Bleacher Report - Articles by J.J. McDermott

2008 NFL Power Rankings: Week 17

J.J. McDermott — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 15:51:23 -0500

J.J. McDermott, NFL Columnist at Fantasy Football Maniaxs

Welcome to a very special Christmas segment of Power Rankings! Week 17 in the NFL has finally arrived. Many teams have solidified their place heading into the playoffs, but there are several wild card slots still available. After this week, what teams will make it after all the dust settles?

Happy Holidays to all and enjoy Week 17’s Power Rankings!

32. Lions 0-15

This is it. This is for all the marbles. Week 17 has finally arrived—will the Lions go down as the worst team in NFL history?

31. Rams 2-13

They had it in the bag heading into the fourth quarter of Week 16’s game. The Rams flat out blew the game against the 49ers. Week 16’s woes just add to the many frustrations the Rams have faced this season. Better luck next year.

30. Chiefs 2-13

Another week, another hard-fought loss for the Chiefs. The future is looking bright with many talented young players on the team, but without longtime GM Carl Peterson, how much longer will Herm Edwards be able to coach in Kansas City heading into 2009?

29. Bengals 3-11-1

It has been a down season all year long for the Bengals, but Sunday’s win must be rather sweet for the 3-11-1 team. The Bengals still have many key players in line to help win games, and even Cedric Benson looks to have maybe found his place in Cincinnati.

28. Raiders 4-11

With last week’s win, the Raiders showed they do have what it takes to win games. Speaking of winning games, wouldn’t it be nice to knock former coach Jon Gruden out of the playoffs by beating his Buccaneer team in Week 17? Al Davis will be looking for revenge and work his voodoo magic to get back at his former coach to end the year.

27. Seahawks 4-11

The Seahawks head into Week 17 on a high note after beating the Jets, giving Mike Holmgren his final win at home as the Seahawks head coach. With Seneca Wallace’s excellent play this season and Matt Hasselbeck’s recent decline, who will be the main quarterback heading into training camp come 2009?

26. Browns 4-11

Another week, another injured quarterback for the depleted Cleveland Browns. Bruce Gradkowski will be the Browns' fourth quarterback of the season heading into Week 17’s matchup against the Steelers. The real question is, will Week 17’s game be Romeo Crennel’s final as head coach in Cleveland?

25. Jaguars 5-10

After their 2007 success, the Jaguars have fallen on hard times in 2008. From the look of things, it seems as though this offseason will be a rebuilding one for this 5-10 team.

24. Packers 5-10

Brett Favre is gone, Aaron Rodgers has played very well as a starter, and yet the Packers have gone 5-10 on the year, blowing many winnable games in the process. At least they will be able to take their frustrations out on a soon-to-be 0-16 Lions team!

23. 49ers 6-9

It was not easy, but the 49ers survived being Frank Gore-less and three Shaun Hill interceptions to win their sixth game of the season. Note to the 49ers organization: Do whatever it takes to keep Mike Singletary as head coach in San Francisco!

22. Texans 7-8

They are hot, they are not, they are hot, and they are not...The Texans have been all over the place this season, and in Week 16 they certainly were not hot. The Texans surrendered 375 yards to the Raiders en route to falling below .500 mark once again. Now the Texans must face a Bears team hungry to make the playoffs in Week 17.

21. Chargers 7-8

The Chargers have battled their way back into contention in the AFC West. Looking past all the hardships of 2008, the Chargers can make the playoffs by beating the rival Broncos in Week 17. Will the Chargers seize the opportunity or fall when the going gets tough?

20. Bills 7-8

From 5-1 to 7-8, the Bills have come a long way since the start of 2008. The Bills surprised the Broncos in Week 16, and now they take on their rival Patriots in hopes of climbing back to the .500 mark to finish the season.

19. Saints 8-7

Reggie Bush is on injured reserve, the defense is atrocious, and the team has no hope of making the playoffs this season. The Saints will be battling the Panthers in Week 17 to earn themselves a winning season, but Drew Brees will also be hunting for history in hopes of passing Dan Marino for the single-season yardage record.

18. Redskins 8-7

Let’s do the math here: A healthy Clinton Portis equals a tough Redskins team to beat. An injured, struggling Clinton Portis, means the team struggles as a whole. The Redskins pulled off a nail-biter against the Eagles in Week 16, but their efforts were too little too late as they are stuck at the bottom of the NFC East food chain.

17. Broncos 8-7

J.P. Losman and the formally 6-8 Buffalo Bills are no problem, right? Wrong. The Broncos blew Week 16’s game and now must face the Chargers in a winner-take-all for the AFC West title. Does Mike Shanahan’s squad have enough left in the tank to make the playoffs in 2008?

16. Cardinals 8-7

The Cardinals were grounded and embarrassed in Week 16’s game against the Patriots. The difference between the Cardinals and Patriots is, the Cardinals are lucky enough to be placed in a weak division while the Patriots may not even make the playoffs with an 11-5 record. The Cardinals will need to re-establish a running game and play better defense if they are to go deep into the playoffs

15. Eagles 8-6-1

Here we go again. Andy Reid and his ego when it comes to passing the football have put the Eagles in the position of failing to make the playoffs this season. The Eagles will have to get back to the running game if they are to have any chance against the Cowboys in a game loaded with playoff implications.

14. Jets 9-6

Not even Brett Favre’s well known luck could be found in Week 16’s embarrassing loss to the Seahawks. With the loss, the Jets must now face their former quarterback, Chad Pennington, in what looks to be the showdown for the AFC East Division title. Here is a more important question: Will Brett Favre be back in a Jets uniform come 2009?

13. Bears 9-6

The Bears kept their playoff hopes alive by beating their division rival, the Green Bay Packers, on Monday Night Football in Week 16. The Bears will have to beat a 7-8 Texans team and pray for a Vikings loss to clinch a playoff spot.

12. Vikings 9-6

Let us recap the Vikings embarrassing loss to the Falcons: The Vikings fumbled the football a total of seven times, losing four of them. Tarvaris Jackson’s Week 15 performance could not be replicated in Week 16’s loss. Now the Vikings will have to upset the 12-3 Giants in Week 17 to keep their playoff dreams alive.

11. Dolphins 10-5

Ok, they were blessed with easiest schedule for any NFL team, but going from 1-15 to 10-5 in the course of a year is impressive. Now, will Chad Pennington have his revenge on his former Jet team in Week 17 in hopes of clinching a division title?

10. Buccaneers 9-6

It has been a rough last stretch of the season for the Buccaneers after dropping their third straight game in Week 16. Do the Buccaneers have enough left in the tank to earn a playoff spot? Better yet, will the Buccaneers overcome losing defensive genius Monte Kiffin at the end of the season and go out with a bang?

9. Cowboys 9-6

Once again, the Cowboys blew a perfect chance to take the next step into the playoffs. The Ravens blew up the Cowboys' defense in the fourth quarter, leaving the Cowboys' last chance at making the playoffs a road game against division rival Philadelphia. Will Tony Romo and Company overcome their season frustrations or fade into the sunset?

8. Patriots 10-5

The Patriots put a hurting on the Cardinals in a snowy Week 16 game. After Week 16’s win, the Patriots now must pray for a Jets win to keep their playoff dreams alive. Who would have thought that through all the injuries, the Patriots would still be in the position they are now?

7. Ravens 10-5

This Ravens team is for real. The Ravens tore apart a Cowboys defense in the fourth quarter of their Week 16 game en route to their 10th win of the season. With the playoffs on the mind, who would have thought that a new head coach and a rookie quarterback could accomplish so much in so little time?

6. Falcons 10-5

Matt Ryan is the real deal in Atlanta and has silenced critics who have doubted him. But who would have seriously thought a new head coach and rookie quarterback could turn around a franchise like the Atlanta Falcons this quickly?

5. Colts 11-4

The Colts have gone on a roll, winning eight games in a row, and are still not done. Peyton Manning has gone from offseason knee surgery to MVP candidate in just a short few months.

4. Steelers 11-4

They have the AFC North locked up, but the Steelers blew a golden chance to make a huge statement in Week 16’s loss to the Titans. The Steelers surrendered five fumbles and four turnovers en route to a 31-14 loss.

3. Panthers 11-4

In what was quite possibly Week 16’s best game, the Panthers blew a late lead en route to an overtime loss to the Giants. DeAngelo Williams has been the Panthers' key player all season long, but not even his multiple touchdowns could solidify a Panthers win.

2. Giants 12-3

Forget not having Michael Strahan, Plaxico Burress, or even Osi Umenyiora. The Giants overcame all adversity to beat a red-hot Panthers team in Week 16. The Giants have shifted momentum back in their favor. See what a healthy Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward combo can do for your team?

1. Titans 13-2

Even without their top defensive weapons, Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vanden Bosch, the Titans demolished the Steelers to stay atop our Power Rankings. Even with the best record in all of NFL, let us see what the Titans can do heading into the playoffs.

This is the way the rankings look for right now. Stay tuned next week to see how your team fares!

2008 NFL Power Rankings: Week 16

J.J. McDermott — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:14:28 -0500

J.J. McDermott, NFL Columnist at Fantasy Football Maniaxs

The 2008 NFL season is coming to a close but things are just heating up as we prepare for the NFL playoffs! The game of the week in Week 16 is the red-hot Carolina Panthers heading to New Jersey to battle the Giants.

But let us not beat around the bush, it is time for Week 16’s Power Rankings!

32. Lions 0-14

Two more games to go until we find out the faith of the 2008 Lions team. With the Saints and Packers left on the schedule, going 0-16 is quite doable.

31. Rams 2-12

After winning two contests in a row after a coaching change, the Rams have lost eight in a row to bring them to 2-12 on the year. There is still a lot of rebuilding to do in St. Louis come 2009.

30. Raiders 3-11

Before we blast this team, we all must admit that Al Davis is the route of all evil now that he has past his prime. A continuous revolving door of coaching staffs, players, and poor drafting have hurt the Raiders since their loss in Super Bowl XXXVII.

Here is to another year in the can, Raiders fans. One day, the Raiders shall return to there motto of ‘Commitment to Excellence’.

29. Chiefs 2-12

How do you blow a 21-10 lead heading into the fourth quarter against the Chargers? Forget a logical explanation; the Chiefs flat out blew it in Week 15. The team will have to continue their rebuilding process in 2009 without longtime GM, Carl Peterson who stepped down earlier this week.

With the way things are looking in Kansas City, how much longer will Herm Edwards be able to keep his job?

28. Bengals 2-11-1

Surprise! Maybe the Bengals are not done in 2008 just yet. A competitive game played by Ryan Fitzpatrick helped bring the Bengals to 2-11-1 on the year as they head into Week 16 trying to win two in a row against a 4-10 Browns team down to their third-string quarterback.

27. Seahawks 3-11

The Seahawks did rally from a 7-17 deficit in Week 14 to secure their third win of the year, but Mike Holmgren’s last season with the Seahawks has been a complete nightmare. It may be the last year of his contract but will Holmgren really retire from coaching after 2008?

26. Browns 4-10

You know things are bad when your only touchdown in the past four games is from a returned interception by Brandon McDonald for a score. Third string quarterback, Ken Dorsey is clearly not the answer in Cleveland as the team struggles to make it to the finish line of this 2008 season.

25. Jaguars 5-9

Fred Taylor is out of the remainder of the season as the rest of the team has given up as they await the overhaul this offseason. None of those reasons stopped the Jaguars from ending their four game losing streak in Week 15. Do not get too happy Jaguars fans; you get to face the red hot 10-4 Colts in Week 16.

24. 49ers 5-9

The 49ers came up short in Week 15 losing 9-14 to the Dolphins. The important thing to realize after the loss is the fact that the 49ers seem to be improving with each week.

Mike Singletary is 3-3 since taking over the team and should go 4-3 after this week’s matchup against the 2-11 Rams.

23. Packers 5-9

Since starting the season 4-3, the Packers have gone on to lose six of their last seven games. After their Week 15 meltdown to the Jaguars, do the Packers throw in the towel for 2008 or do their play to ruin the 8-6 Bears playoffs hopes in their Week 16 showdown?

22. Chargers 6-8

They’re alive! Not really, the Chargers fought back from their 10-21 deficit to beat a 2-11 Chiefs team in Week 15. As crazy as it may seem, the Chargers still have a chance to make the playoffs. The Chargers next step towards the playoffs; beating the Buccaneers on the road in Tampa Bay.

21. Bills 6-8

From 5-1 to 6-8 season letdown; the Bills have come a long way since the beginning of the season. The Bills are 0-3 with J.P. Losman at the helm and there are talks of benching him for Week 16.

The Bills have dropped seven of their last eight heading into Week 16 and could very possibly go 6-10 on the year after facing the Broncos and Patriots to end the year.

20. Saints 7-7

I am sure somewhere that Drew Brees would trade his pace to break Dan Marino’s single season total yardage record for a Saints Super Bowl berth. Unfortunately for Brees, the Saints getting into the playoffs at this stage of the game is looking very bleak.

Reggie Bush was placed on the injured reserve this week leaving Pierre Thomas and Deuce McCallister as the top two running back options in New Orleans. At least Brees and the Saints can take out their frustrations on the win-less Lions in Week 16.

19. Redskins 7-7

From early season hopefully to late season letdown, the Redskins have gone from a healthy 6-2 start to an ugly 7-7 record by Week 16. Jim Zorn seems to be taking his team’s play to heart as the Redskins have sunk to last place in the NFC East.

With a healthy Clinton Portis, the Redskins are a tough team to beat; without Portis, the team struggles completely.

18. Texans 7-7

They are hot, they are not, they are hot, and they are not...The Texans have been all over the place this season but seem to have found their stride heading into the last stretch of the season.

Now healthy, the team has gone on to win four in a row and look to make it five against the help-less Raiders this week.

17. Broncos 8-6

The Broncos are as streaky as they come; the whole AFC West is a mess if you look at it. The Broncos somehow have made it to the top, trading for new running backs countless times this season.

The Broncos better stay on top of their game with the Chargers looking to climb back into the mix if the Broncos get sloppy but do not fear Broncos fans; you take on J.P. Losman and the forgotten Bills in Week 16.

16. Bears 8-6

If not for their loss to their division leading rival Vikings in Week 13, the Bears would still be in the mix after winning three of their last four. The Bears have accomplished a lot this season by finding their future quarterback and running backs in Kyle Orton and Matt Forte respectively.

15. Cardinals 8-6

At No. 15 on our Power Rankings, some may think the Cardinals are sitting too low, on the other hand, when you give up four touchdown passes to Tarvaris Jackson and still are lacking a running game; you have plenty of room to improve.

With running back Tim Hightower hitting the rookie wall, will the Cardinals rely back on their veteran "Edge" to lead them into the playoffs?

14. Dolphins 9-5

Talk about a rags-to-riches story. The Dolphins have gone from a 1-15 record to a three way tie for the AFC East lead at 9-5. Chad Pennington has gone from team outcast with the Jets to team MVP in Miami.

With a win at Kansas City this week, the Dolphins will reach the 10-win mark on the year; can Chad Pennington and this revamped Dolphins team pull it off?

13. Eagles 8-5-1

Cleveland Browns, no problem. The Eagles dispatched of the help-less Browns in Week 15 and set their sights on a fallen Redskins team in Week 16 to stay in the hunt for the playoffs.

With a fairly healthy Brian Westbrook and company, will the late-season heroics going to be enough for the Eagles to make the playoffs in 2008?

12. Vikings 9-5

Tarvaris Jackson and four touchdown passes in Week 15 against the Cardinals? No, this is not a dream Vikings fans, after being benched for most of the season, Jackson and company blew up the Cardinals defense on their way to their fourth win in a row.

With every hard played win, there is always a catch, defensive tackle Pat Williams is out the remainder of the season. With Pat Williams out, will the stout Vikings defense continue their ways on their way to a divisional title just two wins away?

11. Patriots 9-5

Week 14 was quite brutal for the Raiders who were pounded by the Patriots for 49 points on the day. With Week 15’s win, the Patriots are still deadlocked in a three-way tie for the AFC East lead. With matchups against the Cardinals and Bills on the way, the Patriots have the ability to go 11-5 while waiting for the Jets or Dolphins to mess up their chances.

10. Jets 9-5

Some may say the Jets got lucky on Sunday but a win is a win. The momentum is still on the Jets side as they hold the tiebreaker in the AFC East lead. The Jets must stay on top of their game against the Seahawks and Dolphins to finish the season and go to the playoffs. There is no room for mistakes for this 9-5 Jets team.

9. Buccaneers 9-5

Just when the Buccaneers thought the NFC South might be in reach, the Bucs’ have gone on to lose two in a row against division opponents. Jeff Garcia missed last week’s matchup against the Falcons so Brian Griese played in his absence but came up short.

After dropping their last two, can the Buccaneers win out against the Chargers and Raiders in hopes of making the playoffs this season?

8. Ravens 9-5

The Ravens are an up and coming team with a lot of promise. The Ravens five losses have come at the hands of the Steelers twice, as well as the Titans, Colts, and Giants; all playoff teams. The Ravens now must take on the Cowboys and Jaguars to finish the season strong looking for a wild-card berth.

7. Falcons 9-5

Matt Ryan has the Falcons soaring high in Atlanta. After the team’s Week 15 win over divisional rival Buccaneers, the Falcons are in the hunt for a wild-card berth. The Vikings not must keep their playoff dreams alive by beating the Vikings and Rams to finish the season.

6. Cowboys 9-5

The Cowboys got back on track in Week 15 by beating their arch rival Giants 20-8. With last week’s win, the Cowboys inch closer to making the playoffs. Week 14’s win was huge, but the next two weeks against the Ravens and Eagles will decide the Cowboys playoff faith.

5. Colts 10-4

Seven in a row! The Colts are on a roll and Peyton Manning is in the running as a legitimate MVP Candidate with his play down the stretch. At 10-4, the Colts are in the running for wild-card berth, but with a win and a Titans loss this week, they will have a chance to tie the Titans for the division lead heading into Week 17.

4. Panthers 11-3

The Panthers are quite possibly the NFL’s hottest team at the moment. Winning seven of their last eight with a solid running game complimented by a hard-nosed defense, the Panthers are on the prowl as one of the NFL’s best teams.

The Panthers' biggest test of the season will be in Week 16 as they must head to New Jersey to take on the Giants in what could be a preview of this season’s NFC Championship game.

3. Giants 11-3

With two losses straight, maybe the Giants are feeling the effect of not having many of their best players on the field after all. Could the drama of Plaxico Burress’ off-field issues caught up to the Giants? The Giants will need to get it together fast as they head into the last stretch of the season.

2. Steelers 11-3

The Steelers have proved themselves as a team over the last several game span. Their offense has not been stellar but their shutdown defense has set the pace in winning six of their last seven games.

1. Titans 12-2

Ok, they should have stuck with kicker Rob Bironas and kicked the game-winning field goal against the Texans in Week 15. Jeff Fisher screwed the pooch by getting cocky and going for it on 4th-and-short late in the fourth quarter.

Even with the loss, the Titans are still the most dominating team in the NFL, but how will they fair with injuries to top defensive weapons, Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vanden Bosch?

This is the way the rankings look for right now; stay tuned to next week to see how your team fares!

2008 NFL Power Rankings: Week 15

J.J. McDermott — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:12:44 -0500

J.J. McDermott, NFL Columnist at Fantasy Football Maniaxs

Week 14 contained many exciting, nail biting games. The Steelers beat the Cowboys late in the fourth quarter to improve to 10-3, the Giants dropped a heartbreaker to the Eagles, the 49ers upset the Jets making the AFC East a three-way tie, and the Lions inched closer to that 0-16 mark, and much more.

Speaking of the Lions let us move onto Week 15’s Power Rankings!

32. Lions 0-13

You have to love how Rod Marinelli will not answer a simple question of wondering if his team will go winless in 2008. With the Colts, Saints, and Packers on the list of teams to still play, will the Lions make the history books by going 0-16 in 2008?

31. Bengals 1-11-1

The Bengals are officially punchless, and Marvin Lewis is on the hot seat in Cincinnati. The Bengals have dropped three in a row now in which they have been outscored 16-96 in that span. Somewhere, Carson Palmer must be counting his blessings and praying to play for a winning team someday.

30. Rams 2-11

Even with Steven Jackson back in the lineup, the Rams still could not get close to winning a football game. The Rams have now gone on to lose their last seven games. This is still plenty of work to do before the Rams are even able to compete.

29. Raiders 3-10

That had to hurt. The Raiders dropped another one, this time to another division rival team in the Chargers in Week 14 to take them to 3-10 on the season. With recent draft selections of JaMarcus Russell and Darren McFadden, who would have thought that scoring would be this difficult?

28. Chiefs 2-11
They came close to winning back to back games but lost in dramatic form once again losing to the Broncos 17-24 in Week 14. Could the Chiefs have found their quarterback of the future in Tyler Thigpen?

How about a better question, how will the Chiefs fix their defensive woes?

27. Seahawks 2-11

Seneca Wallace and company were so close to upsetting an 8-5 Patriots team in Week 14. I am sure this was not what Coach Mike Holmgren had in mind for his final year with the club. I feel for the guy, his successor will have plenty of work to do come 2009.

26. Jaguars 4-9

We had such high hopes after last year’s great run, now the Jaguars have little hope left. Speaking of little hope, rumors are out that veteran Fred Taylor may be out for the remainder of the season. What else could go wrong in Jacksonville?

25. Browns 4-9

Poor Browns. Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson, and now, Ken Dorsey are thrusted into action. The Browns have a mess to deal with in the offseason with plenty of decisions to be made regarding the team’s future. Better yet, will Romeo Crennel be coaching the Browns come 2009?

24. 49ers 5-8

Can you believe the 49ers have won three of their past four games? I have to hand it to Mike Singletary and his excellent decisions he has made in recent weeks. Last season, we saw Shaun Hill perform well when called upon, Singletary called on Hill to take his team to victory and boy has Hill not disappointed.

Can Hill and his rejuvenated 49ers upset the up and coming Dolphins in Week 15?

23. Chargers 5-8

I said it in previous weeks, but I’ll say it once again. Talk about an off year for the Chargers.

At least the Chargers were able to flex their muscles by blowing out the Raiders once again this season in Week 14.

With all the Chargers struggles this season, will Norv Turner be back at head coach come 2009 or will we see a passing of the baton in San Diego?

22. Bills 6-7

Poor Bills fans. After a spectacular start, things have gone all downhill for the Bills. They have lost six of their last seven games and now must rely on backup quarterback, J.P. Losman to take on the Jets, Broncos, and Patriots to finish off the season.

21. Packers 5-8

Is it time for Green Bay to pack it in for 2008? The Packers lost another nail biter in Week 14 and have lost five of their last six games. Similar to the Chargers fashion, the Packers have lost all eight of their games by 12 points or less.

With a fairly easy remaining schedule, can the Packers turn things around and make it to .500?

20. Texans 6-7

Nothing like having a healthy Matt Schaub back at quarterback for the Texans. Schaub threw for 414 yards and two scores to help the Texans battle back towards the .500 mark. Schaub and his Texans take their three-game winning streak back home to take on the one-loss Titans in Week 15. Now on a roll, can the Texans break the .500 mark before season’s end?

19. Saints 7-6

Drew Brees is on pace to break Dan Marino’s single season total yardage record, but more importantly his play helped lift the Saints over the 8-5 Falcons in Week 14. With a healthy Reggie Bush now back, Brees and the Saints look to stay in the playoff hunt by facing the Bears and their 28th ranked passing defense in Week 15.

18. Redskins 7-6

The Redskins are drowning in the NFC East. The Redskins have now lost four out of their last five games as they have sunk to the bottom of their division. With the Redskins sudden demise, fans are already asking for new head coach, Jim Zorn’s head. Can Zorn and his Redskins turn it around starting with the 1-11-1 Bengals in Week 15?

17. Bears 7-6

The Bears may have lost against the Vikings in Week 13, but they got right back on track in Week 14 by beating the helpless Jaguars for their seventh win of the season. The Bears now must try to catch up to the NFC North leading Vikings by beating the Saints, Packers, and Texans in hopes of reaching the playoffs in 2008.

16. Broncos 8-5
Let's spin the wheel and just see who wins in the AFC West! The Broncos have been extremely unpredictable this season, but they have gone on to win four of their past five games. That was the good news for Broncos fans, the bad news being that they have added another running back to their injured reserve list for the season: Peyton Hillis.

15. Dolphins 8-5

Talk about a turnaround. The Dolphins have not been beached this season. The team has improved from last year’s 1-15 record and now are in a three-way tie for the AFC East lead. Chad Pennington has gone from team outcast with the Jets to team MVP in Miami. The Dolphins odds increase as they face the 49ers, Chiefs, and Jets to finish off the year. Can the Dolphins go from 1-15 in 2007 to possibly 10-6 in 2008?

14. Eagles 7-5-1

Impressive. The Eagles are soaring high once again after upsetting the heavily favored Giants in Week 14. Even better news for Eagles fans, by the look of things, Brian Westbrook is the healthiest he has been all season, and it has shown. With a healthy Westbrook in the lineup, the Eagles now must face the Browns, Redskins, and Cowboys in hopes of making the playoffs.

13. Vikings 8-5

Phew…that was close! The Vikings fought a battle against themselves in their Week 14 win over the winless Lions. The Vikings overcame a Gus Frerotte injury and three Adrian Peterson fumbles to stay atop of the NFC North standings. The Vikings will face large tasks in the Cardinals, Falcons, and Giants to finish the year. Now can the Vikings overcome their slow start and make the playoffs in back to back seasons?

12. Patriots 8-5

No fear Patriots fans, you are back in the AFC East division race. Matt Cassel has continued his impressive poise that definitely showed in Week 14’s comeback win over the Seahawks. With Cassel and a healthy running game now in place, can the Patriots make the playoffs without big names like Tom Brady, Laurence Maroney, and Rodney Harrison?

11. Falcons 8-5

Matt Ryan has taken the Falcons from a laughable team to a team with a playoff berth in sight. Ryan and the Falcons may have lost a close battle against the Saints in Week 14, but they will be given another chance to get on track against another division rival, the Buccaneers in Week 15. Can Ryan pull off an upset and bring his team closer to the playoffs?

10. Cowboys 8-5
They almost beat the Steelers; too bad they did not call it a game after three quarters. Tony Romo’s struggles at quarterback have fans in Dallas shaking in their cowboy boots. Romo needs to improve on handling quality blitzing defenses, speaking of the devil, good luck against the Giants on Sunday!

9. Cardinals 8-5

Kurt Warner put a whipping on his former team to solidify the Cardinals first NFC West Championship in decades. With Warner in charge of the passing game, where and who is in charge of the running game out in Arizona?

Before the playoffs begin, the Cardinals need to solidify a running game but good luck solidifying a rushing attack against the Vikings!

8. Jets 8-5

After two huge wins over the Patriots and Titans, where have the Jets gone? Brett Favre and his new team have become punchless of the past two contests in what should have been easier wins. The Jets now have fallen into a three-way tie for the AFC East lead as they head into Week 15’s battle versus the Bills. Can they fix their offensive and defensive struggles to take a step towards becoming AFC East Champions?

7. Ravens 9-4

The Ravens defense put the exclamation point on their win over the Redskins in Week 14. The difference between Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco’s success this season has relied on their team’s defense. Flacco gets the nod for the better defense. The Ravens fell to their division rival Steelers 20-23 in overtime back in Week 4. The Ravens will look to settle the score in Week 15’s defensive battle in what should be one of the week’s best match-ups.

6. Colts 9-4

Talk about a nice comeback for Tony Dungy and the Colts. After a slow start, the Colts have won six games in a row and should make it seven after facing the Lions this week in Indianapolis.

5. Buccaneers 9-4

Just when the Buccaneers thought the NFC South might be in reach, their defense that had only given up just one rushing touchdown all year, gave up four in Monday’s loss to the Panthers. The Bucs’ may have hit a wall after last week’s loss but they will have to get back on the ball against another division rival, the Falcons this Sunday to stay in the hunt for the playoffs.

4. Panthers 10-3

After releasing DeShaun Foster in the offseason, many critics were unsure if DeAngelo Williams could shoulder the team’s load until the Panthers drafted Jonathan Stewart this past draft. The duo of Williams and Stewart makes one of the best running back combinations in the NFL. With their punchy offense and ferocious defense, can the Panthers make the Super Bowl?

3. Steelers 10-3

The Steelers showdown with the Cowboys was hands down one of the best games of Week 14. The Steelers defense proved to be defining factor in the team’s win once again. Their defense will not always be able to put the points on the board, to go deep into the playoffs the Steelers will have to rely on Big Ben and their offense to finally put points on that scoreboard.

2. Titans 12-1

Another week, another weak team, and another win for the Titans. Unless the Giants blow it again before season’s end, the Titans will have to settle for the title as the NFL’s second best team. The Titans grind it out mentality and hard-nosed defense have equaled AFC South champions. How far can the Titans go in 2008?

1. Giants 11-2

The Giants meltdown at home was ugly from start to finish. Neither the offense nor the defense looked to be in rhythm. The Giants were due for a letdown loss at some point this season and Sunday’s loss is sure to be a true reality check. With the drama surrounding the team due to Plaxico Burress and Antonio Pierce’s legal allegations, will the Giants overcome? Needless to say, the Giants are still the most complete team in the NFL, regardless of records.

This is the way the rankings look for right now. Stay tuned to next week to see how your team fares!

2008 NFL Power Rankings: Week 14

J.J. McDermott — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:50:26 -0500

J.J. McDermott, NFL Columnist at Fantasy Football Maniaxs

Thanksgiving week 2008 provided fans with a bevy of blowout games that either raised question marks or actually answered questions surrounding many teams.

The Plaxico Burress story may have topped the headlines but the Boy’s down in Dallas are back, Pittsburgh proved flaunted their top defense of the NFL, the Bolts’ proved that they are this season’s complete bust, and the Lions proved to many that there is little hope for a single win in 2008.

Speaking of the Lions, let us get right to it and move on to Week 14’s Power Rankings!

32. Lions 0-12

It was not as happy as a Thanksgiving could be for the Lions in Week 13. They Lions were slaughtered by the previously undefeated Titans who put a beating on the helpless team. The Lions offense and defense are both top five as the league’s worst. Will the Lions make the history books by going 0-16 in 2008?

31. Bengals 1-10-1

Another week for the Bengals, another lopsided loss. With no improvement insight, there is one question that must be asked; will Marvin Lewis be the head coach in Cincinnati in 2009? Lewis and company now must head to Indianapolis in Week 14 for a battle against the up and coming Colts and then face a 7-5 Redskins team in Week 15.

30. Rams 2-10

The Rams are like Swiss cheese when it comes to a football team. They have a lot of positions to fill before they will be able to hold their own and win a few ball games. The offensive line actually performed well in Week 13 by not allowing any sacks but on the other hand, Marc Bulger has continued his poor play by throwing three interceptions in last week’s game.

29. Raiders 3-9

Just when many fans thought the Raiders might be climbing out of the cellar, the team blew what would have been back to back wins. Turnovers killed the Raiders once again, especially Shane Lechler’s fumble in the second quarter that was turned for a touchdown. In Week 14, JaMarcus Russell and company will look to get back on track against the divisional rival 4-8 Chargers in hopes of sparking a possible upset.

28. Chiefs 2-10

Tyler Thigpen struggled but played well enough to lead the Chiefs to their second win of the season. The Chiefs defense recovered a Raiders fumble in the second quarter to take the lead and not let go. One last note on the Chiefs defense, they went sack-less in Week 13 and only have a total of six total sacks for the year. Who knew life without Jared Allen would be this harsh in Kansas City?

27. Seahawks 2-10

To add insult to injury on a horrible season for the Seahawks, being blown out 9-34 on Thanksgiving Day was added to the last of this year’s disappointments for the team. Not even the addition of Matt Hasselbeck back at quarterback has been enough to stop the bleeding in Seattle. Hasselbeck will have his hands full having to face the Patriots in Week 14.

26. Jaguars 4-8

Things are real bad when your team leaders and own coach has given up on the team. The Jaguars lost their third straight on Monday night and now must head to Chicago to take on a 6-6 Bears team fighting to stay in the playoff hunt.

25. Browns 4-8

Let us check the Browns options at quarterback for the remainder of the season, Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson, Ken Dorsey, and newly signed Bruce Gradkowski. After sustaining a season ending knee injury, Derek Anderson’s future as a Brown is up in the air.

24. 49ers 4-8

Not bad Mike Singletary, not bad. The 49ers have surprised many by going on to win two of their last three games. Can the 49ers take their new-found success back home to San Francisco to upset the New York Bretts?

23. Chargers 4-8

4-8? I said it last week but I’ll say it again - talk about an off year for the Chargers. All eight losses have been decided by nine points or less. With LaDainian Tomlinson’s decline and the Chargers struggling horrifically, is there any chance that Norv Turner will return to coach in San Diego come 2009?

22. Texans 5-7

During the draft were critics really saying Steve Slaton was too small and would not surmount to much? Slaton has been the man and has performed terrifically in place of the always injured Ahman Green. Now the Texans are on their second win streak of the season and come Sunday, the Texans may be welcoming Matt Schaub back into the lineup.

21. Bills 6-6

The Bills have fallen apart at the seams in Buffalo. The team has gone from 5-1 to losing five of their last six games bringing them to 6-6 on the year. To make matters worse, Trent Edwards went down with a groin injury in Week 13’s loss. With Edwards out, J.P. Losman must now step in for the Bills in the last month of the season. With Losman at the helm, there is not much hope left to turn things around this season, sorry Bills fans…

20. Packers 5-7

Brett Favre left quite the mess in Green Bay. I feel for Aaron Rodgers and one tough 2008 schedule for the Packers. There is still time for the Packers to get back on track, all four of their next contests are against opponents with records below the .500 mark.

19. Saints 6-6

Drew Brees is on pace to break Dan Marino’s single season total yardage record but Brees three interceptions sealed the Saints loss in Week 13. The Saints loss to the Buccaneers dropped them to 6-6 on the year but also put them in a tough spot. If the Saints want any chance at a playoff spot, the team must win out the remainder of their season games that include two showdowns with division rival Falcons and Panthers.

18. Bears 6-6

The Bears not only lost three of their past four games but also lost their division lead after losing to the new NFC North leading Vikings in Week 13. Kyle Orton’s streak of 206 passes without an interception came to a sudden stop in Week 13’s loss. Do not fear, there is good news for Bears fans. The Bears remaining match ups are all against opponents with records below the .500 mark.

17. Eagles 6-5-1

Just when we thought the season may be lost and Brian Westbrook was too gimpy to return to his former self, the Eagles silenced the critics on Turkey day by defeating the Cardinals 48-20. Donovan McNabb was able to get back on track, throwing for four touchdowns while Brian Westbrook rushed for over 100 yards and tallied four total touchdowns on the day. Westbrook and company will have to carry their newly re-found confidence against a Plaxico Burress-less Giants in Week 14 in hopes of climbing up the NFC East ladder.

16. Broncos 7-5

What is with the AFC West division? Teams like the Raiders, Chargers, and Broncos themselves have been some of the most unpredictable teams of the NFL in 2008. The Broncos have lost to teams like the Chiefs and Raiders but have beaten teams like the Jets and Falcons. Spin the wheel and take a chance, these Broncos may lead the AFC West division but are too unpredictable to predict on a weekly basis.

15. Dolphins 7-5

The Dolphins win over the Rams in Week 13 was their fifth of their past six games. Who would have ever thought the Dolphins would be in this position after going 1-15 in 2007? With match-ups against the Bills, 49ers, and Chiefs before season’s end, the Dolphins will be shooting for the ten win mark. My hat is off to Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano for turning this club around at such a radical pace.

14. Vikings 7-5

They did it! The Vikings fought back, beat the Bears, to earn their spot at the top of the NFC North division. Now how will the Vikings fare without top defensive tackles Pat and Kevin Williams if both are suspended following the taking of banned substances?

13. Patriots 7-5

After throwing for back to back 400+ yard games, Matt Cassel and the Patriots were brought back down to earth in Week 13. Cassel and company committed five turnovers in Sunday’s bone crushing loss. The Patriots will have their chance to get back on their feet starting Week 14 as they face the 2-10 Seahawks and then take on the 3-9 Raiders in Week 15.

12. Redskins 7-5

Houston we have a problem… The Redskins barely pulled off an upset in Week 12 beating the Seahawks 20-17 but following Week 13’s loss, the Redskins have dropped three of their last four games. The Redskins main man and star, Clinton Portis is suffering from a long list of injuries that is hurting the Redskins running game. With a less than 100% Portis, the Redskins must face the Ravens and Eagles in the final few weeks. Will the Redskins hold on and prevail to make a playoff run?

11. Cardinals 7-5

After a hot streak of three games in a row, the Cardinals have hit a brick wall, losing their past two games. Where has the running game been? There is good news for Cardinals fans, Kurt Warner and company face the Rams in Week 14 and look to bring the pain against his former team.

10. Ravens 8-4

Talk about a hot streak. The Ravens have won six of their past seven contests heading into Week 14’s match-up against the fallen Redskins. 8-4 with a first year coach and quarterback? If this was any other team I would say keep dreaming but it has happened to our #9 and #10 teams.

9. Falcons 8-4

Matt Ryan is still at the top of my list to be named this year’s Rookie of the Year. The Falcons have won six of their last eight with Ryan at the helm. Ryan has been able to spread the ball around while Michael Turner keeps the chains going on the ground. The Falcons biggest tests come in Weeks 14 and 15 against fellow NFC rivals, Saints and Buccaneers.

8. Cowboys 8-4

First, they get back Tony Romo and they begin to pick up the pieces; rallying for three straight wins. Now the Cowboys have reactivated ‘Pacman’ Jones to help revive their banged up secondary. The timing could not be better for a Cowboys team hungry for a playoff birth but first they must take on tough games against the Steelers, Giants, Ravens, and Eagles during the remaining four weeks of the season.

7. Colts 8-4

After a slow start, the Colts have won five in a row; not too shabby for a team that started off the season 3-4. Even with a lacking running game, Peyton Manning has found a way to win and the timing could not be better. Manning and company will look to continue their current win streak against the Bengals, Lions, and Jaguars over the course of the next three weeks.

6. Jets 8-4

After two huge wins against the Patriots and the previously undefeated Titans, the Jets were due for a letdown loss. Week 13’s soggy loss to the Broncos was a heart-breaker for this up and coming Jets team as they will look to add to their AFC East lead against the 49ers in Week 14.

5. Panthers 9-3

Even with struggles on both sides of the football, the Panthers have won five of their past six games to tie with the Buccaneers for the NFC South division lead. Will Jake Delhomme and Julius Peppers round up the troops in their effort to seek revenge on their divisional foe?

4. Buccaneers 9-3

Like the Panthers, the Buccaneers have won five of their past six contests. Their defense has held them in games while Jeff Garcia has done a fantastic job managing time at quarterback. The Buccaneers will let their stout defense do all the talking in Week 14 against their division rival Panthers for what looks to be the showdown for the NFC South.

3. Steelers 9-3

Critics speak about the frustrations with the Steelers offense that they never mention how dominate their defense has really been this season. After Week 13’s demolition of the Patriots in which the Steelers defense forced five turnovers, four by Matt Cassel himself, the Steelers must face the Cowboys, Ravens, and Titans to stay on top of their division.

2. Titans 11-1

After finally dropping their first game of the season to the Jets in Week 12, the Titans put a whopping on the Lions on what was a Thanksgiving Day Massacre. The Titans reestablished their running game by pounding away for 292 yards and four scores on the day. The Titans will continue to bring the pain against a Browns team starting their third string quarterback in Week 14.

1. Giants 11-1

Drama drama drama. The Giants punished the Redskins in Week 13 with a score of 23-7. The Giants win was overshadowed by the Plaxico Burress arrest. Burress shot himself in the leg, literally and metaphorically in what may be his last season in a Giants uniform. After placing Burress on the injured reserve for the remainder of the season, can the Giants go all the way and win back to back Super Bowls without their star wide receiver?

This is the way the rankings look for right now; stay tuned to next week to see how your team fares!

2008 NFL Power Rankings: Week 13

J.J. McDermott — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 07:57:30 -0500

J.J. McDermott, NFL Columnist at Fantasy Football Maniaxs

Week 12 in the NFL was loaded with fantastic games. The Cowboys got back on track against the 49ers, the Giants beat the red hot Cardinals, and the Raiders stunned the Broncos among other great games.

Find out who the new number one in our Power Rankings is in this very special Thanksgiving edition of Power Rankings!

32. Lions 0-11

It will not be a very Happy Thanksgiving in Detroit on Thursday as the Lions must face a 10-1 Titans team, hungry for revenge after losing their first game of the season. Could the Lions really go 0-16?

31. Chiefs 1-10

You know it is a rough year when your defense only has six sacks in eleven games. The rebuilding process has been a very difficult one for Chiefs fans in 2008. Can the Chiefs seek revenge against the rival Raiders in Week 13?

30. Bengals 1-9-1

After another lopsided loss, Marvin Lewis is definitely on the hot seat in Cincinnati. With Chad Johnson being benched for Week 13’s match up, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and company will have to shoulder the load against a brutal Ravens defense. Housh’ has been plenty emotional over the past few weeks and against a top flight defense, let the temper tantrums continue!

29. Rams 2-9

After two big upsets over the Cowboys and Redskins, the Rams have gone on to drop five of their last games in a row. To make matters worse, Marc Bulger added another concussion to lengthy injury list. Will Bulger be able to start in Week 13 or will the injury waiting to happen backup, Trent Green be thrust into action?

28. Seahawks 2-9

One of the year’s largest disappointments, the Seahawks have won a pitiful two games on the season. With Matt Hasselbeck back in action, he will have to face tough match ups against the Cowboys and Patriots over the next two weeks.

27. 49ers 3-8

T.O. had revenge against his former 49er team in Week 12. The 49ers have now lost seven of their past eight games. Mike Singletary has a lot of work to do as he now must face the Bills, Jets, and Dolphins over the course of the next three weeks.

26. Raiders 3-8

Revenge, oh- sweet revenge in Week 12. The Raiders broke out of their offensive funk in Week 12 and totaled up 318 yards of total offense as well as three touchdowns on the day to end a game drought without an offensive touchdown. Now the Raiders will face the 1-10 Chiefs at home in hopes of going 2-0 against their division rival on the year.

25. Browns 4-7

Welcome to the Brady Quinn show! Quinn broke a finger on his throwing hand in Week 12 against the Texans and has been placed on the team’s injured reserve. With Quinn out, Derek Anderson will resume his starting position for the Browns. With Anderson back at the helm, he is stuck facing the Colts, Titans, and Eagles over the span of the next three weeks.

24. Texans 4-7

The Texans broke out of their three game losing streak by defeating the 4-7 Browns in Week 12. Known as one of the better backup quarterbacks in the league, Sage Rosenfels has continued to struggle since being named the starter in Houston. Rosenfels committed three turnovers against a depleted Browns defense in Week 12. Can Rosenfels and company turn things around and seek revenge against a Jaguars team who beat the Texans 27-30 in OT back in Week 4?

23. Jaguars 4-7

Since losing four of their past five games, it looks like the Jaguars may have given up on themselves in 2008. Their impressive rushing attack from 2007 has been non-existent this season while injuries have hurt them on both sides of the football. You know things are bad when your own coach tells the media that the playoffs are probably out of the picture.

22. Chargers 4-7

Talk about an off year, the Chargers seven losses have all been by nine points or less. There is no doubt that Norv Turner is on the hot seat in San Diego and where has LaDainian Tomlinson gone?! Tomlinson’s decline has opened the door for Philip Rivers to step up for the Chargers.

21. Packers 5-6

The Packers secondary is one of the leagues best but fell on their faces when facing a red hot Drew Brees in Week 12. Aaron Rodgers did not help the situation by committing three turnovers against a normally weak Saints defense. Somewhere in New Jersey Brett Favre must be chuckling to himself over his old team’s struggles…

20. Eagles 5-5-1

Has the Eagles struggles solely been based on Donovan McNabb’s poor play? With a nicked up Brian Westbrook and coach Andy Reid continuing to lean heavily on the passing game, McNabb can not solely be blamed. Coach Reid’s poor play calling has also been a huge factor in the team’s recent decline.

19. Broncos 6-5

Like the Chargers, the Broncos have continued to be inconsistent all season long. The Broncos were upset at home by what was a struggling Raiders team. Oddly enough, even with the loss, the Broncos are still on top of a weak AFC West division. The Broncos may have trouble getting on track against a red hot New York Jets in Week 13.

18. Bills 6-5

The Bills stopped their four game losing streak by defeating the 1-10 Chiefs in Week 12. The Bills put up a whopping 54 points in their Week 12 showdown while Trent Edwards and company were able to get back on track in the win. Even with the win, the Bills are currently last in the division. Can the Bills right the ship in Buffalo and work their way back in a tough AFC East division?

17. Saints 6-5

Drew Brees torched what is normally a top flight Green Bay secondary for 323 passing yards and four touchdowns in Week 12. The win against the Packers moved the Saints to 6-5 on the year but the team is currently stuck at the bottom of the NFC South division. Brees will have to face another tough secondary in Week 13 facing the Buccaneers, will he find similar success this week?

16. Vikings 6-5

The 37 year old Gus Frerotte has played well, leading his team to a 6-3 record as the Vikings starter but there are new reports that surround the team wanting to make a move for the Eagles Donovan McNabb. The Vikings will have their toughest test of the season in Week 13, they will face the Bears for the NFC North division lead.

15. Bears 6-5

Like Campbell’s chicken noodle soup, nothing fixes a team’s woes like facing a Rams team. Kyle Orton performed well while Matt Forte racked up 132 yards and two scores on the day. The Bears defense put a whooping on the Rams and knocked a brittle Marc Bulger out of the game. Now the Bears must travel in Minnesota to face the Vikings and defend their division lead.

14. Dolphins 6-5

After being blown out 28-48 by the Patriots in a game in which the Patriots threw for 415 yards, maybe Joey Porter was wrong about his comments about Matt Cassel. The Dolphins loss in Week 12 may have slowed them down but the team gets to face a wimpy Rams team this week in hopes of getting back on track.

13. Ravens 7-4

The Ravens have been red hot in recent weeks winning five of their last six games. Their defense dominated a struggling Eagles offense by forcing five turnovers on the day and one safety. Will the Ravens are given the gift of facing the Carson Palmer/Chad Johnson-less Bengals in Week 13 in hopes of catching up to the Steelers for the division lead.

12. Falcons 7-4

Matt Ryan is on top of my list for the NFL’s Rookie of the Year list. Ryan has continued to shoulder the load and as led his team to a 7-4 record on the year. It wasn’t Ryan’s brilliance that beat the Panthers team alone in Week 12 but Michael Turner’s huge game that included four touchdown runs. The Falcons now must travel to San Diego to take on a struggling Chargers team in Week 13 and then to New Orleans to face divisional rival Saints in Week 14.

11. Cowboys 7-4

Tony Romo is back and so are the Cowboys. The Boys’ have won two in a row and must face a 2-9 Seahawks on Thanksgiving Day. With Romo back at the helm in Dallas, the Cowboys must face the Steelers and Giants in the coming weeks in hopes of staying in the NFC East race.

10. Patriots 7-4

The Patriots are still on the hunt to catch up toe the Jets in the AFC East after defeating the Dolphins in Week 12. How about this, Matt Cassel has thrown for 400+ yards two weeks in a row. Not bad for a guy who before this season had not started a game since high school. Cassel will have trouble making it three 400+ games this week, facing a tough 8-3 Steelers defense.

9. Colts 7-4

They did it! The Colts have finally cracked the Top 10 in the Power Rankings this year. The Colts have been on a tear as of late, winning four in a row. Things will only get easier as the Colts will face four teams below .500 over the next five weeks. Will the Colts end 08’ on a high note and make the playoffs? Stay tuned!

8. Redskins 7-4

The Redskins stopped the bleeding and ended their two game losing streak by defeating the 2-9 Seahawks in Week 12. Their team MVP, Clinton Portis is nicked up but preserved the win as the Redskins are still staying afloat in the NFC East. Redskins fans everywhere can not help but pray that Portis will be on top of his game as the Redskins now must face the divisional rival Giants at home for Week 13.

7. Cardinals 7-4

The Cardinals fought valiantly but came up short losing to the Giants 29-37 in Week 12. The Giants have the ability to ruin anyone’s day as they forced Kurt Warner to fumble twice and throw one pick in Sunday’s showdown. Warner will have the opportunity to revenge last week’s performance as the Cardinals head east to face a floundering Eagles team in Week 13.

6. Panthers 8-3

The past few weeks we have picked on Jake Delhomme for his weak play but in Sunday’s loss, it was the Panthers defense that failed the team the most. The Panthers defense gave up four scores on the ground to the Falcons Michael Turner and only put up one sack on the day. The Panthers must right their ship quickly as they now face four teams above the .500 mark before season’s end. Do the Panthers have enough left in the tank to fight for the top spot in the NFC South?

5. Buccaneers 8-3

The Buccaneers fell behind the 0-11 Lions on Sunday 17-0 in the first quarter but put up 35 unanswered points to battle back for their eighth win of the season. The Buccaneers had a bad case of fumblitis in Week 12 that needs to be fixed now that they must face divisional battles against the Saints, Panthers, and Falcons over the course of the next three weeks.

4. Jets 8-3

The New York Bretts Jets are on a roll! They have had two huge upsets in the past two weeks and have won seven of their last eight games in that span. The offense and defense have gelled together to go 8-3, good enough to be the top seed in the AFC East. Brett Favre has worked his magic once again as the Jets are now looking forward to the playoffs soon enough.

3. Steelers 8-3

Talk about a team fighting adversity! Through all the injuries, the Steelers have played hard nosed football and gone 8-3 with one of the league’s most difficult schedules. The Steelers had no issues dispatching of the 1-9-1 Bengals and now must face four excellent teams above the .500 mark to finish off the season. Will they be able to hold onto their number one spot in the AFC North?

2. Titans 10-1

It was bound to happen, Brett Favre’s magic is still working in his favor as the Titans lost a tough one to the New York Jets in Week 12. What is worrying is the Titans lack of a running game in recent weeks. There is good news, the Titans face the porous Lions defense on what may be a Thanksgiving Day massacre in Week 13.

1. Giants 10-1

The Giants have always been the most complete team in the NFL and with the Titans first loss of the season, the Giants are now back atop of the Power Rankings. Even with injuries to top players on both sides of the football, the Giants are still dishing out wins on a weekly basis. Could the Giants go all the way and win back to back Super Bowls?

This is the way the rankings look for right now; have a Happy Thanksgiving and tune in next week once again to see how your team fares!

2008 NFL Power Rankings: Week 12

J.J. McDermott — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:27:10 -0500

J.J. McDermott, NFL Columnist at Fantasy Football Maniaxs

2008 in the NFL is a season for the ages, and Week 11 did not disappoint. Week 11 had many shootouts and showdowns all around the league. The big stories include the Titans staying undefeated at 10-0, the Jets beating the Patriots in overtime to reach the top of the standings in the AFC East, and the Cowboys having their revenge on the Redskins.

Without boring you with details, I present to you Week 12’s Power Rankings.

32. Lions 0-10

The Lions are officially one week closer to going 0-16. There is not much to report on when it comes to the Lions. Good luck against the 7-3 Buccaneers in Week 12!

31. Chiefs 1-9

The Chiefs once again fought valiantly in Week 11 only to come up short of pay dirt. Tyler Thigpen has continued to perform well and with Larry Johnson back in the lineup, less stress will be put on Thigpen’s shoulders.

The Chiefs have the ability and schedule in place to possibly win a game or two before season’s end, maybe even this Sunday against a fallen 5-5 Bills team.

30. Bengals 1-8-1

Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson has remained relatively quiet this season while battling through injuries while T.J. Houshmandzadeh has now taken the podium as the wide receiver on the Bengals with the biggest mouth.

Many of us saw T.J. throw his temper tantrums all day long in the Bengals overtime tie to the Eagles. Now at 1-8-1, will the Bengals finally place Carson Palmer on the injured reserve?

29. Raiders 2-8

I have spoken to many Raiders fans as of late and I agree with them as many have said the Raiders will not return to glory until the former mastermind owner turned Crypt Keeper, Al Davis finally bites the dust. Many of those Raiders fans are still wishing Lane Kiffin was still leading the team this season.

The offense has been non-existent and his looked horrible while interim coach Tom Cable has been in charge. Will the Raiders be humiliated once again by the Broncos in Week 12, or will they revenge their Week One blowout?

28. Seahawks 2-8

Matt Hasselbeck and Deion Branch’s returns were not enough as the Seahawks lost their third straight game on Sunday against the division leading Cardinals. Hasselbeck looked extra rusty, throwing for three interceptions on the day. Poor Mike Holmgren…

27. Rams 2-8

The past three weeks have been absolutely brutal for the Rams. They have surrendered over 30 points in each of the past three games and haven’t scored more than 16 points themselves in that span.

There is a long list of positions the Rams will be shopping around for and drafting in the offseason. Jim Haslett will have to energize his team in hopes to turn things around as the Bears come to town this week.

26. 49ers 3-7

Congratulations to Mike Singletary on his first win as the 49ers head coach! Shaun Hill may be the answer in San Francisco after managing the 49er offense efficiently in Sunday’s blowout win over the Rams. Hill will have his hands full in Week 12, as the 49ers head to Dallas to face the 6-4 Cowboys.

25. Texans 3-7

The Texans came up short in a shootout versus the up-and-coming Colts in Week 11. Sage Rosenfels has continued to struggle at quarterback as the Texans have heavily relied on the legs of Steve Slaton and Ahman Green recently. Matt Schaub's return could not come sooner for Texans fans.

24. Jaguars 4-6

The Jaguars did a decent job silencing the Titans run game in Week 11 but failed to prevent Kerry Collins from torching them for three touchdown passes in Sunday’s loss. With the Jaguars now out of the playoff mix, and linebacker Mike Peterson possibly in his last year as a Jaguar, will the Jags’ set their sights directly on 2009 or put up a fight against a tough Vikings team in Week 12?

23. Browns 4-6

Welcome to the Brady Quinn show! Quinn has played efficiently and mistake free football since taking over the starting quarterback slot while finally incorporating Braylon Edwards into the mix in Monday night’s thrilling win over the Bills.

Can Quinn and the Browns go for two in a row against a 3-7 Texans team in Week 12?

22. Chargers 4-6

The Chargers have been the poster boys for inconsistency and major disappointments of 2008. What is sad for the Chargers is that all six losses this season have been decided by nine points or less. If the Chargers finish below .500 on the year, will Norv Turner be back for the Chargers in 2009?

21. Bills 5-5

Making it all the way to No. 5 on our Power Rankings earlier in the season, the Bills have suffered from the worst midseason meltdown in the NFL.

The Bills started the season at 5-1 only to drop their last four straight including three divisional contests. Trent Edwards had his worst game as a pro in Week 11, and Lee Evans was nonexistent for the third game in a row.

Have the Bills officially faded in 2008?

20. Saints 5-5

For the second year in a row, the Saints have been heavily favored to make a run to the Super Bowl but have not performed to the highest standard. To make matters worse, Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey have both been major disappointments in 2008. Can the Saints salvage their season starting with the Packers in Week 12?

19. Vikings 5-5

The Vikings fought valiantly against a tough Buccaneers team in Week 11 but came up short losing 19-13. Gus Frerotte has performed well when called upon this season but without consistency at quarterback, it is certain that the Vikings will be shopping around for a quarterback and other offensive weapons in the off-season to compliment star running back Adrian Peterson.

18. Bears 5-5

Kyle Orton’s return to the lineup in Week 11 did not work out as planned for the Bears as they were blown out at home by the Packers 37-3.

Orton will have to rally the troops to stay in the hunt in the NFC North as they head to St. Louis to face a 2-8 Rams team in Week 12.

17. Packers 5-5

Aaron Rodgers and company put a whipping on their NFC North rivals in Week 11, blowing out the Bears 37-3. Even better news for the Packers, Ryan Grant has averaged over four yards a run the past three weeks in a row now. Grant and the Packers look to continue their second half surge on the road against the Saints in Week 12.

16. Eagles 5-4-1

Coach Andy Reid has overstayed his welcome in Philly. Facing the Bengals in Week 11, Reid opted to continue to throw the ball into the strong gusts of wind in Cincinnati. How much of an idiot can you be to throw against the wind consistently against one of the better secondaries and not run against a poor rush defense?

Andy Reid better get smart quick before the Eagles fade into the sunset in 2008.

15. Broncos 6-4

With Ryan Torain, Michael Pittman and Andre Hall all on the injured reserve, the Broncos incorporated a running back by committee approach in Sunday’s win over the Falcons. From the look of things, Peyton Hillis will be the preferred goal line back for the remainder of the season.

Jay Cutler and the Broncos will take their two game winning streak home to take on the Raiders in Week 12 in a rematch that last ended in the Broncos torching the Raiders 41-14 in Week One.

14. Dolphins 6-4

The Dolphins were able to squeak by a lame duck Raiders team on Sunday. Week 12’s matchup will pin Bill Parcells versus Bill Belichick in a must-win game for both teams to stay alive in the AFC East. Can the Dolphins protect their 1-0 record against the Patriots this season on Sunday?

13. Ravens 6-4

The Ravens would like to forget that Week 11 ever happened after they were embarrassed by the Giants. Joe Flacco through for two interceptions in the loss but led his team in rushing with 57 yards.

Luckily for the Ravens, things get easier for them as they face a struggling Brian Westbrook and Eagles team in Week 12.

12. Falcons 6-4

The Falcons came up short against the Broncos in a must-win game in Week 11. Matt Ryan and company will have to improve on last week’s loss by stepping up their game when they take on their division leading rival, Panthers in Week 12.

11. Cowboys 6-4

Not so fast, Redskins fans, the Cowboys are back! It may not have been pretty but at least we can say the Cowboys are since they were able to get Tony Romo and Jason Witten back for their Week 11 road game win.

Even better news for Cowboys fans, Adam “Pacman” Jones has been activated from his suspension and Felix Jones is also close to returning to the lineup as well. The Cowboys look to continue course to get back on a track by taking on the 49ers and Seahawks at home in Weeks 12 and 13.

10. Patriots 6-4

Can you believe that Matt Cassel led all quarterbacks with 400 yards and three scores through the air in Week 11 but still lost the game in the end? Week 11 was Cassel’s best game as a pro but his play alone was not enough to beat the red hot Jets.

After losing to the Jets in overtime, the Patriots seek their revenge on the Dolphins, who upset the Pats’ in Week Three.

9. Colts 6-4

The Colts won a shootout against the Texans in Week 11 without defensive leader, Bob Sanders. Without Sanders in the lineup, the Colts defense surrendered 177 yards and three scores on the ground.

The good news being that Peyton Manning and the Colts offense looked to be back on its game. Now can Manning and the Colts continue their luck against an unpredictable Chargers team in Week 12?

8. Redskins 6-4

So much for the Skins’ going 2-0 against the Cowboys in 2008. We know that Clinton Portis is a little nicked up as of late but where has the offense gone over the past few weeks? At least the Redskins should have a pretty good chance to get back on a track in Week 12 against a weak 2-8 Seahawks team.

7. Cardinals 7-3

Kurt Warner is a freak of nature at the age of 37; with the way he has shredded defenses in 2008, he is a definite candidate for MVP. So, as hot as Kurt Warner and the Cardinals have run away with the NFC West, but can they win on the road against the defending world champion Giants in Week 12?

6. Jets 7-3

Congrats Jets Nation, ‘Brett the Jet’ did exactly what he came to New York to do, beat the Patriots. The Jets are now on a roll, winning 6 of their last 7 games as they head to Tennessee in Week 12. Now can this revived Jets team put a stop to the Titans undefeated season?

5. Buccaneers 7-3

The Buccaneers were able to grind out their second win in a row on Sunday against Jared Allen and the Vikings. Jeff Garcia and company fought back in the fourth quarter to seal the Buccaneers seventh win of the season but their win came with a cost.

The Bucs’ played leading rushed Earnest Graham on the injured reserve on Wednesday after Graham severely injured his ankle in Sunday’s win.

With Graham gone, the Buccaneers will leave their running game in the hands of Warren Dunn and recently activated Cadillac Williams for the remainder of the season.

The real question is, are the Buccaneers talented enough to catch up to their NFC-South-leading Panthers?

4. Steelers 7-3

The Steelers Week 11 win over the Chargers may have been quite sloppy but with one of the NFL’s most difficult schedules, a win is a win. Sunday’s hard earned win in the snow did showcase the fact that the Steelers offense may finally be coming together.

Big Ben Roethlisberger threw for an impressive 308 yards, and a healthy Willie Parker was able to run for 115 yards in the Steelers seventh win of the season. Now can the Steelers go 8-3 after facing the one-win Bengals in Week 12?

3. Panthers 8-2

The Panthers running game and defense have been off the hook over the past two weeks. The Panthers have averaged an insane 213 yards and two scores a game. Of course, these totals are inflated due to the fact they have been against weak Lions and Raiders defenses. The running game has been impressive but the passing game has been much to be desired as of late.

Jake Delhomme will need to vastly improve on his previous two game total of 170 yards through the air and who can forget his 4 interceptions to 2 touchdown passes ratio.

2. Giants 9-1

The Giants have come up big thus far in the second half of their season. Averaging 209 rushing yards a game and two scores over the span of the last three contests against the Ravens, Eagles, and Cowboys have been quite impressive. Beating their opponents by as much as 21 points a game can not hurt either, can it?

1. Titans 10-0

The Tennessee Titans are officially 10-0 after eleven weeks of football. What is more impressive for the Titans is the fact that they have been able to play excellent all around football.

Teams like the Jaguars and Bears have excellent jobs limiting the Titans running game in recent weeks but Kerry Collins and company have been able to win games through the air as of late.

The Titans must now defend their undefeated season against the red hot, AFC East leading Jets in Week 12.

This is the way the rankings look for right now; tune in next week once again to see how your team fares!

2008 NFL Power Rankings: Week 11

J.J. McDermott — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:25:36 -0500

J.J. McDermott, NFL Columnist at Fantasy Football Maniaxs

Like every week of the 2008 NFL season, Week 10 provided fans and critics alike with another unpredictable week of games. Many of you saw the Cardinals hold the 49ers at the one-yard line and seal a hard earned win.

Also in Week 10 the Titans once again proved themselves and stay undefeated on the year. Moving on, Week 11 contains many exciting and must win games for many ball clubs.

One of the most talked about games is Thursday’s showdown pinning the Patriots and the Jets for the top seed in the AFC East. Also in Week 11, the Cowboys look for revenge against their rival Redskins who beat them in Week Four, 26-24.

Without further ado, I present you with Week 11 Power Rankings.

32. Lions 0-9

I am sorry Lions fans but is there any hope for a single Lions win in 2008? The next five weeks for the Lions are only going to get more hellish for this bleak team. Those next five match-ups are against all teams above the .500 mark. Lions fans everywhere, pray long and hard because your team has the distinct possibility of going 0-16.

31. Bengals 1-8

The Bengals were able to head into their bye week in Week 10 on a high note for the first time in 2008. The Bengals officially won a game this season but will they risk bringing back a fragile Carson Palmer this season?

30. Chiefs 1-8

Where did Tyler Thigpen come from? Thigpen has helped turn around a struggling Chiefs offense as of late even though they did come up short against a nicked up Chargers team in Week 10. Whoever this new Tyler Thigpen is, he will have his chance to continue his mistake free play against a struggling Saints team in Week 11.

29. Raiders 2-7

Week 10 was just another week to forget for Raiders fans everywhere. With millions of dollars invested in to recent year’s draft picks JaMarcus Russell and Darren McFadden, both did not hit the field in Week 10. With one of the worst offenses in the league, what are the odds that Tom Cable will be part of the Raiders plans for the future after this season ends?

28. 49ers 2-7

Another week, another loss for Mike Singletary’s 49ers. The 49ers actually scored more than twenty four points for only the fourth time this season in Monday’s loss to the Cardinals. Taking on the 2-7 Rams in Week 11, can the 49ers earn their third win of the season?

27. Seahawks 2-7

Sure they are 2-7 going into Week 11 but there is hope out there for Seahawks fans. There is a good chance that Matt Hasselbeck and Deion Branch may be back on the field for Week 11’s match-up against their divisional rival Cardinals.

26. Rams 2-7

3-47… There is not much to explain about Sunday’s 44-point loss to the Jets. The Rams were outplayed in every aspect of the game on Sunday. With Steven Jackson still out, their offense continues to lack a well needed spark. Facing another 2-7 team in Week 11, can the Rams right a wrong by beating the 49ers on route to winning their third game?

25. Texans 3-6

Just when things were going uphill for the Texans, Matt Schaub is now sidelined for the next three to four weeks, and then backup quarterback, Sage Rosenfels threw for four interceptions in the Texans 13-41 loss to the Ravens. Can Rosenfels prevent turnovers of his own and get the Texans back on track in Week 11 against the up and coming Colts?

24. Browns 3-6

After blowing their 20-10 halftime lead and spoiling Brady Quinn’s debut, the Browns have slipped to 3-6. Brady Quinn played efficiently in his starting debut but unfortunately it was not enough. The Browns are now losers of two in a row heading into this week’s showdown with the floundering 5-4 Bills.

23. Jaguars 4-5

Phew...The Jaguars had given the Bengals their first win of 2008 in Week Nine but were able to keep the Lions at bay in Week 10 by earning their fourth win of the season. The running game was revived this past week as Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones Drew combined for 150 yards and three scores on the day.

This is good news but it was also against a win-less Lions team. On to the bad news, the Jaguars are forced to face a Titans team that is the polar opposite of the Lions in Week 11. Now can the Jaguars whip up some magic and take down the undefeated Titans?

22. Chargers 4-5

Where are the tough nose, grab you by the throat Chargers that we all know? The Chargers pulled off a close, heated battle against division rival Chiefs in the last moments of the fourth quarter. Recently promoted defensive coordinator, Ron Rivera will need to step up and try to keep the Chargers afloat in the second half of the season. Rivera’s first task, stopping a 6-3 Steelers team in Week 11.

21. Saints 4-5

Yes, they are suffering from tons of injuries but just flat out blowing it against a divisional rival has put the Saints in a difficult hole in the NFC South. To add insult to injury, there is uneasy tension between Drew Brees and newly acquired tight end Jeremy Shockey who was benched in the second half of Week 10’s game.

All this does not bode well for a Saints team struggling to get to .500 as they head to Kansas City to face the 1-8 Chiefs in Week 11.

20. Packers 4-5

After starting the season 4-3 and losing a close battle with the Titans in overtime, most fans and critics thought the Packers had a legitimate shot in the NFC North. The first rule of business when facing the Vikings is to stack the box to stop Mr. “All Day” Adrian Peterson and force aging veteran, Gus Frerotte to throw the ball.

Unfortunately for the Packers, they failed in the task above as Peterson burned the Packers defense for 192 yards and a score on Sunday. After losing to their divisional rival Vikings, the Packers take on another divisional rival, Bears this Sunday. Can Aaron Rodgers fire his team up and get them back on track in Week 11?

19. Broncos 5-4

After falling behind a weak Browns team 20-10 at halftime, Jay Cutler went on to throw for 447 yards and three scores to bring his team to victory in Week 10. Cutler will have to carry his team for the remainder of the season as rookie Ryan Torain has joined fellow running backs Michael Pittman and Andre Hall on the injured reserve.

Cutler is not alone, of course, as the Denver defense must step it up as the team breaks in Tatum Bell who signed this week.

18. Dolphins 5-4

At the end of the 2007 season, would anyone have thought the Dolphins would be above the .500 mark halfway through the 2008 season? Bill Parcells has things looking up for the Dolphins and their future. The Dolphins face the Raiders at home in Week11 and have the opportunity to go 6-4 through the first eleven weeks of this season.

17. Vikings 5-4

Vikings fans wish it could be “All Day” every Sunday. After rushing for 192 yards in Week 10, Adrian Peterson and the Vikings set their sights on the 6-3 Buccaneers in Tampa Bay. After winning back-to-back games, can the Vikings make it three in a row on their way to battling back in the NFC North?

16. Bills 5-4

After starting off 2008 with a 5-1 record, the Bills have gone on to lose three straight games. To make matters worse, those three straight losses have all been against divisional opponents. Can the Bills reverse their current downward trend and prevent being humiliated as they face the Browns on Monday Night Football?

15. Colts 5-4

Bob Sanders is back in the lineup, now are the Colts officially back? If the Colts run the table in the second half of the season, they may have the chance to at least make the wild card. Now at home the Colts can make it three wins in a row against a struggling 3.-6 Texans in Week 11.

14. Eagles 5-4

After winning three in a row, the Eagles dropped a close one to the Giants in Week 10. What is concerning for the Eagles is Brian Westbrook’s health heading into Week 11. Luckily for the Eagles, they head to Cincinnati to face a 1-8 Bengals team fresh off a bye week.

13. Bears 5-4

The Bears succeeded in Week 10 by grounding the Titans running game. Sadly, the Bears were unable to keep Kerry Collins under raps as he threw for 289 yards and two scores on the way to lifting the Titans to their ninth win. The Bears look to turn things around as they head to Green Bay in Week 11.

12. Cowboys 5-4

After their Week 10 bye week, the Cowboys head to Washington for revenge against the Redskins for their Week Four win over the 'Boys. Good news for the Cowboys, they welcome back Tony Romo into the lineup for this week’s game. Can the Cowboys get back in the NFC East race starting Sunday?

11. Jets 6-3

The Jets put a whooping on the helpless Rams in Week 10. Thomas Jones had his best day as Jet as he continues to improve with each passing week. Now we will find out Thursday night if Brett Favre can do what the Jets brought him to New York to do, beat the Patriots.

10. Ravens 6-3

With a rookie quarterback and an aging defense, the Ravens have gone on to win four straight. What is more impressive is the Ravens averaging a healthy 33 points a game in that four game stretch. Now can the Ravens continue their ways by grounding the Giants run attack in Week 11?

9. Falcons 6-3

After last week’s 34-20 win over divisional rival Saints, rookie head coach Mike Smith deserves a lot more credit for has transformed his team in Atlanta. Matt Ryan seems to improving with each week as the Falcons inch closer and closer to the division lead with each week.

8. Cardinals 6-3

In one of the more impressive feats seen this season, the Cardinals were able to shut down the 49ers twice on the one-yard line to win their Monday Night Football match-up.

With Monday night’s win, the Cardinals increased their division lead to four games. Now the Cardinals head to Seattle to face a struggling 2-7 Seahawks team.

7. Patriots 6-3

Even through all the injuries the Patriots have faced in 2008, they have been able to stay afloat in the AFC East. Bill Belichick deserves credit for keeping the Patriots above the .500 mark.

The Patriots defend their 6-3 record at home against Jets on Thursday night to see who is the leader of the AFC East.

6. Buccaneers 6-3

After a late season bye week, the Buccaneers go in to Week 11 defending a 6-3 record. He is back! After an injury that left most people with a queasy feeling in their stomach and an unknown future ahead of him, Cadillac Williams will be in uniform for Sunday’s matchup against the Vikings.

5. Redskins 6-3

After a heart-wrenching loss against the Steelers in Week Nine, the Redskins were given a week off in Week 10 to prepare for Week 11’s showdown with the Cowboys. The downfall for the Redskins, star running back Clinton Portis is struggling with an injury. Can the Redskins overcome Portis’ injury and go 2-0 against the Cowboys in 2008?

4. Steelers 6-3

With a porous offensive line and injuries piling up, the Steelers are still atop of the AFC North. With injuries to Ben Roethlisberger and Willie Parker, the Steelers must defend themselves against a struggling Chargers team in Week 11.

3. Panthers 7-2

The Panthers dominated a helpless Raiders team in Week 10, even through Jake Delhomme’s four interceptions on route to their seventh win. The Panthers stand atop the NFC South as they take on the win-less Lions in Week 11.

2. Giants 8-1

The Giants fought a Eagles team that refused to back down in Week 10. Even without top defensive weapons, the Giants still have one of the most dominating defenses in the league. Also with one of the top rushing attacks in the NFL, the Giants take on one of the top rushing defenses in the league against the Ravens in Week 11.

1. Titans 9-0

Another week, another win for the Titans. The Titans run game was shutdown in Week 10 as they had to rely on Kerry Collins arm to keep them in the game. The Titans have played all around excellent football all season long. They face the Jaguars, Jets, and Lions the next three weeks; can they continue their winning trend?

This is the way the rankings look for right now; tune in next week once again to see how your team fairs!

2008 NFL Power Rankings: Week 10

J.J. McDermott — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:19:12 -0500

J.J. McDermott, NFL Columnist at Fantasy Football Maniaxs

We are now officially past the halfway point of the 2008 football season. There have been plenty of surprises thus far in the National Football League. The Titans are still unbeaten at 8-0 while the Lions are still stuck at the dreaded 0-8. The battle for the AFC East and NFC North are just heating up as we now move onto our Week 10 Power Rankings.

32. Lions 0-8

And then there was one. The Lions are the very last NFL team to be without a single win in 2008. They have fought hard as a team, but the remaining schedule for the Lions is not too kind. Seven of the next eight games for the Lions are against teams with records above a .500 winning percentage.

31. Bengals 1-8

After being released by the Bears during the offseason, who would have thought that Cedric Benson would have another starting gig in the NFL? Raise of hands...that is what I thought.

Benson surprised fans and critics alike by rushing for 104 yards and a touchdown in the Bengals first win of the season against the Jaguars. Do not get too excited Bengals fans, after their bye week, the Bengals still must face the Eagles, Steelers, and Ravens over the span of three weeks.

30. Chiefs 1-7

Who said this young Chiefs team had to rollover and play dead this season? The Tyler Thigpen touchdown catch was one of the most exciting plays thus far this season. The Chiefs almost pulled off an upset over the Buccaneers, but a fourth-quarter meltdown added another "L" to the loss column. Now, can the Chiefs set their sights on putting together a possible upset against a dwindling Chargers team in Week 10?

29. Raiders 2-6

In Oakland, the Black Hole was silenced in the Raiders' embarrassing shutout loss against Matt Ryan’s Falcons. After another hideous loss, what must Al Davis be thinking? Oh wait, the Raiders released DeAngelo Hall on Wednesday and now set their sights on releasing another large cash gamble from this offseason, Javon Walker, before the season’s end.

28. 49ers 2-6

Let’s take a bet. How many of you think interim coach Mike Singletary will either: A. Drop his pants during another halftime speech to his team. B. Send more players to the showers after throwing a fit on field and continue making personnel changes. C. Will not be the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 2009. D. All the above.

27. Seahawks 2-6

The Seahawks are not flying high in 2008. In Mike Holmgren’s last season with the Seahawks, they have had the worst case of the injury bug a team could ever ask for. After juggling receivers to begin the season, the Seahawks are missing key pieces, including Matt Hasselbeck, Lofa Tatupu, and Patrick Kerney.

Can the Seahawks struggle to put up a fight against an up-and-down Dolphins team this week?

26. Rams 2-6

Jim Haslett should remain coach of the Rams in 2009. Haslett has lit a fire under his troops, and they have fought hard for him since taking over the team. Speaking of fighting hard, the Rams will have to against an up and coming 5-3 Jets team in Week 10.

25. Texans 3-5

Matt Schaub, the savior in Houston, right? When we all thought the Texans would finally turn their season around, Schaub suffered his second injury in two years after tearing his MCL in Week Nine’s game against the Vikings. There is good news for Texans fans: Even without Schaub in the lineup; the Texans are blessed with high quality backup quarterback in Sage Rosenfelds for the next four weeks.

24. Browns 3-5

Derek Anderson sought revenge against his old team in Week Nine but came up short. Anderson’s poor play in last week’s loss has the Browns turning to former Golden Domer, Brady Quinn come Week 10. Can Quinn work his magic against the Broncos, Bills, and Texans over the next few weeks?

23. Jaguars 3-5

Weeks Eight and Nine for the Jaguars were supposed to be the time for the team to turn their poor season around. Unfortunately for the Jaguars, that plan backfired horribly. After two straight losses verse two teams below .500, the Jaguars now head to Detroit to face a winless Lions team in Week 10. Will the Jaguars blow it and give the Lions their first win of the season?

22. Chargers 3-5

After becoming one of the season’s biggest disappoints, the Chargers fired defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell and have placed Ron Rivera in charge of their defensive unit. Can the Chargers take their first step towards .500 against an unpredictable 1-7 Chiefs team in Week 10?

21. Broncos 4-4

What happened to Mike Shanahan’s infamous running game out in Denver? Only one Broncos running back has eclipsed 100 yards this season, Michael Pittman. Unfortunately for the struggling Broncos, Pittman and Andre Hall have both been placed on the injured reserve, ending their seasons. The Broncos are left with last year’s pleasant surprise, Selvin Young, and the unproven rookie, Ryan Torain.

20. Dolphins 4-4

Who would have thought that after last season’s 1-15 record, the Dolphins would be at .500 by midseason 2008? The Dolphins will have the opportunity to stay above .500 with matchups against the Seahawks and Raiders over the next two weeks.

19. Saints 4-4

After Week Eight’s showdown against the Chargers in London, in which the Saints did what they had to do to win, they were blessed with a Week Nine bye week. Now at .500, can Drew Brees rally his team against the young and talented Falcons in Week 10?

18. Vikings 4-4

With the emergence of Gus Frerotte and the passing game, the Vikings seem to be treading water in the NFC North while being able to get back to .500 on the season. Gus Frerotte and the Vikings will have to be on top of their game with matchups against the Packers and Buccaneers over the course of the next two weeks.

17. Colts 4-4

It may not have been the Tom Brady and Peyton Manning showdown fans have loved, but the Colts pulled out a well-needed win in Week Nine. With Bob Sanders and Joseph Addai back in the lineup, the Colts look to make up on lost time against the Steelers, Texans, and Chargers over the next three games.

16. Packers 4-4

There is no shame in the Packers losing to the undefeated Titans in overtime in Week Nine. Aaron Rodgers received what most would agree as a well-deserved contract extension on Friday. The fight for the NFC North begins in Week 10, as the 4-4 Packers face off against the 4-4 Vikings for the second place spot in the division.

15. Cowboys 5-4

From Super Bowl hopefuls after starting the year 3–0 to being last in the NFC East, the Cowboys' worst enemy in 2008 is themselves. There is some hope in Dallas, after their bye week, Tony Romo may be back in action after injuring his pinkie versus the Cardinals in Week Six.

14. Ravens 5-3

Joe Flacco showed poise beyond his years in the Ravens' back-and-forth win against the Browns in Week Nine. Flacco better keep his poise, as he faces a 3-5 Texans team in Week 10 followed by the Giants and Eagles in the following weeks.

13. Bills 5-3

The Bills are going into their Week 10 showdown with AFC rival Patriots after two consecutive losses. If the Bills win or lose, their schedule still is not horrible as they face the Browns and Chiefs, two teams that are below .500 on the season over the next three weeks.

12. Jets 5-3

The Jets played a hard fought game against their division rival Bills in Week Nine, earning themselves their fifth victory of the season. Their win and the Patriots' loss to the Colts placed the Jets in a three-way tie for the AFC East by midseason. Even more good news for the Jets, they face a 2-6 Rams team in Week 10, in hopes of taking another step towards the top of the AFC North.

11. Patriots 5-3

The Patriots lost a tight game to the desperate Colts on a mission to win at any cost in Week Nine. The loss placed the Patriots in a battle for the AFC East, as they take on the Bills in Week 10 for a chance at the top spot in their division.

10. Eagles 5-3

The Eagles are on a roll, as the have won three consecutive games to put them at 5-3. With a healthy Brian Westbrook, the Eagles will have their toughest test yet, as they face divisional rival and reigning world champion Giants in Week 10.

9. Bears 5-3

The Bears win in Week Nine came with a large price. The Bears' starting quarterback, Kyle Orton was injured and will be out for a couple of weeks with a high-ankle sprain. Amidst boos from home fans, Rex Grossman subbed in for the injured Orton and carried his team to a 27-23 victory over the winless Lions. Grossman will get the starting nod, as he faces the still undefeated Titans in Week 10.

8. Falcons 5-3

After countless disappointments over the past two years, involving Michael Vick and Bobby Petrino, the Falcons finally have something to smile about. The Falcons currently stand at 5-3 in a competitive NFC South division. Speaking of NFC South, the Falcons will face division rival Saints in Week 10.

7. Cardinals 5-3

After Week Nine’s dominating win over the Rams, the Cardinals improved to a three-game lead in the NFC West. Coach Whisenhunt looked like a genius for benching veteran Edgerrin James for red hot rookie Tim Hightower. The Cardinals look to extend their lead to four games as they face division rival 49ers in Week 10.

6. Buccaneers 6-3

The Buccaneers came close to losing to the 1-7 Chiefs in Week Nine but fought back in overtime to win and earn them a well needed bye week this week. Good news for the Buccaneers, their passing game finally came alive as Jeff Garcia threw for 339 yards and a touchdown in the win. Can the Buccaneers continue their confidence against a Vikings team hungry for any win possible come Week 11?

5. Redskins 6-3

The Redskins go into their Week 10 bye following a 23-6 loss to the Steelers on Monday Night Football. Facing the Steelers defense is no easy task, as they forced Jason Campbell’s first two interceptions of the year and piled up seven sacks on the day. The Redskins look to get back on track and defend their 1-0 record against their division rival Cowboys in Week 11.

4. Steelers 6-2

The Steelers' defense came up huge in their Week Nine win over the Redskins; totaling up seven sacks and two interceptions at the end of the day. The good news, Willie Parker was back in Week Nine after being out for the past few weeks with a knee injury. But with any good win, it came with a price. Ben Roethlisberger left Monday night’s game and may not start in Week 10's showdown with the Colts.

3. Panthers 6-2

After their well deserved bye week, the Panthers set their sights on a weak Raiders team in Week 10. Even more good news for Panthers fans: The Panthers face the winless Lions in Week 11 and could very possibly be 8-2 by Week 12.

2. Giants 7-1

Last season, the Giants were 1-2 against their division rival Cowboys with their first win against the Boys’ in the playoffs on the way to winning their Super Bowl. Now in 2008, the Tony Romo-less Cowboys took a beating from one of the league's best defenses.

The Giants better bring that confidence with them through the end of the season as their remaining games of the season are all against teams above .500 mark.

1. Titans 8-0

Now 8-0 at the halfway point of the season, the Titans are still the only undefeated team in the National Football League. Jeff Fisher’s brilliance has served the Titans well thus far. Their running game is tops in the NFL, and their defense has dominated while keeping them in games all season long. Can the 2008 Titans make it to 16-0?

This is the way the rankings look for right now; tune in next week once again to see how your team fares!

2008 NFL Power Rankings: Week Nine

J.J. McDermott — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 05:10:10 -0400

The 2008 season in the National Football league has been a hard fought and unpredictable year. After eight weeks of football we are left with many questions. Can the Titans do the unthinkable and go 19-0? Will the Giants continue to defend their title? Will the Bengals and Lions go winless? We will not know those answers until later in the season. But now, without further ado, we can move onto Week Nine’s Power Rankings.

32. Bengals 0-8

Add another mark to the loss column for the Bengals. Let us look at the factors that got them here. Carson Palmer has been sidelined with an elbow injury, Chad Johnson has been in a sling for most of the season that has hampered his play, they placed linebacker Keith Rivers on the injured reserve with a broken jaw, and the list goes on.

What does this mean? That is easy; it has been a long, grueling season for the Bengals organization. One thing that can be looked forward to for next year is a top pick in the coming draft.

31. Lions 0-7

The race is on! The race for the Lions and Bengals to see which team will end with a worse record in 2008. With a tough schedule still ahead of them, will the Lions have the opportunity to win a single game before season’s end?

30. Chiefs 1-6

Tyler Thigpen looked like a well-seasoned pro in Sunday’s close loss to the Jets. After he threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns, do the Chiefs really need to sign recently retired veteran, Daunte Culpepper?

29. 49ers 2-6

Mike Nolan is gone and Mike Singletary is now head coach in San Francisco but the 49ers still did not win on Sunday. Singletary is not afraid to make changes; his first decision was to pull turnover prone quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan for game managing quarterback Shaun Hill. Will Singletary’s recent changes and new attitude pay off for the 49ers?

28. Raiders 2-5

Did the Raiders really have any chance on Sunday? They gave up four sacks, one safety, and one interception, and were beat into submission. JaMarcus Russell has continued to slowly improve over the course of the season, but falling behind early, Russell was forced to throw often against a tough Ravens defense in Sunday’s loss.

27. Seahawks 2-5

With Matt Hasselbeck still banged up, Charlie Frye was not the answer, but Seneca Wallace was able to step up, helping the Seahawks earn their second win on the season. Will Wallace and the Seahawks be able to carry their momentum to this week’s match up with the blitz-happy Eagles?

26. Rams 2-5

Jim Haslett’s Rams came within minutes from going 3-0 since Haslett has taken over the team. With Torry Holt continually being double teamed, Marc Bulger has found a new favorite target in rookie Donnie Avery. If only Steven Jackson could come back from his injury soon, maybe the Rams could improve on their poor offense.

25. Texans 3-4

The Texans made it look easy on Sunday, demolishing the helpless Bengals, 35-6. With that win, the Texans have won three games in a row. Matt Schaub has thrown for 1,623 yards and 10 touchdowns, as well as adding two rushing touchdowns in just six games this season. Can he continue his string of luck this week against the Vikings?

24. Browns 3-4

After an unusually slow start, the Browns have gone on to win three of their past four games. Now can Derek Anderson and his revived Browns team go out and beat one of the toughest defenses Sunday against the Ravens?

23. Chargers 3-5

If not for the Chargers' first two heart wrenching losses of the season, they would be 5-3 instead of being under .500 by mid-season. The good news for the Chargers is that LaDainian Tomlinson seems to have re-found his step in Sunday’s loss to the Saints, where he totaled 170 yards and a touchdown on the day.

The Chargers will have an opportunity to redeem themselves after their bye in week ten, when they face a weak Chiefs team.

22. Dolphins 3-4

The Wildcat formation has only gotten the retooled Dolphins so far this season. On the other hand, Chad Pennington has done a terrific job managing and keeping his team in games. If Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams could get the running game back on track, the Dolphins could surprise many before year’s end.

21. Vikings 3-4

After last year’s surge, the Vikings were a favorite to make the playoffs with ease. This season, though, they have struggled to stay above .500 in the NFC North. Their powerhouse of a defense has been on fire as of late, but their unfortunate turnover issues have cost them games. In week nine, can Jared Allen and his wrecking crew stop a red hot Texans team fresh off a three-game win streak?

20. Colts 3-4

The Colts came within a quarter from putting a stop to the Titans' undefeated season on Monday night. Dominic Rhodes has played well in relief of the injured Joseph Addai, but the porous rush defense has still continued to play poorly. Things will not be getting much easier for the Colts as they now have to face the Patriots, Steelers, and Texans over the span of the next three weeks.

19. Jaguars 3-4

Where has the running game gone in Jacksonville? Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew combined for a measly 53 yards on 20 carries in week eight’s loss to the Browns. The Jaguars still have the ability to go over .500 this season, as they face the winless Bengals and Lions over the next two weeks.

18. Saints 4-4

Across the pond, the Saints played a hard fought battle against the Chargers to put them at .500 on the year. Surprisingly, Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey were not major factors in Sunday’s win. The Saints will have their opportunity to stay in the race for the NFC South as they face the Falcons and Chiefs after their bye this week.

17. Jets 4-3

Brett Favre looked like the Brett Favre of old on Sunday. Facing a 1-5 Chiefs team, Favre continuously threw into double coverage for three interceptions on the day. "Broadway Brett" is now tied for the league lead in interceptions. Can Favre contain himself as he takes on the division rival Bills in week nine?

16. Ravens 4-3

The Ravens' defense shut down the Wildcat formation in week seven and then baffled a weak Raiders offense in week eight. The Ravens are back over .500, but can their top-ranked defense stop a Browns team that is on a roll?

15. Packers 4-3

After a much-needed bye week, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will face their toughest test of the season on Sunday when they face the undefeated Titans. Things would be much easier for Rodgers if running back Ryan Grant could improve on his 3.4 yards per carry average for the season.

14. Broncos 4-3

After a blowout in week seven on Monday Night Football against the Patriots, the Broncos were blessed with a much-needed bye in week eight. The defense is a continual cause for concern, but their backfield will get a little more crowded now that sleeper stud Ryan Torain joins the team in week nine against the floundering Dolphins.

13. Bears 4-3

The Bears won a shootout in week seven against their division rival Vikings and now face a winless Lions team in week nine. If all goes well, the Bears can go 5-3 heading into week ten’s showdown with the undefeated Titans.

12. Falcons 4-3

The Falcons showed their age against the blitz-happy Eagles on Sunday. Matt Ryan has played like one of the best rookie quarterbacks the league has seen for some time. We will see if Ryan continues his rookie luck against a struggling Raiders team in week nine.

11. Eagles 4-3

The Eagles welcomed back Brian Westbrook and Kevin Curtis with open arms in week eight as they picked apart the up-and-coming Falcons team. Westbrook played the role of Superman on Sunday, totaling 209 yards and two touchdowns on the day. Can they keep the momentum going to catch up in the NFC East against a struggling Seahawks team in week nine?

10. Cardinals 4-3

The Cardinals continued their east coast road game issues on Sunday, dropping a close one against a revived Panthers team. The Cardinals should not have to skip a beat facing the Rams, 49ers, and Seahawks over the next three weeks and looking to improve on their recent success.

9. Buccaneers 5-3

The Buccaneers lost a close one to the 'Boys from Dallas on Sunday. Many would have thought Jeff Garcia would have lit up the banged up Dallas secondary come Sunday, but were unexpectedly wrong. Garcia will have to greatly improve on his 5.18 yards per attempt as he faces a 1-6 Chiefs team come Sunday.

8. Cowboys 5-3

Even lacking leadership, a secondary, and steady quarterback play could not stop the Cowboys from pulling off the tight win against the Buccaneers on Sunday. Could this be the last we see of Brad Johnson this season? After this week’s showdown with the Giants, Cowboys fans can only hope so. Tony Romo is expected back after the team’s week ten bye for a rematch against the Washington Redskins.

7. Patriots 5-2

With starters Tom Brady, Laurence Maroney, and Rodney Harrison all on injured reserve, we would expect the Patriots to be struggling right about now, but we would be wrong wrong. The Patriots have kept their composure and have tied the Bills for the division lead. Can the Patriots improve on their current 5-2 record against a struggling Colts team this Sunday?

6. Bills 5-2

The Bills should have won against the Dolphins on Sunday. They let the Dolphins sneak back into the game and win it in the fourth quarter. Every team has had a surprise loss this season—except for the Titans—so the Bills are entitled to one as well.

The Bills better get right back on that horse, as the Patriots are back and are nipping at their feet for the AFC East division lead.

5. Steelers 5-2

The Steelers came close to beating the reigning world champs in week eight. Ben Roethlisberger is turning into a human piñata in Pittsburgh, and if the Steelers' offensive line does not improve, we may see candy scattered around the ground at Heinz Field before season’s end.

4. Redskins 6-2

The Redskins have been one of the few surprise teams of the year thus far. Lead by the improved and flawless play of Jason Campbell, the Redskins won their sixth game of the season on Sunday. They face the tough task of battling the injury depleted Steelers on a sure to be action packed Sunday.

3. Panthers 6-2

After battling back from a 17-3 deficit to win against the Cardinals, the Panthers improved to 6-2 on Sunday. Sunday’s win put the Panthers at the top of the NFC South division race as they head into their bye week.

2. Giants 6-1

The Giants persevered against the banged up Steelers on Sunday. After fighting back from a 14-9 deficit, the Giants secured their place at the top of the NFC East for another week. Next, the Giants face the Tony Romo-less Cowboys at home on Sunday.

1. Titans 7-0

Another week, another win for the still undefeated Titans. The Titans controlled their game against the Colts from start to finish. One of the top defenses, as well as the leadership of veteran Kerry Collins and the duo of LenDale White and Chris Johnson, has paved the way for the Titans' magical start as they head into week nine to face off against the Packers.

This is the way the rankings look for right now; tune in next week once again to see how your team fairs!

2008 NFL Power Rankings for Week Eight

J.J. McDermott — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:09:05 -0400

J.J. McDermott, NFL Columnist at Fantasy Football Maniaxs

Week Six may have been the week for the underdogs, but Week Seven has continued that trend! Teams like the Cowboys have begun to fall in the rankings, while teams like the Falcons have surprised most and risen in the rankings, but all that can be said is that this season of football has been unpredictable and exciting! Now, without further with ado, on to Week Eight’s Power Rankings.

32. Bengals 0-7

The Bengals are 0-7 and have now lost their rookie linebacker for the remainder of the season. With Carson Palmer still out, will the Bengals pack it in and place Palmer on injured reserve?

31. Lions 0-6

After falling in the hole early against the Texans, the Lions battled back on Sunday and came up short. They now face the daunting task of trying to win a single game the remainder of the season against teams that are near .500 or better. With the No. 1 pick of the 2009 draft, the Lions take...

30. Chiefs 1-5

The Chiefs first had to deal with Tony Gonzalez wanting a trade out of Kansas City, now they are forced to deal with Larry Johnson and his never-ending drama once again. The Chiefs once again were manhandled on Sunday and have only scored more than 14 points just once this season.

29. Seahawks 1-5

Everyone has an off year, but even in one of the weakest divisions in the entire NFL? So much for leaving on the top of your game, Mike Holmgren.

28. 49ers 2-5

The 49ers tried to keep it close but, once again, the turnover bug bit them on Sunday. After Sunday’s loss against the Giants, Mike Nolan was fired midway through his fourth season as head coach. The Rams have gone 2-0 and the Raiders 1-1 since firing their head coaches this season; now can the 49ers follow in their footsteps?

27. Raiders 2-4

Tom Cable has done his research in Oakland and Sunday, he proved it in their win over the Jets. Cable’s idea of finding what his team does best and stick with it worked to perfection against legend Brett Favre and his Jets.

26. Rams 2-4

Out with the old and in with the new. Jim Haslett’s Rams have now gone 2-0 since firing Scott Linehan. They beat the heavily-favored Cowboys by a boatload but suffered a setback when running back Steven Jackson was injured before game’s end.

25. Browns 2-4

After an upset over the Giants a week ago, the Browns came up just short of pulling another upset against the Redskins in Week Seven. Unfortunately, the Browns could not keep star tight end Kellen Winslow’s mouth shut, as he will miss the next game against the Jaguars after damaging comments made toward the Browns' organization.

24. Dolphins 2-4

The 2007 Dolphins got their only win that season against the Ravens. In 2008, there is a much different conclusion. The "Wildcat" formation was shut down by one of the league’s best defenses, as the Dolphins fell in Week Seven. Things will not get easier for the Dolphins, who face a red hot Bills team in Week Eight.

23. Texans 2-4

The Texans beat up on the helpless Lions in Week Seven to win back-to-back games for the first time in 2008. Matt Schaub and the Texans team have woken up and are fighting to hit .500; they will have some help when they face the winless Bengals in Week Eight.

22. Saints 3-4

With Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey back in the lineup, there are no more excuses for the Saints, right? Wrong. The Saints were demolished Sunday; beat by division rival Panthers, 7-30. Now the Saints must fly to London to play the Chargers and come home to the United States to play two more away games against the Falcons and Chiefs.

21. Vikings 3-4

The Vikings' special-teams unit was atrocious and assisted in Sunday’s loss to the Bears. What also did not help the Vikings were Gus Frerotte’s four, I repeat, four interceptions on the day. Will the Vikings poor play leave Brad Childress on the hot seat in Minnesota? The Vikings have a bye this week but have a chance to redeem themselves against the Texans in Week Nine.

20. Chargers 3-4

The Chargers are a textbook case of inconsistency this season and have fallen in the power rankings. The Chargers do have the talent, but do they or do they not want to dominate in the NFL? Their next two matchups are against teams below .500, so we will see if the Chargers come to play in the coming weeks.

19. Jets 3-3

Welcome to New York, Mr. Brett Favre! This past week has not been one for the record books for the Jets' newly-acquired legend. Favre had three fumbles and two interceptions against one of the league's worst teams, the Oakland Raiders.

Furthermore, there are plenty of rumors regarding Favre and his previous team, the Packers, as well as the Lions. Favre and the Jets will have their chance to redeem themselves this week when they take on the 1-5 Chiefs.

18. Ravens 3-3

The Ravens' defense shut down the “Wildcat” formation and the rookie Joe Flacco had a good showing, as they steamrolled over the Dolphins in Week Seven. Now back at .500, the Ravens are given a chance to continue their string of luck against the Raiders, Browns, and Texans over the next three weeks.

17. Colts 3-3

A week after making it look easy against the Ravens, the Colts played horrible football against the Packers. Peyton Manning threw two interceptions, and unfortunately for the Colts, both interceptions went back for touchdowns. Things are not going to get easier for the Colts, as they now have to face the Titans, Patriots, and Steelers over the next three weeks.

16. Jaguars 3-3

After a well-needed bye week, things are looking up for the Jaguars. Their next three games are against some of the league’s worst teams, including the Browns, Bengals, and Lions. After a slow start, the Jaguars now have the ability to go 6-3 come Week 10.

15. Eagles 3-3

The Eagles were given a bye week in Week Seven and the good news is that Brian Westbrook’s ribs are said to be improving and wide receiver Kevin Curtis should finally make his first appearance of 2008. The Eagles will be in need of a healthy Westbrook and Curtis against the young and surprisingly good Falcons in Week Eight.

14. Packers 4-3

Did the decimated secondary hurt the Packers in Week Seven? Absolutely not! The Packers played solid, all-around football to beat a respectable Colts team. The Packers will be looking to continue their current luck over the next few weeks with games against the undefeated Titans, as well as the Vikings and Bears.

13. Broncos 4-3

Week Seven was a week the Broncos would like to forget. The Broncos committed five turnovers on Monday Night Football against the Patriots. The defense is still a cause for concern after giving up three touchdowns to Matt Cassel and 138 rushing yards to Sammy Morris in just the first half. This week, the Broncos are blessed with a bye week to pick up the pieces and get healthy.

12. Cowboys 4-3

Are the stars burning out in Dallas? The Cowboys have lost three straight games after Sunday’s collapse against the Rams. The Cowboys are lacking leadership, a secondary, and most of all, steady quarterback play.

11. Bears 4-3

The Bears won a shootout on Sunday against their divisional rivals, the Minnesota Vikings. What is more impressive is the fact that the only three losses the Bears have had in 2008 have been by three points or less in each contest. The Bears have a bye in Week Eight but come back in Week Nine to face a winless Lions team. The Bears can very well go 5-3 in the first nine weeks of the season.

10. Patriots 4-2

The Patriots almost blanked the Broncos in Week Seven, but with every win comes a price. The Patriots added Laurence Maroney and Rodney Harrison to the injured reserve this week. The Patriots look to keep the momentum against a possible Steven Jackson-less led Rams in Week Eight.

9. Falcons 4-2

Without having to lift a finger in Week Seven, the Falcons have flown into the top 10 for the first time this season. The surprise of 2008, the Falcons will have their toughest task against the blitz-heavy Eagles in Week Eight.

8. Cardinals 4-2

Kurt Warner will need to exercise his ball-handling skills this week against a tough-as-nails Panthers defense. Coming off a bye week, the Cardinals take on the Panthers and Rams on the road over the next two weeks. Will they continue up the chart on our rankings?

7. Panthers 5-2

After losing big against division rival Buccaneers, the Panthers put the beating on another rival, the Saints in Week Seven. After an impressive win, the Panthers will take on the red hot Cardinals in Week Eight, followed by two possible easy-win games against the Raiders and Lions.

6. Buccaneers 5-2

After back-to-back, Jeff Garcia-led wins, the Buccaneers look to continue their luck on the road against the fallen Cowboys and Rams. Even with his current success, will Jon Gruden stick with the veteran Garcia for the remainder of the season at this rate?

5. Redskins 5-2

After a tough loss to the Rams in Week Six, the Redskins almost blew it again in Week Seven against a struggling Browns team. Hopefully for Redskin fans, their team will not drop the ball against a winless Lions team in Week Eight.

4. Bills 5-1

The Bills played great all-around football on Sunday to defeat a tough Chargers team. Trent Edwards played to perfection and did not show any signs of his concussion from two weeks prior. The Bills will now face two mediocre teams in the Dolphins and Jets to see if they can go 7-1 thus far in 2008.

3. Steelers 5-1

The Steelers made it look way too easy in their dispatching of a still winless Bengals team in Week Seven. Mewelde Moore has continued to impress when called upon for the Steelers, but they will face their ultimate task, playing the world champion Giants in Week Eight.

2. Giants 5-1

The Giants bounced back after a devastating loss in Week Six to put a beating on a weak 49ers team in Week Seven. The downfall being that the 49ers team will be their easiest matchup for the remainder of the season. Coming up next for the world champions are the Steelers, Cowboys, and Eagles.

1. Titans 6-0

There is nothing like being undefeated, then having to travel and play one of the worst teams in the NFL. The Titans dominated the Chiefs from start to finish on Sunday. The "Pillsbury Doughboy," LenDale White, scampered for three touchdowns on the day, including an 80-yard run untouched to put the exclamation point on the Titans' sixth straight win.

This is the way the rankings look for right now; tune in next week once again to see how your team fares!

2008 NFL Power Rankings for Week Seven

J.J. McDermott — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:07:04 -0400

J.J. McDermott, NFL Columnist at Fantasy Football Maniaxs

Week six in the NFL was a week for the underdogs! Teams like the Rams and Texans are winless no more in 2008. The big story of the week was the New York Giants' fall from grace, losing on Monday Night Football to the previously one-win Browns.

How will the Giants' loss affect their rankings in Week Seven? See this and how all of your favorite teams fair in Week Seven’s Power Rankings.

32. Bengals 0-6-0

The Bengals are still winless and still without star quarterback Carson Palmer. Could the Bengals be last year’s Dolphins? Needless to say, there is no doubt that Marvin Lewis is on the hot seat this season.

31. Lions 0-5-0

Once again, I congratulate Lions fans everywhere for finally firing Matt Millen, but the Lions fought hard and have added another loss to their total after Week Six. They were successful in one area at least, ridding the team of Roy Williams for a first, third, and sixth-round draft picks from the Cowboys in the 2009 draft.

30. Rams 1-4-0

Surprise! The Rams have officially won a game in 2008. Just five more wins and Jim Haslett will be the new head coach of the St. Louis Rams. Not so fast Rams fans, Haslett and his team will have to get through games against the Cowboys, Patriots, and Cardinals next.

29. Chiefs 1-4-0

The Chiefs were unsuccessful in moving veterans Tony Gonzalez and Larry Johnson before the trade deadline this past week. Speaking of Johnson, he is deactivated for Week Seven's game against the undefeated Titans; he should consider himself lucky.

28. Raiders 1-4-0

34-3 against the Saints; poor Tom Cable. Things will not be getting easier for the Raiders, as they are forced to face the Jets, Ravens, and Falcons over the course of the next three weeks. On a positive note, the Raiders did not move Michael Bush before the trading deadline.

27. Seahawks 1-4-0

We all know Charlie Frye is not the answer in Seattle. The Seahawks are desperately missing quarterback Matt Hasselbeck captaining their offense. A 1-4 record cannot be what Mike Holmgren had in mind for his last year in Seattle, is it?

26. Texans 1-4-0

Matt Schaub played the game of his life last Sunday. Schaub threw for a NFL leading 379 passing yards and won the game on a quarterback draw with four seconds left to seal the Texan’s first win of 2008.

The first win is always the hardest to get, but it may not be their only one with games against the winless Lions and Bengals in Weeks Seven and Eight.

25. 49ers 2-4-0

We know the 49er offensive line is as porous as they come, but what’s up with the defense? They rank in the middle of the pack in every category, but it may get ugly facing the world champion Giants in Week Seven.

24. Browns 2-3-0

The Giants may have been able to put the beat down on the Browns in the preseason, but the Browns had the last laugh in their Week Six matchup, in which the Browns were able to chalk up their second win of the season.

Derek Anderson, Braylon Edwards, and company came to play, so much for the Brady Quinn era in 2008. The Browns better stay on target with games against the Redskins, Jaguars, and Ravens set to be played over the next few weeks.

23. Dolphins 2-3-0

The "Wildcat" formation only was able to get the Dolphins so far in Week Six's last-second loss to the Texans. Things will only get more challenging with the Ravens and Bills coming to town over the next two weeks.

22. Ravens 2-3-0

Unfortunately for the Ravens in Week Six, Joe Flacco showed his inexperience en route to their third-straight loss in a row. Flacco and company will have a chance to redeem themselves as they face the Dolphins, Raiders, and Browns over the next three weeks at least.

21. Saints 3-3-0

It is the week that Saints fans have been waiting for, Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey will reportedly be suiting up for Week Seven's showdown against their NFC South rival Panthers. The area of concern now in New Orleans is the secondary, giving up nearly 325 yards and 29 points a game.

20. Vikings 3-3-0

Gus Frerotte and company overcame an early deficit against the Lions to bring the Vikings to .500 on the season. The Vikings are on a roll after a slow start and have won two games in a row; will their luck continue against NFC rival Bears in Week Seven?

19. Packers 3-3-0

The defense has been decimated by injuries thus far this season but were able to keep the Seahawks at bay in Week Six to help bring the Packers to .500 on the year. Packers fans continue to keep their fingers crossed that Aaron Rodgers stays healthy and their prayers will be answered with a bye week coming in Week Eight to help rest the banged up Rodgers.

18. Jaguars 3-3-0

Injuries on both sides of the ball have continued to hurt the promising Jaguars in 2008. Luckily for them, they are blessed with a well-needed bye this week, just in time to take on the Browns, Bengals, and Lions in the coming weeks ahead.

17. Eagles 3-3-0

The Eagles' defense sealed the win in Week Six to bring the team to .500 on the season. The defense will get a well-needed rest this week, as the Eagles hope that after Week Eight, they will also get a healthy Brian Westbrook back.

16. Bears 3-3-0

After a heartbreaking loss to the young and talented Falcons, the Bears look to rebound against NFC North rival Vikings in Week Seven. The Bears look to take advantage of being at home this week to hopefully go into their bye week on a good note in Week Eight.

15. Patriots 3-2-0

Talk about punchless, the Patriots barely put up a fight in Week Six’s embarrassing loss to the Chargers. The Patriots seem to still have confidence in Matt Cassel, but we will see if that confidence continues after games against the Broncos and Colts in two of the next two weeks.

14. Jets 3-2-0

The Jets helped continue the Bengals' losing streak in Week Six but also did not help themselves either with Brett Favre throwing two horrible interceptions on the game. But things could not be better with games against the Raiders and Chiefs the next two weeks.

13. Chargers 3-3-0

Inconsistent is the name of the game for the Chargers. So far in 2008, it has been the Phillip Rivers show in San Diego. If not for their two heartbreaking losses to begin the season, the Chargers could have very well been 5-1 to begin the season.

12. Colts 3-2-0

The sleeping giant has awakened! The Colts manhandled a Baltimore defense that has played well up until last week’s loss. Looks like the Colts of old are back but will be tested right away against the Packers, Titans, and Patriots on the schedule the next three weeks.

11. Falcons 4-2-0

The Falcons are flying high after Week Six’s win. Matt Ryan has showed poise well beyond his years in captaining this young team. After not getting much love to begin the season, the Falcons are close to breaking the top ten in the NFL Rankings.

10. Panthers 4-2-0

Before heading into last week’s matchup with the Buccaneers, Jake Delhomme was 7-1 against them, but that all changed in Week Six’s beatdown, where we saw Delhomme throw for three interceptions. Delhomme will have to get it together soon with games against the Saints and the Cardinals on the way.

9. Buccaneers 4-2-0

Jeff Garcia showed that he was the man for the job in Week Six, helping the Buccaneers beat NFC South rival Panthers, 27-3. Garcia may be able to keep his job, and he will get help, with two of his next three games against teams with only a single win so far in 2008.

8. Broncos 4-2-0

We have talked about the Broncos' defense needing to step up, but where has the offense been the past two games? Monday night’s game should be interesting to watch and see if the Patriots plan to double up on Jay Cutler’s favorite target, Brandon Marshall.

7. Cowboys 4-2-0

They have lost their last two of three games, and now Tony Romo may be out up to four weeks. Things are proving to be difficult as of late and just got worse with Pacman Jones suspended the next four games. Yes, they may have made the move to nab Roy Williams this week, but who is going to be playing cornerback with Pacman suspended and Terence Newman still injured?

6. Bills 4-1-0

Thank god for a well-placed bye week. Word has it that Trent Edwards will be back from his concussion for Week Seven’s matchup with the Chargers. The Bills are going to need Edwards and everything they got against a hard-nosed team like the Chargers this week.

5. Cardinals 4-2-0

In Week Five, they took their aggression out on a previously undefeated Bills team and then outplay the Cowboys in Week Six; are the Cardinals for real? Kurt Warner is looking like the Kurt Warner of old and now gets to rest up this week while on bye.

4. Redskins 4-2-0

Every dog has his day and on Sunday, the Rams had the last laugh. There is plenty to be hopeful about in the coming weeks though, with games against the Browns and the Lions on the way for the Redskins.

3. Steelers 4-1-0

After a well-needed bye, the Steelers are off to face a winless Bengals team still playing without injured quarterback Carson Palmer. The Steelers look to kick the Bengals while they are down come Sunday and chalk up win number five.

2. Giants 4-1-0

From undefeated to beat by the Browns? The Giants were outplayed by the previously one-win Browns. One thing is for sure; the Giants did not show up in this game but what is more concerning is that the old Eli Manning has resurfaced.

1. Titans 5-0-0

And then there was one. Kerry Collins and company went into their bye in Week Six as the second undefeated team in the league, only to escape as now the only team undefeated. Will they be able to continue their luck?

This is the way the rankings look for right now; tune in next week once again to see how your team fairs!

Fantasy Football: Week Two's Trade'em & Grab'em

J.J. McDermott — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:27:18 -0400

J.J. McDermott, NFL Columnist at Fantasy Football Maniaxs

Each year there are players who put out reliable stats on a weekly basis on game day. Unfortunately, there are players whose performances one week are the highlight of their year and then are silenced in other weeks.

The goal is to realize who these players may be and sell them while their value is high. Here are some players who performed at a high level after week one but may not continue to perform at that higher level all year round.

Trade them now, while their value is high:

Donovan McNabb – McNabb made the Rams’ defense look like a high-school team on Sunday. McNabb won’t have that kind of success this week against the Cowboys though; missing his top two wideouts. The big question surrounding McNabb is how long can he stay healthy for?

Drew Brees – After losing star receiver and go to guy, Marques Colston, Brees is faced with a difficult task of replacing such a player. The remaining receivers play will be a large factor in if Brees and the Saint’s passing game will still put up decent yardage. Brees will, without a doubt, miss his large red-zone target in Colston for the next four to six weeks.

Michael Turner – Don’t get me wrong, Turner is a phenomenal runner that should put together a decent season, but many other running backs will make the Lion’s run defense look bad this year.

Matt Forte – He ran all over the Colt’s defense on Sunday, running for 123 yards and a touchdown in the Bear’s opening win. Forte was a beast in college and many people questioned the second-round pick used on him was too high.

But this is still the Bear’s offense we are talking about here; they lack quality receivers and steady quarterback play. If Forte faces a team that stacks the box to force the Bear’s to throw, Forte will become non-existent in the game.

Randy Moss – Yes, I went there. Moss plays a huge part in the Patriot’s offense but without Tom Brady, will he still step it up or give up like his play in Oakland? Matt Cassel played well in relief against a weak team, let’s see how well he produces in the coming weeks and see if Moss will continue to be as big a threat in the passing game.

One thing is to be certain, do not expect the same stats as last year from Moss.

Lee Evans – Last year, his play was on and off, driving fantasy owners everywhere nuts. There is hope that Evans may stay consistent this year after posting a 102 yard effort to begin the season as well as the drafting of receiver James Hardy to take pressure off Evans.

Unfortunately, Hardy was not a factor in the Bills' Week One win over the Seahawks. Unless Hardy or another Bills receiver steps up, Evans production may suffer from inconsistency once again.

After realizing who the inconsistent players are in the league, you look for the players that put up numbers for you each week. If the trade-price to grab them is low, you snatch these players up while you have the chance.

If the price is right, grab them:

Aaron Rodgers – Connecting 18 of 22 passes for a touchdown and adding a running score, Rodgers certainly looked sharp to begin the season. There are some questions about his ability to stay healthy, but you have to love the level-headed, hard-working player that he is.

Jay Cutler – Cutler picked apart the Raiders' solid secondary in a romping over the Raiders on Monday Night Football. Even without his favorite target and No. 1 receiver, Brandon Marshall, Cutler threw for 299 yards and two scores. Cutler’s numbers should only better with Marshall back in the lineup for the start of Week Two.

Reggie Bush – He put up great numbers, totaling 163 yards rushing and receiving in Week One. With Marques Colston out four to six weeks with surgery on his thumb, Bush’s touches will increase.

Chris Johnson – You don’t draft a running back in the first round and not plan to use him. The Titans ground game sure looked good with the addition of Johnson against Jacksonville, putting up 127 total yards and a touchdown in his NFL debut.

With Vince Young’s injury and current controversy for his commitment to his team, the Titans will continue to rely on their ground game.

Earnest Graham – In many fantasy drafts, Graham’s stock fell for fear that free agent Warrick Dunn may steal carries. Dunn is the least of Graham’s worries, as he put up 91 yards on just 10 carries and added 27 yards receiving in Week One.

The best part of Graham’s performance was coach Jon Gruden telling the media afterwards that he needs increase Graham’s workload.

Jerricho Cotchery – Brett Favre’s new favorite target certainly looked the part against the Dolphins, going for 80 yards and a score. Not every team will be a cakewalk for the Jet’s offense, but Cotchery will be Favre’s go-to target throughout the season.

Calvin Johnson – It is no secret anymore but Johnson will be give a breakout performance this year. Limited last year with an ailing back injury, Johnson only played to half his potential. He started off the year with a seven-catch, 107-yard game. The Lions' run-first offense will open opportunities for Johnson in the passing game.

Stay tuned over the next few weeks to see whose stock rises or falls and whom you should pick up in your league!

Here Is to a Tom Brady-Less Year

J.J. McDermott — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:40:52 -0400

J.J. McDermott, NFL Columnist at Fantasy Football Maniaxs

If you had taken Tom Brady as your round-one pick in your fantasy draft, first off, shame on you. I believe in taking a quality quarterback early in a fantasy draft, but not in the first round, especially after a player is coming off a known injury.

Tom Brady may have been a valuable contributor on your fantasy team but don’t give up, he is just one player among many. There are a few options you can pursue if your team is stuck in this nightmare of a situation.

One way many people may go about it is to trade away other players on your team to try to make up for it. If you do, you will hurt your team even more and, not to mention, overpay along the way while killing the depth on your squad.

A more reasonable way of going about things is to shop around for a potential sleeper or trade for a quarterback that is coming off a bad start.

Many fantasy players go haywire when their team struggles at the beginning of the season. The good news about that is many owners overpay along the way so you can pick up a quality quarterback by trading very little.

An option that is recommended is to rummage through your current free-agent quarterback listings in your league. There is the possibility of finding your own diamond in the rough if you look hard enough. Here are some players to look for and why.

Players to trade for if the price is right

Aaron Rodgers – Rodgers is now at the helm in Green Bay, where he looked solid in his debut, connecting on 18 of his 22 passes, including one touchdown pass, and he added a running touchdown to lead the Packers to their first win of the season. With the Brett Favre drama gone, it is time for Rodgers to finally shine.

Jake Delhomme – My favorite bionic football player showed no signs of his injury from last season in his come from behind thriller versus the Chargers. Without Steve Smith for the first two games, it will be difficult for Delhomme to have his home-run threat around, especially with his upcoming matchups.

After the next few weeks, it should be clear sailing for Delhomme and the Panthers, as their schedule gets a lot easier and his stats will only improve.

Kurt Warner – Warner was busy in the offseason with ball-control training. Most fantasy owners know that Warner has been turnover friendly over the years, but after this past game against San Francisco, he did not turn the ball over once. Maybe an old dog can learn new tricks after all?

Possible Free Agent Pickups

Matt Cassel – Look no further to replace Tom Brady than his own backup quarterback. Cassel is a Brady clone; coming from a large college where he did not receive much playing time, he was chosen in the late rounds of the NFL draft by the Patriots.

Cassel is a bright young man, blessed with a good situation. He has playmakers Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Laurence Maroney, and more around him to ease him into his starting role.

Jon Kitna – Mike Martz may be gone, but Kitna is placed in a better situation now in Detroit’s run-first offense, which opens up the field for him to throw to wide receiver studs Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson.

Jeff Garcia – Garcia may be getting up there with age and might be a tad fragile, but he is still a threat in the NFC south. Garcia and the Tampa Bay offense might not be the most exciting or flashy, but he will get the job done for you with the right matchups.

Chad Pennington – Pennington almost came from behind to upset his former team, but he came up short. Either way, he was still able to put up 250 yards and two touchdowns with only one turnover for the game. Not too bad, statistically, considering his lack of receivers in Miami.

J.T. O’Sullivan – He may have had a bad showing his first time around, but if O’Sullivan can take hold of Mike Martz offense's, he could put up the numbers to make him worth taking a chance on.

Trent Edwards/JaMarcus Russell – Both are second-year quarterbacks with plenty of weapons surrounding them. Be sure to keep a watchful eye on these two after their impressive Week One performances.

Look into these players in the coming weeks or snatch them up and play them this week in your league. The choice is yours so good luck fellow fantasy owners!

2008 NFL Power Rankings For Week Two

J.J. McDermott — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:33:32 -0400

J.J. McDermott, NFL Columnist at Fantasy Football Maniaxs

Week one may be over but it did not disappoint, as there were many exciting games to be seen this past week. Plenty of surprises and injuries were in store for us around the league as many playoff teams from last year are already struggling to start the season.

If there is one thing to be said after this week of football, that is, we are in for one unpredictable year!

1. Cowboys

After a week one blowout of the Cleveland Browns, the Cowboys have finally graced the top of the Power Rankings. The team looked in sync and picked apart the poor Browns secondary all day long. With Tom Brady’s season-ending injury, the Cowboys will be the team to beat in 2008.

2. Giants

Even through the injuries and retirements, last year’s world champions still know how to come out and win. Their defense still found a way keep the pressure on the Redskins offense and Eli Manning managed the offense well in his season debut.

3. Steelers

They played solid all around football to start off the season. The running game is in place, the passing game will do just fine (when needed), and the defense is still in the top ten.

4. Saints

Running out of the gate and not looking back, the Saints out played a tough divisional rival in their first week and emerged victorious. Their offense has always been explosive, but their vastly improved defense played a large role in their opening win.

5. Eagles

The only word that comes to mind to describe the Eagle’s win over the Rams in week one is dominant.

Even without their top two receivers, the Eagles tore apart a struggling Ram’s secondary with only their backup receivers. It will be scary to see how the Eagles will play once they regain Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown back by mid-season.

This week will be a huge test to see if the Eagles can keep up with last year’s division leader, the Cowboys.

6. Patriots

My, how the mighty have fallen.

After a near perfect season, Tom Brady is out for the remainder of the year.

But, do not count the Patriots out. The Patriots still play in a weak division and still only face four teams with a winning record from last season. Is Tom Brady the whole team? Absolutely not.

The Patriots still have play makers in Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Laurence Maroney among others on offense. Until Matt Cassel and the Patriot offense struggles, do not count this team out just yet.

7. Chargers

The Chargers lost a heart breaker to the Panthers at home to start the season. The Panthers played a good game, but the Chargers always seem to struggle to begin the year off.

The loss of Shawne Merriman to reconstructive knee surgery will make for a large hole to fill on defense, but if there is one thing the Chargers have other than talent on their team, it is depth.

8. Colts

The Colts struggled and looked rusty in their first game to begin the season. Peyton Manning was able to spread the ball around evenly to his receivers but turnovers and a lacking running game prevented the Colts from staying in the game.

The Colts will have to overcome rustiness and injuries to continue to stay atop of their constantly improving division.

9. Packers

Favre who? Aaron Rodgers looked solid in his debut, connecting on 18 of his 22 passes including one touchdown pass and added a running touchdown to lead the Packers to their first win to begin the post-Favre era in Green Bay.

It may just be one game but it should be interesting to see where Rodgers leads the Packers this season.

10. Titans

The Titans one two punch of Chris Johnson and Lendale White is going to keep them in games this season. Vince Young may be hurt but all you need in Tennessee is a quarterback who can hand off the pigskin to lightning quick Chris Johnson or pound it in there with Lendale White.

Their defense came to play in week one but look for them to keep up the momentum and try to keep them deep into games to give themselves a chance to win.

11. Bills

The Bills displayed probably the best all around team performance in week one. Everything went the way they wanted it for the Bills in their romping over the NFC West champion Seahawks.

The offense looked much improved from last year’s dismal showing, the defense has come together and is somewhat healthy for a change, and the special teams unit looked fantastic in the win.

12. Jaguars

The offensive line and receiving core are falling quickly in Jacksonville. The Jaguars are playing their backup guards and center. The running game needs to step it up after a pitiful effort in week one against Buffalo. The defense is going to have to keep them in the game if they are going to have a chance for a winning season.

13. Jets

There was a commercial during the game Sunday that read, “Different green, same Farve.” This saying is not far from the truth in the Jet’s week one win over former quarterback, Chad Pennington’s new team.

The offense finally looks like it has gelled nicely but it faces larger tasks than Miami this season so look for the outcome of many games depended on the offensive line’s play this season.

14. Vikings

The Vikings struggled with inconsistent play at quarterback as usual but in the second half, Tavaris Jackson finally found his rhythm, but by then it was too late. Jackson needs to find his rhythm earlier in games if he wants to give his offense a chance to win games because Adrian Peterson can not do it all by himself for the Vikings.

15. Panthers

The Panthers shocked the Chargers for a huge week one upset; all without star wide receiver Steve Smith on offense. Jake Delhomme’s bionic elbow looked great but the difference was the defense, which came up big for the Panthers holding league MVP, LaDainian Tomlinson to under a hundred yards in the game.

16. Bears

The Bear’s defense took a page from their playbook two years ago on its way to it’s win over the eventual 2006 Super Bowl champion Colts in week one. Steady play from Kyle Orton, a consistent running game, and a healthy defense will be the deciding factor if the Bears can pull off a winning season.

17. Broncos

They absolutely dismantled the Raiders all night long on Monday Night Football. The Broncos will find more difficult tasks this year but this was a big win to start off their season, especially without Jay Cutler’s favorite wide receiver, Brandon Marshall.

18. Buccaneers

The Buccaneers lost a close one to the Saints this past weekend. Watching the game, there was no big play threat for the Buccaneers and the defense looks like they are finally showing their age.

They are still a good team but their defense has keep them in games and they must create a spark on offense if they want to compete for consecutive divisional titles.

19. Browns

A disappointing loss for the Browns to begin the year and things are not going to get any easier facing division rival Steelers in week two. They are facing some injuries currently but they will have to snap back to 2007 form to battle a tough schedule they are faced with this season.

20. Seahawks

Injuries, injuries, injuries are the name of the game for the Seahawks. Injuries have depleted their receiving core leaving only unproven players.

Their starting running back Maurice Morris is out two weeks with a sprained knee, all to go along with Matt Hasselback’s continually aching back injury and that’s just on offense.

They need to get healthy in a hurry if they want to compete for another divisional title to end with Mike Holmgren’s reign as head coach.

21. Cardinals

The offense looked much more in control with Kurt Warner at the helm. It looks as though Warner’s ball control training during the off season may have paid off as he did not give up any turnovers to begin the season, only time will tell.

22. Redskins

The Redskins offense struggled to put points on the board in week one. They should have better luck this week versus a Saint’s defense that struggled last season, especially in their secondary.

23. Texans

A team loaded with potential, the Texans just could not put together a decent performance on Sunday, being steam rolled by the Steelers. The Texans defense will need to keep it together as the team fights to try to get to the top of a difficult AFC south division.

24. Ravens

The Ravens defense played their part Sunday, giving rookie quarterback Joe Flacco the opportunity to take advantage and win the game for them. It should be interesting to see if the Ravens running game and offensive line can stay healthy the remainder of the season.

25. Falcons

Michael Turner and Matt Ryan put together excellent performances over the weekend. They will face more difficult defenses than last weeks’ this season, which will be their ultimate test for this young offensive squad this season.

26. Bengals

Carson Palmer struggled and was only able to throw for 99 yards in the Bengals disappointing loss. The Bengals will need to get their receivers healthy to help bounce back fast before it’s too late.

27. Lions

Their defense may be worse than last years since losing Shaun Rodgers, but the offense looked decent at times in their loss to the Falcons. With play makers like Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson on offense, the Lions have plenty of upside to look to.

Sadly, unless the defense steps up, the Lions will struggle to keep up other team’s offenses.

28. 49ers

Turnovers were what killed the 49ers opening game of the season. J.T. O’Sullivan struggled in his debut as the 49ers new quarterback. O’Sullivan and the rest of the 49er offense will need to pick up Mike Martz's offense or else they are in for another long season.

29. Dolphins

Chad Pennington did everything he could to try to beat his old team Sunday, but it was just not enough. The Dolphins running game was inconsistent and the receivers were nowhere to be found in their opening day loss.

30. Chiefs

The Chiefs almost pulled off and upset over the Brady-less Patriots in week one. Brodie Coyle’s injury could be a blessing in disguise for the Chiefs as veteran backup quarterback, Damon Huard, will be starting for them once again.

31. Raiders

Their team looks great on paper but in real life, nothing could be farther from the truth. The Raiders got housed by their hated rival Broncos in an embarrassing loss at home to begin the season.

There is a little bit of hope that showed for Raider Nation, JaMarcus Russell played well in his season debut throwing for two touchdowns when his receivers actually decided to hold onto the football.

A struggling defense and a weak receiving core only will add to the frustration of another losing season for the Raiders.

32. Rams

There is no other way to describe the Ram’s play in week one other than flat out poor football. Their offense could not stay in sync, they could not convert a third down all game, and their defense failed to even protect them from big plays.

If this continues, the Rams might be looking at yet another long season as well.

This is the way the rankings look for now, tune in next week to see how your team matches up!

2008 Fantasy Football Lame Team, Your Scoop to This Year's Busts

J.J. McDermott — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:02:30 -0400

(Jonathan Szenics contributed to this story.)

Many times in fantasy drafts, one sits in a draft room or at a draft table, and gloats that they got a great player.

At the end of the year though, when they are sitting out of the playoff picture, they are left wondering what went wrong.

This is where we come in.

Whom should you avoid in your fantasy drafts this season or as waiver selections if you should get so lucky?

First, let us take a look at the quarterbacks, who are now quickly becoming even more important in the fantasy-football landscape.

Vince Young: Not much is expected of him, as it was last year. Yet, with fewer weapons, minus Alge Crumpler, who will not make a leaps and bounds of difference, his stock will plummet even quicker to that of almost being useless across the board in fantasy football.

You seriously know there is an issue when your interception total is twice that of your touchdown total. Please don’t make a big mistake in taking Vince Young in your fantasy draft.

Matt Hasselbeck: First, his wide receivers are all injured, minus Nate Burleson. He may very well pick up the slack, but who is the No. 2 wide receiver in Seattle? With an injury-depleted wide-receiving corps, they are only left with inexperienced players.

Second, with three solid running backs in Julius Jones, Maurice Morris, and T.J. Duckett, Mike Holmgren’s emphasis will mainly be on the run this season. Don’t get us wrong, Hasselbeck will make a decent starter in most fantasy leagues, but do not depend on him to put up totals near what he did last season.

Kurt Warner: Face it, age is not an athlete’s friend. Warner, at 37, struggles with turning the ball over via fumbles and interceptions. Eventually, something has to give, and with Warner, this year will be the year.

With chaos surrounding the Cardinals, Warner will play horribly because of the lack of chemistry and never-ending drama that has surrounded the Cardinals' organization.

Now, on to our running-back selection. If you mess up selections here, more than likely, you are in for a long season my friends. Mr. Szenics himself picked Frank Gore and Travis Henry in the first two rounds last year’s fantasy draft, thinking that he was going to go places.

Instead, he ended up in ninth place in a 12-team league that he ran, and he is not afraid to admit this. These things happen, and we want to help you to avoid the same mistakes this season.

Laurence Maroney: The man has the tools to be Marion Barber’s clone, but he is in the wrong system, and worst yet, he can’t stay healthy. With Sammy Morris looking to steal goal-line carries, and LaMont Jordan trying to take third-down carries from Maroney as well, avoid him in your fantasy draft if you can.

Willis McGahee: A huge injury risk, the development of Ray Rice, terrible quarterback play, and a banged up offensive line will make him an awful choice at running back for the most part this season.

Ryan Grant: Last year, with Brett Favre, the numbers were there because nobody could focus on the run. This year, Aaron Rodgers is at the helm in Green Bay; look for Grant to struggle, as Rodgers and the Packers will tone down their pass attack for their first-year starter, in order to ease him into the position.

Now, here comes the wide receivers.

Randy Moss: People will not like this selection, but do not expect to have Moss put up the same numbers as last year. Without a doubt, he will still be a top receiver in the league, but defenses will come out with a game plan that will limit Moss’ production this time around.

Dwayne Bowe: After a great rookie campaign, where we saw Bowe nearly put up a 1,000-yard season, he will come back down to earth his sophomore season. With no steady quarterback in Kansas City, know that Bowe’s production will suffer this season.

Bryant Johnson: Coming out from under the shadows of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin in Arizona, Johnson will have his moment to finally showcase himself as a No. 1 receiver.

But starting the preseason with injuries and younger talent nipping at his toes, don’t expect Johnson to put up numbers resembling any near Fitzgerald and Boldin’s respective totals.

Moving now onto the tight ends. These picks may surprise you, but look at the reasoning behind each one.

Vernon Davis: Mike Martz never knows how to incorporate a tight end in his pass-happy offense, but on the other hand, he has never had one this talented. Davis still is not going to get the chance he deserves to showcase his talents in San Francisco, so avoid him this fantasy season.

Tony Gonzalez: A personal favorite of ours and many other fantasy owners for several years, Gonzalez has fallen on tough times in Kansas City. With no steady quarterback play, his stats will ultimately suffer and he will not put up the numbers that he has in years past.

Donald Lee: Brett Favre threw to his tight ends, will Aaron Rodgers? As a fantasy owner, either way, you do not want to find out from Week One onward. This pick could change down the line, for now though, we see him as a bust because of there being too many weapons ahead of him in the offense to truly break through this season, as many think he will.

Moving onto the defenses. Avoid these teams if you can, because in some weeks, defensive play can determine a win or a loss.

DEF

New York Giants: After losing Michael Strahan to retirement and Osi Umenyiora to tearing his lateral meniscus, ending his 2008 season, the Giants may not put the same amount of pressure on an opposing quarterback that made them the Super Bowl champions of last year.

Without the depth of last year, deep into games, the defense may tire and forfeit points, unlike last year’s squad.

Baltimore Ravens: A new year, and another year older, the already aging defense in Baltimore will only hurt them more. The Ravens of old will not produce like they once have and with a weak offense keeping them on the field, look for the aging defense to tire late into games as well.

Tennessee Titans: Six games against the Colts, Jaguars, and Texans, who all have a great chance of having high-octane offenses equals what? That’s right, avoiding them at all costs until proven otherwise this season.

Finally, the kickers. Again, believe it or not, a good kicker can win you a couple of games, so steer clear of these three individuals unless you feel like losing.

Josh Brown: Going from the NFC West champion Seattle Seahawks to the three-win St. Louis Rams will not be a nice adjustment for Brown. With an injury depleted and struggling offensive line, the Rams won’t give Brown the type of opportunities to score like he once had in Seattle.

Robbie Gould: When called upon, Gould has done considerably well, but without the opportunities, due to an ever-struggling offense, it is not recommended that Gould should be your fantasy kicker.

Neil Rackers: Going along with the Kurt Warner prediction, the offense will struggle, compared to other years, and even if it does not, will he even show up? Do not invest too much in the fact that he will. It is only a fair warning.

We believe that these are the players to avoid. Will we be right? Only time will tell, but these are all safe bets in our eyes. Good luck this fantasy season ladies and gentlemen!

Ready To Dominate in Fantasyland?

J.J. McDermott — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 09:00:51 -0400

(Jonathan Szenics contributed to this story).

There are seven short days left until the official start of the season for the National Football League.

Many people are excited to see their favorite teams take the field again, and everyone is starting out with a fresh slate and Super Bowl aspirations.

Many of these individuals are also gearing up for the latest fantasy football season as well. Buying magazines to get a supposed edge on their competition in their leagues, hours and days are being spent in an attempt to win their leagues this season.

To all of these individuals, we are here to help! Treat this as your prayer book for the upcoming fantasy season!

Why should you trust us?

It’s a good question, considering many fancy themselves to be experts. Here’s why though.

Jonathan Szenics is a former intern of Comcast Sportsnet in Philadelphia, where he soaked in the entire sports industry and has been playing fantasy football for approximately five seasons now.

He has finished in first, and he has finished towards last as well.

He is not afraid to admit this. After all, some of the game is based on luck, and there have been seasons where nothing has gone right, and he can speak of his misfortunes as well as his moments of glory to lead you in the right direction this season.

J.J. McDermott is a fantasy football player that finished runner up in one league and first in another.

Somehow, he knew to take Tom Brady third overall last season. He was laughed at, but soon afterwards, he was the one laughing week in and week out.

Between the two of them, there is enough knowledge to fill the Grand Canyon, so take out your highlighters ladies and gentlemen, because class is in session!

First, let’s look at quarterbacks.

At the top of the list is Tom Brady. He threw 50 touchdowns last season, which covers why he is No. 1.

Behind him are Tony Romo, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Derek Anderson, Carson Palmer, Ben Roethlisberger, Donovan McNabb, Matt Hasselbeck, and Jay Cutler.

1—Tom Brady

2—Tony Romo

3—Drew Brees

4—Peyton Manning

5—Derek Anderson

6—Carson Palmer

7—Ben Roethlisberger

8—Donovan McNabb

9—Matt Hasselbeck

10—Jay Cutler

Romo is second because he plays half his games in a dome, and he has an influx of talent surrounding him, such as Terrell Owens, Jason Witten, Patrick Crayton, and Marion Barber.

Brees checks in at a close third due to the Saints' pass-happy offense, as well as more raw talent surrounding him in New Orleans.

Manning, Anderson, and Palmer follow because in some weeks, other talent will take away from their numbers.

The final four are slotted where they are due to their team's throwing the ball almost constantly.

Yes, Hasselbeck’s top wide receiver right now is Nate Burleson, but he knows how to put the numbers up, and Cutler is right behind him because of his scrambling ability when plays break down.

Now, the running backs, the most important position in fantasy football.

At the top is Mr. Tomlinson of the Chargers.

Until proven otherwise, unless you want to lose, and if you have the top pick, take him. The stats are always there, and until he starts to tail off a little bit, ride him for all he is worth.

Coming in at No. 2 we have Brian Westbrook.

Westbrook had a stellar season last year and looks to repeat this coming year.

What is appealing about him is that he is solid in the running game in Philadelphia, but also has made some huge contributions in the receiving game as well, giving him a slight edge over Adrian Peterson, who is a close third.

After an insane rookie season, "AD" has huge expectations going into his second go round. Expect stats aplenty, but do not be shocked if he misses a game or two because of his love of contact during runs.

The main reason why he checks in at No. 3 is due to the fact that he will get you record-breaking performances one week and will be mute in other weeks.

The rest of the list goes like this.

It is debatable, but do not go outside of these players unless they are all off the board. They have proven themselves, and in fantasy football, proven commodities are a source of plenty of points week in and week out.

1—LaDainian Tomlinson

2—Brian Westbrook

3—Adrian Peterson

4—Joseph Addai

5—Steven Jackson

6—Marion Barber

7—Clinton Portis

8—Marshawn Lynch

9—Frank Gore

10—Larry Johnson

Now, the rest of the rankings for the rest of the positions go as follows.

1—Randy Moss

2—Terrell Owens

3—Reggie Wayne

4—Braylon Edwards

5—Larry Fitzgerald

6—Marques Colston

7—Andre Johnson

8—T.J. Houshmandzadeh

9—Torry Holt

10—Plaxico Burress

1—Jason Witten

2—Kellen Winslow

3—Antonio Gates

4—Tony Gonzalez

5—Chris Cooley

6—Dallas Clark

7—Jeremy Shockey

8—Heath Miller

9—Tony Sheffler

10—Vernon Davis

1—Nick Folk

2—Stephen Gostkowski

3—Rob Bironas

4—Adam Vinatieri

5—Mason Crosby

DEF

1—Minnesota Vikings

2—San Diego Chargers

3—New England Patriots

4—Dallas Cowboys

5—Seattle Seahawks

Do not stray from these lists! These are proven players and teams, and again, it cannot be stressed enough to go for those who are going to produce week in and week out for you! More is to follow in our next two pieces, which will cover more of the in-depth nature of fantasy football.