Now that the season is 1/4th done, it is time to finally take stock of the teams in the NFL. First, I have to address what just transpired over the last three days. To put it short, I sucked ass at picking games. That 5-9 performance was the worst ever in a week of picking games since I started this blog. That was shameful. I was the Miami special teamers, and the games were Patrick Chung. Either way, I will regroup (much like the Colts will) and get better. On to the power rankings. By the way, I have never seen the league as such a big jumbled mess as it is in 2002. We could have a year where the best team goes 12-4. The last time the league was like this was in 2002. In the mid-nineties, this type of thing happened almost every year, where there was one 13-3 team, a couple 12-4 teams, and about 500 10-6 or 11-5 teams. In 2002, the Raiders actually had the one seed with an 11-5 record. The NFC might be won with an 11-5 record this year.
32.) Buffalo Bills (0-4)
Man, that was a pitiful performance. This type of schizophrenic playing is just rampant in the league this year. The Bills play the Pats close in New England, then go back home and get drilled by the Jets. The Pats crush the Bengals in Week 1, who then beat the Ravens in Week 2, who beat the Jets in Week 1, who beat the Pats in Week 2. The league is never transitive, but this year it seems that every team might play completely different depending on the lunar cycle. (by the way, I hope you appreciated that little diversion, as it stopped me from having to talk about the Bills).
31.) Carolina Panthers (0-4)
Tough luck losing that game, but this team is also one of those that have really, really let me down. Of course, had I known that they were going to switch QBs, I would never have thought they would come close to the 8 wins I predicted. The only silver lining is that their running game finally got it going. Of course, they combined to make two of my fantasy teams start a combined 2-4 the first three weeks. Thanks a lot, fuckers.
30.) Cleveland Browns (1-3)
The Browns won a GAME!!! I'm not quite sure how. They didn't play particularly well, nor did they get too many turnovers from the Bengals. Either way, with a brutal schedule from here till mid November (at which point it lightens up considerably), Mangini probably saved his job by getting a win. So good on him for that.
29.) Detroit Lions (0-4)
They deserved to win that game. Mainly because I love what excuses the Packer-fondling media would have come up with to explain that loss. The Lions need to be better in the red zone. I will say this: Calvin Johnson is back. Megatron will be one of the best WRs in the league for the season, and will eventually take over the mantle from his secret cousin, Andre.
28.) San Francisco 49ers (0-4)
When you can't beat a team after jumping out to a 14-0 nothing lead, and they drive for the game winning field goal on a 60 yard drive with one minute left, you deserve to be this far down. Never, ever, ever, ever go with the consensus public for anything when the item in question has not proven it before. Everyone (me included) thought the 49ers would win that division. We're all going to be wrong. In fact, even though they currently are only 2 games behind, I still give the 49ers a 0% chance of winning that division. And 7 wins may take it. Still have no shot.
27.) Arizona Cardinals (2-2)
This is a despicable 2-2 team. They've won two games by two and one point, and if Sebastian Janikowski wasn't balancing a ham sandwich on his thighs, they lose the game against Oakland. Their two losses were 7-41 and 10-41. Yeah, they suck. Their o-line was good enough to keep Kurt Warner upright, and now they can't block a Chargers pass rush that hasn't existed since 2007. This team is despicable, and is somehow tied for first place. Again, all that known, still I give the 49ers no chance to win that division.
26.) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2)
Congratulations for winning the one game that you actually prepare and play hard for. That was well done. I could not hate a more irrelevant team if I tried. This is like Yankees fans hating the Blue Jays for beating them 10 times out of 18. The Jaguars are the most despicable team. They gave absolutely no effort the week before against the Eagles. None. They played like they were all drunk. Suddenly, they start playing like a team that should be in the wild card hunt. Hate them. They deserve to all be forced to wade in a gator-filled everglades.
25.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1)
There is still a bad taste in my mouth after that pitiful performance two weeks ago against the Steelers. Their defense is improving, but their offense is still nowhere near where it needs to be. Their running game is not any good at all. Overall, they had a nice 2-0 start against two teams that are a combined 0-8. They are not very good. However, their defense has more upside than anything any team above them has to offer (save for Carolina's running game).
24.) Oakland Raiders (1-3)
I still believe in this teams ability to go 7-9. Their offense is finally moving the ball enough. They are number 10 in yards-per-game. McFadden's injury concerns me, but it didn't seem that serious. On a lighter note, here are Michael Crabtree's numbers for the 2010 season: 11 catches 139 yards. Here are Darrius Heyward-Bey's: 11 catches 142 yards. That's right, by nine feet, Heyward-Bey is outproducting the supposed next jesus of receiving Michael Crabtree.
23.) St. Louis Rams (2-2)
They have won each of their last two games convincingly at home. For a team that has gone 3-13, 2-14 and 1-15 in the last three years. They have matched their win total from 2008 and beaten their win total from 2009 in two weeks. Bradford is legitimately good. Hopefully he doesn't pull a Stafford and get hurt, or pull a Henne and gets crappy, but Bradford makes them a frisky team to watch for the future.
22.) Denver Broncos (2-2)
Credit them for winning that game. The Titans had the lead almost the whole day, but the Broncos hung in there, took sack after sack, and pulled it out. That was a gutty performance. I'll admit, Josh McDaniels is an average coach. I thought he was a horrific one, but his gameday coaching is quite good. On the other hand, as a personnel guy, they stink. Either way, he might just make it to year 3.
21.) Seattle Seahawks (2-2)
Well, that was embarrassing. They can not play on the road at all. Looking at their schedule, they only have four winnable road games, at Oakland, San Francisco, Arizona and Tampa Bay. They have a good chance to win two of those, and then they probably can go 6-2 at home and snap that division. The Giants, Chiefs and Falcons are their only tough home games, so that just might be possible. I really just want to know how they can only put up 3 points on the Rams. How can that happen. I remember when this team consistently put up at least 20 points against the Rams.
20.) Tennessee Titans (2-2)
They have a dominating pass rush, but really little else. Chris Johnson is on pace to carry the ball 376 times for 1416 yards. Those are Jamal Lewis numbers. His explosiveness should still be there, but it just is not showing, and he hasn't really gone up against the best competition (Giants and Broncos both held him down pretty well). Vince Young has done next to nothing of late, yet they still have the defense that will keep them in most games.
19.) Philadelphia Eagles (2-2)
If Vick is their starter, move them up to about 17. If Kolb is, move them down to the mid-twenties. Their schedule gets tougher, a lot tougher. That was just a flaccid performance against the Redskins. Kevin Kolb must have run about twenty straight screens to LeSean McCoy. I think people will start figuring out your schtick soon enough. You too, Fatty Reid.
18.) Miami Dolphins (2-2)
My, my, my was that despicable. How can you get two different kicks blocked. One kick blocked is fine, but two? TWO? Fuck my truck, that is unimaginable. I'm about 80% sure that I can diagram field goals and punts that don't get blocked. Chad Henne also started playing like Mark Sanchez when Sanchez is playing like Glenn Foley. They moved the ball really well against the Pats at times, but my lord could they not do a thing in the second half.
17.) Dallas Cowboys (1-2)
It has been a while since they have played, which is good because the firestorm that was the media surrounding Jerry-World had time to cool off. The Cowboys are still a good team, but not a great one, and luckily for them the league is full of good but not great teams. Hopefully Romo didn't jet off to Cabo over the bye.
16.) Washington Redskins (2-2)
That was their second division win, which makes them a more competent version of the Jaguars, even down to them having a more competent black QB. The Redskins defense finally played like they can play if they care and stop infighting. The Haynesworth situation is not going to get resolved anytime soon, which is fine if they can keep playing NFC East teams all year long. Their offense should pick it up, because it is not clicking yet.
15.) Kansas City Chiefs (3-0)
I don't care what anyone says, the Chiefs are nowhere near as good as that 3-0 record. They beat the Chargers in a game that if it were 65 minutes they would have lost. They beat a San Francisco team that sucks, and beat a Browns team by two points. Well done, fellas. Now they get a real challenge, with the Colts and Texans coming up on the road. Let me just say that if they are 5-0 in two weeks, I'll put them at number one, easily.
14.) Minnesota Vikings (1-2)
I have a good feeling about this team. I think they were rusty early, and are now a little underrated. They were beating the Saints in the second half in the "game that the road team never wins" and were one yard away from beating a game Dolphins team (unlike yesterday, when we saw a lame, tame Dolphins team). They then dominated the Lions, something that no other team has done that has played them. The Vikings have a tough schedule ahead, with trips to the Meadowlands and Foxboro, but that defense is good enough to keep them in any game.
13.) New York Giants (2-2)
My was that impressive. The Bears were great in making adjustments to limit pressure after the initial drives in each of their first two games. The Giants were the ones making adjustments. Albeit it was on the Bears, but sacking a high-school team ten times is impressive. If that defense can get back to its sacking ways, they are good to go. The Giants have a lot of winnable games here on out, so they could go on a run.
12.) Cincinnati Bengals (2-2)
Carson Palmer cannot win. When the Bengals win games, he plays average and the media crucifies him for not putting up stats and "holding the team back" (Peter King's words). When the Bengals lose games, but Palmer puts up big numbers and makes good throws and plays like a pro-bowl level QB, people crucify him for not winning games. Pick a fucking side people. Anyway, that was a pretty fluky loss to a team that plays well at times. No big worry. If they lose this week to Tampa, then worry.
11.) San Diego Chargers (2-2)
They have got to be the most schizophrenic team ever. They have played two road games where they have made every mistake in the books. They have played two home games where they dominated their inferior competition to the tune of 79-24. Philip Rivers doesn't seem to miss Vincent Jackson at all, and I might be wrong, but that seems due to the fact that the Jaguars and Cardinals just declined the offer to cover Antonio Gates. Somehow, their defense is leading the league in yards allowed, although that might have to do with those beautiful four teams they have played so far.
10.) New England Patriots (3-1)
Has any team looked more unimpressive on offense and defense and still won a game by that many points? I will say that Bill Belichick always stresses the importance of special teams, so I am not all that surprised that the Patriots special teams played out of their minds. Just know that that is not a repeatable performance, no matter how good Brandon Tate seems to be at returning kicks, or how many teams are going to not block Patrick Chung. Well done special teams, well done. You have been able to make everyone forget that the Patriots offense was largely average.
9.) Chicago Bears (3-1)
Maybe I got ahead of myself last week. I still think that the Bears are a playoff-caliber team. Their defense still seems solid to me. Julius Peppers is a beast again. They shut down the running game (save for Bradshaw when the game was out of hand), and they force turnovers. I just hope that Caleb Hannie never has to see the field again.
8.) Houston Texans (3-1)
I'll give them a pass for playing rather lack-luster, mainly because Andre Johnson was out, but that won't stop me in saying that their defense sucks, and cannot cover linebackers at all. Zach Miller killed them by essentially running the same route over and over again against Linebackers or soft zone coverages. Matt Schaub doesn't seem right. Either way, they have a big game this week against the Giants.
7.) New Orleans Saints (3-1)
They are the defending champs, and even though having looked impressive exactly zero times, are still 3-1, and a Garrett Hartley shank away from 4-0. They barely beat the Panthers but are really proving that they can win games with defense, and win games where their offense doesn't score 30 points. They will have to become more explosive on offense though, and I cannot believe that I am saying that.
6.) Green Bay Packers (3-1)
They were flat. It happens. But it has happened two weeks in a row, and in reality, three out of four weeks. Everyone wants to jump on top of the Packers and ride them till February. Everyone except for the Packers. Aaron Rodgers continues to play well, although he has a maddening affinity to throwing interceptions. Their defense is still forcing turnovers, but QBs like Michael Vick and Shaun Hill are shredding it. They are really the NFC's answer to the Patriots, except with a little more upside in that their defense can be great on the right day, which I don' think the Pats can actually do.
5.) Indianapolis Colts (2-2)
If either Brody Eldridge OR Reggie Wayne don't lose the ball around the 10 yard line, the Colts win. Everyone wants to harp on how bad the Colts defense is, and it is not good, but three of the Jaguars TD drives started across the 50. Plus, there is this little fact: The Jaguars get up for the Colts game with about 200% the intensity they do for any other game. In 2008, the Colts defense allowed two teams to cross the 400 yard barrier all year long - and both teams were the Jaguars. The Jags play the Colts tough every year in Jacksonville. Why I felt they wouldn't is beyond me. The Colts will right the ship, they always do.
4.) Baltimore Ravens (3-1)
Even after beating the Steelers, I left the game feeling that the Steelers are the better team. Either way, the Ravens have some good scalps. They beat the now 3-1 Jets, and beat the 3-1 Steelers, both on the road. The scary part is that, like the Colts, they still get to play seven of their next twelve at home, including the Bengals and Steelers in M&T Bank. The have a chance to be really, really good.
3.) Atlanta Falcons (3-1)
Good teams find a way to win, and that is what they did. They haven't been particularly pretty, nor have they been particularly overwhelming, but they have been able to keep their composure in two close games, and win games at the wire. Winning close games time and time again may be luck, but it is also a learned skill. Just ask the Colts (although the Colts are 0-1 in close games in 2010, won seven games in the 2009 Season by less than a touchdown). The Falcons seem to have that skill.
2.) New York Jets (3-1)
The hype, for the first quarter at least, has been true. Without Santonio Holmes, Calvin Pace, or in all reality, Darrelle Revis, the Jets are 3-1, lost their only game by a point, and are 3-0 in division. Their defense is as good as anyone's in the league, and they stand to get better. Sanchez still makes you scratch your head, but at least he's doing it to the question of "How'd he do that?" and not "How can anyone throw such an ass interception?".
1.) Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1)
I don't think that Ben Roethlisberger back makes them that much better, because they can't get that much better. Their offense stands to improve, but who really cares. That defense is almost as good as the 2008 unit. Their pass rush is as good as ever. Their corner play isn't as good as it was in 2008, but it is good enough considering they will give up approxamately 2.9 yards per rush on the ground. The Steelers came out the winner in the Ravens game in a way. If they can come within a minute of beating the Ravens with Chaz Batch, imagine what can happen when Ben comes back.
