These power rankings were made on October 6th, 2007 for Pro Football Critics were created heading into
Week 5. These rankings take into consideration team momentum
from this season, including player injuries and season expectations. Don't agree
with where I rank your team? Then make sure you respond by sending an email to
pokorny@pfcritics.com.
Some of you actually responded to last week's rankings. Here are two selections
I pulled out that I responded to:
REGARDING THE COLTS OVER PATRIOTS IN WEEK 4:
Bruce: "While it's hard to argue against the Colts, they barely won their
second game, so I was expecting more of an explanation on why you thought the
Pats (who've blown out all 3 opponents so far) should be rated second. I'm fine
with them being second, I just thought, since your pick is contrary to many
other "experts" that you would explain your reasons more."
Chris Pokorny: "I've been extremely impressed with how the Patriots have
played so far. I expected them to dominate opponents prior to the season
starting, but thinking it and seeing it are two completely different things.
I've been very tempted to move the Patriots over the Colts, but Indianapolis
hasn't done anything to lose their spot.
The Colts were the Super Bowl Champions, and I've always felt that in my power
rankings, unless I see in the offseason that they lost a ton of their players,
they will stay at the top of the rankings if they continue getting the job done.
The Colts have won their past two games by slim margins, but both of those
victories came against the teams that they lost to on the road last year. The
Colts rarely blow out the Texans, Titans, or Jaguars on the road these days, so
coming away with victories in instances where they did not have to rally to win
the games shows the strength that they have.
And, while I've been impressed with the Patriots domination this year, it seems
as if the Colts have actually faced the teams that are playing better football.
With both teams being at fairly equal rankings overall, I couldn't justify in my
mind putting the Patriots above the Colts at this point in time. However,
anything can happen week by week...so keep checking back to see if Brady is able
to make that leap next week."
James: "I think the Philadelphia Eagles should be higher on this list.
You have San Diego at No. 7 and they didn't put up points like the Eagles did
last week. The Eagles dominated an undefeated team. Say what you want, but the
Eagles are better than 20th. I would see them at 15th, but not 20th. You're not
showing a good team the respect that they deserve."
REGARDING THE EAGLES RANKED LOW IN WEEK 4:
Chris: "Thanks for the comment on the rankings. My reasoning for the
rankings are simple: I don't base everything only on what happens in one week.
If that was the case, I could have very well have jumped the Browns up to the
top ten after they had scored 50+ points a few weeks ago. Also, the Eagles
defeating the 2-0 Lions was a positive win, but let's not overestimate what the
Lions were actually valued at. The Lions' undefeated mark was no where near as
impressive as teams like the Colts, Patriots, Steelers, or Packers.
As far as the Chargers being ranked No. 7, they will take a huge drop in the
rankings if they lose again. They have many high quality players still that
should be able to get their act together and be one of the best teams in
football. The Eagles struggled a lot in their first two games, which is what
caused them to tank in the rankings. Now, they are building their way back up,
and if they are able to beat the Giants like I expect them to, you'll probably
see them jump up to No. 15 in my next rankings."
PRESENT STATE (WEEK 5 RANKINGS):
Chris: "So, how did things change since I responded to the questions above?
I was certainly right for not jumping the gun with the Eagles, and as I stated,
the Chargers will suffer a big drop after falling to the Chiefs. In regards to
the Colts and the Patriots though, I still stand by my decision. In all of the
years that I've been doing power rankings, I have never had one particular week
in which I had to use so many green (up) and red (down) arrows, indicating
drastic trends beginning to form in just one week's time. While the very top of
the chain remained consistent, things started taking a wild turn near the eighth
spot. Let's get to this week's rankings...
Rank
Team
Comment
1 (1)
Complain all you want
Patriots fans: the Colts haven't done anything to lose this spot. The
Colts are starting to feel the injury bug with certain players -- Joseph
Addai and Marvin Harrison in particular -- but they still have the man
that counts, Peyton Manning. The Colts are successful for a reason, and
that includes their depth (Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark).
2 (2)
Don't you get tired of
hearing people say that good teams may take an easy team for granted? Not many
people have the Bills or Jets ranked high on their boards at this point, but the
Patriots completely dominated both of them. The Patriots are also now
responsible for playing a part in the demise of the Chargers and the Bengals. If
you were looking for a better start to the season than what New England has had,
I'd like to hear it.
3 (3)
When Tony Romo is able
to go about 30 yards behind the line of scrimmage and then scramble around
for a first down, things are rolling for your team. The Cowboys own the
NFC right now, but how will they match up against some of the AFC's
competition?
4 (4)
Brett Favre and the
Packers are feeling a division title coming their way. It's darn near
impossible to win every week, but if Green Bay can take out the Bears this
Sunday, it would almost guarantee that Chicago's playoff hopes would be
doomed. Of course, then the Packers may have to worry about those pesky
Lions.
5 (8)
Fractured wrist and
all, Shaun Alexander and the Seattle Seahawks silenced critics that were
prepared for the 49ers to continue their winning streak against them.
Seattle took advantage of what is a very bad 49ers offense at this point,
en route to a convincing win.
6 (5)
Santonio Holmes may
have a bright future, but two players -- Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu --
are the individuals that make a difference for the Steelers. When you take
them out of the situation, you have what happened against the Cardinals
occur.
7 (9)
Following the
bye week, Vince Young will have to keep the Titans on track to maintain
their shot at making a run at the Colts.
8 (16)
The 49ers are playing
complete football every week. They are considered the underdogs against
the Colts this week, but they've garnered a lot of respect around the
league to be taken seriously so quickly into the season.
9 (21)
The Giants were on a
downward spiral the first two weeks, but now, something is clicking -- the
defense. Eli Manning is doing his part, and Plaxico Burress is making
plays in pain. With Brandon Jacobs set to return and the Giants having 12
sacks last week, momentum is definitely in the Giants' favor.
10 (11)
Failing to take
advantage of an early lead against the Colts is no unfamiliar sight.
11 (14)
When teams like the
Chargers, 49ers, Ravens, and Bengals all take hits in one week, the
Jaguars move up three spots despite having a bye.
12 (22)
The Detroit Lions
broke the record for the most points ever scored in the fourth quarter
last week against the Bears. Jon Kitna is more than on pace to reach those
ten wins.
13 (19)
If you thought moving
the Jaguars up three spots despite being on a bye week was nuts, then this
one should be beyond insane. Still, the Redskins are a collapse away from
being 3-0.
14
(10)
Trent Difler at
quarterback doesn't sound pretty. Unfortunately for the 49ers, neither
does Alex Smith at this point (of course, he's still be preferred by far
though).
15 (7)
Marty Ball wasn't so
bad, eh? After all, you'd have to be nuts to think a 14-win team had
something wrong with the coaches.
16 (23)
The Ravens are
handling their dual quarterback system poorly. The Cardinals are handling
their dual quarterback system effectively. It took guts for Ken Whisenhunt
to insert Matt Leinart back into the game in the fourth quarter.
17 (15)
It's a shame that the
Texans have missed Andre Johnson and Ahman Green for two weeks straight
basically. Matt Schuab has been playing well without them, but that's two
of the Texans' top players that they are without.
18 (25)
Browns fans across the
nation are rubbing their eyes, in awe of witnessing what an offense is
supposed to look like. After going winless in the division last year, the
Browns are already 2-1 this year in the AFC North.
19 (24)
How about losing 11
games in a row, only to suddenly win two in a row? Daunte Culpepper only
had five completions last week, but put five touchdowns on the board and
are atop the AFC West.
20 (6)
The offense is boring.
The defense is "aging". Brian Billick doesn't know what the hell he is
doing. Don't accuse me of saying the previous three statements; I'm merely
echoing what I've heard on Ravens' message boards across the Internet.
21 (12)
Isn't it funny that
when the Bengals start losing, people start going against Chad Johnson's
antics? We know what we get with Johnson, so let's get down to the real
problem: defense. The Bengals don't have one.
22 (13)
David Carr? Get well
soon, Jake Delhomme. Please.
23 (30)
I had written
the Kansas City Chiefs off two weeks ago, but they've managed to quietly
win two games in a row. Before you know it, the Chiefs are going to be on
top of the AFC West, riding their hot streak to the division lead.
24 (20)
As soon as the Eagles
make you think they've turned the right corner, Donovan McNabb gets sacked 12
times in one game. Fumbles on special teams, mistakes from the coaching staff,
and no offensive line doesn't sound like the Eagles teams that have made the
playoffs for several years in recent memory.
25 (17)
Brian Greise may be
the better quarterback for the Chicago Bears, but that doesn't mean he's
the right quarterback. The Bears may be better off searching the waiver
wire at this point.
26 (31)
Give credit where
credit it due to the Bills. I thought they had no shot with J.P. Losman
and Paul Posluszny out, but they pulled it together and came away with a
huge victory.
27 (18)
The Jets are proving
to be a great example of a team that can't duplicate the magic they had
last season. The close games aren't going their way this time around.
28 (26)
Kelly Holcomb isn't
doing much as the Vikings quarterback. The scary thing is this: he's done leaps
and bounds more than Tavaris Jackson did.
29 (32)
Joey Harrington did
the unthinkable: he put together his second consecutive week of a quality
NFL performance, without much to work with on offense. The Falcons are
still buried, but at least they're not done.
30 (27)
The Saints quickly
melted down to the bottom of the league prior to their bye week. If the
Saints have any chance this year, their "new" season has to start this
week.
31 (28)
The Dolphins were
probably hoping that Trent Green and Ted Ginn Jr. would lead to something
other than a zero in the win column.
32 (29)
The Rams aren't even
averaging 10 points per game. Heck, half of their points have come from
Dante Hall returning kicks for touchdowns. It's beyond low for the Rams
right now -- so low, that this week's game will feature Gus Frerotte at
quarterback and Brian Leonard at running back.
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