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Week 7 NFL Rankings

October 22, 2010

The NFL has been full of surprises this season and each week the rankings reflect that. Let's see what happens this Sunday as Brett Favre returns to Lambeau Field to face his former team - the Green Bay Packers, The San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys try to add another win to their record and the Pittsburgh Steelers return to the grid-iron with Ben Roethlisberger.

RANK	TEAM	PREV	REC	COMMENTS
1		2		You have to love the Jets. They talk trash, but they back it up on the field. By the way it looks like Southwest had $49.99 flights to Revis Island.
2		3		With the Steelers already being a top team playing with their 2nd and 3rd string quarterback, the rest of the league wasn't too happy to see Big Ben return to form last week.
3		6		Deion Branch has been reborn and Tom Brady despite his Beiber hair continues to win games. I still think at some point they will miss Randy Moss, but for now it is business as usual.
4		1		The good, Joe Flacco continues to get better and Ed Reed is coming back. The bad, that was a awful job by the Baltimore defense to not contain New England last week with a 10-point 4th quarter lead.
5		5		Things are falling into place with two straight wins, but they're last game had the same amount of discipline as a backyard football game.
6		8		The Saints snapped Sunday against the Bucs. Drew Brees looked like Breesus, and this Chris Ivory guy looks like the answer to their running woes.
7		14		Here's the thing about the Kolb/Vick debate: Who cares? Both are winning games for Philly and with both of them being injury-prone this season, it'd be smart to keep them around.
8		15		They play division rivals in five of their last ten games of the season. That's when the Titans true colors will emerge.
9		12		Brandon Jacobs has made quite the comeback after a horrible start this season. His ability to take a back-up role to Ahmad Bradshaw has given the Giants a great 1-2 punch in the run game. Still, it must concern them that they let the Lions hang around despite QB Shaun Hill breaking his arm.
10		4		Just when everyone is buying their stock as one of the best in the league, the Falcons stock plummets after a savage beating from the Eagles.
11		11		The lack of defense won't help in division play as the Texans have to see Chris Johnson twice and Peyton Manning one more time.
12		7		As predicted, the Bears have been exposed, as their tremendous string of luck runs out.
13		18		Dolphins just quietly staying in the hunt in the AFC East. They remind me of the Falcons, you don't consider them a real Super Bowl threat,but they just get the job done.
14		9		The Packers are decimated by injuries, and despite that, should have won their last two games. Failing to score in OT and then losing on a field goal.
15		10		The Chiefs suffered their second straight loss despite rushing for 228 yards against Houston. They surrendered 28 second-half points, that will kill you every time.
16		13		The Redskins played in yet another close game. That makes 5 of their 6 contests coming down to the final possession. The fact that they are hanging with some of the better teams in the league is a positive sign for the franchise. They key moving on is getting healthy. Chris Cooley and Clinton Portis have huge roles in the offense and Washington needs to get them both on the field ASAP.
17		17		The Vikings won the Desperation Bowl against the Cowboys, with Old Man Favre taking a good beating, but still managing just enough to win the game for the Vikings.
18		25		Seattle finally managed a road win this week after pummeling Bears QB Jay Cutler into submission. The NFC West is wide open, let's see if the Seahawks really want to win it.
19		23		The Cardinals are coming off a bye week and leading the weak NFC West with a 3-2 record. We'll see if undrafted rookie Max Hall can continue to lead the Cardinals.
20		19		The Bucs came crashing back down to earth this week after facing a very motivated Saints team.
21		22		Both of their rivals got stronger, the Steelers got Roethlisberger back and the Ravens are getting Ed Reed back this week, things aren't looking too good for the Bengals.
22		24		The Broncos put up a good fight in their 24-20 loss to the Jets but they can't seem to close out games.
23		16		Offensively, the Chargers are first in passing yards, 13th in rushing yards. Defensively they are first in passing yards allowed and sixth in rushing yards allowed. How are they 2-4? Seriously, how is that possible?
24		26		The Rams are vastly improved with Sam Bradford under center. St. Louis has failed to win on the road yet this season, but now travel to Tampa to take on the Buccaneers who are 31st in the league vs. the run
25		20		Time to panic yet? Dallas is sitting at 1-4 and suffered yet another mistake-filled loss. Wade Phillips may have Jerrah Jones backing for the remainder of the season, but you know there's a list on his desk of guys he wants to talk to in January.
26		21		This Jekyll and Hyde team shows potential, but then goes into Chilean miner-like hiding.
27		30		San Francisco finally managed a win in a very ugly game against the Oakland Raiders. Let's not be popping any corks just yet.
28		28		Lions stayed close to the Giants despite being down to their 3rd string quarterback. This team will win quite a few games next year.
29		27		Jason Campbell's quarterback rating on Sunday: 10.7. Welcome back to the doghouse, JC.
30		29		The rest of this season will be seeing if Colt McCoy can be a good quarterback and scouting if Peyton Hillis is for real.
31		31		Sad thing for the Bills is that none of the potential franchise College QBs are playing like they are worth 50 Mil Guaranteed. Maybe they can trade the pick?
32		32		Luckily for the Panthers they had a bye week.

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NFL Rankings - Week 6

October 12, 2010

The Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets hold on to the #1 and #2 positions for another week as the #3 Pittsburgh Steelers enjoyed their bye week.

After suffering another defeat and sustaining some serious injuries, the Green Bay Packers have fallen out of the top 5 for the first time this season. This leaves room for the Atlanta Falcons to finally take the #4 spot and the Indianapolis Colts to slide in at #5.

The New England Patriots, despite getting rid of Randy Moss, moved up two spots to the #6 position. Our former Super Bowl Champs, the New Orleans Saints fell to #8 after a loss to the Arizona Cardinals - it is pretty unbelievable to think this team was undefeated until week 15 last year. The Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs make up the rest of the top 10.

Key Match-ups This Week:

Baltimore @ New England - Can the Ravens hold on to the #1 spot or will New England get the big victory at home?
Kansas City @ Houston - If Kansas City handles Houston they will show the rest of the league that their 3-0 start was no fluke.
Oakland @ San Francisco - Can the Niners dig themselves out of an 0-5 hole and beat the Oakland Raiders in the Battle of the Bay?
Dallas @ Minnesota - If Brett Favre and Randy Moss can hook up, the Dallas Cowboys may have another loss to add to the record.

RANK	TEAM	PREV	REC	COMMENTS
1		1	(4-1)	A healthy Ray Rice makes this team run real well. The Ravens are shaping up to be one of the few elite teams in the NFL this year.
2		2	(4-1)	The Jets look like a Super Bowl Caliber squad now, but they have to be concerned about Darrelle Revis who looks a shell of himself.
3		4	(3-1)	He's baaaaaack. The Steelers were rolling with their 2nd and 3rd string quarterbacks at the helm, but will get Ben Roethlisberger back this week. Big Ben doesn't even need to be in mid-season form, because Pittsburgh is playing Cleveland.
4		7	(4-1)	One of the best teams in the league. Their only loss of the season came to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they're just getting better each week.
5		10	(3-2)	Did the defensive woes stop there or will they resume agasint the Skins?
6		8	(3-1)	The infamous addition by subtraction move by the Patriots getting rid of Randy Moss. In the end I think they regret it.
7		11	(4-1)	The Bears recover nicely from the debacle against the Giants to put their season back on track.
8		5	(3-2)	I was contemplating just putting a question mark under the comment for the Saints... For good reason too. I honestly don't know what to think about them. They compete hard with teams like the Falcons, then get creamed by the Arizona Cardinals? Really?
9		3	(3-2)	The Packers Hospital Ward is officially open for business. By the end of the Redskins game, they were missing 8 starters and several backups. They're just hoping to hang on for one more week, when three players will be eligible to come off of the PUP list.
10		9	(3-1)	That's one loss, will an avalanche follow?
11		6	(3-2)	Houston had a problem. They let the Giants rack up over 400 yards of offense without getting their own going.
12		20	(3-2)	Fifth week and I still don't understand this team. At least they've brought the wood for two weeks straight and pummelling Houston.
13		18	(3-2)	The Cardiac Skins? Of their five games this season, four have come down to the final play of the game. The Skins have won three of those games.
14		17	(3-2)	While the Kolb/Vick saga continues, Philly is trucking through and winning some tough games. They aren't perfect by any means, but they have a team that can push for an NFC East title.
15		21	(3-2)	The Titans were more poised than the Cowboys who went overboard with their celebration. Acting like you've been there before can help secure the win.
16		12	(2-3)	Both the offense and defense looked great against the Raiders...but three fumbles and two blocked punts buried the Chargers.
17		16	(1-3)	Brett Favre showed once again the the disbelievers that he should NEVER be counted out. The Jets were too strong as a team, but against a lesser team, Favre may have pulled that game out for the Vikings.
18		13	(2-2)	Dolphins are like the Texans just with better scenery. They aren't that bad, but they aren't that good. When you think Dolphins you immediately think 8-8.
19		25	(3-1)	The team that finishes last in the NFC South each season somehow wins it the next year... Going into this season I thought it was completely impossible for the Bucs to pull it off, but at 3-1 they are right in striking distance to pull it off.
20		14	(1-3)	Are we in panic mode yet? The Cowboys have just 1 win while the rest of the division sits at 3-2. Not only that, but they are 0-2 in the House That Jerrah Built. There's every opportunity for them to turn this around, but all these mental mistakes have got to stop.
21		23	(3-2)	With two consecuative wins, this team is a contender for 1st place in the AFC South.
22		15	(2-3)	You can't expect to be a playoff team when you suffer horrible loses to the Buccaneers and the Browns. Palmer is turning the ball over too much and the defense is getting too many penalties.
23		24	(3-2)	Could the Cardinals possibly make some noise in a wide open NFC West with Max Hall under center? The wide receivers are getting healthy, time will tell
24		19	(2-3)	Second in the NFL in passing, 32nd in rushing. After a 31-17 loss to the Ravens, things don't get any easier as the Jets come to town this Sunday.
25		26	(2-2)	Bye week over and the NFC West up in the air. Can Seattle win a game on the road?
26		22	(2-3)	Just as Sam Bradford was finding a new favorite target, down goes Mark Clayton for the season. It might be tempting to trade for Vincent Jackson, but don't do it
27		29	(2-3)	Back to Jason Campbell so soon? Didn't see that coming. The Raiders had Sunday's game handed to them by the Chargers. I don't see a major turnaround coming.
28		30	(1-4)	The Lions had their coming out party last week. You could feel it coming, as they played rather well over their first 4 games, but had nothing to show for it.
29		27	(1-4)	The Colt McCoy era will begin on Sunday. Nothing like getting a rookie QB's feet wet against the Steelers, one of the top defenses in the NFL.
30		28	(0-5)	The season is lost, time to start planning for the future regardless of what the owner says. Does Singletary remain to coach another year?
31		32	(0-5)	Their defense held the Bears to just 32 yards passing, they forced FOUR interceptions, and still lost this game. That's how bad the Panthers are right now.
32		31	(0-5)	The Bills played hard against Jacksonville, and offensively they have weapons, but that defense is one of the worst in the league. Unlike others I don't think they will go 0-16, but I think the #1 pick in the draft is in their future.

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Week 5 NFL Rankings

October 07, 2010

The Baltimore Ravens secured our #1 spot this week after defeating the Roethlisberger-less Pittsburgh Steelers; and with the anticipated return Santonio Holmes, the New York Jets snatched up the #2 spot. The Green Bay Packers, Steelers and New Orleans Saints round out the top 5. With Ben Roethlisberger back behind center can the Steeler regain the top ranking on our list?

The Atlanta Falcons squeaked by the winless San Francisco 49ers this week and secured the #7 rankings. Whether their win was the fault of Nate Clements doesn't matter as Matt Ryan was able to lead his team down the length of the field twice in the last minutes to ultimately win the game.

This upcoming week will determine how strong (or weak) the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs really are. They will face some real competition on the road vs the Indianapolis Colts and after last week's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, don't expect Peyton Manning and company to be taking it easy on the Chiefs.

Fans were already looking forward to this Monday Night Game but now that Randy Moss has dawned a Minnesota Vikings jersey again, this Vikings v Jets game is looking to be the game of the week. Brett Favre and team have had a week to rest and should now be in full force to compete against the top teams in the league. Can the Jets keep their winning streak alive or is the Hall of Fame power of the Vikings too much for this Hard Knocks Team?

RANK	TEAM	PREV	REC	COMMENTS
1		5	(3-1)	The Ravens offense has yet to really connect and Ray Rice is banged up with a bruised knee, but the defense is rock solid. They picked up a huge win against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.
2		7	(3-1)	Jets have talk the talk and they are eating snacks and walking the walk. With Santonio Holmes done with his suspension and Revis feeling better, Jets are looking good.
3		4	(3-1)	Beating the Lions this week was a real struggle for the Packers, but good teams find a way to get it done, and they did.
4		1	(3-1)	Pittsburgh was hoping to be 2-2 when they got to this week's bye week, they've surpassed that with a 3-1 record despite having a carousel of quarterbacks. The Steelers get Roethlisberger back in Week 6 and can really start to destroy opponents.
5		3	(3-1)	A week after a loss because of a short field goal miss, the Saints look like they have that issue resolved with John Carney making three field goals Sunday. They aren't scoring as much as last season, but they are still winning.
6		11	(3-1)	Arian Foster only needed one half of football to rack up 131 rushing yards, 56 receving yards, and 2 touchdowns. No wonder the Texans are in first place in the AFC South.
7		9	(3-1)	The Falcons squeaked by the Saints last week, now this week they squeak by a 49ers team that was hungry for their first win. The key is that they are on the good side of the squeak victories. Soon enough everyone will take notice on the Falcons.
8		8	(3-1)	As of this writing the Patriots are seriously thinking about trading Randy Moss, I guess they are conceding the division to the Jets if they pull the trigger.
9		13	(3-0)	3-0 and coming off a bye week. Break up the Chiefs!
10		2	(2-2)	The defense allowed the Jags to score 31 points bringing the Colts to 0-2 in the AFC South.
11		6	(3-1)	The Bears showed their true colors last week thanks to the Giant's defense. When the going gets tough, Jay Cutler gets lost...
12		17	(2-2)	The Chargers' defense finally looked like the Chargers' defense against Arizona. That was the first time in two-plus years the unit has actually looked ferocious. Yes, it was against the Cardinals but still.
13		14	(2-2)	Whispers about Chad Henne not being the real deal are growing louder and louder. You need a solid quarterback to win in the NFL and right now Chad Pennington might be a better option.
14		15	(1-2)	As the Cowboys break out of their bye, will they continue their play from the Houston game or will they look befuddled?
15		12	(2-2)	The Bengals can't afford to lose to bad teams like they did last week to the Browns. With the Steelers and Ravens looking like possible Super Bowl teams, there's no room for errors for Cincinnati.
16		18	(1-2)	Old graybeard got to sit in his rocking chair and rest this week, while his owner went out and got him a brand new toy. Farve and Moss - finally together
17		10	(2-2)	Now Kevin Kolb is back in the saddle as Michael Vick is resting his chest. Now Andy Reid has to rearrange the offense back to fit Kolb. Or Jeff Garcia, if he signs on.
18		23	(2-2)	Don't look now, but the Redskins have won two division games and sit atop the standings. This may be the highlight of the season when it's all said and done.
19		24	(2-2)	Shockingly Kyle Orton is the only thing working for the Broncos right now. I know, right?
20		22	(2-2)	I've said this every week -- I cannot figure out this team. They can look so good one week then so bad the next.
21		16	(2-2)	The Broncos held Chris Johnson to 55 yards on 19 carries. Enough said. Broncos win.
22		27	(2-2)	Sam Bradford continues to develop as the Rams are getting better every week
23		26	(2-2)	Josh Scobee for President? He would win Florida's vote with a 59-yard game winning field goal.
24		21	(2-2)	Max Hall finally got on the field, might as well keep him in the lineup going forward.
25		20	(2-1)	Can this team get back to where it was in weeks one and two after their bye, or will they be the team that was dominated by the Steelers? Only time will tell.
26		19	(2-2)	This team simply cannot win on the road
27		32	(1-3)	The Browns finally got a win; however, there isn't going to be many more in their future
28		25	(0-4)	The season is basically over after just 4 weeks. Time to start thinking about the future and if Mike Singletary should be a part of the future
29		28	(1-3)	So how's the Gradkowski Era going so far?
30		29	(0-4)	Lions showed why they are a tremendously improved team, despite their 0-4 record. Things will start going their way sometime soon and a few wins will follow
31		31	(0-4)	Arguably the worst team in the league, actually put up a good fight against the Super Bowl champs. However it ended the same as their previous three games ... with a loss
32		30	(0-4)	I feel for Bills fans, they deserve better, but the whole franchise seems to be in turmoil. Once again why did they draft CJ Spiller if they didn't plan to use him?

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Yardbarker NFL Rankings - Week 4

September 30, 2010

As we head into the 4th week of the NFL Season, many teams are not where they were expected to be. Fans' hearts are breaking in San Francisco, while Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs followers are enjoying the good life.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have jumped to a 3-0 start without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and have obtained our #1 spot. The Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens round out the top 5 despite having one loss on their record

The big surprise of this season has got to be the Chicago Bears now sitting at #6. They are 3-0 and have defeated a talented Packers team and the Dallas Cowboys so far.

Many are looking forward to the Donovan McNabb - Michael Vick match up as the Washington Redskins travel to battle Philadelphia Eagles this weekend. Can Donovan's former understudy defeat him?

Eyes will also be on the Steelers and Ravens game as well as Joe Flacco and Anquan Boldin try to take down the seemingly unstoppable Steeler defense.

RANK	TEAM	PREV	REC	COMMENTS
1		5	(3-0)	The Steelers crushed the Buccaneers 38-13 despite Charlie Batch throwing 2 picks.Pittsburgh has trounced all their opponents thus far, but next week will be a true challenge when they go against the rival Ravens.
2		3	(2-1)	'Prolific Peyton' could throw to dogs and still get 300 yards passing. A 27-13 win in Denver helped Naptown's finest to a 2-1 record.
3		1	(2-1)	They were a Garret Hartley chip-shot away from being 3-0. Good thing Hartley hits the kicks when they matter the most (Super Bowl).
4		2	(2-1)	18 penalties, dropped interceptions, a fumble at the end, awful clock management. Plenty of blame to go around for the Packers. Luckily, it's only week 4.
5		8	(2-1)	Anquan Boldin had 8 catches for 142 yards and 3 TD's to showcase the new look Ravens' offense. Yards won't be as easy to come by next week when they travel to Pittsburgh and go against the impregnable Steelers' defense.
6		23	(3-0)	Chicago Bears must be practicing on a field of four-leaf clovers. Luckiest 3-0 team ever?
7		7	(2-1)	Braylon Edwards stayed sober long enough to cut his beard and make some key catches that helped the Jets to a Sunday Night Victory. Just remember my friends don't Dougie and Drive at the same time.
8		9	(2-1)	Patriots offense=Beyonce .. Patriots Defense= Precious..Any questions?
9		12	(2-1)	A huge win over their bitter rival the Saints. This team could turn this victory into an incredible season, still the league sleeper.
10		13	(2-1)	So far, so good. Michael Vick made Andy Reid look smart last week in Jacksonville. Now comes the game Philly Phan has been waiting for: Donovan McNabb's Redskins.
11		4	(2-1)	They couldn't continue their winning ways in the
12		10	(2-1)	Carson Palmer had to be bailed out by his defense again. Palmer threw another another 2 interceptions despite having so many weapons to throw to on offense.
13		17	(3-0)	The Chiefs are 3-0 and absolutely no one saw this coming. Because it's completely improbable. Don't go betting on them long-term, there are still a ton of holes in this team.
14		6	(2-1)	Dolphins blew a golden opportunity to take early control of the AFC East. Which proves that are still in the bucket of
15		21	(1-2)	They won a game! They won a game! The Super Bowl is still on! I guess Roy Williams finally figured out how to be a contributing factor. If he can keep it up, watch out.
16		16	(2-1)	All it took was benching Vince Young last week to get him ready to crush the Giants. All he has to do is hand the ball to Chris Johnson for yet another 100+ rushing game.
17		11	(1-2)	The Chargers won every aspect of Sunday's game against the Seahawks except special teams, where they gave up two kickoff returns for touchdowns to Leon Washington in a 27-20 loss.
18		19	(1-2)	Ol' Man Favre found the tonic for his ills: the Detroit Lions. And now he gets to rest his weary bones, as the Vikings get an early bye week before returning to NJ to play the Jets in a Monday Night game.
19		24	(2-1)	If the Seattle Seahawks could figure a way to play all their regular season games at home, they'd be a lock for the playoffs.
20		18	(2-1)	The Buccaneers were slapped back to reality by the Charlie Batch led Pittsburgh Steelers. Time for the downfall?
21		27	(2-1)	The Cardinals aren't as good as their record states. They barely beat the Rams in wk 1 and Sebastian Janikowski gave them a gift on Sunday.
22		15	(1-2)	Looks like Tom Coughlin was wore out his welcome. This team is flat, un-motivated and just plain undisciplined. That chest pass Eli Manning threw in the red zone may be one of the worst passes you'll see all year.
23		14	(1-2)	All the positive talk about the Mike Shanahan Era was thrown out the window with a terrible loss in St. Louis. If you thought the Albert Haynesworth saga was interesting, just wait for Clinton Portis to get his mouth going. Huge game in Philly next week.
24		20	(1-2)	The Broncos' 30th ranked rushing attack isn't helping take any pressure off Kyle Orton. That said, Orton threw for 476 yards on Sunday in an ugly 27-13 loss to the Colts. At this rate his arm could fall off by week 12.
25		22	(0-3)	There are big troubles brewing for the 49er's, 0-3 and heading 3,000 miles cross country to play the Falcons this week all spells disaster.
26		25	(1-2)	The team is recovering from broken ankles after playing Michael Vick last week. David Garrard has continued to struggle and the secondary can't stop any quarterback.
27		31	(1-2)	The Rams finally got in the win column but now have to worry about the health of RB Steven Jackson
28		26	(1-2)	There are two guys on the Raiders who are actually considered good at their jobs: Shane Lechler and Sebastian Janikowski. Janikowski failed on Sunday, missing three field goals, including a 32-yarder that would have won Sunday's game.
29		28	(0-3)	Woe the poor Lions who run into what is sure to be an angry Packers team this Sunday. Having said that, I don't doubt that they could give the Packers a good game.
30		32	(0-3)	The Bills showed life this week, even though they still seem not to know what direction they are going on. Cutting Trent Edwards not that big of a deal, but why waste the entire offseason saying he is the man if you knew all along he was Captain Check Down? Bills best chance for success is let CJ Spiller loose and continue to take big shots down the field.
31		29	(0-3)	The Browns battled hard against the Ravens thanks to Peyton Hillis gaining a career high 144 yards. Seneca Wallace is likely to start again next week, after he filled in very admirably for the injured Jake Delhomme.
32		30	(0-3)	Yuck, yuck, yuck.

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Yardbarker Week 3 NFL Rankings

September 22, 2010

The New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers remain on top of our ranking list, while the Indianapolis Colts slide into the #3 position after handing the New York Giants in the Sunday Night Game.

The Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers finish out our top 5. The Steelers are without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger but their defense has been dominant - holding Tennessee Titan's running back, Chris Johnson, to just 34 yards last Sunday.

The Miami Dolphins have gone untouched this season (so far), sitting 2-0 at the top of their division and jumping 8 spots this week up to #6. The New York Jets also move back up the list to #7 after defeating the now #9 ranked New England Patriots. The Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals round out Yardbarker's Top 10 this week.

BIG Weekend Match-Ups

Dallas Cowboys @ Houston: Are the Texans as good as we think they are? Are the Cowboys really as bad as they have been playing? Either way this will be an exciting game for the state of Texas.
New York Jets @ Miami: Can Miami hold on to their undefeated season or will the boys from Hard Knocks take them down a notch? Without Darrelle Revis it is going to be a difficult battle for the Jets this week.
Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans: Reggie Bush is hurt and the Saints hardly beat a San Francisco 49er team that turned over the ball 4 times - Can the Matt Ryan and Jason Snelling lead this Falcons team to a win in Who Dat territory?

RANK	TEAM	PREV	REC	COMMENTS
1		1	(2-0)	They just win baby... Maybe Al Davis should find a way to purchase this team. Nevermind.
2		2	(2-0)	Green Bay looked fairly disinterested with the Bills last week and still won 34-7. Running games is a big question mark, if you're looking for weaknesses.
3		5	(1-1)	In the 'Brother vs. Brother' battle, Peyton came out the winner. The high speed train is now on track. Next stop: Denver.
4		6	(2-0)	This team has a chance to hand Dallas their third loss in three weeks. The Longhorn State has a great game ahead.
5		8	(2-0)	Dennis Dixon is the QB, they win. Charlie Batch is their QB, they win. With the way this defense is playing it wouldn't matter if Mike Phipps was their quarterback, the Steelers would still muscle themselves to a victory.
6		14	(2-0)	People talk about the arrogance of the Jets, the star power of the Patriots and comedy that is the Bills, but those sneaky Dolphins are the ones leading the division for now.
7		9	(1-1)	Are the Jets a football team or a reality TV show? Braylon Edwards helps Dougie the Jets to victory over the Pats, but then a DUI arrest. They are must see TV
8		3	(1-1)	Didn't the Ravens make wholesale upgrades on their offense? Their meager offense has only mustered 20 points in their first two games. Joe Flacco has regressed thus far this season.
9		4	(1-1)	Tom Beiber errrrrr Tom Brady was outplayed by Mark Sanchez, I thought I would never say that. The Patriots looked like world beaters in the 1st half, but in the 2nd half they looked very mortal.
10		15	(1-1)	Carson Palmer's poor play continues to hinder the Bengals' offense. Cedric Benson isn't helping either. Luckily their defense shut down the Baltimore Ravens' offense.
11		13	(1-1)	The Chargers finally looked like themselves on Sunday, forcing turnovers and rolling over the Jaguars. Rookie Ryan Mathews' injury appears to be minor, but Mike Tolbert showed he can fill in at running back if needed.
12		16	(1-1)	The Falcons utterly mauled the Cardinals, and looked more like the sleeper team we thought they were. Only question is which team shows up in week three?
13		19	(1-1)	Vick or Kolb? Kolb or Vick? Andy Reid better hope he gets it right or it will be 'Andy Reid or a New Coach'
14		17	(1-1)	The odd thing is that the Redskins, right now, look like the best team in the NFC East. If they could only deliver a knock-out punch when up by 17 points.
15		12	(101)	One week, the Giants look awesome. The next, Eli Manning is picking himself up on nearly every play. I'm going with my stock like and say that I just can't figure out the G-men.
16		10	(1-1)	They turned the ball over 7 times against the Steelers, yet only managed to lose by 8 points. Their schedule doesn't look any easier going into the Meadowlands to play the Giants.
17		24	(2-0)	Wait, the Chiefs are 2-0? Has there ever been a worse 2-0 team? Wait, the Buccaneers are 2-0?
18		28	(2-0)	Okay I have to be honest here, I am completely impressed and blown away with this fast start.
19		7	(0-2)	Vikings are dropping in the rankings faster than the temperature outside the Metrodome. But I would be wary of writing them off completely.
20		25	(1-1)	No one cares about how the Broncos are doing in light of the tragic death of receiver Kenny McKinley.
21		11	(0-2)	Didja hear? The Cowboys could be the first team to play in a Super Bowl in their home stadium. Right now, they don't look like they could be the halftime show for the Super Bowl. Like I said last week, this team just doesn't seem like they have it together.
22		20	(0-2)	The Niners are only a game out of the division lead but this team is in trouble.
23		23	(2-0)	the Bear's defense will keep them in any game. If Cutler can establish any type of rapport with his receivers, they could be a real surprise.
24		18	(1-1)	Looks like they might only be able to play in Seattle after all.
25		22	(1-1)	They had almost half the number of turnovers (6) as they did points against the Chargers. David Garrard (4 INTs) must go colorblind when he plays on the road.
26		29	(1-1)	Jason Campbell was benched in favor of Bruce Gradkowski midway through Sunday's victory. That didn't take long. Who had six quarters in the Campbell-Raiders-Al Davis not working out pool?
27		21	(1-1)	Do I see Max Hall starting to warm up?
28		27	(0-2)	Jahvid Best has established himself as a top Rookie RB but Hill is no Stafford and the defense is allowing way too many points.
29		26	(0-2)	The Panthers look like what my prediction for the Buccaneers was... Ouch.
30		30	(0-2)	Jake Delhomme left last week's game with an ankle injury. Seneca Wallace will probably start on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens for the injured Delhomme. He can't be worse than Delhomme, can he?
31		31	(0-2)	Could someone get Sam Bradford another receiver?
32		32	(0-2)	One has to wonder why the Bills even drafted CJ Spiller if they are never going to use him? They can't blame T.O. for this.

2 Comments

NFL Blogger Power Rankings - Week 2

September 16, 2010

The first week of the NFL is officially done and the New Orleans Saints remain in the #1 spot, looking like the team to beat this year. The Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens aren't far behind - grabbing the #2 and #3 spots.

The New England Patriots seem to be the surprise team of the week as they jumped up to the #4 spot after being ranked #9 the previous week. The Brady-Welker combo is back. Too bad more people were paying attention to Randy Moss press conference than the game itself.

Even after their loss to the Texans, the Colts remain in the Yardbarker Rankings Top 5. The Texans did gain a lot of respect though - jumping up 6 spots and snatching the #6 position in our poll.

The Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers were the biggest disappointments this week and as a consequence they both dropped out of the top 10. Both teams have the talent to make the playoffs it is just questionable whether they will be able to execute throughout the season.

BIG Weekend Match-Ups:

- #4 New England Patriots vs. #9 New York Jets
- #8 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. #10 Tennessee Titans
- #6 Indianapolis Colts v #12 New York Giants -- The Manning brothers square off in the Sunday Night Game. Will Eli Manning and Hakeem Nicks connect for another 3 touchdowns? Or will big brother Peyton lead his team to victory?

RANK	TEAM	PREV	REC	COMMENTS
1		1	(1-0)	The Saints defense shouldn't have any trouble handling Alex Smith and the 49ers this week; howeve, their offense will have to battle Patrick Willis and one of the toughest defenses in the league.
2		3	(1-0)	Green Bay played a sloppy game on offense and still had a 17 point led. However, Michel Vick and his running made the game a lot closer than it really was.
3		4	(1-0)	The Ravens came into the new Meadowlands Stadium and silenced the Rex Ryan and the Jets' offense. The Jets managed only 6 first downs, 176 total yards, and were a putrid 1-11 on third down. Mark Sanchez threw for only 74 yards. The Ravens' defense reinforced the old adage, 'Talk is cheap.'
4		9	(1-0)	Best performance of the week in my opinion. Unfortunately more people paying attention to Randy Moss press conference than the dominant display the Pats put on a talented Bengals team.
5		2	(0-1)	They let the Texans run the ball on them, but they'll bounce back and still win the AFC South.
6		12	(1-0)	Wins against the Colts don't come often for the Texans, but they're hoping to Foster a more intense rivalry. Arian Foster went off on the ground with over 200 yards rushing and 3 TDs.
7		6	(0-1)	The Vikings better hope that Brett Favre gets motivated. His eyes told me his heart was not completely in it. Their defense, however, played very well.
8		16	(1-0)	A Mendenhall 50-yard TD run in OT got the Steelers a win over the Falcons. With Troy Polamalu back, the Pittsburgh defense looks to carry this team until Roethlisberger comes back. Dixon didn't lead them to the victory, but didn't cost them the game either.
9		7	(0-1)	No one should be surprised unless you actually believed all the bluster that was coming from Rex Ryan during Hard Knocks. If you listened closely Ryan admits his offense is far behind his defense and it showed in Week 1. Maybe Revis can play quarterback?
10		17	(1-0)	100 yards (or more) on the ground for Chris Johnson is money in the bank. Johnson plus a play making defense helped the Titians crush the Raiders.
11		5	(0-1)	The Cowboys have all the talent in the world to be a Super Bowl champion. But they cannot let these stupid mistakes keep happening or the season will end in another disappointing fashion. That last play of the first half against the Redskins may honestly have been the dumbest play I have ever seen.
12		18	(1-0)	I don't know what was more amazing on Sunday: Hakeem Nicks' three TDs or all those passes Eli Manning threw that the Giants' receivers tipped incomplete. It is still hard to figure out where New York is headed this season.
13		8	(0-1)	The absence of Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeill didn't hurt the Bolts as much as the conditions. Wideouts Legedu Naanee and Malcolm Floyd couldn't seem to find his footing on the wet field and that cost the Chargers several big plays.
14		14	(1-0)	The Dolphins like to win ugly and make no mistake about it this win was ugly as Sam Cassell. Chad Henne needs to step up or they will have the same problem as the Jets have, very good defense, but pedestrian offense.
15		10	(0-1)	Last year the defense won games for the Bengals, against the Pats, it was an impressive aerial attack that had 26 first downs and nearly 350 yards in the air. However, the defense took a step back in their loss against New England.
16		11	(0-1)	The Flacons aren't going to win many games only scoring 9 points. The game vs the Cardinals this week will be a good indicator of how the season will go
17		19	(1-0)	You should always be happy with any win. But the Skins can't think that they really beat Dallas. Still, you know that the combination of Mike Shanahan and Donovan McNabb will keep working out the kinks and finding what works right in the offense. The defense looked fantastic, even if Albert Haynesworth was moping all game.
18		25	(1-0)	The NFL with the highest turnover rate upset the preseason favorite for the NFC West. Are they for real? It's far too soon to tell but a nice debut for Pete Carroll
19		15	(0-1)	How can the Eagles NOT keep going with Kevin Kolb? You trade your franchise QB within the division because you have all the faith in the world in him. Then after he leaves with a concussion, Michael Vick makes Philly zing. The thing is, it is smart to stick with Kolb. Doing so could damage his confidence. Not to mention that the Eagles really can't win with Vick as their every down QB.
20		13	(0-1)	The season started with huge expectations and then got throttled by the Seattle Seahawks. Now here come the New Orleans Saints.
21		20	(1-0)	The Cardinals escaped St. Louis with a win but we'll have a better idea of just who the Cardinals are after this week at Atlanta
22		26	(1-0)	Let David Garrard and the Jags play in extreme heat and thunderstorms, and they'll win every home game.
23		21	(1-0)	The Bears are incredibly fortunate to be 1-0. Jay Cutler will make Mike Martz prove his offensive genius creds.
24		27	(1-0)	The Chiefs have more team speed and defensive intensity that many gave them credit for. That said, the passing game is still terrible and Matt Cassel needs to turn it around quickly.
25		23	(0-1)	The 'Tebow Package' looked awful in the opener, and despite gaining 363 total yards, the offense only supplied 17 points. If the Broncos can't get better at finishing off drives, it could be a long season
26		24	(0-1)	Is the Jimmy Clausen era ready to begin?
27		28	(0-1)	The Lions were screwed by one of the worst rules than exists in any sport. They played with heart, despite losing Stafford, and deserved the win.
28		31	(1-0)	The Buccs will take the win even though it was ugly and against the Browns. Who knows when they will get another chance to celebrate.
29		22	(0-1)	New quarterback, new attitude, new era, same old Raiders.
30		30	(0-1)	The Browns were winning 14-3 at the half, but Cleveland unraveled in the 2nd half and lost 17-14 to the lowly Buccaneers. Delhomme threw 2 interceptions and the Browns fell to 1-11 in openers since the club returned as an expansion franchise in 1999.
31		32	(0-1)	Sam Bradford made this debut and looked good, now if he only had some receivers. The Rams need to start running the ball, after Sunday, Bradford is on pace to attempt 880 passes this year.
32		29	(0-1)	It appears the Bills forgot they have three talented runners in the backfield and imagined they were Colts. You saw the results which was an awful display of offense and an opening week loss.

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Are You Ready For Some Football .. Rankings?

September 09, 2010

With the 1st game of the season only hours away the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts sit comfortably atop the rankings.

We will get our first preview of the Super Bowl Champions tonight as they take on the Minnesota Vikings (No. 6) in a rematch of the NFC Championship game. The 'Who Dat' nation is expecting another big year, but Drew Brees will be battling the Madden Curse throughout the season. The Vikings, on the other hand, are less than 100% with old-man Brett Favre at QB and Percy Harvin struggling with his migraines.

This Sunday AFC defending Champions Peyton Manning and the Colts will travel to Houston (No. 12) to play the dynamic passing duo of Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson in their season opener. Fans will also get their first look at T.Ochocino as the Cincinnati Bengals (No. 9) take on the New England Patriots (No. 10). Moss may be unhappy but never doubt Tom Brady and Bill Belichick - they definitely know how to win games.

Rounding out the 1st week of the season, The Baltimore Ravens (No. 4) will be playing the New York Jets (No. 7) on Monday night. Joe Flacco has the weapons and many believe the Jets are overhyped; but, Sanchez and his team may surprise with Darrelle Revis back on defense and the pick-up of LaDainian Tomlinson this season. This game will be huge for whichever team can walk away with the win, as they will prove to many around the league that they are a true threat this season.

RANK	TEAM	PREV	REC	COMMENTS
1		1	(0-0)	They have a target on their backs, but they should defeat a softer than usual Vikings team. With Favre being gimpy, Sidney Rice out, and Percy Harvin's unstopable migraines if the Saints lose this one they could be in trouble.
2		2	(0-0)	Peyton Manning has more weapons than Germany during World War II. Defensively, any team with Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney are contenders.
3		3	(0-0)	The depth of the Packers roster became apparent this week, as 5 of their waived players were claimed by other teams for their rosters. The offense is capable of outscoring any team, the question will be if they can muster a consistent pass rush. Without one last season, they were picked apart by veteran quarterbacks given way too much time in the pocket. The Packers are starting the season with two starting DBs (Al Harris and Atari Bigby) on the PUP. How far the Packers go this year will be determined by how well they can get after the passer.
4		6	(0-0)	The Ravens will be without their six-time Pro Bowl defensive end for at least the first six weeks, because he is on the PUP list with a torn hip muscle. The injury is a huge blow to the defense, but with their bolstered offense they can overcome his injury. It also doesn't hurt that the Seahawks are fronting the $7 million bill for the Ravens to have T.J Houshmandzadeh as their No. 3 receiver.
5		5	(0-0)	The mission for the Cowboys this season is getting to the Super Bowl ... which is played in Dallas. Anything else will be a major disappointment for Jerrah Jones and his legion of fans.
6		4	(0-0)	The Vikings traded Sage Rosenfels this week, who I considered their best backup plan for Brett Favre. There's no denying that the Vikings have gone
7		7	(0-0)	Revis is signed, Rex Ryan has his snacks and Braylon's beard is ready for the season. However, if the Jets get off to slow start watch them crumbled under the pressure.
8		9	(0-0)	Philip Rivers doesn't get the credit he deserves as one of the top three quarterbacks in the NFL. Despite Vincent Jackson's absence, expect another huge year from Rivers. The addition of first round pick Ryan Mathews to the running game will be far more significant to the Chargers than the subtraction of Jackson from the passing game.
9		8	(0-0)	Randy Moss isn't feeling the love, Brady still hasn't gotten paid and surprisingly no one is picking the Pats for the Super Bowl. I think that makes them dangerous team.
10		11	(0-0)	The Bengals season depends on Carson Palmer regaining his 2005-2006 form where he had an amazing air attack and overpowered defenses.If that happens he can team up with Batman and Robin at the Justice League and become Super Friends.
11		10	(0-0)	This team could be the sleeper in 2010. Matt Ryan has proven he can be scary good, and Michael Turner can plow through the best of defenses.
12		14	(0-0)	With talent and depth, it's time for this team's future to become the present. They have a good shot at a wild-card berth.
13		13	(0-0)	The San Francisco 49ers will be winning the NFC West this year, it just depends by how much.
14		12	(0-0)	Bill Parcells gave of control of all personnel decisions, but the questions is why? Maybe Ted Ginn knows the answer. Here is a prediction for you Chad Henne has better year than Mark Sanchez.
15		18	(0-0)	The Kevin Kolb Era begins in Philly. Let's hope Eagles fans get what they wished for.
16		16	(0-0)	The Dennis Dixon era begins. Well at least for the first week. Will Dixon take the opportunity and run with it? With Roethlisberger no longer a captain of the Steelers, if Dixon gets on a roll, there's no guarantee that Big Ben gets his starting job back.
17		17	(0-0)	The defense and Vince Young will need to give Chris Johnson's legs some time to rest.
18		15	(0-0)	Bringing in Sage Rosenfels is a very interesting move. Still, it doesn't fill any of the real problems they have.
19		20	(0-0)	Heading into Cowboys week ... aka the season opener ... and all anyone wants to talk about is Albert Haynesworth acting like a baby. Amazing that a man can sign his name to a $100M check and then act like an infant. The sooner they can dump him, the better.
20		19	(0-0)	Can you really have hope with Derek Anderson under center for the Cardinals?
21		22	(0-0)	The Bears have one of the best front sevens in the NFC, a factor that surely contributed to Jarron Gilbert being cut this week. The secondary is still a question mark, but the real question is, will the Mike Martz / Jay Cutler marriage be a happy one? With Cutler's INT propensity, a below-average receiving corp, poor pass protection, and Greg Olsen being turned into a blocker, I'm betting on no. I don't see a lot of happy times for Bears fans this year.
22		24	(0-0)	While I like some of the moves they've made, the Raiders are still far away from being a playoff team. While the defense is shaping up nicely, Jason Campbell is no better than an average NFL quarterback.
23		21	(0-0)	The Broncos have a long way to go to be consistently competitive. With Kyle Orton at the helm, it doesn't seem like they're heading anywhere fast.
24		23	(0-0)	For the first time in the past decade I believe the pre-season level of hype finally fits this team.
25		25	(0-0)	Pete Carroll decided this week that he wanted nothing to do with Matt Leinart. The Seahawks will do just fine without him as they rebuild
26		27	(0-0)	Will there be more cheers for the Jaguars or for Tim Tebow during week 1? Apathy is the name of the Jags game.
27		26	(0-0)	The Chiefs are coming off a 4-12 season and quarterback Matt Cassel needs to prove he's worth the money the Chiefs are paying him.
28		28	(0-0)	Since the end of last season, the Lions have taken great strides to rebuild this team. They just made another nice move, claiming TE/LB Spencer Havner from the Packers. This offense will score points, so if the D can play adequate at best, the Lions' re-shaping will start to show some results.
29		30	(0-0)	There was an article claiming the Bills will go 0-16, while I think the Bills won't sniff the playoffs I think they will surprise some people. As long as they can run the ball with Spiller, Jackson and Lynch they will keep a lot of games close and pull some upsets.
30		29	(0-0)	Jake Delhomme is just keeping the QB seat warm until their third round draft pick, Texas star Colt McCoy is ready.
31		31	(0-0)	Josh Freeman looks good to go for this week. I challenge you to name five other starters on this team... Without googling.
32		32	(0-0)	Sam Bradford has looked pretty good in preseason, but he doesn't have much to throw to.

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Yardbarker Blogger Pre-Season NFL Rankings

September 02, 2010

Last February the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts were battling in the Super Bowl for the NFL Championship. Respectfully these two teams find themselves at the top of our Pre-Season Rankings. The Saints face a pretty easy division schedule this year, while the Colts still have Peyton Manning - a man that could bring any mediocre team to greatness.

Heated Rivals - Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings - are close behind in the 3 and 4 slots. Aaron Rodgers is a top pick for fantasy QB but the question is can he deliver the same numbers he did the year before? The Vikings on the other hand have veteran, fame-whore, Brett Favre back on the field. As long as he stays healthy and Adrian Peterson doesn't fumble the ball an obscene amount of times (again), they will be a force to be reckoned with.

The Baltimore Ravens round out the top 5 with our bloggers predicting Joe Flacco to have another great season thanks to the addition of Anquan Boldin.

The Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers and Atlanta Falcons are the next 5 on the list - finishing up our top 10. All the teams seem to have the talent but questions remain on execution.

We all remember Tony Romo crying on the field after his 2007 loss to the Seahawks - can he pull it together and lead the Cowboys to a Dallas Super Bowl? Can Mark Sanchez take his team to the playoffs again - or was last year just a fluke? Will San Diego continue to choke in the playoffs? and can Wes Welker stay healthy enough to help the Pats out this season?

These questions (and many more) only leave room for other teams to slide into the Top 10.

The Cincinnati Bengals obtained TO in the offseason creating a dynamic duo at the wide receiver position, the Miami Dolphins have the talent but their players are just down right crazy & unpredictable - Brandon Marshall & "Run Ricky Run" and the 49ers are set on the defensive end but need Alex Smith (or David Carr) to live-up to their #1 draft pick potential.

As for the rest of the teams, check out what our insightful bloggers have to say below.

In 7 days the season begins and that is when things really start to get interesting. Check back here next Thursday to get your Yardbarker Blogger NFL Rankings

RANK	TEAM	PREV	REC	COMMENTS
1				The Saints are by far and away the best team in their division, and add that to the fact that they are the defending champs, and have one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and you have a recipe for success.
2				An offseason of little change could be detrimental to most teams. The Colts, however, are the exception. With Manning at the reigns, another Super Bowl appearance is likely.
3				The Green Bay Packers are thinking about only one thing this year, the Super Bowl. As linebacker Nick Barnett put it,
4				There's no denying that the Vikings have gone 'all in' with Brett Favre. Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels can not lead them on a Super Bowl quest, but Favre, if he survives the physical toll, certainly can. If the offensive line struggles and allows too many hits on grandpa Favre, the Vikings will have their Bluff called. If they can keep him standing up, they could win the jackpot.
5				They have the talent and the resources to become the first team to play in a Super Bowl in their home stadium. However, do they have the stones to get it done?
6				Joe Flacco had a breakout season last year without having a legitimate #1 receiver. Now he has that game-changing weapon with the addition of Anquan Boldin. The Ravens are arguably the league's best defense. The front seven shut down the opposition's running game to a paltry 93.2 YPG. If they can improve their pass rush, which only had 32 sacks last year, then they could well be on their way to the Super Bowl.
7				Mark the Tape. The Jets will not make the playoffs this year. People forget if the Colts and Bengals hadn't rolled over they are a .500 team last year. Granted when they got the opportunity in the playoffs they took the most of it, but now I think their egos will get in the way of victories.
8				It doesn't seem like a long time since the Pats have won a Super Bowl, but it has. Is the Dynasty over? I think it is on life support, but I think the Patriots have one more run in them and I think this will be the year.
9				The addition of first round draft pick Ryan Mathews may be the biggest offseason acquisition for any team in the AFC West. Even without Vincent Jackson, the Bolts should put up great numbers on offense.
10				The sky is the limit for the Falcons in 2010. If Matt Ryan and Michael Turner remain healthy this team is one of the most potent in all the league, and could be a sleeper.
11				The Bengals have offensive players at key positions who are deteriorating. Carson Palmer hasn't been the same player since his knee and elbow injuries and Chad Ochocinco is better at catching fame-seeking reality flirts than he is at catching TD passes. The Bengals passing attack was ranked 26th, but lucky for them they have defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer molding the defense into a physical force in the very rough AFC. Let's not forget the Bengals added the very bipolar Terrell Owens, but will it be the vivacious Dr. Terrell Jekyll or the malcontent, Mr. T.O. Hyde?
12				Secretly Bill Parcells thinks this is a team that can compete for a Super Bowl now and I don't disagree with him. Chad Henne may end up better than Mark Sanchez, Brandon Marshall when he isn't going crazy one of best WRs in the league, Pretty Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown in backfield mixed with solid D, means the Dolphins should not be overlooked.
13				The NFC West is the Niners for the taking. Head coach Mike Singletary has the players sold on what he's selling as a coach. Will Michael Crabtree be a distraction? Alex Smith appears poised for a solid year and if Crabtree steps up, they field a trio of weapons in Crabtree, Gore and Davis. They should walk away with the West.
14				From finishing 4th to 3rd to 2nd in the AFC South in the past four years this Texans team has the pieces to finish first -That is only if Peyton Manning loses his arm.
15				The Giants are a mystery. You can't really feel confident in any part of their team anymore. The defense has holes and their schedule is insane and will keep them from getting into the playoffs.
16				If you haven't heard, Ben Roethlisberger got into a bit of trouble and was suspended. If you didn't know about Big Ben's problems, you might want to also read up on this naughty golfer named Tiger Woods.T he Roethlisberger-less Steelers are looking at Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon as their starting QB until at least Week 5. Pittsburgh also won't have the services of their Super Bowl MVP wide receiver, Santonio Holmes, who was traded to the Jets for a 5th round draft pick. With no Big Ben, the offense will primarily run through Rashard Mendenhall, who showed glimpses of greatness last year, but can he handle the workload of being the primary RB? Despite all the doom and gloom, the Steelers get all-world safety Troy Polamalu back from injury and he can hide a lot of holes the defense might have.
17				Vince Young could party well into the a.m. and the team could still win just by handing the rock to Chris Johnson.
18				A youth movement has hit the Eagles, which means they could take a small step back this season before becoming a playoff team again.
19				The two time defending NFC West champions are in for a long season. They haven't even gotten out of the pre-season without problems. Matt Leinart who entered camp as the presumed starter is now reportedly being shopped. It's going to be a long season for Cardinals fans
20				It's a new era in Washington, though some of the circus is still in town. The Haynesworth drama, injuries to McNabb, a patchwork receiving corps and a bunch of control freaks upstairs. It will take another season for them to make a run.
21				Tebowmania has hit Denver in force. Across the country no one else really cares. The real question is what can the Broncos milk out of Kyle Orton? Frankly, when you're counting on Kyle Orton for your team's success, you're in serious trouble.
22				Can the Mike Martz / Jay Cutler marriage be successful? With Cutler's INT propensity, a below-average receiving corp, poor pass protection, and Greg Olsen being turned into a blocker, I'm betting on no. The Bears do have one of the best front sevens in the NFC, but the secondary is a question mark. I don't see a lot of happy times for Bears fans this year.
23				What can I say about the Panthers? Well they did draft three quarterbacks in this years draft. Outside of that head coach John Fox is on the hot seat for the tenth consecutive season.
24				Sure they got rid of JaMarcus Russell, but he has been replaced by the always average Jason Campbell and nothing else seems to have gotten better for the Raiders. Is Darren McFadden ever going to look like the guy he did in college at Arkansas?
25				The Seahawks were the most active team in the NFL's offseason. This will be Pete Carroll's second try at the NFL after a successful run at USC. Has he learned what it takes to win in the NFL? That remains to be seen but he certainly is re-shaping a team that has been bad for a few years now. C
26				Rookie safety Eric Berry should help last year's 30th ranked defense improve immediately. But on offense Matt Cassel simply needs to be better.
27				The team didn't get 'their' QB, but they'll be able to see him in week 1. Perhaps that's the only week that seats in Jacksonville will be completely filled.
28				It truly is a different feel from the Detroit Lions these days. They have taken great strides to rebuild what may have been one of the most dismal defenses in recent memory. The offense will score points, so if the D can play adequate at best, the Lions' re-shaping will start to show some results on the scoreboard
29				Who cares if LeBron went to Miami, Cleveland sports fans still have the Browns to cheer about! OK maybe not. I didn't hear any outrage when QB's Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson left town, and rightfully so, in fact Cleveland fans should have been driving them to the airport. They were dead last with 129.8 passing YPG and an abysmal 55.8 QB rating, but it's a new beginning with another dreadful QB in Jake Delhomme. Sorry Browns fans it's going to be another painful season, but at least you have the Indians getting ready for the playoffs. Oh yea they're terrible too. Well at least you have some beautiful weather to look forward to. Oh wait, you don't. So why exactly are you guys mad that LeBron left this cold and desolate sports Siberia?
30				There are very low expectations for the Bills this season and I think that maybe the best thing for them. They have talent, but like with any team they will only go as far as the QB position takes them. If Trent Edwards is better than average I think they can be a surprise team. The best thing that ever happened to Edwards is CJ Spiller if he can stay healthy, the Bills have a shot to make some noise.
31				Starting quarterback Josh Freeman has a fracture in his thumb on his throwing hand, but there is worse news for this team... They are the Bucs, and they are in disarray.
32				The Rams drafted Sam Bradford and gave him 50 million guaranteed. He won't have many targets to throw to this year but Stephen Hackson retug too many pieces and I wouldn't be shocked if they had the first pick again next season. They are a long way away from being a talented team

4 Comments

Yardbarker NFL Blogger Poll: Week 17

December 30, 2009

It was just yesterday the Saints were 13-0 and atop our Gillette Fusion Ranking Leaderboard. Actually, it was fourteen days ago, to be exact. First a loss to a desperate Dallas team, and this week, a blown 17-point lead to the 3-12 Bucs. We wonder if the mojo has escaped New Orleans as they slipped to #3 this week.

But, enough about the NFC. Partly because that's the establishment that babysits the Rams every week…but mostly because their playoff picture is *mostly* set. this week it's all about the AFC.

The Chargers moved into the #2 spot for the first time this season. In fact, a member of our prestigious panel voted them #1 - which means they either lost some coin because Indy abandoned their starters and took one on the chin to the Jets…or the have a weird fetish for the NFL quarterback who most resembles an antagonist high school jock from a bad 80s movie.

Seven AFC teams are at 8-7 and battling for two wild-card spots. Those two spots will be determined by tiebreakers, and there's no computer algorithm to blame. Look out.

-Matt / Joe Sports Fan

Panel Insights:

Black Sports Online: I can honestly say I have no clue who is going to be in the Super Bowl. Once all of the playoffs are set with the exception of the Jets if they get in all the teams truly could make a case for a strong Super Bowl run. This should be a memorable post season.

Rumors & Rants: All of a sudden, the Eagles look like Super Bowl contenders, the Colts, Saints and Vikings look vulnerable and the Chargers look unbeatable. How about these numbers for you: Philip Rivers is 2nd in the NFL in Passer Rating (104.5), seventh in yards (4,155), first in yards per attempt (8.82), and has thrown 27 touchdowns against just nine interceptions. He's also averaging 277 yards per game, has two 1,000 yard receivers (Antonio Gates and Vincent Jackson) and has his team on a 10-game win streak against a very tough schedule. Why isn't he getting more MVP pub?

Cold Hard Football Facts: The Colts are already great postseason choke artists: 7-8 in the playoffs in the Manning Era, despite unprecedented regular-season success. The decision to take a dive against the Jets will not help: When the Colts take the field for the divisional playoffs on Jan. 16 or 17, they’ll have to shake off the rust of an entire month (20% of the season) without trying to win a football game (they beat the Jags, 35-31, on Dec. 17).

Awful Announcing: The Eagles and Chargers are looking awfully scary going into the Playoffs. You might have to consider them the favorites even though they don't have homefield throughout.

Midwest Sports Fan: The Chargers are hot, and may be my favorite to win it all, depending on the backlash from the Indy/Jets debacle.

RANK	TEAM	PREV	REC	LAST	RESULT
1		1	(14-1)	LOST	NYJ 29, Indianapolis 15
2		3	(12-3)	WON	San Diego 42, Tennesee 17
3		2	(13-2)	LOST	New Orleans 17, Tampa Bay 20
4		5	(11-4)	WON	Denver 27, Philadelphia 30
5		4	(11-4)	LOST	Minnesota 30, Chicago 36
6		7	(10-5)	WON	Jacksonville 7, New England 35
7		6	(10-5)	WON	Seattle 10, Green Bay 48
8		8	(10-5)	WON	Kansas City 10, Cincinnati 17
9		11	(10-5)	WON	St. Louis 10, Arizona 31
10		9	(10-5)	WON	Dallas 17, Washington 0
11		10	(8-7)	LOST	Baltimore 20, Pittsburgh 23
12		14	(8-7)	WON	Baltimore 20, Pittsburgh 23
13		18	(8-7)	WON	NYJ 29, Indianapolis 15
14		19	(8-7)	WON	Houston 27, Miami 20
15		13	(8-7)	LOST	Denver 27, Philadelphia 30
16		20	(8-7)	WON	Buffalo 3, Atlanta 31
17		16	(7-8)	LOST	Houston 27, Miami 20
18		15	(7-8)	LOST	San Diego 42, Tennessee 17
19		21	(7-8)	WON	Detroit 6, San Francisco 20
20		12	(8-7)	LOST	Carolina 41, NYG 9
21		17	(7-8)	LOST	Jacksonville 7, New England 35
22		22	(7-8)	WON	Carolina 41, NYG 9
23		23	(6-9)	WON	Minnesota 30, Chicago 36
24		24	(5-10)	LOST	Seattle 10, Green Bay 48
25		25	(5-10)	LOST	Buffalo 3, Atlanta 31
26		26	(5-10)	LOST	Oakland 9, Cleveland 23
27		27	(4-11)	LOST	Dallas 17, Washington 0
28		30	(4-11)	WON	Oakland 9, Cleveland 23
29		28	(3-12)	WON	New Orleans 17, Tampa Bay 20
30		29	(3-12)	LOST	Kansas City 10, Cincinnati 17
31		31	(2-13)	LOST	Detroit 6, San Francisco 20
32		32	(1-14)	LOST	St. Louis 10, Arizona 31

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Yardbarker NFL Blogger Poll: Week 16

December 23, 2009

The defining aspect of this whole "sports blogging" thing is that the line between "journalist" and "reader" is increasingly transparent. What you see is what you get. Two peas in a pod, you and I; except my pea is way more talented than your pea. And rugged, yeah rugged. One thing that we *do* have in common is being a proud representative amidst a meager audience. You, the reader of our Yardbarker Power Rankings during an abridged holiday week while the rest of your peers are sleeping off an eggnog hangover. Me, the writer of said Power Rankings…but also an integral part of the Rams home attendance this week in a 16-13 loss - which was officially recorded as +46,000. One too many zeros there, guys.

Enough about the Rams, who sit comfortably in the back of our rankings yet again. The unbeaten Colts finally have the #1 ranking to themselves, thanks to the New Orleans Saints' first loss of the season to the Cowboys in Week 15. The Colts needed a rally over the Jacksonville Jaguars to avoid their first loss and moved into our #1 slot for the first time since Week 7.

-Matt / Joe Sports Fan

Panel Insights:

Black Sports Online: I implore the Colts to lose and lose now. I guarantee you if they enter the playoffs at 16-0 they will not make it to the Super Bowl.

Rumors & Rants: Drew Brees leads the NFL with a 109.4 quarterback rating. Philip Rivers is third at 102.8. Was the Brees/Rivers decision the Chargers made in 2006 the ultimate win-win scenario (for everyone involved) in sports history?

Cold Hard Football Facts: The Colts are under the ultimate pressure: the master of the one-and-done (six times in the Manning Era) has no excuses this year for anything but the whole enchilada. Speaking of which ... we're hungry. The Indy offense has produced just 13.4 PPG in their eight Manning Era losses.

Sportz Assassin: Hmmm. The Saints finally lose, the Vikings looked like garbage and apparently there's a rift between Brett Favre and Brad Childress. Right now, the Chargers look like a strong Super Bowl contender. They are blazing hot and aren't scared to play the Colts on their field. My darkhorse Super Bowl prediction is Chargers-Eagles. I'd also like to take this opportunity to express how awful it was to see my Redskins just mail it in on Monday night. This team hasn't been that bad over the past five weeks and putting up an egg like that was stunning. Also, R.I.P. Chris Henry.

Midwest Sports Fan: The Saints finally fall and the Colts remain perfect, but more importantly....I would like to send very special holiday wishes out to our troops, and their families, who are risking their lives this Christmas in what has become the longest war in American History. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, and it is my wish that next year you will truly be “Home for Christmas”

RANK	TEAM	PREV	REC	LAST	RESULT
1		2	(14-0)	WON	Indianapolis 35, Jacksonville 31
2		1	(13-1)	LOST	Dallas 24, New Orleans 17
3		4	(11-3)	WON	Cincinnati 24, San Diego 27
4		3	(11-3)	LOST	Minnesota 7, Carolina 26
5		6	(10-4)	WON	San Francisco 13, Philadelphia 27
6		5	(9-5)	LOST	Green Bay 36, Pittsburgh 37
7		8	(9-5)	WON	New England 17, Buffalo 10
8		7	(9-5)	LOST	Cincinnati 24, San Diego 27
9		10	(9-5)	WON	Dallas 24, New Orleans 17
10		12	(8-6)	WON	Chicago 7, Baltimore 31
11		9	(9-5)	WON	Arizona 31, Detroit 24
12		13	(8-6)	WON	NYG, Washington
13		11	(8-6)	LOST	Oakland 20, Denver 19
14		16	(7-7)	WON	Green Bay 36, Pittsburgh 37
15		18	(7-7)	WON	Miami 24, Tennessee 27
16		14	(7-7)	LOST	Miami 24, Tennessee 27
17		15	(7-7)	LOST	Indianapolis 35, Jacksonville 31
18		17	(7-7)	LOST	Atlanta 10, NYJ 7
19		20	(7-7	WON	Houston 16, St. Louis 13
20		19	(7-7)	WON	Atlanta 10, NYJ 7
21		21	(6-8)	LOST	San Francisco 13, Philadelphia 27
22		25	(6-8)	WON	Minnesota 7, Carolina 26
23		23	(5-9)	LOST	Chicago 7, Baltimore 31
24		22	(5-9)	LOST	Tampa Bay 24, Seattle 7
25		26	(5-9)	LOST	New England 17, Buffalo 10
26		27	(5-9)	WON	Oakland 20, Denver 19
27		24	(4-10)	LOST	NYG, Washington
28		30	(2-12)	WON	Tampa Bay 24, Seattle 7
29		28	(3-11)	LOST	Cleveland 41, Kansas City 34
30		31	(3-11)	WON	Cleveland 41, Kansas City 34
31		29	(2-12)	LOST	Arizona 31, Detroit 24
32		32	(1-13)	LOST	Houston 16, St. Louis 13

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Week 7 NFL Rankings

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