Week 11 Power Rankings: Bears surge

1. Green Bay Packers (9-0) (Last week: 1)-  The Packers never even gave the Vikes a chance.  They pounced on them right away when Randall Cobb returned a punt for a TD before the offense had a chance to step onto the field.  This team is special.

2.  San Francisco 49ers (8-1) (LW: 2)- The Niners proved that they're an elite team in this league after holding on to defeat the Giants who had looked as strong as anyone of late.  Frank Gore looks like he'll be okay, just don't be surprised if they lighten his load going forward with Kendall Hunter lurking with fresh legs.

3.  New Orleans Saints (7-3) (LW: 6)-  The Saints held on after blowing a 10 pt 4th quarter lead against the Falcons on the road.  It was a big win for the Saints within the division on the road to give themselves a game and a half lead in the NFC South heading into their Week 11 bye.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3) (LW: 7)-  The Steelers took care of the Bengals to catapult themselves into sole possession in the AFC North thanks to a Ravens loss.  The Steelers may still be the class of the AFC.

5. New York Giants (6-3) (LW: 5)-  The G-Men fell just short against the Niners on the road in Week 10.  However, it was the Niners and the Giants almost came through to tie the game on their final drive.  The Giants are a very good team, but they'll have to watch surging Dallas behind them as they have the Packers and Saints waiting for them on the other side of Philly.

6. Chicago Bears (6-3) (LW: 14)-  The Bears absolutely dominated the Lions in Week 10, plain and simple.  Their defense was exceptional, producing 2 TDs and Devin Hester took another one to the house off of a punt return.  The Bears look scary again.

7.  New England Patriots (6-3) (LW: 8)-  The Pats faced a tough divisional foe in the Jets in Week 10 and proved that it's still their division to lose.  They get the Tyler Palko-led Chiefs on Monday night this week as they try to nurse their secondary back to health.

8.  Baltimore Ravens (6-3) (LW: 3)-  Wow.  What a difference a week makes.  The Ravens looked flat and couldn't stop Marshawn Lynch even when they knew he was coming.  A loss to lowly Seattle isn't a good sign for the Ravens, having come off a huge win against Pittsburgh.

9. Houston Texans (7-3) (LW: 10)- The Texans tore apart the Bucs in Week 10, but the week was a huge loss for them as they lost Matt Schaub for the season due to a foot injury.  Here comes Matt Leinart...

10. Detroit Lions (6-3) (LW: 4)- The Lions couldn't get anything going against the Bears in Week 10, as they mustered a mere 13 points to the Bears' 37.  They'll have to get it together soon or else they could find themselves out of the playoff picture with 2 games against the Packers still to come.

11. Cincinnati Bengals (6-3) (LW: 9)- Bengals couldn't get it done against Pittsburgh, falling just short.  Tough divisional matchup looms this week in Baltimore.

12. Dallas Cowboys (5-4) (LW: 17)-  Dallas has looked very impressive of late and Tony Romo was brilliant in their Week 10 rout of Buffalo.  DeMarco Murray continues to shine as the featured back, and it looks as though he'll remain in that role with Felix Jones returning.

13. Oakland Raiders (5-4) (LW: 18)- The Raiders looked good in their Week 10 Thursday night victory, taking over first place in the AFC West.  Michael Bush has been sensational filling in for the injured Darren McFadden and Carson Palmer may have found his new favorite target in Denarius Moore.

14. Atlanta Falcons (5-4) (LW: 12)- The Falcons were so close to knocking off the Saints in Week 10 and taking over first place in the NFC South, but Mike Smith's decision to go for it on 4th and inches from their own 29 came back to haunt them as Michael Turner was swarmed by a wall of Saints, setting up an easy game-winning John Kasay field goal.  They get Tennessee at home this week.

15. New York Jets (5-4) (LW: 15)- For a team that is supposed to rely on a strong defense, it didn't get it done against New England on Sunday night.  The Pats were able to pull away and punish the Jets D.  Welker was held in check, but Gronkowski picked up the slack.

16.  Tennessee Titans (5-4) (LW: 21)- The Titans completely demolished the Panthers as their defense figured out Cam Newton and didn't allow him to do a thing.  A road trip to Atlanta will test if they can catch the Matt Schaub-less Texans in the AFC South.

17.  San Diego Chargers (4-5) (LW: 15)-  And the Chargers continue to fall.  Thankfully none of the other teams in the West are putting forth a tremendous effort.

18. Tampa Bay Bucs (4-5) (LW: 16)-  The Bucs got trounced by the Texans, and are now 2.5 games out of first.  The NFC is too strong to fall behind.

19. Buffalo Bills (5-4) (LW: 18)- The Bills may still have a winning record, but they sure haven't been playing like a winning team.  Dallas pushed them around in all facets, and don't be surprised if Miami beats them this week.  The Bills are free-falling back down to earth.

20.  Denver Broncos (4-5) (LW: 23)- Tim Tebow threw 8 passes.  He completed 2.  His team won.  Oh well, I guess the bottom line is Tim Tebow is 3-1 as a starter no matter how ugly it's looked.

21. Kansas City Chiefs (4-5) (LW: 20)-  The Chiefs were bound to fall off at some point, and now with Matt Cassel maybe out for the year, it's probably safe to write off the Chiefs.

22.  Seattle Seahawks (3-6) (LW: 28)-  So Seattle won a game.  And against a good team at that.  Who knew? Too bad they're in the same division as San Francisco.

23. Arizona Cardinals (3-6) (LW: 29)- The Cardinals have now won two in a row behind none other than John Skelton.  QB controversy maybe?

24.  Philadelphia Eagles (3-6) (LW: 19)- The Eagles have now reached a new low.  A loss to Arizona had the Eagles walking back to the locker room with their tail tucked between their legs.

25.  Cleveland Browns (3-6) (LW: 22)-  The last play of the game against St. Louis that would have won Cleveland the game says it all for this team...

26.  Washington Redskins (3-6) (LW: 25)-  And the Redskins continue their fall.  They're trying to go 3-13 the hard way.  Shanahan needs to put Helu in and pick a QB so his team can actually have some chemistry.

27.  Jacksonville Jaguars (3-6) (LW: 27)- Lucky for Jacksonville they got to play Indianapolis last week to get their 3rd win.  The other good news? They get them once more this year.  Outside of that not much else.

28.  Miami Dolphins (2-7) (LW: 30)- Wow, Miami has won two games in a row and looked pretty good doing it.  Maybe Tony Sparano will get to keep his job after all.

29.  Minnesota Vikings (2-7) (LW: 24)-  The Vikings never stood a chance against Green Bay.  Christian Ponder looks like he may have a bright future, but he will need some help.  Justin Blackmon maybe?

30.  St. Louis Rams (2-7) (LW: 31)- The Rams snuck out their second win of the year against the Browns, but who are they kidding?

31. Carolina Panthers (2-7) (LW: 26)- Cam Newton may be the future, but they don't have much of a present.

32. Indianapolis Colts (0-10) (LW: 32)-  Again, why bother?

-TA

The Albert Haynesworth Project

The New England Patriots waived former Pro Bowl DT Albert Haynesworth on Tuesday after registering only 3 tackles as a member of the team.  He was claimed by the Tampa Bay Bucs on Wednesday to step in for Gerald McCoy, who was lost for the season with a torn biceps. 

Haynesworth was not able to make it work with the Pats.

A mere two years ago, Haynesworth was awarded with a 7-year $100 million contract by the Washington Redskins, and was widely considered the best defensive tackle in the NFL.  It seemed as though he was on top of the world.

However, his tenure in Washington was short-lived and included a variety of public spats with his coaching staff about their transition to a 3-4 defense.  The Redskins later went on to trade the disgruntled Haynesworth to the New England Patriots for a late-round draft pick after only two seasons with the team.

His early departure from Washington only added to the troublemaker image he had established as a member of the Tennessee Titans.  As a Titan, Haynesworth stepped on then-Cowboys’ center Andre Gurode’s head after his helmet had been knocked off.  When news of his disruptions in Washington broke, it was hardly a surprise, and they continued throughout his two seasons as a Redskin.

As a Patriot, many thought that Haynesworth’s career could be revived under coach Bill Belichick, but the experiment only lasted 8 games and a paltry 134 snaps.   He did not fit in with their primarily 3-4 defense and was said to have had a heated dispute with his defensive line coach.  Now the Bucs hope that they can get the most out of what Haynesworth has left in their 4-3 system.

The question is though, is he really worth it?  The former Pro Bowler has been nothing but trouble everywhere he’s gone.  Sure, he plays better in a 4-3 scheme, but is he worth the headache?  He certainly cannot be good for the locker room and midway through the season, he’s already in position to be an outsider amongst the team.  If he cannot get his attitude in check, as we saw with Randy Moss last season, no team will want to retain him for the marginal production he puts forth. 

Haynesworth has been a disruption on every team he’s played for and is already clearly in the decline of his career.  To put it simply, the man is a cancer.  He is a guy who cannot be counted on to be a leader for his teammates and never seems to have remorse for his actions. 

For a team poised to be in a playoff race, to me this move makes little sense, even despite the need on the line.  A playoff team needs cohesion in the locker room and for that to transfer to the field, and with Albert Haynesworth, that can only create a divide.  Coach Morris and GM Dominic, you are hurting your team.

-TA

Week 10 Power Rankings (And 2nd Half Bold Predictions)

The bold predictions are back this week for the NFL's 2nd half; they follow each team's rank.

1. Green Bay Packers (8-0) (Last week: 1)-  The Packers outlasted the feisty Chargers in Week 9 to remain the league's only unbeaten.  Minnesota comes to Lambeau on Monday night in what shouldn't be that close.

Bold Prediction: 19-0 for the Packers.  They'll do what the Pats couldn't in 2008.

2.  San Francisco 49ers (7-1) (LW: 2)- They let Washington make it somewhat interesting at the end, but behind another strong performance by Frank Gore the Niners pulled another one out.  The Giants are coming to town in what should be a very intriguing matchup.

Bold Prediction: The Niners clinch the division in Week 11.

3.  Baltimore Ravens (6-2) (LW: 6)-  The Ravens beat the seemingly mighty Steelers on Sunday to complete the season sweep.  Baltimore's defense remains strong and Joe Flacco proved he can get it done in crunch time with a tremendous 2-minute drill, ending in a game-winning TD to Torrey Smith.

Bold Prediction: The Ravens sweep their division on their way to the AFC's number 1 seed.

4. Detroit Lions (6-2) (LW: 7)-  The Lions may have been a little forgotten over the bye week, but I am not willing to have anyone but the Ravens jump them on account of their win over the previous number 3 Steelers.  Big divisional matchup with the Bears looms.

Bold Prediciton: The Lions drop their week 10 matchup against the Bears and miss the playoffs at 10-6 like last year's Giants.

5. New York Giants (6-2) (LW: 7)-  Huge win over the Pats in a Super Bowl XLII rematch, in which Eli Manning led another impressive game-winning drive.  (Told you he was elite).  Doesn't get any softer as the G-Men travel to San Fran to take on the 7-1 49ers.

Bold Prediction:  Eli Manning leads the Giants to a win over the Niners on the road.

6. New Orleans Saints (6-3) (LW: 9)-  The Saints showed on Sunday that when they get it together and provide a balanced attack on offense, they are as good as anyone.  The defense shut the Bucs out until the waning minutes of the 1st half, even without Jonathan Vilma for the whole game and Tracy Porter and Patrick Robinson for most of it.

Bold Prediction: Drew Brees is finally the QB that is on pace to break Dan Marino's single-season passing yards record that does it.

7.  Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) (LW: 3)-  The Steelers couldn't close it out against Baltimore on Sunday and got swept on the season.  That doesn't bode well for them in case of a tiebreaker.  They go on the road to take on the 1st place Bengals this week.

Bold Prediction: Steelers beat the Bengals this week by double-digits.

8.  New England Patriots (5-3) (LW: 5)-  The Pats didn't have enough time on the clock to respond to Eli's late game heroics, but they better get themselves together to keep themselves in first in the division against the Jets.  I guess short-haired Tom Brady does lose, and two in a row at that.

Bold Prediction: The Pats lose this week to the Jets and settle for a Wild Card spot.

9. Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) (LW: 10)- The Bengals completed the come from behind victory against the Titans, staying in a tie for first in the division.  The real test of the Bengals will be this week at home against the Steelers.

Bold Prediction: 10 TDs for AJ Green.

10. Houston Texans (6-3) (LW: 11)- The Texans continued their winning streak with a big win against the Browns and widened their lead on the division with a loss by the Texans.  They traveled to Tampa to take on the Bucs to try to make their win streak 4 games.

Bold Prediction: The Texans lock up the division in Week 13.

11. New York Jets (5-3) (LW: 12)- The Jets made a statement in the AFC East with a convincing 27-3 win over the Bills.  They can overtake 1st place with a win over the Pats at home this week (that and a Bills loss).

Bold Prediction: Jets win the AFC East.

12. Atlanta Falcons (5-3) (LW: 13)-  The Falcons took care of business against the Colts on Sunday with a 31-7 victory in which Julio Jones broke out for 131 yards on 3 catches and 2 long TDs.

Bold Prediction: Julio Jones has more yards and TDs than Roddy White in the 2nd half.

13. Buffalo Bills (5-3) (LW: 8)- The Bills looked bad against the Jets last weekend, plain and simple.  They're going to have to be better if they want to keep pace with the Pats and Jets in the East.  That must start this week in Dallas.

Bold Prediction:  Bills finish 8-8, missing the playoffs.

14. Chicago Bears (5-3) (LW: 14)- The Bears weren't too fond of their role as underdogs Monday Night, and showed why they are still a contender in the NFC.  Big divisional matchup against the Lions awaits them this weekend at Soldier Field.

Bold Prediction: The Bears win at home against the Lions this weekend and make the playoffs as a Wild Card.

15. San Diego Chargers (4-4) (LW:15)- The Chargers gave the Packers a run for their money at the end of the game in Week 9, but it was the Packers, so there's not much shame in that.  They get Oakland at home on Thursday night in a crucial divisional showdown.

16.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4) (LW: 16)- The Bucs were kept in check in New Orleans last Sunday, as the Saints got their revenge.  The Bucs had to sling it around after getting down early, so they were not able to run it down the Saints' throat.  They are now a game and a half out of first, in 3rd place in the NFC South.

Bold Prediction: LeGarrette Blount gets over the 1000 yard plateau with at least 8 TDs.

17.  Dallas Cowboys (4-4) (LW: 18)- The Cowboys took care of business against the lowly Seahawks last Sunday, as DeMarco Murray proved he was also a threat in the passing game out of the backfield.  They look to get back into the NFC East race at home against the Bills this weekend as the Giants have a tough matchup.

Bold Prediction: The Cowboys, aided by the Giants schedule, roar back with a strong second half and win the NFC East.

18. Oakland Raiders (4-4) (LW: 19)- The Raiders got shown up at home by a weak Denver team, as Carson Palmer tossed two picks late in the game.  Lucky for them the Chargers also lost to maintain a share of the AFC West lead.

Bold Prediction: Darren McFadden misses significant time and Michael Bush averages a touchdown a game in his absence.

19. Philadelphia Eagles (3-5) (LW: 17)- The Eagles couldn't capitalize on an opportunity to climb into a 2nd place NFC East tie with a loss to the Bears at home on Monday night.  They continue to find ways to lose in the fourth quarter, and unless that changes immediately, the Eagles will undoubtedly be watching the playoffs from home.

Bold Prediction: The Eagles lead the league in rushing and are top 3 in total yardage, but with a losing record.

20.  Kansas City Chiefs (4-4) (LW: 20)- The Chiefs got absolutely stunned by the winless Dolphins at home, and it was bad to say the least. Luckily they get the Broncos this week to try to get back on track.  

Bold Prediction: Chiefs finish 6-10, third in the West.

21. Tennessee Titans (4-4) (LW: 21): Tennessee doesn't get to jump KC because they also lost.  The Titans continue their slide and will try to stay within reach in the AFC South in Carolina this weekend.

Bold Prediction:  Chris Johnson is relegated to the bench, as Javon Ringer gets a chance to start when they are out of contention.

22.  Cleveland Browns (3-5) (LW: 22)-  The Browns got pushed around in Houston last weekend, as they are quickly falling out of contention.

Bold Prediction: Peyton Hillis walks after this season after not getting a sufficient deal from the Browns.

23. Denver Broncos (3-5) (LW: 28)- Tebow is now 2-1 as a starter this season, somehow.  The Broncos are miraculously only a game out of the division lead in the NFC West, and get a chance to stay in striking distance with a divisional matchup against the Chiefs.  

Bold prediction: The Broncos beat the Chiefs this week as the Chiefs start to spiral downward after the loss to Miami.

24.  Minnesota Vikings (2-6) (LW: 24)- The Vikes had a week off to prepare for the Packers this Monday night, but I'm not sure how much it's going to help.  Christian Ponder led them to a semi-close game against the Pack earlier in the year, but I'm not convinced it's going to be close again on the road.

Bold Prediction: 20 TDs for Adrian Peterson.

25.  Washington Redskins (3-5) (LW: 25)-  The Redskins scored late to make the score closer than it should have been against the 49ers, but it was another loss for the plummeting 'Skins.

Bold Prediction: The Redskins, after starting 3-1, steal only one game en route to finishing 4-12.

26.  Carolina Panthers (2-6) (LW: 23)-  Cam Newton continues to impress this year and will look to increase his win total for pride's sake this week at home against Tennessee.

Bold Prediction: Cam Newton finishes in the top 5 in rushing TDs with 15.

27.  Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) (LW: 26)- The Jags get a treat this week as they travel to take on the winless Colts in Indy.  They better make the most of this golden opportunity.

Bold Prediction: The only two games they win from here on out are against the Colts.

28. Seattle Seahawks (2-6) (LW: 27)- Another game, another loss for the Seahawks.  It looks as though that win against the Giants will have been their Super Bowl.

Bold Prediction: The Seahawks finish 2nd in the West with 4 wins.

29.  Arizona Cardinals (2-6) (LW: 30)-  The Cards came back and stole a game from the Rams in OT with a spectacular 99-yard punt return from rookie Patrick Peterson, even though I'm not sure why he ever would field a punt at his own 1 yard line.

Bold Prediction: Larry Fitzgerald comes on in the 2nd half with 5 TDs in the remaining 8.

30.  Miami Dolphins (1-7) (LW: 31)- The Dolphins got their first win with style as they clobbered the Chiefs 31-3.  They look to keep it rolling against the Redskins on Sunday.

Bold Prediction: The 'Fins win 3 more games to finish 4-12, the first of those 3 coming this week against Washington.

31.  St. Louis Rams (1-7) (LW: 29)- The Rams couldn't keep it going after beating the Saints, as they lost to another 1 win team last week, that being the Cards in OT.  

Bold Prediction: Mark Clayton comes back and is the team's leading receiver in the second half over Brandon Lloyd.

32. Indianapolis Colts (0-9) (LW: 32)-  Why bother.

Bold Prediction: 0-16 and Andrew Luck is the heir to Peyton Manning's throne.

-TA

Why Eli Manning IS an Elite NFL QB (And in Brady's Class)

New York Giants QB caused a big stir when he claimed he was in the same class as New England Patriots QB and future Hall of Famer Tom Brady in an interview late last summer.  Most people quickly dismissed his claim as ludicrous and scoffed at the mere mention of Eli's name being in the same conversation as Brady's.

When you look at their numbers since they've come into the league, the conclusion to be drawn, however, is that the two really aren't that all different.  Brady, in 9 full seasons, has averaged just under 3,900 yards per season with 29 TDs, and 11 INTs.  Manning, in the 6 full seasons he has played, has averaged just under 3,600 yards per season, with 25 TDs and 17 INTs.  

But when we analyze the differences in these stats they make sense.  Brady has played 9 full seasons to Manning's 6, and seeing as Brady is currently in his prime, there is only reason to believe that Manning is just entering his.  That, paired with the idea that he amassed his top 2 passing seasons in his last 2 years seems to justify this.  He is currently on pace to shatter his previous career high of 4,021 yards in a season (he is on pace for over 4,800) and come close to last year's career-high 31 TDs.  Manning drew a lot of criticism for his 25 interceptions last year, which is a stat in and of itself which led people to claim it was a bad year for Manning despite his 2nd consecutive 4,000 passing yard season and the aforementioned career-high 31 TDs.  While that stat is one Eli would like to forget, he only has 5 picks through 7 games this season, which when extrapolated to a full year, is 11.  It seems as though last year's high INT total was merely an aberration.

On the subject of interceptions, Tom Brady had a remarkable season last year in which he only threw 4 of them to go along with his 36 TDs.  However, through 7 games this season, Brady already has 8, doubling last year's total not even halfway through the year.  Granted, comparing this total to last year's is hardly fair, but he currently has 3 more than Manning.  Brady has averaged 4 TDs per season more than Manning, but when we take out his insane 2007 year with 50 TDs, a severe outlier given his next-best total was last year's 36, his average drops to 26, a mere 1 more than Manning.  

The biggest "stat" that most people have used in this debate, however, is the rings.  Brady has won three to Manning's 1.  Tom Brady has won three Super Bowl titles, and the impressive part about them is that they all came in his first 4 years as a starter.  However, Brady is 0-1 in Super Bowls since then, his lone loss coming to the New York Giants.  Their QB? None other than good ol' Eli himself.  Manning, despite having to live in his brother, Peyton's, shadow for his entire career, is 1-0 in Super Bowls.  This is the same record as Drew Brees, who is unanimously considered an elite NFL QB.  This total is also 1 more than Philip Rivers, who after last year all but cemented his name in the conversation, despite a down year this year.  Brady's 3 Super Bowls, I would argue, are as much of a product as the team he's played for, one with a stellar defense with elite coaching and Adam Vinatieri's golden leg, as by his own efforts.  Now, before that gets misconstrued, I said as much of a product, meaning he shares the praise, but it is not by his merits alone. Manning has done so with an average to above-average coach in Tom Coughlin, and although he had a great WR in Plaxico Burress along with an amazing pass rush, it was Manning who led the game-winning drive in the Super Bowl, earning him MVP honors.  

As far as intangibles are concerned, Brady is considered the king with his label as a "winner".  While he wins a lot of games, and a heck of a lot in the regular season, he hasn't lived up to that title since the 2004-05 season, his last Super Bowl victory.  Manning's was as recent as the 2007-08 season and he only looks as though he is improving.  Now with a complete cast of WRs and a two-headed running attack to compliment the still-elite pass rush with Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora (another name I just correctly spelled without looking), Eli's stock should be on the rise.  This season the Giants' defense was decimated by injuries during training camp, so if they don't get it done this year with a makeshift secondary and linebacking corp, nobody should fault them, but by next year at the latest, the Giants will undoubtedly be in a position to make some noise.  That is, like I said, only if they don't do so this year with a 5-2 record approaching the second half of the season.

Inside 2 minutes left in the half, there are probably only enough QBs to count on one hand that I'd rather take over Eli, as he runs the 2 minute drill as well as anyone in this league.  If it wasn't for his brother being possibly the best QB the league has ever seen, he may get more of the credit he deserves.  Eli Manning is an elite QB in this league, and what better way than to prove it than by stacking his numbers against the poster-child of elite QBs and the one he claimed he was in the same class with?  I would argue that Eli Manning is indeed in the same class as Tom Brady, although probably a step behind him, and what class does Brady belong to? That would be the NFL's elite.  I've noticed, and maybe someday he'll get the credit and accolades he deserves from the rest of the football community.

Welcome, Eli. Feel free to unpack, you're here to stay.

-TA

Week 9 Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers (7-0) (Last week: 1)-  Idle week for the Pack does nothing to their ranking.  The Pack are still the class of the league and Aaron Rodgers continues his impressive season with 20 TDs to only 3 INTs thus far.

2.  San Francisco 49ers (6-1) (LW: 4)- And the Niners continue to climb.  Frank Gore is proving he's back, registering his 4th consecutive game with 125+ yards on the ground and a rushing TD.  I'll be shocked if they don't have the division locked up by week 12.

3.  Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) (LW: 5)-  Big Ben threw the ball 50 times in Week 8 against New England, including a career-high 30 in the opening half.  Apparently that worked.  Pittsburgh pulled off a win against a quality team in New England and the Patriots pass defense was no match for Big Ben and company.  So much for that talk in the first couple weeks that the Steelers were getting too old.

4. Detroit Lions (6-2) (LW: 7)-  The Lions returned to their dominant form with a convincing 45-10 victory over Tim Tebow and the Broncos.  Their defense sacked Tebow 7 times and made him one dimensional, perhaps writing the book on how to stop Tebow altogether.  The Lions get a week to rest before taking on the Bears as Soldier Field.

5. New England Patriots (5-2) (LW: 2)-  Big Ben torched the Pats defense for 365 yards through the air while the Steelers tenacious pass defense kept Tom Brady in check.  As I've said so many times, the Pats can be a great team, but if they can't get their pass defense together, they won't be able to make that next step toward the Super Bowl.

6. Baltimore Ravens (5-2) (LW: 6)-  Well, they successfully gave the Cardinals a 21 point head start and said "Go ahead, we'll play just one half" before coming all the way back behind 3 Ray Rice rushing TDs to defeat Arizona.  Defense really stood up in the second half when it counted.

7.  New York Giants (6-2) (LW: 8)-  Sunday was ugly for a while as they found themselves trailing the winless Dolphins, but Eli Manning, who I feel is an elite QB in this league (post about this coming), got it done when it matters, coming from behind to win the game for the 4th time this season.  Now, the brutality that is the Giants schedule comes beginning this week in New England.  We'll see what this team is really made of in the upcoming weeks ahead.

8.  Buffalo Bills (5-2) (LW: 9)-  The Bills defense made a mockery of the Redskins offense, sacking John Beck a whopping 9 times and intercepting him twice en route to a 23-0 shutout win, handing Mike Shanahan the first shutout of his career.  The Bills' surprising season continues.

9. New Orleans Saints (5-3) (LW: 3)- You can't lose to a winless team and expect to stay near the top.  the Saints came off their 62-7 shellacking of the Colts very flat and couldn't even muster a single point in the first half against a team giving up the most points of any team in the league.  Brees has to be better than he showed Sunday and quick to avoid another loss to Tampa as the Bucs come to the Superdome this week with a healthy LeGarrette Blount.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) (LW: 14)- The Bengals kept their surprising season rolling with a 34-12 win over the Seahawks, in which the Dalton to Green duo was present again.  Don't look now but the Bengals are only a half-game back of the Steelers for the division lead.

11. Houston Texans (5-3) (LW: 13)- Houston turned in another win at home against Jacksonville this week in what wasn't anything spectacular but they did what they needed to do at home against a division opponent: win.  They look to increase their hold on the division this week against Cleveland at home.

12. New York Jets (4-3) (LW: 12)-  Big divisional game looms this week as the Jets travel to Ralph Wilson Stadium to take on the Bills in what could have huge implications on the AFC East race.  We'll see if the Jets really are returning to form or not.

13. Atlanta Falcons (4-3) (LW: 11)- Atlanta headed into the bye coming off a big win against Detroit and they'll look to build off that this week when they travel to Indianapolis to take on the winless Colts.  Shouldn't be too big of a problem, but then again look what happened last week when we thought an NFC South team would trump a winless team...

14. Chicago Bears (4-3) (LW: 16)- We'll see how much work the Bears put in during the off week as when they travel to Philadelphia to take on the suddenly rejuvenated Eagles under the lights on Monday Night.  

15. San Diego Chargers (4-3) (LW:10)- The Chargers downward spiral continued on Monday with a crushing OT loss to Kansas City.  It doesn't get any easier for the Chargers this week as they get the Packers at home coming off of the bye with an extra week to prepare.  The good news for the Chargers, though, is that the calendar switched to November, and Philip Rivers is 15-5 lifetime in November.

16.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3) (LW: 18)- The Bucs will look to make it 3 straight against the Saints when they travel to New Orleans this weekend, this time with starting RB LeGarrette Blount.  The Saints should prepare for a heavy dose of Blount after the Bucs watched Steven Jackson plow through the Saints on Sunday.

17.  Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) (LW: 21)- The Eagles soared back in a big fashion this week with a convincing 34-7 win over Dallas at home on Sunday Night Football.  LeSean McCoy ran rampant through a mediocre Dallas run defense as the Eagles seemingly had the ball all night.  They get the Bears at home this week in another primetime affair, this time on Monday night.

18. Dallas Cowboys (3-4) (LW: 15)- The Cowboys, who had looked sharp against St. Louis in Week 7, came out and completely got manhandled by a hungry Eagles team.  The 'Boys better wake up quick or their find themselves out of the division race before it even begins.


19. Oakland Raiders (4-3) (LW: 17)- Hopefully Carson palmer got a little more comfortable with the playbook during the bye.  They get Denver at home this week so it should ease them back into gear, and with news just breaking that the Raiders have reunited Carson Palmer with TJ Houshmandzadeh, the Raiders could be gearing up for an intense division race.

20.  Kansas City Chiefs (4-3) (LW: 20)- The Chiefs somehow stole a win from the Chargers after letting them come back and almost take it away on Monday night.  Matt Cassel showed poise and the defense picked off Philip Rivers twice and took the ball away from him with under a minute left in regulation, preventing a game winning field goal by Nick Novak.

21. Tennessee Titans (4-3) (LW: 19): Tennessee pulled out another one, and yet again it wasn't pretty.  They let the Colts hang around longer than they should have and Chris Johnson's struggles continue.  Javon Ringer came in late in the game and doubled Johnson's total yards.  Head Coach Mike Munchak says the team is sticking with Johnson as their primary back, but we'll see how long that lasts if these performances persist.

22.  Cleveland Browns (3-4) (LW: 23)-  The Browns hung tough with a very good San Francisco team, but Frank Gore punched them right in the mouth and Cleveland didn't have an answer.  They look to rebound this week as they travel to Houston for a tough road game against the Texans.

23. Carolina Panthers (2-6) (LW: 24)- Despite the record, Cam Newton continues to shine and if it weren't for a questionable holding call on the Panthers final drive that nullified a Cam Newton run that would have put Carolina inside the five, they might have won the game outright.  The Panthers have to feel good about their QB of the future, as well as the resurgence of Steve Smith.

24.  Minnesota Vikings (2-6) (LW: 28)- Christian Ponder picked up his first NFL win Sunday against the Panthers, and Adrian Peterson showed he is also a threat in the passing game out of the backfield.  Maybe the Vikes are beginning to right the ship.

25.  Washington Redskins (3-4) (LW: 22)-  Despite what their record says, I can't rightfully put the 'Skins ahead of the Vikes or Panthers.  They looked horrendous again on Sunday getting blanked by the Bills on the road.  They are headed downhill in a hurry.

26.  Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) (LW: 26)- Blaine Gabbert had a poor showing Sunday against the Texans, as we should see for much of 2011 with a terrible cast around him. They're off this week before getting to play Indy.

27. Seattle Seahawks (2-5) (LW: 27)- Whether it's Whitehurst or Jackson at the helm, the Seahawks aren't going to win many games period.  Both QBs are backups at best and the Seahawks might as well mail it in and hope that the bottomfeeders steal some wins.

28.  Denver Broncos (2-5) (LW: 25)- One thing that was evident in the Broncos 45-10 loss to the Lions: Tim Tebow looked horrible.  He couldn't make throws that NFL QBs need to make and he was turned one-dimensional, which spells disaster for the Broncos.  He won't last the season as the starter, John Fox already thought he sucked.

29.  St. Louis Rams (1-6) (LW: 31)-  The Rams came out at home on Sunday and truly gave it to the Saints.  Chris Long and Robert Quinn were no match for the Saints' tackles as the defense sacked Brees 6 times and picked him off twice.  Oh, and see what happens when you give Steven Jackson the rock and let him do his thing?

30.  Arizona Cardinals (1-6) (LW: 29)- They were so close to knocking off the Ravens, but they couldn't seal the deal.  They let the Ravens march right back into the game and erase a 21 point halftime deficit.  It's going to be a long year in the desert.

31.  Miami Dolphins (0-7) (LW: 30)- The Dolphins came so close to finishing off the Giants but the defense couldn't stop them when it counted.  The Dolphins take one step closer to Andrew Luck.

32. Indianapolis Colts (0-8) (LW: 32)-  Another week, another one in the loss column.  That's pretty much all there is to say.

-TA

At the NFL Halfway Point: Where I Was Right, and Where I Was Wrong So Far

So, we've hit the halfway point for the NFL season for most teams, and it hasn't come without its surprises or disappointments.  So now is my time to admit where I went wrong in my predictions and claims, and also boast about what I was right about.  So without further ado, here it goes by conference.

AFC

Predictions that have made me look good so far:

1. Kansas City taking a step back: So far, heading into tonight's matchup with the Chargers, one with heavy implications for the division, Kansas City is 3-3, a game out of the division lead.  On paper, it doesn't look so bad, especially with a chance to tie the division lead, but Kansas City has not looked good. They came out in Weeks 1 and 2 and got blown out by Buffalo and Detroit by a combined 89-10.  Fortunately for them they have been able to play Minnesota, Indy, and an Oakland team caught between QBs to come from 0-3 to a respectable 3-3.  So I guess for most of this, I'm going by their play thus far, and taking a step back means a step back from the division-winning 10-6 record last year.  I also got a little lucky here because star RB Jamaal Charles went down for the year in week 2 (too bad I had him on my fantasy team).

2. The Texans stepping up to take over the AFC South:  I did make this prediction after it was announced that Peyton Manning could possibly miss a good portion of he season so it isn't so great, but I had them at 11-5.  So far they are 5-3 with a good handle on the division.  Arian Foster looks like the Arian Foster that broke out last year, and barring something unforeseen, they should begin to distance themselves from the rest of the division.

Predictions that have made me look bad so far:

1. Cincinnati being terrible:  At the beginning of the season I had the Bengals going 3-13.  I know, I know.  They have already come close to doubling that 8 weeks in at 5-2.  I had no idea that their offense would be this effective with a rookie duo at QB and WR, but in fact they have been stellar.  The defense has held up its end of the bargain as well, and the Bengals are tied with the Ravens at a mere half game back of the Steelers for the division lead.

2. Indy and Miami combining for 11 wins: The only excuse I have here is I wanted to put the Colts are 4-12, but couldn't do it because I didn't think Peyton Manning was worth 6 wins himself.  Turns out he was worth more.  Even if I had said 4-12 for Indy, that would be 9 wins combined for two teams that have 0 apiece at the halfway point.

What remains to be seen:

1. The Jets being the top Wild Card spot at 11-5: So far the Jets are 4-3, and on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.  However, they are well within striking distance.  If Rex Ryan's group can rebound defensively and pull out games like they did against San Diego in Week 7, then they could be well on their way, but if they sputter and continue to let opposing teams run at will on them, they will be watching the playoffs from home; it remains to be seen.

2. The Browns: I had the Browns taking a step forward to 7-9.  They currently are on pace to come close, sitting at 3-4.  However, they have been unimpressive and haven't shown me the real improvement I was looking for.  They have found a way to beat teams, albeit in a very lackluster fashion.  They really could tank or pick it up from this point forward; it remains to be seen.

NFC:


Predictions that have made me look good:

1. The Lions being a step-up team:  I had them at 9-7 and being a contender for a wild card spot.  They have surpassed my expectations so far and look well on their way to a playoff spot.  So I look good here in saying they will be a good team this year as a contrast to previous season, but not too great because I didn't think they'd be this good.

2. The Packers being the class of the NFC:  I had them at 13-3 this year and being the sure-fire best team in the NFC, which they have been, but by even more than I think most of us expected.  They sit at 7-0 and have barely been tested so far this season.  They are well on their way to 13-3, and if I had to bet, even better than that.  The title is theirs to lose.

Predictions that made me look bad:

1.  Cardinals winning the West:  This is perhaps the worst prediction I made of all, where I said the Cards would win this paltry division at 9-7. So far, it's been San Francisco running away at 6-1, while the Cards sit at a measly 1-6.  Kolb has struggled and the defense has been bad.  I guess they were more than just a QB away.

2.  San Francisco being bad:  I never published this, but let it be known I thought San Francisco would be terrible this year.  I thought they'd go about 4-12 and that there would be serious growing pains for first-year coach Jim Harbaugh.  Boy was I wrong.  The Niners look like they could be the 2nd best team in the NFC behind only Green Bay, and Frank Gore is back with 4 straight games with over 100 yards and a touchdown.  The defense has played tremendously as well.  Yet again, I was wrong.

What remains to be seen:

1. Tampa Bay taking a step back:  I thought Tampa would step back this year and go 7-9.  They currently sit at 4-3 and have been very inconsistent.  One week they lose 48-3 to San Fran, the next they beat New Orleans, then lost to Chicago in London.  They could replicate their 10-6 season from last year or they could also be 7-9 like I said; it remains to be seen.

2.  The Eagles: I had them winning the division at 11-5.  They started the year making a mockery of themselves and the "Dream Team" label by beginning 1-4, but since have reeled off consecutive wins against division opponents.  Last night against Dallas the Eagles looked like they may have finally figured it all out.  Andy Reid is now 13-0 coming off the bye as coach of the Eagles, and they could have been the turnaround point for the Eagles, who could either come back and take the division that is down this year, or they could continue their struggles as maybe Dallas was having one of their bad games that they have every other week; it remains to be seen.

Also, I would like to throw in a bit about Tebow.  Amidst the hype and the criticism, I claimed that he is a viable QB because he makes those around him better and he makes plays when you need him to because the guy wins.  I said he just needs some pieces around him. I am hereby retracting my statements after watching him play against the Lions yesterday.  He was awful.  As a quarterback, he cannot make the throws necessary to be a permanent player in the NFL.  The Lions made him one-dimensional as they took the lead early, and he looked lost.  The pick-six he threw in the second half from inside the 10 was an awful throw, which Eric Decker never even had a shot at.  He's definitely a human highlight reel and can make spectacular plays at key moments when presented to him, but when playing from behind against a good team, he won't be able to do what he did against Miami.  Maybe he can prove me wrong, but I'm going back to my calls I made when I was a huge fan of his at Florida where I said he would not make it in the NFL.  It looks like I was right then, and not now.

-TA

Week 8 Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers (7-0) (Last week: 1)-  Minnesota made gave Green Bay their closest game since New Orleans in Week 1, but just like that game, they came out with the W. The Pack look like they could be on their way to, dare I say it, an unbeaten season.

2.  New England Patriots (5-1) (LW: 2)- The Pats had a bye week to rest up for Pittsburgh this upcoming week, but perhaps the biggest winner of the New England area was TE Rob Gronkowski who was seen out gallivanting with adult film star Bibi Jones.  I guess this really is just Gronk's world, and we're all just living in it.

3.  New Orleans Saints (5-2) (LW: 6)-  Normally I wouldn't condone a team getting jumped while on a bye, but with the way New Orleans played on Sunday night, I don't think there was anyone who could have beaten them, let alone the Colts.  We'll have to see how this offensive juggernaut continues on from here.

4. San Francisco 49ers (5-1) (LW: 5)-  Despite being jumped by New Orleans while on a bye, the Niners still move up a spot with the loss of San Diego.  While in the NFC West, a 13-3 season or something of the sort is nowhere near out of the equation.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) (LW: 8)-   After a worrisome start, Pittsburgh keeps reeling off wins, as a tough matchup with New England looms this week.  This will be a true test.

6. Baltimore Ravens (4-2) (LW: 3)-  Loss on the road to a bad Jacksonville team surely didn't look good as the offense struggled mightily, but I tend to think it was more of an aberration than a true sign of Baltimore's standing within the league.  They need to get it together offensively though.

7.  Detroit Lions (5-2) (LW: 7)-  Another loss for Detroit is slightly troubling, as they travel to Tebow Land to take on the Broncos.  Ndamukong Suh, though, is quickly getting a reputation for being a dirty player.

8.  New York Giants (4-2) (LW: 10)-  Climbing due to the blunders of the tail end of the Top 10.  Might as well give them a nice ranking for now as it is sure to drop soon with their brutal schedule.

9. Buffalo Bills (4-2) (LW: 11)- Bye week came at a good time after suffering their second loss of the season at the hands of the Giants.  They get a banged-up Washington team at home this week to get back on track.

10. San Diego Chargers (4-2) (LW: 4)- They gave the game away against the Jets as Rivers looked terrible in crunch time.  They travel to Arrowhead on Monday night to take on the Chiefs, where Brandon Flowers lurks.

11. Atlanta Falcons (4-3) (LW: 19)- Here comes Atlanta.  A big win on the road against Detroit keeps the Falcons within striking distance of the NFC South lead.  The bye should allow Matt Ryan enough time to heal to stay in the race.

12. New York Jets (4-3) (LW: 16)-  Big win in San Diego was huge for the sputtering Jets and their confidence.  They get a bye this week to gear up for a showdown with Buffalo.

13. Houston Texans (4-3) (LW: 15)- A very convincing win at Tennessee catapulted Houston into first place as last year's Arian Foster came back out to play.  They get Jacksonville at home this week.

14. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2) (LW: 14)- I can't believe how a team with a rookie quarterback is still sitting pretty at number 14.  Guess that's what happens when you have a good record amongst a ton of mediocrity.

15. Dallas Cowboys (3-3) (LW:17)- Rookie RB DeMarco Murray broke out in a big way with 253 yards on the ground against lowly St. Louis.  He will have a good chance to replicate that performance, or at least come close, against Philadelphia's meager run defense.

16.  Chicago Bears (4-3) (LW: 18)- The Bears were able to hold on against the Bucs in London as the O-line is slowly getting it together, affirming Mike Martz's statement that he'd get the unit in gear.  The bye will give them extra time to recover from any jet-lag back to the States.

17.  Oakland Raiders (4-3) (LW: 9)- Shutout loss to Kansas City may have shown that there will be some rust to brush off for Carson Palmer and an accompanying transition period.

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3) (LW: 12)- After riding high off a win against New Orleans, they fell back down to Earth with a loss to the Bears.  The Bucs need to find some consistency if they want to stay in the hunt for the NFC South, because in Week 9 they have to travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints yet again after the bye.

19.  Tennessee Titans (3-3) (LW: 13)- The Titans are the newest Jekyll and Hyde team of the NFL.  After beating Baltimore earlier this year, Houston trounced them at home in a 41-7 laugher.  They'll have to be ready for Cincinnati this week.

20. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3) (LW: 22): Kansas City was very convincing in their rout of Oakland on Sunday as they intercepted Oakland QBs 6 times, 3 off both Kyle Boller and Carson Palmer.  Brandon Flowers is an emerging star in this league.

21. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4) (LW: 20)-  Big matchup looms with Dallas after the bye week as the Eagles look to chip away at their NFC East deficit.  They better be ready for DeMarco Murray.

22.  Washington Redskins (3-3) (LW: 21)-  The 'Skins keep falling apart.  After their QB woes, they've now lost their leading rusher Tim Hightower for the season to a torn ACL.  If their division wasn't so weak this season they may be falling out for good.

23. Cleveland Browns (3-3) (LW: 24)- After winning a horrendous game against Seattle, Cleveland is somehow sitting at an even 3-3.  It certainly isn't pretty but there's no denying their record.

24.  Carolina Panthers (2-5) (LW: 26)- Cam Newton is well on his way to setting the single-season rushing TD record for QBs as he picked up his 7th in only 7 games, equaling Vince Young's rookie record.

25.  Denver Broncos (2-4) (LW: 25)-  Well say what you want about Tim Tebow's horrendous first 3.5 quarters, he got it done when it mattered and delivered the W after being down 15 with just under 3 minutes to go.  The kid just wins.

26.  Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5) (LW: 29)- Who knew that Jacksonville would steal a win from Baltimore on Monday Night Football.  Give credit to the Jags' D for keeping Baltimore off the board for almost the entire game.

27. Seattle Seahawks (2-4) (LW: 23)- They should probably be given 2 losses for losing such a bad game to a below average team like they did.  Maybe they should starting looking toward the draft for an actual QB, maybe USC QB Matt Barkley.

28.  Minnesota Vikings (1-6) (LW: 27)- Christian Ponder made it interesting against Green Bay in his first career start and did a lot of things to give Viking fans hope for the future.  Unfortunately, for now it seems like there may be some temporary growing pains.

29.  Arizona Cardinals (1-5) (LW: 28)-  The disappointing season continues for Ken Whisenhunt's group as they stumble again against Pittsburgh to fall to 1-5.  A trip to Baltimore this week probably won't help matters.

30.  Miami Dolphins (0-6) (LW: 30)- They were so close.  But they let Tim Tebow do his thing and let the Broncos recover a key onside kick to set up the game tying drive before faltering in OT.  They travel to the Meadowlands for what should be another tough game against the G-Men.

31.  St. Louis Rams (0-6) (LW: 31)- The Rams still continue to lose. Things are only going to get worse this week against a New Orleans team fresh off a 62-7 win over a 0-6 team.  Good thing the Rams' record is.... oh.

32. Indianapolis Colts (0-7) (LW: 32)-  Colts' C Jeff Saturday claimed after Sunday night's embarrassment against the Saints that his team was outcoached.  OK, while that may have been true, you really think that was the difference? 55 points worth? Nothing is going right for the Colts and the end is nowhere in sight. 

-TA