2010 NFL Football Power Ratings
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.
We encourage you to come back each week and see how the NFL Power Rankings have changed.
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Power Rankings (LAST Week Rankings # in Parentheses)
Shea Matthews is filling in for Lawrence Paul this week with the Week 17 NFL Power Rankings.
Lawrence is currently enjoy his Christmas Holidays somewhere warm no doubt!!
- New England Patriots (1) – Not even Mike Vick’s doggie redemption story could stop Tom Brady from leading all Pro Bowl voting.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (6) – Troy Polamalu’s health is a growing concern but, for the most part, the Steelers look battle ready. A deep playoff run is possible.
- Baltimore Ravens (4) – No Pro Bowl love for Joe Flacco. From what I understand, he wasn’t even in the discussion. Amazing how many people forget that this is just his third professional season.
- Chicago Bears (9) – Ugh. Trust me. I don’t like seeing them this high either. But we have to give them credit for dismantling the Jets the way they did. But please, NFL – never wire Jay Cutler for sound again. He’s every bit as douchey as we imagined.
- New Orleans Saints (6) – Don’t look now but the NFC South is still within reach for the Saints after their Monday-night victory. The career high in interceptions says Madden Cover Curse for Drew Brees; the Pro Bowl selection says otherwise.
- Altanta Falcons (2) – It’s too early to panic. Losing to the defending champs by a field goal could happen to anyone. But you can’t help but wonder if the football gods are trying to even things out after Atlanta won so many squeakers earlier this year.
- Philadelphia Eagles (3) – Is the book out on Mike Vick? Crazy comeback against the Giants aside, teams have hit him early and often all month long. The result; eight touchdown passes but also five interceptions and two lost fumbles over his last four starts.
- Kansas City Chiefs (13) – Is there a bigger Pro Bowl snub than Matt Cassel? The guy has 27 touchdown passes, five interceptions, an appendectomy and a partridge in a pear tree.
- Indianapolis Colts (12) – Make it three straight victories for Indy. Not a coincindence that the Colts recommitted to the run over that span.
- Green Bay Packers (11) – A week after losing by only four points to the Patriots at Foxboro with their backup quarterback, the Packers mutilate the Giants. This, my friends, is the team no one wants to face in the first round. They still have to beat Chicago in Week 17 first, however.
- New York Jets (7) – This supposedly elite defense laid an egg in Chicago. Rex Ryan’s foot ended up in his mouth. Or was it his wife’s foot?
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (15) – Mathematically, they’re not eliminated. Bucs fans can thank Josh Freeman and his five touchdown passes last week for that. However, if Tampa somehow limps in to the playoffs, will it have a single healthy starter left on “D”?
- New York Giants (10) – Holy Giants meltdown, Batman! If they hadn’t slipped a Super Bowl title in amidst all those chokejobs under Tom Coughlin, we’d be calling them the Bungles of the NFC.
- San Diego Chargers (8) – Sometimes nothing can explain what happens on a football field. Case in point: the San Diego Chargers blowing what should’ve been a slam-dunk win over Cincinnati. Maybe it was the travel and climate change? It happens. I know someone else who struggles with jet lag and winter weather: my 62-year-old mother.
- St. Louis Rams (18) – Please, St. Louis. PLEASE beat Seattle. If you don’t, the NFL will have a division winner under .500 this season.
- Oakland Raiders (16) – What do we make of Jason Campbell? Any chance Al Davis reaches on another arm this spring? Or has Campbell earned his keep?
- Jacksonville Jaguars (14) – Here’s yet another team that choked last week. Pundits everywhere were shouting out to Jacksonville’s O-line. After Maurice Jones-Drew didn’t play in Week 16 and Rashard Jennings stunk up the joint, maybe it’s time for the line to by MoJo dinner.
- Washington Redskins (28) – In theory, Washington should leapfrog the Jags in the rankings after beating them last week. But this team lets Rex Grossman throw passes on purpose. That’s worth a one-rank penalty at least.
- Minnesota Vikings (27) – All hail Joe Webb! He definitely had fun starting at quarterback and beating the Eagles on Tuesday. Too bad all his groupies are fantasy football geeks (he qualifies at wide receiver!).
- Detroit Lions (24) – Make it three straight wins for Detroit. That is not a misprint.
- Miami Dolphins (17) – Cameron Wake has been a nice story this season but the Dolphins’ offense needs to hit the reset button.
- Cincinnati Bengals (26) – Maybe knowing that they’re all blowing town after this season has given the Bungles a sense of euphoria? That could explain the two straight wins.
- Dallas Cowboys (22) – Stephen McGee was competent in relief of Jon Kitna last week. Looks like he’ll get another chance in Week 17.
- Denver Broncos (31) – Everybody hop on the Tim Tebow bandwagon! Conspiracy theory: Urban Meyer will coach Denver in 2011. Just kidding. I think.
- Tennessee Titans (20) – Remember Ricky Moss? Sorry – Rory. No…what was his name again?
- Seattle Seahawks (25) – Oops. Must’ve put Seattle here by mistake. After all, the Seahawks are playing for the NFC West crown this Sunday.
- Arizona Cardinals (30) – Christmas Day victory over Dallas just damages the Cardinals’ draft position. They even suck at losing.
- San Francisco 49ers (29) – Jim Harbaugh could be on the way. But will the Niners get creative and try to trade up for Andrew Luck as well?
- Houston Texans (19) – Make it four straight losses. The Texans at least deserve credit for finding new and spectacular ways to flop. Blowing a 23-0 lead to Denver is their latest accomplishment.
- Buffalo Bills (21) – Don’t you get the feeling the Bills will screw up their high first-round pick again this spring?
- Cleveland Browns (23) – Would’ve been nice to see a Pro Bowl nod for Joe Haden. Still, despite the three straight losses, 2010 has to be viewed as a year of progress in the Dawg Pound.
- Carolina Panthers (32) – Andrew Luck is theirs if they want him. With Luck and a still-fresh Jonathan Stewart, could Carolina hypothetically do what St. Louis did with Sam Bradford next year?
Comment on the Power Rankings below, or as always hit us with your pregame NFL picks and predictions…
