Blame the turkey, mashed potatoes, and sweet potato pie for my absence on the blog. I knew it was gonna happen and didn't warn a soul. Sorry about that. But I'm back and thanks to some plane rides, full of some great ideas for the 'ol blog. But before I start adding new stuff, I've got to continue with my weekly stalwarts, such as the NFL Power Rankings.
1. New Orleans (11-0) - After a few weeks of close games, the Saints proved they are the best in the NFL with their win over the Pats. The offense was nearly unstoppable and the defense confused and pestered Tom Brady from start to finish. 16-0 is a real possibility now. NEXT @ Washington
2. Minnesota (10-1) - I'll admit, I was one of those people who thought Brett Favre was an upgrade at QB for Minnesota but would just simply manage the offense. Instead, he's become more of an impact for the offense than Adrian Peterson thru 11 games. NEXT @ Arizona
3. Dallas (8-3) - The Cowboys weren't really tested by the Raiders on Turkey Day but they'll be tested the rest of the way. They play each of their division opponents, the Chargers and the unbeaten Saints. If they get thru that 3-2, they're in great shape come playoff time. NEXT @ NY Giants
4. Philadelphia (7-4) - The Eagles have won two in a row but neither win has been impressive. They needed a late rally to hold off the Redskins and the next 5 games are no cakewalk. The health of Brian Westbrook and home run threat Desean Jackson is critical. NEXT @ Atlanta
5. Green Bay (7-4) - Besides the top 2, this may be the hottest team in the NFC. Since their loss to TB, they've rattled off 3 wins in a row. Aaron Rodgers has been just sensational. If they keep this up, they will be playoff bound with no problem. NEXT vs. Baltimore (MON)
6. Arizona (7-4) - The Cardinals are no longer perfect on the road but they were just one play from that. The Cards played without Kurt Warner and nearly came away with the victory. They'll still win the West easily but it's the #3 seed they should strive for. NEXT vs. Minnesota
7. NY Giants (6-5) - They beat the Falcons and it looked like they were back to the team we saw the first 5 weeks. Instead, they reverted back to the team that lost 4 in a row. They still have the opportunity to win the division surprisingly though. NEXT vs. Dallas
8. Atlanta (6-5) - If they had to struggle to beat the Bucs at home, just wait until they play Philly and New Orleans the next two weeks in the Dome. Injuries are becoming a problem too for the playoff hopefuls. Ryan has already been ruled out and no word yet on Turner. NEXT vs. Philadelphia
9. San Francisco (5-6) - Quality win over the Jags who are in the middle of a playoff race. The Niners are technically still in the race as well, thanks to the solid play of Alex Smith. Like Vince Young, he looks a lot better after watching from the sidelines for awhile. NEXT @ Seattle
10. Seattle (4-7) - Through 11 games, Seahawks fans cannot be happy with the record. But they can be happy about the play of backup runningback Justin Forsett. After mustering up just 9 rush yds against MIN, he rushed for 130 yds and 2 TD against St. Louis. NEXT vs. San Francisco
11. Washington (3-8) - This team is playing a lot better than 3-8 lately. They beat Denver and then came up just short of wins against Dallas and Philly. That's still 6 losses in 7 games though so the 5-game countdown is on for Jim Zorn and his coaching staff. NEXT vs. New Orleans
12. Chicago (4-7) - 4 losses in a row and 6 losses in the past 7 games. Things aren't looking good for the Bears and probably Lovie Smith. The defense is no longer the "Monsters of the Midway" and Jay Cutler is having Bears fans wish for Rex Grossman again. NEXT vs. St. Louis
13. Carolina (4-7) - Right when it looked like Jake Delhomme had solved his INT problem, he throws 4 of them against the Jets. Now with the playoffs pretty much out of the picture, maybe this team should tank to get a better draft pick to get a franchise QB. NEXT vs. Tampa Bay
14. Tampa Bay (1-10) - This team sure fights hard despite having just one win. While the defense is nothing like it used to be in years past, Josh Freeman is slowly giving this offense some life. They're on the right track but they still have a long way to go. NEXT @ Carolina
15. Detroit (2-9) - The week after a dramatic victory over the Browns, the Lions could not have looked worse. And even worse, it was on national television. This team may have 2 wins but it's really tough tot ell if they are actually better than last year's winless team. NEXT @ Cincinnati
16. St. Louis (1-10) - Take away Steven Jackson and I'm pretty sure there's just nothing to build on with this team. They don't have a quarterback. They have inexperienced wide receivers. The line on both sides is struggling and the defensive backs aren't good either. NEXT @ Chicago.
1. Indianapolis (11-0) - The Texans were up 17-0. Yet, Peyton and the Colts didn't worry one bit. The Colts buckled down on defense while the offense scored enough to win their 11th game in a row. They've already clinched the division. Clinching home field will be coming soon. NEXT vs. Tennessee
2. San Diego (8-3) - They've won 6 in a row and are showing no signs of slowing down. Philip Rivers has been solid and LaDainlan Tomlinson has almost been reborn at runningback. Their game against Cincy in Week 15 may determine the #2 seed. NEXT @ Cleveland
3. Cincinnati (8-3) - Their win over the Browns wasn't anything amazing. Carson Palmer only threw for 110 yds and the run game still misses Cedric Benson. But the defense continues to be the bright spot of this team and the reason for their 8-3 record. NEXT vs. Detroit
4. New England (7-4) - Yet another game against a great team and yet another loss. For as good as the Patriots are, their defense just doesn't show up in the biggest games. They have 5 games to remedy the problem before the playoffs where they'll be called upon. NEXT @ Miami
5. Denver (7-4) - The Broncos defense made quite the statement on Thanksgiving night, shutting down the Giants offense. Plus a healthy Kyle Orton and Brandon Marshall had quite the performance too. In great position to make the playoffs as a wild card. NEXT @ Kansas City
6. Pittsburgh (6-5) - They may have lost to Baltimore but considering they were playing a backup QB on the road against a desperate Ravens squad, losing in OT wasn't that bad. Getting Ben back though is huge as they can't afford to lose more than 2 games. NEXT vs. Oakland
7. Baltimore (6-5) - Joe Flacco didn't have his best game ever. In fact, hasn't played well in the past 5 games or so. But the Ravens defense did enough to disrupt the Steelers and eventually win it for the team. Huge Monday nighter this week for playoff hopes. NEXT @ Green Bay (MON)
8. Tennessee (5-6) - Look out NFL. The Titans are coming. Before last week, Chris Johnson was carrying the Titans to every win. But against the Cards, it was the Vince Young show. He's becoming an NFL QB and with a strong finish, may lead them to the playoffs. NEXT @ Indianapolis
9. Houston (5-6) - They are clearly better than 5-6. They just have too many close losses that should have been wins, including the past loss to the Colts. The team simply fell apart late. Now, they face a true uphill climb if they want to make the playoffs for the first time. NEXT @ Jacksonville
10. Jacksonville (6-5) - They are probably the worst 6-5 team ever in the NFL. There is nothing flashy about them and they are incredibly too inconsistent. They had a chance to take charge of their destiny but instead, laid an egg in San Fran, scoring just 3 points. NEXT vs. Houston
11. Miami (5-6) - Their playoff hopes took a huge hit with the loss to Buffalo. At 5-6, it'll be really tough. They just aren't the same team without Ronnie Brown as a weapon in the wildcat and the run game in general. Could play way back into discussion with win this week. NEXT vs. New England
12. NY Jets (5-6) - It wasn't good-looking at all but a win is a win for the Jets. Mark Sanchez still has a long way to go before he can really be counted on. The fact that he needs a color-coded guide just to know when to protect the ball should be a scary sign for Jets fans. NEXT @ Buffalo (THURS)
13. Buffalo (4-7) - They put up a very nice performance against the Dolphins. Ryan Fitzpatrick had a great day, throwing for 246 yds, with 96 going to Terrell Owens. The defense has played well since the Jauron firing too, giving up just 32 pts in 2 games. NEXT vs. NY Jets (THURS)
14. Kansas City (3-8) - After taking down the Steelers, the Chiefs were awful against the Chargers, giving up 43 points to SD. Further proof that the defense is what the Chiefs need to worry about before they start worrying about getting pieces to build around Matt Cassel. NEXT vs. Denver
15. Oakland (3-8) - Still a shame all of America was stuck watching the team on Turkey Day. Bruce Gradkowski has been a step up from Jamarcus Russell but by no means is it going to get them to the playoffs. Just too many holes on this team for them right now. NEXT @ Pittsburgh
16. Cleveland (1-10) - They have just one win. Shaun Rogers, Brodney Pool and Jamal Lewis are out for the year. Not many positives these days for the Browns except this. Brady Quinn has been turnover-free for two games in a row. Hey, that's good news for this team. NEXT vs. San Diego
Blame the turkey, mashed potatoes, and sweet potato pie for my absence on the blog. I knew it was gonna happen and didn't warn a soul. Sorry about that. But I'm back and thanks to some plane rides, full of some great ideas for the 'ol blog. But before I start adding new stuff, I've got to continue with my weekly stalwarts, such as the NFL Power Rankings.
1. New Orleans (11-0) - After a few weeks of close games, the Saints proved they are the best in the NFL with their win over the Pats. The offense was nearly unstoppable and the defense confused and pestered Tom Brady from start to finish. 16-0 is a real possibility now. NEXT @ Washington
2. Minnesota (10-1) - I'll admit, I was one of those people who thought Brett Favre was an upgrade at QB for Minnesota but would just simply manage the offense. Instead, he's become more of an impact for the offense than Adrian Peterson thru 11 games. NEXT @ Arizona
3. Dallas (8-3) - The Cowboys weren't really tested by the Raiders on Turkey Day but they'll be tested the rest of the way. They play each of their division opponents, the Chargers and the unbeaten Saints. If they get thru that 3-2, they're in great shape come playoff time. NEXT @ NY Giants
4. Philadelphia (7-4) - The Eagles have won two in a row but neither win has been impressive. They needed a late rally to hold off the Redskins and the next 5 games are no cakewalk. The health of Brian Westbrook and home run threat Desean Jackson is critical. NEXT @ Atlanta
5. Green Bay (7-4) - Besides the top 2, this may be the hottest team in the NFC. Since their loss to TB, they've rattled off 3 wins in a row. Aaron Rodgers has been just sensational. If they keep this up, they will be playoff bound with no problem. NEXT vs. Baltimore (MON)
6. Arizona (7-4) - The Cardinals are no longer perfect on the road but they were just one play from that. The Cards played without Kurt Warner and nearly came away with the victory. They'll still win the West easily but it's the #3 seed they should strive for. NEXT vs. Minnesota
7. NY Giants (6-5) - They beat the Falcons and it looked like they were back to the team we saw the first 5 weeks. Instead, they reverted back to the team that lost 4 in a row. They still have the opportunity to win the division surprisingly though. NEXT vs. Dallas
8. Atlanta (6-5) - If they had to struggle to beat the Bucs at home, just wait until they play Philly and New Orleans the next two weeks in the Dome. Injuries are becoming a problem too for the playoff hopefuls. Ryan has already been ruled out and no word yet on Turner. NEXT vs. Philadelphia
9. San Francisco (5-6) - Quality win over the Jags who are in the middle of a playoff race. The Niners are technically still in the race as well, thanks to the solid play of Alex Smith. Like Vince Young, he looks a lot better after watching from the sidelines for awhile. NEXT @ Seattle
10. Seattle (4-7) - Through 11 games, Seahawks fans cannot be happy with the record. But they can be happy about the play of backup runningback Justin Forsett. After mustering up just 9 rush yds against MIN, he rushed for 130 yds and 2 TD against St. Louis. NEXT vs. San Francisco
11. Washington (3-8) - This team is playing a lot better than 3-8 lately. They beat Denver and then came up just short of wins against Dallas and Philly. That's still 6 losses in 7 games though so the 5-game countdown is on for Jim Zorn and his coaching staff. NEXT vs. New Orleans
12. Chicago (4-7) - 4 losses in a row and 6 losses in the past 7 games. Things aren't looking good for the Bears and probably Lovie Smith. The defense is no longer the "Monsters of the Midway" and Jay Cutler is having Bears fans wish for Rex Grossman again. NEXT vs. St. Louis
13. Carolina (4-7) - Right when it looked like Jake Delhomme had solved his INT problem, he throws 4 of them against the Jets. Now with the playoffs pretty much out of the picture, maybe this team should tank to get a better draft pick to get a franchise QB. NEXT vs. Tampa Bay
14. Tampa Bay (1-10) - This team sure fights hard despite having just one win. While the defense is nothing like it used to be in years past, Josh Freeman is slowly giving this offense some life. They're on the right track but they still have a long way to go. NEXT @ Carolina
15. Detroit (2-9) - The week after a dramatic victory over the Browns, the Lions could not have looked worse. And even worse, it was on national television. This team may have 2 wins but it's really tough tot ell if they are actually better than last year's winless team. NEXT @ Cincinnati
16. St. Louis (1-10) - Take away Steven Jackson and I'm pretty sure there's just nothing to build on with this team. They don't have a quarterback. They have inexperienced wide receivers. The line on both sides is struggling and the defensive backs aren't good either. NEXT @ Chicago.
1. Indianapolis (11-0) - The Texans were up 17-0. Yet, Peyton and the Colts didn't worry one bit. The Colts buckled down on defense while the offense scored enough to win their 11th game in a row. They've already clinched the division. Clinching home field will be coming soon. NEXT vs. Tennessee
2. San Diego (8-3) - They've won 6 in a row and are showing no signs of slowing down. Philip Rivers has been solid and LaDainlan Tomlinson has almost been reborn at runningback. Their game against Cincy in Week 15 may determine the #2 seed. NEXT @ Cleveland
3. Cincinnati (8-3) - Their win over the Browns wasn't anything amazing. Carson Palmer only threw for 110 yds and the run game still misses Cedric Benson. But the defense continues to be the bright spot of this team and the reason for their 8-3 record. NEXT vs. Detroit
4. New England (7-4) - Yet another game against a great team and yet another loss. For as good as the Patriots are, their defense just doesn't show up in the biggest games. They have 5 games to remedy the problem before the playoffs where they'll be called upon. NEXT @ Miami
5. Denver (7-4) - The Broncos defense made quite the statement on Thanksgiving night, shutting down the Giants offense. Plus a healthy Kyle Orton and Brandon Marshall had quite the performance too. In great position to make the playoffs as a wild card. NEXT @ Kansas City
6. Pittsburgh (6-5) - They may have lost to Baltimore but considering they were playing a backup QB on the road against a desperate Ravens squad, losing in OT wasn't that bad. Getting Ben back though is huge as they can't afford to lose more than 2 games. NEXT vs. Oakland
7. Baltimore (6-5) - Joe Flacco didn't have his best game ever. In fact, hasn't played well in the past 5 games or so. But the Ravens defense did enough to disrupt the Steelers and eventually win it for the team. Huge Monday nighter this week for playoff hopes. NEXT @ Green Bay (MON)
8. Tennessee (5-6) - Look out NFL. The Titans are coming. Before last week, Chris Johnson was carrying the Titans to every win. But against the Cards, it was the Vince Young show. He's becoming an NFL QB and with a strong finish, may lead them to the playoffs. NEXT @ Indianapolis
9. Houston (5-6) - They are clearly better than 5-6. They just have too many close losses that should have been wins, including the past loss to the Colts. The team simply fell apart late. Now, they face a true uphill climb if they want to make the playoffs for the first time. NEXT @ Jacksonville
10. Jacksonville (6-5) - They are probably the worst 6-5 team ever in the NFL. There is nothing flashy about them and they are incredibly too inconsistent. They had a chance to take charge of their destiny but instead, laid an egg in San Fran, scoring just 3 points. NEXT vs. Houston
11. Miami (5-6) - Their playoff hopes took a huge hit with the loss to Buffalo. At 5-6, it'll be really tough. They just aren't the same team without Ronnie Brown as a weapon in the wildcat and the run game in general. Could play way back into discussion with win this week. NEXT vs. New England
12. NY Jets (5-6) - It wasn't good-looking at all but a win is a win for the Jets. Mark Sanchez still has a long way to go before he can really be counted on. The fact that he needs a color-coded guide just to know when to protect the ball should be a scary sign for Jets fans. NEXT @ Buffalo (THURS)
13. Buffalo (4-7) - They put up a very nice performance against the Dolphins. Ryan Fitzpatrick had a great day, throwing for 246 yds, with 96 going to Terrell Owens. The defense has played well since the Jauron firing too, giving up just 32 pts in 2 games. NEXT vs. NY Jets (THURS)
14. Kansas City (3-8) - After taking down the Steelers, the Chiefs were awful against the Chargers, giving up 43 points to SD. Further proof that the defense is what the Chiefs need to worry about before they start worrying about getting pieces to build around Matt Cassel. NEXT vs. Denver
15. Oakland (3-8) - Still a shame all of America was stuck watching the team on Turkey Day. Bruce Gradkowski has been a step up from Jamarcus Russell but by no means is it going to get them to the playoffs. Just too many holes on this team for them right now. NEXT @ Pittsburgh
16. Cleveland (1-10) - They have just one win. Shaun Rogers, Brodney Pool and Jamal Lewis are out for the year. Not many positives these days for the Browns except this. Brady Quinn has been turnover-free for two games in a row. Hey, that's good news for this team. NEXT vs. San Diego
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