NFL Power Rankings Week 8: AFC West Movers and Shakers (Chiefs Up, Chargers Fumble Game Away, Broncos Just Bad)

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15. New York Jets (Previously Chicago Bears)
The Jets were on a bye here’s what I had to say about them last week

I’m still not sure the Jets are great, but at least they are getting back to “Jets Football”. The Jets ran the ball effectively on Sunday and beat the Chargers thanks in large part to a very disappointing Philip Rivers. It’s clear that Rivers feels he needs more options at wide receiver.

14. Cincinnati Bengals (previously the Dallas Cowboys)

The league’s most underated team. I’ve written that for three weeks in a row, but it might not apply to the Bengals anymore. That defense is stout, it’s average to good at all three levels. Sure, they could have better safety play and Manny Lawson hasn’t been great at OLB, but it’s a very quality defense. On offense they are a Cedric Benson (or perhaps a Trent Richardson?) second reclamation from possibly being the favorites in that division. Andy Dalton has been much, much better than I thought. So strike one for me (now to toot my own horn I actually loved Newton…win some lose some)

13. Chicago Bears (Previously Oakland Raiders)

The Bears were on a bye, here’s what I said about them last week

I always use the 13th spot for the first team I think is right outside the playoffs. The Bears are playing well and they always seem to win games I don’t think they will. Their defense isn’t great and really looks vulnerable this year, but they keep winning some games and with a down N.F.C. East right now I think they are in a good position to compete for the playoffs.

12. Atlanta Falcons (previously Atlanta Falcons)

The Falcons were on a bye here’s what I wrote about them last week

The last wild card team in the playoffs. The Falcons have started to run the ball more with Julio Jones out and gasp! all of a sudden are winning. Perhaps they should consider running the ball a lot when Jones gets back instead of placating Jones, fans, or anyone else who thinks they should spread it out more. That’s not their strength. The defense played much, much better vs the Lions than I thought they would be.

11. Baltimore Ravens (Previously Buffalo Bills)

Two awful weeks in a row for the Baltimore Ravens, who should have lost at home to the Arizona Cardinals. It’s funny how quick people are to throw these young quarterback up into top ten range and how quickly players like this can fall. Flacco was getting a ton of love last year, but he has shown so far that on the N.F.L. level he can’t carry a team. Flacco is completing less than 54 percent of his passes this season and has just looked dreadful for long stretches of games.

10. Buffalo Bills (previously Lions)

Only can move the Bills up one spot after easily their best defensive performance of the season. If the Bills can continue to apply pressure like thye did on Sunday with their opportunistic secondary, this could be a team to recokn with. Technically the Bills have the lead on the Patriots for the divison because of the heads up, but I still trust Tom Brady, much more than I trust Ryan Fitzpatrick-the Amish Rifle.

9. Detroit Lions (previously Steelers)

TMy power rankings philosophy. Division winners go 1-8, top wild card team (of one conference) 9, 1st wild card team of other conference (10), 2nd wild card team 11, 2nd wild team card 12. Etc.

8. San Diego Chargers (previously Detroit Lions)

Last week I wrote about the Chargers

THE worst two minute final drive I’ve ever seen in my life. Three yard pass, three yard pass, pass out of bounds? Huh? WHAT! No idea what that was. You have Philip Rivers and Mlacolm Floyd throw the ball high in the air and hope one of them comes down with it. You can’t throw it in the middle of the field with no times out left. Embarassing.

They lost a big lead to the Jets who had shown nothing on offense all season. They can’t hit the Quarterback and they seem to get worse every year.

This week I can write what is wrong with Phillip Rivers? Another multi-interception game. That atrocious fumbles What is odd is that this year he actually has a running game, Ryan Matthews has been excellent. Antonio Gates is back, Vincent Jackson is healthy. Just a strange series of events.

With Norv Turner coaching, every week Eli Manning seems more justified in passing on the opportunity to play for the San Diego Chargers.

Norv Turner is awful.

It shard to justify having the Chargers here with the Chiefs who just won lower, but I still think the Chargers are the front-runner to win this division.

7. New York Giants (previously Texans)

The second worst division leader in the league behind the Chargers. If the Giants wanted to win this division they should have beaten the Redskins in week 1 and then not lost at home vs the Seahawks. But they did. Now they will play, probably, the leagues toughest second half schedule. They could be underdogs in every game the play the rest of the season save the redskins (they play Dallas twice, the Eagles, the 49ers, the Saints, the Packers, the Redskins, the Jets and the Patriots)

6. New Orleans Saints (previously New York Giants)

I’m going to call that game an aberration and let the saints regroup and come back strong the rest of the season.

That HAS to be an aberration, right?

5 Houston Texans (Previously Ravens)

And you’re A.F.C. South division winners, the Houston Texans1

4. New England Patriots (New Orleans Saints)

Tom Brady the Bill Belichick can beat anyone on any given Sunday. The problem is the New England Patriots defense could lose to anyone.

Yikes.

The Patriots could easily come out next week in Foxborough and start the Giants second half collapse for the third straight season.

3. San Francisco 49ers (49ers)

Why are they so high? If this team plays poorly the rest of the season they should win 11 games.

Unlike the lame stream media-I’ve been high on the 49ers for a few weeks. Why? They can run the ball well, they can stop the run well (the most consistent run stopping defense in the league), They have good special teams and Alex Smith is playing the clock manager job well. They also play in a weak division. The 49ers have a realistic chance at winning 11 or 12 games this year based on their schedule. The 49ers could actually end up with a bye.

Remaining schedule: Washington, Giants, Arizona, Baltimore, STL, Arizona, Pittsburgh, Seattle, St. Louis

They should be favorites in every game except MAYBE Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

Seriously, the 49ers could end up with a bye in the playoffs. Who saw that coming?

2. Pittsburgh Steeleres (Previously New England Patriots)

The Steelers are here by default more than anything. Parity seems alive and well to the fullest extent this year. The Steelers have been up and down as any other team in the league, but this week they are up. They have a talented young wide receiver trio, and play makers on defense. I’m not sure I’m convinced they are the second best team in the league though.

1. Green Bay Packers (previously Packers)

The Green Bay Packer were on a bye, but here’s what I said about them last week (and every week before that)

Until they are unseated they remain King. Their pass defense has looked poor though this season and that bears watching as the playoffs approach. But when you have Aaron Rodgers, their offensive weapons, and a bright offensive minded coach you can win a lot of games by out scoring people.

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