2010 NFL Power Rankings: Week 10

So, the Lions are playing the Bills this week.

Now, blindly, this may look like a run-of-the-mill “Garbage Can Game of the Week.”

However, the Lions are pretty solid despite that unfortunate 2-6 record. Meanwhile, the Bills, 0-8 now, have fought as hard as anybody over the past few weeks.

So, who am I supposed to pick here?

The Lions will almost certainly be without Matthew Stafford once again. If Shaun Hill isn’t ready to go following some sort of broken arm injury, they’ll have to turn to former Michigan State great Drew Stanton.

Am I really supposed to trust Drew Stanton?

Am I really fretting over a Lions-Bills game?

This season doesn’t make any sense.

In the Toilet

32. Dallas Cowboys (1-7, Last Week: 32)

Week 10: at NYG

Somehow, after a string of awful, awful games, the Cowboys managed to play their worst game of the season Sunday night at Lambeau.

However, I still think they have a playoff run in them now that Jason Garrett is the man in charge.

Kidding. I’m kidding.

31. Carolina Panthers (1-7, Last Week: 31)

Week 10: at TB

Matt Moore, Jimmy Clausen, Matt Moore, Jimmy Clausen, Tony Pike.

Who’s next?

Keep Reaching for That Rainbow

30. Buffalo Bills (0-8, Last Week: 30)

Week 10: vs. DET

Does this team really have the makings of an 0-16 one?

It’s hard to believe, but they’re halfway home.

Done

29. Cincinnati Bengals (2-6, Last Week: 26)

Week 10: at IND

Terrell Owens’ resurgence has been amazing.

The 36-year-old receiver has now caught 55 passes for 770 yards with seven touchdowns on the season.

Chad Ochocinco doesn’t seem too interested in this resurgence, though.

28. San Francisco 49ers (2-6, Last Week: 27)

Week 10: vs. STL

I am so down on the 49ers that I dropped them a spot even after a bye week.

So, who wants the 49ers job?

27. Denver Broncos (2-6, Last Week: 29)

Week 10: vs. KC

I am so down on the 49ers that I raised the Broncos two spots even after a bye week.

Can they take down the Chiefs?

Improved over ’09, but Still Not Likely Contending

26. Detroit Lions (2-6, Last Week: 21)

Week 10: at BUF

The Lions’ luck has been about as tough as you can imagine, as a missed Ndamukong Suh extra point aided in costing the Lions a chance at an upset over the Jets.

We’ll see if Shaun Hill can regain his early-season form as the starter against the Bills.

Painfully Average

25. Arizona Cardinals (3-5, Last Week: 25)

Week 10: vs. SEA

Despite the 3-5 record, the Cardinals are still right in the thick of things in the terrible NFC West.

Arizona ranks in the bottom five in the league in passing yards, rushing yards, opponent passing yards and opponent rushing yards.

24. Seattle Seahawks (4-4, Last Week: 19)

Week 10: at ARZ

Seattle has been the definition of “feast or famine” this season.

The scores of their wins: 31-6, 27-20, 23-20, 22-10.

The scores of their losses: 31-14, 20-3, 33-3, 41-7.

23. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4, Last Week: 23)

Week 10: vs. HOU

Could be a shootout this weekend as the Texans come to town in a battle of two of the worst defenses you’ll ever see.

22. Washington Redskins (4-4, Last Week: 24)

Week 10: vs. PHI

Hopefully, Donovan McNabb worked on his stamina during the off week.

It takes a special kind of player to be able to play 60 minutes, not a measly 58.

Pretenders…right?

21. Chicago Bears (5-3, Last Week: 20)

Week 10: vs. MIN

If the Vikings have gotten everything in order, then they should be able to expose these Bears for what they really are.

Upset City!

20. Cleveland Browns (3-5, Last Week: 26)

Week 10: vs. NYJ

Colt McCoy looks like a real NFL quarterback. Peyton Hillis is a real No. 1 NFL running back.

This defense is playing out of it's mind.

Eric Mangini looks like the Mangenius again.

What is going on here?

On the Brink of Mediocrity

19. Miami Dolphins (4-4, Last Week: 15)

Week 10: vs. TEN

The Dolphins have done as so many other teams have already done in 2010 and benched their starting quarterback.

Chad Pennington is the guy against the Titans.

18. Houston Texans (4-4, Last Week: 14)

Week 10: at JAX

The Texans' defense has done a great job of negating what has become one of the league’s most prolific rushing attacks.

They will have their work cut out for them against a Jaguars team that destroyed the Cowboys two weeks ago.

Then again, everybody has been destroying the Cowboys.

Team Soap Opera

17. Minnesota Vikings (3-5, Last Week: 22)

Week 10: at CHI

The Vikes could’ve easily packed it in with a sizable deficit against the woeful Cardinals.

But Brett Favre and company were able to fight back to earn a win they absolutely had to have.

Will Brad Childress brutally murder all momentum this week in Chicago?

Playoff Dark Horses

16. St. Louis Rams (4-4, Last Week: 17)

Week 10: at SF

Can the Rams put the final nail in the 49ers’ coffin this week and improve their own playoff chances?

Whoa.

15. Kansas City Chiefs (5-3, Last Week: 10)

Week 10: at DEN

KC lost an overtime heartbreaker last week in Oakland and will have to rebound against the Broncos and their high-octane offensive attack.

This one could be a back-and-forth, high-scoring touchdown extravaganza.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-3, Last Week: 11)

Week 10: vs. CAR

The Bucs fought hard in the loss to Atlanta, and will now be rewarded with the Trainwreck Panthers coming to town.

What should we expect out of LeGarrette Blount?

13. Oakland Raiders (5-4, Last Week: 18)

Week 10: BYE

Can anybody stop the Oakland Raiders?

Hopefully, the bye week won’t kill their momentum.

Typical Slow Start, Followed by Furious Turnaround

12. San Diego Chargers (4-5, Last Week: 16)

Week 10: BYE

If the Chargers come all the way back to take the AFC West, then Philip Rivers has to be the no-brainer choice for MVP.

Despite having to pluck receivers off the streets, Rivers has thrown for a league-leading 2,944 yards along with 19 TDs and eight picks.

Just imagine what he’ll be able to do with Vincent Jackson, Malcom Floyd and Antonio Gates all in the lineup…if that ever happens.

Lurking…

11. Tennessee Titans (5-3, Last Week: 13)

Week 10: at MIA

How will the addition of Randy Moss affect the Titans’ offensive attack?

10. Philadelphia Eagles (5-3, Last Week: 12)

Week 10: at WAS

Last week, we saw the under-control Michael Vick that we’d grown accustomed to seeing prior to his injury against the Redskins in Week 4.

How long can he go without throwing an interception?

They Are Who We Thought They’d Be?

9. Green Bay Packers (6-3, Last Week: 9)

Week 10: BYE

No team needed the bye quite like the Packers, who will hopefully get some healthy bodies back for the week 11 showdown with Minnesota.

8. New Orleans Saints (6-3, Last Week: )

Week 10: BYE

New Orleans had no trouble at all in disposing of the Panthers last week, but they still have some serious issues in the ground game.

Will Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush be ready to go following the bye?

Shaky in Week 9…

7. Indianapolis Colts (5-3, Last Week: 2)

Week 10: vs. CIN

Peyton Manning had his worst game of the season in the loss to the Eagles, going 31-of-52 for 294 yards and a touchdown with an interception.

He is going to punish the Bengals this week.

6. New York Jets (6-2, Last Week: 6)

Week 10: at CLE

Who’d have thought that the Week 10 road trip to Cleveland would actually be a tough game?

5. New England Patriots (6-2, Last Week: 1)

Week 10: at PIT

Nobody really knows what happened to this team against the Browns, but they’ll have to figure it out in a hurry with the Steelers up next.

It’s going to be a war.

On Top?

4. Atlanta Falcons (6-2, Last Week: 4)

Week 10: vs. BAL

Michael Turner has run for over 100 yards in three of his last four games, and has scored two touchdowns in two straight games.

Looks like he’s back to the first-round caliber fantasy player that we all knew he could be.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2, Last Week: 7)

Week 10: vs. NE

It looked easy against the Bengals Monday night for a while.

But Cincy came storming back towards the end, only to come up just short.

They won’t be able to give the Patriots that kind of ground this week.

2. Baltimore Ravens (6-2, Last Week: 5)

Week 10: at ATL

Baltimore completely dismantled the Dolphins last week but face a stiffer test Thursday night in Atlanta.

Statement game?

1. New York Giants (6-2, Last Week: 3)

Week 10: vs. DAL

After a slow start, the Giants have suddenly become the most dominant team in the league and have won five straight games.

Should be six when the terrible Cowboys come calling Sunday afternoon.

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