1) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (11-2): Change: 0 [1,3] The Seahawks stay at number one because they just barely lost a hard-fought road game to a divisional rival. I saw that 49ers-Seahawks game going either way, and the ‘Hawks happened to get the short end of the stick. I picked the Seahawks to go 14-2, and they should coast through the rest of the season and wrap up the #1 seed in the NFC and the best record in the league.
2) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-3): Change: +1 [2,8] Another slow
start for the Patriots, but they once again managed to pull out a win against
an inferior opponent. The injury to
Gronk is devastating, but there aren’t many teams in the AFC that will be able
to challenge them.
3) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (10-3): Change: +3 [2,6] HUGE
statement win in a rout of the Panthers on Sunday Night Football. The problem is that the Saints are night and
day when they are away from the dome, and they will have to go on the road to
win in the playoffs. The division is
still not clinched, though, and a week 16 rematch with Carolina still looms
ahead for the NFC South crown.
5) SAN FRANCSICO 49ERS (9-4): Change: +1 [2,7] With a STATEMENT win against the Seahawks, the 49ers proved they are a dangerous wildcard team. I have to move them up after a win of that magnitude.
6) DENVER BRONCOS (11-2): Change: -2 [1,6] I know they won by a big margin against the Titans, but this defense just really worries me. You can’t count on Peyton to put up 50+ points every week, and I think the Broncos are going to struggle against even their weak AFC opponents in the playoffs. Denver at 6 is more a testament to the 5 teams above them than a knock on the Broncos, but still….I just don’t have confidence in this team and could see them being one-and-done in the playoffs again.
7) CINCINNATI BENGALS (9-4): Change: 0 [7,11] A nice win against the Colts, but I still have defensive concerns about this team and am not very excited about them this postseason.
8) KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (10-3):
Change: +2 [8,22] I preached how the Chiefs were not a #1 team for nine
weeks…now I’m preaching that they’re way better than you think since everyone
overacted to the 3-game losing streak.
This is a very good team,
they’re just not top-5 material. The
defense is scary, and Jamaal Charles will make enough plays to keep them in
most games.
9) ARIZONA CARDINALS (8-5):
Change: +2 [7,24] Yet another dominant win by Arizona keeps them well in the
top half of these rankings and in serious discussion to challenge for a playoff
berth.
10) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (8-5):
Change: +2 [10,22] Dave will rejoice as Nick Foles and the Eagles ascend into
the top 10 in my rankings. That win in
the snow over Detroit was HUGE, and the Eagles may not be an easy out in the
first round of the playoffs.
11) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8-5):
Change: -2 [1,14] This team is an utter enigma. They can beat anyone or lose to anyone. Lately, though, they’ve been losing to
everyone, so they finally drop out of the top 10.
12) DETROIT LIONS (7-6): Change:
-4 [8,13] They’re letting the NFC North slip away. There’s too much talent on this team for
their record to be so poor. It’s now or
never for Jim Schwartz.
13) CHICAGO BEARS (7-6): Change: +3 [8,17] That was a statement win over Dallas on MNF. This team continues to be relevant in the fight for the NFC North crown down the stretch.
14) SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (6-7): Change: +4 [14,25] The Giants are not as bad as the Chargers made them look – the Chargers are really good. They have discipline issue, but they should be able to make a run at the final wildcard spot in the AFC.
15) BALTIMORE RAVENS (7-6): Change: -1 [14,20] I don’t give
them any credit for needing a miracle to beat the Vikings. This team is weak, and the Bengals/Colts are
hoping they make the playoffs for an easy out.
16) PITTSBURGH STEELERS (5-8): Change: 0 [15,26] Their season is pretty much over, but I still think that they are in the top half of teams right now.
16) PITTSBURGH STEELERS (5-8): Change: 0 [15,26] Their season is pretty much over, but I still think that they are in the top half of teams right now.
17) DALLAS COWBOYS (7-6): Change: -4 [12,18] Another lost season
in Dallas as this team has way too many problems to overcome. I was hoping for a Week 17 clash with the
Eagles to decide the division title, but it looks like that will instead
probably just be a meaningless game.
18) MIAMI DOLPHINS (7-6): Change: +4 [18,31] I have no faith
in this team. I’m only ranking them this
high because I feel like I have to with them still in the playoff hunt.
19) GREEN BAY PACKERS (6-6-1): Change: +1 [2,20] Wow, they got a win without Rodgers. But they’re still irrelevant unless he comes back soon.
20) NEW YORK GIANTS (5-8): Change: -4 [12,26] A pathetic showing in San Diego sealed their fate.
21) ST. LOUIS RAMS (5-8): Change: -2 [14,29] Missing too many
pieces to win consistently.
22) NEW YORK JETS (6-7): Change: +2 [13,30] Geno wasn’t
atrocious last week.
23) MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-9-1): Change: +4 [23, 31] I know
they lost in the final seconds, but this team is really turning around in the
second half of the season. No one wants
to play them.
24) TENNESSEE TITANS (5-8): Change: -2 [18,30] They played a
good first half against the Broncos….
25) CLEVELAND BROWNS (4-9): Change: +1 [16,27] They played a good
first half against the Patriots….
26) BUFFALO BILLS (4-9): Change: -3 [22,29] There are a lot of
nice pieces, but not enough experience yet to hold them together.
27) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-9): Change: +3 [27,32] That’s three in a row and four wins in their last five! I’m hoping they can take this momentum into next season.
27) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-9): Change: +3 [27,32] That’s three in a row and four wins in their last five! I’m hoping they can take this momentum into next season.
28) OAKLAND RAIDERS (4-9): Change: -2 [24,32] They lost to Geno Smith.
29) TAMPA BAY BUCS (3-9): Change: +2 [19,31] Sure, I’ll move them up a few. Why not?
30) ATLANTA FALCONS (3-10): Change: -1 [8,30] Super Bowl pick? Haha, those were the days. Glad I was never on that bandwagon.
31) WASHINGTON REDSKINS (3-10): Change: -4 [17,31] Who would’ve thought the Redskins would be so bad?
32) HOUSTON TEXANS (2-11): Change: 0 [6,32] …or the Texans?!
No comments:
Post a Comment