Power rankings: It'd be an upset if Pats DON'T go unbeaten
1. Patriots (13-0) (1): If the 1972 Dolphins aren’t worried about the Pats equaling their historic mark, then they’re in denial. Outside of a cataclysmic run of injuries – i.e. Tom Brady – how in the world can the Patriots lose their last three (Jets, Dolphins, Giants)? Giants, maybe, but only if they have something to play for on the final weekend. Even then, it’s iffy, unless the Pats rest players. And that ain’t gonna happen, folks.
2. Cowboys (12-1) (2): Tony Romo engineers another thrilling second-half comeback in Detroit, as the Pokes erase deficits of 20-7 and 27-14.
3. Colts (11-2) (3): In 2 ½ quarters, Peyton Manning throws four touchdowns as the Colts smash the woebegone Ravens, whose defense is a shell of the 2000 unit that won the Super Bowl.
4. Packers (11-2) (4): Brett Favre’s streak lives on and Ryan Grant is the toast of the town as he rolls for 156 rushing yards and a touchdown. Bet the Giants wish they had him now.
5. Steelers (9-4) (5): Maybe the Jets did the Steelers a favor a couple weeks back. By beating Pittsburgh at the Meadowlands, they let Steelers fans know that their team is good, just not great. The Patriots simply reinforced that fact with Sunday’s blowout win at Foxboro.
6. Jaguars (9-4) (6): Don’t think I’d want to be playing the Jaguars in the playoffs. They may not be in the Colts’ league – at least not yet. But give them a return match in Indy, and things might change. At Foxboro? Not quite. Still, a formidable opponent.
7. Seahawks (9-4) (8): They’re getting on the kind of roll that helped them get to the Super Bowl two years ago. Still not quite in the Cowboys’ class, but pretty darn close.
8. Buccaneers (8-5) (7): Bucs hope Jeff Garcia comes back this week.
9. Vikings (7-6) (9): They’re the Jaguars of the NFC – the team that no one wants to face in the playoffs. Even with Adrian Peterson having an off day (14 carries, 3 yards), they smacked around the hopeless Niners for their third straight blowout win.
10. Giants (9-4) (10): They win ugly, but they win. Give this team a little confidence on offense, and maybe Tom Coughlin gets his first playoff win for the Giants.
11. Chargers (8-5) (11): Still not believing in the Chargers just yet. They’ve won three straight, but we still say they should be better. Now a few players nicked, including Philip Rivers and Shawne Merriman.
12. Browns (8-5) (14): Romeo Crennel beats former assistant Eric Mangini, as the Browns’ improbable playoff run continues.
13. Titans (7-6) (12): Still a young team. Even so, they could have and should have put away San Diego with a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter.
14. Bills (7-6) (15): Give Dick Jauron credit. His defense has had a ton of injuries, and he’s going with a rookie quarterback. But the Bills are still alive in the playoff race.
15. Saints (6-7) (16): No Reggie Bush? No problem. At least against the Falcons. Saints roll in Hot ‘Lanta and keep their playoff hopes alive, albeit barely.
16. Texans (6-7) (20): Sage Rosenfels wins the battle of the backups against the Bucs.
17. Broncos (6-7) (23): Good grief. Would the Broncos make up their minds already. A playoff contender, or just a tease. Lance needs to know. Stat!
18. Redskins (6-7) (24): Redskins barely cling to playoff life with win over Bears on Thursday night. Gutty performance by backup QB Todd Collins, who goes the rest of the way in relief of injured Jason Campbell.
19. Cardinals (6-7) (13): Just not in the same league as the Seahawks. Maybe next year. Or next millennium.
20. Bears (5-8) (17): The Kyle Orton era is upon us … again.
21. Eagles (5-8) (18): They miss Terrell Owens more than they’d like to admit.
22. Lions (6-7) (19): Oh, the humanity.
23. Bengals (5-8) (22): They beat the Rams and quarterback Brock Berlin. Whoop-de-do.
24. Panthers (5-8) (21): The end of the season can’t get here fast enough.
25. Ravens (4-9) (25): They need a quarterback. And that might mean someone other than Steve McNair, who has no guarantee of being on the team next year once he recovers from shoulder surgery.
26. Raiders (4-9) (26): See Panthers.
27. Rams (3-10) (27): Legitimate concern about Marc Bulger’s lingering concussion problems.
28. Chiefs (4-9) (28): Chad Pennington and Larry Johnson in the same backfield next year?
29. Jets (3-10) (29): Down by five with less than two minutes to play, all three timeouts left, and you kick a field goal? Oh, baby.
30. Falcons (3-10) (30): The misery is now complete. Michael Vick gets 23 months behind bars, the Falcons get blown out by the NFC South rival Saints at home on national television, and Bobby Petrino resigns as head coach.
31. 49ers (3-10) (31): Put Mike Nolan at the top of next year’s Coaches-on-the-Hot-Seat list.
32. Dolphins (0-13) (32): How can the Dolphins possibly bring Cam Cameron back next year?
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Comments (6)
Can someone either put my donkey's out of their misery or can the bolts frigin lose a game?
"29. Jets (3-10) (29): Down by five with less than two minutes to play, all three timeouts left, and you kick a field goal? Oh, baby"
Understatement of the year.
"29. Jets (3-10) (29): Down by five with less than two minutes to play, all three timeouts left, and you kick a field goal? Oh, baby"
Understatement of the year.
The betting line in that Jets game was Jets +3.5.
That FG to cut the lead from 5 to 2 was VERY fishy.
Wow Bob, In the past I've wanted you to give the Steelers credit, but now you're just being charitable. :-)
Just kidding, sort of.
With their pathetic defensive play last week against the Pat's and with Aaron Smith out for the season, I'm worried about them beating the Jag's this weekend.
But hey, I'd rather you gave them too much and not too little credit.
Jacksvonille crushed a terrible team in the Panthers. Seahawks not in same class. Steelers were beaten by one of the best teams in history. No charity case here.