NFL Power Rankings: Week 6

I know that I haven't posted for a while, and I am sorry for that. I will try to post more often in the coming weeks, which is good news for all two of my followers. Anyway, on to the post. Obviously this isn’t a new invention, as multiple sites and people conduct their own power rankings on a weekly basis. Due to the fact that there are some very awful teams and some great ones, my power rankings will probably be relatively similar to others at the extreme ends. With further ado, here are my power rankings for Week 6 (I am doing them in inverse order, because it’s far more interesting and suspenseful to read them that way):

32. St. Louis Rams (0-5)

There really isn’t much to say about this team. They are averaging less than seven points per game while giving up nearly thirty. Granted they haven’t played the easiest schedule in the NFL (their combined opponents record is 14-10), but they haven’t exactly been competitive, excluding a 9-7 defeat to the lowly Washington Redskins, and the schedule doesn’t get much friendlier. Unless they beat Detroit in Week 8, it’s very possible that we see a team go 0-16 for the second consecutive season.

Note: Shannon Sharpe summed up the Rams best last Sunday when he said of them, “They have their bye in Week 9, but they’re going to lose that too.”

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-5)

Another one of the teams who’s terrible, Tampa’s biggest downfall is its pass defense, which is struggling mightily in transitioning from a Cover 2 to playing more man-to-man. However, this team has shown some signs of life, as Josh Johnson seems to be leading the offense to more promising things. If the defense can solve some of its problems, they may get to three or four wins.

30. Oakland Raiders (1-4)

I know, I know. They have a win, and it comes against a winless team that I’ll be ranking higher than them. I don’t care. This team is downright terrible. In fact, if not for that win against Kansas City, I’d have no problem ranking Oakland at the bottom of the list. Their coach might be going to jail soon for assaulting one of his assistants, their starting quarterback sucks, is overweight, sucks, doesn’t care, and sucks. In fact, I tried to use the argument on Monday when Mark Sanchez got called for intentional grounding that, “JaMarcus Russell routinely misses wide receivers by that much and doesn’t get called for grounding.” This team is destined for failure as long as Al Davis is involved with the operations.

29. Kansas City Chiefs (0-5)

Unlike the Raiders, I don’t believe the Chiefs have thrown in the towel yet this season. They nearly beat the Cowboys last week, which isn’t saying much, but is still respectable. Dwayne Bowe came to life last week, and, once Jamaal Charles gets more work, this team can do some damage. I expect them to beat the Redskins this week for their first win.

28. Buffalo Bills (1-4)

Boy do I see enjoying an AFC East rival (and one with Terrell Owens on its roster) struggle. Obviously, firing your offensive coordinator before the season starts is not something teams want to emulate, as all three teams who did (Tampa, Kansas City, and Buffalo) are in the bottom five of the power rankings (and are a combined 1-14). Dick Jauron is going to be fired soon, I can’t see him lasting much longer in Buffalo. Plus, I am excited to see Owens go crazy in a few weeks…I’ve already got my popcorn ready, and so does Hitler.

27. Cleveland Browns (1-4)

Not surprisingly, Cleveland is enjoined with Buffalo in the rankings. They could barely separate each other on the field last weekend (a pathetic 6-3 Browns win), so why should they be any different on paper? Derek Anderson went 2/17 for 23 yards and an interception! I wouldn’t want to entrust my team to that all year long. I can say one nice thing about Cleveland though, which is that it has given the Jets Mark Sanchez and Braylon Edwards so far this season. For that, we Jets fans thank you.

26. Tennessee Titans (0-5)

2008 Titans – Albert Haynesworth + Being one year older across the board = Disaster. This team, much like the Bucs, cannot stop the pass. Teams consistently beat them through the air, and the Titans offensive strength lies in its running game (Chris Johnson, but not big, fat LenDale White [copyright Matthew Berry]), only they’re constantly behind, so they have to rely on the 36 year-old Kerry Collins to bring them back, which clearly hasn’t happened yet. While they’ll get a few wins this year, they’ll be picking in the Top 10 come April.

25. Washington Redskins (2-3)

Has there ever been a worse 2-3 team in the history of the NFL? I mean, they can’t do anything. They have yet to play a team that, at the time of the game, had a win on the season. While they looked respectable in the season opener against the Giants, that was the extent of their excellence. They helped the Lions end their 19-game losing streak, let the Panthers get their first W on the year, and beat the Rams and the Buccaneers (numbers 31 and 32 in the power rankings) by a combined five points for their only two wins. I forsee them helping Kansas City get its first win this weekend, and a further plummet in the rankings.

24. Detroit Lions (1-4)

They are playing hard, and I will never knock a team for that. They’ve assembled a nice young core with Matthew Stafford, Kevin Smith, Calvin Johnson, and Brandon Pettigrew. The problem is that the problem isn’t the offense, it’s the defense. They have allowed a league high 162 points through five weeks, a problem I don’t see getting much better. Winnable games against St. Louis and Cleveland lie ahead, but I don’t think the team can get any more than four or five wins this season.

23. Carolina Panthers (1-3)

They are a Byron Westbrook muffed punt away from being 0-4 and closer to the bottom of this ranking. As is, they won the game against Washington and sit at 1-3. The offensive line doesn’t seem capable of opening up holes like it did last season, when it allowed DeAngelo Williams to seemingly score at will. Jake Delhomme, while looking better since his dismal start to the season, still isn’t a great quarterback, and certainly not one I would want leading my team. Upcoming games against doormats Tampa Bay and Buffalo should allow Carolina to get to .500, but a brutal schedule down the stretch doesn’t bode well for the team.

22. Houston Texans (2-3)

This is where the rankings are getting tougher. There is certainly a huge falloff from Houston to Carolina. I put the Texans here because they’ve already lost two games at home (which was their strong point last season), have a miserable defense (it was on pace to be the worst of all-time through three weeks), and Steve Slaton, last season’s fantasy darling, has been disappointing. Andre Johnson can only do so much, which, as he proved last week, is quite a bit, and the Texans need more than that.

21. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3)

With a head-to-head win over Houston, the Jaguars get the nod over the Texans in the power rankings. They’ve got a nice 2-1 record within their division, but the Week 1 loss to the Colts could come back to haunt them, since they are already three games behind division-leading Indianapolis. I don’t really get this team though, as it got waxed by Seattle last week (41-0) after putting up 31 and 37 points in the two previous weeks. Maurice Jones-Drew pouted about the offense having no identity for fifteen minutes after the Seattle game, so let’s see how the team responds going forward.

20. Arizona Cardinals (2-2)

This team is having problems defending the pass and throwing the ball downfield, two things that helped them during their run to the Super Bowl last season. They also can’t establish any semblance of a running game, which hurts them in the later stages of a game when trying to protect a lead (like last week against Houston). Next week’s game against the following team in my rankings should help sort things out a bit more.

19. Seattle Seahawks (2-3)

If Matt Hasselbeck can stay healthy, watch out. He’s got two great weapons in T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Nate Burleson. The defense is underrated, and Qwest Field is a legitimate home-field advantage. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them make a run at the division title during the second half of the season.

18. San Diego Chargers (2-2)

We will find out what this San Diego team is all about this Monday when they square off against the undefeated Broncos. The Chargers barely beat Oakland and struggled to beat Miami, which is looking like a more impressive victory with each passing week. Close losses to Baltimore and Pittsburgh are tough to figure out as well, since both of those teams are teetering between the upper and middle echelons of the rankings. I think the Chargers will win this week, because a loss will all but mean the Broncos will win the division.

17. Dallas Cowboys (3-2)

This middle pack of teams can go either way. I honestly have no idea if the Cowboys are good or bad, so I am sticking them in the middle. They’re 3-2, squeaked by the winless Chiefs last weekend, were unimpressive in beating Carolina, and also beat the Buccaneers. However, their only losses came to the 5-0 Giants and the 5-0 Broncos, who are both elite teams this year. Tony Romo can shine or disappoint, and you never seem to be able to predict which Tony will show up. After getting this week off, Dallas plays four of its next six at home before playing the Giants again. I could see them winning four or five of those and setting up a good showdown with the G-Men that could decide the Cowboys playoff fate.

16. Miami Dolphins (2-3)

Once again, I am ranking a team in front of a team it beat. In this case, Miami is above San Diego. That Monday night loss was crushing as a Jets fan, because the defense got abused by Miami’s wildcat offense. In addition, Chad Henne did exactly what he will have to do for the Dolphins. He didn’t turn the ball over, converted a few key third downs (he was impeccable on the final drive), and connected with Ted Ginn Jr. on a homerun play that the Dolphins will get a shot at every game. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams run the Wildcat to perfection, and the constant personnel changes keeps defenses on their toes. This team will be tough to deal with down the road.

15. Green Bay Packers (2-2)

The Packers have monumental problems on their offensive line. Aaron Rodgers has been sacked twenty times in four games, which is about 14% of the time he drops back to pass. In layman’s terms, “That’s not very good.” Unless Rodgers is given some more time to stand up and make throws, Greg Jennings won’t be much of a factor, which doesn’t bode well for Green Bay. With two respectable losses (Cincinnati and Minnesota), and a tight win against Chicago, Green Bay looks like it might struggle to win consistently unless it fixes its problems.

14. San Francisco 49ers (3-2)

This team is supposed to go out and hit people in the mouth. Well, it was the recipient of the oral blow last week, as Atlanta came into San Francisco and lambasted the 49ers. This followed a heartbreaking, last second loss at Minnesota. I think the bye week has come at a great time for San Francisco, as it will allow Mike Singletary to right the ship, and get Frank Gore back to full health. The other big thing for the 49ers is that they are already 3-0 in their division, and are probably the best team in the NFC West.

13. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)

I don’t know if their reputation is leading me to rank the Steelers higher, or I think this is where they belong. They opened up the season with what appeared to be a gritty win against a game Titans team, but that victory looks worse and worse as Tennessee keeps losing. Consecutive losses to Chicago and Cincinnati are acceptable, but not impressive. I think the turning point of the season may have been Rashard Mendenhall’s breakout game against San Diego, and expect him to get the bulk of the carries going forward, even if Willie Parker is healthy. With Hair Polamalu returning this week, the team seems to be back on track.

12. Chicago Bears (3-1)

After Week 1, Bears fans were cursing Jay Cutler and his turnover prone-ness. Now? Not so much. He is making plays and leading the Bears to victory after victory. They still have four divisional games left, including two against Minnesota, so the NFC North might be one of the tightest races in the league.

11. Baltimore Ravens (3-2)

Three weeks ago, ESPN had Baltimore at #1 in its rankings. That was due to the fact that the Ravens were thumping inferior opponents. After getting dominated (not on the scoreboard, but physically) by the Patriots and the Bengals, the Ravens have been humbled a bit. I am interested to see how they play this week against 5-0 Minnesota before their bye week. Making Ray Rice more involved in the offense is their best bet, so it’ll be something to keep an eye on.

10. New England Patriots (3-2)

For me, another jump up from the previous team. The Patriots, despite getting underwhelming production from Tom Brady and Randy Moss (Patriots fans would agree with me that neither has played anywhere near what he’s capable of) have beaten two solid teams in Baltimore and Atlanta, and have lost to the 5-0 Broncos and “should be 4-1 but are actually 3-2” Jets. I hope the Patriots go 3-13, but they’ll be solid, as always.

9. New York Jets (3-2)

Monday night was incredibly disappointing as a fan. I knew it wasn’t going to be a good night when the Dolphins marched down the field on the opening drive, which culminated in a touchdown after 7:30. That was the longest scoring drive the Jets surrendered all season, and stayed that way until the fourth quarter, when the Dolphins finished a drive that consumed 8:41 off the clock. As I already said about Miami, they look to be on the upswing, but I hope that this loss motivates the Jets in the upcoming weeks. I also would like to point out that Braylon Edwards looks AWESOME. I am so excited about the Sanchez-Edwards hook up that I may buy, and wear, both of their jerseys…at the same time.

8. Atlanta Falcons (3-1)

The loss to New England had to be upsetting, since the Falcons didn’t put up much of a fight, but they certainly came out of their bye week strongly. They DOMINATED the 49ers on the road, Michael Turner was running hard, and Roddy White came out of his coma. Those two, when combined with Matt Ryan and Tony Gonzalez, create a team with some of the most offensive firepower in the league. It is up to Atlanta to challenge New Orleans for the division title, since Tampa Bay and Carolina are no better than five win teams.

7. Cincinnati Bengals (4-1)

“Who dey! Who dey! Who dey think gonna beat dem Bengals? (Aside from the Denver Broncos) NOBODY!” This team is legit. Cedric Benson leads the NFL in rushing, and is running harder than he ever has in his career. Carson Palmer is getting back into his stride and knows how to win. Ochocinco is quieter than normal, which has coincided with his being more productive. Cincinnati may be able to compete with the big dogs, as they’ve already beaten Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Hopefully they keep it up and make the season interesting.

6. Denver Broncos (5-0)

Josh McDaniels has this team believing. He has Brandon Marshall playing extremely well, perhaps only bested by Andre Johnson so far this year in his domination. Kyle Orton is making plays and not beating the team with turnovers like he did in the preseason. The defense, which I thought would be abysmal coming into the season, has been superb. What else can I say? A win against San Diego this week will move them up the rankings and, in my opinion, clinch the division after just six weeks. About the only thing that this team has done wrong so far is wear the world’s most hideous uniforms last week against New England.

5. Philadelphia Eagles (3-1)

The only one-loss team that gets ranked above an undefeated. The Eagles look very good. Donovan McNabb is slinging it, and Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson should give opposing corners headaches with their abilities to stretch the field. Those speedsters open up the field for Brent Celek, who has done plenty of damage thus far. Brian Westbrook now has a backup that may be more dangerous than him in LeSean McCoy, and the defense is playing in Jim Johnson’s memory. Philadelphia should challenge the Giants for the NFC East crown.

4. Minnesota Vikings (5-0)

They’re undeniably good. Defenses gear up to stop Adrian Peterson, so Brett Favre beats them through the air. The defense, while not as dominant as it has been in the past, is still solid once again. The question marks are still there, however. Can Brett Favre stay healthy and play at a high level the entire season? I can tell you as a disgruntled fan that Favre did no such thing last season. Playing indoors might help him when it gets colder, so only time will tell. Can the team keep Brad Childress from having to make key adjustments when it matters? The schedule has been light so far, but games against the Ravens, Steelers, Bengals, and Giants all lurk. Will Childress make the right calls or look confounded again on the sidelines? Finally, how will the rest of the NFC North play? 3-1 Chicago still gets two cracks at Minnesota, and Green Bay gets a revenge opportunity at Lambeau. If Minnesota can weather the storm that is the second half of their schedule, they could be dangerous come playoff time.

3. New Orleans Saints (4-0)

These top three are so close that I could re-order them any which way and be comfortable with how it turned out. I put the Saints here because Drew Brees has looked rather human the last two games. I know that he hasn’t had to do much because the running game has been brilliant, but it isn’t always easy to turn things on and off. The showdown with the Giants this weekend will reveal to us more what these teams are about.

2. New York Giants (5-0)

In my opinion, the Giants are only going to get better. The defense has been banged up, yet it continues to put up great showings. Eli Manning has been nothing short of spectaular, but the plantar fasciitis he suffers from could be problematic in the future. Steve Smith is quickly dropping “The Other” from the front of his name, as he’s been amazing through five games. Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks are also dominating, which is remarkable because all three are receivers the Giants themselves drafted. It’s difficult to pinpoint whether a wide receiver’s skills will translate to the professional level, yet the Giants have hit on all three. Like I said above, I am excited about this weekend’s game with the Saints. I still don’t know who I will pick in my Pigskin Pick’Em, and probably won’t until game time.

1. Indianapolis Colts (5-0)

New coach, same results. Indianapolis is 5-0, and already has a stranglehold on the division. Peyton Manning should be given the MVP Award right now. It honestly doesn’t matter what his defense does, because I have complete faith that he’ll lead the Colts’ offense down the field for however many points it needs. The Monday night game in Week 2 against Miami highlighted that. Despite having the ball for less than fifteen minutes, Manning was able to lead the Colts down the field when it mattered. The fact that Marvin Harrison is officially gone (his corpse was trotting out there last year) and Anthony Gonzalez got hurt Week 1 hasn’t hampered Manning at all. He just turned Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon into overnight superstars. I just cannot bring myself to bet against the Colts at all right now, and, until someone beats Peyton, won’t believe it to be possible.