The Panel Descriptions:Okay, let me start by saying there is no right or wrong way to write a panel description, but there are good and bad ways. As long as it’s direct and easy to understand, it should do its job. How detailed you want to make it may depend on your faith in your artist to realise the vision as intended, or your personal style. If it is a jointly-created project then you need to do less. If it is your world, you need to do more. Below are a few of the things I would include in EVERY panel description. This makes the process professional, understandable and consistent. Free-wheeling descriptions are fine, but they require more interpretation on the part of the artist, which could lead to delays or miscommunication. Keep things methodical and straightforward and you will run into less problems. What I do is simply copy and paste these headings into every panel description and answer the questions posed to myself. Having these prompts in place makes my job easier and removes the need to think, so you can concentrate on delivering the very best story you can conceive.
Remember! You’re not going to win any awards for the eloquence of your panel descriptions. If you want the next thing you write to be an acceptance speech, tone it down and keep it basic.
Time of day: Is it the morning, midday, afternoon, twilight or night?
Light: How bright is the light, what is its source, from what angle is it coming?
Character position in the Panel: Left to right – list the character position and whether they are in the extreme foreground, foreground, mid-ground, background or far distance of the panel.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Saturday, 28 January 2012
Friday, 27 January 2012
A Brief Guide to Scripting Graphic Novels
A Brief guide to Scripting Graphic Novels
Welcome to the future…
The Theory:
Put quite simply, the only thing, as a writer, that you can afford to lack is the ability to draw. You must approach the project with the mind of an artist; with a feeling for colour; an awareness of the significance of mise-en-scène; an appreciation of detail; and above all the assumption of nothing. If it isn’t in your script, your artist won’t put it in the panel, and you will be solely to blame.
The main benefit of writing a graphic novel instead of a novel lies in what you don’t need to do. Every writer has strengths or weaknesses. Some writers are great describers of the appearance of things; some create multi-layered characters; some are plot wizards who can keep you guessing page after page; others are superb transcribers of dialogue.
If you fall into the latter category – as, I believe, many younger, less experienced writers do – then turning your talents to the GN format might be wise while you sharpen your skills in the other areas.
I’m not saying that writing a Graphic Novel is a cop out, or even easier than writing a novel. It simply requires a different set of skills; a set of skills more often developed early in your career due, quite simply, to the experience required to understand the structure and pacing of a novel, which is far more rigid and necessarily consistent in its execution, than that of a graphic counterpart.
One of the common errors made by young writers is the tendency to ‘ham things up’. Whether it comes from the desperation to create something artistically mind-blowing, revolutionary or wholly representative of one’s potential, or somewhere else matters not. Flowery prose; ornate descriptions; page-long sentences and manual upon manual of technical information to back-up every original artefact in your novel are not only unnecessary, but distracting.
Ernest Hemingway, one of the most celebrated authors of the 20th century believed wholeheartedly in the economy of language – in saying only what needed to be said, and allowing the reader to interpret what was omitted. Hemingway’s tactic meant that one word on the page could be worth ten in the reader’s mind; by indulging your vocabulary to describe a ‘mobile’ as a ‘revolutionary, handheld, cellular communication device of previously thought impossible capabilities’, does the opposite. And makes you sound like a prick. If it’s a mobile, a car or a gun it is a mobile, a car or a gun. Your ideas will bring your words to life; it doesn’t work the other way round.
And honestly, that is where the Graphic Novel excels: it is a perfect platform for the realisation of ideas. You can synopsise a new notion in a matter of days and then, with either the help of your creative team or eight espressos, flesh it out to the point at which it works as a one-shot (a single issue comic), a full Graphic Novel, or the first installment of an either closed- or open- ended series.
The Graphic Novel is being looked to by film and TV execs to provide innovative concepts that are effectively storyboards in waiting. Just look at the success of The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman. He produced that series with a small creative team and published through Image Comics (www.imagecomics.com) and now he has a hit TV show. The majority of the major blockbusters of the last decade have their roots in comics and graphic Novels.
With the bookshelf bowing under the weight of the mindless ‘poolside fiction’, that is so vapid the word pulp has too many positive connotations to be suitable anymore. Talented novelists – especially young ones with little or no experience – are going to struggle to get their work the exposure it deserves, because major publishing houses like a safe bet, and nothing sells better than a name that is well known.
The Graphic Novel and Comic industry, however, is less stuffy and, thanks to the lower investment costs, are willing to gamble on fresh talent coming through the ranks.
When I first turned to Graphic Novels, I did so solely because the opportunity was presented to me. I knew nothing about the industry; much less about the conventions of scripting (something that, retrospectively, was responsible for my slightly ‘unusually exhaustive’ style). At first I too was bound by the uppity values of my upbringing: novels are good; everything else is inferior. The feelings I had towards the medium were almost racist, such was the ignorance that had sired them. As I delved deeper, started to work on my first GN script (The Count of Monte Cristo, published by Campfire 2012), I realised that the medium not only suited my flair for dialogue and allowed me to side-step the problems I’d experienced with toning down my prose by eliminating its presence almost completely, but was far more expansive than I’d realised.
It seems obvious now, and if you’re reading this you are probably further along in your exploration of the medium than I was then, but I had never given Graphic Novels, or, should I say, the art of storytelling through sequential art, the credit it deserved. Being brought up on Hollywood movies, when I wrote, I was effectively novelising a film that already existed in my head. Never before had I appreciated quite how much my mind worked in sync with the production of a GN. I imagine this is true of a lot of guys in their twenties now; children of the 80s, who remember Star Wars, Flight of the Navigator and Indiana Jones as the action epics that first whet your appetite for the creation of a new world.
I began to think that the medium offered me the education I had long desired as a novelist: working to strict word limits per panel, I was encouraged to prune away the inessential, and focus on directness (something my work, through inexperience and arrogance, had always lacked). A picture tells a thousand words, they say, and boy, they are right. Panel descriptions don’t need to be pretty or even grammatically perfect, as long as they are clear and exact. Throwing the form book out of the window is a good start. Short, sharp, unambiguous sentences are required. Do this for 6 panels a page for 100 pages and then write something prosaic. Notice the difference? Gone is the bullshit, and in its place? Clarity.
But is an education all the medium offers young writers? I no longer think so. Now I believe it is not a road to the future, but the future itself.
Art is of the times. It has to be if it is to have relevance. There’s a reason why the medium struck such a chord with me: it’s because it’s the medium of my generation. We want, perhaps more than ever, to be transported to another world by the things we choose to read. Maybe we’re lazy, or maybe we just don’t have the time to labour through 900 pages of a 19th century French epic, but we certainly have time to ‘experience’ a Graphic Novel or comic. They can be read and understood in a matter of minutes, and rather than leaving you cold, the imagery can enrich your mind in a way words never can.
Writers have, since the dawn of the craft, been restricted by the limitations of words. Graphic Novels are not so chained. Dive in, and let yourself be transported to the future.
I’ll see you there.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Welcome to the future…
The Theory:
Put quite simply, the only thing, as a writer, that you can afford to lack is the ability to draw. You must approach the project with the mind of an artist; with a feeling for colour; an awareness of the significance of mise-en-scène; an appreciation of detail; and above all the assumption of nothing. If it isn’t in your script, your artist won’t put it in the panel, and you will be solely to blame.
The main benefit of writing a graphic novel instead of a novel lies in what you don’t need to do. Every writer has strengths or weaknesses. Some writers are great describers of the appearance of things; some create multi-layered characters; some are plot wizards who can keep you guessing page after page; others are superb transcribers of dialogue.
If you fall into the latter category – as, I believe, many younger, less experienced writers do – then turning your talents to the GN format might be wise while you sharpen your skills in the other areas.
I’m not saying that writing a Graphic Novel is a cop out, or even easier than writing a novel. It simply requires a different set of skills; a set of skills more often developed early in your career due, quite simply, to the experience required to understand the structure and pacing of a novel, which is far more rigid and necessarily consistent in its execution, than that of a graphic counterpart.
One of the common errors made by young writers is the tendency to ‘ham things up’. Whether it comes from the desperation to create something artistically mind-blowing, revolutionary or wholly representative of one’s potential, or somewhere else matters not. Flowery prose; ornate descriptions; page-long sentences and manual upon manual of technical information to back-up every original artefact in your novel are not only unnecessary, but distracting.
Ernest Hemingway, one of the most celebrated authors of the 20th century believed wholeheartedly in the economy of language – in saying only what needed to be said, and allowing the reader to interpret what was omitted. Hemingway’s tactic meant that one word on the page could be worth ten in the reader’s mind; by indulging your vocabulary to describe a ‘mobile’ as a ‘revolutionary, handheld, cellular communication device of previously thought impossible capabilities’, does the opposite. And makes you sound like a prick. If it’s a mobile, a car or a gun it is a mobile, a car or a gun. Your ideas will bring your words to life; it doesn’t work the other way round.
And honestly, that is where the Graphic Novel excels: it is a perfect platform for the realisation of ideas. You can synopsise a new notion in a matter of days and then, with either the help of your creative team or eight espressos, flesh it out to the point at which it works as a one-shot (a single issue comic), a full Graphic Novel, or the first installment of an either closed- or open- ended series.
The Graphic Novel is being looked to by film and TV execs to provide innovative concepts that are effectively storyboards in waiting. Just look at the success of The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman. He produced that series with a small creative team and published through Image Comics (www.imagecomics.com) and now he has a hit TV show. The majority of the major blockbusters of the last decade have their roots in comics and graphic Novels.
With the bookshelf bowing under the weight of the mindless ‘poolside fiction’, that is so vapid the word pulp has too many positive connotations to be suitable anymore. Talented novelists – especially young ones with little or no experience – are going to struggle to get their work the exposure it deserves, because major publishing houses like a safe bet, and nothing sells better than a name that is well known.
The Graphic Novel and Comic industry, however, is less stuffy and, thanks to the lower investment costs, are willing to gamble on fresh talent coming through the ranks.
When I first turned to Graphic Novels, I did so solely because the opportunity was presented to me. I knew nothing about the industry; much less about the conventions of scripting (something that, retrospectively, was responsible for my slightly ‘unusually exhaustive’ style). At first I too was bound by the uppity values of my upbringing: novels are good; everything else is inferior. The feelings I had towards the medium were almost racist, such was the ignorance that had sired them. As I delved deeper, started to work on my first GN script (The Count of Monte Cristo, published by Campfire 2012), I realised that the medium not only suited my flair for dialogue and allowed me to side-step the problems I’d experienced with toning down my prose by eliminating its presence almost completely, but was far more expansive than I’d realised.
It seems obvious now, and if you’re reading this you are probably further along in your exploration of the medium than I was then, but I had never given Graphic Novels, or, should I say, the art of storytelling through sequential art, the credit it deserved. Being brought up on Hollywood movies, when I wrote, I was effectively novelising a film that already existed in my head. Never before had I appreciated quite how much my mind worked in sync with the production of a GN. I imagine this is true of a lot of guys in their twenties now; children of the 80s, who remember Star Wars, Flight of the Navigator and Indiana Jones as the action epics that first whet your appetite for the creation of a new world.
I began to think that the medium offered me the education I had long desired as a novelist: working to strict word limits per panel, I was encouraged to prune away the inessential, and focus on directness (something my work, through inexperience and arrogance, had always lacked). A picture tells a thousand words, they say, and boy, they are right. Panel descriptions don’t need to be pretty or even grammatically perfect, as long as they are clear and exact. Throwing the form book out of the window is a good start. Short, sharp, unambiguous sentences are required. Do this for 6 panels a page for 100 pages and then write something prosaic. Notice the difference? Gone is the bullshit, and in its place? Clarity.
But is an education all the medium offers young writers? I no longer think so. Now I believe it is not a road to the future, but the future itself.
Art is of the times. It has to be if it is to have relevance. There’s a reason why the medium struck such a chord with me: it’s because it’s the medium of my generation. We want, perhaps more than ever, to be transported to another world by the things we choose to read. Maybe we’re lazy, or maybe we just don’t have the time to labour through 900 pages of a 19th century French epic, but we certainly have time to ‘experience’ a Graphic Novel or comic. They can be read and understood in a matter of minutes, and rather than leaving you cold, the imagery can enrich your mind in a way words never can.
Writers have, since the dawn of the craft, been restricted by the limitations of words. Graphic Novels are not so chained. Dive in, and let yourself be transported to the future.
I’ll see you there.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
NFL Week 13 Power Rankings: The Whole List
NFL Season: Week 13 Power Rankings
1. Green Bay Packers (12-0)
The debate: should the Packers go for perfection? The answer: YES! That’s why we love football: the records, the anomalies, the history. Winning the Superbowl is ‘everything’, except it isn’t. 45 teams over the years have won the Superbowl. The Packers franchise has won it 4 times already. You know what has only happened once? A team going all the way without so much as a dot in the T or L columns. And you know how many teams have managed that since the realignment of the league?
None.
Maybe not for long…
2. New Orleans Saints (9-3)
A Saints win and falcons loss keeps the Saints locked in the Number 2 spot – looking good now.
3. San Francisco 49ers (10-2)
San Fran clinched the division this week. A just reward for a franchise long overdue some good news.
4. Baltimore Ravens (9-3)
They are still the team to beat in the AFC North. Pittsburgh may be getting hot at the right time, but Baltimore have a terrifyingly easy run-in, which should lead to a 13-3 record. That could be good enough for the Number 1 seed and a first round BYE.
Even if the Steelers match them game-for-game it won’t be enough to earn anything higher than the fifth seed. Harsh, but true.
5 (6). Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
When was the last time a team finished 13-3 and wound up fifth seed? It matters not, because it could so happen this year, and I for one would love to see it!
I backed the Patriots for this season on the day after the Packers hoisted the Lombardi trophy in February. A fifth-seed Steelers would be great news for the Patriots, who are looking to secure the number 1 seed, because given the winner of the AFC West will take 4th seed and play either the Bengals/Jets/Titans and LOSE, the Steelers will have to play the Ravens (the Patriots’ booby team) setting-up a classic Steelers/Pats AFC championship game and we all know Tom Terrific loves those.
6 (7). New England Patriots (9-3)
7 (5). Houston Texans (9-3)
I have to say, that no team impressed me more than the Texans this week. Beating a streaking Atlanta with your rookie third string QB and without your best defensive player, another massively important linebacker and losing your star receiver (again) is nothing less than sensational. But here’s the rub: the teams around Houston in the AFC race (the Pats, Steelers and Ravens) are getting better as the year goes on and the Texans look ready to implode with this latest flurry of bad luck. What they need is time to gel and the likelihood they will end up with the third seed might see them play a ‘softer’ opponent in the Wild Card Round. That BYE is looking mighty attractive, though, so if I were them, I’d play hard then rest-up.
8. Dallas Cowboys (7-5)
Losing to a Cardinals team that’s won 4 of 5 isn’t awful, but it was damned stupid. Giants next and they’ve got to win, but control their destiny so stay locked in at 8.
9 (15). New York Jets (7-5)
They won where other teams with a currently identical record lost. That sees them take-off into ninth.
10 (9). Atlanta Falcons (7-5)
Really? You can’t go losing to a team that’s just suffered a failed bypass. The Falcons did, however, and see their stock fall as punishment. They should still make the cut, though.
11 (16). Denver Broncos (7-5)
Hallelujah, I’m a believer! Tebowmania has swept the nation and the Broncos are riding the wave of this particularly old skool orange crush. Keep it up Tim, you’re too nice not to love!
12 (11). Detroit Lions (7-5)
13 (12). Cincinnati Bengals (7-5)
14 (17). Tennessee Titans (7-5)
Call me crazy, but the Titans look good to me. I think they are the number one outsiders to nick a playoff spot. Possibly at the expense of the Bengals and jets. All three are on 7-5, but the titans have made it that far without their 2 best players. Can CJ2K have an effect? Don’t rule him out…
15 (13). Chicago Bears (7-5)
Losing to the Chiefs? Bin Hanie and pay Favre. Joke! But wouldn’t it be cool…
16 (10). Oakland Raiders (7-5)
17 (14). New York Giants (6-6)
18 (23). Miami Dolphins (4-8)
The first of 3 big climbers, the ‘fins are getting good, fast. Teams who are out of the race, but can still wreck big teams’ dreams. The Dolphins sudden aptitude for the game of football, might save their coach’s job. It might…
19 (24). Seattle Seahawks (5-7)
20 (25). Arizona Cardinals (5-7)
21 (18). Buffalo Bills (5-7)
22 (19). Kansas City Chiefs (5-7)
23 (29). Carolina Panthers (4-8)
Why not? At least they are fun to watch.
24 (20). San Diego Chargers (4-8)
25 (21). Philadelphia Eagles (4-8)
26 (31). Minnesota Vikings (2-10)
I like Ponder, a lot. I think the Vikings are a threat right now. No team should feel good about playing them away. The Draft and next season will be kind to this deserving franchise.
27 (22). Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-8)
28 (26). Washington Redskin (4-8)
29 (27). Cleveland Browns (4-8)
30 (28). St Louis Rams (2-10)
31 (30). Jacksonville Jaguars (3-9)
32. Indianapolis Colts (0-12)
Andrew Luck to Indy? What will the Peyton say?
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
1. Green Bay Packers (12-0)
The debate: should the Packers go for perfection? The answer: YES! That’s why we love football: the records, the anomalies, the history. Winning the Superbowl is ‘everything’, except it isn’t. 45 teams over the years have won the Superbowl. The Packers franchise has won it 4 times already. You know what has only happened once? A team going all the way without so much as a dot in the T or L columns. And you know how many teams have managed that since the realignment of the league?
None.
Maybe not for long…
2. New Orleans Saints (9-3)
A Saints win and falcons loss keeps the Saints locked in the Number 2 spot – looking good now.
3. San Francisco 49ers (10-2)
San Fran clinched the division this week. A just reward for a franchise long overdue some good news.
4. Baltimore Ravens (9-3)
They are still the team to beat in the AFC North. Pittsburgh may be getting hot at the right time, but Baltimore have a terrifyingly easy run-in, which should lead to a 13-3 record. That could be good enough for the Number 1 seed and a first round BYE.
Even if the Steelers match them game-for-game it won’t be enough to earn anything higher than the fifth seed. Harsh, but true.
5 (6). Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
When was the last time a team finished 13-3 and wound up fifth seed? It matters not, because it could so happen this year, and I for one would love to see it!
I backed the Patriots for this season on the day after the Packers hoisted the Lombardi trophy in February. A fifth-seed Steelers would be great news for the Patriots, who are looking to secure the number 1 seed, because given the winner of the AFC West will take 4th seed and play either the Bengals/Jets/Titans and LOSE, the Steelers will have to play the Ravens (the Patriots’ booby team) setting-up a classic Steelers/Pats AFC championship game and we all know Tom Terrific loves those.
6 (7). New England Patriots (9-3)
7 (5). Houston Texans (9-3)
I have to say, that no team impressed me more than the Texans this week. Beating a streaking Atlanta with your rookie third string QB and without your best defensive player, another massively important linebacker and losing your star receiver (again) is nothing less than sensational. But here’s the rub: the teams around Houston in the AFC race (the Pats, Steelers and Ravens) are getting better as the year goes on and the Texans look ready to implode with this latest flurry of bad luck. What they need is time to gel and the likelihood they will end up with the third seed might see them play a ‘softer’ opponent in the Wild Card Round. That BYE is looking mighty attractive, though, so if I were them, I’d play hard then rest-up.
8. Dallas Cowboys (7-5)
Losing to a Cardinals team that’s won 4 of 5 isn’t awful, but it was damned stupid. Giants next and they’ve got to win, but control their destiny so stay locked in at 8.
9 (15). New York Jets (7-5)
They won where other teams with a currently identical record lost. That sees them take-off into ninth.
10 (9). Atlanta Falcons (7-5)
Really? You can’t go losing to a team that’s just suffered a failed bypass. The Falcons did, however, and see their stock fall as punishment. They should still make the cut, though.
11 (16). Denver Broncos (7-5)
Hallelujah, I’m a believer! Tebowmania has swept the nation and the Broncos are riding the wave of this particularly old skool orange crush. Keep it up Tim, you’re too nice not to love!
12 (11). Detroit Lions (7-5)
13 (12). Cincinnati Bengals (7-5)
14 (17). Tennessee Titans (7-5)
Call me crazy, but the Titans look good to me. I think they are the number one outsiders to nick a playoff spot. Possibly at the expense of the Bengals and jets. All three are on 7-5, but the titans have made it that far without their 2 best players. Can CJ2K have an effect? Don’t rule him out…
15 (13). Chicago Bears (7-5)
Losing to the Chiefs? Bin Hanie and pay Favre. Joke! But wouldn’t it be cool…
16 (10). Oakland Raiders (7-5)
17 (14). New York Giants (6-6)
18 (23). Miami Dolphins (4-8)
The first of 3 big climbers, the ‘fins are getting good, fast. Teams who are out of the race, but can still wreck big teams’ dreams. The Dolphins sudden aptitude for the game of football, might save their coach’s job. It might…
19 (24). Seattle Seahawks (5-7)
20 (25). Arizona Cardinals (5-7)
21 (18). Buffalo Bills (5-7)
22 (19). Kansas City Chiefs (5-7)
23 (29). Carolina Panthers (4-8)
Why not? At least they are fun to watch.
24 (20). San Diego Chargers (4-8)
25 (21). Philadelphia Eagles (4-8)
26 (31). Minnesota Vikings (2-10)
I like Ponder, a lot. I think the Vikings are a threat right now. No team should feel good about playing them away. The Draft and next season will be kind to this deserving franchise.
27 (22). Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-8)
28 (26). Washington Redskin (4-8)
29 (27). Cleveland Browns (4-8)
30 (28). St Louis Rams (2-10)
31 (30). Jacksonville Jaguars (3-9)
32. Indianapolis Colts (0-12)
Andrew Luck to Indy? What will the Peyton say?
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
NFL Week 12 Power Rankings: The Whole List
1. Green Bay Packers (11-0)
They just keep on rolling. Really, there is no weakness to this team. If they do lose a game, which, with every passing week, is getting less and less likely, it will be because they can afford to. They have to decide over the next fortnight whether to shoot for perfection and play their starters to the end, or whether to pull the big guns as soon as the top seed is wrapped-up. My advice? Go for broke! Resting starters can save on the sleepless nights, but these guys are professionals and know how to stay healthy. It would be a freak occurrence if an irreplaceable member of the team went down, and besides, leaving your crowd-drawing names on the bench isn’t guaranteed to work. Look what happened to the 14-0 Colts of 2009. Yeah. Exactly…
2 (3). New Orleans Saints (8-3)
The closer you get to the top of the table, the harder ascending becomes. The jump from 31-21 is a mere trifle to the gargantuan stride taken by the Saints to push the 49ers down to 3rd, while they take their place as the second best team in the NFC and L. Brees and Co blew out a contender with their 49-24 humbling of the Giants. We’ve seen them run-up the scoreboard before, but also slip against some truly gutless teams. Their niggling loss to St Louis kept them down in the rankings this long, but they seem to have ironed out the creases and to be finding all of them in their opponents D packages. Can they go all the way? They might have to go through the Pack, but if they can beat Aaron then they have a real shot of making it 2 Super Bowls in 3 years.
3 (2). San Francisco 49ers (9-2)
It’s tough to be bumped down a spot by a team with a lesser record, but here’s the thing: these are power rankings, not record rankings. You don’t need me or any other schmuck with a keyboard and an opinion to tell you which team has the best record, it’s right there in black and white. No, what you want from hacks like me is an opinion, and here’s mine: the 49ers are good; the 49ers are solid; the 49ers are, for a warm weather team, well-built to face the playoffs thanks to their run-first strategy. The 49ers are not, however, experienced, electrifying or even terrifying.
4 (5). Baltimore Ravens (8-3)
5 (4). Houston Texans (8-3)
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)
7. New England Patriots (8-3)
8 (9). Dallas Cowboys (7-4)
9 (15). Atlanta Falcons (7-4)
10 (13). Oakland Raiders (7-4)
11 (8). Detroit Lions (7-4)
12 (10). Cincinnati Bengals (7-4)
13 (11). Chicago Bears (7-4)
14 (12). New York Giants (6-5)
15 (14). New York Jets (6-5)
16. Denver Broncos (6-5)
17 (18). Tennessee Titans (6-5)
18 (17). Buffalo Bills (5-6)
19. Kansas City Chiefs (4-7)
20. San Diego Chargers (4-7)
21. Philadelphia Eagles (4-7)
22 (23). Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7)
23 (22). Miami Dolphins (3-8)
24. Seattle Seahawks (4-7)
25 (26). Arizona Cardinals (4-7)
26 (31). Washington Redskin (4-7)
27 (25). Cleveland Browns (4-7)
28 (27). St Louis Rams (2-9)
29 (28). Carolina Panthers (3-8)
30 (29). Jacksonville Jaguars (3-8)
31 (30). Minnesota Vikings (2-9)
32. Indianapolis Colts (0-11)
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
They just keep on rolling. Really, there is no weakness to this team. If they do lose a game, which, with every passing week, is getting less and less likely, it will be because they can afford to. They have to decide over the next fortnight whether to shoot for perfection and play their starters to the end, or whether to pull the big guns as soon as the top seed is wrapped-up. My advice? Go for broke! Resting starters can save on the sleepless nights, but these guys are professionals and know how to stay healthy. It would be a freak occurrence if an irreplaceable member of the team went down, and besides, leaving your crowd-drawing names on the bench isn’t guaranteed to work. Look what happened to the 14-0 Colts of 2009. Yeah. Exactly…
2 (3). New Orleans Saints (8-3)
The closer you get to the top of the table, the harder ascending becomes. The jump from 31-21 is a mere trifle to the gargantuan stride taken by the Saints to push the 49ers down to 3rd, while they take their place as the second best team in the NFC and L. Brees and Co blew out a contender with their 49-24 humbling of the Giants. We’ve seen them run-up the scoreboard before, but also slip against some truly gutless teams. Their niggling loss to St Louis kept them down in the rankings this long, but they seem to have ironed out the creases and to be finding all of them in their opponents D packages. Can they go all the way? They might have to go through the Pack, but if they can beat Aaron then they have a real shot of making it 2 Super Bowls in 3 years.
3 (2). San Francisco 49ers (9-2)
It’s tough to be bumped down a spot by a team with a lesser record, but here’s the thing: these are power rankings, not record rankings. You don’t need me or any other schmuck with a keyboard and an opinion to tell you which team has the best record, it’s right there in black and white. No, what you want from hacks like me is an opinion, and here’s mine: the 49ers are good; the 49ers are solid; the 49ers are, for a warm weather team, well-built to face the playoffs thanks to their run-first strategy. The 49ers are not, however, experienced, electrifying or even terrifying.
4 (5). Baltimore Ravens (8-3)
5 (4). Houston Texans (8-3)
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)
7. New England Patriots (8-3)
8 (9). Dallas Cowboys (7-4)
9 (15). Atlanta Falcons (7-4)
10 (13). Oakland Raiders (7-4)
11 (8). Detroit Lions (7-4)
12 (10). Cincinnati Bengals (7-4)
13 (11). Chicago Bears (7-4)
14 (12). New York Giants (6-5)
15 (14). New York Jets (6-5)
16. Denver Broncos (6-5)
17 (18). Tennessee Titans (6-5)
18 (17). Buffalo Bills (5-6)
19. Kansas City Chiefs (4-7)
20. San Diego Chargers (4-7)
21. Philadelphia Eagles (4-7)
22 (23). Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7)
23 (22). Miami Dolphins (3-8)
24. Seattle Seahawks (4-7)
25 (26). Arizona Cardinals (4-7)
26 (31). Washington Redskin (4-7)
27 (25). Cleveland Browns (4-7)
28 (27). St Louis Rams (2-9)
29 (28). Carolina Panthers (3-8)
30 (29). Jacksonville Jaguars (3-8)
31 (30). Minnesota Vikings (2-9)
32. Indianapolis Colts (0-11)
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
NFL Week 11 Power Rankings: The Whole List
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)
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
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)
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Week 10 Power Rankings: The Whole List
NFL Season: Week 10 Power Rankings
1. Green Bay Packers (9-0)
What can you say? The Packers are still on course for a perfect season and looking hot for the Super Bowl right now. With their BYE in the rear view mirror, Mike McCarthy’s Champions can keep the foot on the gas all the way through to January. Rodgers is a tough kid and plays efficiently, but should they bench him for Matt Flynn once the Number 1 seed has been wrapped-up we may see the Packers ship a few games towards the season’s close as the Colts did after starting 13-0 in preparation for Super Bowl XLIV. That said, the continued pressure coming from San Francisco may force McCarthy to play his starters all the way to Week 17, because should the 49ers take finish in the top two along with the Packers, premier seeding becomes exponentially important when their NFC Championship game opponent figures to be a warm-weather team. Nothing like a postseason Ice Bowl to tip the balance in favour of the Cheeseheads…
2. San Francisco 49ers (8-1)
By beating the storming Giants, a team riding high after felling the Patriots last week, the 49ers continue to decrease the doubters out there and stay locked at number 2 in my Power Rankings. It is amazing to think that a single loss by the Packers levels these teams given that one has played under intense media scrutiny and due hype since Week 1 and the other floated confidently under the radar until now. Having a hard time giving the 49ers respect? Just take a look at their record and the exceptional run game/game management of Alex Smith. As the Ravens proved in 2001, a quarterback of a run-first team need not be stellar, only responsible. Can they go all the way? Even now we should be talking about an NFC Championship clash with the Pack, which you’d still fancy the defending champs to win. But as the season progresses and the injuries rack-up in Wisconsin, there’s every chance the 49ers could be this year’s 2007 Giants and dethrone the undefeated at the most crucial time.
3 (4). New Orleans Saints (7-3)
By virtue of beating the Falcons, the Saints move up one spot to 3rd. Drew Brees and his men may not have a mind-blowing record, but own a 1.5 game lead over Atlanta and have snared the early advantage in the 2-game intra-divisional series between the teams that concludes in Week 16 in what could shape-up to be a showdown for the division. But that doesn’t seem likely as New Orleans have a BYE coming up over which they can prepare for the rattled Giants, then a sliding Detroit, followed by what should be a piar of walkovers against Tennessee and Minnesota before rounding off the season with a Week 17 feast versus the Panthers. For those reasons, the Saints take number 3 on the rankings and will likely take the same seed in the NFC.
4 (8). Houston Texans (7-3)
The biggest movers in the Big 12 this week are the Houston Texans. I’ve been rooting for this team since the start of the season, but having thus far been unable to take a real strangle hold on a severely weakened division, have erred on the side of caution and kept their ranking low, but no longer. The Texans possess the same record as the Steelers but have a two game lead over their nearest rivals and a 4 games jump on the third placed Jaguars, whereas the Steelers are just one game ahead both the Ravens and Bengals, two teams with plenty left to play for. Furthermore, the Texans actually beat the Steelers this year, so by virtue of their identical records, head-to-head victory and bigger lead in their division, the Texans get the nod, jump four places and sit prettily at number 4. Incidentally, they are currently the AFC’s number one seeds thanks to that win over Pittsburgh. Who’d have seen THAT coming?
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3)
The Steelers did well to beat an unpredictable, hungry and threatening team in the Bengals this week. Having lost to the Ravens who headed this week to the Pacific North West to play the rubbish Seahawks, the Steelers must have felt like they were riding some rough luck. No better time, then, for a season-defining performance as a tough-nosed win against a competitive Cincinnati preceded the humiliating loss of the Ravens to the Seahawks, handing the division back to the Steelers. Granted, the Ravens own tiebreakers and are only half a game behind by virtue of the Steelers having enjoyed they BYE week already, but the Black and Gold are a far more mature unit than the mind-bogglingly inconsistent Ravens.
6 (3). Baltimore Ravens (6-3)
Really? Win a last second thriller against one of the toughest teams in the NFL and grab control of the most brutal division in pro football and then lose to the Seahawks? Ravens fans must be sick. This year has been typified by the Purple and Black taking their eye off the prize when confronted with an opponent they should steamroll. The Jaguars? Yeah, one of their wins came against the Ravens. The Seahawks made the Ravens look below average at times and for a team with Super Bowl aspirations playing at THAT level, THIS late in the season, such a performance is unacceptable. Although they have the power in their hands, their hands don’t appear capable of opening a door right now, let alone catching a football against a decent opponent.
7. New England Patriots (6-3)
The Pats shocked the Jets this week by winning by an unexpectedly juicy 21 point margin to sweep the season series and regain control of the division. However, an injury to starting Cornerback Devin McCourty, a huge loss for an already underperforming secondary, could make life very difficult down the stretch. For that reason the Pats stay locked-in at 7 as other teams shuffle above them and the Texans leapfrog them from 8th to 4th.
8 (6). New York Giants (6-3)
Losing to the 49ers should not be a shock given the records and win-streaks of the two teams going into the contest, but somehow, no one took San Fran seriously until they proved they had the muscle to stop a bubbling juggernaut like New York. The Giants still have a game lead over the strengthening Cowboys, but will have to regroup fast to avoid being caught by America’s Team. The Eagles’ loss to the poor Cardinals has lessened the pressure in the NFC East and news that Michael Vick has sustained 2 broken ribs has left the once eminent division a 2-horse race.
9 (13). Chicago Bears (6-3)
The Bears are rolling and at this time of the season there’s no better statistic to build optimism than a heavy dose of win-streaking. Their win against their main Wild Card rivals, division buddies the Lions, and their 4 consecutive victories, added to the excellent play of Jay Cutler makes these boys my new Number 1 contenders for the 5th Seed in the NFC.
10 (9). Detroit Lions (6-3)
Hitting the skids is never good. It’s all the worse when it includes a loss to the team that needs tiebreakers over you to make it to the playoffs in your place. The Lions and Bears are heading in opposite directions and while they are both still in the running to qualify, Detroit need to pull their socks up or risk having their trousers pulled down.
11. Cincinnati Bengals (6-3)
Still in the mix for the 6th Seed thanks to the Jets and the Bills losing, the Bengals had a real chance to take control of the AFC North with what would have been an unlikely win against long-time problem rivals, the Steelers. As it is, young Red Dalton and his surprising Cincinnati Bengals find themselves in a tight race for Wild Cards as we edge into the second half of the season. As with the Lions in the NFC North, we will see the true character of these inexperienced units as every contending team’s mettle is thoroughly examined as the season strides towards the close. Can they make it? They will struggle with the Jets keen to rebound after losing control of their own destiny, but if they can just keep doing what they have been doing so far, there’s every reason to think they have a shot.
12 (10). New York Jets (5-4)
In a week that many expected to see the Jets ascend to the top of the pile in the AFC East, the boisterous boys in Green and White slid two places in the rankings after a blow out loss to a Patriots team that looked like they knew they were playing for more than just another win. The loss means New England has swept the season series for the first time since Rex Ryan took charge, and now own the East and all the tiebreakers they need should it come to that. The Jets still figure to feature in the playoffs, but every game must now be treated as a playoff contest, with the Bills, Bengals and Ravens all in the mix for those valuable Wild Card spots. With a similar run-in to the Patriots, save for their clash with the Giants and the Pats tussle with the listless Colts, they can’t afford to dream of the division crown this year. I think they will make it; they are too good not to, but the play of Mark Sanchez could damage their chances unless he picks up the slack.
The Bottom Half…
13 (12). Buffalo Bills (5-4)
14 (18). Dallas Cowboys (5-4)
15 (14). Atlanta Falcons (5-4)
16. Oakland Raiders (5-4)
17 (15). Kansas City Chiefs (4-5)
18 (17). San Diego Chargers (4-5)
19 (24). Denver Broncos (4-5)
20 (21). Tennessee Titans (5-4)
21(19). Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5)
22 (20). Philadelphia Eagles (3-6)
23 (25). Miami Dolphins (2-7)
24 (26). Arizona Cardinals (3-6)
25 (31). Seattle Seahawks (3-6)
26 (27). St Louis Rams (2-7)
27 (22). Cleveland Browns (3-6)
28 (29). Jacksonville Jaguars (3-6)
29 (23). Minnesota Vikings (2-7)
30 (28). Carolina Panthers (2-7)
31 (30). Washington Redskin (3-6)
32 . Indianapolis Colts (0-10)
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
1. Green Bay Packers (9-0)
What can you say? The Packers are still on course for a perfect season and looking hot for the Super Bowl right now. With their BYE in the rear view mirror, Mike McCarthy’s Champions can keep the foot on the gas all the way through to January. Rodgers is a tough kid and plays efficiently, but should they bench him for Matt Flynn once the Number 1 seed has been wrapped-up we may see the Packers ship a few games towards the season’s close as the Colts did after starting 13-0 in preparation for Super Bowl XLIV. That said, the continued pressure coming from San Francisco may force McCarthy to play his starters all the way to Week 17, because should the 49ers take finish in the top two along with the Packers, premier seeding becomes exponentially important when their NFC Championship game opponent figures to be a warm-weather team. Nothing like a postseason Ice Bowl to tip the balance in favour of the Cheeseheads…
2. San Francisco 49ers (8-1)
By beating the storming Giants, a team riding high after felling the Patriots last week, the 49ers continue to decrease the doubters out there and stay locked at number 2 in my Power Rankings. It is amazing to think that a single loss by the Packers levels these teams given that one has played under intense media scrutiny and due hype since Week 1 and the other floated confidently under the radar until now. Having a hard time giving the 49ers respect? Just take a look at their record and the exceptional run game/game management of Alex Smith. As the Ravens proved in 2001, a quarterback of a run-first team need not be stellar, only responsible. Can they go all the way? Even now we should be talking about an NFC Championship clash with the Pack, which you’d still fancy the defending champs to win. But as the season progresses and the injuries rack-up in Wisconsin, there’s every chance the 49ers could be this year’s 2007 Giants and dethrone the undefeated at the most crucial time.
3 (4). New Orleans Saints (7-3)
By virtue of beating the Falcons, the Saints move up one spot to 3rd. Drew Brees and his men may not have a mind-blowing record, but own a 1.5 game lead over Atlanta and have snared the early advantage in the 2-game intra-divisional series between the teams that concludes in Week 16 in what could shape-up to be a showdown for the division. But that doesn’t seem likely as New Orleans have a BYE coming up over which they can prepare for the rattled Giants, then a sliding Detroit, followed by what should be a piar of walkovers against Tennessee and Minnesota before rounding off the season with a Week 17 feast versus the Panthers. For those reasons, the Saints take number 3 on the rankings and will likely take the same seed in the NFC.
4 (8). Houston Texans (7-3)
The biggest movers in the Big 12 this week are the Houston Texans. I’ve been rooting for this team since the start of the season, but having thus far been unable to take a real strangle hold on a severely weakened division, have erred on the side of caution and kept their ranking low, but no longer. The Texans possess the same record as the Steelers but have a two game lead over their nearest rivals and a 4 games jump on the third placed Jaguars, whereas the Steelers are just one game ahead both the Ravens and Bengals, two teams with plenty left to play for. Furthermore, the Texans actually beat the Steelers this year, so by virtue of their identical records, head-to-head victory and bigger lead in their division, the Texans get the nod, jump four places and sit prettily at number 4. Incidentally, they are currently the AFC’s number one seeds thanks to that win over Pittsburgh. Who’d have seen THAT coming?
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3)
The Steelers did well to beat an unpredictable, hungry and threatening team in the Bengals this week. Having lost to the Ravens who headed this week to the Pacific North West to play the rubbish Seahawks, the Steelers must have felt like they were riding some rough luck. No better time, then, for a season-defining performance as a tough-nosed win against a competitive Cincinnati preceded the humiliating loss of the Ravens to the Seahawks, handing the division back to the Steelers. Granted, the Ravens own tiebreakers and are only half a game behind by virtue of the Steelers having enjoyed they BYE week already, but the Black and Gold are a far more mature unit than the mind-bogglingly inconsistent Ravens.
6 (3). Baltimore Ravens (6-3)
Really? Win a last second thriller against one of the toughest teams in the NFL and grab control of the most brutal division in pro football and then lose to the Seahawks? Ravens fans must be sick. This year has been typified by the Purple and Black taking their eye off the prize when confronted with an opponent they should steamroll. The Jaguars? Yeah, one of their wins came against the Ravens. The Seahawks made the Ravens look below average at times and for a team with Super Bowl aspirations playing at THAT level, THIS late in the season, such a performance is unacceptable. Although they have the power in their hands, their hands don’t appear capable of opening a door right now, let alone catching a football against a decent opponent.
7. New England Patriots (6-3)
The Pats shocked the Jets this week by winning by an unexpectedly juicy 21 point margin to sweep the season series and regain control of the division. However, an injury to starting Cornerback Devin McCourty, a huge loss for an already underperforming secondary, could make life very difficult down the stretch. For that reason the Pats stay locked-in at 7 as other teams shuffle above them and the Texans leapfrog them from 8th to 4th.
8 (6). New York Giants (6-3)
Losing to the 49ers should not be a shock given the records and win-streaks of the two teams going into the contest, but somehow, no one took San Fran seriously until they proved they had the muscle to stop a bubbling juggernaut like New York. The Giants still have a game lead over the strengthening Cowboys, but will have to regroup fast to avoid being caught by America’s Team. The Eagles’ loss to the poor Cardinals has lessened the pressure in the NFC East and news that Michael Vick has sustained 2 broken ribs has left the once eminent division a 2-horse race.
9 (13). Chicago Bears (6-3)
The Bears are rolling and at this time of the season there’s no better statistic to build optimism than a heavy dose of win-streaking. Their win against their main Wild Card rivals, division buddies the Lions, and their 4 consecutive victories, added to the excellent play of Jay Cutler makes these boys my new Number 1 contenders for the 5th Seed in the NFC.
10 (9). Detroit Lions (6-3)
Hitting the skids is never good. It’s all the worse when it includes a loss to the team that needs tiebreakers over you to make it to the playoffs in your place. The Lions and Bears are heading in opposite directions and while they are both still in the running to qualify, Detroit need to pull their socks up or risk having their trousers pulled down.
11. Cincinnati Bengals (6-3)
Still in the mix for the 6th Seed thanks to the Jets and the Bills losing, the Bengals had a real chance to take control of the AFC North with what would have been an unlikely win against long-time problem rivals, the Steelers. As it is, young Red Dalton and his surprising Cincinnati Bengals find themselves in a tight race for Wild Cards as we edge into the second half of the season. As with the Lions in the NFC North, we will see the true character of these inexperienced units as every contending team’s mettle is thoroughly examined as the season strides towards the close. Can they make it? They will struggle with the Jets keen to rebound after losing control of their own destiny, but if they can just keep doing what they have been doing so far, there’s every reason to think they have a shot.
12 (10). New York Jets (5-4)
In a week that many expected to see the Jets ascend to the top of the pile in the AFC East, the boisterous boys in Green and White slid two places in the rankings after a blow out loss to a Patriots team that looked like they knew they were playing for more than just another win. The loss means New England has swept the season series for the first time since Rex Ryan took charge, and now own the East and all the tiebreakers they need should it come to that. The Jets still figure to feature in the playoffs, but every game must now be treated as a playoff contest, with the Bills, Bengals and Ravens all in the mix for those valuable Wild Card spots. With a similar run-in to the Patriots, save for their clash with the Giants and the Pats tussle with the listless Colts, they can’t afford to dream of the division crown this year. I think they will make it; they are too good not to, but the play of Mark Sanchez could damage their chances unless he picks up the slack.
The Bottom Half…
13 (12). Buffalo Bills (5-4)
14 (18). Dallas Cowboys (5-4)
15 (14). Atlanta Falcons (5-4)
16. Oakland Raiders (5-4)
17 (15). Kansas City Chiefs (4-5)
18 (17). San Diego Chargers (4-5)
19 (24). Denver Broncos (4-5)
20 (21). Tennessee Titans (5-4)
21(19). Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5)
22 (20). Philadelphia Eagles (3-6)
23 (25). Miami Dolphins (2-7)
24 (26). Arizona Cardinals (3-6)
25 (31). Seattle Seahawks (3-6)
26 (27). St Louis Rams (2-7)
27 (22). Cleveland Browns (3-6)
28 (29). Jacksonville Jaguars (3-6)
29 (23). Minnesota Vikings (2-7)
30 (28). Carolina Panthers (2-7)
31 (30). Washington Redskin (3-6)
32 . Indianapolis Colts (0-10)
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Sunday, 13 November 2011
Week 9 Power Rankings: 13-32 List
The Bottom Half…
13 (16). Chicago Bears (5-3)
14 (18). Atlanta Falcons (5-3)
15 (12). Kansas City Chiefs (4-4)
16 (13). Oakland Raiders (4-4)
17 (14). San Diego Chargers (4-4)
18 (20). Dallas Cowboys (4-4)
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4)
20 (17). Philadelphia Eagles (3-5)
21. Tennessee Titans (4-4)
22. Cleveland Browns (3-5)
23 (29). Minnesota Vikings (2-6)
24 (31). Denver Broncos (3-5)
25 (30). Miami Dolphins (1-7)
26 (28). Arizona Cardinals (2-6)
27 (24). St Louis Rams (1-7)
28 (25). Carolina Panthers (2-6)
29 (26). Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6)
30 (27). Washington Redskin (3-5)
31 (29). Seattle Seahawks (2-6)
32 . Indianapolis Colts (0-9)
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
13 (16). Chicago Bears (5-3)
14 (18). Atlanta Falcons (5-3)
15 (12). Kansas City Chiefs (4-4)
16 (13). Oakland Raiders (4-4)
17 (14). San Diego Chargers (4-4)
18 (20). Dallas Cowboys (4-4)
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4)
20 (17). Philadelphia Eagles (3-5)
21. Tennessee Titans (4-4)
22. Cleveland Browns (3-5)
23 (29). Minnesota Vikings (2-6)
24 (31). Denver Broncos (3-5)
25 (30). Miami Dolphins (1-7)
26 (28). Arizona Cardinals (2-6)
27 (24). St Louis Rams (1-7)
28 (25). Carolina Panthers (2-6)
29 (26). Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6)
30 (27). Washington Redskin (3-5)
31 (29). Seattle Seahawks (2-6)
32 . Indianapolis Colts (0-9)
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
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