NFL Power Rankings Week 11: Examining Where ESPN Got It Wrong

Some weeks, the experts at ESPN and I have a lot in common in our weekly power rankings. Others, like this week, we have a few notable disagreements.

Starting at the top, I have the Houston Texans ranked No. 3 overall headed into Week 11, while ESPN puts them at No. 9.

ESPN's rankings mention that quarterback Matt Leinart will be taking over for the injured Matt Schaub after the team returns from its Week 11 bye, hinting that their decision to place them ninth has something to do with this information. I compiled my rankings before that information went public, but it wouldn't have affected my rankings if I hadn't.

I don't personally believe that the quarterback shift should have any bearing on the Texans' standing in the rankings until or unless it leads them to losses. Further, with the Texans as the No. 1 overall team in the AFC, they're certainly worth a higher ranking than ninth.

The New York Giants are No. 13 in my power rankings this week, with the team rising one spot from last week despite losing to the San Francisco 49ers. However, the Giants performed well in their close loss and it didn't harm their stock.

That said, I still don't have the Giants ranked as high as ESPN does, where they're No. 7. Though they have a solid, 6-3 record, only two of those wins have come against difficult teams, which keeps them low in my rankings.

ESPN also has the Denver Broncos ranked too high, in my opinion, with the Tim Tebow-led squad at 19. In contrast, I have them ranked 24th, despite the team winning their last two games in a row.

The manner in which head coach John Fox is approaching offensive strategy with Tebow at the helm is neither commendable nor sustainable; while the read option style of offense does play to the quarterback's strengths, it only serves to highlight just how ill-suited he is to play the game at the professional level.

That Denver has to approach the game in this manner just solidifies how poor a team they truly are. While 19th is nothing special either, I believe that Denver belongs in the bottom 10 of the league, and that's clearly where ESPN and I differ.

NFL Power Rankings, Week 11
 
1. Green Bay Packers
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. Houston Texans
4. New Orleans Saints
5. Pittsburgh Steelers
6. New England Patriots
7. Cincinnati Bengals
8. Baltimore Ravens
9. Chicago Bears
10. Dallas Cowboys
11. New York Jets
12. Detroit Lions
13. New York Giants
14. Buffalo Bills
15. Oakland Raiders
16. Atlanta Falcons
17. Tennessee Titans
18. San Diego Chargers
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
20. Miami Dolphins
21. Kansas City Chiefs
22. Seattle Seahawks
23. Jacksonville Jaguars
24. Denver Broncos
25. Philadelphia Eagles
26. Arizona Cardinals
27. Cleveland Browns
28. Minnesota Vikings
29. St. Louis Rams
30. Carolina Panthers
31. Washington Redskins
32. Indianapolis Colts