NFL Week 9 Power Rankings

Week 9 Picks Results

1. Dave, 18 Points (11 Straight, 7 Spread)

    Brandon, 18 Points (9 Straight, 9 Spread)

3. Chris, 15 Points (7 Straight, 8 Spread)

4. Jason, 14 Points (8 Straight, 6 Spread)

The NFL is just filled with teams that are pretty good, and teams that are God awful.  There are 18 teams with a legitimate chance to make the playoffs.  It’s unbelievable the level of parity in the league this year.

Favorites:

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) Bullets Blog Last Week: 3. Result: W 27-21 (CIN)

Coming off a loss to New Orleans, the Steelers rebounded by going into Cincinnati and beating the Bengals handily.  Due to the falls of Indianapolis and New England, Pittsburgh moves up, but they haven’t separated themselves as the clear top team.

2. Baltimore Ravens (6-2) BBLW: 5 Result: W 26-10 (MIA)

Baltimore beat a solid Dolphins team rather handily, giving them their first road loss.  The Ravens have only lost at Cincinnati and at New England, while picking up big wins at the Jets and at Pittsburgh.  They’ve built quite a solid resumé beating some very good teams.

3. New England Patriots (6-2) BBLW: 1 Result: L 34-13 (CLE)

4. New York Jets (6-2) BBLW: 4 Result: W 23-20 (DET)

5. Indianapolis Colts (5-3) BBLW: 2 Result: L 26-24 (PHI)

5a. New York Giants (6-2) BBLW: 6 Result: W 41-7 (SEA)

Alright, where to begin.. New England got absolutely throttled at Cleveland, but you have to give Cleveland credit.  Peyton Hillis showed up to play, while I really don’t think anyone did for the Pats.  The Jets escaped Detroit with a win, a totally undeserved, lucky, pathetic, and despicable win.  The only positives from that game are that they won, Mark Sanchez led them from behind once again to win the game, and
Nick Folk didn’t get hurt on his celebration because, well, he didn’t know he just won the game.  Indianapolis lost a tough one to a rejuvenated Eagles team bringing back Michael Vick.  Peyton Manning is still Peyton Manning, and from now on, until he’s retired, dead, or for whatever reason undergoes a genetic mutation, any team with Peyton Manning will not leave the top 5.  I want to give the Giants more respect than this, I really do.  They’re running through absolutely everyone and their brother, but those brothers tend to be smaller and weaker.  The combined records of the teams they’ve beaten are 17-31.  That’s flat out horrible.  They’ve beaten Carolina, Chicago (who is a badddd 5-3 team), Houston (their best win), Detroit (with their second and third quarterbacks), Dallas (no comments needed), and Seattle.  I don’t want to take anything away from the Giants, because they are a good team, but I can’t move them up until they win some good games.  Oh look, next week they play Dallas once again.

“You Gotta Believe”-ers:

7. Atlanta Falcons (6-2) BBLW: 7 Result: W 27-21 (TB)

7a. New Orleans Saints (6-3) BBLW: 10 Result: W 34-3 (CAR)

Atlanta and New Orleans are both enigmas.  Atlanta won in New Orleans, and also beat Tampa Bay, while getting killed at Philadelphia.  New Orleans beat Pittsburgh and killed Tampa in Tampa, while losing horrific games to Arizona and getting killed by Cleveland.  These two teams are basically even, but since Atlanta won straight up, I have to give them the slightest of edges.

9. Tennessee Titans (5-3) BBLW: 8 Result: BYE

Not much to say about Tennessee, but, “I think if I saw a turtle with numchucks I’d be pretty scared, I’d be like ‘woah, it’s a f***ing turtle with numchucks’ and run the other way.”

10. Green Bay Packers (6-3) BBLW: N/A Result: W 45-7 (DAL)

Does beating Dallas really count as a whole win? It shouldn’t.

11. Oakland Raiders (5-4) BBLW: N/A Result: W 23-20 (KC)

THE OAKLAND RRRRRAIDERS! I’m fairly confident that when the Raiders are a semi-confident organization, every fan of the NFL wins.  They may not be the most polished team, but Tom Cable has them playing inspired football, and they’re going to be a tough team to beat.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (5-3) BBLW: N/A Result: W 26-24 (IND)

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-3) BBLW: N/A Result: L 27-21 (ATL)

Philadelphia is getting a big boost from Michael Vick, not only with morale, but with his play too.  He may not be as steady and consistent as Kevin Kolb may one day be, but Vick is no doubt one of the most exciting, energizing, and dangerous quarterbacks in the league.  He’s playing his best football in all of his career.  I’m not sure what exactly to make of Tampa, Josh Freeman is playing great, and they had a chance to beat Atlanta, but they’re still the third best team in their division.  This isn’t their year, but with Raheem Morris and Freeman, the future is bright in Tampa.

14. San Diego Chargers (4-5) BBLW: N/A Result: W 29-23 (HOU)

Don’t look now, but here come the Chargers.  Phillip Rivers is going to be right there for MVP at the end of the day, leading his team to back to back wins against good teams, Tennessee and Houston.  The Chargers are on a roll and I look for that to continue against Denver after their Bye Week.

15. Kansas City Chiefs (5-3) BBLW: 9 Result: L 23-20 (OAK)

The Chiefs lost a hard fought game to Oakland, and they’re going to be right there for the division with Oakland and San Diego.

Mediocrity:

16. Minnesota Vikings (3-5) BBLW: N/A Result: W 27-24 (ARI)

The Vikings got a huge comeback win against Arizona last week, but are one foot away from being 4-4 with a win against the Packers.  They’ve got their next two games against Chicago and Green Bay.  If they can win both of those, they’ll be right back in the picture for the NFC North.

17. Houston Texans (4-4) BBLW: N/A Result L 29-23 (SD)

18. Washington Redskins (4-4) BBLW: N/A Result: BYE

19. Miami Dolphis (4-4) BBLW: N/A Result: L 26-10 (BAL)

20. St. Louis Rams (4-4) BBLW: N/A Result: BYE

These teams aren’t any good, period.  St. Louis at least has some upside, but they’re not going anywhere.

Work Hard, But Still Suck:

21.  Cleveland Browns (3-5) BBLW: N/A Result W 34-14 (NE)

22. Detroit Lions (2-6) BBLW: N/A Result L 23-20 (NYJ)

The Lions are possibly the best 2-6 team ever, and Cleveland’s the second best 3-5 team in the league, behind Minnesota.  These two teams work extremely hard, and pour their hearts on the field, but they just don’t have the talent there.

Flat Out Bad:

23. Chicago Bears (5-3) BBLW: N/A Result: W 22-19 (BUF)

24. Seattle Seahawks (4-4) BBLW: N/A Result: L 41-7 (NYG)

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4) BBLW: N/A Result: BYE

26. Cincinnati Benglas (2-6) BBLW: N/A Result: L 27-21 (PIT)

These teams are awful, and don’t deserve, nor receive, any respect whatsoever.

The Buffalo Bills Category:

27. Buffalo Bills (0-8) BBLW: 32 Result: L 22-19 (CHI)

I want the Bills to win so badly.  They give you absolutely everything, they’re just flat out awful.  They’ve taken three teams with winning records to close games in the fourth quarter in their last three weeks.  At 0-8, they’re still better than 5 other teams.

Top 5 Draft Picks:

28. Arizona Cardinals (3-5) BBLW: N/A Result: L 27-24 (MIN)

The Cardinals have no quarterback, no defense, and somehow continue to find ways to lose games.

29. Denver Broncos (2-6) BBLW: N/A Result: BYE

The Broncos needed a Bye Week desperately.  In fact, they need about 8 more after this.

30. San Francisco 49ers (2-6) BBLW: N/A Result: BYE

They should be thanking Wade Phillips and the Dallas Cowboys more than anyone for blowing them out of the water as far as “Biggest Disappointment” is concerned.  The 49ers have been terrible.

31. Carolina Panthers (1-7) BBLW: N/A Result: L 31-3 (NO)

The Panthers are hopeless.

Cowboys:

32. Dallas Cowboys (1-7) BBLW: N/A Result: L 45-7 (GB)

The Cowboys are the worst team in football, hands down.  Never before has a 1-7 team gotten so much coverage on ESPN.  I don’t want to do the same, it’s exactly what Jerry Jones wants and doesn’t deserve.  I’m sorry Cowboys fans, Jason Garrett will be no better than Wade Phillips.