My top two ranked teams from week 9 lost this week. The Patriots were blown out by Mangini's Browns, and the Eagles defeated the Colts. So that means a pretty big shakeup in the Power Rankings. Let's get started.
Cream of the Crop
1. Baltimore Ravens (6-2):The Baltimore Ravens are playing some of the best football in the league. Undefeated at home.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2): The Steelers are 3-1 with and without Ben Roethlisberger. This team is talented offensively, and dominant defensively.
3. New York Giants (6-2): The Giants are the best balanced team offensively. 2nd ranked defense to boot. I was tempted to rank them at #1.
4. Atlanta Falcons (6-2): Some tough games in the next few weeks. Can the Falcons stay ahead of the Saints?
5. Green Bay Packers (6-3): Young defense is coming together. We'll see Rodgers and company in week 11.
6. New York Jets (6-2): Barely escaped the Lions on Sunday. The Jets have the upstart Browns next. Expect Mangini to be looking for blood.
7. New England Patriots (6-2): Thoroughly embarrassed by the Cleveland Browns. Next up? The #2 Pittsburgh Steelers.
8. New Orleans Saints (6-3): Took care of business in Carolina on Sunday. Finally a break for the defending champs, just in time to take a run at the Falcons.
9. Tennessee Titans (5-3): When will Randy Moss wear out his welcome in Tennessee. It's quite possible that Jeff Fisher can rein in Moss.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (5-3): Michael Vick was impressive in his return. He had to be to beat the Colts.
11. Indianapolis Colts (5-3): Colts need a week off. And they get that with the lack luster Bengals.
12. Kansas City Chiefs (5-3): Leaders of the AFC West. Look out for the surging Chargers and the surprising Raiders.
Best of the Rest
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-3): Lost a close game to the Atlanta Falcons. Still aren't the best teams in the NFC, as head coach Raheem Morris claims.
14. Oakland Raiders (5-4): Still don't buy this team as a contender. Oakland might boast the best corners in the game.
15. San Diego Chargers (4-5): The SuperChargers are staging their annual comeback. Is there still time. In the weak West, you never know.
16. Miami Dolphins (4-4): The Dolphins might need to rebirth the Wildcat. No production from Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams.
17. Houston Texans (4-4): Jacksonville's David Garrard should look like a superstar again on the field against this terrible secondary.
18. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4): Tied for 2nd/Last in the AFC South. If they get a divisional win against Houston, they could make a playoff run.
19. Chicago Bears (5-3): The question is not 'Will they drop out of playoff contention'.....it's a question of when. Barely escaped the winless Bills on Sunday.
20. Washington Redskins (4-4): Donovan McNabb looks to rebound from a benching on Monday Night Football against his old team.
21. St. Louis Rams (4-4): It says something about the NFC West that it took me this long to get one of its teams on the board. With a win in San Francisco this week, the Rams might be able to make a push for the playoffs.
22. Cleveland Browns (3-5): Colt McCoy has beaten two top 5 quarterbacks. In a row. Look out Jets.
Mediocrity and Messes
23. Minnesota Vikings (3-5): Adrian Peterson is having quite the season. If Brett Favre can build on Sundays performance, the Vikes might be able to right this ship. No pun intended.
24. Seattle Seahawks (4-4): Simply owned by the Giants on Sunday. Arizona's situation is worse, and they should rebound nicely.
25. Arizona Cardinals (3-5): The only offensive weapon they have these days is Larry Fitzgerald. They should beg Kurt Warner to come back.
26. Detroit Lions (2-6): Someone needs to teach Jim Schwartz the philosophy of clock management.
27. Cincinnati Bengals (2-6): Made it a close game against the Steelers late on Monday night. Tough division + tougher conference = end of season.
28. San Francisco 49ers (2-6): I wonder if Mike Singletary still believes that the 49ers can make the playoffs. Becasue I do.
29. Denver Broncos (2-6): Tough match up coming up against the Chiefs defense. The Broncos offense is not awful. Look for an upset.
30. Carolina Panthers (1-7): John Fox might be out as head coach after the year is over, but he might land in another mess: Dallas
31. Dallas Cowboys (1-7): The Giants opened up a 13 1/2 point spread today. Vegas might wanna take that down before Sunday's game.
32. Buffalo Bills (0-8): This team doesn't deserve to be winless. In the last month, this team nearly beat three first place teams.
Odds and Ends
Game of the Week: Thursday night football is back! And it's the best game on the schedule. Baltimore Ravens @ Atlanta Falcons.
Lock of the Week: New York Giants over the Dallas Cowboys
If I were a Betting Man: Tampa Bay and the Under vs Carolina
Upset(s) of the Week: Denver Broncos over the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Washington Redskins over the Philadelphia Eagles.
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