Tag: NFL Power Rankings (Page 2 of 8)

2010 NFL Week 14 Power Rankings

December 7, 2010 /
FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 06: (L-R) Jermaine Cunningham and Jarrad Page of the New England Patriots celebrate a defensive stop in the second quarter against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on December 6, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

In what is often viewed as the most exciting time of year, I just realized that there’s only four weeks left in the regular season.

Is it really almost over? Where did the time go? The Kansas City Chiefs are what?!

Check out Week 13’s Power Rankings

1. New England Patriots
Previous Week: 1
Many people believe the Jets aren’t as good as their record indicates and honestly, I don’t have a problem with that logic. I predicted in preseason that the Jets wouldn’t make the playoffs, so I’m well aware of their potential fluke-e-ness. That said, to insinuate that the only reason the Patriots dominated on Monday night was because the Jets aren’t that good would be an insult to New England. The Jets may be overrated, but they’re not 45-3 in what was supposed to be a matchup of the two best teams in the AFC overrated.

2. Atlanta Falcons
Previous Week: 2
We knew the Falcons were going to have issues with the Bucs last week. They were coming off a four-game stretch have playing playoff contenders, had won five in a row and hadn’t turned the ball over in four-straight games. They were due to have a letdown and seeing as how competitive Tampa has been this season, it wasn’t shocking that Atlanta needed all 60 minutes to win last Sunday. But it was impressive that they were able to pull off yet another fourth quarter comeback. All this team does is win.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers
Previous Week: 3
Ben Roethlisberger was playing on a broken foot, suffered a broken nose in the first quarter, had little protection and no running game Sunday night in Baltimore and he still found a way to lead the Steelers to victory (albeit with a huge assist from Troy Polamalu). What a gritty performance.

4. New Orleans Saints
Previous Week: 5
I’m a little shocked that the Saints’ defense allowed Carson Palmer and the inconsistent Cincinnati offense to march up and down the field on them, but winning on the road is never easy and that’s exactly what New Orleans did. That Monday Night Football game between the Saints and Falcons in two weeks is shaping up to be the game of the year.

5. New York Jets
Previous Week: 4
I have all kinds of issues ranking the Jets in the top 5 after the Patriots dismantled them on Monday night, but I’ve given other teams in the top 10 mulligans so this will be New York’s. That said, you’ve got issues, Rex Ryan.

6. Baltimore Ravens
Previous Week: 6
I don’t take issue with John Harbaugh’s decision to go for it on fourth-and-two and not attempt a 48-yard field goal into the swirling wind on Sunday night. Had Joe Flacco not short-armed the throw to Ed Dickson, the drive would have continued and maybe the Ravens would have pulled out a victory in overtime. That said, I do have issue with Flacco not making an adjustment when he saw Troy Polamalu was about to blitz on the Ravens’ previous possession. Flacco has to audible in that situation to avoid disaster, which is exactly what occurred when Polamalu stripped him from behind.

7. Chicago Bears
Previous Week: 7
That was a pretty uninspiring win for the Bears in Detroit on Sunday. But after beating the Eagles the week prior and everyone jumping on their bandwagon, I guess it was inevitable. The key is that they won and they completely shut the Lions down in the second half.

8. Philadelphia Eagles
Previous Week: 8
The Eagles’ defense looks awfully vulnerable the past two weeks, although not having Asante Samuel in their secondary doesn’t help. Michael Vick and Co. better not overlook a revitalized Cowboys team this weekend.

9. Green Bay Packers
Previous Week: 7
There’s an argument to be made that the Packers should be ranked ahead of the Bears, but given that a) the teams are even, b) the Bears are playing incredibly well right now and c) they’ve already beaten Green Bay once this season, the Pack will have to settle for the No. 9 spot for now. But they’ll have their chance over the next four weeks to prove that they should be hire. It’s going to be a wild stretch-run in the NFC North.

10. New York Giants
Previous Week: 11
I fully admit that I thought the Redskins would give the Giants trouble last week. Now I fully admit that I didn’t grasp how bad the Redskins really are, which is saying something seeing as how bad the Eagles beat them on Monday night a couple of weeks ago, I know.

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2010 NFL Week 13 Power Rankings

November 30, 2010 /
CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 28: Jay Cutler of the Chicago Bears rolls out to look for a receiver against the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field on November 28, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Eagles 31-26. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Another week, another top team in one of the conferences goes down.

Check out Week 12’s Rankings

1. New England Patriots
Previous Week: 1
The game was close at halftime but Tom Brady took over in the second half as the Pats destroyed the Lions on Thanksgiving Day. The win was significant because it showed that New England didn’t overlook a bad team with the Jets on deck.

2. Atlanta Falcons
Previous Week: 5
The 2009 Saints are the reason why people are still reluctant to call the Falcons the best team in the NFC. New Orleans steamrolled over everyone last year, but Atlanta wears teams down until they can win it in the fourth quarter (sometimes late in the fourth quarter). They’re not the most talented team (at least defensively), but they’re consistent and with their win over the Packers last Sunday, the Falcons have now beaten four straight playoff contenders (Bucs, Ravens, Rams and Packers). Argue with that.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers
Previous Week: 2
The Steelers beat the Falcons without Big Ben in Week 1, but the only reason they’re still ranked this high is because Steve Johnson dropped that touchdown pass in overtime. Every team is allowed a mulligan or two throughout the year and that was the Steelers’ last week. They got caught looking ahead to Baltimore a week early.

4. New York Jets
Previous Week: 4
If the Jets want the No. 1 spot in these rankings, I’ll give it to them if they can beat the Patriots on Monday night next week. They’ve already beaten the Pats once this year but to do it in Foxboro is another story.

5. New Orleans Saints
Previous Week: 8
What should scare every team in the NFC is that nobody is talking about the Saints right now. Sure, they could have easily lost to the Cowboys had Malcolm Jenkins not run down Roy Williams in the final minutes on Thanksgiving. But let’s not overlook the fact that the Saints are getting healthy and could head into the playoffs with a full head of steam. Who would want to play this team in January?

6. Baltimore Ravens
Previous Week: 9
Their win over the Bucs last Sunday was highly unimpressive from an offensive standpoint. But with the Steelers coming up this week, it was good to that Baltimore wasn’t caught looking ahead.

7. Chicago Bears
Previous Week: 13
This isn’t the same team that took the field in the first six or so weeks of the season. The offensive line has greatly improved over the last three weeks and Jay Cutler is starting to put some quality games together. If Mike Martz can stop taking unnecessary chances and rely more on his running game, then the Bears are going to be tough to beat down the stretch. That said, they have a tough schedule coming up, which includes a date with the Packers in Green Bay.

8. Philadelphia Eagles
Previous Week: 3
I think the Eagles started to read their own press clippings after beating the Giants. That was when everyone started to talk about how this team was the best in the NFC and then smack! They met a determined Bears team in Chicago. This may not be the team to beat in the NFC, but they’re still the team to beat in the NFC East.

9. Green Bay Packers
Previous Week: 6
It would be a shame if a 7-9 or 8-8 team in the NFC West makes the playoffs and the Packers (who know doubt will have a better record) don’t. This is a good team led by an elite quarterback. Now they just have to figure out ways to win close games so they’re not nipped come playoff time.

10. San Diego Chargers
Previous Week: 11
I wonder if the Raider fan who left a comment on my rankings two weeks ago that Oakland should be ahead of San Diego will come back to eat crow. Doubtful.

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2010 NFL Week 12 Power Rankings

November 23, 2010 /

For about the 19th week in a row, we have a new No. 1.

How is that possible when there have only been 11 weeks? I don’t know. Just check out the damn rankings, wise guy.

Check out Week 11’s Power Rankings.

1. New England Patriots
Previous Week: 2
I would have felt much, much better about this ranking had the Patriots not allowed Peyton Manning and the Colts to come back in the fourth quarter. But nevertheless, they still won and now their loss to the Browns seems nothing like a fluketastic fading memory.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers
Previous Week: 3
Nice bounce back win for the Steelers over the Raiders last week. It still doesn’t erase the painful memory of what Tom Brady and the Patriots did to them two weeks ago, but Pittsburgh needed one of those this-is-going-to-hurt games and they delivered.

3. Philadelphia Eagles
Previous Week: 5
The Falcons may have a better record but the Eagles beat them handily earlier in the season and that was when Kevin Kolb was starting for an injured Michael Vick. This is the team to beat in the NFC right now.

4. New York Jets
Previous Week: 4
Lucky or good? Probably a little bit of both.

5. Atlanta Falcons
Previous week: 6
It would be easy to brush off the Falcons’ win over the Rams last week because it was a game they should have won. But after beating the Ravens two weeks ago, Atlanta could have fallen into a trap against a competitive St. Louis team that has played well at home this year. But the Falcons didn’t, and they still maintain the best record in the NFC.

6. Green Bay Packers
Previous Week: 8
What a matchup we have in the Georgia Dome this Sunday. The Falcons can be had through the air, but Green Bay’s offensive line better figure out a way to protect Aaron Rodgers because Atlanta’s pass rush is vastly underrated. It’ll be interesting to see what Dom Capers’ stout defense has in store for Matt Ryan and Co.

7. Indianapolis Colts
Previous Week: 7
It’s rare to see Peyton Manning put his team in a hole, rally them back and then throw an interception to lose the game. But he’s afforded a mulligan every now and again.

8. New Orleans Saints
Previous Week: 10
Nobody is talking about this team right now, which is pretty freaking scary. They’re starting to get healthy and their schedule is a cakewalk for the next three weeks (Cowboys, Bengals, Rams). That said, Dallas did smack Sean Payton’s team around last year so it’ll be interesting to see how New Orleans’ responds on Thanksgiving Day.

9. Baltimore Ravens
Previous Week: 9
The Ravens scooped up an easy win against the Panthers last Sunday but reports state that Joe Flacco and Derrick Mason got into on the sidelines. It wasn’t the first time the two of them argued during a game this year, so the situation is something worth keeping an eye on.

10. New York Giants
Previous Week: 1
That annual New York Giants funk is right on time this year.

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2010 NFL Week 11 Power Rankings

November 16, 2010 /
PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 14: Tom Brady of the New England Patriots throws a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 14, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

That No. 1 spot is a curse, I tell you – a curse.

Got nasty?

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).

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2010 NFL Week 10 Power Rankings

November 9, 2010 /
PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 07: Michael Vick of the Philadelphia Eagles throws a pass against the Indianapolis Colts on November 7, 2010 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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.

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