Monday, December 26, 2011

NFL Power Rankings Week 17


1. Green Bay Packers: 581 (533)
Previous Week: 1
Notes: A Christmas Day win over the Bears secures home field advantage throughout the playoffs for the Packers.


2. New Orleans Saints: 486 (434)
Previous Week: 2
Notes: The Packers might have the best record, but the Saints look like the team nobody wants to be playing against right now. Drew Brees breaks Dan Marino's 27 year old record during Monday Night football.

3. San Francisco 49ers: 451 (422)
Previous Week: 3
Notes: A win gives this team a #2 seed and a bye week for the playoffs. Remarkable for a team who finished 6-10 the year before.

4. New England Patriots: 441 (413)
Previous Week: 4
Notes:  The Patriots are the best in the AFC (both in record and their playing ability), but their defense might give them some trouble come playoff time.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers: 393 (341 )
Previous Week: 7
Notes: Even with two losses against the Ravens this season, the Steelers have been playing better overall as of late.

6. Baltimore Ravens: 384 (355)
Previous Week: 6
Notes: A win or a Steelers loss gives this team the AFC North and a first round bye.

7. Houston Texans: 348 (389 )
Previous Week: 5
Notes: This team might be starting to feel the effect of their injuries. A loss to the lowly Colts doesn't do much in terms of confidence boosters.

8. Detroit Lions: 328 (270)
Previous Week: 8
Notes: The Lions make the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

9. Atlanta Falcons: 226 (270 )
Previous Week: 9
Notes:  Even with getting crushed by the Saints, the Falcons can do some damage come playoff time.

10. Cincinnati Bengals: 196 (177)
Previous Week: 13
Notes: The Bengals control their own playoff destiny. A win and they're in as the #6 seed.  Just last year they were 4-12.

11. Dallas Cowboys: 185 (227)
Previous Week: 10
Notes: That game against the Eagles didn't matter since the Giants beat the Jets. That being said, the Cowboys will need Romo to be a 100% in order for them to pull off a win against the Giants and take the NFC East.

12. Philadelphia Eagles: 170 (130)
Previous Week: 14
Notes: Too bad this team is eliminated from the playoff picture. They've been playing like the Eagles we expected prior to the start of the season.

13. New York Jets: 148 (193)
Previous Week: 11
Notes: The Jets lose bragging rights in New York and likely a playoff spot with a loss to the Giants.


14. New York Giants:  132 (82)
Previous Week: 18
Notes: The Giants control their own playoff destiny. A win and their in over the Cowboys. This team has so much potential, but they're not nearly playing up to their ability. They will likely struggle come playoff time (if they make it in) unless they get it to together.


15. San Diego Chargers: 128 (189)
Previous Week: 12
Notes: The loss against the Lions ends any chance of making the playoffs and will likely be the end of Norv Turner.

16. Tennessee Titans:  119 (88)
Previous Week: 17
Notes: The Titans win and cling onto their playoff life. They need to beat the Texans and also need help from some other teams.

17. Chicago Bears: 98 (112)
Previous Week: 15
Notes: After looking like a wildcard favorite, the Bears lose 5 in a row and are now eliminated from the playoff picture. People have been saying "Peyton Manning as MVP", but what about Jay Cutler?

18. Seattle Seahawks: 75 (104)
Previous Week: 16
Notes: Even though they're out of the playoff race, the Seahawks have played a lot better than anyone expected this year.

19. Oakland Raiders: 57 (31)
Previous Week: 21
Notes:  The Raiders have a shot at the AFC West with a win and a Broncos loss. 

20. Carolina Panthers: 55 (-9)
Previous Week: 23
Notes: No team is going to want to face an even better Cam Newton come next season.

21. Denver Broncos: 35 (82)
Previous Week: 19
Notes: The division leader in the AFC West ranked at 21? Well, the Broncos (specifically Tim Tebow's) luck has run out and chances are that even if they make in the playoffs they will get killed by the Steelers or Ravens in the first round. 

22. Arizona Cardinals: 15 (42)
Previous Week: 20
Notes: Like the Seahawks, a team that has performed better than anyone expected.

23. Miami Dolphins: 8 (28)
Previous Week: 22
Notes: A good fight against the Patriots. The Dolphins hope to finish the season in 3rd place in the AFC East after starting the season 0-7.

24. Buffalo Bills: -4 (-59)
Previous Week: 25
Notes: They finally get a win, but the Bills  can't help but feel very disappointed after starting the season so strong.

25. Washington Redskins: -59 (-26)
Previous Week: 24
Notes:  They win big against the Giants and then lose to a Vikings team without Peterson in the 2nd half. It will be interesting to see the changes this team makes in the off season.

26. Kansas City Chiefs: -104 (-87)
Previous Week: 26
Notes: The way this team has played their last two games is enough to convince me to give Romeo Cremel the full time coaching gig. A win against the Packers and an overtime loss against the Raiders is impressive considering how this team has played the other 13 games of the season.

27. Cleveland Browns: -161 (-132)
Previous Week: 28
Notes: The Browns have now lost 5 in a row and really have nothing to fight for other than to avoid getting their 6th loss in a row.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars: -187 (-126)
Previous Week: 27
Notes: Even though the Browns also lost, they lose a spot against them in the rankings. They look like the worse team right now.

29. Minnesota Vikings: -204 (-230)
Previous Week: 30
Notes: Very bad news for the Vikings team losing Peterson considering how this season has gone. Hopefully he'll be 100% healthy come next season.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: -266 (-215 )
Previous Week: 29
Notes: Officially 9 losses in a row after getting slaughtered by the Panthers. Freeman is not the answer at QB.

31. Indianapolis Colts: -366 ( -389 )
Previous Week: 32
Notes: The Colts finally move out of the last spot in the rankings with a win streak. That's right, they actually won two games in a row!

32. St. Louis Rams: -370 (-318)
Previous Week: 31
Notes: They have the same record as the Colts, but have easily been playing a lot worse over the last few games (even before the Colts started winning). The Rams have the second longest current losing streak.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

NFL Power Rankings Week 16

No time for notes this week :(. Big shake up in the rankings though.


1. Green Bay Packers: 533 (558)
Previous Week: 1
Notes: 

2. New Orleans Saints: 434 (388)
Previous Week: 4
Notes:


3. San Francisco 49ers: 422 (387)
Previous Week: 5
Notes: 

4. New England Patriots: 413 (367)
Previous Week: 7
Notes: 

5. Houston Texans: 389 (421)
Previous Week: 2
Notes:


6. Baltimore Ravens: 355 (400)
Previous Week: 3
Notes:


7. Pittsburgh Steelers: 341 (387 )
Previous Week: 6
Notes: 

8. Detroit Lions: 270 (259)
Previous Week: 8
Notes: 

9. Atlanta Falcons: 270 (215)
Previous Week: 10
Notes: 

10. Dallas Cowboys: 227 (170)
Previous Week: 11
Notes: 

11. New York Jets: 193 (235)
Previous Week: 9
Notes:


12. San Diego Chargers: 189 (94 )
Previous Week: 17
Notes: 

13. Cincinnati Bengals: 177 (161)
Previous Week: 13
Notes: 

14. Philadelphia Eagles: 130 (66)
Previous Week: 18
Notes: 

15. Chicago Bears: 112 (165)
Previous Week: 12
Notes: 

16. Seattle Seahawks: 104 (45)
Previous Week: 20
Notes: 

17. Tennessee Titans: 88 (125)
Previous Week: 14
Notes: 

18. New York Giants: 82 (112)
Previous Week: 15
Notes: 

19. Denver Broncos: 82 (107)
Previous Week: 16
Notes: 

20. Arizona Cardinals: 42 (6)
Previous Week: 21
Notes: 

21. Oakland Raiders: 31 (59)
Previous Week: 19
Notes:  

22. Miami Dolphins: 28 (-2  )
Previous Week: 22
Notes:

23. Carolina Panthers: -9 (-45)
Previous Week: 24
Notes:

24. Washington Redskins: -26 (-64)
Previous Week: 25
Notes: 

25. Buffalo Bills: -59 (-24)
Previous Week: 23
Notes:

26. Kansas City Chiefs: -87 (-135 )
Previous Week: 28
Notes: 

27. Jacksonville Jaguars: -126 ( -74)
Previous Week: 26
Notes: 

28. Cleveland Browns: -132 (-110)
Previous Week: 27
Notes: 

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: -215 (-169)
Previous Week: 29
Notes: 

30. Minnesota Vikings: -230 (-174)
Previous Week: 30
Notes: 

31. St. Louis Rams: -318 (-296 )
Previous Week: 31
Notes: 

32. Indianapolis Colts: -389 ( -420)
Previous Week: 32
Notes: 

Monday, December 12, 2011

NFL Power Rankings Week 15

1. Green Bay Packers: 558 (499)
Previous Week: 1
Notes: They have been called a "one sided" team with a second to last ranked defense, but proved how dangerous they can be on D against the Raiders. This team might do what the Patriots couldn't in 2007, go 19-0.

2. Houston Texans: 421 (385)
Previous Week: 3
Notes: This team has earned the #2 spot. Injury-ridden and still winning big (and tough games). A first seed is a very possible thing for this team.

3. Baltimore Ravens: 400 (371)
Previous Week: 4
Notes: A close 2nd in terms of the best team in the AFC. With how things are shaking up in the AFC, this team can be anywhere from a 1st to 5th seed come playoff time.

4. New Orleans Saints: 388 (354)
Previous Week: 5
Notes: A big win against the Titans that helps move this team closer to a first round bye come playoff time. This team is the better team right now than the 49ers and deserve that #2 seed.

5. San Francisco 49ers: 387 (408)
Previous Week: 2
Notes: A tough divisional loss. Things don't get easier with a game against the Steelers this weekend.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers: 387 (345)
Previous Week: 6
Notes: Am I excited to see how this team matches up against the 49ers. This is the game to watch for next week.

7. New England Patriots: 367 (335)
Previous Week: 7
Notes: The Patriots and Tom Brady will be the team to end Tim Tebow's streak.

8. Detroit Lions: 259 (231)
Previous Week: 8
Notes: To me, this team has the best shot at a NFC wildcard. Games against the Raiders and Chargers should result in wins before a very tough game against the Packers to close out the season. They better hope the Packers loser 1 game between now and then so that they rest up their players.

9. New York Jets: 235 (179)
Previous Week: 13
Notes: With the Jets winning and Titans, Bengals, and Raiders losing, they are now in the driver seat for that #6 seed. They're the best team out of the 4 and will likely hold on to this spot.

10. Atlanta Falcons: 215 (190)
Previous Week: 10
Notes: The other probably wildcard spot in the NFC. They face two easy games against the Jags and Buccs and a tough one against the Saints. 10-6 will be a sure thing for the wildcard so count them in unless there's a big upset.

11. Dallas Cowboys: 170 (217)
Previous Week: 9
Notes: Another very tough loss for the Cowboys. While Romo didn't play badly, he did little to show that he's not a winning QB in November and a loser in December. The game against the Buccs is a trap game that I'm predicting will result in a loss for the Boys.

12. Chicago Bears: 165 (181)
Previous Week: 11
Notes: The Bears season is slowly slipping away after losing 3 in a row.

13. Cincinnati Bengals: 161 (180 )
Previous Week: 12
Notes: Once looking like an elite in the AFC, the Bengals are now on the outside looking in. They most likely have to win their last 3 (including a tough season ending game against the Ravens) to make the playoffs.

14. Tennessee Titans: 125 (138)
Previous Week: 14
Notes: A competitive game against the Saints, but a loss is tough given the wildcard race in the AFC. They get two easy divisional games against the Colts and Jags which can keep them in the playoff race.

15. New York Giants: 112 (82)
Previous Week: 16
Notes: A season saving win for the Giants that also puts them in the driver seat for the NFC East. If they win out (which is possible with their remaining schedule) they're in. The last game against the Cowboys at the end of the season will likely decide the division winner. Eli has been outstanding this year and, in my opinion, will carry this team to the playoffs.

16. Denver Broncos: 107 (79)
Previous Week: 17
Notes: I'm a Jew turned atheist, but I"m starting to reconsider my religious beliefs after seeing Tim Tebow and his winning streak. He has been coming back from the impossible and pulling off huge wins. They're luck will eventually run out (most likely against the Pats), but with the Raiders struggling and the Chargers are their last leg, they look like they'll take the AFC West.

17. San Diego Chargers: 94 (78 )
Previous Week: 18
Notes: A win that keeps them in it, but it's only a matter of time before this team is out of the playoff race. Norv Turner will also be out of a job.

18. Philadelphia Eagles: 66 (28)
Previous Week: 20
Notes: They're still hanging on to that miracle that gets them into the playoffs. They won't make it, but they'll be looking to finish at .500.

19. Oakland Raiders: 59 (98)
Previous Week: 15
Notes: The Raiders last two games are against the Chiefs and Chargers, both division games that they need to win in order to potentially beat out the Broncos for the AFC West.

20. Seattle Seahawks: 45 (14)
Previous Week: 22
Notes: If the Seahawks could play the Rams every week they'd look like an elite team. 6-7 is still better than expected from this team.

21. Arizona Cardinals: 6 (-23)
Previous Week: 24
Notes: That's 3 wins in a row now for the Cards including two in a row against good teams (Cowboys and 49ers). Games against the Bengals, Browns, and Seahawks could make this team end their season at a surprising 9-7.

22. Miami Dolphins: -2 (34 )
Previous Week: 19
Notes: No Tony Sparano. Bad time to fire a coach considering how well this team was rebounding from an awful start.

23. Buffalo Bills: -24 (23)
Previous Week: 21
Notes: The Bills continue to sink lower and lower each week. They don't even look competitive anymore.

24. Carolina Panthers: -45 (-21)
Previous Week: 23
Notes: Cam and co will look to end the season in 3rd place which is somewhat an accomplishment for a team that's used to ending their season in last in the NFC South.

25. Washington Redskins: -64 (-41 )
Previous Week: 25
Notes: A mess, but what can you expect when Ross Grossman is your leader.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars: -74 (121)
Previous Week: 29
Notes: Big week for MJD. Doesn't really matter much for this team though.

27. Cleveland Browns: -110 (-75)
Previous Week: 26
Notes: The Browns keep going down.

28. Kansas City Chiefs: -135 (-86 )
Previous Week: 27
Notes: The improvements of the Chiefs D can't mask their horrific offense.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: -169 (-120)
Previous Week: 28
Notes: The Buccs look to upset the Cowboys this Saturday night.

30. Minnesota Vikings: -174 (-152 )
Previous Week: 30
Notes: Even for a team like the Vikings, 2-11 is still worse than expected at this point.

31. St. Louis Rams: -296 (-251)
Previous Week: 31
Notes: Expect big changes for this team in the offseason.

32. Indianapolis Colts: -420 ( -398)
Previous Week: 32
Notes: I'm still in my survivor league and will be picking the team that plays them for the remainder of the season. It's a sure thing.

Monday, December 5, 2011

NFL Power Rankings Week 14

1. Green Bay Packers: 499 (473)
Previous Week: 1
Notes: The Packers proved that they are beatable by barely escaping an upset loss against the Giants. Aaron Rodgers also proved how clutch he can be and how easy a game winning drive can look. The road to 16-0 just got easier.

2. San Francisco 49ers: 408 (352)
Previous Week: 2
Notes: The only game standing in their way of a 14-2 season (and a clinch of a 1st round bye) is a home game against the Steelers. The 49ers are the better team this year and should win.

3. Houston Texans: 385 (351)
Previous Week: 3
Notes: No Schaub? No problem. The team faced their first real test without their star QB and pulled off an impressive victory.

4. Baltimore Ravens: 371 (346)
Previous Week: 4
Notes: The Ravens made it look all too easy against the Browns. Each game is very important for the rest of the season as it could mean the difference of a 1 seed and 5 seed come playoff time.

5. New Orleans Saints: 354 (314)
Previous Week: 6
Notes: This team is looking like one of the best in the NFL right now. The Packers should fear this team in the playoffs.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers: 345 (288)
Previous Week: 7
Notes: The second game between the Steelers and the Bengals looked nothing like the first with the Steelers completely dominating. The playoffs are now a definite, it's just a matter of fighting for the division instead of a wildcard.

7. New England Patriots: 335 (332)
Previous Week: 5
Notes: Some times a win will drop you a couple of spots in the rankings. A game against the Colts was one where they obviously were going to win, but still revealed the many holes this team this has on defense. They can't expect to be a Super Bowl team with that defense even with Tom Brady.

8. Detroit Lions: 231 (268)
Previous Week: 8
Notes: Tough loss for the Lions. They might need to take their next 3 against the Vikings, Raiders, and Chargers in order to make the playoffs.

9. Dallas Cowboys: 217 (236)
Previous Week: 9
Notes: A win over the Cards would have put the Cowboys in great position to take the NFC East. It would have happened if it wasn't for Garrett icing his own kicker. Now the games against the Giants are even more important.

10. Atlanta Falcons: 190 (207)
Previous Week: 12
Notes: A loss against a good Texans team on the road moves this team up 2 spots. They look like the best 7-5 team in the NFC right now.

11. Chicago Bears: 181 (208 )
Previous Week: 11
Notes: This looks like a completely different team without Cutler. A loss against the lowly Chiefs might be the game that keeps them out of the playoffs.

12. Cincinnati Bengals: 180 (223 )
Previous Week: 10
Notes: This team is starting to look less and less like the team we saw in the first half of the season. They have two remaining tough games (Texans and Ravens) and two games they should win (Cardinals and Rams). They'll need to take the two games they should win and one of the tough games most likely to make the playoffs.

13. New York Jets: 179 (127 )
Previous Week: 14
Notes: Not that the Jets are a Super Bowl caliber team by any means this year, but I predict they'll be the ones to take the 6th seed.

14. Tennessee Titans: 138 (110)
Previous Week: 15
Notes: The Titans will likely need to take one against the Saints or Texans to make the playoffs. No easy task. This team, however, has been doing a lot better than anyone would have thought.

15. Oakland Raiders: 98 (134)
Previous Week: 13
Notes: That loss puts the Raiders in a tough spot with two upcoming games against the Lions and Packers.

16. New York Giants: 82 (83)
Previous Week: 16
Notes: Although the Giants got their 4th loss in a row, they put up a good fight against the Packers. Bold prediction, the Giants take their remaining 4 and clinch the playoffs.

17. Denver Broncos: 79 (66)
Previous Week: 17
Notes: Tim Tebow looked better than he had in past games, but still needs to improve. That being said, he is still finding ways to win. The Broncos are the team to beat in the AFC West.

18. San Diego Chargers: 78 (32)
Previous Week: 20
Notes: Even at 5-7, the Chargers playoff hopes are very much alive. If they take the remaining 4, they will likely clinch the division.

19. Miami Dolphins: 34 (-13)
Previous Week: 21
Notes: This team very much deserves to be out of the bottom 20. If they played the first half like they have been the second half, they'd in the thick of the playoff race. Unfortunately too little too late.

20. Philadelphia Eagles: 28 (62)
Previous Week: 18
Notes: And it's now officially 100% over for the Eagles. Who would have thought 12 games in the Eagles would need to take the remaining 4 to even finish the season at .500

21. Buffalo Bills: 23 (51)
Previous Week: 19
Notes: The Bills are starting to look like the Bills that we are used to over the past couple of years.

22. Seattle Seahawks: 14 (-39)
Previous Week: 23
Notes: This team is fighting hard for their playoff life. They won't make it, but it's exciting to watch this team (who once looked like they had no shot) compete this hard.

23. Carolina Panthers: -21 (-83)
Previous Week: 27
Notes: The Panthers have fought their way out of the cellar in the NFC South. They are the better team than the Buccs and it's not surprise that they won that game.

24. Arizona Cardinals: -23 (-62)
Previous Week: 25
Notes: The NFC West has been the kryptonite for some of the NFC East teams and the Cardinals have been helping with this. A 7-9 or 8-8 record would be a lot more than what was expected from this team.

25. Washington Redskins: -41 (-22)
Previous Week: 22
Notes: The Redskins will be hoping to end the season better than the Eagles.

26. Cleveland Browns: -75 (-40)
Previous Week: 24
Notes: Won't be surprised if this team loses their remaining 4 games of the season.

27. Kansas City Chiefs: -86 (-130 )
Previous Week: 29
Notes: Their defense has been looking a lot better these past couple of games (even though their offense is horrendous). A nice win over the Bears that keeps their playoff hopes alive. I still think this team deserves to be ranked very low in the power rankings when you look at how they've played their entire season.

28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: -120 (-80)
Previous Week: 26
Notes: Their 4-8 record is a lot more accurate representation of this team than the 4-2 record that they started off with.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars: - 121 (-85)
Previous Week: 28
Notes: Del Rio is gone, the Jaguars still suck.

30. Minnesota Vikings: -152 (-141)
Previous Week: 30
Notes: A good offensive effort against the Broncos, but once again the Vikings come up short.

31. St. Louis Rams: -251 (-215 )
Previous Week: 31
Notes: Normally this is the type of team that would be the worst in the NFL. Lucky for them they're playing with the 2011 Colts. Unlucky for them because they lose the #1 spot in the draft.

32. Indianapolis Colts: -398 ( -384)
Previous Week: 32
Notes: I was shocked that this team staged a comeback like they did against the Pats. This team is fighting hard still which says as much about their heart as it does their talent.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

NFL Power Rankings Week 14

1. Green Bay Packers: 473 (445)
Previous Week: 1
Notes: They proved that they're well ahead of the Lions in terms of overall talent. 16-0 is looking more and more likely for this team.

2. San Francisco 49ers: 352 (392)
Previous Week: 2
Notes: Good defensive effort, bad offensive effort by the 9-2 49ers. "Easy" divisional games against the Rams and Cards should bring this team back on track.

3. Houston Texans: 351 (315 )
Previous Week: 3
Notes: Down to their 3rd string QB, the Texans are looking to be more and more in trouble. They pulled off the win against the Jaguars, but won't find it to be as easy against the Falcons.

4. Baltimore Ravens: 346 (286)
Previous Week: 6
Notes: Big win for the Ravens that helps them look like a strong chance for a #1 or #2 seed in the playoffs.

5. New England Patriots: 332 (269)
Previous Week: 7
Notes: At this point, the Patriots have the division locked and are now fighting for home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

6. New Orleans Saints: 314 (286)
Previous Week: 4
Notes: They rolled over the Giants and are now hoping to get a bye week come playoff time.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers: 288 (256 )
Previous Week: 8
Notes: They won, but it was a pretty ugly effort against a very subpar Chiefs team. They cannot play like this against stronger opponents and expect to win.

8. Detroit Lions: 268 (286)
Previous Week: 5
Notes: They face another tough game on the road against the Saints that might make this team on the outside looking in for the playoff hunt.

9. Dallas Cowboys: 236 (216)
Previous Week: 10
Notes: An expected close game against the red hot Dolphins, but the Cowboys managed to pull off the win. With the way the Giants are playing, they can take 1 out of 2 against them and would be in good shape for the division.

10. Cincinnati Bengals: 223 (190)
Previous Week: 11
Notes: A closer game than expected, but the Bengals remain one of the stronger favorites for the wildcard after a win against the Browns.

11. Chicago Bears: 208 (228)
Previous Week: 9
Notes: The spike at the last 5 seconds of the game is the type of things this team can expect without Cutler leading the way. That being said, they look like they can compete for a playoff spot for the remainder of the season.

12. Atlanta Falcons: 207 (167)
Previous Week: 12
Notes: After facing a Texans team who are having sever QB issues, the Falcons face the Panthers and Jags making it likely this team can be 10-4 or 9-5 with two games left in the season.

13. Oakland Raiders: 134 (112)
Previous Week: 15
Notes: Even with the Broncos on their tail, the Raiders are looking more and more like the division favorites.

14. New York Jets: 127 (104)
Previous Week: 16
Notes: Big win for the Jets that keeps them in the thick of the playoff race. Chances are they'll need win 4 out of their next 5 to make it.

15. Tennessee Titans: 110 (74)
Previous Week: 17
Notes: A team that has quietly been in the playoff race all year long.

16. New York Giants: 83 (144)
Previous Week: 13
Notes: A second half collapse is all too common for this team. An extremely difficult schedule doesn't help, but the Giants need to play a lot more competitively in order for them to be a playoff team. That being said, if they lose to the Packers next week (which is very likely) and take the next four against the Cowboys (2 games), Jets, and Redskins (all winnable games) they clinch the playoffs.

17. Denver Broncos: 66 (59 )
Previous Week: 19
Notes: Tebow still might not look like a NFL caliber QB, but he's winning and I guess at the end of the day that's all that really matters. Winners of 4 in a row, the Broncos should easily make it 5 with a game against the Vikings next Sunday.

18. Philadelphia Eagles: 62 (139)
Previous Week: 14
Notes: With how things are shaping up in the NFC (specifically the East), this team isn't 100% out of it if they take the remaining 5 games. 9-7 might make the playoffs.

19. Buffalo Bills: 51 (61)
Previous Week: 18
Notes: That game was like a playoff game for the Bills. Losing against the Jets means they need nothing short of a miracle to make the playoffs.

20. San Diego Chargers: 32 (56)
Previous Week: 20
Notes: The Chargers season is fading fast after an OT loss to the Broncos. Norv Turner will likely not have a job after this season.

21. Miami Dolphins: -13 (-4)
Previous Week: 21
Notes: Another solid game for the Dolphins (although this time they come out on the losing end). A 7-9 record would be a nice surprise for this team who started off 0-7.

22. Washington Redskins: -22 (-53)
Previous Week: 24
Notes: They finally get a win but it's too little too late for this Redskins team.

23. Seattle Seahawks: -39 (-5)
Previous Week: 22
Notes: Still the strongest of the NFC West teams (excluding 49ers) which doesn't really mean much.

24. Cleveland Browns: -40 (-12)
Previous Week: 23
Notes: The Browns will end up between 5-11 and 7-9 resulting in another subpar season.

25. Arizona Cardinals: -62 (-89 )
Previous Week: 27
Notes: All that win over the Rams does is help confirm that this team isn't the worst in the NFC West.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: -80 (-66)
Previous Week: 25
Notes: The surprise season of last year has all been lost now after sitting at 4-7.

27. Carolina Panthers: -83 (-96)
Previous Week: 28
Notes: An expected win against the Colts. Should be a close game against the Buccs next week.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars: -85 (-71)
Previous Week: 26
Notes: It will be shocking if Del Rio has a job after this season.

29. Kansas City Chiefs: -130 (-102)
Previous Week: 29
Notes: The one positive thing that can be said about the Chiefs' game against the Steelers is that it was their most impressive defensive effort yet this season. Does little to overshadow their horrific offense.

30. Minnesota Vikings: -141 (-110)
Previous Week: 30
Notes: They once showed promise after McNabb was waived, but that was short lived.

31. St. Louis Rams: -215 (-199 )
Previous Week: 31
Notes: Will remain in this spot unless they can pull off another win this season. Don't hold your breath.

32. Indianapolis Colts: -384 ( -357)
Previous Week: 32
Notes: What else can be said? Peyton for MVP?

Sunday, November 20, 2011

NFL Power Rankings Week 12

For those of you who are fairly new to the power rankings, I base the scores on a variety of different things such as record, the records of those they have played, total offense, total defense, and point differentials between games all with a weight associated with each. The number in ( ) is the previous week's score.

1. Green Bay Packers: 445 (411)
Previous Week: 1
Notes: They face their two toughest games against the Lions and the Giants. If they win both, they'll likely be 16-0.

2. San Francisco 49ers: 392 (343)
Previous Week: 2
Notes: Who would have thought in the beginning of the season that the 49ers would be a better team than the Ravens (who they're facing this Thursday). This should be a great matchup.

3. Houston Texans: 315 (323)
Previous Week: 3
Notes: Can Matt Leinart keep the Texans on top? He'll face an "easy" game to get him into it against the Jags before his first true test against the Falcons.

4. New Orleans Saints: 286 (286)
Previous Week: 4
Notes: A win against the Giants next week means a very strong possibility of a 3 seed or better come playoff time.

5. Detroit Lions: 286 (274)
Previous Week: 5
Notes: Good teams like the Lions find ways to come back from large deficits. At 7-3 with an injured Bears team, this team looks to be in good shape to make the playoffs.

6. Baltimore Ravens: 286 (258)
Previous Week: 6
Notes: A big win over the Ravens that makes it even more likely that they'll take the AFC North.

7. New England Patriots: 269 (212)
Previous Week: 8
Notes: An expected blowout against the Chiefs. At 7-3, they're in good shape to take the AFC East with the Bills going downhill and the Jets sitting at 5-5 (with the tiebreaker in favor of the Pats).

8. Pittsburgh Steelers: 256 (252 )
Previous Week: 7
Notes: After looking subpar all season long, this team seems to be back on track over their last few games.

9. Chicago Bears: 228 (190)
Previous Week: 10
Notes: They've now won 5 in a row, but hit a huge roadblock with Jay Cutler suffering a season ending injury. Lets see if Caleb Hanie can lead this team to the playoffs.

10. Dallas Cowboys: 216 (147)
Previous Week: 12
Notes: Dallas is starting to look like the team we've expected. They almost lost that game to the Redskins, but the key to winning it was the lack of turnovers given up by the offense (namely Romo). If Romo plays his best, this team will make the playoffs.

11. Cincinnati Bengals: 190 (209)
Previous Week: 9
Notes: Two losses against the Ravens and Steelers doesn't mean this team "isn't who we thought they were" as others have stated. They played both teams tough and are still the favorite for 6th playoff seed.

12. Atlanta Falcons: 167 (128 )
Previous Week: 13
Notes: Big win over the Titans that helps keep them in both the wildcard and division races.

13. New York Giants: 144 (171 )
Previous Week: 11
Notes: That game against the Eagles was just as important to them as it was their opponent. People are now saying that they need to win against the Saints or Packers to stay alive, but not the case. If they lose both of those games and then win their remaining 4 (two against the Cowboys, one against the Jets, and one against the Redskins..all possible wins) they'll clinch.

14. Philadelphia Eagles: 139 (64)
Previous Week: 19
Notes: The Eagles have kept their season alive. Against the NFC East they look like the team we expect them to be, but struggle against non-division opponents.

15. Oakland Raiders: 112 (82)
Previous Week: 18
Notes: Who would have thought that the team standing in the Raiders way of a division title would be the Broncos?

16. New York Jets: 104 (119)
Previous Week: 14
Notes: Tough loss. 6-4 and 5-5 is a big difference right now in the AFC wildcard race. The Jets need to turn it around (especially on offense) and fast.

17. Tennessee Titans: 74 (106)
Previous Week: 15
Notes: The bright spot in the Titans loss was Locker who looked great at QB.

18. Buffalo Bills: 61 (104)
Previous Week: 16
Notes: Well, the Bills I guess weren't the elite team we thought they were over their first few games. The Dolphins might actually catch them.

19. Denver Broncos: 59 (15 )
Previous Week: 20
Notes: Don't want to take away from the Broncos great win, but Tebow does not look as good as others have been making it out to be. He's lucky he's won his last two games and needs to significantly improve at the starting QB position in order for this team to win the AFC West.

20. San Diego Chargers: 56 (93)
Previous Week: 17
Notes: The only reason this team is still alive for the playoffs is that they play in the AFC West.

21. Miami Dolphins: -4 (-54 )
Previous Week: 28
Notes: Winners of 3 in a row, the Dolphins are not only winning, but winning big. Dallas better be careful this Thursday and not take this team lightly.

22. Seattle Seahawks: -5 (-54)
Previous Week: 27
Notes: I can't say that the Seahawks are a "good team", but they are definitely separating themselves from the Cardinals and Rams. Given that they play in the NFC West, this team can finish the season at 8-8.

23. Cleveland Browns: -12 (-50)
Previous Week: 26
Notes: They won a home game against a team that's about equal (maybe slightly less) in their playing ability. This team always seems to beat the teams below them and lose to the teams that are average or good.

24. Washington Redskins: -53 (-35)
Previous Week: 21
Notes: So close to breaking out a slump, but still ended up at the losing end. Grossman played a great game, but it just wasn't enough. The Redskins are officially (albeit not mathematically) out of the playoff hunt.

25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: -66 (-49)
Previous Week: 24
Notes: They don't lose too many spots in the rankings since they played the Packers a lot closer than anyone expected. Losers of 4 in a row, they face a must win against the Titans.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars: -71 (- 49)
Previous Week: 25
Notes: The Jaguars might very well lose their next 5 before ending their season with a game against the Colts.

27. Arizona Cardinals: -89 ( -46 )
Previous Week: 22
Notes: After a shocking win against the Eagles on the road they are brought back to reality with a thrashing by the 49ers.

28. Carolina Panthers: -96 (-48)
Previous Week: 23
Notes: Would have been a nice surprise victory for the Panthers. Instead they blow a big lead against the Lions.

29. Kansas City Chiefs: -102 (-57)
Previous Week: 29
Notes: No surprise that they lost as badly as they did to the Patriots. What was more surprising was how competitive they played for the first quarter and a half.

30. Minnesota Vikings: -110 (-77)
Previous Week: 30
Notes: They face a tough remaining schedule and can very likely end up 2-14.

31. St. Louis Rams: -199 (-154)
Previous Week: 31
Notes: They worst of the teams with at least a victory. They'll remain that way unless they can take 2 out of 3 against the Cards, 49ers, and Seahawks in the coming weeks.

32. Indianapolis Colts: -357 (-357)
Previous Week: 32
Notes: Someone left a comment on my last post about how the Colts might be throwing their season for a #1 draft pick. While at this point they might be aiming for that, they can still win a game and be guaranteed the worst record in the NFL. Plus. I don't think a team ever really wants to be associated as "one of the worst NFL teams in history". This team is just downright awful. I am hoping their losing streak continues as I am picking the Panthers on the road against them in my survivor pool.

Monday, November 14, 2011

NFL Power Rankings Week 11

1. Green Bay Packers: 411 (355)
Previous Week: 1
Notes: They should be able to cruise to 10-0 with a home game against the Buccs next week before facing a potential first loss with two road games against the Lions and Giants. If they win both of those, they'll likely go 16-0.

2. San Francisco 49ers: 343 (307)
Previous Week: 2
Notes: It was an expected close game against the Giants, but the 49ers put up another impressive win against the Giants at home. At 8-1, barring any monumental collapse, they are pretty much a definite for the division winners. Now they'll need to go after a 1 seed for the playoffs.

3. Houston Texans: 323 (262)
Previous Week: 5
Notes: I feel like a broken record, but this team does not get enough credit in power rankings. That being said, it will be interesting to see how this team copes without Schaub for the season. Their #3 spot in the rankings might be short lived. Either way, 3-3 for the rest of the season (maybe even 2-4) will make them division winners.

4. New Orleans Saints: 286 (255)
Previous Week: 6
Notes: An important win that gives them a little bit of breathing room in the NFC South. They still face 3 tough games this season against the Giants, Lions, and another game against the Falcons, but should be able to find themselves at 11-5 or 12-4 at the end of the season.

5. Detroit Lions: 274 (289)
Previous Week: 3
Notes: Tough loss against the Bears. Now with the series split between the two teams and both having the same record, the 5th seed can very likely be either team's. The Lions still rank as one of the best teams in the NFL despite their issues on Sunday with turnovers.

6. Baltimore Ravens: 258 (276)
Previous Week: 4
Notes: The Ravens seem to be able to play good teams extremely well, but play down against teams that they should easily beat. Their 3 losses this season come against the Titans, Jags, and now the Seahawks. While their two victories against the Steelers puts them in good shape for the division, it's worrisome how they seem to not put up their best effort against subpar teams (even their win over the Cards was almost a loss).

7. Pittsburgh Steelers: 252 (219 )
Previous Week: 8
Notes: An important win for the Steelers. At the end of the season , a wildcard spot could very well come down to tiebreakers and Sunday's win over the Bengals could put them into the playoffs.

8. New England Patriots: 212 (188)
Previous Week: 10
Notes: A win by the Pats puts them at a big advantage for the division. A game ahead of both the Jets and Bills and they have the tiebreaker now over the Jets.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: 209 (238)
Previous Week: 7
Notes: They put up a fight against the Steelers and even with a loss, I think Sunday's game proves this team is more than legit. They will contend for a wildcard (and maybe surprisingly a divisional title) for the remainder of the season.

10. Chicago Bears: 190 (153)
Previous Week: 14
Notes: They made a statement with a very impressive win over the Lions that they are the same team that we remember them being last year. Besides the Packers, they play 6 games for the remainder of the season who they are better than meaning that a 12-4 record is very possible.

11. New York Giants: 171 (191)
Previous Week: 9
Notes: So far they are 1-1 with their remaining tough schedule. They did put up a strong fight against the 49ers on the road. Very surprising to say that a game against the Eagles next Sunday night might be a big confidence booster for this team.

12. Dallas Cowboys: 147 (115)
Previous Week: 16
Notes: Are the Cowboys turning a corner or are the Bills not as good as we thought they were? I think it's somewhere in the middle. Don't expect the Cowboys to replicate what they did for the remainder of the season, but as long as Romo is solid this team will be in the NFC East hunt.

13. Atlanta Falcons: 128 (155 )
Previous Week: 13
Notes: Would have been a huge win for the Falcons at home, but they came up just short. Even at 5-4, they have a legit shot at the wildcard and even the division still.

14. New York Jets: 119 (158)
Previous Week: 12
Notes: Tough break for the Jets. Seems pretty unlikely that they'll win the division even though they're only one game behind first. With the AFC North likely having two teams fighting for the wildcard and the Bills possibly still putting up a fight towards the end of the year, it won't be easy for the Jets to make the playoffs. Even the Titans could surprise us all.

15. Tennessee Titans: 106 (43)
Previous Week: 19
Notes: I still say this team won't finish past 9-7, but that was still an impressive road win against the Panthers.

16. Buffalo Bills: 104 (169)
Previous Week: 11
Notes: After looking like one of the elites, this team is fading fast with two ugly losses in a row. They'll end up being around a .500 team

17. San Diego Chargers: 93 (116)
Previous Week: 15
Notes: It's hard to act surprised that they lost against the Raiders considering how this team has been playing as of late. The division is officially up for grabs by anyone.

18. Oakland Raiders: 82 (46)
Previous Week: 18
Notes: A nice win against the Chargers that puts them into sole possession of 1st in the AFC West. Expect the first place team to fluctuate a lot, however, for the remainder of the season.

19. Philadelphia Eagles: 64 (98)
Previous Week: 17
Notes: Well, I think it's safe to say that nobody is expecting much out of the Eagles anymore. They aren't just under performing, they are one of the lower teams in the NFC.

20. Denver Broncos: 15 (-27 )
Previous Week: 24
Notes: Don't be surprised if they sneak up from behind and take a weak AFC West division.

21. Washington Redskins: -35 (1)
Previous Week: 20
Notes: The return of Rex Grossman didn't bring the team to wear they were prior to starting Beck (3-1). Stick a fork in this team.

22. Arizona Cardinals: -46 ( -78 )
Previous Week: 28
Notes: A streak??? By the Cards?? Well it happened and against the Eagles on the road. This team is pretty much around the same in terms of skill level all the way down to about 29 or 30 in the rankings so I'd take their ranking with a grain of salt.

23. Carolina Panthers: -48 (1)
Previous Week: 21
Notes: I liked this team all year long despite their record. I still think Cam Newton is an exciting player to watch, but I guess this team is really as bad as their 2-7 record says they are.

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: - 49 (- 15)
Previous Week: 22
Notes: No surprise they were blown out by the Texans at home. Again, they are a lot worse than their record indicates.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars: - 49 (-77)
Previous Week: 27
Notes: If everyone can play the Colts, all teams would look like a playoff caliber team.

26. Cleveland Browns: -50 (-26)
Previous Week: 23
Notes: The Browns are not only one of the worst teams in the league, but one of the more boring ones to watch.

27. Seattle Seahawks: -54 (-91)
Previous Week: 29
Notes: If this team can play like they did against the Ravens and Giants every week, they'd be viewed as playoff contenders. Unfortunately, these games are really flukes for what they really are.

28. Miami Dolphins: -54 (-103 )
Previous Week: 30
Notes: Two wins in a row for the once winless Dolphins. Lets see if they can pull of a 3rd with an impressive win over the Bills.

29. Kansas City Chiefs: -57 (-48)
Previous Week: 26
Notes: I honestly would put them in the bottom 2 if it wasn't for their 4 wins. They are horrible.

30. Minnesota Vikings: -77 (-36)
Previous Week: 25
Notes: An unsurprising blowout against the Packers. Doesn't necessarily mean this team won't win a few more games with Ponder as QB, it's just that with all of the upset / wins by the bottom ranked teams, it makes it difficult to have them out of the bottom 3.

31. St. Louis Rams: -154 (-191)
Previous Week: 31
Notes: A win at least makes them not in sole possession of the 2nd to worst record in the NFL. I think in a head to head match up, they'd beat the Chiefs (who are 2 spots ahead), but 2-7 an 4-5 are a big difference.

32. Indianapolis Colts: -357 (-329)
Previous Week: 32
Notes: (Insert comment about how terrible they are here).

Monday, November 7, 2011

NFL Power Rankings Week 10

1. Green Bay Packers: 355 (324)
Previous Week: 1
Notes: I can't remember the last time I saw a QB perform as well as Aaron Rodgers has this season.

2. San Francisco 49ers: 307 (264)
Previous Week: 3
Notes: Being at 7-1 moves them up to the 2nd spot in the rankings. It should be a great game against the Giants.

3. Detroit Lions: 289 (293 )
Previous Week: 2
Notes: A team that doesn't get enough credit in most power rankings. The Lions are better than any team in the AFC.

4. Baltimore Ravens: 276 (245)
Previous Week: 4
Notes: As expected, it was a close game against the Steelers, but the better team won. Even they've struggled during some games, this Ravens team is one of the most put together teams at both sides of the bowl in the NFL.

5. Houston Texans: 262 (226)
Previous Week: 6
Notes: Another team that doesn't get enough credit. They might be playing in arguably the second to worst division in the NFL, but they're winning convincingly.

6. New Orleans Saints: 255 (196)
Previous Week: 10
Notes: A nice bounce back by the Saints. They're pretty bipolar this year, but they should still take the division.

7. Cincinnati Bengals: 238 (211)
Previous Week: 8
Notes: You can complain about their schedule all you want, but a 6-2 record by this Bengals team is very impressive (which includes a win over a good Bills team). This team can be competitive all season for the division title.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers: 219 (240)
Previous Week: 5
Notes: Losing both games to the Ravens puts them at a huge disadvantage for the division especially with the Bengals having a surprisingly good season. It really is a must win next week against them.

9. New York Giants: 191 (150)
Previous Week: 11
Notes: They have arguably the toughest remaining schedule in the NFL (including Sunday's game) and started off strongly against the Pats on the road. If they can beat the Patriots on the road, they can beat almost anyone. The Giants at 6-2 can likely go 5-3 for their second half and take the division.

10. New England Patriots: 188 (213 )
Previous Week: 7
Notes: Tough loss against the Giants. Their once dominant offense looked average against the Giants. Considering how awful their D is they cannot afford to struggle as much as they have been on offense over their last 3 games.

11. Buffalo Bills: 169 (199)
Previous Week: 9
Notes: Division games are always tough especially against a good Jets team. The Bills will still be in it all season long.

12. New York Jets: 158 (110)
Previous Week: 14
Notes: A big win that brings them into a 3 way tie for first. Considering how the Pats have been playing as of late, they have a stronger chance to win the division then most thought a couple of weeks ago.

13. Atlanta Falcons: 155(101 )
Previous Week: 16
Notes: Basically a scrimmage game against the Colts, but the Falcons find themselves at 5-3. Not as good of a team as they were last year, but a strong contender for the wildcard.

14. Chicago Bears: 153 (109)
Previous Week: 15
Notes: A huge win over the Eagles making them one of the favorites for a wildcard spot.

15. San Diego Chargers: 116 (140)
Previous Week: 12
Notes: They got rolled over by Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense, but put off a strong effort offensively. They're lucky the Raiders and Chiefs have been struggling.

16. Dallas Cowboys: 115 (87 )
Previous Week: 17
Notes: They won a game that everyone expected to. Not that impressive. The Cowboys will be inconsistent all year long and will be around 8-8 or 9-7.

17. Philadelphia Eagles: 98 (130)
Previous Week: 13
Notes: Are the Eagles better than their 3-5 record? Sure. Well, maybe. Even if you think they're team is talented, they really haven't done anything all year. They beat the Rams and Redskins (close game) which was anything but impressive and had only one really great game against the Cowboys. Now at 3-5, they need a miracle to clinch the division and almost as much of a miracle to take the wildcard with the Cowboys at 4-4, Lions at 6-2, Bears at 5-3, Falcons at 5-3 ,and even the Buccs at 4-4.

18. Oakland Raiders: 46 (80)
Previous Week: 18
Notes: Tough lost against the Broncos. A win would have been a huge in the lowly AFC West.

19. Tennessee Titans: 43 (70 )
Previous Week: 19
Notes: Another "average" time that will end up between 7-9 and 9-7.

20. Washington Redskins: 1 (49)
Previous Week: 20
Notes: Started off the season as a nice surprise and are quickly becoming one of the worst in the NFL. They look horrible offensively (Beck and Grossman are not the answer).

21. Carolina Panthers: 1 (1)
Previous Week: 24
Notes: In my opinion, one of the better sub .500 teams in the league (even more so than a lot of 3-5 teams). They won't be contenders for the playoffs, but will be a fun team to watch all season.

22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: - 15 (41)
Previous Week: 21
Notes: Besides the Chiefs, the worst .500+ team in the league. They do not look like a team that can compete for a playoff spot.

23. Cleveland Browns: -26 (23)
Previous Week: 23
Notes: An unsurprising loss by the Browns. Hillis coming back wouldn't make too much difference for the team considering how much he has struggled.

24. Denver Broncos: -27 (-79 )
Previous Week: 28
Notes: A nice win by Tebow and gang that brings them within only 1 game of first place.

25. Minnesota Vikings: -36 (-38)
Previous Week: 25
Notes: It's only 2 games without McNabb, but they won against the Panthers and put up a fight against the Packers. They can go from 2-6 to 7-9 (don't be surprised if they do).

26. Kansas City Chiefs: -48 (38)
Previous Week: 22
Notes: Much worse than their record indicates. Who did they beat? A Vikings team with McNabb, Chargers when they should have lost, the Raiders right after they lost Campbell, and a close game against the lowly Colts. I was not surprised that they were destroyed by the Dolphins.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars: -77 (-71)
Previous Week: 27
Notes: Del Rio can't really do much at this point to save his job. Even if his team bounces back and finishes off the half strong they won't make the playoffs.

28. Arizona Cardinals: -78 ( -97 )
Previous Week: 29
Notes: A disgusting battle against the Rams, but the Cards came up with a victory.

29. Seattle Seahawks: -91 (-59)
Previous Week: 26
Notes: They can take 2nd in the division with a 4-12 record.

30. Miami Dolphins: -103 (-155 )
Previous Week: 30
Notes: A better team than their 1-7 record indicates and they proved that with their first win of the season. They will get a couple of more wins.

31. St. Louis Rams: -191 (-174)
Previous Week: 31
Notes: Would have been nice for them to win 2 in a row. Against the Cards, that was really their only shot.

32. Indianapolis Colts: -329 (-281)
Previous Week: 32
Notes: Not only the worst team in the league, but one of the worst teams I've seen in a long, long time.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

NFL Power Rankings Week 9

Heading into Week 9 we saw a huge upset (Rams over Saints) and a couple of close ones (Giants and Dolphins, Cards and Ravens).

1. Green Bay Packers: 324 (329)
Previous Week: 1
Notes: They actually benefited from the bye week as very few of the top 10 teams stepped up and had impressive performances. They remain, easily, the #1 team in the league.

2. Detroit Lions: 293 (224)
Previous Week: 5
Notes: Back at #2, the Lions demonstrated that those two losses weren't a sign of things to come. Yes it was against the Broncos, but that was an impressive win.

3. San Francisco 49ers: 264(231)
Previous Week: 2
Notes: They move down to #3 even after a win due to the impressive win by the Lions. At 6-1, they pretty much clinched the NFC West. The next goal is to get a #1 or #2 seed in the playoffs.

4. Baltimore Ravens: 245 (222)
Previous Week: 6
Notes: After what looked another upset loss for the Ravens, they bounced back and had their biggest comeback in franchise history. Even though they etched out a win, it still shows some concerns with this team.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers: 240 (219)
Previous Week: 7
Notes: I have been saying all year that this team does not look good at all, but they were impressive against the Patriots. I'm going to say that it's mostly due to the talent on the Steelers more so than the Pats being overrated.

6. Houston Texans: 226 (195)
Previous Week: 8
Notes: Another division win for the Texans. With all the troubles in the AFC West, they no longer look like the weakest of the division leaders.

7. New England Patriots: 213 (225)
Previous Week: 4
Notes: Tough loss for the Patriots. They should win against the Giants at home next week, but you never know what kind of Giants team you'll see on the football field.

8. Cincinnati Bengals: 211 (170)
Previous Week: 10
Notes: They have been quietly emerging as one of the elite AFC teams. An away game next week against the Titans should be a good one. If they win, don't rule them out for winning the AFC North.

9. Buffalo Bills: 199 (151)
Previous Week: 11
Notes: A good win against a struggling Redskins team. While the 49ers are putting up a more surprising and impressive season, the Bills are right behind them.

10. New Orleans Saints: 196 (227)
Previous Week: 3
Notes: Ouch. Who would have thought it would be the Saints who give up the Rams first win? It wasn't even close at that. Even with that loss, they are still the clear division favorites.

11. New York Giants: 150 (135 )
Previous Week: 12
Notes: It wasn't pretty, but the Giants found a way to win. Even with being 2 games up in the NFC East, it's hard to call them the division favorites as they have the toughest remaining schedule in the NFL (remaining 9 games teams have a combined record of 29 - 15..and that includes a 3-4 Eagles who have been great as of late)

12. San Diego Chargers: 140 (171)
Previous Week: 11
Notes: Yes they should have won that game, but the fact of the matter is they played like crap for most (if not all) of the 60 minutes. Now tied with the Chiefs and Raiders for 1st in the AFC West, they are far from looking like a lock to clinch the division this year.

13. Philadelphia Eagles: 130 (68)
Previous Week: 19
Notes: Sunday night was the first time that the Eagles actually looked like the time they are supposed to be. An impressive win over the Cowboys. A win over the Bears next week will show that this team is back on track.

14. New York Jets: 110 (118)
Previous Week: 14
Notes: The Pats losing opens up the door for the Jets (even with a win by the Bills). Huge games against the Bills and then the Pats. If the Jets take both games, they will have a strong chance to take the division.

15. Chicago Bears: 109 (108)
Previous Week: 15
Notes: A win over the Eagles next week will make the Bears strong wild card contenders.

16. Atlanta Falcons: 101 (94)
Previous Week: 16
Notes: I've been disappointed with the Falcons this year, but think they are a better 4-3 team than the Buccs. They face an easy game against the Colts before going back home for an important game against the Saints.

17. Dallas Cowboys: 87 (123)
Previous Week: 13
Notes: The fact that the Cowboys couldn't' even play competitively against the Eagles shows how much trouble this team is. Romo has proven himself a good quarterback at times, but his lack of ability to perform in clutch situations is troublesome for the Cowboys. I won't be surprised if they get rid of him next season.

18. Oakland Raiders: 80 (78)
Previous Week: 18
Notes: The Chiefs pulling out a win against the Chargers benefited the Raiders as they now sit in a 3 way tie for first. If McFadden gets healthy and Palmer starts to play well this team has as good of a chance to take the division as the Chargers.

19. Tennessee Titans: 70 (46)
Previous Week: 21
Notes: An easy game for the Titans, but could have also been a trap game for them (it's easy to take the Colts lightly). Chris Johnson really needs to step up his game.

20. Washington Redskins: 49 (93)
Previous Week: 17
Notes: After looking long they can compete for the NFC East division, they have been getting worse and worse each week. As much as Grossman is not a good QB, he's better than Beck and has helped the team start off the season at 3-1. They need to put him back in the starting position.

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 41 (45)
Previous Week: 22
Notes: Nothing likely made the Buccs happier than seeing the Saints get upset like that against the Rams. Now if they can take 2 out of 2 against the Saints next week, they have a legit shot of winning the NFC South. I still think this team has a lot of issues and is one of the weaker +.500 teams.

22. Kansas City Chiefs: 38 (16)
Previous Week: 24
Notes: I said last week that if they beat the chargers they'd be out of the bottom 20, but still not sold on this team. They should have lost that game and while they have made significant improvements since their horrendous 0-3 start, they still have a long way to go.

23. Cleveland Browns: 23 (60)
Previous Week: 20
Notes: Browns are a "what you see is what you get" type of team. They beat the teams you'd expect and lose to the ones you'd expect. Expect a loss next week against the Texans followed by a win next week against the Rams.

24. Carolina Panthers: 1 (23)
Previous Week: 23
Notes: Very close game against the Vikings, but come out on the losing end. They are one of the more exciting sub-.500 teams to watch and definitely have been giving 100% each week.

25. Minnesota Vikings: -38 (-53)
Previous Week: 28
Notes: The post McNabb era looks promising for the Vikings after beating the Panthers and coming close to beating the Packers. They'll be looking for redemption next week against the Packers, but even if they don't get it expect a great game the following week against the Raiders.

26. Seattle Seahawks: -59 (-19)
Previous Week: 26
Notes: Given the way the Cowboys have been playing, expect the possibility of a Seahawks upset next week.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars: -71 (-17)
Previous Week: 25
Notes: A great defensive win over the Ravens followed by a poor performance against the Texans. They follow the bye week with a, what they hope to be, a morale booster against the Colts.

28. Denver Broncos: -79 (-32 )
Previous Week: 27
Notes: I can never grasp how people can give up on a rookie QB after only a couple of games. Tebow looked bad against a great Lions team, but he'll get better as the year progresses.


29. Arizona Cardinals: -97 (-66 )
Previous Week: 29
Notes: So close to upsetting the Ravens, but couldn't hold on. This team has played close in all of their loses except against the Vikings and Steelers, but still stand at 1-6.


30. Miami Dolphins: -155 (-130 )
Previous Week: 30
Notes: Another close game, but the Dolphins still have yet to win. This team will win sooner than later (and will likely win more than 1 game this season).

31. St. Louis Rams: -174 (-219)
Previous Week: 31
Notes: Who would have thought this team's first win would be against the Saints?? What a morale booster. That being said, I couldn't put them past the Dolphins yet. While an impressive win, the Dolphins are still a better team.

32. Indianapolis Colts: -281 (-226)
Previous Week: 32
Notes: With the Rams winning, the Colts will have a long way to go before getting out of the cellar. This team can easily go 0-16 this year.