NFL Football Power Ratings For Week 14
Each week during the heart of the NFL season, and once or twice during the NFL Preseason, we’ll gather the troops around the roundtable and hash out the NFL Power rankings. We check out the stats, looks at the records, and, most importantly, we take a close, close look at the heart of each team.
Best performance from Week 13
New Orleans – They were playing a team that is likely to make the playoffs and dispatched them with ease. Is there a tougher place to play than the SuperDome right now?
Worst performance from Week 13
Chicago – Their quarterback situation is well documented but their loss to the Chiefs at home while scoring just 3 points was still a surprise. Now they have lost Matt Forte for a stretch too.
Best game of Week 14
New York Giants @ Dallas – These teams are separated by just a game after both lost last week. For Dallas it was a disappointment while the Giants pushed the Packers further than any team has all season. Moral victories won count anymore though.
Green Bay (12-0) Perfection continues as the Packers were pushed to the brink but came through. This was a nice game to remind us that the NFC is not totally a foregone conclusion right now.
Baltimore (9-3) Their defense will make them a tough out in the playoffs as will their dominating run game. They have had some surprising losses but might be peaking at the right moment.
New England (9-3) Nobody is talking about the Patriots right now but I am sure that suits them just fine. They are tied at the top of the AFC and their schedule form here on out is pretty light.
San Francisco (10-2) They absolutely dominated the Rams last week and are just trying to keep sharp until the playoffs start. It will be a test for Harbaugh to keep this team’s edge as they play out the season.
Pittsburgh (9-3) They won easily last week but not taking care of the Ravens in the regular season may be their undoing. They could be one of the best Wild Card teams ever.
New Orleans (9-3) When they play at home it looks like they can’t be beat but the Saints are going to have to potentially beat San Fran and Green Bay on the road to make it back to the Super Bowl. That’s a tall order.
Houston (9-3) With every win they inch towards that first playoff berth. The Titans are running out of opportunities to chase them down even though they are still figuring out their QB situation.
Detroit (7-5) I still like their talent the best of the group of NFC Wild Card contenders. They have to weather another game without Suh but a visit from Minnesota shouldn’t be too much of a challenge.
Denver (7-5) The Broncos have taken command of the AFC West and have more momentum than any team save Green Bay. Lookout league, what if Tebow learns now to play quarterback?
New York Jets (7-5) There are four teams in the AFC with the same record and I am not sure where the Jets slot in. The offense is playing better but they have to take care of business this week against Kansas City.
Cincinnati (7-5) They need to turn things around quickly and get a bit of a break facing a Houston team with a less experienced QB than their own. Playing 3 of final 4 are at home could be a difference maker.
Dallas (7-5) Of all the 7-5 teams in the NFC they probably have the best chance to make the playoffs because they have the lead in their division. They still have two games left against the Giants and need at least a split. Winning at home this week would be smart.
Atlanta (7-5) The Falcons still have a good shot at making the playoffs with 3 very winnable games to close out the final quarter. Their fourth, a visit to New Orleams, will be the stiffest test.
Oakland (7-5) The Raiders looked awful against Miami and with Denver surging could find themselves on the outside looking in come playoff time. The AFC West has had lots of turns this year so another one in the final quarter won’t be a shock. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
New York Giants (6-6) They pretty much control their destiny with two game remaining against the Cowboys. The question is whether they can get off the mat after last week’s tough loss.
Tennessee (7-5) Chris Johnson may be awakening but I still don’t like this team’s chances of making the playoffs. A visit from the Saints should expose them, big time.
Chicago (7-5) It doesn’t look good for the Bears chances. They are getting nothing from their QB and will now be without top offensive performer Matt Forte for a few weeks too. Just too much to overcome.
San Diego (5-7) Last week’s win at Jacksonville showed what this team is capable of. But they are a couple of games back with only 4 to play. That is a tough margin to make up.
Carolina (4-8) The Panthers have won two in a row and both were on the road. This is a team that still needs reinforcements but it has been a pretty successful start to the Cam Newton era.
Buffalo (5-7) This teams continues to slide and the rest of their schedule is daunting. They might not win another game and are likely to be underdogs from here on out.
Miami (4-8) They have no chance to make the playoffs but can make an impact the races with remaining games against the Jets and Pats. I was shocked to see how easily they handled the Raiders on Sunday.
Cleveland (4-8) The hardest home stretch of any team in the league.. They play Pittsburgh twice and are @ Baltimore and @ Arizona. They will continue to slide down the rankings.
Seattle (5-7) They have won three of four to approach respectability. They get the Rams this week and have a date with Arizona the last week of the season. There is a chance this team actually finishes at .500.
Arizona (5-7) The NFC West is picking up the slack as the season progresses with both the Cardinals and Seahawks playing spoilers. The Cards are home to the 49ers this week and that is likely to halt their two game winning streak.
Kansas City (5-7) The Chiefs stole a game from the Bears last week but this is still a very bad team. However, the way the division has been going it wouldn’t shock to see all teams finish at 8-8.
Philadelphia (4-8) I am putting these guys way down this week after another embarrassment. Still it wouldn’t surprise me if they won the remainder of their games.
Tampa Bay (4-8) The Bucs have lost 6 in a row and play 3 of their last 4 on the road. That is a lethal combination for trying to salvage some respect down the stretch. Especially if Josh Freeman isn’t under center.
Washington (4-8) The Redskins have won only 1 on their last 8 games. Looking at their schedule they might not win another one. Hosting New England could be an ugly one on Sunday.
Jacksonville (3-9) This team is a train wreck this year and it just got embarrassed at home against San Diego. Still you could argue that Maurice Jones Drew is an MVP candidate.
Minnesota (2-10) The Viking are making sure that no team will usurp their title of most disappointing team of 2011. They really don’t have to worry, its in the bag.
St. Louis (2-10) With their recent play you can make a case for the Rams to be in the bottom slot but they still have those two victories on the Colts. They probably won’t come within a TD of winning again this year so there is a chance they could sink to the bottom over the final month.
Indianapolis (0-12) It was nice to see that they didn’t totally roll over last week. This week @ Baltimore could make for a very ugly beatdown, though no uglier than some of the others we have seen.
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