NFL Team Power Rankings [Last week's position]
Still some shakeup among the top teams, as some fall and others gain strength. The lack of a true preseason means it is taking longer for new acquisitions to gel (see: Tampa Bay Bucs), but game time is helping to develop the bonds amongst the new teammates (again, see: Tampa Bay Bucs).
1. Green Bay Packers (4-0) [1] : Still keeping injury effects to a minimum, these team is really lighting up opponents, and scoreboards, this season.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) [2] : The defending Super Bowl Champs continue to produce some of the most dynamic offensive plays in the league, and their defense isn't bad, either.
3. Baltimore Ravens (3-1) [5] : Back to their winning ways and back near the top of the Power Rankings.
4. Indianapolis Colts (3-1) [3] : The Colts offense was slowed by a tough Bears defense, but their own defense made things hard for new starting QB Nick Foles
5. Seattle Seahawks (4-0) [5] : Their defense allowed Miami to score a bit more than they should have, but Russell Wilson continues to lead a strong offensive squad
6. Buffalo Bills (4-0) [9] : Is it my imagination, or does Bills QB Josh Allen get better every week? If that's true, he might be the best QB in the league come the postseason.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0) [7] : The Steelers didn't play due to the Titans COVID outbreak, but that doesn't diminish what they have already accomplished this season.
8. Tampa Bay Bucs (3-1) [8] : Tom Brady is getting to know his new teammates and passing the ball around like he used to. With the usually strong Bucs defense, this is a dangerous squad!
9. San Francisco 49ers (2-2) [6] : Okay, those second-stringers faltered a bit this week, but they did face a tougher team. They have it fairly easy this week, but they are hoping to get Garrafolo and some others back for their rivalry battle with the Rams.
10. Los Angeles Rams (3-1) [NR] : And speaking of those Rams, they slaughtered the Giants (everyone does!) to jump into the Top Ten
11. Tennessee Titans (3-0) [12] : They may not play this week as more players tested positive, so I may have to start dropping them for that. Power comes in many forms, after all, and one of those is Responsibility.
12. Chicago Bears (3-1) [10] : A loss to the Colts dropped them, but that defense still shows enough power to remain ranked high.
NFL Divisional Power Rankings
1. NFC West [1] : This division is so far out front I'm not sure they'll ever drop to Number Two this season
2. AFC North [2] : Even when Pittsburgh doesn't play this division still impresses, as even Cincy gains their first win of the season
3. AFC West [3] : KC dominates, and Denver won their first game of the season (against the Jets, though, so does it really count?)
4. NFC North [4] : In fourth place by the smallest of margins (1/4 of a point!), the Vikings first win helped this division
5. AFC South [5] : Colts win, but a fourth loss by Houston makes things grim for this division
6. NFC South [7] : Bucs are looking sharp and the Saints and Panthers each won a game. Atlanta is the only team with a losing record, but they are so bad they are dragging this division down
7. AFC East [6] : Speaking of a team so bad they are dragging down their division, did I mention the New York Jets?
8. NFC East [8] : This division is on track to record some of the worst stats since I've been tracking the NFL, and that dates back to 1981! The only bright spot is the Dallas offense, but the defense is so porous that even the Cowboys can't win.
Week 5 picks
Thursday night
Tampa Bay Bucs at Chicago Bears : My Bears hit primetime! I always have mixed feelings about that. I get to see them play, but they also tend to do poorly as the "spotlight" game. Admittedly, they haven't suffered on Thursday night as badly as they do on Monday Night Football, but the performance by Nick Foles and company does not fill me with confidence, especially seeing what Tom Brady has done with the Bucs. It's nice to see these two teams play again (for the youngsters out there, these two teams USED to be in the same division), but it'll be a happier homecoming for the Bucs than for the Bears. BUCS, 26-20
Sunday early games
Arizona Cardinals at New York Jets : The Cards aren't looking too well these days, but any team will look good matched against the Jets, who have the dubious distinction of having the second worst offense in the league. The team with the worst offense? The Giants. Welcome to New York. CARDS, 30-13
Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans : This game may be cancelled or postponed (no work as of the time I was writing this blog entry), but the Titans might WANT it postponed, given the great progress shown by Josh Allen. Of course, he might be even tougher later in the season, so perhaps the Titans should be hoping for this game to occur now. BILLS, 27-23
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons : The Panthers can win two in a row with a victory over the dazed and confused Falcons. PANTHERS, 23-16
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens : The Bengals gained their first victory last week after tying the Eagles the week before, but their improvement stops there. They have to face the daunting defense of the Ravens, and the unpredictable actions of Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. He's tough to defend. RAVENS, 27-17
Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans : Time for the Texans first win as they host the sputtering Jags. The Texans are over their difficult streak of tough early opponents, and will look to regain form against division rival Jacksonville, whose quarterback is still showing the signs of his inexperience. TEXANS, 23-16
Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs : The Raiders have a decent defense, but their secondary is a little slow. Against a team like the Chiefs, that's a killer! CHIEFS, 34-20
Los Angeles Rams at Washington Who-Cares : The Rams will use Washington as a warm-up game to their rivalry bout with the 49ers next week. For Washington, who fell from the top of the NFC East (not an especially impressive place to begin with!) due to the Eagles first win, they want to look good. Against the Rams defense? Futile hope. RAMS, 27-17
Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers : The Steelers are anxious to play after sitting at home last week. They will unleash all of their hyperactivity against the Eagles. STEELERS, 24-13
Sunday late games
Denver Broncos at New England Patriots : The Patriots don't seem too sure who to put under center with Cam Newton out. In this case, no matter who they use, they ought to be able to get past a slow Broncos defense. On the other side of the ball, the Patriots defense will dominate the struggling Broncos offense. PATS, 20-16
Indianapolis Colts at Cleveland Browns : This could be an interesting game! The Colts and Phillip Rivers definitely have the strength, especially on the defensive side of the ball, to make things tough for the Browns. But the Browns have improved this season, and their offense has just the right level of creativity to try something new and unexpected if they need a surprising play. This game could come down to the last possession. COLTS, 24-23
Miami Dolphins at San Francisco 49ers : The 49ers second stringers get one last (we believe) hurrah against a sagging Dolphins before some of the starters are due back from injured reserve. 49ERS, 17-16
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys : The Cowboys may be the best of the bunch in the NFC East. While that isn't saying much, the Giants are definitely the worst of the bunch, and that's saying a lot. COWBOYS, 20-17
Sunday night
Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks : The Vikings may have found some offensive life, but their defense won't be able to stop Russell Wilson and company. SEAHAWKS, 30-24
Monday Night Football
Los Angeles Chargers at New Orleans Saints : The Saints should fair much better on Monday Night than they did two weeks ago on Sunday night. The Chargers defense could give them some early struggles, but the Chargers offense will not be able to build up much of a lead. The second half will go the Saints way. SAINTS, 28-20
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