| 29 December 2009
It's almost over. The suffering will soon come to an end. There's only one game left in the season for the Detroit Lions. By 4:15 Sunday afternoon, we can begin to look forward to an eventful offseason. Till that time, there remains things to be done...
Meaning it's time for my NFL power rankings, done for the network-wide Bloguin Blogpoll NFL Power Rankings.
Disclaimer time! Please remember, I'm just a dumb ass blogger who's totally making it up, and only gets to see 3-ish games at most every week (and one of those is always, bad as it is for my delicate psyche, the Lions). These power rankings are done strictly by the seat of my pants, only the seat of my pants and for the seat of my pants, in the seat of my pants!
The watched game count for Christmas week: Approximately 3, give or take a quarter. All of the Lions game and some of the 4PM Sunday games, most of Friday night's tilt, and little of the Sunday and Monday night matchups.
As always, to paraphrase David Letterman, please remember this is an exhibition, not a competition. Please, no wagering...using my rankings. Hell, even I'm not that stupid.
- San Diego Chargers: The Bolts winning streak is 10 games and counting. They don't have the league's best record, but are playing the best football of any team in the NFL, including the Colts.
- Indianapolis Colts: The Colts ticked off NFL nation by benching Peyton Manning with a lead, and doing everything in their power to hand over a win to the Jets, and throw away a shot at 19-0. All in the name of "rest". Didn't Jim Caldwell get Herm Edwards' memo? YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME!
- Philadelphia Eagles: After winning 6 straight, I can't make any more Jekyll and Hyde comments about the Iggles. What I can say is Philly's playing the best football of any team in the NFC, including the fading Saints and Vikings.
- New Orleans Saints: Suddenly look quite beatable after losing 2 straight, and backing into playoff home field. The Bucs, of all teams, dominated the Saints on Sunday, outscoring the NFC's top playoff seed 17-0 in the 2nd half.
- Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings are stumbling badly, losing 3 of 4, including a OT loss to the Bears Monday night. For the 2nd year in a row, a Brett Favre led team is in full meltdown mode at the end of the season. I don't think it's a coincidence.
- Arizona Cardinals: In midst of a 2 week, late season bye, as the Cards have beat the Lions and Rams, clinching the NFC West. Actually, call it a 3 week bye, as this Sunday 'Zona hosts a meaningless game with another locked in playoff team, the Packers.
- Cincinnati Bengals: Despite losing 2 of 3, the Bengals won the AFC Central. With so many teams backing into the playoffs, the Bengals must have figured, why not us?
- Dallas Cowboys: Clinched a playoff spot with an easy win over the Redskins. The winner of this Sunday's game against the Eagles takes the NFC East title and a 1st round home playoff game. I wouldn't put a win past the Cowboys, as they've surprised me up to this point. But, I mean, come on, Wade Phillips?
- Green Bay Packers: Bounced back from a tough, last play loss to the Steelers last week. The Pack pummeled the Seahawks and clinched a wild card berth, the proverbial 2 birds with one stone. Seahawk = bird, get it?
- New England Patriots: It was like watching the Pats of old last Sunday. They destroyed the Jags 35-7 as Tom Brady threw 4 TD passes, 3 to Randy Moss. Winners of 3 straight, the Patriots are a team no one wants to play in the post season.
- Baltimore Ravens: Lost to the Steelers, but still hold their own "Win and in" playoff destiny. Beat the Raiders, and the Ravens lock in an AFC wild card spot. Lose, and all Hell breaks loose in the AFC.
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Amazingly, after their 5 game swoon nearly killed their playoff chances, the Steelers still have a shot at a wild card. But they need lots and lots of help. Considering his track record in '09, their best chance is hoping Mike Tomlin didn't make any more silly promises!
- New York Jets: Despite Rex Ryan's crying jags, and mostly due to the Colts' Jim Caldwell waving the white flag, the Jets are the other AFC team with a "Win and in" playoff scenario. Beat Cincy, book post season airfare. Lose, and Ryan goes into tearful hysterics.
- New York Giants: Tom Coughlin apologized to the fans after being embarrassed by the Panthers. After the Gaints steadily and determinedly played their way right out of what looked to be a sure thing playoff spot, I doubt an apology is what their fans wanted to hear. I think, "I quit" would have sufficed.
- Denver Broncos: The Broncos started off like gangbusters, then faded into oblivion in the 2nd half of the season. They are a long shot to make the playoffs, as without a metric ton of luck, an 8-8 record won't get them in.
- Houston Texans: With the pressure off, the Texans have now won 3 straight. The pressure is back on, as they are still alive for a playoff spot. Which means the Texans will lose...I guarantee it.
- Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jags, mediocre as they are, still have a shot at the wild card if they finish 8-8. But the scenario is so convoluted, even the NFL has trouble figuring out how it's possible.
- Miami Dolphins: The Fins' playoff hopes are on life support. They must beat the Steelers (who are also on the playoff bubble), and the Jets, Ravens, Texans and Jaguars all must lose as well. Hey, if Ricky Williams can become an effective back again, 5 teams losing can could happen too!
- Tennessee Titans: The Titans won't make the playoffs, thanks to their 0-6 start. But they can finish the season on an 8-2 run and at .500 overall if they beat Seattle. This is one team which cannot wait for the 2010 season to start.
- Atlanta Falcons: Have won 2 straight, but the wins are meaningless. Their 2-6 midseason stretch had already cost the Falcons any chance at the playoffs.
- Carolina Panthers: Matt Moore has taken his turn as the Panthers' starting QB, and made it something special. In his past 2 games, Moore has 6 TD passes and 0 picks. You have to wonder what direction the Panthers' season could have gone if John Fox hadn't been so reluctant to bench a very bad Jake Delhomme.
- San Francisco 49ers: The Niners beat the Lions. So has damn near everybody else. Want a cookie?
- Chicago Bears: Last week Lovie Smith said "The focus right now is to try to get it to a 6-9 season."The Bears did, beating the Vikings in OT. This week Smith said, "Better days will be ahead for us.” You're playing the Lions, Lovie. Way to go out on a limb!
- Buffalo Bills: After benching both Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Bills thought Packers castoff Brian Brohm would be a step up at the quarterback position. Yet we wonder why the Bills are always also-rans?
- Oakland Raiders: After losing to the Browns, Tom Cable called out his Raiders team for losing their composure. This is also the same man who attempted to murder one of his assistant coaches. Pot, please meet kettle.
- Seattle Seahawks: Remember when Matt Hasselbeck used to be good?
- Cleveland Browns: In his last 2 games, Jerome Harrision has 73 carries for 434 yards. In his first 13 games, Harrision had 88 carries for 301 yards. I doubt any running back in NFL history has had such statistical extremes in one season.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: When asked about his job security after upsetting the Saints, Raheem Morris said, "I don't think Bill Cowher makes those decisions." Uh...WHAT? I sincerely believe coaching the Bucs has caused Morris to slowly lose his mind.
- Washington Redskins: The 'Skins big free agent pickup, Albert Haynesworth, who has 6 years left on his deal, put it best; "We have to just blow up this team and start from ground zero." As the Jim Zorn death march has just one game left, the blow up can soon commence.
- Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs...they...the...KC....Screw it, I got nothing. They're bad, and won't be getting better anytime soon. Period.
- Detroit Lions: Drew Stanton was given his first NFL start against the Niners. 3 picks, 1 lost fumble, 2 sacks, 3 points and a 31.9 QB rating 3+ quarters later, he was benched. Stanton went from the pentouse to the outhouse in 45 minutes.
- St. Louis Rams: The Rams lost again. Nothing changes from week to week but the name of the team beating them.
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