NFL Power Rankings Week 15: Tom Brady, Brett Favre, The Metrodome and More
Sunday featured some crazy weather in NFL cities. The Chicago Bears and the New England Patriots played in a blizzard, the Minnesota Vikings' stadium, the Metrodome, collapsed and the Kansas City Chiefs went to San Diego and played the Chargers in what can only be described as perfect weather.
The snow didn't stop Tom Brady and the Patriots from stomping the Bears and remaining the team with the best record in the AFC.
The Metrodome collapse delayed the Vikings' game an extra day, but Brett Favre still wasn't able to take the field and his team put up a pitiful effort in a loss to the New York Giants.
But, overall, the playoff pictures in each conference became a little more clear and division races became a lot more intense.
With three weeks remaining in the regular season, let's take a look at where all 32 teams stand in this week's power rankings.
32. Carolina Panthers (1-12)
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Here's what Panther fans should be thinking right now: Andrew Luck, Andrew Luck, Andrew Luck.
If Carolina gets a franchise quarterback, they'll be competitive again in a couple years.
31. Cincinnati Bengals (2-11)
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The Bengals are another team who might be in need of a new quarterback.
Carson Palmer simply isn't getting the job done anymore.
30. Denver Broncos (3-10)
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Josh McDaniels probably wishes he could still yell at Brandon Lloyd like this.
But, he was fired last week after Spygate II.
Unfortunately, the Broncos didn't respond to their new coach, playing their most uninspired football in a loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
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29. Arizona Cardinals (4-9)
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The Cardinals had one of their brightest moments of 2010 on Sunday against the Broncos.
John Skelton picked up his first win as a starter despite not throwing a touchdown.
But, since he didn't throw an interception, the Cardinals were able to control the time of possession and win the ballgame, 43-13.
28. Buffalo Bills (3-10)
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I've said it before and I'll say it again: Ryan Fitzpatrick should be the quarterback of the Buffalo Bills next year. He's earned it.
Also, the Bills' problems are a lot bigger than the quarterback position.
They should use their high draft position to draft a really good offensive lineman. That's the team's most glaring weakness at the moment.
Then, they need some playmakers on defense, but that can be addressed later in the draft.
27. Detroit Lions (3-10)
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Drew Stanton led the Lions to their first win against an NFC North opponent in their last 20 tries on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.
The defense did most of the work though, holding the Packers to three points and knocking Aaron Rodgers out of the game.
Still, the Lions deserve credit for winning a tough defensive battle.
26. Tennessee Titans (5-8)
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The Titans' slide continued on Thursday night in a 30-28 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
The loss all but ended the Titans' slim playoff hopes and it might have ended Jeff Fisher's coaching tenure in Tennessee, too.
25. Cleveland Browns (5-8)
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Colt McCoy is missing out on some valuable experience with every game he misses due to injury.
He might be able to come back this weekend, but if not, Jake Delhomme will continue to start.
At least the Browns have Peyton Hillis.
24. San Francisco 49ers (5-8)
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Ladies and gentlemen: Alex Smith is back!
Smith replaced Troy Smith as the San Francisco starter this week and threw for 255 yards and three touchdowns against the Seattle Seahawks in a game that kept their playoff hopes alive and well.
If Smith can play like this the rest of the year, the 49ers might just be the favorites to win the NFC West again.
Of course, Smith sustaining success is a very, very big "if."
23. Minnesota Vikings (5-8)
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Let's recap the Vikings' season so far:
Their defense sucks.
Their quarterback sucks.
Brett Favre got injured and sucks.
Their stadium sucks.
Their coach was fired because he sucks.
Yep, this year sucks for Vikings fans.
22. Dallas Cowboys (4-9)
11 of 32
The Cowboys should be 5-0 under Jason Garrett, but they are only 3-2 because they can't close out ballgames.
Some things need to change in Dallas this offseason and right now, it's only 50-50 that Garrett will keep his job.
He'll need to win a couple more ballgames to make a strong case for being the Dallas head coach in 2011.
21. Washington Redskins (5-8)
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At least the Redskins finally suspended Albert Haynesworth.
Getting him out of the locker room should provide a major boost to team chemistry.
Maybe, if they get rid of him altogether next year, they can finally be competitive.
20. Houston Texans (5-8)
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This team has too much talent to be this bad.
They need to stop making stupid mistakes on offense.
They also need to draft several defensive backs this year and completely revamp their secondary.
19. Seattle Seahawks (6-7)
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The Seahawks are too inconsistent to win the NFC West.
They got stomped by the 49ers on Sunday in a game that could have given them the lead in the division.
Until they are consistent on a weekly basis, this team is going nowhere.
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5)
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Josh Freeman has done it again, leading the Bucs to another fourth quarter comeback.
And once again, the Bucs beat a team with a losing record.
Until they beat a team with a winning record, they can't be considered legitimate playoff threats.
17. St. Louis Rams (6-7)
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Sam Bradford and the St. Louis Rams still look like the favorites in the NFC West despite losing to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
If the Rams win the NFC West, the Saints will likely be heading to St. Louis for a first round playoff game.
That doesn't bode well for the Rams, but they are a much better team at home than on the road.
16. Oakland Raiders (6-7)
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The Raiders lost a tough game to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, seriously damaging their playoff hopes.
But, they are still alive in the AFC West, and with a running game featuring Darren McFadden, anything can happen these next three weeks.
15. Miami Dolphins (7-6)
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If Chad Henne hadn't gotten hurt, the Dolphins might be in a lot better shape right now.
Now, their only chance of making the playoffs seems to be if they win out and the Jets continue their slide and fall out of the wild card race.
It would still be nice for Miami fans if a running game started to form.
14. Indianapolis Colts (7-6)
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The Colts are lurking a game behind the Jaguars in the AFC South.
This weekend, the Jags and Colts will play in Indianapolis with the division title likely on the line.
Can Peyton Manning avoid losing to the Jaguars twice in one season?
13. Green Bay Packers (8-5)
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13 seems like an appropriate ranking for the unluckiest team in the NFL this year.
Seriously, these guys just can't catch a break. They've lost five games by a combined 16 points. That's a tough pill to swallow for Packer fans.
Plus, Aaron Rodgers might not be able to play this Sunday in New England after suffering his second concussion of the season against the Lions.
If Rodgers can't play, the Packers season is officially over.
12. San Diego Chargers (7-6)
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The Chargers showed they might still be the best team in the AFC South on Sunday, thumping the Kansas City Chiefs 31-0.
But, it might be too little, too late for the Chargers. They might have dug themselves too big of a hole early this season.
11. Kansas City Chiefs (8-5)
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The Chiefs are another team that needs their quarterback to be healthy this week or else their playoff hopes might start to slip.
If Matt Cassel can't play again this week, Brodie Croyle will once again be under center, where he is 0-10 as a starter.
10. New York Jets (9-4)
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The Jets are about to lose their third straight game this week.
They have to go to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers after managing only nine points in their last two games combined.
I wouldn't be surprised if they were shut out this week.
9. New York Giants (9-4)
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The Giants could really use some consistent play from Eli Manning, who has thrown the most interceptions of any quarterback in the NFL.
If he can get his act together, the Giants might win out and get a first round bye in the playoffs.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5)
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Heading into Week 15, the Jaguars are still the leaders of the AFC South.
They'll need a big performance this weekend from their defense if they are going to beat the Colts in Indianapolis.
A win would almost certainly clinch the division for the Jags.
7. Chicago Bears (9-4)
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You would think the Bears would be good at playing in adverse conditions, but they aren't. They got destroyed by the Patriots in the Chicago snow on Sunday.
That poor effort doesn't bode well for a team that will probably host it's first round playoff game.
They'll need to figure some things out before their next home game.
6. Philadelphia Eagles (9-4)
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Michael Vick and the Eagles won a close game against the Cowboys on Sunday night.
The game was closer than it probably should have been, but the Eagles were able to run the ball late in the fourth quarter to chew up the last five minutes of the game.
That was a really good sign for an Andy Reid team.
5. Baltimore Ravens (9-4)
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Josh Wilson made the biggest play of the year for the Ravens with his overtime interception of Matt Schaub on Monday Night Football.
The interception was just what the Ravens' exhausted defense needed in that situation.
If Wilson didn't intercept that pass, the Texans probably would have driven down the field and won the game.
4. New Orleans Saints (10-3)
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The Saints have one of the toughest remaining schedules in the NFL, with games against the Ravens, Falcons and Buccaneers.
But, if they can somehow manage to win all three of those games, they could still earn home field advantage as the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
But, they'll have to take it one game at a time and not look ahead.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3)
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The Steelers need to win against the Jets this Sunday in order to keep holding off the Ravens in the AFC North.
But, with the recent struggles of the Jets, don't expect the Pittsburgh defense to have any trouble shutting down Mark Sanchez.
2. Atlanta Falcons (11-2)
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The Falcons don't have a weak spot on their football team.
They can run, they can throw, they can block and they can defend.
Plus, Eric Weems is one of the best kick returners in the NFL this year.
And oh yeah, they are unbeatable at home. They might as well just get a bye all the way to the Super Bowl.
1. New England Patriots (11-2)
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Wow.
That's the only way to describe the Patriots performance on a snowy Sunday in Chicago.
They dominated the Bears in every aspect of the football game and won 36-7.
Tom Brady has his team looking like the favorites to win the Super Bowl.
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