1. Seattle Seahawks (3-1, LW-1) (-)
I watched most of the Seahawks-Redskins game on Monday night and it was the most I've watched Seattle all season. Honestly, even when some facet of this team is struggling to get going like Marshawn Lynch was for most of the game (until he scored that touchdown with like five minutes left to win me my fantasy matchup this week, HOLLAH!), they just win. They know how to win. Russell Wilson is a top three MVP candidate right now, up there with Andrew Luck and DeMarco Murray. I'm not sure the order yet, but Wilson is as valuable as anyone in the league right now.
2. Denver Broncos (3-1, LW-2) (-)
Peyton Manning is like U2 or Elton John, so good for so many years that they unfortunately start to take a back seat to the new greats. Manning has thrown 503 touchdowns in his career. Brett Favre is the only man to throw more, with 508. But if you asked me to pick a quarterback to win me one game, just one game, I would go with Peyton over anyone else to ever play the game. And I wouldn't even need to think about it.
3. San Diego Chargers (4-1, LW- 5) (Up2)
Even with some of the injuries they've suffered, especially at running back, this team looks unstoppable. They should be 5-0 if not for the close loss to Arizona back in Week 1. Branden fucking Oliver rushed for 114 yards on Sunday and the defense shut out the Jets. Branden Oliver!
4. Cincinnati Bengals (3-1, LW-3) (Down1)
The Bengals got steamrolled in New England on Sunday night, as Chris Collinsworth pointed out so generously. However, it didn't matter who was on the other side of the field that night, the Patriots were pissed off about what happened in Kansas City. The Bengals shouldn't use that as an excuse though, that defense looked absolutely lost on the field.
5. Dallas Cowboys (4-1, LW-15) (Up10)
How the hell are the Cowboys in the top five? Commitment to the running game. DeMarco Murray is a machine this season, writing off 130 yard rushing games like they're an episode of Big Bang Theory. Jerry Jones compared them to the dynasty of the 90's. Is it way too early or could it be a foreshadowing? I honestly don't even know anymore.
6. Philadelphia Eagles (4-1, LW-6) (-)
Philadelphia's high flying offense is flying pretty low to the ground lately. With seven return touchdowns in two games, the Eagles could be considered lucky to be here still. That offensive line needs to come together, which it might be starting, and then we'll see what Chip can do again.
7. San Francisco 49ers (3-2, LW-8) (Up1)
I guess you never know in the NFL, since teams make last minute runs into the playoffs and follow it up with four straight wins to win a championship (ehem, who won in 2012?), but I just can't imagine this team winning a Super Bowl anymore. The window has to have closed, right? Sure, that defense is still stingy and the offense still looks dynamic in its moments, but aren't there teams ranked below them right now that look closer to a title?
8. Indianapolis Colts (3-2, LW-9) (Up1)
Like these guys! I let my heart get in the way, big surprise, last week when doing my Crystal Ball picks. The Colts are clicking on all cylinders right now and Big Bad Luck is looking perrty.
9. Green Bay Packers (3-2, LW-10 and 11) (Up1or2)
The Packers have climbed back into the top ten, with help by the sheer dominance at the hands of the Broncos that the Cardinals dropped out. Consistency needs to be a thing for this team. Blowing out the Vikings on Thursday night should be more frequent than the pile of shit they laid on the ground against the Jets.
10. New England Patriots (3-2, LW-12) (Up2)
We had to see that one coming, I guess, right? I didn't, I really was all in on the final demise of the Tom and Bill show. But, in vintage form, they came out pissed off at everyone and absolutely demolished an undefeated Bengals team on national television. They were even clearly gunning for 50 points at the end of the game. Like I said, vintage Patriots.
11. Baltimore Ravens (3-2, LW-7) (Down4)
I like what the Ravens are doing as far as running the ball, with Justin Forsett routinely rushing for 100 yards-ish now. Its the defense that just isn't holding up. They aren't getting off the field quick enough and they aren't creating turnovers like they need to be. At least CJ Mosley looks like the real deal.
12. Arizona Cardinals (3-1, LW-4) (Down8)
Again, we had to see this one coming. Arizona sending Drew Stanton into the fire against Denver was just a disaster waiting to happen. The Cardinals started 3-0 only to lose 11 straight a few seasons ago. I don't think that is what we are looking at here, but don't expect this to be the only hiccup, at least for as long as Carson Palmer is out.
13. New York Giants (3-2, LW-24) (Up11)
How about those G-Men? Eli Manning and the offense are comfortable and rolling, the NFC East might not be a present already wrapped under the Christmas tree for Eagles fans.
14. Houston Texans (3-2, LW-13) (Down1)
Arian Foster did all he could to win that game on Sunday, but when you don't have a franchise quarterback, you are going to find it extremely hard to win games. It also doesn't help getting demoralized by DeMarco Murray.
15. Carolina Panthers (3-2, LW-17) (Up2)
The Panthers rattled off ten fourth quarter points to beat the Bears at home on Sunday, a Bears team that I might be jumping ship for soon. In a game of turnovers, apparently 4 is worse than 3. The Panthers might be 3-2, but there is room for rampant improvement if this team wants to win a wide open division. At 15, they are the first NFC South team ranked on here.
16. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2, LW-18) (Up2)
The defense was the story in Sunday's win over Jacksonville. A 17-9 thriller that saw the Steelers hold Blakey Boy to 243 offensive yards at home. I don't trust this Steelers offense though, and generally I don't trust the defense either although they are prone to these dominant performances more often that the offense lights it up.
17. Detroit Lions (3-2, LW-14) (Down3)
If Calvin Johnson isn't the same for the rest of the year, expect this Lions team to keep falling in the ranks. Without Johnson, or Joquie Bell who is also hurt, this offense is stale.
18. Buffalo Bills (3-2, LW-23) (Up5)
This middle of the pack shenanigan with teams falling six or jumping five every other week is entertaining. One week, the Bills look a surprise playoff pick and the next we have EJ Manuel throwing up all over Buffalo. And what happens next week? Kyle Orton turns back the clock and brings his Bills back from 17 down late in the game and pulls a win out of his ass against the Lions. You can't script this stuff!
19. Atlanta Falcons (2-3, LW-16) (Down3)
Matt Ryan is a really good NFL quarterback, we're like 95% sure of that. So why does his team suck so much? Discounted tickets on my bandwagon, WE'RE GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS BAYBAY!
20. New Orleans Saints (2-3, LW-20) (-)
I mean, we are forced to talk about it all of the time with these guys. 2-0 at home, 0-3 on the road. 8-8 isn't going to get you home field advantage in the playoffs, mostly because it likely won't even get you to the playoffs period. Those extra three or four wins need to come somewhere other than New Orleans.
21. Kansas City Chiefs (2-3, LW-19) (Down2)
The Chiefs have had an interesting past two games, so this bye week comes at a good time. They need to find their identity, plus Andy Reid has found success coming out of bye weeks his entire career.
22. Cleveland Browns (2-2, LW-22) (-)
The Browns were down by 25 points on Sunday, making their comeback the third largest in regular season history. I'm telling, you this Browns team doesn't look so horrible. True, they and to fall behind to be down by 25, but Brian Hoyer was able to rally a team and actually deliver. That's saying something, I think.
23. Chicago Bears (2-3, LW-10 and 11) (Down12or13)
Have I officially checked out of Jay Cutler Hotel? No, but my bags are packed and I've removed the Do Not Disturb sign from my door knob. This offense is too good for Cutler to be turning the ball over at the rate that he is. This defense also needs to step up. The skill players on this team are the best in football, yet the Bears are lucky to be one game under .500.
24. Miami Dolphins (2-2, LW-21) (Down3)
Miami needs Ryan Tannehill to prove himself against a pretty susceptible Packers secondary for the team to keep believing in him.Beating Oakland in London two weeks is kind of like beating a three year-old in Trivial Pursuit.
25. Minnesota Vikings (2-3, LW-25) (-)
Christian Ponder isn't really going to win you many games in the NFL, and that isn't even something you'll need to ponder over. ;)
26. Washington
Washington again played well but came up on the wrong end of the result, but really, how long can you give that excuse to Kirk Cousins. Good numbers, lots of losses isn't going to earn you a starting job in the NFL. Oh wait.
27. St. Louis Rams (1-4, LW-27) (-)
The Rams almost beat the Eagles in Philadelphia with Austin Davis steering the boat. Sam Bradford just got paid but Austin Davis is making a serious name for himself, if he could only win games.
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-4, LW-29) (Up1)
Mike Glennon has showed some bright spots in his brief tenure in Tampa. Josh McCown has not. Lovie, I think its that easy.
29. New York Jets (1-4, LW-28) (Down1)
I was more than tempted to drop the Jets further down, but I've got two winless teams and a squad that might give me a call for quarterback this week and also blew an 18 point halftime lead to the Browns. So, yeah, somehow all of that saved the Jets from a bottom three spot despite being shutout at home.
30. Tennessee Titans (1-4, LW-30) (-)
Well, neither Jake Locker or Charlie Whitehurst can save this team. I'm not sure why that sentence sounded like a shocker.
31. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-5, LW-31) (-)
The defense finally looked better on Sunday, although I'm not sure how much of it was the Jags defense showing up or Pittsburgh continuing to struggle offensively. But hey, when they score isn't 44-0 in the third quarter, I mean, thats something to celebrate, right?
32. Oakland Raiders (0-4, LW-32) (-)
They didn't lose this week!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment