NFL Power Rankings Week 6

It’s lonely at the top. Well that’s what they say right? Well if you’re the Steelers I don’t think you mind the altitude.

Well there was the ESPN obsession over the Vikings and the Cowboys games, and then they talked about helmet–to–helmet hits. I know it’s important, controversial and dangerous, but how can say something needs to be done then show highlights of the big hits? That is what you call hypocritical.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers – Record (4–1)

It wasn’t really a close call between the Steelers and the Jets. Both teams play great defense, both have good records, but the Steelers have an advantage. And that would be called Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers were winning with backups, now just imagine how good they will be with their two-time winning Super Bowl quarterback? Big Ben did look a little rusty, but he threw three TDs. The biggest asset for the Steelers right now though is running back Rashard Mendenhall. He will be able to take the burden of the offense off of Roethlisberger.

2. New York Jets – Record (5–1)

Another reason why it wasn’t that difficult to choose who is the top team was the jets game against the Broncos this weekend. They only won by four, and even then they relied on a long pass interference call to get them into the five yard line. Yes it was a face mask, so it was pass interference, but it practically won the game for the Jets. On the bright side, LaDainian Tomlinson looks to be back to his old self. Well not old, as in the LT of four years ago.

3. New England Patriots – Record (4–1)

QB Tom Brady was outplayed again, well that was until the fourth quarter and overtime. From there, he dominated. And no it wasn’t a surprise that wide receiver Deion Branch had a big game. It was never about him not having good numbers. It’s that he doesn’t have the lethality of Randy Moss. Moss is the ultimate deep threat, while Branch is just another short WR on a team with four of the same guy. Unless the Patriots have a season like they did in 2007, you will not be able to convince me that it was a great move.

4. Indianapolis Colts – Record (4–2)

QB Peyton Manning is an artist. He carves, molds and pounds secondary’s into submission. He threw for a little over 300 yards against the Redskins, while using his new weapon. Well not exactly new. WR Pierre Garcon is finally back to playing like he did last year. Injuries had held him back, but now he looks fully healthy and back on his way to stardom. By the way, that was a sick one handed catch by Garcon. But did his teammate Aaron Francisco out do him with his one handed interception? Let me know what you think on twitter @19Yanks23

5. New Orleans Saints – Record (4–2)

Attention ladies and gentlemen, the Saints finally put it all together. Their 31–6 victory over the Buccaneers was their most complete game of the season. Brees didn’t put up the numbers I expected him to, but the running game was ridiculous. RB Chris Ivory started with RB Pierre Thomas out with injury. Ivory had 15 carries for 158 yards. He didn’t have a TD but Brees got three TDs so I guess all is well. RB Ladell Betts did have TD but that was a garbage time TD. Ivory was clearly the star of this game.

6. Philadelphia Eagles – Record (4–2)

I like the Eagles more now with Kevin Kolb at the helm. So do we have a QB controversy in Philly? Kolb vs. Michael Vick. The passer vs. the athlete. Personally, I’d take Kolb. In five career starts, he has three 300 yard games. I’ll definitely take that. Now it comes down to one of those stupid press conferences. Well it might have been decided on Sunday when Vick showed up late for the game. Reportedly up to 45 minutes from kickoff. Now I don’t know if that was cleared through head coach Andy Reid, but the whole situation is kind of fishy. One other thing, their defense scares me. And not in the they will dominate way, but the secondary is atrocious and I doubt they go very long without looking like the Texans secondary.

7. Baltimore Ravens – Record (4–2)

They would have been No. 3 on the list if they had of beaten the Patriots. QB Joe Flacco looked great until it came down to fourth quarter and overtime. To add to that, RB Ray Rice didn’t have the big game I was expecting from him. The biggest question for this Ravens team is, will Joe Flacco step it up and play like a top five QB for an entire game?

8. Tennessee Titans – Record (4–2)

RB Chris Johnson got his 100 rushing yards but it didn’t feel right. The game felt like a snoozer. I actually watched Game 3 of the ALCS more than the “Monday Night Football” game. Then come to find out, both starting QB’s were knocked out/ so it came down to the running game and defense. Even thought the Jaguars have Maurice Jones Drew, I'm taking Chris Johnson every time.

9. Atlanta Falcons – Record (4–2)

What happened? They were on a role which lead me to having them No. 3 last week. Then they went to Philadelphia. It was pathetic. The score was 31–17 but it might has well been 50–0. The Falcons just seemed lifeless. RB Michael turner only had 45 yards on 15 carries, Matt Ryan was not accurate and the defense gave up huge plays. On a side note: a friend of mine said that I was wrong in saying that their secondary didn’t look good. He said that because they lead the league in interceptions that I was underplaying them. Well then I laughed at him when the game went final. Final stat line for Eagles QB Kevin Kolb – 23/29 for 326 yards, three TDs, a completion percentage of 79.3, a 34 yard TD strike to WR DeSean Jackson and an 83 yard bomb to WR Jeremy Maclin. I love being right.

10. Houston Texans – Record (4–2)

RB Arian Foster continues to lead the league in rushing, but he continues to lose ground. If he keeps having these 18 carries for 71 yard games like he did against the Chiefs, he won’t be leading for long. The good news for Houston, QB Matt Schaub had a great game. Another bright side, the secondary didn’t allow 300 yards. Then again Chiefs QB Matt Cassel seems like he can’t throw the ball farther than a four year old. Now back to the bad news, the secondary did allow Cassel to throw three TDs.

11. New York Giants – Record (4–2)

They, like the Steelers, were my sleeper picks. Both had the talent to be great teams, but after poor years last year it also wouldn’t surprise me if they pulled a Dallas. They have three major upgrades this year. 1. Their secondary and overall defense looks much improved from last year. 2. WR Hakeem Nicks looks like an elite talent. He doesn’t have otherworldly numbers, but coverage’s are starting to double team him or just shade a safety his way. 3. RB Ahmad Bradshaw looks amazing. I did not expect this from him this year. He was coming off two surgeries on the same leg. Yet, he is the second leading rusher in the NFL.

12. Green Bay Packers – Record (3–3)

I want to put them higher than this. In fact they were a possible Super Bowl pick for me. Then, injuries seemed to take over. Key pieces are seemingly all injured. QB Aaron Rodgers suffered a concussion last week, inside linebacker Nick Barnett is out for the year, tight end JerMichael Finley is out for the year, rookie safety Morgan Burnett is also out for the year, their offensive line has been banged up, and seemingly countless outhers are out. Reinforcements may be on the way though. CB Al Harris and S Atari Bigby will be back soon after they were on the PUP list before the season.

13. Kansas City Chiefs – Record (3–2)

They could have and probably should have dropped more, but everyone that was behind them either already jumped them or lost. So they only fall two spots. The ground game was great, QB was ok, and the defense was good. Well the defense was good until the fourth quarter. Then out of nowhere, the Houston offense woke up, scoring 21 points in the fourth. They should have won though. The pass interference call on CB Brandon Flowers was ridiculous. It was ticky–tack. There actually might have been more contact due to Houston WR Andre Johnson than due to Flowers. That play seemingly sealed the win for Houston.

14. Miami Dolphins – Record (3–2)

I would call their overtime win against the Packers great, but then you take a look at the injury report and you change your mind. It was nice to get a win, but it wasn’t exactly a stellar win. QB Chad Henne still isn’t consistent, the running game should have been better, but thanks to the defense, they pulled through. I want to say this franchise is on the up and up, but hearing that Bill Parcells already packed his bags and left, that doesn’t sound good.

15. Chicago Bears – Record (4–2)

What does QB Jay Cutler have to do to get some protection? Hire an army? Whatever it takes, he needs to do it. Why all the fuss? Cutler has been sacked 15 times in the past two games he has played. He even missed the game last week due to a concussion he suffered from, of course, being sacked. And if anyone forgot, WR/KR/PR Devin Hester is fast and good at returning kicks and puts. Hester now has 13 combined returns for TDs, nine punt returns and four kick returns, tying him with Brian Mitchell for the most in NFL history.

16. Cincinnati Bengals – Record (2–3)

They are coming off a bye yet they still move up. That wasn’t because of them though. In fact, I'm not even confident with them here after looking who they play next week, the Falcons. You would hope they would be improved after coming off a bye, but with the two clowns at receiver, who knows? I'm expecting a loss if the lead jackass, Terrell Owens, doesn’t stop acting like an idiot and just play.

17. Washington Redskins – Record (3–3)

They lost another close one. RB Ryan Torain is finally producing like Mike Shanahan had hoped when he drafted him two years ago. When Shanahan was with the Broncos. That’s dedication. But don’t too much stock in Torain yet. He only has one 100 yard game and that was this week. The Redskins actually had a chance to win, but then QB Donovan McNabb pulled a Brett Favre and blew it by throwing a ridiculous pick.

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Record (3–2)

They were blown out by the Saints. And like in a blowout, they looked terrible. They actually scored a TD in their 31-6 loss to the Saints, but because they failed the two-point conversion, it looks like two measly field goals. They might not be a for real team, but as I have been saying, watch out in a couple years.

19. Minnesota Vikings – Record (2–3)

ESPN and every other sports media went crazy over the game between the Vikings and the Cowboys. “Oh no! These two teams should be doing really good so let’s obsess over them.” First off, most NFL fans are sick and tired of Brett Favre. I know ESPN, or as Dan Patrick likes to call them, “The Mothership,” refuses to believe we are starting to hate Favre, but it is true.

One thing interesting about Favre actually has nothing to do with football. It’s his supposed sexting relationship with Jenn Sterger. If you haven’t looked her up, you should, I can’t blame the guy. That is interesting but even more interesting is what will happen between Favre and his wife? Do we have a Tiger Woods Part II happening here? And to wrap up that whole situation, the NFL needs to keep their noses out of it. Personal issues like that doesn’t need an investigation. Obviously the relationship was mutual. So he does not need to be suspended. If they do suspend Favre, how can he be punished, yet Jets WR Braylon Edwards wasn’t for his second DUI? Insane.

20. Seattle Seahawks – Record (3–2)

They keep surprising me. I didn’t expect Pete Carroll to just leave USC and step back into the NFL and win right away. I expected them to be maybe 1–4 at this point. It is a good surprise, but even crazier? How much they have improved off of other teams cast–aways. Former Bills RB Marshawn Lynch and former Lions WR Mike Williams who was actually out of football for at least the past two years. Yet they were both PAC–10 players, Williams went to USC and Lynch went to Cal, and Carroll was the head coach of USC. Doesn’t surprise me as much once I think about it.

21. Arizona Cardinals – Record (3–2)

I don’t know how they are 3–2. They have possibly the worse QB situation in the league, lost three key players and everything else seems to be crumbling. The Cards take on the Seahawks this week, but I will take Seattle in this one. Expect a huge fall for Arizona, because I really don’t think you can build a good team around undrafted rookie QB Max Hall.

22. Jacksonville Jaguars – Record (3–3)

I always seem to say this, but this team is boring and needs to be relocated. I never can get into their games or even news about them. I feel sorry for RB Maurice Jones Drew. Maybe he could have the team moved to Los Angeles, close to UCLA where he went to school. Maybe TE Marcedes Lewis can contribute on a consistent basis and help out MJD more then on occasion. Speaking of helping out, WR Mike Sims–Walker would be a welcome addition. Actually he is there but he just sucks this year.

23. St. Louis Rams – Record (3–3)

How are they doing this? My favorite punching bag is actually winning. It’s not really due to their own play, but they are getting wins. They should have lost to the Redskins earlier this year, no way should they have beaten the Seahawks, and the chargers look worse off than the Cowboys. Crazy question here. Could they actually win the division? Can’t happen could it?

24. Denver Broncos – Record (2–4)

They probably should be 3–3 but that pass interference literally squashed their hopes. Rookie QB Tim Tebow did have his first career TD though. So that’s a bright spot. Starting QB Kyle Orton had looked great this season, then the Jets secondary immediately took care of any notion that Orton was a great passer.

25. Oakland Raiders – Record (2–4)

They lost to the Niners, QB Jason Campbell is a mess, and they couldn’t even run the ball. I have been a fan of Campbell for years and always said it was because of offensive coordinators and other factors why he wasn’t producing up to his abilities. Now he just looks awful. Could the Redskins have ruined him and all his potential? Looks that way unfortunately. Interesting rumor, supposedly their entire team was available for trade before the deadline. They have some interesting pieces that a lot of teams could have used.

26. Dallas Cowboys – Record (1–4)

So who is in more of a mess? The Chargers or the Cowboys? Well the ‘Boys have lost to the Redskins, the Bears, the Titans and the Vikings. All talented and supposed to be good teams. Well the Bears aren’t all that talented in my opinion. The Cowboys also have lost to their own stupidity. Mainly their offensive coordinator and head coach are the worst in the league. But there is hope. They have a top five offense and a top five defense. Also maybe in the offseason, owner Jerry Jones could get Bill Cowher or Jon Gruden to coach. But until the offseason, don’t make in major changes because those never fix anything.

27. San Diego Chargers – Record (2–4)

I initially had them above the Cowboys then I looked at who they have lost to. The Chiefs, Seahawks, Raiders and now Rams. The only team that is viable is the Chiefs and maybe the Seahawks. Other than that? It’s pathetic. The worse thing is who amazing inept their special teams are. Sure they always start slow and end on a ridiculous hot streak, but I don’t think they have the talent to make that happen this year. Then again they do have Philip Rivers at QB.

28. San Francisco 49ers – Record (1–5)

Their GM texted ESPN and said that the 49ers would come back and win the division. Had they started 2–4 it might be believable. But now at 1–5? Incredibly unlikely. In fact, I don’t think any team in NFL history has ever done that. I hope they do for my predictions sake, but I seriously doubt it at this point.

29. Detroit Lions – Record (1–5)

So franchise QB Matthew Stafford goes down with another injury and is seamlessly replaced by Shaun Hill. Now Hill fractured his forearm. Great. Now they have to rely on bust QB Drew Stanton. If this team ever thought of winning more than four or five games, that pretty much all went up in smoke. Unless Stafford returns and plays out of his mind.

30. Carolina Panthers – Record (0–5)

So head coach John Fox made the switch back to QB Matt Moore. Hey John, it’s not the QBs. It’s you and your pathetic team. I thought that Jimmy Clausen was put into a better situation than Sam Bradford when he was drafted later in the draft. That looks like a negative. They need help on defense and on the offensive line. And a couple receiving threats to pair with WR Steve Smith would be nice.

31. Cleveland Browns – Record (1–5)

When there was a rumor that rookie QB Colt McCoy could have been cut I thought everyone was out of their mind. If they had, they would have regretted it. The rookie made his debut start against the Steelers and didn’t look half bad against their great defense. He went 23/33 for 281 yards and a TD. He did have two picks, but he is a young rookie going against possibly the best defense in the league. I wouldn’t mind him on y team.

32. Buffalo Bills – Record (0–5)

This team depresses me. I can’t say anything about this team that you haven’t already heard. They, like the Jags, need to be moved. Their offense is terrible, their defense is pathetic, their special teams are nothing impressive and the coaching is crazy. Can you say, “and with the first overall pick, the Bills are on the clock.”