NFL Power Rankings Week 15: Are The Pittsburgh Steelers The Best This Week?
NFL Power Rankings are out, and you will definitely notice changes.
A few thoughts before going further: Anyone else stunned as I was by New York's loss to Miami? Oh, and if you think back to last week, you may remember that I almost called a Houston upset over Baltimore. I've also got to say I was pretty shocked that New England went in and beat Chicago like it did.
Enough of that. Onto other more pressing matters.
This week, New England and Atlanta remain atop the rankings, but I won't reveal the rest. I think you'll see Green Bay continue to plummet if they're without Aaron Rodgers, and keep an eye on Jacksonville, which is quietly moving up the rankings, too.
There's lots of notes, and observations to point out, so let's get on with it:
The Bottom Third
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32. Carolina Panthers (1-12)
Last week's ranking: 31
There are some loyal Jimmy Clausen supporters out there who let me know I was insane to think they would get rid of him so quickly for Andrew Luck. I've seen both. Luck is better. My bet: A new coach will want a new quarterback.
31. Cincinnati Bengals (2-11)
Last week's ranking: 32
Carson Palmer's final stats against Pittsburgh: 20-of-32, 178 yards, one touchdown. Three interceptions. Remember when he was considered one of the NFL's best?
30. Denver Broncos (3-10)
Last week's ranking: 29
If Tennessee is stupid enough to fire Jeff Fisher at season's end, I go grab him in a heartbeat.
29. Arizona Cardinals (4-9)
Last week's ranking: 30
Congratulations on thrashing a really awful Broncos team. That still doesn't make you much better.
28. Minnesota Vikings (5-8)
Last week's ranking: 24
It is sad to think Brett Favre's career came to such a crashing, screeching halt like this.
27.Houston Texans (5-8)
Last week's ranking: 25
Describing Matt Schaub's ability to lead the team back against Baltimore, backup quarterback Dan Orlovsky told ESPN.com, "He played, basically, superhuman."
Not Exactly Must-See TV
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26. Detroit Lions (3-10)
Last week's ranking: 28
From last week: "The Lions lost the first game to Green Bay 28-26. They've been right there with the Giants, Jets, Buffalo and last week against the Bears. You have to think an upset is eventually going to happen." Imagine that.
25. Cleveland Browns (5-8)
Last week's ranking: 22
This team definitely isn't the same without Colt McCoy.
24. Tennessee Titans (5-8)
Last week's ranking: 21
With Kenny Britt’s return from a hamstring injury, Randy Moss became more of a reserve Thursday, but both may see the field at the same time soon, with Moss at split end and Britt playing the other receiver position.
23. Seattle Seahawks (6-7)
Last week's ranking: 18
Only in the NFC West can you get thrashed 40-21, have a sub .500 record and still have a shot at the playoffs.
22. San Francisco 49ers (5-8)
Last week's ranking: 26
255 yards, three touchdowns, no picks. Well done, Alex Smith. Well done.
21. Buffalo Bills (3-10)
Last week's ranking: 27
Nice to see how resilient the Bills have become after such a tough start to the season.
20. Dallas Cowboys (4-9)
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Last week's ranking: 19
I have no problem with Tashard Choice asking for Michael Vick's autograph, but what I do have an issue with is him not stopping to think that local media covers every detail and factoid—big and small—concerning America's Team. Get the autograph when you can't be noticed, Tashard.
Thankfully, his teammates and coach have his back.
"...I don't think it's that big of a deal,'' tight end Jason Witten said. "I know Tashard is a fun-loving guy and works hard every day. I don't think any of us really thought much about it."
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19. Miami Dolphins (7-6)
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Last week's ranking: 23
Chad Henne finished with just 55 yards passing against the Jets, but more problematic were his five sacks and two fumbles, which were both recovered by New York. Miami upset the Jets 10-6.
"Ten points is definitely not enough in our league,'' Henne told the Miami Herald. "But you have to take your hat off to our defense. They played a heck of a game."
18. Washington Redskins (5-8)
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Last week's ranking: 20
Ryan Torain has a career-high 172 yards rushing, and Santana Moss catches a six-yard touchdown pass from Donovan McNabb with nine seconds left to bring the 'Skins within a point of Tampa Bay.
And they botch the extra point. Mike Shanahan has to feel miserable.
17. Oakland Raiders (6-7)
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Last week's ranking: 13
The loss to Jacksonville was the third in four weeks for the Raiders, whose playoff hopes are quickly vanishing. Darren McFadden had 209 total yards and three touchdowns, including a 67 yard touchdown reception, and runs of 51 and 36 yards.
"At critical points of the game, we just didn't make the plays," Raiders defensive tackle Richard Seymour said. "When it came down to it, we gave up too many big plays on defense. You aren't going to beat anybody doing that."
His old Patriots teams definitely didn't do that.
16. St. Louis Rams (6-7)
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Last week's ranking: 15
The Rams saw they still have plenty of work to do after losing to the Saints, but coach Steve Spanuolo wasn't too disheartened.
"This was another one of those games," Spanuolo told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "where we played a really good football team—Atlanta was probably the other one—where when the game was done and over, you just feel like you're capable of having success against a team like that if you play better, and you know you can play better. I think all the players feel that way.
"Because I love this group so much and I know what they are and I know how good they can be and what they're all about, I want other teams that play against them to feel that (too). And I want the league to know that. And usually the way to express that is to go up against a good team and come out on top. We haven't been able to do that, but I know we can."
15. Indianapolis Colts (7-6)
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Last week's ranking: 16
Big-time game awaiting against Jacksonville. Thursday's victory marked the 63rd time for Peyton Manning to throw for 300 yards in a game, tying him with Dan Marino for first on the career list.
"Nobody likes losing three in a row," Manning said. "That's new for us. Somebody asked me if we were in a slump. I said, 'I've been on an 8½-year hitting streak.' "
14. Kansas City Chiefs (8-5)
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Last week's ranking: 10
At times, it almost seems like the Chiefs can't handle prosperity. Now, it's unknown if Kansas City will have Matt Cassel back, after he missed last week's game due to an appendectomy. Last week, he was replaced by Brodie Croyle against San Diego.
"I honestly can’t say,” he told the Kansas City Star about his recovery process. “They just said day-to-day. It’s all about reviewing it each and every day, seeing my progress and how I feel, everything like that. I don’t think it’s anything set in stone.”
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5)
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Last week's ranking: 17
The Bucs may be the most banged up and bruised up team in the league. The team confirmed that defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (torn biceps) and linebacker Quincy Black (broken arm) have been put on injured reserve, bringing them to seven starters who have now been replaced.
Michael Bennett and Frank Okam will try to fill McCoy's spot, while Dekoda Watson and Adam Hayward carry the load in Black's position.
12. Chicago Bears (9-4)
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Last week's ranking: 8
They're still a very good team, but there's no way they should have lost that bad to New England.
11. New York Jets (9-4)
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Last week's ranking: 6
Rex Ryan isn't shying away from the facts.
"We have to get a lot better, and quick," Ryan told the New York Post, "or we're gonna get smacked again."
And fall well short of their Super Bowl expectations.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5)
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Last week's ranking: 12
Pro Football Weekly tells how coach Jack Del Rio challenged his special teams to "be special" entering their game with Oakland. Mission accomplished: Kassim Osgood knocked the ball loose from Jacoby Ford on a kickoff, and teammate Montell Owens recovered the fumble. Jacksonville later got a 65-yard kickoff return from Deji Karim.
9. Green Bay Packers (8-5)
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Last week's ranking: 4
Besides Aaron Rodgers, the team has also lost defensive end Cullen Jenkins (calf). He said after the loss to Detroit it's the worst calf injury he's had. Jenkins told reporters he doesn't know when he will return and admitted it could be a season-ending injury.
8. San Diego Chargers (7-6)
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Last week's ranking: 14
After beating Kansas City 31-0, San Diego has a short week to prepare for Thursday's game with San Francisco.
"Our coaches put together a game plan Friday afternoon and then Saturday afternoon after our walk-through. And that’s a challenge," coach Norv Turner said. "That’s tough when you’re getting ready for Kansas City and we all know what’s at stake and you’re working on the next week’s game but that’s what we’ve done and it’s worked well. Where I’ve been, we’ve had success on short weeks, Thursday night games, everywhere I’ve coached. I think you just have to do it. There’s a lot of carryover. They’re a 3-4 (defense). Their offense is similar to our offense so there’ll be a lot of carryover. They want to run the ball. They run similar-style plays so our guys will be prepared to play."
7. New York Giants (9-4)
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Last week's ranking: 11
Matt Mosley of ESPN.com has a good feeling about this team.
"This is a team that is built for a deep playoff run," he writes. "I'm not saying it's going to happen for sure, but the Giants are running the ball and stopping the run on defense. Those things tend to help a team in the winter months."
I want to see how they do against Philadelphia before I make that declaration. Your thoughts, Giants fans?
6. Baltimore Ravens (9-4)
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Last week's ranking: 9
A loss would have been absolutely devastating, but now this could wind up being a season-defining victory. One writer even declared this is the team that could take down Tom Brady and the Patriots.
5. New Orleans Saints (10-3)
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Last week's ranking: 7
Quarterback Drew Brees knows things have changed since last year when they were the hunted.
"...There is the top and a couple of other teams that stand in our way for getting a high seed for the playoffs and obviously when you look at our division with Tampa and Atlanta sitting right there, still to play them the last two games of the season, obviously they mean a lot," he said. "We play it one game at a time. Anytime you can go out and win that makes you feel good about your team.”
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3)
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Last week's ranking: 5
Didn't have quite the drama this time around against Cincinnati. Now comes a great game against a struggling Jets team this weekend. Calling my shot: Big Ben hands the Jets their third straight loss.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (9-4)
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Last week's rankings: 3
The game with the Cowboys on Sunday set the record for the best in "Sunday Night Football" history. It had a 16.5 overnight rating, and 25 share, tying the Giants-Cowboys game from Week 2 last season, which also happened to be the first game in the new Cowboys Stadium.
2. Atlanta Falcons (11-2)
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Last week's ranking: 2
Seven straight wins, Michael Turner's finding his groove and home field advantage is within reach. This team isn't losing momentum, that's for sure.
1. New England Patriots (11-2)
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Last week's ranking: 1
Tom Brady keeps saying this team hasn't won anything yet. If they're still striving this hard to improve and get better, imagine how dominant they'll be in the postseason.
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