NFL Power Rankings Week Six: Patriots Take Atlantas Number Two Spot
Oct 8, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters (center) interviews Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) and running back Arian Foster (23) after the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. The Texans defeated the Jets 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE
1. Houston Texans
Can anyone stop J.J. Watt? The Texans may have the NFL’s offensive MVP in Arian Foster AND defensive MVP in Watt, who is unstoppable at this point.
2. New England Patriots
Tom Brady and the Patriots have two losses, but you’d never know it by watching them play. Their offense is unreal.
3. Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta is getting by these last two weeks. They need another dominant performance but they are still one of the last two undefeated teams left in the league.
4. San Francisco 49ers
The Niners have been absolutely dominant in their last two games against the Bills and Jets. This team is going to be tough to beat the rest of the way.
5. Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore will live and die by their offense. They almost died by it in Kansas City, and should have on a missed fumble call. Still, this is one of the league’s dominant teams.
6. New York Giants
Eli Manning and the Giants are hitting a stride here. If this team can play well early on in the season, they can be dominant throughout since they’re a second half team.
7. Chicago Bears
Where did this explosion of offense come from? This might finally be ‘the year’ for the Bears.
8. Green Bay Packers
Green Bay’s been getting royally screwed. Missed field goals, terrible no-calls, etc. They should have four wins, or three at least.
9. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are the surprise team of the season, and potentially this year’s ‘worst to first’ squad. Love this team.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh doesn’t win pretty, but they have to be grateful to have Rashard Mendenhall back. He had a nice return to the field.
11. Seattle Seahawks
Seattle doesn’t win pretty either, but they’re 3-2 and one of the top defensive teams in the NFC West.
12. Arizona Cardinals
Arizona looked terrible on Thursday night. Their offensive line is the worst I’ve probably ever seen. It’s a wonder they have four wins, but their defense is for real.
13. Denver Broncos
Denver has to quit getting out to slow starts. If they didn’t shoot themselves in the foot, they’d be 5-0. If’s and but’s don’t win games though.
14. Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia has been involved in five extremely close games, largely due to their own poor ball control. They are much better than they’ve played.
15. San Diego Chargers
San Diego’s beat up on some bad teams, and they have a huge test against Denver at home on Monday night.
16. Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati has been pretty up-and-down this season, and losing home games to the Dolphins is not good in such a tough division.
17. Dallas Cowboys
Dallas needs a pick-up game after getting crushed by the Bears last week.
18. St. Louis Rams
The Rams are 3-2? Go figure. This team is fun to watch but how fun will it be for them without Danny Amendola?
19. Miami Dolphins
Miami has won a couple of surprise games, including last week on the road in Cincinnati. Ryan Tannehill is showing great improvement.
20. New Orleans Saints
The Saints finally got their first win of the season, in a record-setting performance by Drew Brees.
21. Detroit Lions
Detroit needs to prove they are not pretenders this week.
22. Washington Redskins
The Redskins can’t afford RG3 to be out for very long. They face an upstart Vikings squad this week.
23. Indianapolis Colts
Indy won an emotional game this week, and they deserved every bit of it. Let’s see if they can ride the momentum now.
24. Buffalo Bills
Buffalo is wildly inconsistent, and they were blown out by San Francisco this past week. It’s not looking good for them.
25. Carolina Panthers
Carolina’s offense lives and dies with Cam Newton. He’s stinking it up right now.
26. Kansas City Chiefs
Really, Chiefs fans? Cheering Matt Cassel’s injury? This team’s troubles go far beyond the field.
27. New York Jets
The Jets need to put Tebow in ASAP.
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Once again, the Bucs are underachievers. Time for their young group to step up.
29. Oakland Raiders
The Raiders are a mess right now. Darren McFadden has not been able to get it going in the team’s new offense.
30. Tennessee Titans
The Titans can’t seem to make anything happen other than that miracle game against the Lions. What is this team’s identity?
31. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville was blown out against the Bears, and looked like they could do nothing right against a competent team.
32. Cleveland Browns
Cleveland is the only 0-5 team in the NFL yet, but they are encouraged by Trent Richardson and the play of their youngsters the last couple weeks.