a practice in futility.
But let’s get nasty anyway.
Check out Week 9’s Power Rankings
1. New York Giants
Previous Week: 3
Why? Why not? They’re the hottest team in the NFL right now, their quarterback has already proven he can win a Super Bowl, they’re ranked in the top 10 in all major statistical categories outside of turnover margin and Perry Fewell (the best hire of any team this offseason) has the defense playing near the top of its game. I’m not entirely convinced that this is the best team in the league but I like the G-Men a scoch better than I do the Steelers.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
Previous Week: 2
Had the Steelers put their foot on the Bengals’ neck on Monday night, I would have been more inclined to rank them No. 1. But after they allowed a bad (and they are bad, I don’t care what anyone says) Cincinnati team to get within 10 yards of the potential game-winning score after being up 27-7 early in the fourth, I think I’ll leave the Steelers where they are.
3. Indianapolis Colts
Previous Week: 1
Make no mistake: the Eagles dominated the Colts on Sunday. Peyton Manning made it close at the end but Indy’s defense had its hands full with Michael Vick the entire game. The only reason the Colts scored late in the fourth was because of a ticky-tack hands-to-the-head call on Manning that kept their scoring drive alive. By the letter of the law, it was the right call. But the ref could have easily let the play go.
4. Baltimore Ravens
Previous Week: 6
That was a pretty impressive win on Sunday against a Miami team that was undefeated on the road. The Ravens’ defense looks like it’s starting to figure things out again and it was great to see that Ray Rice was a bigger part of the game plan. What a great matchup we have between the Ravens and Falcons on Thursday night.
5. New York Jets
Previous Week: 5
That was a great come-from-behind win for Rex Ryan’s squad last Sunday in Detroit but this team has looked awfully shaky the past two weeks. A victory this weekend against a surging Browns team would go a long way to settle some doubts.
6. Green Bay Packers
Previous Week: 7
I think the Packers just scored again.
7. Philadelphia Eagles
Previous Week: 8
Michael Vick looks great. He’s poised, confident and is reading defenses better than at any point in his career. He’s the real deal again and this is the best we’ve ever seen him play.
8. Atlanta Falcons
Previous Week: 9
Even though the final score says otherwise, the Falcons were in control of that game last Sunday against the Bucs. That said, they need to figure out a way to limit the big plays or else they’re going to be in trouble in the second half of the season. They have a huge test coming up Thursday night against Baltimore. Beat the Ravens and then we can start talking about this team being elite.
9. New England Patriots
Previous Week: 4
I have to drop them down regardless, but that loss to Cleveland wasn’t completely shocking. The Patriots play the Steelers and Colts over the next two weeks so it appears as though they got caught looking ahead. But give the Browns credit – they put together a great game plan and they executed.
10. New Orleans Saints
Previous Week: 10
What a joke of a second half schedule this team has. After their bye, the Saints host the Seahawks, are at the Cowboys, at the Bengals, and host the Rams. Granted, they end the season at Baltimore and at Atlanta before hosting Tampa Bay in Week 17, but by that time they could be 10-3.
11. Tennessee Titans
Previous Week: 11
The Titans have attempted the second fewest passes in the league this year and just acquired Randy Moss…who can get a little crabby when he doesn’t get enough passes thrown his way. This should work out great.
12. San Diego Chargers
Previous Week: 17
Why did I move the Chargers up this high? Because in a couple of weeks they’ll have moved up to this spot anyway, so let’s just skip the foreplay, shall we?
13. Miami Dolphins
Previous Week: 12
The Dolphins’ road winning streak had to end sometime. They had their opportunities in Baltimore but just couldn’t cash in. I don’t think this is a playoff team, but they’re going to be a pain in the ass for those teams that are.
14. Kansas City Chiefs
Previous Week: 13
The Chiefs were one pass breakup away from becoming 6-2 on the year. That was a tough, unfortunate loss in Oakland they just suffered.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Previous Week: 15
The Bucs have been dominated on the stat sheet in most games but they’ve been in every game and they have a knack for coming up with the big play. I don’t think they’ll get some the breaks they got in the first half but there’s no doubt that this is a steadily improving young team.
16. Houston Texans
Previous Week: 14
Typical Texans. Good enough to be a playoff contender but inconsistent enough to blow golden opportunities when they present themselves. I wonder if the seat that Gary Kubiak is sitting on is starting to get a little warm.
17. Chicago Bears
Previous Week: 16
This is probably the most fraudulent team in the NFC but give the Bears credit – they’re hanging in there. They remain only one game behind the Packers in the NFC North and have a very winnable game this Sunday against the Vikings.
18. Washington Redskins
Previous Week: 18
You know, there is one way for Donovan McNabb to shut up his critics: Go out on Monday night and beat the Eagles. McNabb has gotten a raw deal over the years but it’s high time he take matters into his own hands and give everyone the middle finger. Let’s see what you got, Donovan.
19. Oakland Raiders
Previous Week: 23
I’ll still move them up, but the Raiders were fortunate to beat the Chiefs last Sunday. The ball that Jason Campbell threw at the conclusion of the fourth quarter to put Oakland into field goal range should have been picked off. But there are now “should haves” in the NFL. Only wins and losses and the Raiders have three of the former in the last three weeks.
20. Minnesota Vikings
Previous Week: 20
Let’s not break out the champagne, Minnesota. That was a bad Arizona team that beat you up and down the field for 56 minutes on Sunday. A better opponent would have put the nail in the coffin long before Brett Favre had the chance to rally the Vikes to a victory.
21. Cleveland Browns
Previous Week: 27
Last week I asked the Browns to “dazzle me with an encore performance” after they beat the Saints three weeks ago. They did just that, which is why I’ve rewarded them here by moving them up six spots.
22. Jacksonville Jaguars
Previous Week: 22
Given how bad they looked three weeks ago on MNF against the Titans, it’s amazing that the Jaguars are 4-4 and have a chance to get above .500 with a win against a struggling Houston team this Sunday.
23. Seattle Seahawks
Previous Week: 19
Even though they were without their starting quarterback on Sunday, the Giants showed how big of a gap there is between the Seahawks and the elite teams in the NFC.
24. St. Louis Rams
Previous Week: 25
The Rams have a golden opportunity to possibly take sole possession of first place in the NFC West if the Seahawks lose in Arizona on Sunday and they can beat the 49ers on the road. That sentence sounds insane seeing as how this team had the No. 1 pick in April’s draft.
25. Cincinnati Bengals
Previous Week: 26
People gush about Brett Favre’s ability to do what he does at his age, but what about T.O.? The dude is obnoxious but he can still make plays.
26. Arizona Cardinals
Previous Week: 24
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Put them away, Cardinals!
27. Detroit Lions
Previous Week: 21
Instead of beating the Redskins and Jets in back-to-back weeks to climb back into the NFC North picture (however faintly), the Lions collapsed in the fourth quarter last Sunday and now it looks like Matthew Stafford is out for the year. The curse continues. What curse? I don’t know – pick one.
28. San Francisco 49ers
Previous Week: 29
If they beat the Rams on Sunday the 49ers have an opportunity to get back into the chase for the NFC West crown (also know as the toilet seat of NFL accomplishments). With that in mind, it’s high time the Niners choke.
29. Denver Broncos
Previous Week: 30
Hopefully Josh McDaniels used the bye wisely and figured out a solution to Denver’s red zone issues this season. Because they’re a couple of converted opportunities away from being a much better team.
30. Carolina Panthers
Previous Week: 31
The Panthers can thank the Cowboys for their effort on Sunday night in Green Bay for being able to move up in the rankings. But I’m sure the Panthers will take their rightful spot in the bottom two again next week.
31. Buffalo Bills
Previous Week: 32
I’m going to go out on a small limb and say the Bills pick up their first win against the Stafford-less Lions this Sunday in Buffalo.
32. Dallas Cowboys
Previous Week: 28
I know the Bills are winless but at least they still try. The players can thank themselves for Wade Phillips getting the boot.
