|
Week 14
Power Rankings |
|
Rank |
Last Wk. |
+/- |
Team |
Comment |
| 1 |
1 |
- |
 |
It's funny
that as soon as I, along with many other people, start complaining about
the Patriots hogging all the night games when all they do is blow out the
opposition, they start providing a reason to watch until the final seconds
of the game. It's almost as if they are good enough to control the wishes
of the fans' emotions and still win at the same time. |
|
2 |
2 |
- |
 |
Granted, had the Packers had two of their top defensive players
healthy, Tony Romo and company may not have had it so easy. In the
end, Dallas is the team ready to lock up the NFC's home-field
advantage. |
|
3 |
4 |
+1 |
 |
The Jaguars
made a game of it, but the Colts had control of the game throughout. This
team has started to score without everyone healthy -- imagine what will
happen when Marvin Harrison is ready to go again. |
|
4 |
3 |
-1 |
 |
Pain or not,
Brett Favre's streak isn't going to end just because of a little old
separated shoulder and elbow injury. As long as they don't blow it, no one
is really going to take the second seed away from them. |
|
5 |
5 |
- |
 |
David
Garrard threw his first interception of the season, but the important fact
is that he brought the Jaguars back from a deficit and showed that the
Jaguars will hang with the Colts in the postseason if the matchup arises. |
|
6 |
6 |
- |
 |
I don't
think I've ever seen a running back fumble as much as Willie Parker did in
a stretch of about three plays on Monday Night. Thanks to having the best
defense in the NFL though, the Steelers' offensive woes are able to be
covered up at this point. |
|
7 |
8 |
+1 |
 |
Luke McCown to the rescue? I wouldn't consider benching
Jeff Garcia or anything, but Josh McCown's younger brother picked a heck
of a time to have the best game of his career in a surprise start. |
| 8 |
9 |
+1 |
 |
A.J. Feeley
gave the Seahawks the game. In a week where the Cardinals won though, the
Seahawks inevitably came away the victor, maintaining a two-game lead on
their divisional foes. |
|
9 |
7 |
-2 |
 |
Replays
clearly show it was a forceout, and despite a game full of mistakes, the
Browns should've won. Instead, they'll have to win out and get some help
to maintain their wildcard spot. |
|
10 |
11 |
+1
|
 |
LaDainian Tomlinson? Is he ready to take over again? In a game where
Philip Rivers was back to struggling, Tomlinson ripped apart the
Chiefs defense in the second half to establish comfortable control
of the AFC West for the first time this season. |
|
11 |
10 |
-1 |
 |
I don't care
that the Giants came away with a big win against the Bears. For three
quarters, it was nothing but the same Giants team that has struggled the
past three weeks. That's not postseason football. |
|
12 |
14 |
+2 |
 |
Coupled with
a Browns loss, Albert Haynesworth's return vaulted the Titans back into
the wildcard race in the AFC. They have a tough schedule though, facing
two division leaders (Chargers/Colts) in their final four weeks. |
|
13 |
16 |
+3
 |
 |
Adrian
Peterson can juke people out if he was in a wheelchair apparently. The
biggest "X-factor" for the Vikings may be the fact that Tarvaris Jackson
is quietly in the best stretch of his career. During the team's three game
winning streak, he's completing 77% of his passes with three touchdowns
and two interceptions. |
|
14 |
18 |
+4
|
 |
Two
heartbreakers in two consecutive weeks for the Cardinals; except the game
against the Browns actually went their way at the end. That's enough to
currently hold the NFC's second wildcard spot. |
|
15 |
19 |
+4
|
 |
On the leg
of Rian Lindell, the Buffalo Bills are still alive in the AFC playoff
race. |
|
16 |
17 |
+1
|
 |
They lost a
heartbreaker to the Bills a week ago, but Todd Collins sweetened the deal
with a perfect outing in relief against the Chicago Bears on Thursday
Night Football. |
|
17 |
12 |
-5
 |
 |
Feeley gave
some hope, but inevitably handed the starting role back to Donovan McNabb
with several interceptions right into the hands of the opposition at
inopportune times. |
| 18 |
15 |
-3
|
 |
From 3-0
with Andre Johnson, to 3-2 with Andre Johnson. With Matt Schaub possibly
out for the season, the year of progression for the Texans has taken
another hit. |
|
19 |
13 |
-6
|
 |
Down, down,
down, and down. Ten wins seem to be light-years away from the Lions at
this point, especially with Roy Williams out of action. |
|
20 |
21 |
+1 |
 |
With the
Saints leading most of the game against the Buccaneers, I felt good about
my prediction of them making the playoffs. Then, one botched trick play
near the end of the game negated that thought, and the Saints' postseason
hopes. |
|
21 |
20 |
-1 |
 |
Not even the
returning Travis Henry and Javon Walker could will the Broncos out of
their unusual up-and-down season, losing to the Raiders' Josh McCown and
JaMarcus Russell. |
|
22 |
22 |
- |
 |
Rex Grossman
and Brian Griese? If I'm Bears fans, I don't want to see either of these
guys on my roster next season. |
|
23 |
23 |
- |
 |
Carson
Palmer's inefficiency against the Steelers, even with the tough weather
elements, was quite surprising. |
|
24 |
25 |
+1 |
 |
The Rams won
last week without Marc Bulger, improving to 3-9 on the season. Gus Frerotte is
out this week, and Bulger has suffered a setback. That means that Brock
Berlin, a former Miami Hurricanes quarterback, could get the start. Is this
Ryan Fitzpatrick version 2.0? |
|
25 |
24 |
-1 |
 |
Let's
outline what the Chiefs need in the offseason: an effective quarterback, a
backup running back, and a wide receiver. That equates to a poor offense,
which also is hurt with a weary offensive line. |
|
26 |
26 |
- |
 |
Credit to
the Ravens for nearly upsetting the Patriots after I had written them off
completely. Their actions at the end of the game and during the postgame
were classless though, regardless of the situation. |
|
27 |
28 |
+1 |
 |
I'm not
quite sure what it is, but something is keeping this team alive.
Granted, this is a hypothetical, but if the Panthers upset the
Jaguars this week, there's a great chance that they could be tied for a
playoff spot heading into next week. |
|
28 |
29 |
+1
|
 |
JaMarcus Russell's first NFL action may not have lasted long, but at
least it's finally in the books. The Raiders also stand at 4-8 and
have won two division games in a row out of no where. |
|
29 |
30 |
+1 |
 |
The Jets,
despite having only three wins, can at least breath a sigh of relief that
they knocked off the Dolphins twice this season, failing to be the team to
end their losing streak. |
|
30 |
27 |
-3
|
 |
Was that
Chris Redman at quarterback? And Tim Dwight at wide receiver? You might as
well call the Falcons an expansion team. |
|
31 |
31 |
- |
 |
No surprise
that a week after they had their only offensive sighting of the season the
49ers were back to being inept against the Panthers defense. |
|
32 |
32 |
- |
 |
For one
half, the Dolphins provided some hope that maybe, just maybe, they could
end it against the Jets. By the end of the game, the only things close to
being upset were the few Dolphins fans that may have believed their team
could win. |
