Thursday 8 November 2012

NFL POWER RANKINGS - WEEK 10

1 (1) Atlanta Falcons (8-0) - The Falcons are still perfect after a win on Sunday night over the Dallas Cowboys.  The Falcons put up some good numbers and ended up with 453 yards of offense.  Credit to the Cowboys though, when the Falcons got to the red zone, they kept them out of the end zone on three of the four occasions.  Matt Ryan had another good day, throwing for 342 yards.  Michael Turner had a good game too, running for 102 yards and a touchdown.  Julio Jones and Roddy White led the receivers.  Jones had 5 catches for 129 yards and White had 7 catches for 118 yards. 

2 (2) Houston Texans (7-1) -
The Texans are now 7-1 after a solid win over the Buffalo Bills.  The Bills kept the game tight but the Texans always looked in control.  Matt Schaub threw for 268 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Arian Foster ran for 111 yards and a touchdown.  Andre Johnson had a good day, catching 8 passes for 118 yards.  If the Texans keep playing so well on offense and defense, it really is hard to see who will stop them being the AFC's representative in Superbowl XLVIII.

3 (6) Green Bay Packers (6-3) - Green Bay won again, taking their record to 6-3 for the season.  Aaron Rodgers had a mixed day at quarterback.  He did throw 4 touchdowns but being the perfectionist that he is, he won't be happy at completing just 14 of 30 passes and also throwing an interception.  Green Bay's rushers had a better game and as a unit, they combined for 176 yards on the ground.  The Packers are looking dangerous and will be one if the teams in the mix to represent the NFC in the Superbowl.

4 (7) Chicago Bears (7-1) -
This Bears team are looking scary good.  They were excellent on Sunday and completely blew out the Titans.  Their offense, defense and even their special teams all picked up scores in a 51-20 rout.  Cutler was solid, completing 19 of 26 passes for 229 yards and 3 touchdowns.  Brandon Marshall caught 9 passes for 122 yards and 3 touchdowns.  Matt Forte also had a good game, running for 103 yards and a touchdown.  The Bears defense returned an interception for a touchdown and the special teams unit blocked a punt for another one.  This Bears team are the real deal and if they carry this form into the playoffs, then it will take a very good team to beat them. 

5 (3) New York Giants (6-3) -
The Giants lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday and despite only losing by four points, they were very much second best.  They were outplayed on all sides of the ball and deserved to lose.  Eli Manning was particularly disappointing and completed just 10 of his 24 passes for 125 yards and an interception.  The Giants ran a balanced offense but the running game wasn't much better and picked up just 68 yards from 22 attempts.  The loss will have hurt the Giants who had won four straight but there's no shame in losing to a Steelers team in this form.  

6 (4) New England Patriots (5-3) -
The Pats had their bye week, this week, after their trip to London for the International Series game.  This week they face divisional rivals, the Buffalo Bills, in a game they really should win.

7 (5) San Francisco 49ers (6-2) -
The 49ers were on their bye week, this week and will be happy with the work they have done so far.  They are 6-2 and look likely to be involved in the post season, most likely as NFC West champions. 

8 (10) Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) -
The Steelers were excellent on Sunday and picked up a great win in New York, over the Giants.  The Steelers are looking very dangerous and they have got their running game sorted out.  The defense also deserve a lot of credit, restricting one of the NFL's most explosive offenses to just 182 total yards.  Ben Roethlisberger threw for 216 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception.  The offensive line played very well and created a lot of holes for Isaac Redman.  Redman was able to find them and ran for 147 yards and a touchdown.  Mike Wallace led the receivers, catching 3 passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. 
 
9 (8) Baltimore Ravens (6-2) -  Football is a results business and the Baltimore Ravens are certainly getting it done but it hasn't always been impressive.  They beat the Cleveland Browns, 25-15, on Sunday but the game was still up for grabs until the dying seconds.  The Ravens didn't help themselves by giving the Browns, 82 yards from 9 penalties.  However, they got there in the end and at 6-2, lead the AFC North.  However, on current form, it won't be long until the Steelers are right on their tail.  Joe Flacco threw for 153 yards and a touchdown. Ray Rice finally got an increased workload, picking up 98 yards and a touchdown from 25 carries. 

10 (9) Denver Broncos (5-3) -
The Broncos are now 5-3 after a win over the struggling Bengals.  The Broncos led for most of the game but went behind early in the fourth quarter.  They reacted positively and scored 2 touchdowns.  The Bengals could only reply with a field goal and it's now three straight wins for Peyton Manning and the Broncos.  Manning threw for 291 yards and 3 touchdowns but he was intercepted twice.  The leading receiver was Eric Decker who caught 8 passes for 99 yards and 2 touchdowns.  The running game was poor and picked up just 68 yards from 26 carries. 

11 (13) Indianapolis Colts (5-3) -
The Colts are now 5-3 after edging a win over the Miami Dolphins.  The game was tight all the way but it was the Colts, led by an inspired performance from rookie quarterback, Andrew Luck, who got the win.  Luck was excellent and threw for 433 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Donnie Avery and TY Hilton were his main receivers.  Avery caught 5 passes for 108 yards and Hilton caught 6 for 102 yards and a touchdown.  I said a few weeks ago when Coach Pagano was diagnosed with leukemia, that the Colts could react two ways.  I am delighted to see that they are reacting in a positive way and no doubt it will be raising Pagano's spirits, at this difficult time. 

12 (14) Seattle Seahawks (5-4) -
The Seahawks picked up a good win over the Minnesota Vikings to go 4-0 at home and 5-4 for the season.  The Seahawks are turning CenturyLink Field into a fortress and if they can pick up their share of road wins, they have a great chance of a playoff spot.  Russell Wilson had a good game, completing 16 of 24 passes for 173 yards and 3 touchdowns.  Marshawn Lynch led the running game, running for 124 yards and a touchdown.  Sidney Rice, caught 4 passes for 54 yards and a touchdown. 

13 (11) Minnesota Vikings (5-4) -
The Vikings have dropped to 5-4 after picking up a loss for the third time, in four games.  The Vikings started well but they are slipping back and have lost momentum at a bad time.  Christian Ponder had a bad game, completing 50% of his passes for 63 yards and an interception.  That is nowhere near good enough for a team with playoff aspirations.  The Vikings one positive was, once again, the performance of Adrian Peterson.  Peterson ran for 182 yards and two touchdowns.  The Vikings hopes rest firmly on his shoulders but is a big ask for one man to carry a football team.

14 (15) Detroit Lions (4-4) -
The Lions are back at .500 after a blow out win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.  I predicted a big season for the Lions this year but so far they have disappointed.  They are now back at 4-4 and I wouldn't be surprised if they get themselves into the race for an NFC wild card slot.  Matthew Stafford threw for 285 yards but it was the rushers who done the damage.  Joique Bell ran for 73 yards and a touchdown.  Mikel Leshoure ran for 70 yards and 3 touchdowns.  Calvin Johnson, who was an injury doubt before the game, caught 7 passes for 129 yards. 

15 (18) San Diego Chargers (4-4) -
The Chargers got to 4-4 with a win over the Kansas City Chiefs.  The game was close for the first three quarters and then the Chargers scored a touchdown early in the fourth.  This left the Chiefs chasing the game and that's when bad things start to happen.  The Chiefs have turned the ball over 29 times and straight away the Chargers scored two defensive touchdowns after a fumble and an interception.  Philip Rivers threw for 220 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception.  Ryan Mathews had a solid game on the ground, running for 67 yards from 13 carries.

16 (12) Miami Dolphins (4-4) -
Miami are now 4-4 after losing a tight game in Indianapolis.  There was never more than a touchdown between the sides but Miami quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, was outdone by rookie rival, Andrew Luck.  Tannehill had a good game, throwing for 290 yards and a touchdown.  Brian Hartline was his leading receiver and caught 8 passes for 107 yards.  The Dolphins should have perhaps put more faith in their running game as it was performing well on the day.  They picked up 84 yards from 18 carries but the fact they only ran the ball 18 times when it was working, in such a tight game, would have to be questioned. 

17 (16) Dallas Cowboys (3-5) -
The Cowboys are now 3-5 after losing another tight game to one of the NFL's best sides.  The Cowboys kept the game tight and I think this Cowboys team are better than their 3-5 record would suggest.  If the Giants suffer a collapse, the Cowboys will be the team to challenge them for the NFC East.  Tony Romo had a good game, throwing for 321 yards and a touchdown.  Kevin Ogletree was the leading receiver, catching 3 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown.  Felix Jones ran well for the Cowboys but was restricted to just 9 carries for 39 yards.  This is yet another example of a runner picking up yards but not getting many carries.

18 (22) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4) - The Bucs go to 4-4 after a huge second half performance, led by rookie running-back, Doug Martin.  Martin looks like the real deal and based on his season so far, he should have a successful NFL career.  The Bucs had a bit of a scare late on when the Raiders scored two quick touchdowns to get back to within 3 points but Doug Martin ended their hopes with a touchdown.  Josh Freeman threw for 247 yards and 2 touchdowns but it was Martin who stole the headlines, running for 251 yards and 4 touchdowns. 

19 (25) New Orleans Saints (3-5) - The Saints are at 3-5 now after a comfortable win over a poor, Philadelphia Eagles.  The Saints still have a chance at 3-5 but they can't afford many more defeats and need to go on a good run.  Drew Brees threw for 239 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Jimmy Graham was his go to receiver and caught 8 passes for 72 yards and a touchdown.  The Saints had a good day on the ground and picked up 140 yards from 25 rushing attempts.    

20 (17) Arizona Cardinals (4-5) -
The Cardinals have now lost five in a row since their 4-0 start.  The Cards good start was a surprise but it is now a distant memory after this latest defeat which sends them below .500 for the first time this season.  They got to within a touchdown a few times on Sunday but the Packers always had that bit extra to move away again.  John Skelton completed 50% of his passes for 306 yards, a touchdown and an interception.  Andre Roberts was the leading receiver again with 4 catches for 86 yards.  Larry Fitzgerald had a good game, catching 6 passes for 74 yards and a touchdown. 

21 (20) Cincinnati Bengals (3-5) -
The Bengals have now lost four games in a row, after a home loss to the Denver Broncos.  The game could have gone either way but the Bengals finished stronger and picked up the win.  Andy Dalton threw for 299 yards, a touchdown and an interception.  Receivers, Jermaine Gresham and AJ Green had good days.  Gresham caught 6 passes for 108 yards and Green had 7 catches for 99 yards and a touchdown.  One of the Bengals biggest issues at the moment is their running game.  BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for 56 yards and a touchdown from 17 carries.  If he could average a bit more per carry, it would help the Bengals offense and it may even free up AJ Green a bit more.
          
22 (19) Philadelphia Eagles (3-5) -
I don't even know what to write here, anymore.  We are a horrible team at the minute and the time for change has been and gone.  In my opinion, Juan Castillo was the final straw.  The only positive was the defense and Andy Reid fired the man responsible.  The offense has been bad all year, yet Marty Mornhinweg still has a job.  It's bizarre and hopefully the Eagles will be brought out of this hell when Andy Reid is fired at the end of the season.  In Monday's game, Michael Vick threw for 272 yards, a touchdown and an interception.  LeSean McCoy played well, running for 119 yards.  DeSean Jackson was the leading receiver, catching 3 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown. 

23 (24) St Louis Rams (3-5) -
The Rams were on a bye week this week and will have had plenty to talk about after their heavy defeat to the New England Patriots in London.  This week they face a tough trip to San Francisco to play the 49ers in a game they really have to win. 

24 (21) Washington Redskins (3-6) - The Redskins slide to 3-6 after a disappointing defeat to the Carolina Panthers.  The Redskins fans are still getting exciting displays from rookies Robert Griffin III and Alfred Morris.  Unfortunately for the Redskins, teams are starting to slow RG3 down and plan B isn't good enough at the minute.  On Sunday, RG3 threw for 215 yards but he couldn't get a touchdown.  He also ran for 53 yards.  Alfred Morris ran for 76 yards but it wasn't enough to beat the Panthers.

25 (23) Oakland Raiders (3-5) -
The Raiders lost a thriller to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday by a score of 42-32.  At 3-5, the Raiders don't look like a side who will be in the race for the playoffs.  The Raiders haven't been in the playoffs since they lost to the Bucs in Superbowl XXXVII.  For a franchise as rich in history as the Raiders, it's not good enough.  I can't see it changing soon either as they keep trading away their draft picks.  On Sunday, Carson Palmer threw for 414 yards, 4 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.  Marcel Reece was his leading receiver catching 8 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown.  The running game was very poor, picking up 22 yards from 11 attempts.    

26 (26) Tennessee Titans (3-6) -
The Titans drop to 3-6 after a heavy defeat to a rampant, Chicago Bears.  The Bears were excellent so it's hard to judge how good or bad the Titans were.  Matt Hasselbeck threw for 200 yards, a touchdown and an interception.  Chris Johnson ran for 141 yards and a touchdown, although his touchdown was an 80 yard run which adds a bit of gloss to his numbers.  Kenny Britt led the receivers with 5 catches for 67 yards.  At 3-6 the Titans are in a deep hole and I think the playoffs are beyond them. 

27 (27) New York Jets (3-5) -
The Jets had their bye week this week and will need to come out firing if they are to challenge for a playoff spot.  The Jets don't look like a playoff team so far but with Rex Ryan involved, they can never be completely ruled out.  This week they go to Seattle, hoping to hand the Seahawks their first home defeat of the season.

28 (28) Buffalo Bills (3-5) -
The Bills lost to the Houston Texans on Sunday but they can be quite pleased with their effort and kept it to a one score game until the fourth quarter.  The Bills were unable to break down a tough Texans defense and were restricted to 3 field goals.  Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 239 yards.  CJ Spiller ran for 39 yards from 6 carries, at 6.5 yards per carry.  In a game that was tight for so long, Spiller should have saw more of the ball. 

29 (30) Carolina Panthers (2-6) -
The Panthers got their second win of the season with a good win in Washington , over the Redskins.  They finally got the running game going and it laid the foundations for the victory.  Their rushers combined for 129 yards from 27 carries.  Cam Newton threw for 201 yards and a touchdown.  The Panthers won't make the playoffs this year but they will be glad to have picked up their first road win of the season. 

30 (29) Cleveland Browns (2-7) -
The Browns lost to the Baltimore Ravens again but, like the clash earlier in the season, they pushed the Ravens all the way.  The Browns were ahead until Torrey Smith's touchdown with 4:26 remaining.  The biggest problem for the Browns was their red zone conversions.  They were 0-5 in the red zone and had to kick 5 field goals.  Brandon Weeden threw for 176 yards and 2 interceptions.  Trent Richardson was the best player for the Browns, picking up 136 yards from scrimmage. 

31 (31) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-7) -
The Jags lost again on Sunday to go to 0-4 at home and 1-7 for the season.  The best thing that could happen for the Jags from the 2012 season would be,  the number one pick in next years draft.  They are a poor side and it is hard to see them winning another game, in their current form.  Blaine Gabbert threw for 220 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.  The running game, which is badly missing Maurice Jones-Drew, averaged just 3.2 yards per carry.

32 (32) Kansas City Chiefs (1-7) -
Another defeat for the Chiefs and another defeat, that can be blamed on turnovers.  The Chiefs turned the ball over 4 times this week and 2 were returned for touchdowns and another was with the Chiefs in scoring position.  The Chiefs have now turned the ball over 29 times this year and it is murdering the team.  For the first three quarters the Chiefs were holding their own.  The Chargers got two defensive touchdowns in the fourth quarter and it was game over.  Matt Cassel threw for 181 yards and a touchdown.  His best receiver was Dwayne Bowe with 8 catches for 79 yards.

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