NFL Power 10: J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets!

Is it time to take the Jets seriously? The Power 10 ranking system is taking them seriously. After their drubbing of the Rams, they jumped from 11th  to 4th in the computer ranking system.

Unfortunately for them, we’ve pulled a BCS and changed the formula once again. Do to feedback and boredom, we’ve added a human element to the polling system. We add the inverse of the human ranking to the total Power 10 score (32 points for first, 1 point for last).

The change didn’t impact the rankings much. But it did drop the Jets from 4th to 5th and knocked the Eagles out of the rankings altogether.

At least in the Eagles’ case, the humans know better than the computers…

1 (1) Tennessee Titans (9-0): Power 10 Points: 209

The Titans are number one in the rankings today, but is anyone convinced that they could beat the Giants head-to-head right now? The Bears found the formula for beating the Titans, and would have if Sexy Rexy wasn’t prominently involved with their offense. Someone will be able to copycat the Titans’ attack.

If other teams figure out a way to consistently force Kerry Collins to beat them, it will eventually catch up with the Titans. No doubt about it.

2 (2) New York Giants (8-1): Power 10 Points: 189

I have them number two, but they’re clearly the best team in the NFL right now. They’re road proof and weather proof, which is more than you can say about any other NFL team this season.

I had a poll up on my NFL preview last week that asked whether Donovan McNabb or Eli Manning was a better quarterback. I don’t care which way you vote, in the fourth quarter of a game I’ll take Eli over McNabb seven days a week, twice every Sunday. Three times on a Monday.

3 (4) Carolina Panthers (7-2): Power 10 Points: 147

What an awful offensive performance against the Raiders. That said, if you’re going to have an awful offensive performance, it might as well be against a team that has no chance of taking advantage.

4 (9) Baltimore Ravens (6-3): Power 10 Points: 135

The Baltimore Ravens are for real. Their defense has always been for real. Their running game has been for real at times. But their quarterback has NEVER been for real. Until now. Joe Flacco is the real deal, and because of him, the Baltimore Ravens are once against relevant in the AFC.

5 (-) New York Jets (6-3): Power 10 Points: 133

The J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets are in tied for first (technically in second, because of tie-breakers), they just kicked the tar out of the hapless St. Louis Rams, and they’re playing better than they have in years. Which makes it all the more “interesting” that they wasted a Patriots-Examiner~y2008m11d10-Ty-Law-signs-with-Jets-expects-to-play-against-Patriots-on-Thursday-night">roster spot on Ty Law. Just to get under the Patriots’ skin? Why else? Isn’t their secondary pretty good already?

I’m almost ready to call the Jets real. If they can beat the Patriots, they’re for real. But right now, I just can’t get over that loss to the Raiders…

6 (3) Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3): Power 10 Points: 129

Ben Roethlisberger needs to get healthy. He’s hurting, not helping right now. It might do him (and the Steelers) some good to take a few weeks off and get better.

I respect the hell out of the fact that he’s willing to play through pain. But there comes a point where you have to ask, “Am I helping or hurting?”.

7 (7) Arizona Cardinals (6-3): Power 10 Points: 127

Kurt Warner and the Cardinals took advantage of a completely inept 49ers coaching staff on Monday night. I have absolutely no idea what the 49ers were doing for the last 30 seconds of that game. Wasting almost 20 seconds to spike the ball? Two straight run plays to end the game? A quick hitter to the fullback on the last play from the 2 yard line?

Holy cow. Someone needs to get fired.

On the bright side (if you’re a Cardinals fan), the Cardinals used to be the 2008 49ers.

8 (5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3): Power 10 Points: 124

Cadillac Williams is probably going to be activated in time to play in this weekend’s game. I’m not sure what that means for the Bucs, but since I have nothing else to say about what is really an incredibly boring team, it made good filler…

9 (10) Atlanta Falcons (6-3): Power 10 Points: 119

Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons are for real. 100% for real. Not only that, but they’re going to make the playoffs. As crazy as it sounds, with Mike Vick watching from prison, this team is going to make the playoffs.

No city, no group of fans, no NFL team deserves this more than the Atlanta Falcons.

10 (-) New England Patriots (6-3): Power 10 Points: 115

The Patriots dispatched of the Bills in a ridiculously and unexpectedly easy manner, now they turn their sites to the New York Football Jets. It remains to be seen how they’ll deal with the loss of Adalius Thomas, but their defense sure does seem to be firing on all cylinders right now.

And it’ll need to be, given that they’re playing a team that could have scored 70 points last week had they not shut down their offense in the second half.

Dropped Out:

(6) Philadelphia Eagles (5-4): Power 10 Points: 112

Donovan McNabb is terrible late in the fourth quarter of big games, especially when they’re close. So is his coach. There needs to be a shake-up in Philadelphia. The Eagles are a much, much better team than their 5-4 record would indicate.

When you win a ton of blowouts and lose a ton of close games, your coach and your quarterback are probably to blame. I just made that up, but I’m pretty sure it’s true.

(8) Chicago Bears (5-4): Power 10 Points: 97

I can’t take any team seriously while Rex Grossman is playing quarterback for them. Wake me up when Kyle Orton comes back.

Bottom Three:

30 (30) Kansas City Chiefs (1-8): Power 10 Points: -52

Believe it or not, the St. Louis Rams were making a run at this spot until Herm Edwards decided to go for two.

31 (31) Cincinnati Bengals (1-8): Power 10 Points: -56

I think the Bengals are starting to come around. They’ll easily double their current win total before the end of the season.

32 (32) Detroit Lions (0-9): Power 10 Points: -80

Seven more games. The 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are starting to worry about their record…

Sean Crowe is a Senior Writer and an NFL Community Leader at Bleacher Report. You can email him at [e-mail]. His archive can be found here. You can find everything he writes, including articles for other publications, here.

Crowe is also the New England Patriots Examiner at Examiner.com. Check it out for all the latest on the New England Patriots.