NFL Power Rankings Week 10: Making Sense of a Wacky Season

The NFL season has reached its half way point and then some as we kick off Week 11 Thursday night in Atlanta.

The usual suspects are at the top, but no one could have predicted we would be looking at six teams tied for the league's best record at 6-2 and an 0-8 Buffalo Bills team.

Even the once Super Bowl favorite Dallas Cowboys are a dismal 1-7, and surprisingly, the Oakland Raiders are 5-4, just a half a game out of first place behind the...5-3 Kansas City Chiefs?

Yes, that's right, I'm not making any of this up, its been a wacky season, join Bleacher Report as we try and make some sense of it.

Quarterback Play

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HOUSTON - NOVEMBER 07: Quarterback Philips #17 of the San Diego Chargers gives a thumbs up to he bench after a touchdown against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium on November 7, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Some signal-callers have been lighting up the scoreboard this season, and some...well they haven't. Here are the guys that have been exceptionally strong under center, and the ones who have struggled immensely.

Best:

Michael Vick - The Philadelphia quarterback leads the league in passer rating (105.3) and is 3-1 as a starter this season.

Philip Rivers - Rivers has thrown for a ridiculous amount of yards in only nine games this season (2,944), with a passer rating of 102.9 and 19 touchdowns. The Chargers are 0-5 when Rivers has more than 36 pass attempts.

Worst:

Matt Moore - The Carolina QB has tossed just 79 completions this season to go with his 10 interceptions. That's a ratio of just under eight completions for every pick.

Derek Anderson - Anderson's Cardinals are 3-5, and his arm might just be the reason. Anderson currently sports a 67.0 quarterback rating and a woeful 54.1 completion percentage—second only to Mark Sanchez's 53.5.

Getting Defensive

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PITTSBURGH - SEPTEMBER 02: Troy Polamalu #43 of the Pittsburgh Steelers calls out signals during the preseason game against the Carolina Panthers on September 2, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Next we examine the top defenses in the NFL and of course the not so great ball stoppers. Hey, the numbers don't lie.

Best:

New York Giants - The G-Men have won five straight games and are currently ranked first in the league in total defense, allowing just over 250 yards per game and a numbing 13.8 first downs per game (league best).

Pittsburgh Steelers - Not much of a surprise here, the Steelers continue to dominate on defense, leading the league in points allowed (15.4), and rushing yards allowed (58.2).

Worst:

Houston Texans - The Texans haven't stopped anyone this season, even in their wins, they were desperate to out score their opponents. Houston is last in the NFL in yards allowed with just under 400 per game (399.5) and last in first downs allowed (23). Also, only the Bills and Cowboys give up more points than the Texans (28.2)

Jacksonville Jaguars - For the next struggling defense, we don't even have to leave the AFC South as the Jaguars give up a league high 6.3 yards per play, and allow over 267 yards passing per game, that ranks 28th in the NFL. If that's not enough, they allow more than 28 points per game (28.2), and their opponent usually reaches the century mark on the ground (119.1 rushing yards allowed per game).

MVP

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PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 07: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts throws a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles on November 7, 2010 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

At the half way point certain players have thrown themselves into the discussion for league MVP. Some faces look familiar while others are new, but all are worthy candidates nonetheless.

MVP Candidates:

Peyton Manning - We shouldn't expect anything less from Manning, the back-to-back MVP winner the past two seasons is at the top of the list this year, willing his Colts to a 5-3 record despite numerous injuries to key players.

Philip Rivers - Rivers has literally thrown his name into the conversation for MVP, the stud QB has nearly accumulated 3,000 yards through the air at the season's half way point. Oh yeah, 19 touchdowns and a 65.4 completion percentage isn't bad either.

Drew Brees - The reigning Super Bowl MVP is back at it this season, throwing for over 2,500 yards and 18 touchdowns in just nine games. The Saints are in the playoff mix at 6-3 by the way.

Clay Matthews - That's no misprint, Matthews has been wrecking havoc all over the football field this season even without the ball. The second year linebacker has a league high 10.5 sacks through nine games, 28 solo tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble.

Darren McFadden - McFadden has been the key to Oakland's resurgence this year; the Raider running back has over 750 yards on the ground, and just over 240 through the air. His 5.4 average on 139 carries isn't too shabby either.

Playoff Teams

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BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 10: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens rouses the crowd before a play against the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. Players wore pink in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

So by this point you might be asking yourself, "where are the power rankings?" Well here they are...sort of.

Based on what we have seen so far this season, here is what the playoffs will look like next January.

AFC:

AFC North: Baltimore Ravens (13-3)

AFC East: New England Patriots (12-4)

AFC South: Indianapolis Colts (10-6)

AFC West: San Diego Chargers (9-7)

Wild Card: Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

                New York Jets (11-5)

NFC:

NFC East: New Orleans Saints (12-4)

NFC South: New York Giants (12-4)

NFC North: Green Bay Packers (11-5)

NFC West: Seattle Seahawks (8-8)

Wild Card: Atlanta Falcons (11-5)

                Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)

How It All Goes Down

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 31: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints throws the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Louisiana Superdome on October 31, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Matthew Sharpe/Getty Images)

Despite the unique circumstances this season has provided, two recent champions will battle it out in Texas next February for the Lombardi Trophy.

Wild Card Round: 

• Packers defeat the Eagles
• Falcons defeat the Seahawks
• Colts defeat the Jets
• Steelers defeat the Chargers

 Divisional Round:

• Saints defeat the Falcons
• Packers defeat the Giants
• Steelers defeat the Ravens
• Patriots defeat the Colts

Championship Round:

• Saints defeat the Packers
• Steelers defeat the Patriots

Super Bowl:

• Steelers defeat the Saints in Super Bowl XLV                    

Any Questions?

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SEATTLE - NOVEMBER 07: Members of the Seagals wear combat boots in support of Military Appreciation Day during the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New York Giants at Qwest Field on November 7, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. The Giants defeated th

If you would like to share your take on this season or tell me why I'm wrong, please feel free to comment at the bottom.

Patrick Clarke is a student at Towson University and a writing intern for Bleacher Report.