Week Six power rankings

Getty Images

1. San Diego Chargers (No. 3 last week; 5-1):  The Chargers are 1-0 whenever Eric Weddle unsuccessfully audibles to a fake on a fourth-and-35 punt.  Hopefully, there won’t be an effort to push that mark to 2-0.

2. Dallas Cowboys (No. 9; 5-1):  Jimmy Johnson eventually will try to find a way to claim I/me credit for this, too.

3. Denver Broncos (No. 2; 4-1):  A sluggish, uninspiring 14-point win is still a 14-point win.

4. Arizona Cardinals (No. 4; 4-1):  A sluggish, uninspiring 10-point win is still a 10-point win.

5. Philadelphia Eagles (No. 5; 5-1):  So much for the sluggish, uninspiring wins.

6. Seattle Seahawks (No. 1; 3-2):  So much for the February coronation.

7. Green Bay Packers (No. 7; 4-2):  So much for the South Florida heat.

8. Indianapolis Colts (No. 8; 4-2):  So much for the Colts being done at 0-2.

9. Cincinnati Bengals (No. 6; 3-1-1):  So much for field goals of shorter than 40 yards being automatic.

10. Baltimore Ravens (No. 10; 4-2):  So much for the North Florida heat.

11. San Francisco 49ers (No. 11; 4-2):  So much for the Rams being any good.

12. New England Patriots (No. 12; 4-2):  So much for Tom Brady’s ankle being injured.

13. Carolina Panthers (No. 13; 3-2-1):  So much for Riverboat Ron choosing to roll the dice on a win in overtime.

14. Detroit Lions (No. 16; 4-2):  So much for a crappy kicker keeping the team from winning.

15. Cleveland Browns (No. 21; 3-2):  So much for the Browns not being competitive.

16. Buffalo Bills (No. 14; 3-3):  So much for the Bills being competitive.

17. New Orleans Saints (No. 17; 2-3):  So much for the Saints falling behind the pack in the NFC South, which went 0-2-1 during the New Orleans bye.

18. Chicago Bears (No. 23; 3-3):  So much for other teams figuring out Marc Trestman’s offense.

19. Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 15; 3-3):  So much for the Steelers being competitive.

20. Kansas City Chiefs (No. 20; 2-3):  Take down the Chargers in San Diego, and suddenly the AFC West becomes a three-team race.

21. Houston Texans (No. 18; 3-3):  On Monday night, J.J. Watt gets a chance to remind Pittsburgh of what a dominant defensive player looks like.

22. New York Giants (No. 19; 3-3):  From 2004 through 2012, the Giants started each season at 5-2 or better.  For the second straight year, they won’t.

23. Miami Dolphins (No. 24; 2-3):  After a close loss to the Packers, the glass is half full or the glass is half empty or the glass is shattered.

24. Atlanta Falcons (No. 22; 2-4):  That Georgia dome should be renamed Soldier Field South.

25. New York Jets (No. 25; 1-5):  In an effort to get fired sooner than later, maybe Rex should drive around the parking lot, dragging the team’s Super Bowl trophies from the bumper of his car.  Oh, wait.

26. Tennessee Titans (No. 30; 2-4):  After Sunday’s win, a Titans player encourage his teammates to not get satisfied.  Given that they barely beat the Jaguars, that’s not possible.

27. Minnesota Vikings (No. 26; 2-4):  How much tape did it take to figure out Teddy Bridgewater?  Not much.

28. St. Louis Rams (No. 27; 1-4):  The reunited Greatest Show on Turf team may have had a better shot at winning last night than the current Rams.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 28; 1-5):  For most Bucs fans, 1-5 and Lovie Smith is still way better than last year.

30. Washington (No. 29; 1-5):  When is it time to give up on a season?  When the calls are coming for Colt McCoy to start.  (We also would have accepted “when the head coach starts wearing T-shirts during games.”)

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 31; 0-6):  It’s unfair to expect the Jaguars to make good decisions with a game on the line in the final seconds; they don’t have much recent experience at that.

32.  Oakland Raiders (No. 32; 0-5):  Eventually, Oakland fans will be throwing eggs at the Raiders’ bus.

149 responses to “Week Six power rankings

  1. Nah, 1-5 with Lovie is actually worse because last year was a disaster with MSRA and Freeman and such…and they still competed way harder than this group. Team has already quit twice on games within 10 minutes. That’s supposed to be better? Sucks being a Bucs fan right now.

  2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 28; 1-5): For most Bucs fans, 1-5 and Lovie Smith is still way better than last year.
    ________________________________________

    Not a chance. Team hadn’t totally quit last year and that was with MSRA and Freeman trying to torpedo the organization. This team is worse, no doubt about it.

  3. Hawks too high. Defense is battered, O-line continues to be suspect and WR’s are pedestrian..of course, maybe if Bevell actually used Harvin as a WR instead of simply a gadget player..they would be much be better off.

  4. How much tape did it take to figure out Teddy Bridgewater?

    Who needs tape when your DL can steamroll Bridgewater’s offensive line? Bridgewater isn’t the problem in Minnesota.

  5. I guess the “tape” on Bridgewater was to decimate the offensive line and have Greg Jennings start dropping passes while Patterson hobbles around and Asiata volleys passes up for grabs.

  6. can we see last weeks power rankings when you said everything good for Dallas was going to stop in Seattle?

  7. 49ers are 2-1 against your top 10 teams……and going to make it 3-1 this weekend. Please continue to keep them out of the top 10. 😀

  8. Cowboys aren’t even the best team in their own division. Just wait until about week 9 or 10.

  9. The Steelers are staring down the barrel at another 8-8 season. You can only blame injuries and the refs for so long before it comes time to realize the problem on the field is the lack of impact players. Losing to Tampa Bay at home and then being blown out by the Browns? Time to hit the reset button and blow this thing up to at least start getting some higher draft picks.

  10. As much as I love my Boys, we haven’t handled success too well in the past. Maybe this crew finally is different. I certainly hope so.

    And lets be honest here: Cowboys fans who stick with their team in the dark are rare. Nothing infuriates me more than fans jump on when things are good and leave when things are bad. Or worse, jump on players that are trying to play their guts out because it’s the popular thing to do. I hate our fans in that regard.

    But to see us that high in the power rankings is kind of nice. We earned it. Now lets focus on the G-Men. One game at a time.

  11. For all the talk of parity (everyone is within a game of first place), there are some really bad teams right now. The Jets through the Raiders are terrible.

  12. Never been too much into Power Rankings, but having Cincinnati ahead of New England after the Patriots are still scrubbing pieces of the Bengals out of their cleats from a week and a half ago seems a little silly.

  13. You must have missed that Raider-Charger game, you know, where the Raiders almost beat your #1 ranked team? Now the Steelers, Jets, Vikings and Washington I could understand the fans egging their own bus. But the raiders? At least they showed up. Go Raiders!

  14. Sucks being a Skins when reading these things. For 23 years now, I know by starting from the bottom I’ll get to my team a lot quicker.

    Rehaul that roster Danny boy. Take a note from the Cowboys. Build that OL. turnstile Polumbus and his three buddies need to go.

  15. gregbrotz95 says: Oct 14, 2014 10:19 AM

    Lol if you really think dallas would beat Denver youre fooling yourself
    _______________________________
    You should worry about the Chargers.

  16. So the Chargers barely squeak out a win over the worst team in your rankings and that vaults them over Denver? Guess we’ll have to wait 9 days to see if that makes any sense.

  17. How are the Lions only at 14? We’re a field goal away from being 5-1, we crushed your precious Packers, and we have, by every measureable, the best defense in the NFL.

  18. Dallas had a winnable shootout with Denver last year and is playing way better ball this year. Yeah, I’d say Dallas could beat Denver…

  19. Not sure I’d put Dallas ahead of Denver. Manning is still Manning. The rest looks about right…for once.

    Signed, A Dallas Cowboys Since 1971.

  20. Let me tell who at this time the Patriots (currently ranked 12) would beat among the teams ranked above them:

    Cincinnati (already happened)
    Indianapolis
    Philadelphia (they always beat them in regular season and won an offensive shoot-out in the preseason this year)

    I give them even odds against the Ravens and Packers right now

  21. Is there anyone else on the planet who believes that if #9 Cincinnati played #12 New England on a neutral field, the Bengals would reverse the 43 – 17 beat down recently administered by the Patriots.
    .

  22. Jets will be 7-9 or 8-8 by season’s end. Just good enough to confuse ownership about Ryan’s future and start the clock on another 7-9 or 8-8 season.

  23. I am a native of eastern PA. I was raised to hate both the Cowboys and the Steelers since I was a kid.* The thought that the Cowboys are one of the top three teams in the NFL right now makes me sick to my stomach.

    *Don’t get me started on Super Bowl 30.

  24. demolition510 says:
    Oct 14, 2014 10:35 AM
    So Oakland goes toe to toe with “#1 SD” and is rank #32.

    Got it.
    ————————————————————————————-
    Actually, the Raiders & Jags should switch places. Feel better now?

  25. Dallas is over-rated. Why? Because the Seahawks are over-rated. Why are the Seahawks are over-rated? Because Denver is over-rated (see Jets). Why is Denver over-rated? Because Arizona is over-rated? Why is Arizona over-rated? Because San Diego is over-rated.

    Ah, everyone is over-rated. Check back in February for Giants v. Patriots III

  26. This NFL season has been downright bizarre so ballparking the 32 teams works just fine.

    So much for offseason expectations.

  27. Cowboys ranked way too high! Sample size is to small. But this ranking will give something for J. Jones to ramble on about in his daily I/Me/Mine pressers.

  28. Keep an eye on the Chargers. They have a history of going south in December but right now, they look damn good. Rivers and JJ Watt lead list for NFL MVP at the moment.

    Denver Fan

  29. 1. Denver
    2. San Diego (I’m still waiting for that Jets-like curse to start afflicting Rivers and the Chargers)
    3. Baltimore
    4. San Fransisco
    5. Philadelphia
    6. Seattle
    7. New England
    8. Cleveland
    9. Kansas City (I know they New England but I don’t think much of Chiefs as road warriors)
    10. Arizona (I know they beat the Chargers but on a neutral field in Kansas …)
    11. Indianapolis
    12. Cincinnati

  30. Even as someone living in SD I don’t see how they can be a number 1 after the mostly cream puffs they’ve been getting fat on. If they beat KC, then Denver on a short week I’ll buy it but not now, not with all the injuries.

  31. Oops! Sorry Cowboys

    1. Denver
    2. San Diego (I’m still waiting for that Jets-like curse to start afflicting Rivers and the Chargers)
    3. Baltimore
    4. Dallas
    5. San Fransisco
    6. Philadelphia
    7. Seattle
    8. New England
    9. Cleveland
    10. Kansas City (I know they New England but I don’t think much of Chiefs as road warriors)
    11. Arizona
    12. Indianapolis
    13. Cincy

  32. Who has BAL beaten? PIT, CLE, CAR and TAM. Losing to CIN and IND.

    Who has IND beaten? JAX, BAL, HOU, and TEN. Losing to PHI and DEN.

    Now …

    Who has SF beaten? DAL, PHI, KC, and STL. Losing to CHI and AZ.

    BAL and IND are cleaning up on the cream puff opposition. Meanwhile SF has beaten 2 of the top 5 on this list.

    Please keep on denigrating the Niners. They seem to like it.

  33. “Keep an eye on the Chargers. They have a history of going south in December but right now, they look damn good. Rivers and JJ Watt lead list for NFL MVP at the moment.”

    —-

    They ALSO have a history of running the table late in the year to overcome a 1-4 start.

  34. Even us Cowboys fans thing #2 is too high. For some reason I feel like you put them there to try and jinx them so you can drop them to #15 next week.

  35. Cowboys jump from 9 to 2 because why… they beat the Seahawks?

    The Chargers did that, too.

    Granted, the Cowboys are 5 – 1 and deserve to be in the top 5…but 2?

  36. How hard is it to figure out Check Down Teddy Bridgewater? There are only a limited number of passing plays within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage.

    Good thing Patterson is so fast or the fact that the Vikings overspent on FA WR;s Craig Jennings and Simpson, you can really see the wisdom in those personnel moves. Where is Troy Williamson when you really need him?

  37. How my Yuks are NOT ranked 32 is a joke to me! As many drawbacks as Schiano had, his teams would not have embarrassed and entire community twice within a 3 week period! Hell even the ’76-’77 Bucs never did that!

  38. The elite Big Ben can’t even get 13 points of offense anymore. Not even against the two worst defenses in the NFL. The elite future Hall of Famer could only get 3 points in the first 57 minutes against a Brown’s team that was missing a solid third of its defensive starters. That’s just how good he is.

    Where have you gone, Big Ben Roethlisberger
    Steeler Nation turns its lonely eyes to you
    What’s that you say, Big Ben Roethlisberger
    Playoff hopes have left and gone away,
    Hey, hey, hey
    Hey, hey, hey

  39. The Chargers late season schedule is horrific :
    @ Baltimore
    New England
    Denver
    @SF
    @KC

    December is also the month where casualties mount and you are forced to rely on reserves.
    .

  40. Packers #7? WHAT?

    Somebody tell me who they beat that is good? They are a one man show with a garbage offensive line, and horrible defensive line and mediocre receivers outside of Jordy “Mr. I want Pass Interference Called whenever I don’t catch the Ball” Nelson.

  41. Lmao. We’ll see how much credit Jimmy Johnson wants in December when Romo has the ball in his hands.

  42. I have two comments: (1) I don’t put a lot of stock in rankings and I have no problem with where you have the pats….but the bungles are ranked higher?! Really!? After that beatdown of biblical proportions?! If you had put the browns or even KC up there it would at least make a little more sense to me. BTW I don’t think much of the panthers either. (2)So you don’t like Jimy Johnson taking a lot of credit for the cowboys prior success? Well who else….Jerry Jones?! Really?! Really?!

  43. The Chiefs could realisitcally go 8-3 the rest of the way…the problem is, it’s just as likely that they go 3-8, so yeah, #20 is about right until they can show they are headed in the right direction.

  44. Although history suggests they’ll fold like a cheap hooker in the second half of the season, right now the Lions are a much better team than the Packers. The defense that “figured out” Teddy Bridgewater also apparently figured out Aaron Rodgers just a few weeks ago.

  45. Call Outs
    2 is a little high for the Cowboys. Not sure they can be placed ahead of the Eagles just yet.

    Packers at 7 too high. Barely pulled it out in Miami and they have defensive issues. Also lost to the Lions earlier so they should be ranked lower than Lions for now.

    Saints way too high! Yes they really are that bad this season. Defense is awful and offense without Sproles not the same.

    Giants actually blew out the Texans earlier so should be ranked ahead of them.

  46. Considering how beat up the Chargers are they do still have the highest score differential in the league at +73.

  47. Cards aren’t the only team playing on depth. SF will enter Denver missing 3 all pro linebackers, their starting and nickel corner, their NT, not to mention the offensive line and TE injuries. I would say they have done pretty well too. Dallas has beaten one team with a winning record.. Yeah it was the hawks at home, but they clearly aren’t the same team. The boys were beaten by the 1st qtr was over against the niners I wouldn’t get too hyped up just yet.

  48. Pack too high. No defense, especially against the run. Why you have them that far above the Lions is strange.

    Pats too low. But I get it, you’re still thinking about that KC loss three weeks ago. Why you have them that far below the Bengals is strange.

    Looking forward to when these two meet in a few weeks.

  49. I’d like to know how Denver can win its game by 14 points over the team ranked 25th, while the Chargers barely beat the worst team in the NFL, and they vault above the Broncos? I’d ask where you got that one from, but I’m afraid of the answer.

  50. Hey patriotvision, it’s only as silly as having the Patriots ahead of the Chiefs when they are scrubbing even bigger chunks out of the Patriots out of their cleats.

  51. So Denver wins by 14 points, Manning throws 3 TD’s and the backup RB goes for 100 yards and it’s sluggish and uninspired.
    Chargers barely eek out a last minute win against the 32nd rated team and they’re world beaters….
    I guess Denver has to win by 40 points to be inspired.

  52. the way dallas is playing right now they are a top 3 team no doubt.. If not for the special team goofs it would have been a rout.. 30-7 or 30-10. This wasnt a 1 time effort.. the defense is playing quick, aggressive defense and the offense is hitting people in the mouth before they know what happened..

    That being said this week coming up will be one of the biggest games for Dallas. If they beat the Giants it means they arent playing into the hype (which Dallas is known for). If they keep playing the way they have been then everyone knows they are for real.. They are 5-1.. Most experts had them going 5-11.. if they split the division they will be 9-7.. one extra win and they are 10-6.. do the math.. no one had them at this point of the season with more than 3 wins.

  53. jason9696 says:
    Oct 14, 2014 11:43 AM
    Seattle has one bad game and they drop from #1 all the way to #6? They are still a very good team. I’d have them in the top 5 for sure.
    *******************
    They had two bad games actually…

  54. @joker65: Packers run defense is bad? That’s why both of the Dolphins running backs had a combined 63 yards yesterday, right?

    Those asking why the Packers are higher than the Lions right now: The Lions have scored 31 points the past two weeks combined against the Bills and the Vikings. The Packers had more than that against the Dolphins yesterday. There’s your answer.

  55. The reaction by fans to these rankings is hilarious. The only reason I click on the story is to see how offended fans get over someone else opinion of how good or bad their favorite team is. Hilarious.

    “My team might be 1-5, but that one win was over the number 9 team, so my tam should be ahead of that number 9 team even though the number 9 team is 4-2”

    I really don’t know what is so hard to comprehend about power rankings. Power rankings are how a team is performing on a weekly basis. It is about the direction of their arrow. Some teams arrows are pointing up, some down, and others are not pointing up or down. That is what it is about, folks.

  56. lol thats cute at the pot shots at the Chargers almost losing to the Raiders.

    The old Chargers would have lost.

    They still didnt turn the ball over.

  57. babygaga19 says:
    Oct 14, 2014 11:05 AM
    Keep an eye on the Chargers. They have a history of going south in December but right now, they look damn good. Rivers and JJ Watt lead list for NFL MVP at the moment.

    Denver Fan
    —————
    A history of going south in December?

    Rivers is literally the greatest December quarterback in history.

    That’s ok, go look it up, we’ll wait for you.

    While you’re at it, check out his numbers versus Manning-led teams.

    No, where the Chargers historically tank, is the BEGINNING of the season (and mid-to-late round playoffs). The fact that we’re this strong in the beginning, with gobs of injuries (many slated to return soon) should scare the Hell out of the rest of the league.

  58. Keep an eye on the Chargers. They have a history of going south in December but right now, they look damn good. Rivers and JJ Watt lead list for NFL MVP at the moment.

    That is a load of crap, SD is actually much better later in the season then they are early in the year.

  59. I’m curious when and where the theory was ever made that “teams had figured out Marc Trestman’s offense”? This is the first and only time I’ve ever even heard that claim.

    The Bears struggles have very clearly been in the areas of: injury, execution, and consistency (putting together 4 quarters of solid football, on both sides of the ball).

    This week we finally saw the first complete game by the Bears.

    Other than a few time management issues (and some typical kneejerk backlash against DC Tucker and ST Coach DeCamilis after losses), Coaching has NOT been an issue for the Bears this year in any way, shape or form.

  60. For “Power” rankings, I’m okay with where the Seahawks are. The Seahawks havn’t been playing to their strengths. Whether it’s injuries or something else, I don’t know. But they’ll get things back on track.

    But, I don’t think you should rank the Cowboys at #2. For the way they have been playing this year, you should rank just DeMarco Murray at #2.

  61. At the end of the season, when the packers win the division and the Lions don’t make the playoffs, lion fans will keep on saying “well, well we beat the packers in week 3. We’re better than them. Their defense sucks, even though they held our potent offense to just 10 points.”

    Get over it lion fans. When you lose to the Bills and barely put up points against the lowly vikings, you’re not better than us.

  62. Niners are lucky they got to play the Cowboys early, Niners want nothing to do with them now.
    Oh, by the way Seattle will still win the Division, because you do not match up well with them.
    Your one win against them last year was one mistake away from a loss.

  63. But, I don’t think you should rank the Cowboys at #2. For the way they have been playing this year, you should rank just DeMarco Murray at #2.

    ________________________

    I hope you’re not seriously suggesting they’ve only been successful cause of Murray. You’re “the way they’ve been playing this year” remark makes it sound as if the rest of the team has been garbage and Murray has been carrying them. Nonsense. The whole time has played really well all around except in week one against my Niners. Their defense is exceeding expectations big time as I’m sure you noticed they hardly let the almighty hawks cross the 50 yard line the entire game. I’m a lifelong Cowboy hater myself but you can’t deny how good they’ve looked this year.

  64. bojesphob says:
    Oct 14, 2014 12:48 PM
    @joker65: Packers run defense is bad? That’s why both of the Dolphins running backs had a combined 63 yards yesterday, right?

    Those asking why the Packers are higher than the Lions right now: The Lions have scored 31 points the past two weeks combined against the Bills and the Vikings. The Packers had more than that against the Dolphins yesterday. There’s your answer.
    ___________________________________

    Packers are ranked dead last in rush defense in the NFL. Yes, thats bad. You don’t agree?

  65. The Raiders are 0-5 at the moment and will probably be 0-7 after the Cardinals and Browns get through with them, but something in my gut tells me after their match-up with the Seahawks they will be 1-7.

    I think the majority of the fans in the NFL will be hoping for the same thing. Its ok to admit it.

  66. Marshawn Lunch,
    So you discount all the others for the whipping you got? Niners and Hawk fans, same bunch of whiners, just lose with grace and move on. Watch out it looks like the west divison is headed back to 8-8!!!

  67. I’d like to know how Denver can win its game by 14 points over the team ranked 25th, while the Chargers barely beat the worst team in the NFL, and they vault above the Broncos? I’d ask where you got that one from, but I’m afraid of the answer.

    Because the Chargers beat the team ranked 25th by 31 last week and the team they squeaked by is a divisional opponent, those games are always close.

  68. LOL at all the fools that thoughts the Bucs were a dark horse contender. Lovie Smith is one of the more overrated coaches.

  69. No disrespect to the good play of the Cowboys, but AZ should be ahead of them (at least, til the Dallas-AZ game in a couple of weeks). AZ beat SF with Drew Stanton and are undefeated in conference play. Dallas lost to SF. Cards should be ahead of them. We should also be ahead of SD, who we beat in week 1. I’d say Denver is at #1 right now.

  70. That Raiders – Rams matchup looking SWEEEEET. Does the winner stil take home the mayor (of Los Angeles)’s trophy?

    I was hoping the Raiders played the Jags this year. I guess the Jags didn’t finish last in their division last year. Oh yeah, that’s right. The Texans did. We already had THAT stellar matchup.

  71. So the consensus seems to say that Dallas is too high, Niners are too low.

    At least you stepped away from the “Who has it better than us?” derivatives from the last THREE 49er power rankings. I think you squeezed that sponge long enough.

  72. The Norv era is definitely over. They would have lost that game at Oakland for sure if he was still around. They are thin at certain spots so a lot depends on injuries, but that describes every team in the league.

    It’s over for Seattle. They won’t get home field and without home field they have zero chance at going deep in the playoffs.

    Man if AZ stays healthy you have to like their chances. That stadium is almost as loud as Seattle and is a tough place to come in and win. If AZ gets homefield they just may go all the way.

    How the Steelers could have dumped Arians is mystifying to me.

  73. As a Niner fan, I’m also enjoying the silence from the Seahawks fans. #6 is a little high for them.

    The Niners beat the Rams by 14. Let’s see what they can do.

  74. emoneyy826 and bojesphob,

    You guys are right. After all, as the old adage says, “offense wins championships.” Just ask the 2013 Broncos.

  75. “Get over it lion fans. When you lose to the Bills and barely put up points against the lowly vikings, you’re not better than us.”
    ******************

    If the Lions win straight up head to head, yeah they are better than the Packers.

    Doesn’t matter where they finish the season. They proved it on the field.

    (not a fan of either team)

  76. Browns in the top half. Not too shabby.

    Browns are 3rd most productive at rushing, after Cowboys and Seahawks.

    Hoyer has the 7th best QB rating.

    Browns beat Big Ben and the Steelers decisively, and face Jaguars, Raiders, and Bucs next.

    Things are looking up. GO BROWNS!

  77. Fans of teams that dont win often enough become obsessed with statistics.

    Lions fans are quick to point out the Packers are last in run defense. Most of us think that points count more than yards. (kinda like saying your baseball team is great cause they lost 5 -2 but had more hits).

    Points per game rankings
    Offense: Packers #7, Lions #25
    Defense: Packers #12, Lions #1

    Beat the Pack in Lambeau, better yet win the division… then you wont be so obsessed with rankings and statistics.

  78. Look guys, I’m not saying the Cowboys are playing poorly. On the contrary. I’m a sane Seahawks fan (I know, it’s a stretch) that has been giving props where due.

    My comment about Murray was not intended as a slap to the cowboys offense beyond Murray. I just think Murray is playing at a level that the rest of the team is not. I’ll put it another way. Murray is playing “hall-of-fame MVP superbowl” style football, whereas the offensive line and receivers are playing just “very well”.

    But, I just want you all to recall that stellar running back play can make a team (as you are all so fond of letting us Seahawks fans know). Props to the Cowboys. Even Tony Romo. But, be honest, the Cowboys did get a big boost in “street cred” by beating the reigning Super Bowl champs.

    Say what you will about the writers on this website, but they put the Cowboys at #9 last week. The Cowboys beat the Seahawks and now they are #2. Power rankings aren’t a ranking of who has the better team. These rankings just show that things are going well for the Cowboys right now. And you’d be crazy not to pay close attention (and give thanks, cowboys fans) to DeMarco Murray who is having a great year so far.

  79. Niners far and away have the hardest schedule in the league. They dominated the #2 and #5 ranked teams. They’ve won 3 straight and the two games they lost, they had more total yards than their opponent, they just had 27 combined enforced penalties (12 giving the opponent first downs), many of which the league has admitted weren’t penalties – so they blew the leads late.

    For once, just rank who you really think is the best. There is no way any of you, if forced to bet your house, would pick Dallas over SF or Denver on a neutral field (or probably even in Dallas). So why rank them 2nd?

  80. I love how no one talks about Eli being better Peyton anymore. Eli isn’t even the best of his draft. That goes to Philip Rivers. He took a team comparable to Elis to the playoffs last year and played through a game with a torn ACL. His stats are easily superior with less talent around him. I love when he $hit talks fans and other teams.

    Still hoping that The Chargers move on from him. Would love to see him in Denver if the Chargers are dumb enough to let him go. He has the attitude a QB needs.

  81. As a 40year Charger fan,we did not expect the Raiders to lay down in a division game,we won,beating teams supposed too,Jets,Bills,Jags,Raiderettes…plus Seahwks,should have beat Cards,,,you play schedule they give you…on any given day in NFL…go Bolts!our year

  82. kardshark1,
    I bet right now that Dallas could easily beat SF, also how is SF schedule harder than Seattle’s? Also remember the Rams suck, so don’t get to a head of yourself.
    Remember, games are about match-ups and the Niners do not match-up well with Seattle, sorry but true.
    Now I remember why I do not like whiner fans (sorry to true niner football fans), can’t except the truth, you’re not as good as YOU think!

    Comparing past games to now is what teenagers do… “well we beat #2 and # 5…blah blah blah…dude it’s just a made-up ranking…wow!

  83. Valid points on both sides in the argument between GB and Detroit fans. People in general get too caught up in these rankings, and I will admit, my fellow Lion fans in particular. Who cares it’s one writers opinion? At the end of the season after the finale in Lambeau and when somebody wins the North we’ll have an idea of who the better team is. Until then it’s speculation. Sure was nice to manhandle Rodgers in Detroit though.

  84. I went ahead and helped the ignorant Denver fan by looking up the stats.

    Since Rivers became the starter in 2006 the Chargers have gone 34-6 in December/January regular season games.

    I doubt there is another QB in the history of the NFL who has a better winning % than that in the final month of the season.

    Chargers usually start out slow and blow games early they should win and then turn it on as the season progresses. Starting out 5-1 bodes very well for them considering history.

  85. Raiders once again get ripped off….

    Al Davis helped make the NFL and he’s rolling over in his grave at how the league views his Raiders!!!!

  86. trumb1mj says:
    Oct 14, 2014 10:16 AM

    The Lions destroyed the Packers yet are 7 spots lower…
    ——————————————————–
    These rankings are based on how each team is playing right now, not how they were playing a month ago.

  87. I don’t think Al Davis EVER cared what the rest of the league thought about his Raiders. Back in the day, the Raider were the meanest, nastiest SOBs to ever play the game. They were the type of team that would commit personal fouls regardless if they were up by 40 points or down by 40 points. Everybody hated them. And feared them. And respected them.

  88. In Teddy We Trust says:
    Oct 14, 2014 12:04 PM

    Although history suggests they’ll fold like a cheap hooker in the second half of the season, right now the Lions are a much better team than the Packers. The defense that “figured out” Teddy Bridgewater also apparently figured out Aaron Rodgers just a few weeks ago.

    ———————————————————-

    Your analogy makes no sense but that’s besides the point. With both the Vikings and Lions being in the top ten in the draft for most of the past ten years, they both should be making a run at the top spot in the NFC North by now. At least the Lions have a chance this year (they should have done it last year). Are you finally jumping (the Vikings sinking) ship?

  89. I think the Packers, Lions and Bears are all in the mix to win the division as there is still a lot of football left to be played.

    But the Vikings are done.

  90. Hey bencoates57, remember when Kevin Kolb and Whisenhunt beat belichick and Brady in foxboro in 2012?

    And you’re telling me “no way Palmer or Stanton could beat the Pats?”

    The 2012 cards only won five games. Any given Sunday, and the Cards are no pushovers anymore.

    Also,to the poster who complained about the cards being ahead of PHI: you can’t penalize az for having one less win because they have had a bye week, and they beat San Fran, who your team lost to. Only one spot behind, anyways. Philly is a good team.

  91. Ravens beat the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game
    Packers beat the Saints in the NFL Championship Games
    Ravens beat the Packers in the Superbowl
    Thats all I gotta say about that…..Man

  92. goldbloodedindfw says: Oct 14, 2014 1:32 PM

    But, I don’t think you should rank the Cowboys at #2. For the way they have been playing this year, you should rank just DeMarco Murray at #2.

    ________________________

    I hope you’re not seriously suggesting they’ve only been successful cause of Murray. You’re “the way they’ve been playing this year” remark makes it sound as if the rest of the team has been garbage and Murray has been carrying them. Nonsense. The whole time has played really well all around except in week one against my Niners. Their defense is exceeding expectations big time as I’m sure you noticed they hardly let the almighty hawks cross the 50 yard line the entire game. I’m a lifelong Cowboy hater myself but you can’t deny how good they’ve looked this year.
    _____________________

    Actually, if you looks at the Dallas defensive statistics compared to last season, they’re eerily similar. And remember, last year they were historically bad. The main difference this season? They’re able to run the ball, control the clock, and keep that awful defense off the field. Thank you Murray

  93. Not really sure why the Cardinals are ranked ahead of the Eagles. I would say the Seahawks and Packers are better teams too. They’re not going anywhere if Carson Palmer can’t stay healthy.

  94. Not a fan of Jerry Jones – but he does deserve some credit for drafting those O-linemen.

    Also, Lions fans – the game was 12-7 until late in the 4th. That’s hardly a “crushing”.

  95. Ranking the Browns 15 is fair. They still have a lot to prove before they can start closing in on the Top 10. But I will say this…These aren’t your same old Cleveland Browns. Shanahan has quickly turned this team into an offensive powerhouse, using an athletic O-line to open up huge gaps for Tate-Crowell-West and a quarterback Hoyer that relentlessly bombs defenses over the top with the play action.

    If the D can continue to build on the 31-10 shellacking of Pittsburgh, the Browns could be Top 10 material and a legit contender for the playoffs. Too much talent, too many good players on that D to let this golden opportunity slip away.

  96. As a Vikings fan I’ll admit I may have been a bit delusional after the pre-season thinking this team would compete, clearly there is still work to do and holes to fill. However, two things I hated to most last year was our QB situation and our pass defense. Zimmer has moved the Vikes from 32nd to 5th in the NFL and Bridgewater is a major step forward past Ponder. Not sure what happened to Kahlil and the OL though. 26 is about right, for now.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to leave a comment. Not a member? Register now!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.