NFL Rankings- Week 15

[BigServer1]

This league is again proving itself to be nuts. Rankings etc...

#1: Chargers (12-2)- Not much has changed here, except the Defense is getting better and they proved they can win when Rivers stumbles through a game. LDT is putting together the best statistical season in NFL history and to hear him talk you would never know it. The Chargers are the odds on favorites to win the Super Bowl, and if you're watching their games it's easy to see why.

#2: Ravens (11-3)- McNair goes down with an injury and the city of Baltimore collectively craps their pants. Then Kyle Boller comes in and plays like a stud, and McNair is probable for Sunday's contest at Pittsburg. Things look good for the Ravens.

#3: Colts (11-3)- After losing 3 of 4, the Colts are back in the Title hunt with tonights win against the Bengals. The Defense looked better (still bad, but better) and Manning was amazing to say the least. If Peyton has games like that in January, the Colts will be tough to beat.

#4: Bears (12-2)- They're up this high because (sadly) someone from the NFC has to play in the Super Bowl. Grossman looked pretty good again this week, but to let the 3-11 Tampa Bay Bucs come into Soldier Field and take you to OT, your homefield advantage doesn't look so intimidating. I'll ask again, they're 12-2, but who have they beaten?

#5: Patriots (10-4)- The Pats rebounded nicely against the lowly Texans, but I don't see the swagger and confidence that was there a couple years ago. However, in January, Tom Terrific and the Pats are sure to surface again.

#6: Cowboys (9-5)- So they get clocked by the Saints, then they go into Atlanta, weather an incredible performance from Michael Vick (more on this later) and win by 10. I guess they're the team that can challenge the Bears in the NFC (at least they are this week). Next weeks game against the Eagles is for the NFC East title. Who thought we'd be saying that three weeks ago?

#7: Bengals (8-6)- IF they make the playoffs they are dangerous, but they didn't do themselves any favors tonight, and the pass Defense looked pretty bad against Maestro Manning and company.

#8: Saints (9-5)- Losing at home to a 5-9 team with a rookie QB at the helm doesn't exactly help the "Saints are a playoff contender" argument very much.

#9: Jets (8-6)- Pennington and the Jets are a great comeback story this season, and Eric Mangini continues to impress on the sidelines. Denver is struggling, Jacksonville is up and down, and the Jets have a shot at a playoff berth. This is the NFL, right?

#10: Eagles (8-6) McNabb who? 9 TDs to 1 INT for Jeff Garcia has Eagles fans everywhere excited about their playoff potential (note: I apologize to all Eagle fans for saying their playoff hopes were shot when McNabb went down).

#11: Broncos (8-6)- At least they won this week, which is more than I can say for the...

#12: Jaguars (8-6)- Wow. Week 14 they run all over the Colts, then turn around and lose to a Titans team that held the ball on offense for a whopping 15 minutes. The playoff lights are dimming in Jacksonville, and the next two against the Pats and the Cheifs don't make life any easier.

#13: Titans (7-7)- 7-2 in their last 9 and 5 in a row. This begs the question, if Vince Young had started at the beginning of the year, what would their record be?

#14: Seahawks (8-6)- Two weeks ago the Seahawks were looking at the 2nd best record in the NFC and a first week bye. Now? After losses to San Fran and Arizona they don't even deserve to go to the playoffs.

#15: Falcons (7-7)- 16-24 for 237 yards with 4 TDs and 1 INT. This was Vick's line from Sunday. They lost, but they are still currently in the playoffs. Who wants to bench Vick now?

#16: Cheifs (7-7)- The Cheifs have lost 4 of 6. Ouch.

#17: Steelers (7-7)- 3 wins in a row over bad teams, but at least the Steelers are trying to make their season respectable.

#18: Bills (7-7)- The Bills are quietly putting together a pretty good season. Kudos to Buffalo, and look out for this team as they get older and more experienced.

#19: Giants (7-7)- Eh, I'm having a hard time coming up with something positive to say, so I'll just skip them...

#20: 49ers (6-8 )- I like the heart this team has shown this year. Frank Gore and Alex Smith are two young guys that will be great players in this league, and it gives San Fran something to look forward to.

Again, it pains me to even think about the rest of the league, but I will leave you with my worst team in the world:

#32: Lions (2-12)- So bad, and no sign of getting better. It has to feel bad to watch Jeff Garcia and Joey Harrington have success with other teams while you get ready to draft and overpay a WR with your #1 pick...sad...

 

[moist]

Looks about right to me.

As for the Bears, I'm not sure what to think of that game. Aside from 3 plays, they dominated both offensively and defensively. One part of me thinks it was just an inexperienced secondary being lulled into sleep by a boring game. The nagging part of me is saying there may just be too many injuries (and Tank's stupid move) to overcome this year. I really don't think those types of plays will happen with Vasher and Todd Johnson back though.

I was really impressed with the offense though. Rex was under consistent pressure, and played fantastic.

 

[bluegrasser]

Vikings still suck, but Jackson was a pleasant surprise, might be the QB of the future, we'll see how well he fares against the Pack this wknd.

 

[rod_b]

I'd like to vote for my Raiders as the worst team in the league. I know the Lions are pretty bad but the Raiders are seriously going nowhere for seemingly an eternity. They're like 15-47 (or something like that) since their Superbowl appearance 4 short years ago. And with San Diego, KC and Denver in their division...they'll probably never finish better than last for the next decade. Go Raiders!!!!

 

[Morpheus]

i before e except after c.

As they say in Wisconsin, the Bears still suck.

 

[bluegrasser]

i before e except after c.

As they say in Wisconsin, the Bears still suck.

So do the Packers

 

[Morpheus]

So do the Packers

The Packers don't suck, they...

Go Eagles!

 

[bluegrasser]

The Packers don't suck, they...

Go Eagles!

I'm pulling for the Eagles, I hope they kick the he$l out of the Cowboys, just the way they gave TO the boot has given me new admiration.

 

[drakulie]

Great analysis Big, and thank you again for taking the time from your busy sportcasting gig at ESPN. LOL

I'm with you about the Bears. Tampa?? OT?? Lots of questions there. The Bears should have had that game in the bag by the end of the first quarter, especially this late in the season when they should be firing on all cylinders-and in front of the home crowd.

As for the Chargers, what could anyone say?? They are just nasty, and do appear to be firing on all cylinders, especially LT.

I still have hope for the Boys, and hopefully they will get just a little better each week to take that roll into the playoffs. TO is such a disgrace. I hope they get rid of him after this season.

Saints?? Man was I dissapointed. They were completely flat. Not a good sign heading into the last 2 weeks.

I am hoping the Colts could get it together for the playoffs. if not, another dissapointing ending for them, once again.

 

[Supernatural_Serve]

The top 5 teams you've listed will dominate the playoffs.

The rest really don't have a chance regardless how much hype is tossed around about mediocre wild card teams.

 

[Phil]

I'd rate the Steelers, the way they're playing, ahead of the Falcons or Chiefs. That's about all, but still, as you said, "respectable". Yeah, they've beaten three mediocre teams, but not just beaten them-absolutely slaughtered them, the way the were playing for the two previous seasons. But alas...too little and too late.

 

[TennisBatman]

This league is again proving itself to be nuts. Rankings etc...

#1: Chargers (12-2)- Not much has changed here, except the Defense is getting better and they proved they can win when Rivers stumbles through a game. LDT is putting together the best statistical season in NFL history and to hear him talk you would never know it. The Chargers are the odds on favorites to win the Super Bowl, and if you're watching their games it's easy to see why.

I have not kept up this week myself, but I can see why the Chargers are top on the list. When you have a team that plays solid passing, running, and defense...well there are already very few teams that can do just that.

 

[headfan91]

packers still got a chance for the playoffs belive it or not, if they can beat the the vikings and bears..gulp

 

[Morpheus]

packers still got a chance for the playoffs belive it or not, if they can beat the the vikings and bears..gulp

Ok, so they make the play-offs, then what? Favre must be wondering what the point of all this is...

 

[FalconX]

I'd rate the Steelers, the way they're playing, ahead of the Falcons or Chiefs. That's about all, but still, as you said, "respectable". Yeah, they've beaten three mediocre teams, but not just beaten them-absolutely slaughtered them, the way the were playing for the two previous seasons. But alas...too little and too late.

As a Bengal's fan I'm scared to play them in our last game. They'd love to puck with our chances of reaching the playoffs. Have to overcome Denver first though...

 

[BigServer1]

I'd rate the Steelers, the way they're playing, ahead of the Falcons or Chiefs. That's about all, but still, as you said, "respectable". Yeah, they've beaten three mediocre teams, but not just beaten them-absolutely slaughtered them, the way the were playing for the two previous seasons. But alas...too little and too late.

As they are playing now, yes they are playing better than those two teams. That said, the pitiful nature in which they started the season and the fact that they have no chance at the playoffs (the Cheifs don't either, and they are going in the opposite direction of the Steelers, so I totally see your point) make me put them lower. That, and I don't like Big Ben. There, I said it...

 

[BigServer1]

Great analysis Big, and thank you again for taking the time from your busy sportcasting gig at ESPN. LOL

I'm with you about the Bears. Tampa?? OT?? Lots of questions there. The Bears should have had that game in the bag by the end of the first quarter, especially this late in the season when they should be firing on all cylinders-and in front of the home crowd.

As for the Chargers, what could anyone say?? They are just nasty, and do appear to be firing on all cylinders, especially LT.

I still have hope for the Boys, and hopefully they will get just a little better each week to take that roll into the playoffs. TO is such a disgrace. I hope they get rid of him after this season.

Saints?? Man was I dissapointed. They were completely flat. Not a good sign heading into the last 2 weeks.

I am hoping the Colts could get it together for the playoffs. if not, another dissapointing ending for them, once again.

Ahhhh T.O. It's one thing to call out coaches, players, fans, media etc., etc., etc...But to spit in the face of one of the best cover corners in the league (who you had burned twice)? That is totally disgraceful. I think that next season Bill Parcells will decide to stay, and TO will be outtie. I think if the Colts play like they did this week they can get to the AFC champ. game, but I don't see anyone on this earth beating the Chargers.

 

[Phil]

As they are playing now, yes they are playing better than those two teams. That said, the pitiful nature in which they started the season and the fact that they have no chance at the playoffs (the Cheifs don't either, and they are going in the opposite direction of the Steelers, so I totally see your point) make me put them lower. That, and I don't like Big Ben. There, I said it...

Well, you're either going to have to recuse yourself from (your own) weekly NFL analysis or overcome your Big Ben prejudice and place the 'lers in their rightful position (17th or so... ).

 

[TennisBatman]

Well, you're either going to have to recuse yourself from (your own) weekly NFL analysis or overcome your Big Ben prejudice and place the 'lers in their rightful position (17th or so... ).

Big Ben, Big Ben, make the Steelers win the Super Bowl!!