I'm finally free of all exam tethers, so I'll do my enhanced writing this week. Anyway, I'm planning to write something later tonight, so the power rankings will be the short version.
32.) Dallas Cowboys (1-7)
Just like we found out with the English National Team, maybe they aren't all that talented. They have to have pride in their own work. The Bills have pride, the 49ers have pride. Hell, the Raiders have pride. The 2010 Cowboys are a total embarrassment to the history of that club, and their performance over the last three weeks are probably the lowest in the history of the franchise.
31.) Carolina Panthers (1-7)
That was not a good performance, but I feel for them. This club has talent, as evidenced by their 8-5 finish to last season, but the Panthers o-line has not been anywhere near as good as it was for each of the last two years. DeAngelo Williams' injury really hurts, as does Matt Moore turning into Jake Delhomme circa 2009.
30.) Buffalo Bills (0-8)
Another week, another three point loss. This one wasn't as close as either of the last two, but the Bills really can't keep giving these chances away. I don't see many games ahead for the Bills that they could win, and even if they play better than quite a few other teams they might not be able to luck into wins.
29.) Denver Broncos (2-6)
The week off took some of the heat on the McDaniels' seat, but he has a chance to either douse the flames or ignite them even more with this game hosting the Chiefs. The Broncos have a chance to make a statement, but if they have another listless loss at home, the writing will be on the wall for Joshua F. McNasty.
28.) San Francisco 49ers (2-6)
Amazingly, they have the possibility of winning that division, as they are just two wins back. I really doubt they pull it off, but it should be fun to watch. The 49ers have some talent but they just dug themselves too far a hole to climb out of (and yes, I am trying to put in as many cliches in this column as possible).
27.) Detroit Lions (2-6)
I don't think Matt Stafford is injury prone, but extremely unlucky. Either way, there comes to a point where a player is no longer valuable because he is unlucky in injuries, and that point may be fast approaching for Stafford. Also, the Lions had no one else better at kicking than Ndomakung Suh? The punter can't even get a better extra point off?
26.) Arizona Cardinals (3-5)
That would have been a huge win, as all road wins in the NFC West are basically like two wins in any other division. The Cardinals have been the luckiest team in the league, winning one game because their opponent missed two makeable kicks (yes, we are one Sebastian Janikowski kick away from the Raiders being a 6-3 team), and another where they scored three non-offensive TDs. The luck has to run out at some point.
25.) Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4)
We'll see if they really deserve to be a middling .500 team this Sunday when they play host to Houston. I still don't think the Jaguars are anything better than a 4-12 or 5-11 team, but they inexplicably win a decent amount of games every year, kind of like the pre-Katrina Saints who were so average that you almost expected them to go 4-12 each year, but were surprised to find out they were around .500 most years.
24.) Seattle Seahawks (4-4)
Well, that NFC West spot is not a shoo-in anymore. People will overreact about the possibility that a NFC West team will get into the playoffs with a likely 8-8 record, but it isn't like this hasn't happened before. Just two years ago, the Chargers won the AFC West with a 9-7 record. Plus, the NFC West may seem to have been horrible since forever, but they are one of just three divisions to have a team in the Divisional Round of the playoffs each year since realignment, with the NFC East and AFC West being the other two. It was San Fran in '02, St. Louis '03-'04, Seattle '05-'07 and Arizona '08-'09.
23.) Cincinnati Bengals (2-6)
They are the best two win team in the NFL, if that says anything. Every single one of their losses in the five game losing streak has been by a touchdown or less. Essentially, they are the exact opposite of the 2009 Cincinnati Bengals, who won a string of close games. Also, there is nothing wrong with Carson Palmer, but Jermaine Gresham has been a major, major disappointment.
22.) Cleveland Browns (3-5)
You know Eric Mangini was orgasming during the end of that game. My God, what an ass-kicking. That was the greatest day the Browns franchise has had since the return of the Browns. Not only were they able to beat a 6-1 team, but Bill Belichick's horrible coaching job in Cleveland was part of the reason the relationship between the team and the city was beyond repair the first time.
21.) St. Louis Rams (4-4)
I really think they can win that division, and teams who haven't hosted a playoff game in years are usually hard to defeat (of course, there are many counters to this, but I like the sound of that). The Eddie Jones Dome was loud as shit back in the GSOT days, and it could come back as this team gets better. Steve Spagnuolo has also turned the Rams into an insanely competent defense.
20.) Miami Dolphins (4-4)
I find them a touch overrated. That Dolphins game was a big game. So far, the Dolphins are noted for their losses (to teams that were all before Week 8, one loss teams), but their wins haven't been impressive. The Ravens were a test for the Dolphins, and they failed miserably. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams haven't come anywhere close to matching their 2009 production.
19.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-3)
If you can ever have an impressive six point loss, that wasn't it. Like the Bengals the next night, they should have finished it off. Good for them for staying close, but when you get two yards away from taking the lead, if you think you have a future that resides in the 2010 NFL Playoffs, you get those two yards.
18.) Washington Redskins (4-4)
They had the bye week at the perfect time, cooling off some of the stories of Shanny skewering Donovan McNabb. They have a great chance to reclaim some magic against Philly, and go an amazing 3-0 in the NFC East. Will it happen? Who the fuck knows. Will it matter ultimately? Probably not, since you probably need ten wins to claim a wild card spot in the NFC.
17.) Kansas City Chiefs (5-3)
I'm not sold. That was a horrible loss, even after the refs handed them the ball when they were down four to get back in that game when the refs called an obvious down by contact a fumble. Matt Cassel just cannot make critical plays to win games. Also, that amazing running game really brought the wood against an average run defense, right?
16.) Minnesota Vikings (3-5)
That was a nice comeback, but it is probably delaying the inevitable. I will say that there still is no QB more fun to watch, emotionally, than Brett Favre. Sure, he throws abhorrently bad interceptions. Sure, he usually ends up one step short, but this is the third time he's almost pulled off amazing comebacks in the past month. Brett Favre has a penchant for playing in great endings, although he usually loses them.
15.) Chicago Bears (5-3)
That was a nice win. There is no shame to losing to the Bills by three. The Ravens and Chiefs both beat the Bills by just three, and those two did it on home. Of course, no one is going to have the Bears in the same class as those other two, but that doesn't matter to me. Julius Peppers' injury late in that game is a concern.
14.) Oakland Raiders (5-4)
There is a Raider column coming up really, really soon. The Raiders are back, finally. The Oakland Coliseum was rocking. That place is so open and spacious, yet is loud as fuck when it is packed. The Raiders can defend their house (4-1 at home). The Raiders can play great defense when they want to. They can rush the passer with anyone. The Chiefs had allowed eight sacks in seven games. The Raiders put up three. That Richard Seymour trade doesn't seem as bad, anymore.
13.) Houston Texans (4-4)
That was a tough loss. The Texans played well enough to win that game, but they couldn't stop Seyi Ajiratutu (I have no idea if I spelled that right or not), or Kris Wilson. The Texans have a lot of games against teams that are in the playoff hunt (two against Tennessee, one against Baltimore, one against the Jets). If they don't go at worst 2-2 in those games, they are not making the playoffs.
12.) San Diego Chargers (4-5)
I will pull so hard for the Chiefs the rest of the year. I want no part of the Chargers come January. I think their defense is still beatable, and their o-line is not great, but that offense is great. They can't run the ball still (Ryan Mathews was so, so, so overrated), but that passing offense is just so good. Come on Chiefs and Raiders, keep this team out of the playoffs.
11.) New England Patriots (6-2)
Yes, I did just drop them five spots, and I do it because that was not a total fluke. Yes, they did not get the breaks in that game; however, here is an equation: In the games that the Patriots got all of the breaks (Minnesota, San Diego), they won by three points. In the game that they got no breaks: they lose by 20 to a 2-5 team. They need all the breaks to win games. This was the third time the Patriots have been outgained by at least 100 yards. That was a classic butt-whooping, which is not what good teams do against 2-5 teams.
10.) Tennessee Titans (5-3)
The Randy Moss show (Act III) is up and running starting this Sunday. I don't think it is a perfect fit for Moss, because I'm not sure VY can consistently get him the ball, but he will take some pressure off Chris Johnson, who needs it to spark his 2010 season. The Titans are also widely outplaying their yards numbers with scoring, which isn't very sustainable.
9.) Philadelphia Eagles (5-3)
That was the second best game I have ever seen Michael Vick play (after his rookie playoff game against the Packers in 2002). If the Eagles started McNabb, or Kevin Kolb, they lose that game. The Colts bottled up McCoy (after that first long run), and put the Eagles into 3rd downs time after time. Outside of not converting two 3rd and Goals, Vick was able to convert a ton of 3rd downs. He was the difference, and good for him.
8.) New Orleans Saints (6-3)
The Saints might finally be over their mid-season doldrums, and in good time, since their schedule gets a lot easier coming up. I think the Saints noticed after that Browns loss that this is a new season, a new team. Brees still seems off, and that offense is still not in total sync, but with Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush set to come back, they may approach that level.
7.) Atlanta Falcons (6-2)
That was a good win, with two physical, game-winning plays to win the game, stuffing the Buccaneers two yards away from victory. The offense was nice. The key for the Falcons is to get one of those top-2 seeds. Matt Ryan is an incredible 17-1 in the Georgia Dome. If they can get a Divisional Round game at home, lock them into the NFC Championship Game.
6.) New York Jets (6-2)
That is three straight average performances, but there is something to winning those types of games, especially when the breaks don't go against you. Coming back from 10 points down with five minutes to go showed good resolve. Mark Sanchez really throws a beautiful deep ball. The Jets defense has to start playing better, though.
5.) Green Bay Packers (6-3)
I don't want to overrate a blowout win over that Cowboys team, since the Jaguars essentially did the same thing the week earlier in Dallas, but they should get credit for being the team who finally killed off the last vestiges of the Wade Phillips era. Well done, Aaron. By the way, Aaron Rodgers' stupid belt celebration thing is so horrible and bitchy. If you throw a TD fine, but when you run for a first down? No need, Aaron, no need.
4.) Indianapolis Colts (5-3)
They had a short week against a team coming off a bye. That seems patently unfair. Still, they were one semi-miracle drive away from beating the Eagles on the road with those scheduling disadvantages. Also, it seems unfair that the Colts have played three teams coming off their bye already, as well as 5 out of 8 on the road. They have had one of the toughest schedules in the league.
3.) Baltimore Ravens (6-2)
Good win, solid win. Teams that want to win a title should lay the wood against average teams at home. The Ravens were able to take the Dolphins out of that game, and Ray Rice just went off. Joe Flacco had a good game against a solid defense for once, which was a nice change. Also, Ed Reed: 2 games played, 3 interceptions. Yes, that man is a sure-fire hall of famer.
2.) New York Giants (6-2)
Five straight wins. They haven't beat many good teams, but they have crushed four of the teams in the five game winning streak. Eli Manning is great when his receivers don't tip balls for interceptions, right? Their defense is great. Their pass rush is great. The only problem is we could have said all of the same things about the 2009 Giants in their 5-0 start as well, and they finished 3-8. I don't want to be burned again.
1.) Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
They nearly blew it, but they won a game against a team playing for its life, which is big. The Steelers defense got tons of pressure on Palmer, and their running offense was quite good in the fourth quarter. Ben Roethlisberger still looks rusty, but if that throw to Hines Ward for the TD is any indication, he'll be back soon.
Playoff Projections
AFC
1.) Pittsburgh Steelers 13-3
2.) Indianapolis Colts 12-4
3.) New York Jets 11-5
4.) Oakland Raiders 9-7
5.) Baltimore Ravens 11-5
6.) New England Patriots 10-6/Houston Texans 10-6/Tennessee Titans 10-6
NFC
1.) New York Giants 13-3
2.) Atlanta Falcons 12-4
3.) Green Bay Packers 10-6
4.) St. Louis Rams 8-8
5.) New Orleans Saints 11-5
6.) Philadelphia Eagles 10-6
- Not sure who would win tiebreakers in the Texans, Titans, Patriots threesome. Head-to-head won't matter, but conference wins do. The Pats have two conference losses, which is the same as Houston. The Titans have three.
- The Saints have an easy enough schedule to go 6-2 over the second half.
- I think the Colts lose only the Thursday Night game @ Tennessee. Going on the road on Thursday Night games are really, really tough. Of course, the Colts have played a road Thursday Night game three straight years now.
- I think the Raiders and Chargers end up 9-7, but the Raiders win with a better divisional record.
Coming back later today with some Raider-centric ramblings.
