AP — Kareem Jackson to the world: “Haters gonna hate.”
The real refs returned this week and well, honestly, it didn’t change how I see these teams very much at all. We’re finally at that sweet spot in the season where we kind of have each team’s number and can see what they will do for the remainder. One quick note before we get back into this. I’m sure no one will notice, but I changed the week number to project, rather than recall the previous week. It was about being future oriented and stuff. Here we go:
- Houston Texans (4-0) [No Change] – At first, I was wary of the hype. But now I live in it. The team doesn’t have a weak spot.
- Arizona Cardinals (4-0) [Up 1 Spot] – Even more impressive than last week for me. I know the Dolphins kept up, but the Cardinals defense is amazing. I cannot wait for the first 49ers/Cards contest.
- Atlanta Falcons (4-0) [Down 1 Spot] – It wasn’t their best game this weekend, but it was divisional and they still got the W.
- San Francisco 49ers (3-1) [No Change] – Just a total embarrassment for the Jets. San Fran is still a powerhouse, but beat the Cardinals and then we’ll see.
- New England Patriots (2-2) [Up 2 Spots] – The resiliency of the Patriots gets them a top 5 spot. They stick around no matter what and get big wins when needed.
- Cincinnati Bengals (3-1) [Up 2 Spots] – I’ve been very impressed with this team in the last two weeks. The defense was never in question, but now the offense is killing it.
- Baltimore Ravens (3-1) [Down 1 Spot] – Everyone talks about this team like the offense is a million times better than the past. It’s not. Give me an offensive win, and I’ll put you above the Bengals.
- Philadelphia Eagles (3-1) [Up 9 Spots] – I still don’t feel like this team has what it takes, but an impressive win over the Giants gets me closer to thinking that.
- Denver Broncos (2-2) [Up 2 Spots] – Peyton! Peyton! Peyton!
- Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2) [Down 1 Spot] – The bye week really hurt them here, dropping one spot. The Steelers are better than their record and they get Mendenhall back this week.
- Chicago Bears (3-1) [Down 1 Spot] – I didn’t move the Bears down because of the Bears. It was the above teams stepping up. Bears proved they got some defense, but I can’t stop thinking about that horrendous Thursday night game with the Packers.
- New York Giants (2-2) [Down 7 Spots] – The Giants have two bad divisional losses, but they’ll get into Giants-mode in like seven games.
- Green Bay Packers (2-2) [No Change] – I don’t believe you, Packers. That was the Saints you just barely beat. Where is your explosive offense from last year? What is going on with you?
- Minnesota Vikings (3-1) [Up 5 Spots] –I just don’t even know what’s up with this team. Mostly the same as 2011, but scaring a lot of teams now. Having fun watching them.
- St. Louis Rams (2-2) [Up 9 Spots] –Underrated. NFC West is where it’s at! They’ll probably lose Thursday and move back down the list, though.
- Washington Redskins (2-2) [Up 6 Spots] – Impressive win against a good defense, but I want to see how they stack up to their own division.
- San Diego Chargers (3-1) [Up 4 Spots] – Beat the Saints this week and then we’ll talk.
- Buffalo Bills (2-2) [Down 4 Spots] – I still believe this team is more like that first half than the second. But this is shaping up to be another disappointing season.
- Seattle Seahawks (2-2) [Down 7 Spots] – The offense just plain blows. Sorry.
- Carolina Panthers (1-3) [Up 3 Spots] – Panthers showed a lot of guts this week. They keep painting this loss as a turning point. I believe it. I mean, that was the Falcons.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3) [Down 1 Spot] – Hard loss gives them a losing record, but the Bucs are a decent team.
- Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3) [Up 4 Spots] – I didn’t move them up because the Jags were good this week. I moved them up because the teams below them were horrible.
- Dallas Cowboys (2-2) [Down 8 Spots] – That game defines the Cowboys. The majority of sports personalities are Cowboys apologists. They’ve played this way for years. Time to accept the suck.
- Detroit Lions (1-3) [Down 8 Spots] — This was one of my early Super Bowl picks. Just in freefall right now. I think we’ll see the old Lions (uhh . . . 2011 Lions) after the bye.
- Miami Dolphins (1-3) [Up 6 Spots] – Impressive defense and now the offense is getting things figured out. I was wrong about this team, but their schedule is unrelenting. Bengals next.
- New Orleans Saints (0-4) [Up 6 Spots] – Finally the Saints look like the Saints. Sure, they lost, but things are looking up.
- New York Jets (2-2) [Down 9 Spots] – What the hell was that?
- Indianapolis Colts (1-2) [No Change] –No game, no change.
- Oakland Raiders (1-3) [Up 1 Spot] – They looked like they might compete at one point in that game. But nope. Still, I think they’ll get some wins out of that division.
- Kansas City Chiefs (1-3) [Down 5 Spots] – Atrocious game. Will they win any more? They get down in points early and then can’t build them back up.
- Cleveland Browns (0-4) [Down 4 Spots] — If this team had some receivers that didn’t drop every pass, they could easily be 4-0. I’m serious. I’m not even a fan and I’m frustrated watching them.
- Tennessee Titans (1-3) [Down 3 Spots] – You’re just the worst, Titans. Hopefully Hasselbeck can turn the offense around.
Super Bowl Pick: Houston Texans over Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore beat New England AND has a better record. And you said the new officials don’t have an impact on the power rankings. So how do you have the Patriots TWO spots ahead of the Ravens? I take it personally that I do not have a single TFX team in the top six.
And you have the Titans as the worst team? Below two no-win teams and a Chiefs team that got its only win by beating the no-win Saints?
#IHaveTheTitansInTFX
Yes. It’s very subjective. You can’t just compare records. That doesn’t tell the story of the team. The Saints and Browns are better than those lower teams. They just face tougher schedules. And the Ravens are overrated right now. If we did best 2 out of 3, the Patriots would beat them twice.
I don’t disagree. The Titans are the worst. KC might actually be the worst save Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe. Cleveland isn’t that bad, maybe 22-24, they just need some aerial weapons. My main problem is having the Bengals ranked so high. You can’t have them above the Ravens, you just can’t. The Ravens beat the Bengals and in the eyeball test, Baltimore is clearly the better team. The Bengals are better than they have been in a long time and I’m happy for Dalton and AJ Green, but right now, maybe top 10, top 12, not 6.
I don’t fault your logic. I just happen to think the Ravens were better in week one and week one only. I think the Bengals have gotten better since. That game was in Baltimore, right? Let’s see what happens in Cinci.