Week 10 Power Report

I started working two jobs (actually it’s 3) a month ago so I haven’t had any time to blog. Recently I’ve been a little critical of a friend’s power ranking so I thought I’d better post mine up.
This NFL season has gone similar to most college seasons: we started with a Top 10, then Top 8, Top 7, Top 5, and now after the Ravens and Lions had bad losses we are down to a clear Top 2.
This was a funny week as most of the worst teams (Rams, Cardinals, Seahawks, Dolphins, Broncos, and Jaguars) all won.
I also find a little commentary pretty important so there’s a note for each team.

At the Top
1. Packers. Brett who?
2. 49ers. This is what we were expecting prior to last season, but this is the surprise team of the year, no question. It was nice to finally get to see Patrick Willis on TV, he is stinkin’ fast. 49ers defense is solid. And the offense doesn’t give up the ball. 5-game division lead.

Looking Mostly Good
3. Steelers. Lost a tough game against the Ravens last week but finally get a division win on the road in Cincinnati.
4. Saints. 2-game lead over the Falcons after the road win in Atlanta.
5. Ravens. Trapped again for the 3rd time: losses against inferior teams followed both big wins over the Steelers and the win over the Texans make me really question the Ravens’ emotional fortitude. Why did Ray Rice, their best offensive player, only have 5 carries?
6. Texans. I had them at 4 until I saw the news that Matt Schaub is done for the year and Coach Kubiak is handing the reigns to Matt Leinhart. At least they have a bye week to prepare. No Andre Johnson, no problem: Texans win their 4th in a row outscoring their opponent 132-42. A healthy Arian Foster is picking up from last year, and Ben Tate and even Derrick Ward are also joining the fun. The opposition hasn’t been great, and after a bye they get another softie against the Jaguars.
7. Bears. Emphatically avenge an earlier loss to the Lions with a total beat down. Devin Hester does it again. Here’s a stat for you: Bears are 5-0 this year when Jay Cutler is sacked two times or less.
8. Giants. They lost but I’m not sure the 49ers were the better team; the GMen just made too many mistakes. There was some very questionable coaching, including bad challenges and poor play calling on the final drive: why do they run so many handoff plays when they are playing the league’s stiffest run defense and Eli and the receivers are clicking? Despite the loss, the Giants are solid contenders in the NFC.
9. Lions. Sunshine seems to have passed after their 3rd loss in 4 games following their 5-0 start. Along with that, they have become the dirtiest and most unclassy team in the league, from their coach to their quarterback to their star lineman. The remaining schedule is tough, including two matchups with the Packers and trips to Oakland and New Orleans.
10. Patriots. For the second time this season, the maligned Patriots defense outplayed the vaunted Jets defense. Tom Brady finally got back on track. Rob Gronkowski has become one of the best and most unguardable tight ends in the NFL. There’s not a lot of talent outside of Brady, but the Patriots can still beat any other team on any given week. The schedule is ridiculously favorable the rest of the way.

The Merry Middle of the Pack
11. Bengals. Record is impressive and the defense is strong, but the Bengals still haven’t beaten anybody good.
12. Cowboys. Romo had a practically perfect first half against the Bills.
13. Raiders. A statement win without their star running back.
14. Jets. Fell back to earth with a thud. Revis is the league’s best defensive player. I’ve said it before, but the (rest of the) defense is not scary, the running game is below average, the offensive line is bad, and Sanchez is a mediocre quarterback. The Jets are an overrated team and they have been dreadful in their 4 losses.
15. Falcons. I don’t have a big problem with going for it on 4th and inches, but trying to run up the gut when the Saints have ALL ELEVEN defensive players surrounding the Falcons’ center was a terrible call. A little play-action toss away from the middle could have been a 70 yard run to the endzone.
16. Bills. One of the most potent offenses in the NFL for the first month has compiled 18 points over their last 2 games and looks awful. The defense can’t stop anybody. 2-4 over their last 6 games.
17. Titans. There has been a Chris Johnson sighting. Titans defense became the first unit to completely shut down the Kid Wonder Cam Newton.
18. Chargers. Their record in September was indeed misleading: a 4-1 but unimpressive start has totally crashed after their 4th straight loss. Philip Rivers is supposed to be an elite quarterback, not the leader in interceptions. His 21 turnovers match his career high and they’ve still got 7 games left.
19. Buccaneers. I was expecting a step forward this season for Josh Freeman, LeGarrette Blount and the Bucs, but they have taken a serious fall backward. Freeman now has 13 interceptions, more than double last year’s total of 6.
20. Eagles. Finding new ways to lose every game. It’s true that the Eagles are capable of beating any team in any given week, but they are also capable of losing to the Cardinals. Some of the blame can go to the absence of DeSean Jackson and injury to Jeremy Maclin. And now Michael Vick has broken ribs. Yikes!
21. Broncos. No question that the stat of the week is 55:2 = ratio of Broncos carries to passes in a WIN on the road. Despite being down their two lead halfbacks, Denver still ran the ball down the Chiefs’ throats for 244 yards. John Fox has done a great job coaching and the Broncos are now tied for 2nd only one game behind.

Bad at the Bottom
22. Vikings. Simply no match for the Green Bay Aaron Rodgers as the Vikings drop to 0-4 in the division.
23. Seahawks. The 12th man strikes again.
24. Chiefs. You can only remove so many parts to a car before the engine falls out. Starting quarterback, superstar running back, Pro Bowl safety, starting tight end… those bodies are not easy to replace.
25. Cardinals. Love the catch by Larry Fitzgerald. Too bad the Cardinals gave up so much for Kevin Kolb and are paying him so much because his replacement looks light-years better.
26. Dolphins. Matt Moore has looked great, Reggie Bush is finally being productive, Brandon Marshall and Anthony Fasano are catching balls thrown to them, and the defense is playing well.
27. Rams. With home games against the Seahawks and Cardinals coming up, those 0-6 Rams can be 4-7 pretty soon.
28. Browns. One touchdown in their last 4 games.
29. Panthers. Ranked here as they have wins over the Jags and Redskins.
30. Jaguars. It is amazing how productive Maurice Jones-Drew continues to be despite having zero other teammates to take away defensive attention.
31. Redskins. Remember when they were first place 3-1? No one needs Andrew Luck more than the Redskins.
32. Colts. It is more likely that Indy goes 0-16 than 1-15.