NFL Season: Week 11 Power Rankings
1. Green Bay Packers (10-0)
Putting 35 points on the board is a good day’s work for any team. Any team, that is, save the green bay packers, who looked decidedly half-arsed in their victory over the floundering Buccaneers. They say that every team – even the legendary – has a bad week at some point during the season. We saw the 2007 Patriots go 18 games undefeated before suffering an off day when it really mattered. If a 35-26 win over a 4-6 team (all but out of playoff contention) is the off-day we’ve been waiting for, Aaron Rodgers and co should take it. Perfection is still attainable and they look more and more likely to achieve it as the weeks roll by.
2. San Francisco 49ers (9-1)
Beating the cardinals to remain the NFC’s number 2 seed is no tall order. With a routine 23-7 domination, the San Francisco 49ers – this year’s surprise package – put further distance between themselves and their NFC West rivals. The Seahawks could still, in theory, catch the Niners, but seriously? It isn’t going to happen. Coupled with the remaining division leaders bleeding games here and there, the California faithful look good value for the number 2 spot.
3. New Orleans Saints (7-3)
The Saints hit their BYE week at a good time. Having weathered the longest start to the league with a few noticeable problems on both sides of the ball, escaping with just 3 losses (albeit troubling and, save the Packers’ in the first game of the season, avoidable defeats) and the lead in what was expected to be a hotly contest NFC South race, should be regarded as a success. Drew Brees’ continued health is imperative to this team’s success and as in the case of the Texans with Schaub’s injury and the Bears with Cutler’s recent thumb break, any damage to the star man will see this team plummet in the rankings. For now, though, they remain my number 3 side and occupy the same slot in the NFC.
4. Houston Texans (7-3)
Also on a break this week, the Texans face a nervy 6-game run-in as the playoffs loom. Thankfully they are by far and a way the strongest team in the AFC South with only the Titans, who dropped to 5-5 this week after a 6 point loss to a resurgent Atlanta, anywhere near them. The two-game cushion the Texans are currently lounging on may have some of the stuffing knocked out of it over the next fortnight as they try and adjust to having Matt Leinart under centre while Schaub recovers from his injuries. For all the criticism Leinart has endured over his career, he’s certainly not a bad back-up and should be able to manage the game effectively enough for Houston to continue their winning ways. Driven by a dominant D and a rarefied rushing attack, this team is well-suited to the playoffs and should make it with ease.
5 (6). Baltimore Ravens (7-3)
By beating the difficult Bengals, the Ravens have put themselves in complete control of the AFC North. With the Steelers resting up and unable to maintain their one-game lead, the Ravens have levelled the score at 7-3 apiece, but with the significant advantage of a season series sweep over their storied rivals.
6 (5). Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3)
The Steelers too sit out this week, but unfortunately drop one spot to sixth after Baltimore managed to beat a talented Bengals side who are still, despite the loss, the 6th best team in the AFC. There is no doubt the Steelers are the more mature unit, but this long-time divisional rivalry is so often decided on head-to-head records that the Ravens’ pair of wins over the Black & Gold come at a premium and afford them the fifth spot, while the Steelers drop to sixth and third in the AFC. If the season ended today the Steelers would be the 5th seed and have to play the Raiders in the Wild Card Round. Troubling? I don’t think Mike Tomlin would lose any sleep, let’s leave it at that.
7. New England Patriots (7-3)
The Patriots continued to build on their win over the New York Jets by beating the Chiefs on Monday night. Additionally, the Jets shocking loss to the Tim Tebow-led Broncos has put a huge, possibly irreparable, dent in their playoff hopes. The Patriots are sitting pretty with tiebreakers and a 2-game lead. It looks like another playoffs appearance for the winningest postseason Quarterback in NFL history. As it stands they are locked-in as third seeds and would face the Bengals in Foxboro. Easy money.
8 (10). Detroit Lions (7-3)
5 Touchdown tosses with 2 picks is not a bad day at the office for Detroit Lion, Matthew Stafford. This has been a brilliant week for Detroit: not only did they come back from 17 points down for the third time this season (apparently an NFL first since at least 1950), but the Chicago Bears – their main Wild Card rivals – lost Jay Cutler to a broken thumb, effectively ruining their chances of keeping pace with the high-flying Lions. The Bears could certainly make the playoffs, but with Atlanta and New York one skinny game behind them, they are going to have to go some to maintain the same level of play they’ve enjoyed from Cutler. The Lions, however, look to have recovered from their mid-season slump and are, once more, scoring at will. Tougher opposition won’t roll over, but Detroit have proven they can hang with the big boys when it comes to the crunch. This should be the year that we finally see a return to the playoffs for one of the NFL’s most maligned franchises of recent years.
9 (14). Dallas Cowboys (6-4)
Boom! And just like that the Cowboys close the gap and leap frog the highly-rated Giants to top the NFC East. With Vince Young at Quarterback, the underachieving Eagles beat Big Blue and opened the door for the Cowboys to sneak into top spot. It wasn’t easy – an overtime victory over a truly pathetic Redskins team is not the most glorious of ascensions, but the job got done nonetheless. Dallas now have the advantage and, for the first time this season, control their own destiny. Jason Garrett is a good coach and seems to understands his Quarterback, the often criticised but undeniably talented Tony Romo, and may, for that reason, be able to shake off the curse that has followed the ‘Boys into the postseason since the glory days of Aikman, Smith and Irvin. Could this be their year? With talent throughout and the chance to roll into the playoffs with some serious momentum, don’t count them out!
10 (11). Cincinnati Bengals (6-4)
Despite losing again this week, the Bengals are still alone at 6-4 and hold the 6th AFC seed because of it. Having weathered their tough divisional fortnight and come out of it in charge of their own destiny, Fancy them to pick up the pace again in the latter half of the season. The character this young team showed in losing to two far more experienced rivals has convinced me – they can make it to the playoffs. And unlike the chasing pack, they don’t need any help to do it.
11 (9). Chicago Bears (7-3)
This is agonising for the Bears. Winning as they did against a tricky opponent in San Diego should merit a rise in the table, but they lost far more than they won by moving to 7-3 on Sunday. Jay Cutler, the Quarterback whose play has been largely to thank for the Bears’ resurgence, has broken his thumb and will likely need surgery to repair the broken digit on his throwing hand.
12 (8). New York Giants (6-4)
Ouch! That’s got to hurt: having your chances at the NFC East title ripped in two ways in one week? Eli Manning is going to have to pull out all the stops when the Giants face the Cowboys in Week 14. That game will likely decide the division and also which one of the two NFC East franchises makes it to the postseason. There will only be room for one…
The Bottom Half…
13 (16). Oakland Raiders (6-4)
14 (12). New York Jets (5-5)
15. Atlanta Falcons (5-4)
16 (19). Denver Broncos (5-5)
17 (13). Buffalo Bills (5-5)
18 (20). Tennessee Titans (5-4)
19 (17). Kansas City Chiefs (4-6)
20 (18). San Diego Chargers (4-6)
21 (22). Philadelphia Eagles (4-6)
22 (23). Miami Dolphins (3-7)
23 (22). Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6)
24 (25). Seattle Seahawks (4-6)
25 (27). Cleveland Browns (4-6)
26 (24). Arizona Cardinals (3-7)
27 (26). St Louis Rams (2-8)
28 (30). Carolina Panthers (2-8)
29 (28). Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7)
30 (29). Minnesota Vikings (2-8)
31. Washington Redskin (3-7)
32 . Indianapolis Colts (0-10)
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