NFL Power 10: Giants Closing The Gap on The Titans

For the first time since its inception some three months ago, the same 10 teams make up the Power 10 two weeks in a row.

1 (1) Tennessee Titans (10-0-0): Power 10 Points: 219

If the Patriots are eliminated at any point and the Titans are still undefeated, I’m going to root hard for them to complete a 19-0 season. I hate the ’72 Dolphins. I really, really hate the ’72 Dolphins.

So, either the Titans need to lose before we start getting inundated with Mercury Morris, or they need to go undefeated. Someone needs to put an end to this ’72 Dolphins thing.

By the way, the Titans' lead on the Giants is getting smaller and smaller. Last week, they were 20 points up. This week, their lead is down to 16.

2 (2) New York Giants (9-1-0): Power 10 Points: 203

Unfortunately for the Titans and those of us who hate the ’72 Dolphins, the New York Giants once again will probably stand in the way come Super Bowl time. But this time, I’m pretty sure the Giants, despite their one loss, are a better team.

3 (3) Carolina Panthers (8-2-0): Power 10 Points: 162

In his last two games, Jake Delhomme is 17 for 46, 174 yards passing, 2 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. Yet his team is 2-0, winning by scores of 17-6 and 31-22.

So how do you win two lopsided games with your quarterback playing that poorly? When you have the combination of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart rushing 55 times for 411. That’s over 7 yards per carry.

Good God.

4 (6) Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3-0): Power 10 Points: 160

Normally, the rankings come out on Wednesday. Because I was busy trying to figure out how to factor a tie into the scoring system (Thanks Donovan!), the rankings were delayed until Friday night. The Steelers, unfortunately, had already played. So their score is a little inflated due to the extra points scored and the extra win.

So I went back and ran the numbers, and even without the stats from Thursday they still came in fourth place. By a single point, 146 to the Jets 145.

5 (5) New York Jets (7-3-0): Power 10 Points: 145

The Jets are proving me wrong every chance they get this season. I guess they’re for real. They beat the Patriots. They beat the Bills. They’re 7-3. But they still don’t pass the eyeball test.

I can’t get over the fact that they just don’t LOOK like a good team. I mean, did you see them get ripped apart in the second half by the Patriots’ offense? Everything that happened, first place came down to a coin flip. No way the Pats’ defense was going to stop the Jets, and no way the Jets’ defense would have stopped the Pats.

On a related note, the NFL’s overtime rules are stupid.

6 (7) Arizona Cardinals (7-3-0): Power 10 Points: 135

This may be blasphemous, but do you think God allowed Jon Kitna to get injured so he could root for Kurt Warner this season?

7 (8) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3-0): Power 10 Points: 128

Warrick Dunn is going to start this week for the Buccaneers. I’m pretty sure that’s not going to help them improve from 21st overall in points scored. Man, what a boring football team.

Interestingly enough, they’ll probably be a boring 8-3 playoff bound football team after this week’s scrimmage against the CFL Lions.

Detroit is in Canada, right?

8 (4) Baltimore Ravens (6-4-0): Power 10 Points: 112

Nothing more than a bump in the road last week against the Giants. The Ravens are much improved, but the Giants are on another planet right now. I’m sure they’ll rebound against the Eagles. It’s a big game for the Eagles, which means McNabb’s going to come down with some type of illness in the fourth quarter.

9 (9) Atlanta Falcons (6-4-0): Power 10 Points: 110

Mike Vick wants to play football again when he gets out of jail. I’m not sure that’s going to happen. There isn’t an owner in the NFL who wants to piss off PETA.

That said, there’s money to be made for the former Falcon once he gets out of prison. Someone, somewhere is going to make a movie. The Longest Yard 2, the Michael Vick Story.

10 (10) New England Patriots (6-4-0): Power 10 Points: 100

Matt Cassel is officially big time. He’s gone from a guy everyone in New England assumed wasn’t going to make it past the final cut this preseason, to a guy who’s agent is floating number like “6 years, $65 million”.

What a difference a couple of months, a few come from behind victories, and having the greatest game of your life on national TV makes…

Dropped Out:

None. First time ever. So instead of doing Dropped Out, we’ll do…

Barely Missed:

11 (-) Green Bay Packers (5-5-0): Power 10 Points: 98

I have to say, I was pretty surprised by how well the Packers played last weekend. It’s not that I thought they couldn’t win, but the way they won was unexpectedly impressive.

12 (-) Philadelphia Eagles (5-4-1): Power 10 Points: 96

A tie? Seriously? Are you kidding me?

13 (-) Miami Dolphins (6-4-0): Power 10 Points: 91

The computers don’t like the Dolphins. But a win over the Patriots will go a long way towards convincing everyone that the computers are wrong.

Bottom Four:

29 (29) St. Louis Rams (2-8-0): Power 10 Points: -54

We expanded the Bottom Three to the Bottom Four because we thought the Rams deserved recognition. Congratulations guys!

30 (30) Kansas City Chiefs (1-9-0): Power 10 Points: -61

It’s only a matter of time before the Rams pass over the slightly-less-hapless Chiefs.

31 (31) Cincinnati Bengals (1-9-1): Power 10 Points: -76

When you’re 1-9, you’re probably relatively happy with a tie. Just like if you haven’t dated anyone in years, you’re probably relatively happy with kissing your sister.

Maybe that analogy didn’t work so well…

32 (32) Detroit Lions (0-10-0): Power 10 Points: -90

I just figured out, after 10 weeks, the worst possible score you could have considering the Power 10 formula is -96. The Lions are -90. That says just about everything you need to know about the Detroit Lions.

Sean Crowe covers the New England Patriots for Examiner.com and writes a bi-weekly column for Sports-Central.org.

He 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.