|
Week 13
Power Rankings |
|
Rank |
Last Wk. |
+/- |
Team |
Comment |
| 1 |
1 |
- |
 |
I couldn't help but lash out at NBC for keeping another Patriots game on
Sunday Night, but the Eagles ended up giving them a run for their money.
Overall though, the small margin of victory was more so a tremendous
effort by the Eagles than it was a letdown by the Patriots. |
|
2 |
2 |
- |
 |
The
Cowboys satisfied Patriots fans on Thanksgiving by annihilating the
Jets. All of the focus is shifted to the NFC's version of the Colts
vs. Patriots this Thursday now when the Cowboys take on the Packers. |
|
3 |
3 |
- |
 |
While Brett Favre's career year continues, the team's toughest test will
be on the road against the Cowboys. The winner of the game will probably
have the first seed in the NFC, and that could ultimately determine who
represents the conference in the Super Bowl. |
|
4 |
4 |
- |
 |
The Colts don't look so inept once they start getting at least some
of their weapons back, do they? The Colts have one critical game remaining
this season, and it'll be this week against the Jaguars. They'll probably
be without Marvin Harrison again, but he basically didn't play when the
teams met earlier this season either. |
|
5 |
5 |
- |
 |
The Jaguars need to beat the Colts. If they want the division, they can
have it with a win. Let's hope David Garrard plays through the whole game,
because it'd be a shame for Jacksonville to get screwed over offensively
twice in the same season when they've put together a great team overall. |
|
6 |
7 |
+1 |
 |
The Steelers really shouldn't be ranked this high considering how
they have played offensively the past two weeks against the Jets and the
Dolphins, arguably the league's worst two teams. The defense has remained
solid though, and without having lost a game in their division yet, the
playoffs are all but a certainty for them at this point. |
|
7 |
8 |
+1 |
 |
The Browns have been waiting all season for their defense to mature, and
slowly it's happening. It may not show up on the stat sheet in terms of
yardage and points allowed, but more sacks, takeaways, and stops on third
down could propel the Browns' offense even further, giving the team the
luxury of running Jamal Lewis late in games to close things out. |
| 8 |
9 |
+1 |
 |
You had to love Jon Gruden's reaction following the game in a press
conference when asked if he had wanted to get a look at Bruce Gradkowski
running the offense. Jeff Garcia is the heart and soul of the offense, and
for the Buccaneers' sake, let's hope he makes it through the entire
season. |
|
9 |
10 |
+1 |
 |
If the Seahawks had still been stuck with the mentality of running the
ball, chances are they wouldn't have had the confidence to pass so often
and rally against the Rams. Still, the big play game when the Rams fumbled
on fourth and goal from the one at the end of the game. |
|
10 |
6 |
-4
 |
 |
Eli
Manning? Three touchdowns thrown for interceptions? Defensive
injuries starting to add up? Did the Giants' giant collapse start
one game later than it did last season? |
|
11 |
15 |
+4
 |
 |
I still question some of the decisions to pass more often than running
later in the game against the Ravens, but props to Philip Rivers for
having his best game of the season. However, it's certainly easy to have a
day like that when the Ravens leave Antonio Gates wide open twice and
Chris Chambers wide open once, resulting in three touchdowns. |
|
12 |
13 |
+1 |
 |
A.J. Feeley's willingness to give his receivers a shot to make a play on
the football was the reason the Eagles played a great game with the
Patriots. The big test will be whether or not he was a one-week wonder, or
if he can push the team into the postseason if McNabb remains out. |
|
13 |
12 |
-1 |
 |
After losing on Thanksgiving, the only way the Lions would've been able to
hold onto a wildcard spot was if the Redskins, Eagles, and Cardinals all
lost. They all lost. For one week, the Lions somehow survived. |
|
14 |
11 |
-3
|
 |
After getting hot the second half of the season last year, the Titans have
taken the opposite approach this year. They've dropped three in a row and
have fallen out of the AFC wildcard position. Oh, how much they miss
Albert Haynesworth. |
|
15 |
14 |
-1 |
 |
The Texans shouldn't be too discouraged by their loss to the Browns. The
discouragement is more so in the fact that they took a big hit in the wildcard
race, though they still have a shot at creeping in. |
|
16 |
22 |
+6
|
 |
The Vikings
have won two straight games without Adrian Peterson, and they are only one
game out of a wildcard spot in the NFC. I thought the Vikings had no shot
to compete offensively this year, but the offensive line and the running
game has been beyond belief. Tarvaris Jackson isn't playing great, but
he's cut down on the turnovers. |
|
17 |
17 |
- |
 |
The Redskins are still involved in a muddled NFC wildcard race after losing
three in a row. The loss of Sean Taylor was tragic, and each of those players on
Washington will have him in mind this Sunday when they take the field against
the Bills. |
| 18 |
16 |
-2 |
 |
Imagine that you are really hungry for a candy bar -- you'd give anything for
one. Then, someone dangles a candy bar right above your head not once, not
twice, but three times. Each time, despite it being perfectly within reach, you
can't seem to grab the candy bar. Then, the fourth time, someone else grabs the
candy bar and crushes your hopes. That's how to describe the Cardinals' loss to
the 49ers in non-football terms. |
|
19 |
19 |
- |
 |
Back to Trent Edwards for the Bills. At first I wanted the team to stick with
him, then I wanted Losman to get a few more cracks, and now I can't disagree
with going back to Edwards. Overall though, the situation in Buffalo cries for a
new franchise quarterback. |
|
20 |
18 |
-2 |
 |
Kicking to Devin Hester is easier said than done, and the Broncos are a game
back in the division because of him now. |
|
21 |
21 |
- |
 |
Their game against the Buccaneers this week is what they've been waiting for all
season. If Drew Brees is on top of his game, this will be the team's final shot
at at least being competitive for a division title run down the stretch. |
|
22 |
23 |
+1 |
 |
Two Devin Hester touchdowns. A miracle Bernard Berrian touchdown catch on fourth
down. For one week, things finally went the Bears' way again. |
|
23 |
24 |
+1 |
 |
Now that's the Cincinnati Bengals team we've been waiting to see all
season long. Whether or not they can duplicate that effort against the Steelers
this Sunday will be a true test of their consistency though. |
|
24 |
20 |
-4 |
 |
The quarterback play may have been ineffective overall by Damon Huard, but going
to Brodie Croyle has been a detriment so far. Not playing Huard has contributed
to losing four in a row for the Chiefs. |
|
25 |
27 |
+2 |
 |
A fumbled snap away from winning three in a row, and more importantly a nice
divisional dig over the Seattle Seahawks. |
|
26 |
26 |
- |
 |
This team just isn't very fun to watch this season. |
|
27 |
28 |
+1 |
 |
For a quarter, Falcons fans had to be going crazy at the possibility of
upsetting the Colts. Reality set back in a mere one quarter later. |
|
28 |
25 |
-3
|
 |
It's
almost as if the Panthers' offense would be more effective if
DeShaun Foster or Steve Smith just took direct snaps all game long. |
|
29 |
30 |
+1 |
 |
After a season of quite a few close games, the Raiders do deserve some props for
breaking their losing streak, not only for this season, but over multiple
seasons against teams in their division. That doesn't change the fact that
JaMarcus Russell should be getting some playing time. |
|
30 |
29 |
-1 |
 |
The Jets better bring their A-game when they battle the Dolphins in a couple
weeks, because Miami will see opportunity in that game. |
|
31 |
31 |
- |
 |
For the
first time this season, Frank Gore and the 49ers offense came back to
life. I'm sure it'll go back to being non-existent the rest of the season,
unfortunately. |
|
32 |
32 |
- |
 |
Hi Ricky
Williams. Bye Ricky Williams. In all seriousness, I wish he would've been
able to play the rest of the season. |
