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The Ultimate Source for your Ph.D. in Pigskin |
Week Nine Power Rankings I never, at least for the foreseeable future, thought I would say that the Browns and Raiders, along with the Chargers, would share the honor for the biggest jump in the power rankings, but I am. Cleveland's dominating performance of the Patriots was a surprise, but they're doing a great job of bringing Colt McCoy along slowly, while using Peyton Hillis to control the clock. I can say, with relative confidence, that they will not be in the top ten of the draft this year. As for Oakland, if the Chargers slip up at any time down the stretch, the Raiders very well might win that division. The games I'm looking at
to shake things up this week are Baltimore-Atlanta,
Philadelphia-Washington, and New York Jets-Cleveland (don't laugh - just
ask the Pats). |
| 1 |
 |
Pittsburgh |
6-2 |
Right now, you could easily make a claim for the next two or three teams to be here, but I'll put my faith in Mike Tomlin, Dick LeBeau and the Steelers every day. |
| 2 |
 |
Baltimore | 6-2 | Ray Lewis said this week that they are the team to beat, since they beat the Jets and Steelers. He may be right, but Pittsburgh didn't have Big Ben. I can't wait for the week 13 rematch. |
| 3 |
 |
New York Giants | 6-2 | The Giants are definitely the hottest team in the league, but my concern is that their wins are against teams with a combined record of 17-31. Their two losses (Colts and Titans): 10-6. |
| 4 |
 |
New York Jets | 6-2 | In the first five games, Mark Sanchez threw for eight touchdowns and no interceptions. But, in the last three, he's got two touchdowns and five interceptions. He has to be better.. |
| 5 |
 |
Indianapolis | 5-3 | I can't really put my finger on it, but I'm starting to think this is the year Tennessee or Houston take them out. Whether it's injuries or age, they're just not the same, including Peyton. |
| 6 |
 |
New Orleans | 6-3 | I'm not sure if the bye week comes at a good time. While they'll get Reggie Bush back and heal, they were starting to roll over the last two games, outscoring their opponents, 54-13. |
| 7 |
 |
Philadelphia | 5-3 | The win over the Colts was big, keeping them close to the Giants. With the NFC South looking like a possible three-playoff team division, winning the NFC East might be the only way in. |
| 8 |
 |
New England | 6-2 | Wow, that was ugly. I think the Browns are better, but a Bill Belichick team should not get whipped in every aspect of the game from the likes of Cleveland. |
| 9 |
 |
Tennessee | 5-3 | The key to their playoff chances comes down to the five games they play in division - two each against Indy and Houston, and Jacksonville at home. |
| 10 |
 |
Green Bay | 6-3 | I'll say it right now, the Packers are going to run away with the NFC Central. Nobody else in the division can keep up with them and they look like they're hitting their stride. |
| 11 |
 |
Atlanta | 6-2 | People are still asking me how they can be 6-2 and ranked here. How about this, if they beat the Ravens, I'll make sure they're significantly higher next week. |
| 12 |
 |
San Diego | 4-5 | As usual, we're about to make the turn for the stretch run, and here come the Chargers. Why can't this team figure out how to play a full season? |
| 13 |
 |
Houston | 4-4 | Say what you want about the defense, but they played well enough in the past two games for them to win. This offense should not have been held to 17 and 23 points by Indy and San Diego. |
| 14 |
 |
Miami | 4-4 | I just don't understand the quarterback change. There's no way you can tell me that Chad Pennington's pop-gun arm gives you a better chance of winning than Chad Henne. |
| 15 |
 |
Oakland | 5-4 | Darren McFadden has 999 total yards in 6.5 games. Obviously, Tom Cable and company have finally figured out how to use him properly. |
| 16 |
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Tampa Bay | 5-3 | That was a tough loss to the Falcons this week. Honestly, I think this team is growing up in front of our very eyes, and it may even be quick enough to snag the last wild card spot. |
| 17 |
 |
Kansas City | 5-3 | They've lost their last two games and yet they're still ranked 17th. How, do you ask? Well, they've lost two road games against two good teams (Green Bay and New England). |
| 18 |
 |
Minnesota | 3-5 | How do you win and fall a spot in the rankings? Barely beat the worst 3-5 team in NFL history (Arizona) at home. Their three wins are all at home against teams that are 6-18. |
| 19 |
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Jacksonville | 4-4 | This week's game against the Texans is a must-win for both teams, if either have playoff hopes. David Garrard must be salivating at the thought of facing Houston's porous pass defense. |
| 20 |
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Washington | 4-4 | I know they're 4-4 and coming off a bye, but this looks and feel like a team heading for a tailspin, mostly because the Mike Shanahan-Donovan McNabb relationship is deteriorating. |
| 21 |
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Chicago | 5-3 | How is this team, with Jay Cutler playing so poorly, 5-3. Oh yeah, they've played one of the easiest schedules in the league, with a winning percentage of .378. |
| 22 |
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Cleveland | 3-5 | With only three winning teams left on the schedule, and Colt McCoy and Peyton Hillis getting better every week, there's no reason to think the Browns can't finish at 8-8 or better. |
| 23 |
 |
Cincinnati | 2-6 | I know he's meant a lot to the organization, and he's still a decent wideout, but Chad Johnson needs to be suspended for his act on Monday night. He's become a liability. |
| 24 |
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Detroit | 2-6 | After another close loss to a really good team, and Matt Stafford going down again, Jim Schwartz has to be wondering when the football gods will start smiling on him. |
| 25 |
 |
St. Louis | 4-4 | I think the winner of the St. Louis-San Francisco game this weekend will end up winning the NFC West. I know, it was as weird to type as it is to read. |
| 26 |
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Seattle | 4-4 | They really should be the class of their division, but when you have the 30th-ranked defense and 27th-ranked offense, it's hard to win any division, even the NFC West. |
| 27 |
 |
San Francisco | 2-6 | Maybe I'm just trying to back up some of my preseason predictions, but I really think the 49ers are about to turn it around. Think about it, 8-8 will probably win this division. |
| 28 |
 |
Dallas | 1-7 | I never thought Wade Phillips was the man for the job, but until Jerry Jones stops involving himself in the personnel side of things, this team is going nowhere. |
| 29 |
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Denver | 2-6 | Think about the guys they've given up recently - Jay Cutler (who was good in Denver), Brandon Marshall, and Peyton Hillis, to name a few. Is it that surprising to see them struggle? |
| 30 |
 |
Arizona | 3-5 | I was surprised at how close they kept things in Minnesota, but even with their schedule (no winning teams left), I still think they'll finish with five or six wins. |
| 31 |
 |
Carolina | 1-7 | I feel bad for John Fox. He's a good guy with a great football mind, and now he has to coach without DeAngelo Williams or Jonathan Stewart, and Jimmy Clausen at quarterback. Ugh. |
| 32 |
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Buffalo | 0-8 | Only eight more losses for the greatest prediction of all time! If they can get past Detroit (and by "get by", I mean lose), I'm pretty sure I'm home-free. |
