I don’t know if these are easier to do at this time of year or harder. Or both! Ha! You silly Adrian Peterson…
1. New England Patriots
Previous Week: 1
Bill Belichick has to be concerned with how his young team has a tendency to play down to its competition. It did it against the Browns earlier in the year and then on Sunday night when it thought it had an easy win against the Matt Flynn-led Packers. Get caught playing down to your competition in the playoffs and you’ll find yourself home the following week.
2. Atlanta Falcons
Previous Week: 2
What the Falcons have done over the past two months has been nothing short of impressive. They’ve won eight in a row, including their last three on the road. Now all they have to do is win one of their last two games to clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs. That should happen, as one of their final opponents is the lowly Panthers. But you know the Falcons would love to make a statement against the Saints next Monday night that yes, they are legit Super Bowl contenders.
3. Baltimore Ravens
Previous Week: 5
The Ravens’ defense appears to be regressing down the stretch but their offense is now firing on all cylinders. What a game by Ray Rice. If they can get him going in the postseason – look out.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
Previous Week: 6
The Eagles should have lost last week but that doesn’t matter because they didn’t. In fact, they pulled off the comeback of the year and made it look easy, too. There has to be some concern for the Eagles that the Giants’ defense completely shut down Michael Vick for three and a half quarters, but that’s the type of win that can carry a team into the Super Bowl because they won’t fret when they get behind.
5. New Orleans Saints
Previous Week: 4
Gregg Williams has a problem on his hands. His run defense is leaking oil and teams are attacking the Saints over-the-top when they try to bring their safeties down to help. Sean Payton’s offense can rack up 30 points a game but what’s the difference if Williams’ defense gives up 33?
6. Pittsburgh Steelers
Previous Week: 3
It may be unjust to rank the Steelers ahead of the Jets after New York just beat them on their home turf, but I’m of the mindset that Troy Polamalu means everything to Pittsburgh. With him, they’re at their absolute best and he can affect all facets of the game. Without him, their defense is simply above average because of the secondary and all of the glaring issues on offense (i.e. no running game, inconsistent offensive line play, etc.) are somehow exposed. It’s hard to explain, although the bottom line is this: If the Steelers don’t have a healthy Polamalu for the postseason they won’t make it out of the first two rounds.
7. San Diego Chargers
Previous Week: 8
Do I think the Chargers are better than the Chiefs despite what the records indicate? Yes, I do. Do I think the Chargers will catch the Chiefs by the end of the year and win the AFC West? Ehh…
8. Chicago Bears
Previous Week: 9
I love how everyone made a huge deal about the conditions in Minnesota on Monday night and then the Bears go out there and hang 40 points on the board. The weather didn’t seem to affect Jay Cutler and Devin Hester.
9. Indianapolis Colts
Previous Week: 13
Come on, you didn’t really think the Colts would lose to the Jaguars at home last Sunday did you? Peyton’s not done, which has to be terrifying for other AFC playoff contenders.
10. New York Jets
Previous Week: 11
There’s an argument to be made that they should be higher but this is a team that lost to the crap Dolphins two weeks ago at home. I think they’re fine where they’re at.
11. Green Bay Packers
Previous Week: 10
Nobody will want to face this team if they can get into the playoffs. They need a healthy Aaron Rodgers back, but if they somehow have discovered a running game, they’re going to be a tough out for anyone regardless of if they play on the road or not.
12. New York Giants
Previous Week: 7
Do I think the Giants showed be ranked this low? No. Would they have been in the top 5 had they beaten the Eagles? Probably. But with only two weeks remaining to the season, I don’t know how you come back from something like that. Obviously if they beat the Packers they can make a B-line towards the sixth and final playoff spot but this is a fractured team right now. Hopefully Eli’s little players-only meeting helps.
13. Kansas City Chiefs
Previous week: 14
I know, I know – it’s probably no fair that I have the Chiefs ranked this low (especially when they have a better record than the Chargers, who have ranked in the top 10). But I just have this feeling that San Diego is going to find a way in somehow, which means Kansas City would have to collapse. The good thing for Chief fans is that my feelings are usually dead wrong.
14. Jacksonville Jaguars
Previous Week: 12
Not that it was a guarantee that they would have recovered, but Josh Scobee has to produce a better onsides kick than that. You can’t just dribble it five feet in front of you and hope that the ball would run up the arms of an opposing player like a bad hop for an infielder. Brutal onsides kick attempt – brutal.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Previous Week: 15
Lose at home to Detroit in the middle of a playoff race and you forfeit the right to have anyone consider whether or not you’re for real.
16. Dallas Cowboys
Previous Week: 16
The Cowboys need to do something with their defense. Is Wade Phillips around?
17. Oakland Raiders
Previous Week: 19
Only Jason Campbell could look so helpless and so good in one game.
18. St. Louis Rams
Previous Week: 18
So much for that Sam Bradford dome magic.
19. Miami Dolphins
Previous Week: 17
Pathetic doesn’t even begin to describe Chad Henne and the Dolphins right now.
20. Minnesota Vikings
Previous Week: 20
Yet the latest team to give up in the middle of a game.
21. Houston Texans
Previous Week: 21
The Titans were favored by 1-point in their game last Sunday against the Texans. Can anyone say trap game?
22. Cleveland Browns
Previous Week: 22
So much for that Colt McCoy magic.
23. San Francisco 49ers
Previous Week: 23
Count me in as someone who still feels bad for Alex Smith. The guy hasn’t had a steady situation since entering the league and everyone wants to know why he’s so bad. Hopefully he gets out of San Francisco after this year and joins a team with an offensive coordinator that won’t be fired four weeks later.
24. Seattle Seahawks
Previous Week: 24
I’m thoroughly convinced that nobody wants to win the NFC West. All three teams (Rams, Seahawks and 49ers) will just sit around looking at each other for the next two weeks.
25. Washington Redskins
Previous Week: 25
Not bad Rex Grossman, although you’re not fooling me. You may go on to have two more good games but at some point, you’re going to shed your mask and reveal yourself as…Rex Grossman.
26. Tennessee Titans
Previous Week: 26
If that wasn’t Randy Moss who called into that radio show last week, then whoever it is has his Randy Moss impersonation down pat.
27. Buffalo Bills
Previous Week: 27
The Bills aren’t f*#king around anymore. They’re on a mission…for the next two weeks.
28. Cincinnati Bengals
Previous Week: 28
Too bad about T.O. The guy can still play and he proved it this season. Who knows where he’ll be next year though.
29. Detroit Lions
Previous Week: 29
If a couple of breaks went there way earlier in the year, the Lions could be looking at an 8-8 season. Think about that for a second.
30. Denver Broncos
Previous Week: 31
All aboard the Tim Tebow train. Now let’s see if the Broncos actually let him throw the damn ball this week.
31. Carolina Panthers
Previous Week: 32
John Fox is going to beat the Steelers and the Falcons in the final two weeks just to piss off management and win himself a better job next year. What? Jimmy Clausen is still the quarterback? Neverm…
32. Arizona Cardinals
Previous Week: 30
Besides not being good, how does this team hang 43 points on the board two weeks ago and can’t muster more than nine against the Panthers? Bizzare.
