That No. 1 spot is a curse, I tell you – a curse.
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Check out Week 10’s Power Rankings
1. New York Giants
Previous Week: 1
I’m well aware that the Cowboys blew the Giants back to the Stone Age last Sunday. But I don’t think the Giants got exposed – I think they just got caught flatfooted. They expected a bad Cowboys team to play dead like they had done in previous weeks and instead the Giants ran into an emotional buzz saw looking to prove a point under their new coach. I’ll give NY a mulligan, although a loss to the Eagles this Sunday and we will have a new No. 1 next week. And that’s a f*&king promise.
2. New England Patriots
Previous Week: 9
I don’t know what to do with this team. One week they’re losing to the Browns and the next they’re dismantling the Steelers. It’s early in the week so I have the right to change my mind, but I think New England beats Indy this Sunday and that’s why I have no choice but to move the Pats up to this spot. Do I feel good about the decision? Is Ed “Too Tall” Jones too tall? Wait…
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
Previous Week: 2
If the Steelers had that much trouble with the Patriots, what will Peyton Manning do to them? The Colts can go up-tempo with the best of ‘em and that’s how New England completely dismantled Pittsburgh on Sunday night. Suddenly, this team looks awfully vulnerable.
4. New York Jets
Previous Week: 5
The Jets are back to winning ugly again – just as they did last season. And we all know how last season turned out. (Uh, with a trip to the AFC Championship – not a loss to the Colts, although both occurred…on the same day.)
5. Philadelphia Eagles
Previous Week: 7
Michael Vick and the Eagles look like an unstoppable force right now. Forget the their complete and utter domination of the Redskins on Monday night: they’ve already crushed the Falcons (with Kevin Kolb starting, no less) and handled the Colts. Granted, both of those games were at home but guess where they play the Giants this Sunday? At home. If they light up their NFC East rivals this weekend, then maybe Philly is on a crash course with the No. 1 spot.
6. Atlanta Falcons
Previous Week: 8
I’m being very cautious with the Falcons. That nasty loss to the Eagles is still fresh in my mind and this team loves to let opponents hang around. Still, beating Baltimore on Thursday night was impressive and despite the fact that I have the Giants and eagles ranked ahead of them, Atlanta holds the top seed in the NFC right now. Hopefully a letdown isn’t forthcoming in St. Louis this weekend.
7. Indianapolis Colts
Previous Week: 3
Why the big drop following a win? It’s hard to explain. The Colts’ defense played well last week against the Bengals, but Cincinnati’s defense held Peyton Manning in check. It’s almost like this Indy team can’t play well on one side of the ball without looking suspect on the other. Not to get ahead of myself, but I also think the Colts will have a hard time beating the Patriots in New England this Sunday. But I’ll make them a deal: Win this Sunday and the No. 2 spot will be reserved for them for the next two weeks.
8. Green Bay Packers
Previous Week: 6
Poor Packers didn’t even play and they were dropped two spots. Sorry, but the Patriots, Eagles and Falcons’ wins were too impressive not to move them up.
9. Baltimore Ravens
Previous Week: 4
The Ravens can bitch and moan all they want about Roddy White’s push-off but the bottom line is that they were dominated in the first half and had White caught a 3rd-and-4 pass with just over three minutes remaining, the final two drives don’t matter. Baltimore just needs to regroup.
10. New Orleans Saints
Previous Week: 10
Do the Saints play every game at home? I just looked at the schedule and they play in New Orleans again this week – for the sixth time in nine games. The schedule makers didn’t do the defending champs any favors in the second half though – four of their last six are on the road (which includes trips to Dallas, Baltimore and Atlanta).
11. San Diego Chargers
Previous Week: 12
It’s kind of unfair to move the Chargers up when they didn’t play, but the Packers down when they were idle, too. But whatever – it’s my rankings.
12. Miami Dolphins
Previous Week: 13
Get ready for the Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams show on Thursday night against Chicago. Because Tyler Thigpen isn’t attempting more than 25 passes if Tony Sparano has his way.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Previous Week: 15
I’ll be the first one to admit that I thought Josh Freeman would need three years before he started playing well but he’s been as good as advertised this year. I still don’t see the Bucs making the playoffs, but you never know.
14. Tennessee Titans
Previous Week: 11
The Titans have to figure out a way to get more vertical with their passing game. I know it’s going to take a couple of games for Randy Moss to get acclimated with the offense but he already knows how to run a streak down the sidelines and look for the ball. This team is lacking in explosive plays.
15. Chicago Bears
Previous Week: 17
The Vikings aren’t a very good football team but the Bears’ win was impressive on Sunday. Their offensive line showed up for the first time all year and Devin Hester continues to be a weapon in the return game.
16. Kansas City Chiefs
Previous Week: 14
What was that?
17. Oakland Raiders
Previous Week: 19
The Raiders are tied for first place in the AFC West. The Raiders! Dear, Barbara.
18. Jacksonville Jaguars
Previous Week: 22
I don’t care if it was a fluke – that Mike Thomas Hail Mary…was…awwwwwwsoooome. But sorry about the loss, Texans. That sucks.
19. Houston Texans
Previous Week: 16
That win over the Colts in Week 1 feels like it was about a decade ago.
20. Seattle Seahawks
Previous Week: 23
What does it say about Charlie Whitehurst if the Seahawks put Matt Hasselbeck back into a game when he had broken bones in his hand? So basically Pete Carroll would rather have a one-handed Hasselbeck play than a fully functional Charlie Whitehurst. Ouch.
21. Cleveland Browns
Previous Week: 21
If Chansi Stuckey doesn’t fumble in overtime on Sunday, the Browns probably go on to win three in a row. So close.
22. Minnesota Vikings
Previous Week: 20
I love how every time Brett Favre doesn’t play well a new or existing injury pops up (again).
23. Washington Redskins
Previous Week: 18
The Redskins paid Donovan McNabb $78 million and then handed the ball off three straight times to an undrafted rookie free agent running back at the start of the game Monday night. Then, on the team’s second possession, they throw it three straight times and McNabb is picked off. Yeah, Mike Shanahan has things figured out in Washington.
24. San Francisco 49ers
Previous Week: 28
Troy Smith is single-handily saving Mike Singletary’s job. It’s only because of Smith’s unsustainable play that is keeping Singletary employed because he continues to make brutal in-game decisions.
25. St. Louis Rams
Previous Week: 24
This team is just finding ways to lose on the road. If their defense holds onto fourth quarter leads against Tampa Bay and San Francisco, this team would be 6-3 right now instead of 4-5.
26. Denver Broncos
Previous Week: 29
It’s Todd Haley that should be ashamed of his actions on Sunday – not Josh McDaniels. The Broncos played until the final whistle – it’s up to the Chiefs to stop them and they didn’t. So cry a river, Todd.
27. Dallas Cowboys
Previous Week: 32
Let’s just take this one week at a time. There’s no doubt their win over the Giants was impressive and no, I don’t think teams like the Broncos, Rams and 49ers are better. That said, this team has a penchant for giving up, so let’s just slowly move them back up the rankings, shall we?
28. Cincinnati Bengals
Previous Week: 25
If the Bengals every figure out what time the game starts, they’d be in good shape. Because they always fight hard in the second half, but by that point they’re already down three scores and their opponents have lain off.
29. Arizona Cardinals
Previous Week: 26
This team needs to find a freaking quarterback because Derek Anderson isn’t it.
30. Buffalo Bills
Previous Week: 31
Off…the…schnide.
31. Detroit Lions
Previous Week: 27
Bettors either love or hate this team because they’ve pulled about five backdoor covers out of their asses this season.
32. Carolina Panthers
Previous Week: 30
If John Fox hasn’t mailed it in yet, he will be shortly because he only has a job for the next seven weeks.
