NFL: Seattle Seahawks Make Big Move in Latest ADR

Hello football fans!  I'm definitely ready for another great week of action, and it's starting to be prove-it-to-me time. 

It's Week 6 in the NFL, and a lot of contenders will begin to emerge as some pretenders will be exposed. 

With that in mind, here the NFL Aggregate Defensive Rankings through Week 5:

2011 NFL Aggregate Defensive Rankings
Ranking Team Total Pts. Total Rushing Yds  Total Passing Yds Total Yards / Gm Turnovers 3rd Conversion % Sacks ADR
1 Washington Redskins 63 338 848 296.5 6 26.0% 15 13.9
2 Baltimore Ravens 57 290 848 284.5 14 33.0% 11 14.1 3 New York Giants 123 611 1256 373.4 11 32.0% 18 19.9 4 San Francisco 49ers 78 382 1322 340.8 14 35.0% 12 21.3 5 New York Jets 125 674 1015 337.8 11 31.0% 13 21.5 6 Detroit Lions 89 574 1122 339.2 11 32.0% 12 22.5 7 Dallas Cowboys 101 247 920 291.8 6 38.0% 13 22.6 8 Cincinnati Bengals 94 443 955 279.6 6 33.0% 13 23.4 9 Houston Texans 70 435 857 323.0 7 39.0% 12 25.3 10 Cleveland Browns 93 498 782 320.0 5 34.0% 11 26.7 11 Green Bay Packers 111 379 1499 375.6 13 44.0% 12 31.0 12 Philadelphia Eagles 132 701 1059 352.0 5 38.0% 16 31.4
13 Minnesota Vikings 106 382 1359 348.2 7 45.0% 16 32.1 14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 125 617 1273 378.0 7 33.0% 10 35.4 15 Arizona Cardinals 121 594 1291 377.0 7 36.0% 11 36.2 16 Buffalo Bills  120 692 1417 421.8 16 38.0% 5 36.5 17 Seattle Seahawks 122 489 1341 366.0 7 32.0% 8 37.4 18 Tennessee Titans  94 525 1105 326.0 8 47.0% 11 38.5 19 Oakland Raiders 133 614 1498 422.4 8 42.0% 14 38.6 20 New Orleans Saints 125 538 1235 354.6 4 42.0% 14 40.0 21 Chicago Bears 122 678 1420 419.6 8 36.0% 9 42.5 22 Jacksonville Jaguars 115 505 1077 316.4 6 39.0% 8 42.8 23 San Diego Chargers 109 568 898 293.2 5 40.0% 8 44.3 24 Denver Broncos 140 617 1312 385.8 7 45.0% 12 44.3 25 Atlanta Falcons 130 446 1471 383.4 9 46.0% 9 46.7 26 Pittsburgh Steelers  89 544 870 282.8 2 41.0% 10 46.9 27 New England Patriots 119 532 1633 433.0 9 44.0% 8 52.8 28 St. Louis Rams 113 719 899 404.5 5 46.0% 8 56.5 29 Carolina Panthers 132 676 1155 366.2 5 43.0% 8 59.2 30 Indianapolis Colts 136 726 1271 399.4 7 49.0% 9 59.5 31 Kansas City Chiefs 150 598 1248 369.2 5 44.0% 5 79.6 32 Miami Dolphins 104 430 1228 414.5 2 43.0% 6 84.8

The Redskins and Ravens had bye weeks and remain atop the league defensive rankings. 

Leading the ranks of those who made improvements are the Seattle Seahawks.  They pulled a huge upset on Sunday at Met Life Stadium against the Giants. 

Despite giving up 464 total yards (including 395 through the air), the Seahawks' defense played well—forcing five turnovers and limiting the Giants to a dismal one for 12 on third downs. 

On the strength of this performance, the Seahawks jumped from 30th to 17th in ADR.

What to look for this week

I know it's still early, but this is a huge weekend in the NFC East.  The Redskins' and Cowboys' defenses face major tests on Sunday. 

The Redskins will take on a desperate Eagles team, whose offense is the fastest in the league and averages 445.6 yards per game.  They are currently ranked third among NFL offenses and dropped 59 points on the 'Skins the last time they showed up at FedEx Field. 

Similarly, the Cowboys have a date with New England.  The Tom Brady-led Patriots lead the league in total offense after five weeks and average 33 points per game. The defenses of the Redskins and Cowboys are likely to take hits to their defensive rankings this week. 

Should they show well, however, both defenses must be considered good enough to lead their teams deep into January.

Staying in the NFC East, the Bills (another prove-it-to-me team) travel south to play the Giants. 

While currently ranked 16th in ADR, I'm still not sure about the Bills.  They are giving up 421.8 yards per game, have recorded only five sacks on the season and are facing a Giants team that has shown it can move the ball and score points. 

Doesn't it seem like every tipped ball is landing in the hands of a Buffalo defender? 

In fact, I could have sworn that a deflected pass during the Bears-Lions game on Monday landed in the hands of Bills' safety Bryan Scott.

Maybe it was the beer. Gotta give 'em credit, I guess.

We'll see what happens.  Enjoy the football weekend!