NFL Power Rankings Week 11: Steelers Sink, Eagles Impress, Who's Best?
After a week 10 slate of juicy match-ups, two AFC East teams are jockeying for the top spot in the Week 11 power poll.
The Cowboys showed that they were "professional" enough to beat a surging Giants team.
Michael Vick showed that he is possibly the favorite for the MVP with his ridiculous Monday Night Football performance against the Redskins.
Tom Brady showed that he is, well, still Tom Brady.
But where do they all fall in comparison to the rest of the league?
32-21: Bottom Of the Barrel
1 of 21
These are the teams that can do little more than play spoiler, unless they are in the NFC West.
32 (31) Carolina Panthers: Hey Panther fans look at what Colt McCoy is doing then look at what Jimmy Clausen is doing, sorry is that salt in the wound?
31 (32) Buffalo Bills: The Bills finally win one! They must have been the best 0-8 team in league history before their win over the lions.
30 (30) Dallas Cowboys: This win for the Cowboys makes me feel bad for Wade Phillips. Where was this heart and desire all season? For that, the Cowboys get no movement.
29 (27) Detroit Lions: Ouch, a loss to the Bills? A week after losing on a missed Ndamukong Suh extra point? Tough time to be a Lions fan. Well, not tougher than any other time.
28 (26) Cincinnati Bengals: Five turnovers for the Bengals? But I ordered half a dozen!
27 (25) Arizona Cardinals: You would think that with the schedule that the Cards play this year that they could at least win eight. Guess someone forgot to tell them that.
26 (29) Denver Broncos: The Broncos did what? 49 points on a decent Chiefs team? Maybe the Broncos are onto something with giving this Tim Tebow guy a sniff. You know, unless Orton throws four touchdowns again.
25 (28) San Francisco 49ers: If I were a betting man I would be intrigued with the 49ers odds of making the playoffs right now. With Troy Smith in they just seem like a hungrier team.
24 (18) Washington Redskins: Pretty sure it is a rule that if you start a game down 35-0 you automatically drop six places in a power poll.
23 (24) Seattle Seahawks: It must be tough coaching a team with a smaller payroll than you are used to. Right Pete Carroll?
22 (22) Minnesota Vikings: Waiting patiently for the breaking news that Brad Childress has been fired...
21 (21) Saint Louis Rams: With Bradford at the helm, this team has a bright future despite the loss to the 49ers.
20. Chicago Bears
2 of 21
Last Week's Rank: 19
Why They Move Down: Despite the win over the Vikings, who are trying to get their coach fired, I really don't think the Bears are very good. Cutler turns the ball over too much, and the defense is not getting any younger.
They could prove me wrong sometime during the last part of the season, but I think the Bears could somehow let the Vikings out of the NFC North basement.
19. Jacksonville Jaguars
3 of 21
Last Week's Rank: 20
Why They Move Up: The Jags used every second possible to beat a decent Texans team. Was it luck? Yes. But luck leads to confidence in the NFL and confidence leads to wins.
Maurice Jones-Drew is getting back into form. Marcedes Lewis has thrust himself into the elite tight end category. David Garrard is starting to play like the quarterback that took the Jags to the playoffs in 2007.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
18. Cleveland Browns
4 of 21
Last Week's Rank: 23
Why They Move Up: The Browns gave the Jets all they could handle this Sunday. Colt McCoy has shown that he is a legitimate quarterback in the NFL.
The Browns appear to be a team ready to take the next step and that starts with next week against the Jags. In a game that they should win, will they have the killer instinct to get it done?
17. Houston Texans
5 of 21
Last Week's Rank: 15
Why they Fall: With three straight losses, and a difficult game next week, the Texans went from AFC South favorite to another season without a winning record.
The injury to Andre Johnson has damaged the psyche of this team and despite the play of Arian Foster, the team doesn't appear to have any ability to get back in the driver seat.
16. Miami Dolphins
6 of 21
Last Week's Rank: 17
Why They Move Up: Yes, the Dolphins won a game against a good Titans team, but in doing so they lost their top two quarterbacks Chad Henne and Chad Pennington. I hate to say it but I really don't think Tyler Thigpen is the answer.
Now the Dolphins could just run the Wildcat for the rest of the season. I think that gives them as good a chance as any.
15. Kansas City Chiefs
7 of 21
Last Week's Rank: 14
Why They Fall: After giving up 49 points to a bad Broncos team, you have to drop in the Power Rankings. However, I do think the Chiefs will be fine if they play the way the did Sunday on offense.
Matt Cassel threw for over 400 yards and didn't thrown an interception. This year may not be the year for the Chiefs, but they will be good going forward.
14. San Diego Chargers
8 of 21
Last Week's Rank: 16
Why They Move Up: It is that time of the year! No, not the time when Christmas songs start playing on the radio. It's the time when the Chargers realize they are the best team in a bad division and that they need to start playing like it.
They had a week of before facing the Broncos this week. Look for the Chargers to come out strong.
13. Oakland Raiders
9 of 21
Last Week's Rank: 12
Why They Fall: Aside from the fact that the Raiders haven't been good since Rich Gannon was their quarterback, the Silver and Black travel to Pittsburgh on Sunday where they will start a losing streak to take them out of contention for the playoffs.
Now they could prove me wrong, but I doubt it.
12. Tampa Bay Bucaneers
10 of 21
Last Week's Rank: 13
Why They Move Up: Head Coach Raheem Morris said "stats are for losers" a few weeks ago. Honestly he might want to change his stance after learning that Josh Freeman has four comeback wins this year (and six of his eight career wins are comebacks). Either way this team is dangerous.
Now they may not be the best team in the NFC, despite what Morris thinks, but they will be a team to be reckoned with for the next few years.
11. Tennessee Titans
11 of 21
Last Week's Rank: 11
Why They Stay The Same: Despite the loss to the Dolphins, the Titans got better this week. Randy Moss gives them a weapon in the passing game. Something they haven't had in the Vince Young era. When Young gets healthy not only will Moss help him in the passing game, but he also helps everyone else on offense by taking on double teams.
The Titans still have the most explosive offensive player in the league in Chris Johnson. If the Titans get healthy they could end up being the best team in their division.
10. New Orleans Saints
12 of 21
Last Week's Rank: 9
Why They Fall: The bye week may have helped give the Saints some rest, but it didn't help them in the power rankings. Other teams used the week to look impressive.
9. New York Giants
13 of 21
Last Week's Rank: 4
Why They Fall: Eli Manning has plenty of reason to hang his head after the thrashing the Giants took from the Dallas Cowboys. What once looked like the best team in the NFC now looks like damaged goods.
They could still be the best team in their division, but it almost seems like they should be disqualified after losing to the Cowboys.
8. Indianapolis Colts
14 of 21
Last Week's Rank: 10
Why They Move Up: The Colts and Peyton Manning proved once again that they can win any style of game. They used defense to beat an inspired Bengals team who turned the ball over five times.
If the Colts can rely at all on a running game, they could quickly become Super Bowl favorites.
7. Green Bay Packers
15 of 21
Last Week's Rank: 7
Why They Stay The Same: With a week off, the only win they had this week was taking Wade Phillips' job.
6. Philadelphia Eagles
16 of 21
Last Week's Rank: 8
Why They Move Up: With a historic performance over a division rival on Monday Night Football, the Eagles have put themselves into the discussion for best teams in the NFC.
Michael Vick has shown that he is a phenomenal football player again and had possibly his best game ever as a pro. This is a team I would not want to face in the playoffs.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers
17 of 21
Last Week's Rank: 2
Why They Fall: What once looked like the class of the AFC now looks like there are some big flaws to fix before the playoffs. The Steelers needed a huge fourth quarter to make their game against the Patriots look even somewhat respectable.
Rashard Mendenhall looked like a stud in the absence of Big Ben in the first four weeks of the season. If the Steelers get back to playing smash mouth football behind Mendenhall, they will be fine.
4. Baltimore Ravens
18 of 21
Last Week's Rank: 1
Why They Fall: Despite losing on Thursday night to the Atlanta Falcons in last second fashion, the Ravens are still a great football team. One of the few great teams.
With matchup against the lowly Panthers this week, the Ravens will be right back on the winning track.
3. Atlanta Falcons
19 of 21
Last Week's Rank: 3
Why They Stay The Same: Yes, the Falcons came from behind to beat the Ravens but the NFC is still clearly the weaker conference so there is no way the Falcons can move past our top two teams.
That being said, the combination of Matt Ryan, Roddy White, and Michael Turner looks pretty tough to beat.
2. New York Jets
20 of 21
Last Week's Ranking: 5
Why They Move Up: Yes they needed overtime to defeat the Browns, but I think that is more of a compliment to them than a deterrent. The Browns are a good team and that was a quality win.
1. New England Patriots
21 of 21
Last Week's Rank: 6
Why They Move Up: Tom Brady looked like vintage Tom Brady against the Steelers. The two big questions going into this game were how would Brady cope with the loss of Moss in a big game and how would the defense hold up?
Both questions were answered. Brady spread the ball around to a bunch of different guys and threw three touchdown passes. The Defense held the Steelers to three points through three quarters before taking their foot off the gas in the fourth.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
