NFL Power Rankings - Week 16

Here are my NFL Power Rankings through Week 16, with last weeks rankings in parentheses:

Week: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

1. New York Giants (12-3) (1)

The Giants looked to be in trouble against the Panthers, but came back in the second half to win the game and clinch home field in the NFC.

2. Tennessee Titans (13-2) (3)

The Titans crushed the Steelers and clinched homefield in the AFC. Don't count this team out yet.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4) (2)

Someone finally exposed the Steelers and I still think they lose in the playoffs because their offense is suspect.

4. Carolina Panthers (11-4) (4)

Carolina blew a great chance to make a statement against the Giants. I can't see them going into NY in the playoffs and knocking off the Giants, so they better hope someone else does it.

5. Indianapolis Colts (11-4) (6)

The Colts won their 8th game in a row, but I have a hard time believing that the Colts who have the second worst rush offense in the NFL are going to be able to go on the road to Tennessee or Pittsburgh and be able to beat one of those teams.

6. Baltimore Ravens (10-5) (9)

The Ravens are a solid team and I would not want to be playing them in the first or even the second round. They will be playing the winner of the AFC East if they can beat the Jags this week.

7. Atlanta Falcons (10-5) (8)

Great season for the Falcons, if they play the Cardinals in the first round look for them to advance to the second round.

8. Dallas Cowboys (9-6) (5)

The good news is that Dallas still controls it's own fate and should be able to beat a struggling Philly team, but if they slip up then Tampa Bay most likely will sneak into the playoffs.

9. New England Patriots (10-5) (10)

The Patriots look like they might be the big losers in the AFC this year if they miss the playoffs with 11 wins. If Miami beats the Jets and Baltimore beats the Jags then the Patriots will be left out.

10. Miami Dolphins (10-5) (14)

Miami controls its own fate in the AFC East. Beat the Jets and the division is theirs.

11. Philadelphia Eagles (8-6-1) (7)

The Eagles blew what seems like it will be their last chance to make the playoffs. Even if they beat the Cowboys, they still need the Bucs to lose to the Raiders.

12. Minnesota Vikings (9-6) (11)

The Vikings must beat the Giants this week or hope the Bears lose to the Texans if they want to make the playoffs.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6) (13)

Plain and simple, the Bucs will be rooting for the Eagles this week and then need to beat the Raiders to make the playoffs.

14. Chicago Bears (9-6) (15)

The Bears are still alive after another OT victory and now must face an up and coming Texans team that would love to spoil Chicago's playoff hopes.

15. New York Jets (9-6) (12)

The Jets slipped up and now look to be a longshot to make the playoffs.

16. New Orleans Saints (8-7) (17)

The Saints avoided embarrassment by embarassing the Lions.

17. Arizona Cardinals (8-7) (16)

This team is losing in the first round of the playoffs. They are 3-7 against teams outside of the NFC West.

18. Washington Redskins (8-7) (20)

The Redskins put a big hit into the Eagles playoff chances, but still the way they've finished this season has to be disappointing.

19. San Diego Chargers (7-8) (21)

The Chargers are on the verge of a ridiculous comeback to win the division if they can beat the Broncos at home.

20. Denver Broncos (8-7) (19)

I think Denver is in big trouble and will lose to the Chargers.

21. Houston Texans (7-8) (18)

Two steps forward, one step back. Surprising loss for the Texans to the Raiders.

22. Buffalo Bills (7-8) (22)

Buffalo will try to end the Patriots playoff chances and finish at .500 in the process.

23. San Francisco 49ers (6-9) (25)

The 49ers have been a much better team since Mike Singletary took over as coach. I think he's earned the right to coach the 49ers next season.

24. Green Bay Packers (5-10) (23)

I can't believe the Packers have 10 losses. They need to upgrade their defense in the offseason.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10) (24)

Jacksonville will look to play spoiler against the Ravens this week.

26. Seattle Seahawks (4-11) (27)

Seattle played spoiler and beat the Jets to put a huge dent in their playoff chances.

27. Oakland Raiders (4-11) (28)

The Raiders surprised me by beating the red hot Texans, so maybe their is some hope in Oakland after all..

28. Cincinnati Bengals (3-11-1) (30)

The Bengals will head into the offseason with a lot of improvement needed.

29. Kansas City Chiefs (2-13) (29)

KC lost for the 6th time by a TD or less, so that is something positive for the Chiefs to build on for next season. They aren't too far off from at least being a .500 team.

30. Cleveland Browns (4-11) (26)

The Browns are just horrible right now. Right up there with the Packers & Jags for biggest disappointments this season.

31. St. Louis Rams (2-13) (31)

The Rams were up for most of the game against the 49ers, but still managed to lose.

32. Detroit Lions (0-15) (32)

One more chance for the Lions to win a game. Wouldn't shock me if they went to GB and beat the Packers, but I'm not betting on it. 0-16 looks like a reality.

NFL Power Rankings - Week 15

Here are my NFL Power Rankings through Week 15, with last weeks rankings in parentheses:

Week: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

1. New York Giants (11-3) (1)

The Giants are vulnerable right now, but I still think they will get past the Panthers and get home field for the playoffs. I don't think they win the Super Bowl this year though, but I'll leave them in the #1 spot for now.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3) (3)

The Steelers have been on the right side of karma for most of this season. I'm not sold on Pittsburgh being the best in the AFC and I think karma might catch up to them in the playoffs, but they are going to be tough to beat if they get home field advantage.

3. Tennessee Titans (12-2) (2)

I don't trust Kerry Collins and the Titans offense in the postseason. It's really a shame too because this team has had a great season, but I just get the feeling they are going to struggle in the playoffs.

4. Carolina Panthers (11-3) (4)

Carolina could have home field advantage if they beat the Giants this week. How crazy would that be? That's not even something we could imagine just a few weeks ago. I'm not sure they can beat the Giants on the road though.

5. Dallas Cowboys (9-5) (5)

One down two to go for the Cowboys. Can they beat BAL and PHI and make the playoffs? I'm betting they can and if they do you just might see Tony Romo as MVP. I'm starting to think the Cowboys are the best team in the NFL right now and it's still possible they might not make the playoffs because they have a tough final two games.

6. Indianapolis Colts (10-4) (6)

The Colts won their 7th game in a row, but their victory over the Lions was a lot closer than many imagined it would be.

7. Philadelphia Eagles (8-5-1) (11)

The Eagles are back in business and would most likely make the playoffs if they can beat Washington and Dallas to finish the season.

8. Atlanta Falcons (9-5) (9)

Atlanta got a huge win against TB and now must travel to MINN to face a red hot Vikings squad.

9. Baltimore Ravens (9-5) (7)

The Ravens got screwed and should be tied with PIT for first place in the AFC North. Now they have to play the Cowboys and could find themselves out of the playoffs all together.

10. New England Patriots (9-5) (10)

The Patriots might have trouble with the Arizona passing game in Week 16, but I still think they will find a way to win the game. They'll probably have to put up 30+ points to do it though.

11. Minnesota Vikings (9-5) (15)

The Vikings are on a roll right now and I have been impressed with how they have played recently. Tavaris Jackson could be the Vikings QB from here on out.

12. New York Jets (9-5) (13)

The Jets caught a huge break from the Bills or else they would be in serious danger of missing the playoffs. I still think they might be in trouble though.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5) (8)

I'm starting to think that TB might miss out on the playoffs, especially if Jeff Garcia can't play again this week against SD.

14. Miami Dolphins (9-5) (16)

Miami still has a very strong possibility of winning the AFC East with games left against KC and the Jets.

15. Chicago Bears (8-6) (19)

The Bears are still trying to sneak into the playoffs, but their Week 17 game at Houston is going to be tougher than it looked at the beginning of the season, and it could trip them up.

16. Arizona Cardinals (8-6) (12)

I'm really sour on this team after they got creamed by the Vikings. They still haven't beaten anyone outside of the division or on the road.

17. New Orleans Saints (7-7) (14)

The Saints are officially out of the playoff picture now and will try to avoid to embarrassment of being the first team to lose to DET.

18. Houston Texans (7-7) (20)

The Texans have a great chance to finish 9-7 and finish their season on a positive not if they can beat the Raiders and Bears.

19. Denver Broncos (8-6) (18)

I'm hoping the Broncos lose again this week to setup that last week matchup with SD for the division.

20. Washington Redskins (7-7) (17)

I'm not completely surprised the Redskins lost to the Bengals because they just haven't been playing good offense lately. Jim Zorn is looking over his shoulder for Bill Cowher as we speak.

21. San Diego Chargers (6-8) (23)

The Chargers had a miraculous comeback against the Chiefs and are still alive in the division race. I'm hoping they win this week and DEN loses to BUF, so that would setup a Week 17 matchup between SD and DEN for the division.

22. Buffalo Bills (6-8) (21)

It's nice to see Marshawn Lynch finally start to run the ball well. Lynch has ran for 100+ yards in 3 of his last 5 games.

23. Green Bay Packers (5-9) (22)

I've seen some articles online that are saying the Packers messed up by getting rid of Brett Favre, but the defense is the reason this team is losing, not Aaron Rodgers. In fact, this team might have been even worse off with Favre at QB.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-9) (25)

Ed The Sports Fan happens to be a Jags fan and he questions whether David Garrard should be the long term option at QB. They might want to look at drafting a QB in the draft this year.

25. San Francisco 49ers (5-9) (24)

Shaun Hill has been playing well since being named the 49ers starting QB: 1,585 yards, 10 TD, 4 INT, 63.4% comp, 91.8 QB Rating.

26. Cleveland Browns (4-10) (26)

Thank god Cleveland fans have Lebron James...well, for now at least.

27. Seattle Seahawks (3-11) (27)

You know Seattle is bad this season when they only beat the Rams by 3 points.

28. Oakland Raiders (3-11) (28)

Darren McFadden had a decent game against the Pats with 46 yards rushing, 68 yards receiving, and a TD..

29. Kansas City Chiefs (2-12) (29)

It seems like KC is always losing close games, so I checked and they actually have lost 5 games this season by a TD or less.

30. Cincinnati Bengals (2-11-1) (30)

The Bengals beating the Redskins just goes to show you how much of a funk the Redskins have been in lately.

31. St. Louis Rams (2-12) (31)

The good news for the Rams is that they only lost by 3 instead of the usual two touchdown margin.

32. Detroit Lions (0-14) (32)

Two more chances for the Lions to get a W. I'm starting to think they might knock off Green Bay in Week 17. The Saints should beat them, but they haven't been as good on the road this season, so it's possible they could slip up.

NFL Power Rankings - Week 14

Here are my NFL Power Rankings through Week 14, with last weeks rankings in parentheses:

Week: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

1. New York Giants (11-2) (1)

The Giants are the best team in the NFC, but they will miss Plaxico Burress come playoff time, and I don't think they are a lock to make the Super Bowl anymore. I think Carolina and Dallas could both be capable of taking them down once the playoffs come around. If Philly was to sneak in the playoffs, they could have a shot at it too.

2. Tennessee Titans (12-1) (2)

The Browns were no match for the Titans, but Houston should give the Titans some problems and could spring an upset. Chris Johnson is going to be they key for the Titans in the playoffs. He's their most dynamic offensive player and he's going to have to do big things for them to advance.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) (3)

The Steelers keep winning and winning ugly, which leaves me unimpressed and wondering how good they really are. Lucky for them, the AFC is weak this year, and they might be able to get to the Super Bowl winning ugly. They have two potentially huge games left which should give us a great idea of who the favorites are in the AFC: at BAL & at TEN.

4. Carolina Panthers (10-3) (5)

Carolina came away with the big win against TB, which pretty much locks up a playoff spot for them, although it wouldn't hurt to beat DEN this week to clinch it for sure. At this point, I think they have the best chance to knock off the Giants, but it would really help them if they could get home field in the NFC, because they aren't the greatest road team. That could be a chore though with DEN, at NYG, and at NO to finish the season.

5. Dallas Cowboys (8-5) (4)

The Cowboys completely blew their game against the Steelers this week. They are catching a lot of heat for losing the game, but since ATL lost to an NFC team, Dallas actually moved into the last playoff spot. So they are still very much in the thick of things, but if they make the playoffs they are certainly going to have to earn it: NYG, BAL, AT PHI.

6. Indianapolis Colts (9-4) (9)

The Colts have won 6 in a row and should be able to push that total to at least 8 with DET and JAX coming up the next two weeks. They finish up with TEN, but that game might be meaningless for both teams at that point.

7. Baltimore Ravens (9-4) (10)

The Ravens continue to impress me and have a huge game coming up against the Steelers at home and yes, Ed Reed is a ballhawk.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-4) (6)

TB's loss to Carolina means that they are not the lock for the playoffs that I thought they would be. They have to go on the road to ATL in Week 15 and if they lose that game could possibly be in a 3 way tie at 9-5 for the last two playoff spots. After that they have SD and OAK at home. Two winnable games, but if they can beat ATL then they can almost guarantee themselves a playoff spot.

9. Atlanta Falcons (8-5) (8)

Huge game for the Falcons in Week 15. If they can beat TB, then they would be tied with Tampa and possibly DAL for the last two playoff spots.

10. New England Patriots (8-5) (11)

The Patriots got a huge come from behind victory against the Seahawks to keep the AFC East divisional champion hopes alive. Week 16 against the Cardinals looks to be the toughest game left of their schedule.

11. Philadelphia Eagles (7-5-1) (17)

The Eagles got an impressive victory over the Giants and have looked good the past two weeks with Brian Westbrook leading the way. They can't afford to slip up at home against the Browns in Week 15. This team is not dead yet.

12. Arizona Cardinals (8-5) (13)

Arizona did the expected and wiped the turf with the Rams. The game I'm looking forward to for them is at New England in Week 16. If they can win that game, then I will put some more belief into them.

13. New York Jets (8-5) (7)

The Jets as you know are struggling right now and are not the lock to make the playoffs that they once looked like they would be just two weeks ago.

14. New Orleans Saints (7-6) (14)

The Saints are still alive in the playoff race, but definitely need to win out, plus get help from a few other teams.

15. Minnesota Vikings (8-5) (15)

The Vikings have won 3 straight, but now they have three straight tough games at ARZ, and then ATL & NYG at home. The Bears certainly still have a chance at the division.

16. Miami Dolphins (8-5) (16)

Would you have guessed that the Dolphins are ranked 10th in total yards? I sure didn't. They are also 13th in defense, so this is a solid and balanced Miami team. They haven't had the strongest schedule though by any means.

17. Washington Redskins (7-6) (12)

The Redskins aren't out of the playoffs chase, but they are certainly playing like they are. They've lost 4 out of their last 5, losing to PIT, DAL, NYG, & BAL, so they seem to have problems with the elite teams. Their schedule is easier the rest of the way with CIN, PHI, & SF.

18. Denver Broncos (8-5) (18)

The Broncos have won 4 of their last 5 and need just 1 more win to clinch the AFC West.

19. Chicago Bears (7-6) (20)

The Bears looked good against JAX at home and now face the Saints in what is basically a playoff game because the loser is definitely out of the playoffs.

20. Houston Texans (6-7) (22)

The Texans are definitely going to be a team to watch next season. They are pretty set on offense with a nice core of talent and if they can add some more players on defense, then they could make some noise next year.

21. Buffalo Bills (6-7) (19)

Buffalo is this year's winner for team that start off hot (5-1) and then fades down the stretch because they really weren't that good. Looking back at those 5 wins(SEA, JAX, OAK, STL, SD) shows that they really weren't that impressive and we should have seen this coming.

22. Green Bay Packers (5-8) (21)

I still can't believe the Packers defense is as bad as it has been. They are 23rd in the NFL after being 11th last season.

23. San Diego Chargers (5-8) (23)

The Chargers are going to do their best to finish at 8-8, but they have definitely been the most disappointing team in the NFL.

24. San Francisco 49ers (5-8) (26)

The 49ers are 3-3 with Mike Singletary as their head coach. If he doesn't keep the head coaching job, then something is seriously wrong.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9) (24)

I think Jacksonville might have a new head coach next season. Also, this team needs some more weapons on offense.

26. Cleveland Browns (4-9) (25)

Anyone wanna guess who the head coach for the Browns will be next season?

27. Seattle Seahawks (2-11) (28)

This has been a lost season for the Seahawks, but their roster doesn't exactly give them hope for the future either. I think this team has peaked and it is time to start over.

28. Oakland Raiders (3-10) (27)

The only reason to pay attention to the Raiders the rest of this season is to see if Darren McFadden finally breaks out with a couple of big games..

29. Kansas City Chiefs (2-11) (29)

Tyler Thigpen is actually having a decent season for the Chiefs: 1,926 yards, 14 TD, 8 INT. He could be a little more accurate though , since he is completing only 54.6% of his passes.

30. Cincinnati Bengals (1-11-1) (30)

The Bengals were competitive for a while this season despite all the losses, but the last three weeks that have just been dominated by better teams.

31. St. Louis Rams (2-11) (31)

The Rams have now lost 9 times this season by more than 2 touchdowns.

32. Detroit Lions (0-13) (32)

I would be shocked if Detroit wins at Indy this week. There best chance for a victory is probably at GB in the final week of the season.

NFL Power Rankings - Week 13

Here are my NFL Power Rankings through Week 13, with last weeks rankings in parentheses:

Week: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

1. New York Giants (11-1) (1)

The Giants look pretty tough right now. It's almost like it doesn't matter who they put out on the field, because that player will perform well and get the job done. They definitely look like the best team in the NFL. The only thing that could trip them up is if Eli Manning starts to play poorly again, but so far this season he has been excellent.

2. Tennessee Titans (11-1) (2)

The Titans whooped up on the Lions as expected and will try to do the same to the Browns in Week 14.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) (4)

The Steelers put a hurting on the Patriots, but I'm not as impressed as most people are. The Patriots dropped a ton of passes and most of the the turnovers they had weren't really forced by the Steelers(dropped passes, muffed return). I do like the Steelers defense, but I think their offense will let them down at some point and I wouldn't be surprised if Dallas comes to Pittsburgh and beats them this week.

4. Dallas Cowboys (8-4) (5)

I'm still aggressive ranking the Cowboys, because I feel like they have more talent then most teams in the NFL. Romo has played great since he returned from his injury and it looks like the Dallas offense is back on track. The defense is not as bad as people have made it seem and ranks 9th overall in yard allowed, 10th in rushing yards allowed, and 11th in passing yards allowed. Certainly a capable defense.

5. Carolina Panthers (9-3) (6)

Carolina finally played a decent game on the road, even if it was against the struggling defense of the Packers. The Panthers still have plenty of work to do to make the playoffs though, because they finish up against TB, DEN, at NYG, and at NO. It's certainly possible they drop 3 of those 4 games and only get to 10 wins. This week's game at home against TB is almost a must win.

6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-3) (8)

Tampa Bay's defense is still strong. I still have my doubts about their offense if they make the playoffs though, especially if they have to play on the road.

7. New York Jets (8-4) (3)

The Jets blew a chance to grab a two game lead in the AFC East by losing to Denver. I still think they will win the division, but it could come down to a tie breaker.

8. Atlanta Falcons (8-4) (12)

The Falcons have a relatively tough schedule the next three weeks: at NO, TB, at MINN. It will be interesting to see how this team performs and if they hold on to that last wild card spot.

9. Indianapolis Colts (8-4) (9)

The Colts are pretty much a lock for the playoffs right now with games coming up against CIN and DET, unless the football gods claim Indy as the team Detroit wins it's first game of the season against.

10. Baltimore Ravens (8-4) (13)

The Ravens are at WASH, PIT, at DAL the next three weeks, which will make or break their season.

11. New England Patriots (7-5) (10)

The Steelers have stopped a lot of teams this year, so Matt Cassel should go back to putting up big numbers once he goes up against the dreadful defense of the Seahawks this week.

12. Washington Redskins (7-5) (11)

The Redskins might become the victims of a tough schedule and get squeezed out of the playoffs. The Redskins are one of the better teams in the NFC statistically, but they had a killer schedule and can't seem to beat the elite teams in the NFC. Their loss to the Rams might come back to haunt them, but there is still a chance the Redskins win their last 4 games(at BAL, at CIN, PHI, at SF) and claim a wild card spot.

13. Arizona Cardinals (7-5) (7)

I have to drop the Cardinals after the Eagles crapped all over them, because they haven't proven they can beat anyone on the road outside of the crappy teams in the NFC West.

14. New Orleans Saints (6-6) (14)

The Saints loss to Tampa Bay means they will probably be out of the playoffs even if they run the table to finish 10-6. It's starting to look like the wild card teams in the NFC might need 11 wins to get a playoff berth.

15. Minnesota Vikings (7-5) (16)

The Vikings have stepped up as the best team in the NFC North right now and should have no problem reaching 8-5 against the winless Lions.

16. Miami Dolphins (7-5) (15)

Miami has 3 of their last 4 games on the road, which could put an end to their playoff chances.

17. Philadelphia Eagles (6-5-1) (19)

Good to see Donovan McNabb respond this week with a strong game. I still think the Eagles will fall short of the playoffs though, mostly because of a costly loss to the Bears and that tie to the Bengals. If they won those two games they would be sitting at 8-4 and would be right in the thick of the playoff race.

18. Denver Broncos (7-5) (21)

I'm given up trying to figure out this team who has lost to Kansas City and Oakland, but also has beaten the Falcons and now the Jets on the road.

19. Buffalo Bills (6-6) (17)

Buffalo blew a huge chance to get to 7-5 and then try to squeeze themselves into the playoff picture. They'd have to win out at this point and I don't see that happening.

20. Chicago Bears (6-6) (18)

The Bears have a manageable schedule to finish the season with 3 games at home(JAX, NO, GB) and one road game(HOU), so it looks like they still have a chance to win the division, but they need to play better before that happens.

21. Green Bay Packers (5-7) (20)

The Packers are struggling defensively right now. Going into this season I really thought the defense was going to carry them, but right now it's the reason they are losing.

22. Houston Texans (5-7) (23)

I really like this Texans squad and they are probably one of the few teams with a losing record that has a lot of upside.

23. San Diego Chargers (4-8) (22)

I never would have imagined the Chargers would be 4-8 right now. It's amazing how horrible they have been this season.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8) (24)

Jacksonville's season is not officially lost. This team was flawed going into the season, but even I didn't think they would be this bad. On a side note, they way he's played this year, this could be Fred Taylor's last season.

25. Cleveland Browns (4-8) (25)

The Browns need to let Joshua Cribbs play some QB this week or else I will be moving them even further down my power rankings.

26. San Francisco 49ers (4-8) (27)

The 49ers defense played well against Buffalo on the road. I was pretty shocked they won that game.

27. Oakland Raiders (3-9) (26)

Just when you think the Raiders have turned the corner somewhat, they lose a stinker to the Chiefs at home..

28. Seattle Seahawks (2-10) (28)

Seattle got blown out by Dallas on Thanksgiving and will now try to play spoiler for the Patriots playoff chances.

29. Kansas City Chiefs (2-10) (30)

The Chiefs have a couple more winnable games on their schedule, so it's possible they could actually get to 3 or maybe 4 wins.

30. Cincinnati Bengals (1-10-1) (29)

The Bengals are getting worse and worse each week. I'm still trying to figure out how they managed to not lose to the Eagles a few weeks back.

31. St. Louis Rams (2-10) (31)

The Rams were more competitive this week against the Dolphins that usual, but they still lost and will travel to Arizona for another potential drubbing.

32. Detroit Lions (0-12) (32)

Detroit must win one of these 4 games to avoid having a winless season: Minnesota, at Indy, New Orleans, at Green Bay. Can you see them beating any of these teams? I certainly can't, so I still think they finish the season without a victory.

NFL Power Rankings - Week 12

Here are my NFL Power Rankings through Week 12, with last weeks rankings in parentheses:

Week: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

1. New York Giants (10-1) (2)

The Giants reclaim the # 1 spot in the power rankings after Tennessee lost their undefeated season in Week 12. The Giants also had a nice road win in Arizona.

2. Tennessee Titans (10-1) (1)

The Titans finally lost and I was pretty shocked that the Jets were able to score as many points as they did on Tennesse. They should get back on track in Week 13 on Thanksgiving against Detroit.

3. New York Jets (8-3) (6)

The Jets now have back to back road wins over the Patriots and Titans and have won 7 of their last 8 overall. In Week 13, they get the Broncos at home, which should mean another big day for Thomas Jones running behind that solid offensive line.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) (4)

The Steelers travel to New England this week, which is a game that has huge playoff implications for both teams. The Steelers will hope to slow down Matt Cassel after he has had back to back games with 400 yards passing.

5. Dallas Cowboys (7-4) (7)

Dallas is 2-0 since Tony Romo returned and will have a great chance to make it 3-0 against Seattle on Thanksgiving. 5th is probably a lot higher than most people would have them ranked, but honestly teams 5 through 13 on my power rankings are all pretty similar and I don't see much difference between any of them.

6. Carolina Panthers (8-3) (3)

I'm still not convinced that Carolina can win on the road, but they will get another shot at it in Week 13 against the Packers.

7. Arizona Cardinals (7-4) (5)

I was tempted to put the Cardinals even lower because they are only 3-4 outside of the NFC West and all 3 of thoses wins came at home. If they finish with just 9 or 10 wins and 6 of those wins come from beating teams in the NFC West, then you have to at least be skeptical about how good they really are. If they lose at Philly this week then I can't see this team getting passed the second round of the playoffs and maybe not even winning in the first round depending on the matchup. Most likely they will have to play either Dallas, Washington, Carolina, Tampa Bay, or Atlanta in the first round.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-3) (9)

I still don't like this team enough to separate them from the group of teams ranked 5 through 13 and I don't expect that to change even though they have an excellent chance to win the division.

9. Indianapolis Colts (7-4) (8)

The Colts have won 4 games in a row and play Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, and Jacksonville the next 4 weeks before finishing up with the Titans who might be resting their players by then. I see this team winning at least 10 games and most likely 11, which would almost certainly gaurantee them a playoff spot.

10. New England Patriots (7-4) (10)

It's amazing how this Patriots season has turned out. After Tom Brady got hurt and Matt Cassel was named the starter, I wrote about how the Patriots defense needs to step things up or else the Patriots won't be able win with Cassel at QB. Now it looks like Cassel is carrying the team and the defense is what might hold them back. Who would have ever thought that?

11. Washington Redskins (7-4) (11)

The Redskins have a huge game this week against the Giants at home. At 7-4, they are tied with the Cowboys and Falcons for the last playoff spot in the NFC and can't afford to lose ground on either one.

12. Atlanta Falcons (7-4) (12)

The Falcons beat down the Panthers at home in Week 12 and now must travel to San Diego to face a struggling Chargers squad. I think the Falcons will have a good chance to win this game as long as their defense shows up.

13. Baltimore Ravens (7-4) (14)

The Ravens might find themselves tied for first after Week 13. The Steelers have to travel to New England, while the Ravens get to travel to Cincinnati, which is a much easier matchup.

14. New Orleans Saints (6-5) (18)

The Saints demolished the Packers on Monday Night and still have a legitimate chance to make the playoffs if they can win the rest of their divisional games.

15. Miami Dolphins (6-5) (15)

Miami is the lucky team that gets to play the Rams this week, which should leave them at 7-5 after Week 13.

16. Minnesota Vikings (6-5) (20)

The Vikings play the Bears in Week 13 at home and I think they will win that game and take control of the NFC North.

17. Buffalo Bills (6-5) (21)

Buffalo blasted the Chiefs and now will try to do the same to the 49ers. These last two games against the Chiefs and 49ers will keep them in the playoff picture for now, but I still think they will come up short.

18. Chicago Bears (6-5) (19)

The Bears face off with the Vikings in Week 13 in a game that could decide the eventual winner of the NFC North.

19. Philadelphia Eagles (5-5-1) (13)

The Eagles are a mess right now and that is pretty obvious for just about anyone to see.

20. Green Bay Packers (5-6) (16)

The Packers too a beating on Monday Night against the Saints. They now face a must win game against Carolina.

21. Denver Broncos (6-5) (17)

I have no idea how the Broncos go into Atlanta and beat the Falcons, but then turn around and got crushed by the Raiders at home. It makes absolutely no sense and it's a shame that a team from the AFC West is going to make the playoffs.

22. San Diego Chargers (4-7) (22)

The Chargers had the perfect chance to pick up ground on the Broncos after they lost to the Raiders, but they werne't able to beat the Colts and now look to be in real danger of missing the playoffs.

23. Houston Texans (4-7) (25)

The Texans remain a competitive team despite their poor record and will look to pick up another win in Week 13 against Jacksonville.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-7) (23)

Jacksonville is one of this seasons most disappointing teams. Going into the season, many people had them reaching the Super Bowl, but at this point they will be lucky to finish at 8-8.

25. Cleveland Browns (4-7) (24)

The Browns are out of the playoff picture now and the GM and head coach Romeo Crennel could be in trouble if the Browns continue to lose.

26. Oakland Raiders (3-8) (29)

Darren McFadden did get more touches against Denver and ended up scoring 2 TDs for the Raiders. He'll have a good chance to score some more with the Chiefs visiting in Week 13..

27. San Francisco 49ers (3-8) (26)

The 49ers head for Buffalo this week and will try to avoid getting stomped like the Chiefs did by the Bills.

28. Seattle Seahawks (2-9) (27)

The Seahawks have been a little more competitive since Hassleback returned, but it hasn't translated in to the win column yet.

29. Cincinnati Bengals (1-9-1) (28)

Not much you can say about the Bengals at this point, except that they are part of a group of 4 or 5 teams that are just awful.

30. Kansas City Chiefs (1-10) (30)

The Chiefs got blasted by Buffalo in Week 12 and now will head out to play the Raiders.

31. St. Louis Rams (2-9) (31)

The Rams lost for the 8th time this season by more than 2 touchdowns and I'm sure it won't be the last.

32. Detroit Lions (0-11) (32)

Detroit is so bad that even when I saw they were up 17-0 against Tampa Bay, I figured they would find a way to blow that lead and they did.

NFL Power Rankings - Week 11

Here are my NFL Power Rankings through Week 11, with last weeks rankings in parentheses:

Week: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1. Tennessee Titans (10-0) (1)

Kerry Collins is throwing the ball well and the Titans keep winning and looking better every week doing it. Week 12 has them playing the surging Jets. This could be the week they lose, but I wouldn't bet on it.

2. New York Giants (9-1) (2)

The Giants stomped out the Ravens and now head to Arizona for an intriguing Week 12 matchup. My guess is that this game will be a shootout.

3. Carolina Panthers (8-2) (3)

Another unspectacular peformance for Carolina in Week 11. Now they'll head to Atlanta in Week 12, where I think they will catch an L.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3) (4)

The Steelers have found some ugly ways to win this year, but you can't complain with the end result. They should have no problems in Week 12 against the Bengals.

5. Arizona Cardinals (7-3) (7)

How amazing is Anquan Boldin? The guy had half his face restructured and now he's back dominating in the passing game like nothing even happened. Arizona's offense is scary right now and they will give the Giants defense a handful in Week 12. I'm definitely looking forward to that game.

6. New York Jets (7-3) (9)

The Jets got a big win over New England and now lead the AFC East. They have a tough game ahead of them though at Tennessee in Week 12.

7. Dallas Cowboys (6-4) (11)

The Cowboys got a huge win against the Redskins in Week 11 and can put themselves in great position to make a playoff run over the next couple weeks if they can beat the 49ers and Seahawks.

8. Indianapolis Colts (6-4) (12)

The Colts have somehow managed to keep themselves in the playoff picture despite some obvious flaws early on in the season. I expect them to be 6-4 after they face Houston at home in Week 11.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3) (10)

Im not a big fan of the Bucs, but they keep winning so I have to keep them in the top 10. They got the Lions in Week 12, so I expect another win.

10. New England Patriots (6-4) (6)

Matt Cassel played his butt off against the Jets, but that Patriots defense can be shakey at times, and they continue to be banged up. The Pats head to Miami in Week 12, where they always struggle to win.

11. Washington Redskins (6-4) (5)

The Redskins are struggling on offense the past few weeks and I think they may even have some trouble at Seattle in Week 12.

12. Atlanta Falcons (6-4) (13)

The Falcons finally lost a home game and now will try to regroup against the Panthers, in what is a must win game if they still have hopes of winning the division.

13. Philadelphia Eagles (5-4-1) (8)

The Eagles playoffs chances don't look good after they failed to put away the Bengals in Week 11. There's always a chance they run the table, but right now I don't see that happening.

14. Baltimore Ravens (6-4) (15)

Not even the Ravens dominant rush defense was a match for the Giants running game. The Ravens will try to add to the Eagles misery in Week 12.

15. Miami Dolphins (6-4) (19)

If the Dolphins can beat the Patriots at home in Week 12, they might have an excellent shot at 10 wins and a playoff berth. Imagine that.

16. Green Bay Packers (5-5) (20)

The Packers put a whoopin' on the Bears and will head to New Orleans for Monday Night, in a must win game for both teams.

17. Denver Broncos (6-4) (21)

The Broncos are back in control of the AFC West with a two game lead on the struggling Chargers. It's looking like the Broncos might win this divison after all.

18. New Orleans Saints (5-5) (22)

The Saints took care of business against the Chiefs, but will now face a tougher opponent in Green Bay at home during Week 12.

19. Chicago Bears (5-5) (14)

The Bears got creamed by the Packers, but luckily for them they get to take out their frustrations against the Rams this week.

20. Minnesota Vikings (5-5) (16)

The Vikings had an excellent chance to beat the Bucs on the road and let it slip away. Now they head to Jacksonville, which is going to be a big game for both teams.

21. Buffalo Bills (5-5) (18)

Buffalo lost a heart breaker at home to the Browns, but can turn things around the next two weeks against the Chiefs and 49ers.

22. San Diego Chargers (4-6) (17)

The Chargers are in big trouble right now and have to hope the Broncos slip up in a few games or else they will find themselves out of the playoffs.

23. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-6) (23)

Jacksonville's playoff chances are on life support right now and they will probably have to win the rest of their games or at least 5 of 6 to make the playoffs.

24. Cleveland Browns (4-6) (25)

The Browns got a huge win in Buffalo on Monday Night to keep their slim playoff chances alive. They get the Texans at home in Week 12, which is definitely a winnable game.

25. Houston Texans (3-7) (24)

The Texans are better than their 3-7 record, but their season is pretty much over at this point.

26. San Francisco 49ers (3-7) (27)

The good news is that the 49ers moved into second place in the NFC West. The bad news is that they are only 3-7.

27. Seattle Seahawks (2-8) (26)

The return of Matt Hassleback didn't bring the Seahawks a win, but they were competitive against a strong Arizona team. They might be able to play spoiler for the rest of the season, starting with the Redskins in Week 12.

28. Cincinnati Bengals (1-8-1) (29)

The Bengals face the Eagles in Week 11. Normally a Bengal would probably rip an Eagle to shreds, but somehow I don't think that will happen in this one.

29. Oakland Raiders (2-8) (30)

Word is that Darren McFadden is going to see some more carries against the poor Denver defense in Week 12. I'm interested to see how he performs if that is indeed the case..

30. Kansas City Chiefs (1-9) (31)

Tyler Thigpen and the Chiefs offense continue to play well, but they haven't been able to translate that in to any wins.

31. St. Louis Rams (2-8) (28)

The Rams lost for the 7th time this season by more than 2 touchdowns and they might make it 8 against the Bears in Week 12.

32. Detroit Lions (0-10) (32)

Does anyone doubt that Deroit will rank last in my power rankings for the rest of the season?

NFL Power Rankings - Week 10

Here are my NFL Power Rankings through Week 10, with last weeks rankings in parentheses:

Week: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1. Tennessee Titans (9-0) (1)

I was this close to moving the Giants ahead of the Titans, but decided against it. The Titans keep winning and I will keep them at # 1 until they lose a game, even though I'm starting to think the Giants are the best team in the NFL.

2. New York Giants (8-1) (2)

The Giants have been impressive so far this season and just finished beating Pittsburgh, Dallas, and Philly. They finish their season up with a string of tough games against playoff contending teams, but make no mistake about it, the road to the Super Bowl goes through New York in the NFC.

3. Carolina Panthers (7-2) (4)

It's hard to tell just how good Carolina is when they are playing teams like Oakland and Detroit on back to back weeks. I still think they are shaky on the road and their unimpressive performance at Oakland probably backs that up. That doesn't bode well for a team who still has to play the Falcons, Packers, Giants, and Saints on the road. They are now 5-0 at home and 2-2 on the road. My guess is that they will be lucky to split their 4 remaining road games, but they still should be able to get to 10 or 11 wins.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) (3)

I'm not even sure that Pittsburgh is the 4th best team in the NFL, but I don't really see any teams below them that are definitely better. Plus, their three losses were all to quality teams: Eagles, Giants, & Colts. Their defense is solid, but how long can Roethlisberger last this season before completely breaking down?

5. Washington Redskins (6-3) (5)

The Redskins have a huge game in Week 11 against the Cowboys. The winner of that game could have a leg up on the second playoff spot in the NFC East. With the way Carolina, Atlanta, and Tampa Bay are playing right now, it is no guarantee that the NFC East will get a third playoff team.

6. New England Patriots (6-3) (9)

The Patriots were able to take down the struggling Bills in Week 10 and will now battle the Jets for first place. Matt Cassell continues to improve at QB for the Pats. Losing Adalius Thomas for the season certainly hurts though.

7. Arizona Cardinals (6-3) (8)

The Cardinals squeaked by the 49ers on Monday Night and have now pretty much wrapped up the NFC West barring a disaster of epic proportions. The offense is great, but I'm not sold on the defense yet.

8. Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) (6)

The Eagles loss to the Giants was a killer, because they now sit at 0-3 in the division, which could up being the difference if they end up in a tie for the last playoff spot. Luckily they play the Bengals in Week 11, which should keep them afloat for now.

9. New York Jets (6-3) (14)

The Jets crushed the Rams in Week 10, but that is nothing to be impressed over, because in 6 of their 8 losses the Rams have lost by more than 2 touchdowns. If the Jets can beat the Patriots in New England, then I will be more convinced that they are really putting things together.

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3) (10)

Tampa Bay hosts the Vikings in Week 11, which should prove to be an interesting matchup and is a big game for both teams.

11. Dallas Cowboys (5-4) (11)

All indications point to a healthy Tony Romo is Week 11 versus the Redskins, which is good news for the Cowboys who desperately need to win that game.

12. Indianapolis Colts (5-4) (16)

The Colts have somehow managed to keep themselves in the playoff picture despite some obvious flaws early on in the season. I expect them to be 6-4 after they face Houston at home in Week 11.

13. Atlanta Falcons (6-3) (18)

Matt Ryan and the Falcons have been great at home this season and if their defense continues to hold opposing offenses from putting points on the board then this team could actually win the NFC South.

14. Chicago Bears (5-4) (13)

The Bears weren't able to generate enough offense to beat the undefeated Titans, but they might get Kyle Orton back just in time for their big divisional matchup against the Packers.

15. Baltimore Ravens (6-3) (19)

Before the season I predicted that the Ravens would struggle to win more than 3 games all season, but they have already doubled that total. The Ravens are now tied for first could possibly win the division if they can go 4-3 or better down the stretch.

16. Minnesota Vikings (5-4) (21)

The Vikings are now tied for first in the NFC North after beating the Packers in Week 10. I am somewhat surprised to see this team back in the playoff picture. The rest of their schedule is tough though: at Tampa Bay, at Jacksonville, Chicago, at Detroit, at Arizona, Atlanta, & NY Giants.

17. San Diego Chargers (4-5) (17)

The Chargers beat the Chiefs in Week 10, but did not look impressive doing so. Tough game for them in Week 11 having to trouble across country to face the Steelers. Looking at the rest of their schedule it's going to take a major effort just for them to get to 9-7 and the division race could come down to the last week when they play Denver at home.

18. Buffalo Bills (5-4) (7)

Buffalo is really struggling, but can get themselves back on track with a Monday Night game in Week 11 against the also struggling Browns.

19. Miami Dolphins (5-4) (20)

Believe it or not Miami has an excellent chance to climb to 6-4 if they can beat the lowly Raiders at home in Week 11. They still have games against the Rams, 49ers, and Chiefs too, so it's possible they could win 9 games at the very least this season.

20. Green Bay Packers (4-5) (12)

The Packers are a disappointing team to me With their offense, there is no reason they shouldn't be leading the NFC North right now, bu their defense has let them down, especially against the run where they are ranked 28th in the league (154.6 yards given up a game).

21. Denver Broncos (5-4) (22)

The Broncos managed to pull one out against the Browns, despite the fact they were down as many as 13 points in the third quarter. They head to Atlanta in Week 11.

22. New Orleans Saints (4-5) (15)

The Saints are probably out of the playoff picture unless they can run the table, which looks unlikely at this point.

23. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-5) (24)

Jacksonville beat up on the Lions, but they won't find things as easy against the undefeated Titans in Week 11.

24. Houston Texans (3-6) (23)

The Texans got creamed by the Ravens in Week 10 and they might be headed for a similar fate against the Colts in Week 11.

25. Cleveland Browns (3-6) (25)

I thought Brady Quinn looked good in his first start. He made quick decisions with the ball and looked comfortable in the pocket. The bad news is that the Browns still lost.

26. Seattle Seahawks (2-7) (26)

The good news is that Seattle might get Matt Hassleback back at QB soon. The bad news is that it's too late for them to make the playoffs anyway.

27. San Francisco 49ers (2-7) (28)

The 49ers have been more competitive then the Rams the past two weeks, so I moved them ahead of the Rams. If that's not good enough for you, then we can just wait to see who wins when they face each other in Week 11.

28. St. Louis Rams (2-7) (27)

The Rams lost for the 6th time this season by more than 2 touchdowns. Somebody should be looking into what the record is for most losses by more than 2 TDs in a season, because the Rams might break it.

29. Cincinnati Bengals (1-8) (29)

The Bengals face the Eagles in Week 11. Normally a Bengal would probably rip an Eagle to shreds, but somehow I don't think that will happen in this one.

30. Oakland Raiders (2-7) (30)

Since there isn't much you can say about the Raiders, I'll just mention that Darren McFadden has been a complete non-factor in his rookie season, but I hope he gets some shine in the last few weeks..

31. Kansas City Chiefs (1-8) (31)

The Chiefs offense has been solid the last few weeks with Tyler Thigpen running the show, but they still haven't been able to get a W.

32. Detroit Lions (0-9) (32)

I'm still convinced the Lions are going to go winless. Check out the rest of their schedule: at Carolina, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Minnesota, at Indianapolis, New Orleans, at Green Bay. Wouldn't that be something if Tennessee was undefeated going against the winless Lions on Thanksgiving Day and lost?

NFL Power Rankings - Week 9

Here are my NFL Power Rankings through Week 9:

Week: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

1. Tennessee Titans (8-0) (1)

The Titans passed another test with a win over the Packers. The defense looks like it will be a problem for even the best offenses and the running game continues to be solid with Chris Johnson starting to emerge even more as the season goes on.

2. New York Giants (7-1) (2)

The Giants pounded on the Cowboys and look to be the class of the NFC. Should be a great game in Week 10 as the Giants visit the Eagles.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) (3)

The Steelers were able to go in to Washington and beat up on the Redskins, but they might have lost Ben Roethlisberger for a few games in the process. The Steelers are starting to separate themselves a little bit in the AFC, but I still think they are just as beatable as most other teams in the AFC.

4. Carolina Panthers (6-2) (5)

Carolina gets to travel to Oakland in Week 10, where they should be able to go to 7-2. Carolina is a team that is under the radar right now, but is definitely a contender in the NFC.

5. Washington Redskins (6-3) (4)

Just when you think the Redskins are going to prove themselves as a top tier team this year they seem to take a step back. They obviously did not matchup well with the Steelers, but not many teams have the run defense that the Steelers have.

6. Philadelphia Eagles (5-3) (7)

The Eagles are quietly starting to put things together to make a run for the playoffs. They have a huge game against the Giants in Week 10 and I think it's a must win for Philly if the want to make a statement.

7. Buffalo Bills (5-3) (6)

Buffalo is fading pretty quickly and if they lose to the Patriots in Week 10, they might be looking up at the Patriots and Jets for the rest of the season.

8. Arizona Cardinals (5-3) (11)

Arizona is a team that has the potential to be a scary matchup once the playoffs come around. With their offense, I would not want to be playing them in the playoffs. There's a small chance they even might be able to have a first round bye if the NFC South teams start to knock each other off.

9. New England Patriots (5-3) (9)

The Patriots lost a tough one to the Colts in Week 9, but I still like how they have been playing and I think they will take down Buffalo in Week 10.

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3) (10)

Tampa Bay barely squeaked past the lowly Chiefs and I think they might fade a little bit down the stretch. They are still tough to beat at home though.

11. Dallas Cowboys (5-4) (8)

Tony Romo should be back for the Cowboys in Week 11 and they will be hoping he is enough for them to start playing better and winning some games. The Cowboys have a lot of issues though and I think it's a must win game for them against the Redskins.

12. Green Bay Packers (4-4) (12)

The Packers gave the Titans a run for their money, but came up just short. I still like this team to win the division though, especially if the Bears have to play a few weeks without Kyle Orton.

13. Chicago Bears (5-3) (13)

It looks like the Bears will be without Kyle Orton for a few weeks, which means Rex Grossman will be back at QB. That is not good news for the Bears, who have the top rated Tennessee defense coming to town in Week 10.

14. New York Jets (5-3) (14)

The Jets surprised me by beating the Bills in Buffalo and now they get the Rams at home in Week 10. I still don't trust Brett Favre right now, but the Jets look to be in good position to make a playoff push.

15. New Orleans Saints (4-4) (15)

The Saints will head to Atlanta in Week 10 to face the surprising Falcons and at 4-4 this is a must win game for the Saints.

16. Indianapolis Colts (4-4) (17)

The Colts got the win they needed by beating the Patriots and might have caught a break with Roethlisberger being hurt as they head to Pittsburgh in Week 10. I think the Steelers might be too physical for the Colts though.

17. San Diego Chargers (3-5) (16)

The Chargers get to play the Chiefs in Week 10 and should win that game. I think they will end up beating out Denver for the divisional title despite their struggles this season.

18. Atlanta Falcons (5-3) (20)

Atlanta continues to play well and if they beat the Saints this week at home, then I might have to take them seriously as a possible playoff team.

19. Baltimore Ravens (5-3) (22)

Baltimore just won't seem to go away and have been just as surprising as the Falcons. They have another winnable game in Week 10 against Houston and a win would continue to keep pressure on the Steelers.

20. Miami Dolphins (4-4) (25)

The Dolphins make it three surprise teams in a row. They actually have a legitimate shot at the playoffs and are only a game out of first place.

21. Minnesota Vikings (4-4) (21)

The Vikings have a huge game against the Packers in Week 10. Adrian Peterson has been running well and look for that to continue against the Packers.

22. Denver Broncos (4-4) (18)

The Broncos are really struggling right now and I don't think it will be long before the Chargers take over the lead in the AFC West.

23. Houston Texans (3-5) (23)

Houston caught a bad break with Matt Schaub getting hurt in Minnesota. Their offense was starting to play well and they might have won that game in Shaub hadn't gotten hurt.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-5) (19)

Jacksonville is another struggling team and time is running out on their playoff chances.

25. Cleveland Browns (3-5) (24)

The Brady Quinn era in Cleveland starts on Thursday against the Broncos and their horrible defense.

26. Seattle Seahawks (2-6) (26)

Seattle has to travel across the country to play the Dolphins in Week 10, which is probably not a good thing for them.

27. St. Louis Rams (2-6) (28)

The Rams got blasted by the Cardinals in Week 9 and will now play the Jets and hope to pull off an upset victory.

28. San Francisco 49ers (2-6) (29)

The 49ers come off of their bye week to play Arizona on Monday Night. My guess is that they will get crushed on national tv.

29. Cincinnati Bengals (1-8) (31)

The Bengals finally got a W and get a bye week as their reward.

30. Oakland Raiders (2-6) (27)

The Raiders have been horribly lately and things don't get any easier for them with Carolina visiting in Week 10..

31. Kansas City Chiefs (1-7) (30)

The Chiefs have actually been competitive the last two weeks, but blew a lead in both games in the 4th quarter.

32. Detroit Lions (0-8) (32)

The Lions are still winless and are desperate enough to bring Daunte Culpepper in at QB.

NFL Power Rankings - Week 8

Here are my NFL Power Rankings after Week 8, with last week's ranking in parenthesis:

Week: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

1. Tennessee Titans (7-0) (1)

The Titans passed their first test of the season by beating the Colts on Monday Night. They will stay in the #1 spot as long as they are undefeated, but I would love to see them play the Giants right now.

2. New York Giants (6-1) (2)

The Giants were able to go into Pittsburgh and beat the Steelers in Week 8, which is something I didn't think they would be able to do. They caught a big break though when the Steelers long snapper got hurt and the replacement snapped it over the punters head for a safety, which lead to a Giants TD after the free kick.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) (3)

The Steelers caught a bad break against the Giants with their long snapper going down, but their offensive line let them down as well. I had worried about their offensive line in the past and the Giants were able to exploit it.

4. Washington Redskins (6-2) (4)

The Redskins host the Steelers on Monday Night in Week 9, which should be a great game. If the Redskins win, then I will move them ahead of the Steelers in the rankings and perhaps higher.

5. Carolina Panthers (6-2) (6)

Carolina just keeps winning games and continues to solidify themselves as a strong player in the NFC. I would still like to see more from them on the road, but they definitely look like they are going to be tough to beat at home.

6. Buffalo Bills (5-2) (5)

Buffalo lost a tough one down at Miami in Week 8 and will now face the ultimate gunslinger when Brett Favre and his recklessness visit in Week 9.

7. Philadelphia Eagles (4-3) (7)

The Eagles benefitted from a blown muffed punt call against the Falcons in Week 8 and they will now head to Seattle for one of those dreaded trap games.

8. Dallas Cowboys (5-3) (10)

The Cowboys were able to keep things together defensively with Wade Phillips calling the shots against Tampa Bay. They still have issues on the offensive side of the ball and I think that they could be in big trouble in Week 9 vs the Giants.

9. New England Patriots (5-2) (14)

The Patriots look to be headed in the right direction and might be the favorites in the AFC East again. Matt Cassell looks more comfortable every week for the Pats, who will now travel to Indy to face a desperate Colts team who is still searching for an identity this season.

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-3) (8)

The Bucs weren't able to take advantage of the Dallas Cowboys and their poor offensive output in Week 8. They head to Kansas City in Week 9 and should be able to rebound in the W column.

11. Arizona Cardinals (4-3) (9)

Arizona loss a tough one on the road to Carolina. An Edgerrin James fumble really turned the game around, allowing the Panthers to score two touchdowns within 44 seconds to erase a 17-3 Cardinals lead. A Kurt Warner interception hurt them late too. They now travel to St. Louis, where the Cardinals might have more of a handful to deal with in the Rams then they thought they would a few weeks ago.

12. Green Bay Packers (4-3) (11)

The Packers head to Tennessee this week in hopes of being the first team to knock off the Titans. They are certainly capable, but it is going to be a tough task.

13. Chicago Bears (4-3) (15)

The Bears get the Lions this week, but they want to be careful not to take them too lightly. Since Chicago is coming off of a bye, I think they will be more than prepared and should be able to handle the Lions with ease at home.

14. New York Jets (4-3) (16)

The Jets barely pulled out the victory at home against the Chiefs and now head to Buffalo in what is a big game for both teams in determining what direction these clubs are headed in.

15. New Orleans Saints (4-4) (19)

The Saints came up with a big victory over the Chargers in Week 8, but the news about them possibly losing players for doping is not good for a team who already has been hurt by the injury bug all season.

16. San Diego Chargers (3-5) (13)

The Chargers defense is a mess and until they fix it, they are going to struggle against most teams in the NFL. Luckily for them the Broncos and their poor defense are in their division, so they still have a shot at the playoffs. Teams 16 through 25 are pretty much the same to me right now and I have a hard time ranking one over the other.

17. Indianapolis Colts (3-4) (17)

The Colts are just an average NFL team right now and if they lose to New Englad in Week 9 they could be on their way to missing the playoffs for the first time in years.

18. Denver Broncos (4-3) (18)

Denver hosts a scrappy Dolphins team in Week 9 and I think Miami just might be good enough to expose the Broncos defense and slow down their offense enough to pull out a victory.

19. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4) (12)

Jacksonville lost a tough on at home to the Browns and now must travel to Cincinnati to face the winless Bengals.

20. Atlanta Falcons (4-3) (20)

The Falcons put up a good fight against the Eagles on the road and this team looks like they will be competitive all season long. They travel to Oakland in Week 9 for a game they should be able to win, but is not a guaranteed victory.

21. Minnesota Vikings (3-4) (21)

The Vikings will face a hot Texans team in Week 9 and they better be ready to put up some points, because the Texans offense has been rolling of late.

22. Baltimore Ravens (4-3) (22)

The Ravens face the Browns in Week 9 and if they win and the Steelers lose to the Redskins, which is certainly possible, then Baltimore would be tied for first in the AFC North. I still think they have an outside shot to win the division at 9-7.

23. Houston Texans (3-4) (23)

The Houston offense has looked good lately, but their past 3 games have been at home, so I'm interested to see how they play on the road in Minnesota.

24. Cleveland Browns (3-4) (24)

The Browns just like the Ravens will be rooting for the Redskins to beat the Steelers in Week 9. If Cleveland knocks of Baltimore and the Steelers lose then they will only be 1 game out of first place.

25. Miami Dolphins (3-4) (25)

You have to give a lot of credit to Tony Sparano and Bill Parcells for turning Miami into a competitive team just one year after Miami only won 1 game. Tedd Ginn. Jr. had a breakout game with 175 yards receiving in Week 8 and could be a useful weapon for the Dolphins against the Broncos in Week 9.

26. Seattle Seahawks (2-5) (27)

Seattle destroyed the 49ers in Week 8, but they still don't have Matt Hassleback healthy yet and I can't see them doing much without him.

27. Oakland Raiders (2-5) (28)

The Raiders are just not good enough to win on the road right now. At home against certain teams they have a chance though. Atlanta in Week 9 is a game they could possibly win.

28. St. Louis Rams (2-5) (29)

The Rams look way better now then they did the first few weeks of the season. Rookie Donnie Avery is emerging opposite of Tory Holt as a consistent deep threat.

29. San Francisco 49ers (2-6) (26)

The 49ers got crushed by the pathetic Seahawks at home. Things are not looking good for this team and they will start Shaun Hill at QB now in hopes that he can turn things around for them.

30. Kansas City Chiefs (1-6) (32)

The Chiefs put up a decent fight against the Jets and might be able to squeek out another victory or two before the season is over.

31. Cincinnati Bengals (0-8) (30)

The Bengals are one of two winless teams left in the NFL, but I think they'll get into the win column before the Lions do.

32. Detroit Lions (0-7) (31)

I'm convinced the Lions will struggle to win 1 game this season, so I dropped them to bottom of the power rankings. The Lions are looking at Daunte Culpepper right now as a possible QB option for the rest of the season.