NFL 2020 Week 15 Power Rankings and Week 16 picks

 What is wrong with Pittsburgh?  Three straight losses and a totally anemic offense, including a completely ineffective ground game, is spiraling this team into a hole.  Once the leading candidate for the top seed, they need the Chiefs to lose TWICE to even have a chance at it, and now both the Browns and Ravens are nipping at their heels for the division title.  Fortunately the top four power teams had established a large lead over the rest of the pack, or the Steelers would have dropped further this week.

Team Power Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  Kansas City Chiefs (13-1) [1] : Their defense kept Drew Brees at bay for most of the game, and Patrick Mahomes still showed his ball magic.

2.  Green Bay Packers (11-3) [3] : The leading candidate for the NFC top seed, the Packers continue to win despite some injury concerns.

3.  New Orleans Saints (10-4) [2] : The return of Drew Brees didn't quite go as planned, but things were looking good in the fourth quarter.  A precursor of things to come?

4.  Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3) [4] : A team definitely self-destructing

5.  Baltimore Ravens (9-5) [6] : With the fall of the Steelers, the Ravens see a possible division title in their future.

6.  Indianapolis Colts (10-4) [5] : It wasn't easy against the Texans, but the Colts continue to win

7.  Miami Dolphins (9-5) [8] : They can't win the division, but a playoff spot seems within their grasp.  Tua is doing quite well, and firing up this team.

8.  Buffalo Bills (11-3) [9] : Now in line for the second seed in the conference, and capturing their first division title in the 2000's, this team does nothing but win.

9.  Tennessee Titans (10-4) [12] : A truly impressive performance this week, the Titans contain to stay atop the division despite pressure from the Colts.

10. Seattle Seahawks (10-4) [10] : They escaped against Washington, but consistency is still a problem for them.

11. Los Angeles Rams (9-5) [7] : Geez, they lost to the Jets!  'Nuff said.

12. Tampa Bay Bucs (9-5) [11] : Their defense gave up too many big players to Matt Ryan and the Falcons

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-6) [13] : They held back the Eagles, but their defense showed some holes

14. Cleveland Browns (10-4) [14] : Nice dominant performance over the Giants, and another Steelers loss puts the AFC North title in reach.

15. Chicago Bears (7-7) [17] : Wonderful offensive performance lands the Bears within range of the seventh playoff spot.

16. Washington (6-8) [15] : They still lead the NFC East as everyone but the division-trailing Cowboys lost

Divisional Power Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  AFC North [2] : Despite the Steelers' collapse, the division impresses with Cleveland, Baltimore, and now Cincy

2.  NFC West [1] : Just a half-point behind is the NFC West, which was hurt by the Rams' loss to the previously winless Jets

3.  NFC South [3] : The Saints may have lost, but once the rust came off Drew Brees he looked as sharp as before.  Both the Bucs and Falcons impressed this week.

4 (tie).  NFC North [4] : Nice performances from everyone except the Lions

4 (tie).  AFC East [5] : The Jets won, which means the worst performance of the week was from... New England?

6.  AFC South [6] : The Titans and Colts continue to battle for the lead, while the other two teams are not too competitive.

7.  AFC West [7] : The Raiders are out of playoff contention, so the Chiefs are carrying the entire division.

8.  NFC East [8] : Not a great week, but all teams remain in contention for the division title

Divisional and playoff races

AFC: The Chiefs remain on top, and clinch the top seed with a win.  Buffalo clinched the AFC East, and the Patriots will miss the playoffs for the first time in over a decade.  The playoff teams are nearly set.  Wins by the Browns, Titans, and Colts clinch the playoffs for them.  The Ravens find themselves as the first team out, so they need to win one more game than the Dolphins.  

The Steelers clinch the AFC North with one more win.  Both the Ravens and Browns would need to win out, and the Steelers lose their remaining games, to stand a chance.  The Ravens hold the tiebreaker over the Browns, so they hope the Browns lose one game in the next two weeks.

NFC:  The Saints and Seahawks clinched playoff berths this week.  No new division titles are set. The Bucs, Rams, and Cardinals clinch the playoffs with one more win.  The Bears need to win out AND hope the Cardinals lose a game, or the Bucs lose two games.  The Saints clinch their division with a win.  Washington clinches with a win AND a Giants loss.  The Giants clinch if they win out and Washington loses one game.  The Seahawks clinch with a win AND Rams loss.  The Rams would need to win out and have Seattle lose a game.  The Cardinals need a minor miracle to win the division.

Week 16 picks

What's this?  No Thursday night game?  Nope.  And with the Hawaii Bowl cancelled, go enjoy a football-free Christmas Eve with your family.

Friday

Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints : Drew Brees shook off the rust in the fourth quarter against the Chiefs and nearly engineered a brilliant comeback.  He won't need to come back in this game, as the Saints should lead nearly the whole game.  SAINTS, 28-17

Saturday

Tampa Bay Bucs at Detroit Lions : The Lions would like to play spoilers, but Tom Brady has a history of laser-focus when playing for a playoff berth.  I really doubt the Bucs will lose this game, and the Bucs will advance to the playoffs.  BUCS, 30-23

San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals : The Cards need this win to keep pace in the playoff race, and I think they'll get it.  49ers QB Nick Mullens has not been playing well, and now C.J. Breatherd will take his place under center.  That won't help.  CARDINALS, 27-17

Miami Dolphins at Las Vegas Raiders : On paper, the Dolphins should win this game easily.  However, rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa is actually a weakness in this game.  Raiders coach Jon Gruden will create a scheme to confuse the young player, who hasn't yet accumulated enough experience to recognize subtle defensive shifts.  The Dolphins might fall behind, and if Coach Flores keeps him in there, they may not come back.  His best bet?  Bring in Ryan Fitzpatrick.  The Raiders could win this game, but with the playoffs on the line, let's see if they do bring in Fitzpatrick to help win.  DOLPHINS, 27-23 (if Fitz plays), RAIDERS, 23-20 (if not)

Sunday early games

Atlanta Falcons at Kansas City Chiefs : The Chiefs defense will keep Matt Ryan and company in check, and the Falcons can't stop the Mahomes magic.  CHIEFS, 31-17

Chicago Bears at Jacksonville Jaguars : Beating the Vikings last week was a tremendous boon for the Bears.  Not only did they rejuvenate the defense, but they get an easy game this week to keep them in playoff contention for one more week.  BEARS, 27-13

Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans : Ryan Findlay took over field generalship of the Bengals and engineered an upset of the Steelers, but he was helped by the still-sputtering Steelers offense.  Overcoming the Texans defense will be another matter entirely.  TEXANS, 27-24

Cleveland Browns at New York Jets : Can the Jets make it two in a row?  Not against the Browns defense.  BROWNS, 23-13

Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers : The Steelers still haven't figured out the problems on offense, especially their anemic running game (traditionally a Steelers strong point).  That will be devastating against the Colts, who aren't having any problems on offense.  COLTS, 27-17

New York Giants at Baltimore Ravens : Another one-sided game, as the struggling Giants offense has to face the stingy Ravens defense.  RAVENS, 27-13

Sunday late games

Carolina Panthers at Washington [Will someone come up with a contest to name this team?] : Washington didn't look too bad against Seattle last week.  Even Dwayne Haskins, who hasn't been able to match his Ohio State magic as a pro, had a good game.  It looks like Haskins will start again, but the quarterback with the bigger issue is Teddy Bridgewater.  He does not do well when he is pressured, and quarterback pressure is the specialty of Chase Young.  WASHINGTON, 23-16

Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers : The weakened Chargers defense will allow the Broncos more than usual, but Denver is still more offensively-challenged than we have seen in previous seasons, and Justin Herbert has the Chargers offense rolling.  CHARGERS, 30-23

Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks : Will it help or hurt Seattle that the Rams lost to the Jets last week?  Certainly, the Rams will want to play a great game to reverse that result, but that game also exposed some vulnerabilities that Pete Carroll and the Seahawks will be quick to exploit.  This game will be close, and the Rams could pull it out, but I think their weaknesses will come under attack.  SEAHAWKS, 24-20

Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys : Jalen Hurts has given new life to the Eagles since he became the starter, showing the type of moves that they hoped to see more often from Carson Wentz.  I think Hurts will find ways around the Cowboys defense and move into second place in the division, after a Giants loss to Baltimore.  EAGLES, 27-17

Sunday night

Tennessee Titans at Green Bay Packers : The Packers certainly have the offense to excel over the Titans, but the Titans defense can be tough hitters, and the Packers squad is a bit thin.  If too many players are taken to the locker room, the Titans might come back to win this one.  PACKERS, 33-30

Monday Night Football

Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots : The Bills have clinched the division, but they will not rest this week.  With no bye for the number two seed, you might wonder why not.  They are playing the Patriots, the team who has dominated them (and the rest of the division) for over 11 years.  This is a revenge game, baby!  BILLS, 28-20

Big Ten 2020 Final Power Rankings and abridged Bowl picks

 Three games were cancelled last week due to COVID concerns, but at least the Conference Championship happened.  Ohio State looked a bit flat, but they sparked in the second half (just as I said they would!) to win a defensively-dominant game.

Team Power Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0) [1] 

2.  Indiana Hoosiers (6-1) [2] : They did not play the last two weeks, but they are still in this position due to the tremendous defensive performances in the last two games they played

3.  Northwestern Wildcats (6-2) [4] : They did a great job in slowing down the tremendous Buckeyes offense.  They will sizzle in their bowl game!

4.  Iowa Hawkeyes (6-2) [3] : Their last game was cancelled, but watch them in the bowls.

5.  Penn State Nittany Lions (4-5) [7] : Utter dominant performance against Illinois!  They wiped out the memory of their 0-5 start.  They could probably win a bowl game, but the conference is sticking to their rules about teams with losing records being ineligible to play in postseason bowls.

6.  Wisconsin Badgers (3-3) [8] : They won a close one against Minnesota to even their record and get to a bowl game

7.  Maryland Terrapins (2-3) [6]

8.  Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-4) [5]

9.  Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-5) [11] : Nice win over Rutgers 

10. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-6) [10]

11. Illinois Fighting Illini (2-6) [9] : They not only lost the game to Penn State, but they lost their coach, too.

12. Michigan State Spartans (2-5) [12]

13. Michigan Wolverines (2-4) [13]

14. Purdue Boilermakers (2-4) [14]

Bowl picks

Well, I'm doing this a little bit differently this year.  Sometimes we have a couple of teams with losing records playing the bowls, as some conferences need to fill spots in the over-growing number of bowl games.  This year, with so many bowls cancelling (some, like Santa Clara, because they are not allowed to play and gather), there were enough talented and qualified teams to fill them.  However, we have WAAAAY too many teams who should not be playing in bowl games.  Why?  Because the SEC bribed bowl officials to ensure that their usual number of teams play in bowl games.  As a result, we have FIVE SEC teams who are playing with losing records, three of them who failed to win more than three games!  Also as a result, many teams from other conferences with winning records failed to play in a bowl.  At least Army got their shot, filling in the slot in the Liberty Bowl when Tennessee had to cancel.

And that's the other thing -- I'm not sure how many of these bowls will actually play, and how many matchups will change.  As such, I am limiting my picks to bowls that seem fairly certain to happen, and only have deserving teams playing.  For the most part, that means BOTH teams are deserving, but I do pick one bowl with an undeserving SEC team, because it also features a Big Ten team, and I am picking all five bowls featuring Big Ten teams.

Dec 22

Potato Bowl -- Tulane Green Wave (6-5) v Nevada Wolfpack (6-2) :  Congratulations, Tulane, but you are just overmatched in this game.  The Green Wave won all of their non-conference games, but that's not a suitable measuring stick, as Nevada didn't play any non-conference games.  The games they played, though, were defensive battles.  They will pressure and hassle Tulane all game.  NEVADA

Boca Raton Bowl -- UCF Golden Knights (6-3) v BYU Cougars (10-1) : Easy pick.  While UCF typically does well in bowl games, BYU has been a powerhouse all season long.  BYU

Dec 23

Montgomery Bowl -- Memphis Tigers (7-3) v Florida Atlantic Owls (5-3) : The Owls have a good defense, but they will have their hands full against the powerhouse offensive blitz of the Tigers.  The Owls may keep it close early, but they will just get worn down by the Tigers.  MEMPHIS

Dec 25

Camellia Bowl - Marshall Thundering Herd (7-2) v Buffalo Bulls (5-1) : Ooh, this should be our first close game.  Both teams have strong defenses and effective offenses.  The difference here just may come down game strategy, and I think Marshall has the edge on that.  MARSHALL

Dec 26

Cure Bowl -- Liberty Flames (9-1) v Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (11-0) :  Aside from the National Championship semi-finals, this might be the most anticipated bowl game.  Two teams that normally struggle had a terrific 2020, and now they face off in what should amount to an epic battle.  Both of these teams have dynamic offenses, so I expect lots of points to scored in this one.  The difference might actually come down to special teams, a squad that the Chanticleers have the edge.  COASTAL CAROLINA

First Responder Bowl -- Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (9-1) v UTSA Roadrunners (7-4) : The Roadrunners are a tricky team, but nobody gets down in the dirt and scraps better than the Ragin Cajuns.  Their tenacity and sheer nose for the bowl will keep the pressure on the Roadrunners.  LOUISIANA

Dec 29

Cheez-It Bowl -- Oklahoma State Cowboys (7-3) v Miami Hurricanes (8-2) : Turnovers have not been the star for Miami this year, because they haven't needed them.  The offense finally looks like what they wanted three years ago.  While the defense has taken a step backwards, they will be able to outscore the Cowboys.  MIAMI

Alamo Bowl -- Texas Longhorns (6-3) v Colorado Buffaloes (4-1) : It is questionnable whether the Buffaloes will be able to play this game, so a replacement team will be needed.  Whoever it will be, Texas will beat them.  For Texas, this game is a matter of state pride, and they won't let any "foreign" school come into San Antonio and come out as winners.  TEXAS

Dec 30

Mayo Bowl -- Wake Forest Demon Deacons (4-4) v Wisconsin Badgers (3-3) : While these teams may LOOK evenly matched, the Badgers defense will ground the Demon Deacons.  WISCONSIN

Music City Bowl -- Iowa Hawkeyes (6-2) v Missouri Tigers (5-5) : The Tigers won't be able to keep up with the Iowa offense, and the Hawkeyes defense will drag them down.  IOWA

Cotton Bowl -- Oklahoma Sooners (8-2) v Florida Gators (8-3) : Oh, man, Florida looked so good against Alabama!  I'd love to pick them, especially since the Big 12 had played so miserably in bowl games in recent years, but, like the Alamo Bowl for Texas, the Cotton Bowl Classic is the home of the Big 12 Champ, and they don't like anybody coming in and leaving with a victory.  Florida could pull this one out, though, so don't miss a second of this game!  OKLAHOMA

Dec 31

Arizona Bowl -- Ball State Cardinals (6-1) v San Jose State Spartans (7-0) : This has been an amazing year for the Spartans, so it would be completely unjust for them to lose their bowl game!  Ball State may make it hard, but the Cardinals don't have the best record in bowl games, and I'm not sure they will be able to close this one if it is too close in the fourth quarter.  SAN JOSE STATE

Liberty Bowl -- West Virginia Mountaineers (5-4) v Army Black Knights (9-2) : Army almost missed the chance to play in a bowl game, so you know they'll be hungry for this one.  Their pounding ground game will wear out the Mountaineers defense.  ARMY

Jan 1

Peach Bowl -- Cincinnati Bearcats (9-0) v Georgia Bulldogs (7-2) : I'd love to see the Bearcats complete this unbeaten season, but Georgia has such an excellent bowl record, because they always seem to save their best plays for the postseason.  GEORGIA

Citrus Bowl -- Auburn Tigers (6-4) v Northwestern Wildcats (6-2) : With the strength of the Wildcats defense, I'm not sure Auburn will score more than 10 points.  Northwestern will.  NORTHWESTERN

Rose Bowl -- Alabama Crimson Tide (11-0) v Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-1) : The Irish have been great this season, and I'd love to see someone knock Alabaman off their perch, but the Irish don't have a great history with the playoffs.  ALABAMA

Sugar Bowl -- Clemson Tigers (10-1) v Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0) :  Ohio State has the talent to beat Clemson, but they have to play better than they did in the Big Ten Championship Game.  Their best bet would be to rattle Trevor Lawrence.  He thinks he can do practically anything with the ball.  If the Buckeyes can pick him off early, and get a second interception in the second half, they might get him angry enough and frustrated enough that he will get reckless with the ball.  Otherwise, I'm afraid the Buckeyes will come up short.  CLEMSON

Jan 2

Outback Bowl -- Ole Miss Rebels (4-5) v Indiana Hoosiers (6-1) : Seriously?  No contest.  INDIANA

Fiesta Bowl -- Oregon Ducks (4-2) v Iowa State Cyclones (8-3) : A picture of two teams with divergent paths this season.  Oregon was a preseason favorite to win the Pac-12 who sort of floundered.  Iowa State was expected to languish in the bottom half of the Big XII yet they nearly won the conference.  While Oregon might fight to regain their glory, no team has been fiestier this season than Iowa State.  IOWA STATE

Orange Bowl -- Texas A&M Aggies (8-1) v North Carolina Tar Heels (8-3) : The Aggies are angry that they were left out of the playoffs, but I don't think they could have beaten ANY of those four teams.  This way, they finish on a win.  TEXAS A&M

Big Ten 2020 Week 8 Power Rankings and Week 9 picks

 Well, the Big Ten Conference has once again made a special exception for Ohio State, this time allowing them to play in the Conference Championship Game without having played six games.  Great example the conference is showing to these influential college students - you don't have to worry about following the rules because someone will always let you have your way anyway.  No wonder so many of my students believe they should get an A even if they don't do most of the coursework.

Power Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0) [1]

2.  Indiana Hoosiers (6-1) [2]

3.  Iowa Hawkeyes (6-2) [3]

4.  Northwestern Wildcats (6-1) [4]

5.  Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-3) [7]

6.  Maryland Terrapins (2-3) [6]

7.  Penn State Nittany Lions (3-5) [9] : tremendous end to the season after starting 0-5

8.  Wisconsin Badgers (2-3) [5]

9.  Illinois Fighting Illini (2-5) [8]

10. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-5) [14]

11. Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-5) [10]

12. Michigan State Spartans (2-5) [11]

13. Michigan Wolverines (2-4) [12]

14. Purdue Boilermakers (2-4) [13]

Week 9 picks

Friday games

Nebraska Cornhuskers at Rutgers Scarlet Knights : Rutgers was very impressive against Maryland last week.  Except for their game against Penn State (and the Nittany Lions were winless at the time), Nebraska has really struggled on the field this season.  Although Nebraska might have the better raw talent, they can't seem to get it together.  RUTGERS by six

Saturday games

Big Ten Championship: Northwestern Wildcats v Ohio State Buckeyes : The Wildcats have a strong defense, but they won't be able to last against the powerful Buckeyes offense.  It might be a close first half, but the second half will belong to the Buckeyes.  OHIO STATE by 20

Minnesota Golden Gophers at Wisconsin Badgers : The Badgers offense has evaporated.  They haven't scored more than seven points in over a month.  While they will probably break into double digits in this game, the Gophers really have the advantage here.  MINNESOTA by 13

Illinois Fighting Illini at Penn State Nittany Lions : Penn State has won three in a row, so they have the momentum coming into this game.  However, the Illini have found their offense, so this game will be really close.  I'd love to pick the upset, but I think I'll let it truly be one if it happens.  PENN STATE by three

Michigan State Spartans at Maryland Terrapins : Michigan State may have handed Northwestern their only loss of the season, but they haven't done much of any else in their games (other than beat in-state rival Michigan, which no longer looks so tough).  Maryland was surprised by Rutgers last week after not playing for two weeks, but they were getting the rust kicked off.  They should be more prepared for the Spartans.  MARYLAND by 13

NFL 2020 Week 14 Power Rankings and Week 15 picks

 The Steelers fell from the top seed as they lost their second game in a row.  Washington has asserted themselves as a part of the upper power teams, something I never thought I'd say about an NFC East team this season.  With Alex Smith injured, though, can they maintain that?  Speaking of injuries, Drew Brees returns, just in time for a fabulous offensive showdown with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

We are at the point of the season when I examine the division title races and playoff hopefuls.  That analysis will appear after the Power Rankings.

Team Power Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  Kansas City Chiefs (12-1) [1] : The Chiefs hold the top spot, but they've looked fragile the past couple of weeks.  We have a battle of top Power teams this week, so it should be interesting to see who remains on top.

2.  New Orleans Saints (10-3) [3] : Taysom Hill couldn't bring them all the way back from an early 17-0 deficit, but Drew Brees returns this week to add power to the Saints.

3.  Green Bay Packers (10-3) [4] : Definitely the strongest showing among Top Five Power teams this week, and they nearly let Detroit tie the game.   

4.  Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2) [3] : They've lost two in a row, and they can't really blame injuries.  They need to get organized quickly or their shot at the top seed will evaporate.

5.  Indianapolis Colts (9-4) [7] : The Colts offense just rolled against the Raiders for one of their most impressive performances of the season.

6.  Baltimore Ravens (8-5) [6] : It almost got away from them, but a last second field goal pushed the Ravens past the Browns to remain in the playoff hunt.

7.  Los Angeles Rams (9-4) [8] : The Rams wiped out the Patriots in one of their most impressive performances of the year.  It seems like the teams in this section of the Power Rankings are peaking while the top teams are slipping.  

8.  Miami Dolphins (8-5) [5] : The Dolphins defense wasn't quite up to the task of holding back the Chiefs.

9. Buffalo Bills (10-3) [10] : They handed the Steelers their second straight loss and puts the Bills in line to contend for the top seed in the conference.

10. Seattle Seahawks (9-4) [12] : Well, if you want to jump two places in the Power Rankings, it helps to play the Jets!

11. Tampa Bay Bucs (8-5) [9] : Nice win over the Vikings, but it took them nearly a whole quarter to get started.

12. Tennessee Titans (9-4) [11] : Strong offensive performance from the Titans, something that has been lacking recently.

13. Arizona Cardinals (7-6) [13] : Nice defensive performance, but then again, they did face the Giants, so it wasn't much of a challenge.

14. Cleveland Browns (9-4) [14] : They hung in against the Ravens, matching them score for score.  Nice job.

15. Washington (6-7) [16] : Washington is showing that there is some power in the NFC East this season after all.

16. New England Patriots (6-7) [15] : A massive fail against the Rams leaves some lingering questions about this team.

Divisional Power Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  NFC West [2] : Strong wins by Seattle, Arizona, and the Rams return this division to the top

2.  AFC North [1] : As Pittsburgh slides, so does the division standing

3.  NFC South [3] : The Saints showed power in nearly coming back from a 17-0 deficit, and the Bucs stepped it up this week

4.  NFC North [5] : Strong victories by Green Bay and Chicago, and an excellent performance by Detroit, boosted this division

5.  AFC East [4] : As from Buffalo, not a great week for the division

6.  AFC South [6] : Two good victories, two bad losses

7.  AFC West [7] : The Chiefs almost lost, and nobody else had a good week

8.  NFC East [8] : Believe it or not, they are moving up.  They just have a massive gap to overcome.

Divisional and Playoff races

Kansas City has clinched both the playoffs and the AFC West title.  Everyone else is still chasing their dreams.  Pittsburgh clinches the playoffs with a win or a Dolphins loss.  A Steelers win or Browns loss awards Pittsburgh the division title.  Buffalo needs two wins or both a Dolphins loss and Ravens loss.  Two wins or two losses by Miami gives them the division title as well.  Two wins by the Dolphins, Colts, and Titans propel them into the playoffs.  The combinations are more varied for other teams, so let's examine things again next week as contenders fall and the combinations become fewer.

In the NFC, the Packers clinched the NFC North and the Saints clinched a playoff spot.  The Saints clinch their division with a win or a Bucs loss.  The Bucs, Seahawks, and Rams clinch the playoffs with a single win.  NFC East and NFC West division races are tight, and other playoff chances are very numerous.

 Week 15 picks

Thursday night

Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders : Must win game for the Raiders, who would likely find themselves out of playoff contention if they lose.  They have the talent to win this game, but their on-field play can be very inconsistent.  They also MUST reduce the number of stupid penalties they commit on offense.  I'll favor them, but they'll likely keep this game too close for their fans' comfort.  RAIDERS, 27-23

Saturday games

While the NCAA still play on Saturday, the NFL moves into Saturday for an afternoon and evening game.

Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos : The Bills are chasing the AFC East title, an achievement they can accomplish with a win here.  While Josh Allen still shows some rough edges, his level of play has increased dramatically this season, while the Broncos seem mired in mediocracy this season.  BILLS, 28-20

Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers : The Packers have already clinched their division, but they are chasing the top seed of the conference, since only the top seed gets a bye this year.  That makes this game important, so they won't rest anybody.  That's good, because if the defense allows as many big plays as they did last week against Detroit, Carolina will keep this game uncomfortably close.  PACKERS, 27-23

Sunday early games

Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings : The Bears found their offense last week, and are hoping it extends into this week.  They don't have a great divisional record this season, so on paper the Vikings have the edge, but the Vikings played lackluster last week, so the Bears come into this game with the momentum.  At this point of the season, momentum plays a big part.  BEARS, 23-20

Detroit Lions at Tennessee Titans : The Titans defense will give the Lions a much tougher time this week than they faced last week.  TITANS, 30-20

Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts : The Texans want to bounce back from last week's embarrassing loss, and I think both the offense and defense will stiffen.  However, even a stiffer defense will have a hard time slowing the Colts.  COLTS, 27-20

Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens : Not much of a surprise here.  RAVENS, 30-16

New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins : A loss here will remove all chances of a playoff berth for New England.  They will fight hard, and games between these two are frequently close and exciting, but the Dolphins are even more eager to return to the playoffs, and Tua's development seems to give them the boost they need.  Rookie quarterbacks do not traditionally fare well against Bill Belichick-coached teams, but the Dolphins can always bring in Ryan Fitzpatrick for relief if needed.  Besides, there is always the strong Dolphins defense to help them.  DOLPHINS, 24-17

San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys : The NFC West is still trying to pull off the unheard-of feat of sending the entire division to the playoffs.  The 49ers know they need to win out, and hope other teams lose, in order to achieve that.  Fortunately, they ought to be able to knock off the struggling Cowboys.  49ERS, 27-23

Seattle Seahawks at Washington (Nameless) wonders : Washington has shown up strongly in recent weeks as Alex Smith returned to the lineup.  However, he may be hurt for this game, which makes a Seattle pick pretty easy.  Even if he plays, I don't think he'll last the entire game against the physical Seattle defense.  SEAHAWKS, 27-20

Tampa Bay Bucs at Atlanta Falcons : The Falcons have no chance at the playoffs, but playing spoiler, especially for a division rival, is a mighty temptation.  Atlanta is actually a team more talented than their record, marking them as underachievers.  The Bucs are supremely talented as well, and yet have lost games they shouldn't have lost this season.  Who will propel themselves in this situation?  This is the time of the year when Tom Brady really steps up, and I expect him to do it again.  BUCS, 27-20

Sunday late games

Kansas City Chiefs at New Orleans Saints : It looks like Drew Brees will return to the Saints lineup, and just in time to host the Chiefs.  The Chiefs nearly lost last week as the tough Dolphins defense made things hard for them.  The Saints defense isn't as tough, but they may be good enough to slow Patrick Mahomes and company, and that opens the door for a healthy Drew Brees to work his magic.  I'm picking the upset here, folks!  SAINTS, 34-31

New York Jets at Los Angeles Rams : Another week where the Rams face a weak opponent, and another chance for an NFC West team to jump on the Power Rankings due to a massive defeat of the Jets.  RAMS, 28-10

Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals : It appears the Eagles will bench Carson Wentz in favor of rookie Jalen Hurts.  Against many teams that might be a good idea, but that play right into the Cardinals' hands.  After all, their defense knows how to handle dynamic young quarterbacks, as they line up against one every week in practice.  The Cards will bring Hurts back to Earth, and gain a win in the process.  CARDINALS, 27-20

Sunday night

Cleveland Browns at New York Giants : The Browns nearly beat the Ravens last week.  Compared to that, the Giants are a non-issue.  BROWNS, 27-17

Monday Night Football

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals : The Steelers have lost two in a row.  They want a strong win to reverse that trend, and to clinch a playoff spot.  Fortunately, with the way the Bengals have been playing, they should get all of those things.  STEELERS, 27-16

NFL 2020 Week 13 Power Rankings and Week 14 picks

 Well, how prophetic was my decision to reduce Pittsburgh in the Power Rankings?  After struggling to beat a ragtag Baltimore Ravens team the offense again struggled, this time against an NFL East team, and suffered their first loss!  The Steelers are DEFINITELY no longer the best team in the league, and they'd better figure out to reverse this slide or they won't make the AFC Championship Game.

Team Power Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  Kansas City Chiefs (11-1) [1] : Truthfully, all three of the top power teams struggled this week, but at least the Chiefs pulled off a victory, and this time Denver had a quarterback under center.

2.  New Orleans Saints (10-2) [2] : The Saints floundered a bit, too, but they, like KC, faced a divisional rival, so it is a bit more understandable.  

3.  Pittsburgh Steelers (11-1) [3] : They now make it harder for them to be the top seed, especially with the way the Chiefs play.  Even the defense, the strong suit of the Steelers, allowed a late-game field goal by Washington.  Something is off with this team, and this is a lousy time of the season for it to appear.

4.  Green Bay Packers (9-3) [4] : Now this is a team who looked good this week.  They are bridging the gap between them and the top three.

5.  Miami Dolphins (8-4) [6] : The AFC team with the best performances in recent weeks, momentum is on their side.  They play KC this week, and that should be quite interesting!

6.  Baltimore Ravens (7-5) [5] : The return of Lamar Jackson and other players allowed the Ravens to rebound on Tuesday night.

7.  Indianapolis Colts (8-4) [7] : Nice "bounce back" game for the Colts, although they did allow the Texans to get more yardage than average.

8.  Los Angeles Rams (8-4) [11] : Big win against Arizona, and the only NFC West team to win this week

9.  Tampa Bay Bucs (7-5) [8]

10.  Buffalo Bills (9-3) [13] : They had a nice win over the 49ers, but were helped by losses by the teams around them on the Power Rankings.

11. Tennessee Titans (8-4) [9] : They gained the lead in the division and promptly get spanked by the Browns

12. Seattle Seahawks (8-4) [10] : The NFC East beat two Power teams this week!  They are going to feed on that for weeks!

13. Arizona Cardinals (6-6) [12] 

14. Cleveland Browns (9-3) [14] : Beating the Titans might have been one of their best victories of the season

15.  New England Patriots (6-6) [20] : Look at who returns to the Power Rankings!  After blasting any team 45-0, even the Chargers, will get you Power-ful attention!

16. Washington (5-7) [18] : And for the first time all season, an NFC East team reaches the Power Rankings!  Congratulations on your defeat of Pittsburgh!

Divisional Power Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  AFC North [2] : Despite Pittsburgh's loss, the division leaped over the NFC West (who had an even worse week!) to take the lead for the first time all season.

2.  NFC West [1] : Not a great showing this week, but all four teams are still a fearsome force each week

3.  NFC South [3] : The Saints are the best team in the conference and the Bucs are a threat, albeit an inconsistent one

4.  AFC East [4] : Miami and Buffalo still excel, and the Patriots really poured it on this week.  Even the Jets nearly gained their first win

5.  NFC North [4] : Detroit's win puts everyone within range of the division title, but they face the Packers this week

6.  AFC South [4] : Houston keeps trying, but it's basically a two-team division

7.  AFC West [7] : The Raiders can make things exciting, but this is basically the Chiefs division.  They will capture the title with one more win.

8.  NFC East [8] : Even their spectacular week this week couldn't get them out of the cellar

Week 14 picks

Thursday night

New England Patriots at Los Angeles Rams : After their game against the Chargers, I wouldn't count out the Patriots, but I think the Rams offense will be a bit too much.  I hope the Pats enjoy their week in LA, because I don't think they'll be leaving it a winner.  RAMS, 30-26

Sunday early games

Arizona Cardinals at New York Giants : The Giants would like to make it five in a row, but their defense hasn't faced an offense as unpredictable as the Cardinals.  I think they'll be confused and allow the Cards take a large early lead, one the Giants won't quite be able to bridge.  CARDINALS, 30-23

Dallas Cowboys at Cincinnati Bengals : Ezekial Elliot returned this week, and gave the 'Boys a great spark.  While they could not beat the Ravens, the Bengals have a much weaker defense.  COWBOYS, 24-20

Denver Broncos at Carolina Panthers : The Broncos defense held back the Chiefs last week, but it cost them a couple of players.  That should give the Panthers a chance to sneak in a victory.  PANTHERS, 30-26

Houston Texans at Chicago Bears : Two teams with strong defenses and struggling offenses face each other.  If QB Mitch Trubisky can prevent turning the ball over late in the game, as he did against Detroit, they could win this one.  I'm a bit worried, though.  BEARS, 27-20

Kansas City Chiefs at Miami Dolphins : It might be an advantage that the Chiefs offense struggled against the Broncos.  They will take a serious look at the offense and come up with a new game plan.  That can only benefit them as they face the 2nd stingiest defense in the league this week.  Miami could pull off the upset, but I'll give a nod to the Chiefs.  CHIEFS, 26-24

Minnesota Vikings at Tampa Bay Bucs : The Bucs have been hard to predict this season, as they have great talent that doesn't always show it on the field.  They'll be helped by their defense, as Kurt Cousins will take a couple of risky throws that turn into interceptions, sparking the Bucs.  BUCS, 34-27

Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars : The one-win Jags have been a tough opponent the past couple of weeks, but the Titans come off a tough loss.  They want to bounce back, and the Jags make an excellent foil.  TITANS, 31-23

Sunday late games

Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Chargers : The Chargers collapse last week has not yet been fully diagnosed, so their struggles will continue.  The Falcons are better than their record reflects, a fact the Chargers will discover.  FALCONS, 31-26

Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions : The Lions beat the Bears thanks to a late fumble by Mitch Trubisky.  The Lions won't get that help in this game.  PACKERS, 34-23

Indianapolis Colts at Las Vegas Raiders : The Raiders are a tough team to figure out, which might make things hard for the Colts.  However, they also have a tendency to shoot themselves in the foot, and the Colts are one of the fewest penalized teams in the league.  COLTS, 31-27

New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles : You have to pity the Eagles defense.  They just finish dusting themselves off from facing a rampaging Packers offense, and they have to slow a strong Saints offense.  Good luck!  SAINTS, 34-23

New York Jets at Seattle Seahawks : The Seahawks will be livid after their loss to the Giants last week, and you can beat they'll want to take it out on a New York team.  Enter the Jets, the worst offense in the league.  SEAHAWKS, 24-10

Washington [space intentionally left blank] at San Francisco 49ers : Washington has come alive, now that Alex Smith seems to have found his groove again.  This could be a very interesting game.  Mullens doesn't quite have the right rhythm, so I have to favor the NFC East team (wait, did I just say that?) WASHINGTON, 24-23

Sunday night

Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills : If the Steelers don't right their ship, they may find themselves at the tail end of a two-game losing streak.  Somehow I think they'll realize that they need to run the ball a bit more, and present a more balanced attack to the Bills.  It will still be a close game that could go either way.  STEELERS, 24-23

Monday Night Football

Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns : The Ravens have owned the Browns in these matchups, but the Browns are looking sharp this season!  The Ravens have gained back some key players, though, and I think the incentive to beat the Browns will be enough to propel them in this game.  RAVENS, 30-23

NFL 2020 Week 12 Power Rankings and Week 13 picks

 My, what a strange week did COVID wraught!  It stretched seven days from Thanksgiving Day to Wednesday evening, and saw two teams dig deep into their rosters to be able to field a team.  The QB-less Broncos looked like you'd expect, but the ragtag patchwork of second stringers and practice squad members marshalled by the Baltimore Ravens nearly upset the highly-vulnerable unbeaten Pittsburgh Steelers.  That performance was atrocious by Pittsburgh and brilliant by Baltimore, so (overriding my own computer-calculated app) I am dropping the Steelers from the top of the Power Rankings (really, a top-ranked team should have performed better against such a hodgepodge team -- just look at what New Orleans did!) and boosted the Ravens.

Team Power Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  Kansas City Chiefs (10-1) [2] : The Chiefs had their hands full against the Bucs, but that team can be dangerous. Offensively, there still isn't a team better.

2.  New Orleans Saints (9-2) [3] : Although the Saints certainly could give KC a run for their money.  Shutting down the depleted Broncos offense was easy; scoring 31 points on their defense took skill.

3.  Pittsburgh Steelers (11-0) [1] : Unfortunately the gap between the top three and the rest of the rankings is too large to push Pittsburgh down any lower.  Really, tonight's game was an embarrassment!

4.  Green Bay Packers (8-3) [5] : The Bears normally stiff defense couldn't stop the Pack

5.  Baltimore Ravens (6-5) [6] : Look at what they can do with a bunch of second stringers and practice squad players who got almost no time to practice together!

6.  Miami Dolphins (7-4) [8] : Nice game, but it was against the Jets, so does it even count?

7.  Indianapolis Colts (7-4) [4] : They couldn't stop the big plays of the Titans.  Back to drawing board for the defensive backfield.

8.  Tampa Bay Bucs (7-5) [7] : This team could be better, but they have to work on their consistency.  They can be brilliant one week and then stink the next.

9.  Tennessee Titans (8-3) [12] : Commanding win over the Colts to seal the lead in the division

10. Seattle Seahawks (8-3) [11] : Had some trouble with the Eagles, but they do know how to finish a game well.

11. Los Angeles Rams (7-4) [9] : Came up short in their rivalry game against the 49ers

12. Arizona Cardinals (6-5) [10] : Their offense had some trouble getting going against the Patriots.  Kyler Murray still needs some work.

13. Buffalo Bills (8-3) [13]

14. Cleveland Browns (8-3) [16] : They allowed too much scoring by the Jaguars, who have the second worst record in the league

15. San Francisco 49ers (5-6) [15] : Great win over the Rams to keep the 49ers in postseason conversation

16. Atlanta Falcons (4-7) [24] : What?  How did they sneak in here?  How about by engineering the most dominating performance of the week by manhandling the Raiders, that's how.

Divisional Power Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  NFC West [1] : It's now close, as only 1/2 of a point separate the top three divisions.  The NFC West has all of their teams in the upper half of the league's power rankings, though, which is not an easy feat.

2.  AFC North [2] : The losers looked good and the winners didn't, but you still can't knock the potential talent among these teams.

3.  NFC South [3] : With Atlanta's strong win, only Carolina has a negative point differential.

4 (3-way tie). NFC North [5] : Minnesota and Green Bay look good, and Detroit has their moments.  I'm hoping the Bears defense will bounce back.

4 (3-way tie). AFC East [6] : Strong wins by the top three teams.  The Jets continue to drag them down.

4 (3-way tie). AFC South [6] : Houston had a nice win, and the Titans and Colts are threats.

7.  AFC West [4] : Let's face it -- this division is basically the Chiefs, although the Raiders occasionally get some life.  This will be the first divisional crown, and it could happen this week.

8.  NFC East [8] : Do I have to keep including them?

Week 13 picks

Sunday early games

Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins : The Bengals just can't seem to muster enough power to make it through an entire game.  While this game may be close early, the Dolphins will pull away in the second half.  DOLPHINS, 27-17

Cleveland Browns at Tennessee Titans : The Browns have had a good year, but the Titans just have a bit more strength.  This game could go either way, though, depending upon the arm of Baker Mayfield.  TITANS, 30-26

Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears : Ah, the Bears have a team with an offense struggling as much (or perhaps more) as they are.  A return of the Bears defense should assure victory.  BEARS, 26-20

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans : The Texans are starting to get some life, but their defense is still off the rails.  The Texans do tend to play better against divisional opponents, though, so this game will be closer than it deserves.  COLTS, 27-23

Jacksonville Jaguars at Minnesota Vikings : The Jags have been showing some life signs of late, and Cousins has been making some bad decisions, but the Vikings defense will be too much for Jacksonville.  VIKINGS, 27-16

Las Vegas Raiders at New York Jets : The Raiders need a victory to remain in the hunt for the division crown.  Fortunately, they battle the absolute WORST team in the league.  They'll survive for another week.  RAIDERS, 24-6

New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons : The Falcons offense came alive last week, so the Saints defense has to stay alert.  The Falcons defense, however, will have their hands full with mobile quarterback Taysom Hill.  SAINTS, 31-20

Sunday late games

Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals : On paper, these two teams are pretty well matched.  The Cardinals have been playing extra tough against divisional opponents, however, and I think they will do that again.  CARDS, 26-23

New England Patriots at Los Angeles Chargers : The Chargers are a team that can keep games close, but they have trouble closing them out.  Not a problem for the Patriots and Coach Belichick.  PATS, 24-21

New York Giants at Seattle Seahawks : At the time I am writing this, the health of Giants QB Daniel Jones is in question.  If he doesn't play, this will be a rout.  Even if he does play, the Seahawks will likely win.  Maybe he should rest an extra week.  SEAHAWKS, 23-10

Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers : The Pack offense is just too fast for the Eagles secondary.  PACK, 30-17

Sunday night

Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs : The Broncos have to face another high-powered offense.  Will they have an actual quarterback cleared to play?  Uncertain at this time.  CHIEFS, 34-6

Monday

Washington (this space left intentionally blank) at Pittsburgh Steelers : COVID gives us another unusual scheduling fluke - a Monday afternoon game.  Since the Steelers only just played on Wednesday night, the league gives them some room to breathe, and moves their Sunday game to Monday afternoon.  More time for Washington to rue their fate.  STEELERS, 27-17

Monday Night Football

Buffalo Bills at San Francisco 49ers : The 49ers play a home game in Glendale, Arizona because Santa Clara, CA is off-limits to outsiders due to wide-spread coronavirus.  Will the move make it hard for the 49ers?  Probably not, but the dry desert air may help the loft on Bills QB Josh Allen's passes.  BILLS, 24-23

Tuesday night

Dallas Cowboys at Baltimore Ravens : And the other game pushed back due to tonight's Wednesday COVID delay finds a ramshackle Cowboys team facing a ragtag Ravens team.  After what we say tonight, though, there is no question that the Ravens have the upper hand.  RAVENS, 20-13

 

Big Ten 2020 Week 6 Power Rankings and Week 7 picks

 Unless something drastic happens next week, it looks like most of the Big Ten teams will play at least seven games in this COVID-ravaged season, making six games the requirement for bowl eligibility and playing in the conference championship game.  If that holds, then Wisconsin will be ineligible for both, having only played three games in the first six weeks.  Minnesota is in danger, as their game this week is cancelled, and last week's game was cancelled.  They must play on Dec 12th.  Ohio State needs to play both of these last two weeks as well.  If all five currently-scheduled games play this week, every other conference team will have played at least six games (with four of them playing seven).

Team Power Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0) [1]

2.  Indiana Hoosiers (5-1) [2] : Maryland slowed their offense, but the defense showed they can be just as brutal

3.  Iowa Hawkeyes (4-2) [4] : Four consecutive wins propels the Hawkeyes to the upper echelons of the conference.  Unfortunately, a one-point loss to Northwestern, and the Wildcats not playing this week and guaranteeing no more than two losses, leaves them on the outside of the conference championship.

4.  Northwestern Wildcats (5-1) [3] : They lost to Michigan State, but the cancellation of this week's game guarantees them a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game.

5.  Wisconsin Badgers (2-1) [5]

6.  Maryland Terrapins (2-2) [6] : They lost to Indiana, but their defense was impressive enough to hold at Number Six.

7.  Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-3) [7]

8.  Illinois Fighting Illini (2-3) [9]

9.  Michigan State Spartans (2-3) [13] : Well, at least they have another win along with beating their in-state rival.  The defense showed up nicely, but the offense still needs work.

10. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2-4) [12] : Nice win over Purdue!

11. Purdue Boilermakers (2-3) [8]

12. Michigan Wolverines (2-4) [10] : They got beat by Penn State, who hadn't won a game all season.  Yeah, we knew they would eventually win one, but I'll bet the Wolverines wish it had taken one more week.

13. Penn State Nittany Lions (1-5) [14] : They are out of the cellar, and I'll bet that feels good!

14. Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-4) [11] : And that puts Nebraska squarely at the bottom

Week 6 picks

Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan State Spartans : They are happy to be playing, and will grind up the Spartans.  The only hope for Sparty is if the same defense that showed up last week turns out again.  Against the powerful Buckeyes offense, though, I don't think so.  OHIO STATE by 18

Nebraska Cornhuskers at Purdue Boilermakers : Purdue has been a threat, despite losing three games in a row.  I think that streak will end against the Cornhuskers, who just can't seem to get it together.  PURDUE by three

Penn State Nittany Lions at Rutgers Scarlet Knights : Can Penn State make it two in a row?  They certainly have the talent to beat Rutgers, but that talent hadn't really show up since the Ohio State loss, at least not until last week.  Was the Michigan game a fluke, or the start of a Lions revival?  I'll pick Rutgers due to the their momentum, but this game could go either way.  RUTGERS by three

Indiana Hoosiers at Wisconsin Badgers : Can Wisconsin's defense slow down the Hoosiers enough to stay in the game?  I don't think so.  Normally I'd say the Badgers ground game would be an advantage, but not this year.  INDIANA by 14

Iowa Hawkeyes at Illinois Fighting Illini : Illinois has most of their starters back, but the Hawkeyes have been excelling since a season-opening two-week skid.  I think the Illini will keep this one close, but Iowa will triumph.  IOWA by six

NFL 2020 Week 11 Power Rankings and Week 12 picks

 Some surprises this week, including rare non-divisional wins by Houston and Dallas and two exciting overtime games.  The two teams with the best record remain in the AFC and the Jets remain winless.  Oddsmakers are now predicting that the Jets might go winless for the entire season.  Well, at least New York fans still have the Giants, who are in contention for the NFC East title (EVERYONE is, with all teams having only three victories).

Team Power Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  Pittsburgh Steelers (10-0) [1] : Home to the best scoring defense in the league and the second most effective offense in the conference, the Steelers are quickly becoming the favorite to win the conference.

2.  Kansas City Chiefs (9-1) [2] : The defending Super Bowl Champs had a scare against the Raiders, the only team to beat them this season, but they prevented the sweep.

3.  New Orleans Saints (8-2) [3] : Taysom Hill substituted well for Drew Brees, but their defense helped against a struggling Falcons offense.  They have another easy opponent this week, so they may not lose too much while Brees' ribs recover.

4.  Indianapolis Colts (7-3) [6] : A spectacular overtime victory over the Packers, after nearly shutting them out in the second half, boosts the Colts into the Top Five.

5.  Green Bay Packers (7-3) [3] : It seemed like two different teams played the two different halves, and questions are popping up surrounding the Packers offense after being held scoreless for nearly an entire half.

6.  Baltimore Ravens (6-4) [5] : The Ravens suffered their second loss in a row and that defense seems to have lost some strength.  

7.  Tampa Bay Bucs (7-4) [7] : The Bucs hold onto the seventh position but only because there was such a gap between #7 and #8 last week.  That gap has shrunk to almost nothing, and the Bucs offense looks too inconsistent to believe their power can last.

8.  Miami Dolphins (6-4) [8] : The Dolphins were shocked by the Broncos, and Tua was benched in the fourth quarter.  The coach claims that was simply a teaching lesson, and he is still the starting quarterback, but Ryan Fitzpatrick will get some practice time this week.  A quarterback controversy at this point in the season is not a good thing for a team.

9.  Los Angeles Rams (7-3) [10] : The Rams defense made the Bucs look pedestrian as they strengthened their claim on the division crown in the tough NFC West.

10. Arizona Cardinals (6-4) [9] : The Cards lost the back-and-forth battle against the Seahawks, but remain a force in both the NFC West and the league.

11. Seattle Seahawks (7-3) [11] : The Seahawks have tightened the race in the NFC West, and positions 9-11 on the Power Rankings are not separated by many points at all

12. Tennessee Titans (7-3) [12] : The Titans bounced back from their loss to the Colts by bouncing the Ravens and making the vaulted Ravens defense look vulnerable.  That took real offensive power!

13. Buffalo Bills (7-3) [14]

14.  Las Vegas Raiders (6-4) [12] : They tried, but they couldn't keep pace with the Chiefs offense.  They shouldn't feel bad - no team can do that.  Still, Derek Carr had a career day and proved that the Raiders are more than a defensive challenge.

15. San Francisco 49ers (4-6) [15]

16. Cleveland Browns (7-3) [16] : The Browns won again to vault over Baltimore for second place in the AFC North, but their win over Philly wasn't massively impressive.

Divisional Power Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  NFC West [1] : Not much more can be said about this division this season, as they continue to impress, even when beating on each other.

2.  AFC North [2] : With three teams in the upper half of the power rankings, and home to the only unbeaten team in the league, this is a fierce division.

3.  NFC South [3] : The Saints are strong, and the Bucs and Panthers can deliver punches.  

4.  AFC West [5] : The Chiefs continue to strongly defend their Super Bowl title, and the Raiders are still a threat.  

5.  NFC North [4] : Minnesota's momentum has been stalled and cracks are appearing in the Packers.  This division seems to be on a downward spiral.

6 (tie).  AFC East [6] : Both the Pats and Dolphins lost this week, and the Bills were off.  Not a great week for them.

6 (tie).  AFC South [7] : Wins by Tennessee, Indianapolis, and Houston boosted this division.  Could this be the start of an upswing?

8.  NFC East [8] : Nobody has four wins.  Pathetic.

Week 12 picks

Thanksgiving Day

Houston Texans at Detroit Lions : Houston found their strengths last week with a return to their "pounding defense" ways.  The Lions can't take that type of pressure.  TEXANS, 27-20

Washington "Guess Who's Coming for Thanksgiving Dinner" gang at Dallas Cowboys :  The Cowboys notoriously play well on Thanksgiving, and they come in with some momentum after upsetting the Vikings last week.  However, Washington also comes in with momentum, and the inconsistent offensive play of Dallas makes them suspect.  WASHINGTON, 26-20

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers :  The Steelers will have feasted on their Thanksgiving dinner, and now they will feast on the Ravens for dessert.  The Ravens defense has lost some power, and the Steelers offense continues to roll.  The Steelers own the toughest defense in the league now, and that does not bode well for a Ravens offensive line that has reshuffled some players.  STEELERS, 27-20

Sunday early games

Arizona Cardinals at New England Patriots :   The Patriots seem to having some difficulties finding their footing on offense, a vulnerable position that the Cardinals defense will be quick to exploit.  CARDS, 28-20

Carolina Panthers at Minnesota Vikings : The Vikings need to bounce back from their shocking loss to the Cowboys, and they get a chance here.  The weak Panthers defense will help the Vikings sometimes disjoint offense, and the error-prone Panthers offense plays into the Vikings defense nicely.  VIKINGS, 27-24

Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars : The second-worst team in the league hosts the Browns, who will remain in the upper half of the Power Rankings with a strong victory here.  BROWNS, 27-17

Las Vegas Raiders at Atlanta Falcons : The Raiders travel to Atlanta to face the struggling Falcons.  While the Raiders' non-divisional record is only marginal, they have the power to overwhelm the Falcons.    RAIDERS, 28-24

Miami Dolpins at New York Jets : At this point, always pick the team playing the Jets.  DOLPHINS, 27-13

New York Giants at Cincinnati Bengals : The Giants know that all the hopes of the New York and New Jersey fans are riding on their shoulders, with the collapse of the Jets.  With the pathetic records of the rest of the NFC East, the Giants are in the hunt.  With Coach Judge now exerting his judge-ment on the team (pun intended), they are starting to come together.  The Bengals, on the other hand, will likely be falling apart without starting QB Joe Burrows.  GIANTS, 24-17

Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts : This will be a thriller of a game!  Both teams are hungry and battling for the lead in the AFC South.  I'll pick the Colts, on the strength of their offense, but the Titans defense may swing this game the other way.  COLTS, 27-23

Sunday late games

Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Bucs : The Bucs could surprise, but they seem to be having some confusion in their offense.  They won't be able to keep pace with the Chiefs if that continues into this week's game.  CHIEFS, 30-23

New Orleans Saints at Denver Broncos : Saints will roll, as the Broncos defense won't be able to handle the dual-run-pass threat of QB Taysom Hill.  SAINTS, 30-20

San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams : This fierce rivalry always generates excitement, and things could very interesting as the 49ers come off their bye week regaining some players lost earlier in the season to injury.  That means they will compete well with the Rams.  Will they win?  I don't know, it's been a while since these players worked together.  RAMS, 24-20

Sunday night

Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers : I think the NFL scheduler is trying to hurt the Bears, as they are featured on prime time for the third time this season, and the Bears just don't seem to play as well.  At least Sunday night hasn't hurt them as much as Monday Night Football does.  Even better, they get the Packers at a time when the Pack seems a bit off-kilter.  Of course, "off-kilter" describes the Bears offense to a "T" right now, as they just can't seem to generate anything.  PACKERS, 20-10

Monday Night Football

Seattle Seahawks at Philadelphia Eagles : The Seahawks continue to roll, although (like the Bears) they don't particularly like being the road team on Monday Night Football.  This game will be closer than it should be.  SEAHAWKS, 27-23

Big Ten 2020 Week 5 Power Rankings and Week 6 picks

 Illinois regained their starting quarterback off coronavirus quarantine and gained their second victory.  Michigan was threatened with the loss of their coach and gained their second victory.  Maryland cancelled their second game due to COVID.  And previously COVID-ravaged Wisconsin lost their first game.  Interesting week we had.

Team Power Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0) [1] : Indiana gave them a scare, but the strong Buckeyes offense prevailed.

2.  Indiana Hoosiers (4-1) [2] : They couldn't get past the Buckeyes but they made it exciting!  I don't think any other team could do that this season.

3.  Northwestern Wildcats (5-0) [4] : The Wildcats beat Wisconsin to be the first Big Ten team to five wins this season, and take the lead in the West division.

4.  Iowa Hawkeyes (3-2) [5] : After a slow start in the first two weeks of the season, Iowa just seems to get stronger each week.

5.  Wisconsin Badgers (2-1) [3] : The Wildcats defense completely stifled the Badgers

6.  Maryland Terrapins (2-1) [6]

7.  Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-3) [9] : The Gophers squeezed out a victory against Purdue in an offensive showcase.

8.  Purdue Boilermakers (2-2) [7] : Purdue's offense was rolling, but their defense couldn't keep pace with the Gophers

9.  Illinois Fighting Illini (2-3) [10] : Brandon Peters returns to spark the Illini offense, who score over 40 points against Nebraska

10.  Michigan Wolverines (2-3) [12] : "Tweak us, do we not bleed?"  They get feisty, too, as the Wolverines respond to calls to fire Coach Harbough with an offensive behemoth against Rutgers.  Their defense is still lacking, though, as it took 3 overtimes for them to topple the Scarlet Knights!

11. Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-3) [8] : Illinois pounded Nebraska and tore through their defense like it was tissue paper

12.  Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-4) [11] : The Scarlet Knights couldn't quite keep up with the marathon multi-overtime game against Michigan

13. Michigan State Spartans (1-3) [13]

14. Penn State Nittany Lions (0-5) [14] : Every week just gets worse for the Lions

Week 6 picks

Friday

Nebraska Cornhuskers at Iowa Hawkeyes : The Hawkeyes have found their mojo and are starting to tear through the conference.  Nebraska might have the offense to keep pace for two or three quarters, but their porous defense will prove their undoing.  IOWA by eleven

Saturday

Ohio State Buckeyes at Illinois Fighting Illini : I don't care how well Brandon Peters plays, the Illini will not be able to keep pace with the high-powered offense of Ohio State.  OHIO STATE by 16

Maryland Terrapins at Indiana Hoosiers : The Terrapins come off coronavirus quarantine, and promptly have to face the surging Hoosiers.  I'll bet they would have preferred to cancel this game, too!  INDIANA by 18

Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan Wolverines : This is a crucial game for both squads.  Although no word has come from the Penn State athletic department, it's possible (and likely) that both teams are playing for the job security of their respective coaches.  However, someone has to win this game.  I think this one may go into overtime also, and that will hurt Penn State, who seems to fade late in the game.  MICHIGAN by three

Minnesota Golden Gophers at Wisconsin Badgers : It is rare for the Badgers to lose two games in a row, so I think they'll be fired up for this one.  WISCONSIN by six

Northwestern Wildcats at Michigan State Spartans : Normally perview of the Spartans, the stiffest defense in the conference resides in Evanston, and the Wildcats will bring that smothering squad to East Lansing.  The Spartans offense is sputtering, as they have scored a total of seven points in their last two games.  NORTHWESTERN by 12

Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Purdue Boilermakers : Normally this game would be a contest between two cellar dwellers, but Purdue has had a decent season.  They are the masters of close games, as all of their games this season have been decided by a single score.  Rutgers has lost all of their close games this season, so Purdue has the edge.  PURDUE by six

NFL 2020 Week 10 Power Rankings and Week 11 picks

 We had a couple of exciting "near upsets", a thrilling last second Hail Mary, and a surprising Ravens loss.  The Bears curse on Monday Night, and a pathetic offense, was stronger than Kurt Cousins record of futility on Monday Night Football, and he gained his first victory in ten tries.

Team Power Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  Pittsburgh Steelers (9-0) [1] : The Steelers remain the only unbeaten team in the league, and they have some easy games coming up.  They definitely seem poised to retain this rank.

2.  Kansas City Chiefs (8-1) [2] : The Chiefs have the best offense in the league, and are making a strong case to repeat as Super Bowl Champions, a feat we haven't seen since the Patriots in 2005.

3 (tie). Green Bay Packers (7-2) [4] : The Pack continue to be the strongest team in the NFC, although they had to prevent an upset against Jacksonville this week.  Cracks are starting to appear in the Packers lineup.

3 (tie).  New Orleans Saints (7-2) [6] : Just when this team was on the rise, Drew Brees will be out for at least two weeks.  How will that affect their Power Ranking?  We'll have to see.

5.  Baltimore Ravens (6-3) [3] : The Patriots pulled off a surprise, and now the Ravens need to rebound

6.  Indianapolis Colts (6-3) [8] : The Colts beat the Titans, and may have silenced their critics.  This team is solid!

7.  Tampa Bay Bucs (7-3) [9] : The Bucs rebounded strongly and had their best offensive output

8.  Miami Dolphins (6-3) [5] : A team falls three position after a win?  Well, it was a rather pedestrian performance.  I think this area is more appropriate for the Dolphins, as the novelty of Tua is wearing off and teams are starting to learn how to deal with him.

9.  Arizona Cardinals (6-3) [7] : The Cards almost lost to the Bills, and had to rely on an unpredictable Hail Mary.  Their defense needs some work.

10. Los Angeles Rams (6-3) [12] : The Rams beat the Seahawks as they continue to improve.  They are streaking at a good time.

11. Seattle Seahawks (6-3) [10] : The NFL West takes over this section of the Power Rankings with their third consecutive position.  The Seahawks seem to having some struggles, though, so they might be dropping further.

12 (tie). Tennessee Titans (6-3) [10] : The Titans really couldn't get it rolling against the Colts.  Their offense has lost some spark, and they to recover that.

12 (tie). Las Vegas Raiders (6-3) [16] : The Raiders are getting better, but they still rely a little too much on trick plays for me to be comfortable with labeling them a real "Power Team".

14. Buffalo Bills (7-3) [13] : The Bills really SHOULD have won that game, and Josh Allen is certainly going a great job.  The defense needs to improve their field sense a bit.

15. San Francisco 49ers (4-6) [14] : Wiped out by the Saints

16. Cleveland Browns (6-3) [17] : Don't count out the Browns!  The latest incarnation of the "Cardiac Kids" will often find ways to win.

Division Power Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  NFC West [1] : The top division all season regains their solo dominance with all four teams in the upper half of the Power Rankings

2.  AFC North [1] : Trailing only slightly, the AFC North has two powerhouse teams and a highly competitive Browns team.

3.  NFC South [3] : The Saints and Bucs continue to dominate, but we'll have to see what happens to this division while Brees is out

4.  NFC North [5] : Minnesota and Detroit have been quietly winning games and rising up.  While the entire division has only one team with a winning record, the division, overall, HAS a winning record!  If Chicago doesn't get their offense fixed, the one-time division leaders, who started 5-1, could find themselves in the bottom of the division.

5.  AFC West [4] : The Chiefs are a powerhouse, and the Raiders are always a threat, but it doesn't look like we'll get much from Denver or the Chargers

6.  AFC East [6] : The Bills played well, despite a loss, and the Patriots showed that you can't ignore them.  Miami triumphed as well, so even having the only winless team doesn't bring this division down too much.

7.  AFC South [7] : Houston generated a little excitement recently, but that's fading.  The Colts and Titans remain the only strengths in this division.

8.  NFC East [8]

Week 11 picks

Thursday night

Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks : The Seahawks are usually strong at home, but without the crowd there, will they have the same spark?  The Seahawks have seemed a little "off" the past couple of weeks, and I think that will hurt them, especially against a team that knows them so well.  CARDINALS, 27-23

Sunday early games

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints : Even without Drew Brees, the Saints should be able to beat the floundering Falcons.  SAINTS, 23-17

Cincinnati Bengals at Washington ...[?]... : Pathetic v ridiculous.  This almost doesn't deserve a pick, but I am a completist.  WASHINGTON, 24-17

Detroit Lions at Carolina Panthers : Detroit is on an upswing, but the Panthers still have a few tricks up their sleeves.  This should be a close game, and the Lions might pull off the win, but I'm not sure I can see it.  PANTHERS, 27-23

New England Patriots at Houston Texans : The Patriots proved they still have punch, but I would have picked them to beat the terrible Texans even if they had lost last week.  PATRIOTS, 23-17

Philadelphia Eagles at Cleveland Browns : The Eagles just cannot seem to find an offensive groove, which the Browns defense will be sure to exploit.  BROWNS, 24-16

Pittsburgh Steelers at Jacksonville Jaguars : The Jags may have used all of their energy against Green Bay last week.  Certainly it won't take the Steelers defense long to deflate them.  STEELERS, 27-13

Tennessee Titans at Baltimore Ravens : Both teams want to bounce back from tough losses last week.  The Ravens are better tooled for that.  RAVENS, 27-20

Sunday late games

Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings : Look out, here come the Vikings! Although Kurt Cousins still makes some mistakes (two interceptions against the Bears), his accuracy is improving and he's making better decisions.  With Dalvin Cook churning out the yards, they will leave Dallas in the dust.  VIKINGS, 27-17

Green Bay Packers at Indianapolis Colts : Okay, I have to pick the upset here!  The Colts are on a roll, and the Pack has seemed to reach the tipping point on injuries, where it is affecting their performance on the field.  The Pack could win this game, but I'm going to go for the obvious upset.  COLTS, 27-23

Miami Dolphins at Denver Broncos : Tua will shine in this game, as the Broncos defense isn't that great.  DOLPHINS, 27-17

New York Jets at Los Angeles Chargers : The Chargers are struggling, so is a game where the Jets might actually stay close, but their offense is so atrocious that they won't even be able to outscore the Chargers.  CHARGERS, 17-10

Sunday night

Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders :  Whoa, here's a game ripe for upset!  The Raiders are traditionally tough against divisional opponents, traditionally do well on the nationally televised evening games, and have a potently sneaky offense this season.  However, I'm not sure their defense is quite up to the task of stalling Patrick Mahomes and company, especially since the Chiefs know what they are facing and will likely come up with some sneaky plays of their own.  CHIEFS, 27-20

Monday Night Football

Los Angeles Rams at Tampa Bay Bucs : The Rams are looking strong, but the Bucs have the offensive tools to get the job done.  That Rams defense won't make it easy, though.  BUCS, 24-17

Big Ten Week 4 Power Rankings and Week 5 picks

 People are strange.  Analysts are already grumbling that Ohio State shouldn't be considered for a Playoff berth because they had to cancel their game against Maryland, essentially punishing them for something that was NOT THEIR FAULT!  Remember, it was COVID ravaging the Maryland team that required that cancellation.  I guess the Big Ten haters are so concerned about Justin Fields and the Buckeyes, that they would stand a good chance of winning the championship, that they want to block them from participating, like President Trump tried to block key demographics and districts from voting in the past election.  Trump's scheme failed, and I hope this scheme fails, too.

Especially since Ohio State is the only sense of normalcy we have in the conference this season.  The perennial powerhouse is at (or near, depending on the ranking) the top of the conference, while perennial contenders Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State find themselves at or near the bottom.  Furthermore, common cellar-dwellers Indiana and Purdue are excelling.  

Team Power Rankings [Last week's position]

1.  Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0) [1] : They may not have played, but the power they showed in their first three games keep them on top

2.  Indiana Hoosiers (4-0) [2] : Shutting out Michigan State adds to their power ranking, and sets up an interesting face-off against Ohio State this week.

3.  Wisconsin Badgers (2-0) [3] : The Badgers returned from coronoavirus quarantine with no rust to kick off, and thoroughly manhandled Michigan (granted, not a difficult thing to do this season!)

4.  Northwestern Wildcats (4-0) [4] : The Wildcats have perhaps the stiffest defense in the conference outside the state of Ohio.  Who says defense doesn't win games anymore?  Watch the Wildcats to learn otherwise.

5.  Iowa Hawkeyes (2-2) [7] : The Hawkeyes followed up their dominance of Michigan State with a complete drubbing of Minnesota.  After two slow weeks, the Hawkeyes are up to speed, and certainly pose a serious threat to their remaining opponents.

6.  Maryland Terrapins (2-1) [6] : We are not sure if the Terrapins will play this week, so this position may not be safe.

7.  Purdue Boilermakers (2-1) [5] : The Boilermakers suffered their first loss of the season as they couldn't find rhythm against the stifling Wildcats defense.

8.  Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-2) [12] : The Cornhuskers won their first game of the season in further shaming the winless (and hapless) Nittany Lions.

9.  Minnesota Golden Gophers (1-3) [8] : After being thoroughly trounced by Iowa, the Gophers should really fall further than one position, but I'm keeping them above Illinois, who they beat handily, in case this week's performance by the Illini was a one-shot.  However, it definitely appears that the Gophers are on the way down.

10.  Illinois Fighting Illini (1-3) [14] : The Illini won their first game of the season as their backup quarterback turned into their best runner, and ran all over Rutgers.  They needed a quarter and a half to get on track, but once they did the Scarlet Knights couldn't control them.  With players returning to the roster this week, the Illini just might get better.

11. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-3) [9] : Rutgers hasn't looked good since their Week 1 upset over Michigan State.  Given what the Spartans have looked like in all of their games except the rivalry game against Michigan, maybe Rutgers isn't so hot after all.

12. Michigan Wolverines (1-3) [10] : Another team who hasn't looked good since Week 1, there are grumblings that Jim Harbaugh should be fired.  That might motivate the team, as the players seem to love him.

13.  Michigan State Spartans (1-3) [11] : Yup, the Michigan game was simply a fluke

14. Penn State Nittany Lions (0-4) [13] : Penn State at the bottom of the conference?  They are the only winless team, and they look more confused every week.

Week 5 picks

Friday

Purdue Boilermakers at Minnesota Golden Gophers : Though you wonder if the beat-down experienced by Iowa will motivate the Gophers, they will be playing without some key players, out due to either injury or COVID concerns.  A tattered Gophers team seems the perfect foil for the Boilermakers.  PURDUE by six

Saturday

At this point, it is uncertain whether the Maryland game will be played.  If so, it will likely be played at 3:30PM EST, so I have inserted it where it belongs.

Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio State Buckeyes : The day kicks off with perhaps the best and most competitive game of the day!  If Indiana hopes that the week off will make the Buckeyes rusty, it is a futile hope.  The Hoosiers have a dynamic offense, but their defense doesn't quite match up, and the Buckeyes offense is the strongest and fastest in the conference.  Indiana's speed has given the Buckeyes defense some trouble in the past, and I expect the Hoosiers to keep this game close, but the Buckeyes have a very physical defense that will eventually wear down the Hoosiers in the fourth quarter.  OHIO STATE by eight

Illinois Fighting Illini at Nebraska Cornhuskers : Both teams scored their first victory last week.  For Illinois, it was through an expanded use of their back-up quarterback, who should see action even though the starter is back from coronoavirus quarantine.  Rotating the quarterbacks should help the Illini, as each plays in a different fashion, and the Nebraska defense hasn't shown themselves too capable of adapting this season.  ILLINOIS by six

Wisconsin Badgers at Northwestern Wildcats : A second battle of unbeaten teams which isn't quite as exciting as the first game of the day.  Shouldn't be as close, either.  The Wildcats have a potent defense, but the Badgers have multiple offensive weapons, and a quickness that the Wildcats haven't faced yet.  WISCONSIN by twelve

Iowa Hawkeyes at Penn State Nittany Lions : The Hawkeyes have found their stride and their offense is clicking, much to the chagrin of the Nittany Lions.  IOWA by 16

Michigan State Spartans at Maryland Terrapins : If this game happens, it's a chance for Maryland to get back on track.  I think the Spartans have completely derailed, especially on their normally-exalted defense.  With the strength of the Maryland offense, that will put Michigan State behind early, and keep them there.  MARYLAND by 24

Michigan Wolverines at Rutgers Scarlet Knights : The cries for coach Jim Harbaugh's head might be just the motivating factor that these players need.  After all, most of the troubles with this team have been mental mistakes -- dropped passes, missed coverages, and offensive penalties.  The team will be playing for their coach's job, and that might just be enough motivation for them to concentrate on their task and get the job done.  MICHIGAN by six

NFL 2020 Week 9 Soapbox: What's in a Name, or What Happened in Washington?

 First, I apologize for the lengthy delay in getting to this column.  I am also a full-time college professor helping my students through the tribulations of remote learning.  I also have a large number of students for whom English is their second language, and I'm had to schedule special sessions to explain technical computer science terms to a group of (essentially) foreigners who don't understand the terms or the references.

That said, one of the most interesting situations in sports reporting this season is name calling, or specifically, what to call the Washington Football Team.  That is the title the team itself has given themselves, like a can of generic brand Kernel Corn at the supermarket.  Ironically, like many generic foods, the Washington Football Team has been bland and tasteless on the field.  Whether it is a result of what is happening to the team I do not know, but it would not surprise.  Often, off-field and front-office turmoil can affect the players of a professional sports team.

What turmoil is referenced here?  How did the Washington Football Team find themselves without a name, without an identity, and without a logo?  For years, Native American advocates have been pressing the Redskins organization to change the name of the team, citing the use of the term "redskin" to speaking of Native American in a derogatory manner.  For years, owner Daniel Snyder and his administration has steadfastly refused to change the name.  So why now?  Did Daniel Snyder finally grow a social conscience?  Or was it a way to gain some positive press after the push of negative stories.

For those who have not followed the #MeToo movement or the Washington Post, several current and former female employees of the team have complained that Snyder has made unwanted sexual advances.  He has also been accused of conspiring with the photographer of the 2008 cheerleader calendar to compile a video of moments of the girls in various stages of undress.  While there have been no claims yet of actual sexual activity with these ladies, the sheer quantity of complaints that have cropped up does nothing to help the reputation of an owner who had already generated animosity among most of the community of team owners.

Snyder has also experienced pressure from outside the organization.  In the past sixteen months, he has suffered boycotts from sponsors and rescinding of funding from many sources due to his stubborn stance to retain the Redskins name.  Finally, faced with financial difficulties from all of the pressure, in July Snyder announced that he was dropping the name "Redskins" from the team.

However, this step was obviously done under diress, and he has turned it into even more of an embarrasment.  He is clearly showing that it was not his idea, as he had no new team name ready, and took no actions to create one.  Did he assign a group to brainstorm a new team name and logo?  No.  That certainly would not take long.  When Albany NY was granted an Arena Football franchise three years ago, they came up with the name (Albany Empire), logo, color scheme, and administration team within six weeks.  He could have had a new name before the start of the season.  Now he claims that there probably won't be a new name or logo until 2022.  Why so long?  Because he is not doing anything about it.

Does that indicate he doesn't care?  Perhaps.  Certainly he doesn't care about the fans, and players have complained for over 16 years that it seemed that the front office didn't care about them, or even about the team's success.  I mean, if he really wanted to reconnect with the fans, despite all of the negative #MeToo publicity, he could have turned the search for a new team name and logo into a contest, letting the fans submit ideas.  It would be fun, and it would let the fans feel more connected to the team.  But no, Daniel Snyder wants no "outsiders" to be involved with his team, ignoring the fact that the money paid by those "outsiders" help keep the team running.

Perhaps Daniel Snyder doesn't care because he doesn't think he'll be involved with the team much longer.  There are rumors that one item on the agenda of the next owners' meeting will be voting to remove Daniel Snyder as owner.  Certainly the team has the power to do that.  When former Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson ran afoul over alleged inappropriate behavior with female employees, the league and his fellow owners forced him to sell the team.  The same thing could happen to Snyder.

So where does that leave the team and the fans?  Basically in Limbo.  They are dealing with an owner who really doesn't care about them, is fighting off numerous allegations of harrassing and inappropriate behavior, and facing the likelihood that he will lose his team, apparently the only thing he has to measure his self-worth.  In more ways than one, 2020 is a "throw away" year for the Washington Football Team, and it mostly points back to owner Daniel Snyder.

NFL 2020 Week 9 Power Rankings and Week 10 picks

 The AFC now contains the teams with the two best records, as Seattle's loss ensures no NFC team has fewer than two losses.  Results caused some movement among the top Power teams, but not as much as you might think.  Things seem to be settling in.

Team Power Rankings [last week's position]

1.  Pittsburgh Steelers (8-0) [1] : The Steelers came back in the fourth quarter to prevent a surprise upset by the Cowboys.  Top teams are able to turn around poor performances, and the Steelers did that.  Big Ben has now been put on the COVID list, so we are not sure how that will the Steelers in the next couple of weeks, but for now they have earned their top spot.

2.  Kansas City Chiefs (7-1) [2] : The defending Super Bowl champs held off a challenge from Carolina this week to continue their winning streak.  The Chiefs continue to have the top offense in the conference, with a fierce enough defense to hold off opposing surges.

3.  Baltimore Ravens (6-2) [3] : A dominating victory over the Colts prove that the Ravens have bounced back from their loss to the Steelers and a fierce force in the league.

4.  Green Bay Packers (6-2) [9] : Dominating performance against the 49ers provided an excellent rebound from the disgusting loss to the Bucs.  With Seattle's loss the Packers appear to be the top team in the NFC.

5.  Miami Dolphins (5-3) [8] : Tua continues to improve as the Dolphins offense is becoming a major threat.

6.  New Orleans Saints (6-2) [13] : They totally terrorized the Bucs and showed that they are a force to contend with, and certainly a favorite to win the conference.  Drew Brees won his bout against Tom Brady and now takes a 3-touchdown lead in the all-time total of touchdown passes.

7.  Arizona Cardinals (5-3) [6] : Miami beat them, but the Cardinals made it a real challenge, as they chase Seattle for the divisional lead.

8.  Indianapolis Colts (5-3) [5] : Tough loss for the Colts as the Ravens seemed to have Philip Rivers' number.  Good teams bounce back, so this week's game is important.

9.  Tampa Bay Bucs (6-3) [3] : A thorough thumping by New Orleans sent the Bucs spiraling down this week.  Brady can come back from this, but he needs some help from his receivers, who dropped an unusually large number of passes on Sunday night.

10 (tie). Seattle Seahawks (6-2) [7] : They lost their second game of the season, but at least they lost to a strong winning team.  They often lose one game a year to a weak opponent.  Fortunately, that loss can fire them up for a few weeks, so we should see the Seahawks rise from this defeat like a phoenix.

10 (tie). Tennessee Titans (6-2) [11] : They beat the Bears, but their defense almost allowed a fourth quarter comeback by Nick Foles.  The Titans need to tighten their game or they position in the Power Rankings is at risk.

12. Los Angeles Rams (5-3) [10]

13. Buffalo Bills (7-2) [15] : Their offense came alive in an amazing upset of Seattle.  QB Josh Allen looks brilliant, but needs to work on his consistency.

14. San Francisco 49ers (4-5) [12] : They were thoroughly punished by the Packers.  With so much mayhem on offense, with players going on and coming off injured reserve, they rely heavily on their defense, and that squad didn't deliver on Thursday.

15. Chicago Bears (5-4) [14] : They couldn't complete a fourth quarter comeback.  Nick Foles needs to improve his game and make fewer mistakes.

16. Las Vegas Raiders (5-3) [17] : The Raiders garnered a win, but the Chargers kept it a little too close.  The Raiders need to expand their playbook; they are a bit predictable.

Division Power Rankings [last week's position]

1 (tie). NFC West [1] : They remain the only division where no team has a losing point differential, all of these teams are capable of strong victories in any week.  However, there is something different this week....

1 (tie).  AFC North [2] : I didn't think it was possible, but another division has caught up to the NFC West!  With two teams in the Top Three and the Browns looking impressive, this division certainly has the tools to compete.

3.  NFC South [4] : A terrible loss by Tampa Bay doesn't diminish this division's accomplishments, as New Orleans won big, Atlanta won, and Carolina challenged.

4.  AFC West [3] : KC excels and the Raiders remain a threat.  Denver and the Chargers can have good games, but they aren't helping the division much.

5.  NFC North [5] : Green Bay still commands, and Minnesota is improving.  This division still has muscle, and possibly room to rise if the AFC West stumbles.

6.  AFC East [7] : Buffalo and Miami both looked good this week, and even the Jets' offense came alive this week.  Can they sustain this, or will they slip back to #7?

7.  AFC South [6] : Not a great week for these teams, as Tennessee almost gave away a game they commanded, the Colts lost big, and Houston and the Jags played a close game.

8.  NFC East [8] : Okay, Dallas almost pulled off the best upset of the season.  They didn't, and that was the highlight of the week for this division.

Week 10 picks

Thursday night

Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans : Both teams need a strong win.  The Colts want to erase their atrocious offensive breakdown from last week, and the Titans defense needs to forget their horrible fourth quarter.  Who will recover better?  I think the Colts can plug their offensive holes better than the Titans can adjust their defense, so I give the visiting team an edge.  COLTS, 23-20

Sunday early games

Houston Texans at Cleveland Browns : The Texans are starting to catch fire.  Can they burn the Browns?  Cleveland had an extra week to get healthy and prepare for this game, and I think they'll do a good job with that extra time.  BROWNS, 27-23

Jacksonville Jaguars at Green Bay Packers : I predict another dominating victory for the Pack.  PACKERS, 31-17

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants : The Giants surprised Washington, but I don't think they'll do it again here.  The Eagles are the most stable of the NFC East teams, and although Carson Wentz occasionally takes some risks, they manage their ball possession very well.  Their control will show through in this game.  EAGLES, 24-20

Tampa Bay Bucs at Carolina Panthers : Tom Brady had a truly atrocious game last week, so he's going to be extra determined to shine this week.  Enter the tattered Panthers defense.  He'll get that opportunity.  BUCS, 30-23

Washington Wishing-They'd-Get-a-Name at Detroit Lions : Washington changes QB yet again, as Alex Smith will take place under center.  He plays entirely different than both Kyle Allen and Dwayne Haskins, and Washington's receivers don't adjust to change well.  That opens the door to the Lions.  LIONS, 23-17

Sunday late games

With both networks broadcasting double headers, we have the rare occurrence of more late games than early games.

Buffalo Bills at Arizona Cardinals : Buffalo beat one NFC West opponent at home last week, and now they travel on the road for another one.  The Cards will be harder, though.  The Seahawks were excelling by offense, but the Cardinals have a stiff defense.  Bills QB Josh Allen hasn't yet shown he can excel against stiff defenses.  CARDS, 24-17

Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers : Big Ben may not play, but the Bengals are weak enough that they can win with Mason Rudolph and their running backs, especially since Derek Watt is coming back from injury to help shore up the defense.  STEELERS, 23-13

Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders : Denver is sputtering, which is exactly the type of opponent that the Raiders like to exploit.  RAIDERS, 27-20

Los Angeles Chargers at Miami Dolphins : Tua continues to improve, while Justin Herbert seems to have reached an apex.  Unless he finds a second gear, the Dolphins should win this one.  DOLPHINS, 24-13

San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints : The 49ers have never been more than one game below .500 this entire season.  However, I don't see them getting past the Saints.  Yes, Drew Brees needs to take fewer snaps after his partial injury, but Taysom Hill has proven to be capable in his own right.  The 49ers are still missing some key pieces from injury, so the Saints will have another good game.  SAINTS, 27-13

Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams : Seattle will bounce back from their upset loss and take out their frustrations on the Rams.  SEAHAWKS, 27-23

Sunday night

Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots : The Patriots seem lost and confused this season, a condition that the Ravens will take brutal advantage of.  RAVENS, 27-16

Monday Night Football

Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears : The Bears need a good game, as they are sliding in the division.  However, they do not have a good history on Monday Night Football, and the Vikings are improving.  The only saving grace?  Kurt Cousins still makes some dangerous throws.  The Bears defense will pick him off at least twice, keeping the Bears in the game for another coronary-inducing fourth quarter comeback.  BEARS, 23-20