Bleacher Report writers come together each week for the NFL season and decide on who belongs where for the “Bleacher Report NFL Power Rankings.” Writers vote teams up or down to come up with an unbiased, no-bull, to-the-point ranking system.
The four-digit numbers beside each team are computed based on votes and show readers just how strong each team’s position is. Want to know how close your team was to being ranked in the top five, or how far ahead they are of the next guy? Simply look at the difference in the numbers to find out.
1 (2) New York Giants (.9448)
Climbing to the top during a bye week must be nice. Getting the No. 1 spot wasn’t easy though, as the Tennessee Titans were only a few votes away from being atop the list. (Shaun Ahmad)
2 (7) Tennessee Titans (.9401)
Okay. It is time to realize that even with Kerry Collins as the quarterback, the Titans are the best team in the AFC—thanks to their defense. (James Senbeta)
3 (10) Washington Redskins (.8839)
This team is climbing fast, and they still haven't played a complete game yet. (Craig Garrison Sr.)
4 (1) Dallas Cowboys (.8762)
Here's to T.O. not ruining the team by demanding more catches, considering only one-third of the team's plays ran through him—and they lost. (Tiffany Davies)
5 (5) Buffalo Bills (.8466)
It looked like they were underestimating the Rams. Then they won the game, and single-handedly fired Scott Linehan. (Angel Navedo)
6 (8) Pittsburgh Steelers (.8153)
I've said it for years; Big Ben shouldn't throw more than 25 times. Considering they're 29-2 when he throws less than 25 times, maybe they should start listening to me. (Alex McVeigh)
7 (9) Carolina Panthers (.7602)
Jake Delhomme is back, ladies and gentlemen. (Shane Howard)
8 (4) Denver Broncos (.7558)
Denver's offense needs to start getting help from the defense, and fast. (Angel Navedo)
9 (3) Philadelphia Eagles (.7210)
A loss to Chicago hurts, but it might not be that bad considering Westbrook was out. A huge divisional game against rival Washington is next. 3-2 will feel a lot better than 2-3 and 0-2 in the toughest division in football. (Shaun Ahmad)
10 (11) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (.6873)
The defense is looking pretty stout. The winners of three straight will take their show to Denver and try to slow down the Broncos' fast-paced attack. (Shaun Ahmad)
11 (13) San Diego Chargers (.6592)
L.T. had a return to form, and it wasn't as if it was against a pushover Raiders defense. Okay, so it was a pushover Raiders defense in the last two minutes of the game. (James Senbeta)
12 (14) Baltimore Ravens (.6329)
Man, this defense can be scary at times, but they don't handle a good smack in the mouth too well, do they? (Craig Garrison Sr.)
13 (6) Green Bay Packers (.5974)
Two-straight losses and the mighty Packers look a little less explosive. If Rodgers is seriously injured, his first few weeks as a darling will turn around. (Angel Navedo)
14 (12) New England Patriots (.5809)
Matt Cassel is to capable backup quarterback as Sarah Palin is to capable Vice President. Oh yeah...I just went there. Let the angry comments rain in! (Shaun Ahmad)
15 (17) Jacksonville Jaguars (.5551)
Yes, they won another close game. Congrats. Do I think they are a good team? Not really, no. (Shaun Ahmad)
16 (21) Chicago Bears (.5207)
Kyle Orton might be this year's winner of the “Chad Pennington award” for worst long-ball thrower in the league. (Alex McVeigh)
17 (16) Indianapolis Colts (.4929)
A bye week gives them a chance to get their act together, because at this rate, the Colts may not even make the playoffs. (Tiffany Davies)
18 (18) New Orleans Saints (.4571)
Brees is putting up great numbers, but the D can't hold a lead for him. They are a playmaker on defense away from fighting the Panthers for the division. (Alex McVeigh)
19 (22) New York Jets (.4210)
Think Brett Favre is comfortable yet? With a bye coming up, followed by games against Cincinnati, Oakland, and Kansas City, the Jets' offense has an opportunity to hit a real stride. (Angel Navedo)
20 (15) Arizona Cardinals (.4149)
If I were Matt Leinart, I'd be studying my playbook. You've got two of the best WRs in the league, and I have a feeling that Kurt Warner ain't gonna start 16 games. (Alex McVeigh)
21 (20) San Francisco 49ers (.3882)
Can we now pass the "League's Most Underrated Running Back" title from Brian Westbrook to Frank Gore? (James Senbeta)
22 (23) Atlanta Falcons (.3413)
Keep working the simple formula and you never know how many wins this team could finish with. (Craig Garrison Sr.)
23 (24) Seattle Seahawks (.3376)
If the Seahawks don’t keep it close or beat the Giants, who will be without Plaxico Burress, I won’t put them in them in my top 20 all season. (Shaun Ahmad)
24 (19) Minnesota Vikings (.2801)
This team still needs a quarterback. (Craig Garrison Sr.)
25 (25) Miami Dolphins (.2775)
Nice bye week. Let’s see what happens next. (Ken Sheehan)
26 (26) Oakland Raiders (.2418)
Win or lose, Lane Kiffin deserved better treatment than he received from Al Davis. Anyway, a 76-yard field attempt was original. (James Senbeta)
27 (31) Kansas City Chiefs (.1994)
Caught the Broncos off guard and it looks like Larry Johnson is back. Maybe this team is on the rise? (Ken Sheehan)
28 (28) Houston Texans (.1792)
Steve Slaton is going to find some more ways to make his team look better as the season goes on. (Angel Navedo)
29 (27) Cleveland Browns (.1303)
I wanted to say "Brady Quinn lifts teammates and Browns franchise to emotional high." I guess I'll settle for "Derek Anderson staves off demotion for another week." (James Senbeta)
30 (29) Cincinnati Bengals (.1191)
I actually put myself through the misery of watching the Browns-Bengals game last week because two of my fantasy players were in it—Braylon Edwards and Chad Johnson. Johnson was traded shortly after for a double cheeseburger. (Shaun Ahmad)
31 (30) Detroit Lions (.1078)
Were there any predictions before the season from QB Jon Kitna about this squad making the postseason? (Shane Howard)
32 (32) St. Louis Rams (.0514)
Paper bag manufacturers are going to be kicking into high gear, what with all the bags they're going to have to be sending to St. Louis and Detroit. (Tiffany Davies)
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Biggest Jump: Washington Redskins are UP seven spots (10th last week to third this week)
*The Redskins were also the winners of “Biggest Jump” last week.
Biggest Drop: Green Bay Packers are DOWN seven spots (Sixth last week to 13th this week)
A special thanks to all those who participated, and will continue to participate in the future. Also, a sincere thank you to Angel Navedo for providing the picture used in this article.
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about 1 month ago
Okay, y'all are ABSOLUTELY INSANE on one of these: How is Denver, who would probably have only one win were it not for bad officiating, has NO defense, and was blown out by KC, in the top ten, ahead of the Chargers (who they actually lost to at home) and the Ravens (who have only one loss, and it was to a quality opponent on the road)? There is no defense for that--kinda like the Broncos themselves.
There are others I disagree with this panel (of which I am a part--you can see my votes here: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/63562-nfl-september-power-poll) on, but only this one makes me cry foul.
from about 1 month ago
LOL, I have Denver at 15 w/ SD at 5 and Baltimore at 11. That's what makes this so fun!
Bob
www.BobsBlitz.com
from about 1 month ago
I had Denver at 12 but you also have to realize that people are much more easily sold on high octane offenses than efficient ones or good defenses.
All people remember if you ask them about Denver is their exciting finishes where their offense has looked unstoppable - at times, certainly not last week.
I think once their poor defense catches up to them in the next couple of weeks, you'll see them falter.
from about 1 month ago
I had the Broncos at 14 on my individual Rankings.
We will continue to expose our personal rankings and isolate the culprit responsible for the high rating!
from about 1 month ago
I don't think Denver, who has won 3 out of 4 games, should be put below Baltimore. Baltimore beat Cinci and Cleveland...two teams that were winless and probably would have remained as such had they not played each other.
As far as the Chargers, they're 2-2 with a very unconvincing win over Oakland. Denver blew that same squad out.
Yes, Denver lost one game, on the road to Kansas City. But keep in mind that Arrowhead is a very difficult place to play and that there have been plenty of good teams that have been upset in that stadium.
Denver has shown through four games that their offense is one to be reckoned with. They've averaged 33 points per game. Even in their loss, Cutler threw for 361 yards (over 300 yards for the third time in four games). Their next three games (Tampa Bay, Jax, @NE) will be very telling.
I love the different opinions and views on teams and this is why I wanted a whole panel of writers voting/debating rankings. Keep bringing it! haha
from about 1 month ago
I agree on this. Denver may be 1-3 were it not for critical bad calls, with their only EARNED win coming against Oakland, which is hardly a feat. Even if you say that missed call against New Orleans didn't result in a win--they would have had a first down and probably a shorter field goal, but no guarantee they make it--without the bad call against the Chargers, they have two losses to Baltimore's one.
And they lost to KC, which by itself is much worse than losing to Pittsburgh. So even if you grant them 3-1, Baltimore is better: Baltimore's offence is better than Denver's defence.
Find the culprit and discredit their vote.
from about 1 month ago
Denver is smoke and mirrors. Drop their butts down the middle of the pack, where they belong. The Chargers are on the road to a 10+ win season, the Broncos are on the road to making New Year's Eve plans with their wives' friends.
about 1 month ago
Yeoman.
about 1 month ago
Things are really starting to shake out now, the quarter point is here, teams finally are "who we thought they were"!
about 1 month ago
I also don't understand how the Eagles can be that far behind a team they absolutely destroyed(the Steelers, Ben still didn't look right a week later), some of us are really not quite right, ya know?
from about 1 month ago
Probably because they didn't look very good last week against Chicago. Also, I think when you look at how good a team is RIGHT NOW, you could say that the Eagles aren't better than the steelers because they are without westbrook. McNabb isn't 100% healthy either.
The Eagles are still top 10 though and that's pretty good for a .500 team.
from about 1 month ago
And I suppose without Westbrook they aren't really that good, but still, they made Ben look silly.
from about 1 month ago
Teams lose one game to others all the time. You can't rate everyone above teams they beat: the Pats beat the Jets, the Jets beat the Dolphins, but the Dolphins beat the Pats--how does one handle that? As much as I agree with slamming the Broncos, they lost badly to the Chiefs but the Chiefs still have to be ranked A LOT lower than Denver. Unless people recognized that Denver is really 1-3, in which case they get ranked a little lower.
about 1 month ago
raiders at 26, sweet, go nation
about 1 month ago
Kiffin got a raw deal; and my Fins will slowly climb this thing as we go on people. i've been waiting for this to get up Shaun. My week's not complete without checking the power rankings, you know. And that Palin line, HE-LAIR-E-US
from about 1 month ago
haha thanks Shane. I'll have it out sooner next week!
about 1 month ago
Bills are underrated. Don't sleep on them, they have it all.
Cowboys get TOOO much love in the rankings. top 4? i don't think so.
How many people here actually believe the Colts are the 17th best team in the NFL?
Didn't think so
from about 1 month ago
For the first three weeks, there was little argument about Dallas being the best team in the league. It's hard to drop them out of the top ten or further down than where they are based on a loss to a division rival - one that is pretty damn good.
about 1 month ago
eagles at 9? below a team they beat in the steelers and who almost lost to the Ravens (and, also have zero running backs now)
uhh.. idk about that.
from about 1 month ago
You're not going to find a 2-2 team ranked higher than 9 in most polls.
about 1 month ago
Yes, taking over the number one spot while not playing is nice. But I was almost hoping you'd put the G-Men 3rd or 4th so maybe they'd not be so full of themselves. They play better under adversity and it's getting hard to create any right now.
The Beagles at 2-2 are only ranked as high as they are because they were overrated in the preseason, so they've been working their way down instead of working their way up. And don't dis Kerry Collins. He's led two different teams to the conference championship game and gets a bum rap only because of his miserable performance in Superbowl 35 against one of the best defenses of all time. There's no reason to think he wouldn't be better than Vince Young unless you think that running QBs have ever won anything in this league.
from about 1 month ago
I agree with pretty much everything you've said. Most 2-2 teams are in the mid to late teens of polls; not top ten. A lot has to do with their victory over Pitt and close loss at Dallas. I'm rather surprised that there are some people who even tried to argue that they should be higher than 9, or higher than Pitt just because they beat them.
The Giants and Titans were neck and neck for that spot. I bet it'll be the same way next week.
In MY opinion, Kerry Collins is a hand down better quarterback than Vince Young. I have never been sold on Young and think he's in the bottom 1/3rd of the quarterbacks.
about 1 month ago
Maybe a little harsh towards Houston. They haven't gotten to play a home game yet, due to Hurricane Ike. And, recently, they've been a very good home team. Not saying they're a playoff contender, but this is a 6 win team and probably shouldn't be ranked behind KC or Oakland -- both of whom will be lucky to win 3 games.
Oh, and love seeing my Skins above Dallas...at least for 1 week!
from about 1 month ago
Yeah Houston has the disadvantage of being a team that not many people know about and they are usually judged solely on their record. But it's not going to help having an angry and rested Indy team to face this week. Plus, the Texans are 1-7 in their last 8 division games. They probably won't be moving up from their spot this week.
The Cowboys won't be jumping the Skins any time soon as long as Washington handles its business against Philly!
about 1 month ago
Oh, what a surprise--giants at number 1. Like I've been saying this whole time!
Nice work guys.
about 1 month ago
That's a really great philosophy on the Steelers, now just tell me who is supposed to be their running back right now and I'll sign on.
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