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.
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