Week 12 Power Rankings
32. Detroit Lions 0-10 (previous ranking: 32)
At least they’re forming one heck of a storyline for the Thanksgiving game.
31. St. Louis Rams 2-8 (previous ranking: 29)
The defense has tanked the season.
30. Oakland Raiders 2-8 (previous ranking: 31)
Al Davis’s legendary club is movin’ on up in the rankings.
29. Cincinnati Bengals 1-8-1 (previous ranking: 30)
So bad that even when they don’t lose, they still can’t find a way to win.
28. Kansas City Chiefs 1-9 (previous ranking: 28)
Chiefs fans probably don’t care, but this might all be worth it if they wind up finding a franchise quarterback in Tyler Thigpen.
27. Seattle Seahawks 2-8 (previous ranking: 27)
A classic case of a lost season.
26. San Francisco 49ers 3-7 (previous ranking: 26)
On a roll having won one straight.
25. Houston Texans 3-7 (previous ranking: 23)
Perhaps they’ve at least found an answer at running back in Steve Slaton.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars 4-6 (previous ranking: 24)
Still the most disappointing team in football this year.
23. Buffalo Bills 5-5 (previous ranking: 19)
All it took was four straight losses for us to realize that they haven’t beaten anybody good.
22. Cleveland Browns 4-6 (previous ranking: 25)
If only they could play on Monday night every week.
21. San Diego Chargers 4-6 (previous ranking: 21)
It’s almost a must-win for them against Indy this week.
20. Chicago Bears 5-5 (previous ranking: 12)
37-3. Ouch.
19. Minnesota Vikings 5-5 (previous ranking: 15)
The biggest moment of their season still lies ahead, with Kevin and Pat Williams slated to appeal their four-game suspensions.
18. New Orleans Saints 5-5 (previous ranking: 22)
They should be poised for a playoff run, except that would require that they play with some form of consistency.
17. Philadelphia Eagles: 5-4-1 (previous ranking: 13)
The only thing worse than tying the Bengals is having a quarterback who didn’t even know he could tie the Bengals.
16. Baltimore Ravens 6-4 (previous ranking: 14)
Frauds.
15. Miami Dolphins 6-4 (previous ranking: 17)
They’re to be congratulated for this surprising outburst, but there’s just not something too inspiring about narrow home victories against Seattle and Oakland.
14. Green Bay Packers 5-5 (previous ranking: 20)
Emphatic win over rival Chicago. You still have to worry about their run defense in the long haul, though.
13. Atlanta Falcons 6-4 (previous ranking: 11)
Matt Ryan hit a rookie speed bump last week…and they still had a chance to win.
12. Denver Broncos 6-4 (previous ranking: 18)
Jay Cutler is playing like a superstar again.
11. Washington Redskins 6-4 (previous ranking: 5)
They’ll need their running game in order to stay formidable down the stretch.
10. Dallas Cowboys 6-4 (previous ranking: 16)
It still doesn’t feel like this team is quite on track, but that was a huge road win for them on Sunday night.
9. New England Patriots 6-4 (previous ranking: 6)
Some huge division games await them. And they seem to have found a quarterback.
8. Arizona Cardinals 7-3 (previous ranking: 8)
Kurt Warner is indeed playing like a league MVP. And how about those receivers he has?
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-3 (previous ranking: 7)
Familiar fifth-ranked defense is buoyed by an unfamiliar ninth-ranked offense.
6. Indianapolis Colts 6-4 (previous ranking: 9)
Nobody, not nobody, wants to face Peyton Manning right now.
5. New York Jets 7-3 (previous ranking: 10)
Winners of four straight, thanks to Brett Favre, a rejuvenated rushing attack and an underappreciated defensive front seven.
4. Pittsburg Steelers 7-3 (previous ranking: 4)
Things start to go their way once that playing surface in Heinz Field turns to quicksand.
3. Carolina Panthers 8-2 (previous ranking: 3)
Not a lot of teams can win back-to-back games with their quarterback throwing for less than 100 yards.
2. Tennessee Titans 10-0 (previous ranking: 2)
That’s two straight weeks that they’ve won it with Kerry Collins’s right arm.
1. New York Giants 9-1 (previous ranking: 1)
So much for meeting their match against the Ravens D, huh?
I’ve watched the Ravens this year and they’re not frauds, simply their secondary is. This is Coach Harbaugh’s first year and he has done an impressive job. Meanwhile, the Giants are the best team in the league and though they pounded the Ravens, Ahmad Bradshaw’s TD was a fluke. The score could have been more like 23-10 and remember, this is a team with a new coach in contention for the AFC North. One game against the Super Bowl Champs is not enough to put them on Buffalo’s level yet.
I’d put Green Bay ahead of Atlanta, Denver, and Washington.
Packers have a talented and aggressive defense and a very balanced offensive attack.
I have a feeling if NY and PIT were to meet up in the Postseason the Jets would come out victorious.
Steelers offense scares me. New York has the right offense to get the job done against that vaunted Pittsburgh defense.
I believe SD is the most disappointing team this season - many others including myself had higher expectations for the Bolts more so than the Jags.
It was just a matter of time before the Bears fell flat on their face - I knew they were getting too much credit, begin somewhat overhyped after a good start.
I believe Arizona & Dallas ahead of Tampa & New England.
You have to wonder about Indy’s defense and its health, especially Bob Sanders.
I just don’t see N.O. making a Playoff run… don’t count out PHILLY just yet….
Should the Giants be concerned about Plaxico Burress?
It seems like their aerial attack could very well be grounded and contained rather easily in the Playoffs. I don’t see Eli making enough plays to get New York back to the Super Bowl.
I wonder if Chris Johnson (reminds me of Brian Westbrook) has hit the so-called “Rookie Wall”. He’s been receiving plenty of touches, a vast amount of the offensive workload has fallen directly onto his shoulders, but give Tennessee mad props for winning games w/out a good rushing attack, relying on their stingy D and Kerry Collins.
Still can’t believe he’s getting the job done with that lackluster supporting cast of WR’s - though Bo Scaife is a star in the making at TE. The OL has been so good - they’ve only allowed a league-low 5 sacks!!!
I expect to see the TITANS in Tampa come February. Super Bowl or Bust!
im wondering that when Nate Webster and DJ Williams become healthy again if they should even start cuz the new guys r doin such a good job. well, maybe DJ should start but spencer larsen is better than webster.