Post by Keller on May 1, 2012 14:02:12 GMT -5
1) (7-1) - The number 1 scoring offense in all of football tops our Power Rankings. Dree Brees leads the league in yards through the air as does Darren Sproles on the ground. The defense has been hit hard with injuries but anytime you can score like the Saints, you've got a chance. Can they go all the way?
2) (7-1) - Cleveland has surprised everyone this year and jumped out to a stunning 7-1 start despite being without key free agent acquisition Fred Jackson. The arrival of Toby Gerhart however has made Jackson all but irrelevant. The Browns boast a top 10 offense AND a top 10 defense, a potent combination. Can the compete with the elite though? We may not find out until Week 14, when the Browns face the Texans.
3) (7-1) - The Buccaneers resurgence can be attributed to the most efficient passer in the NFL in Josh Freeman (138.0), the #2 scoring offense in football and a defense that surrenders under 10 points a game, good for best in the NFL. With those kind of gaudy statistics, I'm tempted to put Tampa Bay #2 but for some reason I am weary. Maybe this sort of bulletin board material will motivate them. They play the Saints in week 10 and in week 15 - the winner of which will likely head on to take the #1 spot in the power rankings AND possibly the top seed in the NFC.
4) (6-2) - Calvin Johnson. The Lions won't wow anyone with their running game but Calvin Johnson cures all. Unfortunately, Matthew Stafford will be out another 2 weeks and the Lions will have to find ways to win without him. Can they do it? Rookie and future star MLB Jamel Price may have something to say about it. The NFC North could potentially be very interesting if Chicago and Minnesota get their heads on straight.
5) (5-3) - Notching a convincing win against the sliding Buffalo Bills has the Eagles moving up the rankings. They've already beaten the rival Cowboys once and despite being a game back, should be the favorites to win that division if they keep playing the way they're capable. The have big play weapons when they need them and the defense is playing at a very high level right now with the defensive backfield making all sorts of plays. This will be a tough team to beat down the stretch.
6) (5-3) - Poor quarterback play has left the Bills searching for answers. Chad Henne saw some gametime last week and instead of capitalizing on the opportunity he went a stunning 2-10 with an interception and was subsequently re-benched. This is Fitzpatrick's show, but Buffalo has to do something to get better at QB if they're going to make a push for a Superbowl. They'll be in the hunt this year, but no way they can go the distance. The defense has under performed as well, despite Mario Williams putting up record sack numbers and a dominate defensive line. They have more questions than answers in Buffalo right now.
7) (6-2) - Sitting at 6 and 2, its hard to put the Cowboys down this low but the Bills beat the Cowboys in Week 1 and the Eagles have also bested them so there was simply no choice. Tony Romo is a top 5 QB in efficiency this season and both Dez Bryant and Miles Austin can threaten defenses anywhere on the field. Felix Jones continues to be highly productive and Dallas sports a top 3 defense in all major categories. They may be low on this list, but they're dangerous. The NFC will be awfully interesting.
8)(5-2-1) - They beat the Bills with an onside kick and some late game scrambling heroics but I just don't think this team is deep enough to threaten in the AFC. They've also lost to teams like the Jaguars. Tebow magic better get on track if this team is going to make a push. The AFC East is still up for grabs but something tells me that tie is going to come back to haunt them.
9)(6-3) - Hard to say a 6-3 team is on cruise control right now but they are. 3 of their last 4 games have resulted in losses, Owen Daniels is out for a few more weeks and we haven't heard as much as a peep from their head coach. Its awfully quiet in Houston.... too quiet.
10) (4-4) - This team has struggled to find their stride but after 2 straight wins they are right in the thick of things in the mediocre NFC West. At 4-4 they are in contention for the division lead and Sidney Rice returns to their lineup soon. Can Matt Flynn lead this team out of the dumpster? I think he can.
11) (4-4) - Another team that has been cruising for a few weeks, the Minnesota Vikings sport one of the leagues worst defenses. Dropping the last 2 out of 3 doesn't help, but they're not out of it. Green Bay is sliding and the NFC North could get interesting if the Vikings and Bears get their heads out of their arses. Percy Harvin has been awfully quiet...
12) (3-5) - The Bears lost by just a field goal to our #1 ranked New Orleans Saints last week and that being the case, there is some buzz around Chicago. Something along the, "Stella got her groove back" line. They have weapons on offense with Marshall, Hester and the Rookie phenom TE Pierro so I see this team turning around. My only question is, can they get it turned around quickly enough?
13) (1-7) - Atlanta has just tabbed a new head coach mid season - talk about rare. In a tough NFC South division, I don't see anyway they can get back in the hunt. They will have salary cap issues this upcoming season as well so this is nearly full rebuild mode for Atlanta. Can the new head coach work some magic? They certainly are talented enough. We'll see.
2) (7-1) - Cleveland has surprised everyone this year and jumped out to a stunning 7-1 start despite being without key free agent acquisition Fred Jackson. The arrival of Toby Gerhart however has made Jackson all but irrelevant. The Browns boast a top 10 offense AND a top 10 defense, a potent combination. Can the compete with the elite though? We may not find out until Week 14, when the Browns face the Texans.
3) (7-1) - The Buccaneers resurgence can be attributed to the most efficient passer in the NFL in Josh Freeman (138.0), the #2 scoring offense in football and a defense that surrenders under 10 points a game, good for best in the NFL. With those kind of gaudy statistics, I'm tempted to put Tampa Bay #2 but for some reason I am weary. Maybe this sort of bulletin board material will motivate them. They play the Saints in week 10 and in week 15 - the winner of which will likely head on to take the #1 spot in the power rankings AND possibly the top seed in the NFC.
4) (6-2) - Calvin Johnson. The Lions won't wow anyone with their running game but Calvin Johnson cures all. Unfortunately, Matthew Stafford will be out another 2 weeks and the Lions will have to find ways to win without him. Can they do it? Rookie and future star MLB Jamel Price may have something to say about it. The NFC North could potentially be very interesting if Chicago and Minnesota get their heads on straight.
5) (5-3) - Notching a convincing win against the sliding Buffalo Bills has the Eagles moving up the rankings. They've already beaten the rival Cowboys once and despite being a game back, should be the favorites to win that division if they keep playing the way they're capable. The have big play weapons when they need them and the defense is playing at a very high level right now with the defensive backfield making all sorts of plays. This will be a tough team to beat down the stretch.
6) (5-3) - Poor quarterback play has left the Bills searching for answers. Chad Henne saw some gametime last week and instead of capitalizing on the opportunity he went a stunning 2-10 with an interception and was subsequently re-benched. This is Fitzpatrick's show, but Buffalo has to do something to get better at QB if they're going to make a push for a Superbowl. They'll be in the hunt this year, but no way they can go the distance. The defense has under performed as well, despite Mario Williams putting up record sack numbers and a dominate defensive line. They have more questions than answers in Buffalo right now.
7) (6-2) - Sitting at 6 and 2, its hard to put the Cowboys down this low but the Bills beat the Cowboys in Week 1 and the Eagles have also bested them so there was simply no choice. Tony Romo is a top 5 QB in efficiency this season and both Dez Bryant and Miles Austin can threaten defenses anywhere on the field. Felix Jones continues to be highly productive and Dallas sports a top 3 defense in all major categories. They may be low on this list, but they're dangerous. The NFC will be awfully interesting.
8)(5-2-1) - They beat the Bills with an onside kick and some late game scrambling heroics but I just don't think this team is deep enough to threaten in the AFC. They've also lost to teams like the Jaguars. Tebow magic better get on track if this team is going to make a push. The AFC East is still up for grabs but something tells me that tie is going to come back to haunt them.
9)(6-3) - Hard to say a 6-3 team is on cruise control right now but they are. 3 of their last 4 games have resulted in losses, Owen Daniels is out for a few more weeks and we haven't heard as much as a peep from their head coach. Its awfully quiet in Houston.... too quiet.
10) (4-4) - This team has struggled to find their stride but after 2 straight wins they are right in the thick of things in the mediocre NFC West. At 4-4 they are in contention for the division lead and Sidney Rice returns to their lineup soon. Can Matt Flynn lead this team out of the dumpster? I think he can.
11) (4-4) - Another team that has been cruising for a few weeks, the Minnesota Vikings sport one of the leagues worst defenses. Dropping the last 2 out of 3 doesn't help, but they're not out of it. Green Bay is sliding and the NFC North could get interesting if the Vikings and Bears get their heads out of their arses. Percy Harvin has been awfully quiet...
12) (3-5) - The Bears lost by just a field goal to our #1 ranked New Orleans Saints last week and that being the case, there is some buzz around Chicago. Something along the, "Stella got her groove back" line. They have weapons on offense with Marshall, Hester and the Rookie phenom TE Pierro so I see this team turning around. My only question is, can they get it turned around quickly enough?
13) (1-7) - Atlanta has just tabbed a new head coach mid season - talk about rare. In a tough NFC South division, I don't see anyway they can get back in the hunt. They will have salary cap issues this upcoming season as well so this is nearly full rebuild mode for Atlanta. Can the new head coach work some magic? They certainly are talented enough. We'll see.