For the second week in a row, here are the NFL rankings for all 32 teams. There are some movers and shakers and I'll show the ups and downs for each team next to their record! I would love to hear some comments and insight into your thoughts.
32. Miami Dolphins 4-5 (No Change)
I hate to play the "I told you so" card but if you didn't see Miami struggling against Tampa then you weren't paying attention to all the nonsense that has surrounded this team over the past week and a half. I don't see things getting better for Miami because it seems like the organization is unable to admit their issues and clean this up quickly. When it came out that Aaron Hernandez was involved in a murder case, the Patriots cut all ties with him. This issue with Incognito isn't as serious, but if you keep him on your team and he's just suspended then you have to keep talking about him. If you cut him then your response is "he no longer plays for us, next question." Bold Prediction: Miami doesn't win more than 6 games.
31. Atlanta Falcons 2-7 (-7)
This team has completely flat-lined. They're done for the season and I can't keep blaming it on injuries. Matt Ryan has under-performed all season but we've tried to say he hasn't. Their top 2 receivers are injured was the excuse but New England managed through their top 5 receivers out of the lineup for 6 weeks and they survived it. Honestly, I don't think Atlanta was as good last year as we thought they were, they just fooled us with close wins. Now, I'm not sure they'll beat Tampa Bay this coming week. Bold Prediction: Atlanta finishes last in the NFC South at 3-13.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars 1-8 (+1)
If the game would have ended at halftime I would have moved Jacksonville up above 30 but they barely held on to get their first win of the season. I don't see them getting much more than 3 wins on the season and they'll probably be right there in contention for the No. 1 draft pick. Let's just hope they make a smart decision with that selection. Bold Prediction: Jacksonville moves to London or L.A. in the next 5 years.
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1-8 (+1)
Congratulations to the 2008 Detroit Lions, you're still the only team to make it through a 16 game season without a win. Also, Congratulations to the Bucs for getting a win against the most dysfunctional team in the league. Too bad you couldn't play Miami every week. On the good side, you get a terrible Atlanta team who seems to have given up on the season. If you can beat the Falcons, you'll have a great chance to not be the worst team in the NFC South. Bold Prediction: Mike Glennon is the QB of the future and plays Tampa out of a Top 2 draft choice.
28. Houston Texans 2-7 (-5)
I had faith that the Texans could get things going in the right direction and beat the Arizona Cardinals. They came close but once again fell short. This team and Atlanta are mirror images to me. Both had great aspirations for this season. Some people had the two facing each other for a Super Bowl. Well, now they're facing off for the best draft choice. In all of this, I'm pretty sure that Case Keenum has kicked Matt Schaub out of town. Anyone remember when Schaub was backing up Vick in Atlanta? Hey, we made it full circle! Ed Reed also thinks the Texans have been getting out coached. I agree. Bold Prediction: The Texans salvage something this season and win 7 games.
27. Minnesota Vikings 2-7 (+1)
While they got their second win against the Redskins this weekend, I don't see brighter days ahead of the Vikings. With Christian Ponder getting banged up again, it looks like Matt Cassel could get another go at QB, either way it doesn't matter. They need to give Adrian Peterson 30+ touches a game but their schedule doesn't get any easier from here. Bold Prediction: While I moved them up, I don't see them getting more than 3 total wins this season.
26. Washington Redskins 3-6 (-11)
I held the Redskins in high regard last week and saw them getting to 4-5, but they failed to beat the lowly Vikings. They probably should have dropped lower but if they reel off two or three wins they'll be right there in the NFC East. I don't see that happening, though. Bold Prediction: Redskins see some changes, not to the name, but to the coaching staff. Mike Shanahan will be fired.
25. Tennessee Titans 4-5 (-8)
They had an opportunity to be handed an AFC Wild Card spot and control their own destiny the rest of the way with a win over the worst team in the league. Instead, Jake Locker got a season ending injury, and with one-loss, Tennessee has collapsed out of the playoff picture. Bold Prediction: Jacksonville beats Tennessee again in Week 16. The Titans falter and finish below .500.
24. Buffalo Bills 3-7 (-2)
While the offense punted about 50 times against the Steelers, I think Buffalo has a very easy road after their Week 12 bye week. If they could find a way to beat the Jets this week, they'll be 4-7 and have a real possibility to get to 8-7 against Atlanta, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay and Miami. Bold Prediction: E.J. Manuel gets his timing back and the Bills get to 8-8 and contend for a playoff spot.
23. Oakland Raiders 3-6 (+2)
A 4-point loss improved them two spots. No credit goes to the Raiders for improving in my power rankings, it goes to the Redskins and Titans for being so perplexingly bad. As I said last week, the road for the Raiders gets very difficult in the final weeks. Bold Prediction: The Raiders will get 5 wins this season and Terrelle Pryor's guarantee will come true.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers 3-6 (+7)
The defense looked fantastic against a rookie who hasn't play in several weeks. I can't give too much credit to the Steelers but in a very shaky AFC North, they have a chance to upset some playoff chances for their rivals. With 4 of their final 6 against division opponents, the Steelers will decide who makes the playoffs in the AFC North. Bold Prediction: The Steelers will play a part in eliminating the Bengals from the playoffs.
21. St. Louis Rams 4-6 (+6)
This is a legitimate defense in St. Louis. If they could only find a QB who could make plays for them then they'd be a serious contender. What they did to the Colts was impressive. They have some tough NFC West games down the stretch with one game against each division opponent. Bold Prediction: Just like the Steelers, the Rams will decide the NFC West and keep San Francisco out of the playoffs.
20. New York Giants 3-6 (+6)
They didn't destroy the Raiders but they've won 3 straight. They still have a litany issues but they're in the NFC East, they're not out of a playoff spot by any means. They could win 6 of their final 7 games and be right there week 17 to get into the playoffs. The Giants really stretched their "start slow, get hot late" M.O. this season. Bold Prediction: The Giants will finish 9-7 but miss the playoffs.
19. San Diego Chargers 4-5 (No Change)
They kept it close with the Broncos and may have helped their rival Kansas City out by aggravating Peyton Manning's ankle injury late in the game. The Chargers are the Cowboys of the AFC to me. They have a ton of talent, win games they shouldn't, then lose games they should win. They'll finish somewhere around .500 and if they can get their act together they might vie for a playoff spot. Bold Prediction: I don't have one for this team. They just anger me.
18. Cleveland Browns 4-5 (No Change)
The Browns have Bengals, Steelers and Jaguars coming up next. If they beat the Bengals then they could be 7-5 and in control of the AFC North in 3 weeks. They'll need help from the Steelers and Ravens but their defense is legit. Bold Prediction: The Cleveland Browns make the playoffs.
17. Dallas Cowboys 5-5 (-5)
I said that I learned to never rank them too high last week but apparently I still ranked them too high. I didn't think they'd lose like that to New Orleans. They gave up the most first downs in league history and looked atrocious on defense. Also, Sean Lee might be out for the rest of the season. If that's the case then the Cowboys are done. They have a bye week coming up, then the Giants. Bold Prediction: The Cowboys once again finish .500 and miss the playoffs.
16. Baltimore Ravens 4-5 (+5)
They fought off an improbable Hail Mary that forced overtime against Cincinnati and have the opportunity to get hot and make a run for the AFC North. Their schedule leaves the possibility to get to 9-7 but it could come down to a week 17 rematch against Cincinnati for the AFC North. Bold Prediction: The Ravens beat the Bengals week 17, which gives the Cleveland Browns a playoff berth.
15. Arizona Cardinals 5-4 (+5)
Arizona might be the worst team in the NFC West but that still makes them a pretty good team. They've hung close with Seattle and San Francisco this season and they'll face them week 16 and 17, respectively. Arizona has quietly won 4 of 6 and have some favorable matchups against Jacksonville, Indy and Philadelphia. Watch out for the Cardinals to be contenders for the 6th playoff spot in the NFC. Bold Prediction: Arizona helps to knock the 49ers out of the playoffs, and potentially take a spot themselves.
14. Green Bay Packers 5-4 (-1)
They take a small drop with their loss to the Eagles and with Scott Tolzien as QB for at least two more weeks, it looks like the Packers are going to fall out of the playoff picture. They have a chance to control their own destiny with Chicago and Detroit still on the schedule but both games are on the road and we don't know what form Aaron Rodgers will return in. Bold Prediction: The Packers miss the playoffs this season.
13. Cincinnati Bengals 6-4 (-2)
Oh, Andy Dalton. We thought you might finally be stepping into an elite level of play. We were wrong. The Bengals have looked terrible over the past two weeks and barely salvaged an OT loss with a miracle tip drill catch by A.J. Green. They face Cleveland before a bye week and if they go into the bye at 6-5, they're in serious trouble of missing the playoffs and losing the AFC North to the Ravens or Browns. Bold Prediction: I hinted at it earlier, the Bengals will miss the playoffs and complete a total collapse that started with an OT safety loss to the Dolphins.
12. Chicago Bears 5-4 (-4)
A loss after a failed 2-point conversation attempt puts them a game back of the Lions for the NFC North. Jay Cutler may miss several weeks with a high ankle sprain and while Josh McCown is a great backup, he's still a backup. The Bears will hang around in the NFC North and Wild Card playoff discussion but we might see another strong start go to waste if they miss the playoffs again. Bold Prediction: Jay Cutler doesn't play another game the rest of the season.
11. Philadelphia Eagles 5-5 (+5)
Chip Kelly has the NFC East sitting in his lap and he has a great chance to look like a genius and have a successful first year as coach and make the playoffs. They could get in with 4 more wins if the Giants, Cowboys, and Redskins all knock each other off. Bold Prediction: The Eagles make the playoffs and win the NFC East with Nick Foles as QB the rest of the season.
10. New York Jets 5-4 (+4)
A bye week was just what the Jets needed. This was Geno Smith's week to have a bad game so if they skip a bad week, the back and forth rotation of bad and good from Geno Smith will give the Jets a 9-7 finish. That great defense gives them a chance to win every game. They gain four spots because the AFC Wild Card contenders around them have all been shaky as of late. Bold Prediction: Geno Smith won't throw 3 interceptions in another game this season.
9. Indianapolis Colts 6-3 (-5)
Even Reggie Wayne wouldn't have helped the Colts to beat St. Louis. The Rams dominated Indy and pointed out some major flaws for the Colts. Their offensive line isn't very good, and they have had some serious injuries hurt them this season. Kansas City is the only real tough test left on their schedule and nobody in the AFC South will catch them. Bold Prediction: There isn't much bold to say. The Colts will make the playoffs, and will lose to either Denver or New England in playoffs.
8. Kansas City Chiefs 9-0 (-1)
This week is the ultimate test for the Chiefs. If they can beat the Broncos then I will respect them and put them in the top 5. If not, then they are who I think they are. A fantastic defense that isn't doing enough on offense to be elite. Bold Prediction: The Chiefs beat the Broncos because Peyton Manning goes out of the game with an injury.
7. San Francisco 49ers 6-3 (-2)
Where'd you go, Colin Kaepernick? People were talking that you were the hardest QB to defend in the league. Carolina made it look pretty easy, holding you to 91 passing yards and keeping the Niners out of the endzone. If Kaep doesn't start performing better then the 49ers are in serious trouble. Even if he does play well they have four tough games coming up. Bold Prediction: The 49ers miss the playoffs and Jim Harbaugh is wondering why he sent Alex Smith away.
6. Detroit Lions 6-3 (+4)
Detroit's offense is explosive and their defense is capable of stopping opponents enough times to get wins. This looks like it could easily be the year that the Lions win the NFC North and make the playoffs. The Lions final 7 are all games where they could put check marks in the win column. Bold Predictions: Detroit wins the NFC North and finally live up to their expectations of the past years.
5. Carolina Panthers 6-3 (+4)
A cross-country trip to San Francisco resulted in a strong defensive performance and a 10-9 win. There is no rest for Carolina in their pursuit to be considered legitimate as they'll face New England on Monday Night Football. Cam Newton needs to continue to play well and get the offense about 21 points per game and let that defense go to work. Bold Prediction: The Panthers will make the playoffs as a Wild Card.
4. New Orleans Saints 7-2 (+2)
At home this offense is deadly. The New Orleans Saints dominated the Cowboys and continue to dominate at home. The Saints still have 4 road games remaining on their schedule including a trip to Seattle. They'll have a home and road game against Carolina which will likely decide the NFC South, and this week face San Francisco. Bold Prediction: The Saints will finish 11-5 but still take the NFC South.
3. New England Patriots 7-2 (No Change)
They have two tough tests in the next two weeks then face cupcakes the rest of the season. If they can beat Carolina and Denver then they have a likely chance of going 14-2 and being the top seed in the AFC once again. Bold Prediction: The Patriots will make their way back to the Super Bowl again.
2. Denver Broncos 8-1 (-1)
Peyton's ankle is what dropped the Broncos from the top spot. I know he has one of the most fierce work ethics in the league, but his age can restrict him and the Chiefs defense could leave him watching from the sidelines. Bold Prediction: Peyton Manning really messes up his ankle and misses more than just the rest of the game against the Chiefs.
1. Seattle Seahawks 9-1 (+1)
After two shaky games, it looks like the Seahawks got things back on track. With 4 of the final 6 games at home, Seattle has a great shot at getting the top spot in the NFC with a 14-2 or 13-3 record. The Seahawks face Minnesota then head into a bye week which comes at a perfect time. They'll come back and face New Orleans and San Francisco, wins in those games will secure the NFC for the Seahawks. Bold Prediction: The Seahawks secure home-field advantage and make it to the Super Bowl.
I'm going to hold off on a playoff standings this week because so much is up in the air right now. Next week, I will analyze the remainder of the schedule and give an in-depth analysis of the playoff picture.
Biggest Gain: Pittsburgh Steelers +7
Biggest Loser: Washington Redskins -11
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