NFL Football Power Ratings For Week 15
Each week during the heart of the NFL season, and once or twice during the NFL Preseason, we’ll gather the troops around the roundtable and hash out the NFL Power rankings. We check out the stats, looks at the records, and, most importantly, we take a close, close look at the heart of each team.
Best performance from Week 14
New York Giants – Their comeback on the road at Dallas with so much at stake was remarkable. So was the discipline they showed in sitting Ahmad Bradshaw for disciplinary action.
Worst performance from Week 14
Chicago Bears – Lots to choose from here but I think the Bears take it because after stymieying the Broncos for nearly the whole game they fell apart late. Part of it was Tebow, part Prater (the kicker) and part of it was Bears ineptitude (stay in bounds and don’t fumble Barber).
Best game of Week 15
New England @ Denver – You have to imagine that Tom Brady and Co. are a little chapped at all the attention the Broncos and Tim Tebow are getting. This will be the stiffest test yet for the aura of Tebow and the Broncos defense.
Power Rankings
Green Bay (13-0) – Now it looks like they will be 15-0 heading into the finale hosting the Lions. What do you do, play for perfection or rest for the playoffs?
Baltimore (10-3) They are looking like a team that is working out all the kinks before the playoffs. A visit to suddenly resurgent San Diego looks more challenging than it did just two weeks ago though.
New England (10-3) – The Patriots are looking good to take the top spot in the AFC if they can win out. To do so they will have to overcome Tim Tebow and the Broncos on the road this week. After that it should be smooth sailing.
New Orleans (10-3) – I was disappointed by their performance vs. Tennessee. Where was the killer instinct? Is it a road thing or a consistency thing?
Pittsburgh (10-3) – There are 4 10-3 teams in the AFC and these guys are the third best. They are hoping for a slip-up by the Ravens so they can avoid the harder Wild Card road.
San Francisco (10-3) – I think it is fair to bump them down a peg after what we have seen over the last month. This a strong defensive team with sporadic offense. All the other 10-3 teams above them have QB who have won playoff games.
New Jork Jets (8-5) – They are definitely peaking right now and are looking better thanks to their schedule. They haven’t played a team with a winning record in more than a month.
Houston (10-3) Congratulations on reaching the playoffs for the very first time Texans. It sucks that you are likely to lose that first one. I just don’t see T.J. Yates elevating this team against a team like the Jets…do you?
Detroit (8-5) – The Lions got back to winning on Sunday thanks to the Vikings. The rest of the schedule is pretty tough starting with a trip to Oakland to visit the desperate Raiders.
Denver (8-5) – I am still not sure what to make of these Broncos. Tebowmania or not they are red hot and refuse to lose. It can’t last forever and the Patriots will be more than happy to expose them…if they can.
New York Giants (7-6) – Am impressive 4th quarter comeback saved the team and coach from a week of negative press. Now they are in the drivers seat in the NFC East which looks like it will only produce a single playoff team.
Cincinnati (7-6) – The Bengals thought they had a victory last week but T.J. Yates and the Texans stole it from them with 2 second left. It was heartbreaking but their playoffs chances are still good…if they don’t lose again.
Atlanta (8-5) – The Falcons were this close to blowing it against Carolina. They rallied in the second half and showed they just might deserve a playoff spot overall. This is such a Jekyll and Hyde team.
Oakland (7-6) – It feels like more but the Raiders are just a game back of the Broncos. A visit from Detroit won’t be easy but it has to be easier than the Broncos visit from the Pats so they might be tied heading into next week.
Dallas (7-6) – A golden opportunity frittered away and now the news that DeMarco Murray is out for the season. The Cowboys might have had the worst week in the league.
Tennessee (7-6) It was a valiant effort by Jake Locker to take the Titans to a near upset against the Saints. With Houston clinching and Tennessee on the outside looking in will they be ripe for an upset at Indy this week?
Chicago (7-6) – The Bears are only this high because they still have a chance to make the playoffs. They have two games against non-contenders and one against GB. They have to win the first two and hope others lose.
San Diego (6-7) Sure they are playing better but I can’t given them a high grade based on talent that took half a season off. They have a brutal final three games hosting the Ravens and then visiting Detroit and Oakland so if they do pull off a miracle finish it will be impressive. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Philadelphia (5-8) – The return of Michael Vick was key this week as they dispatched the Dolphins with only a quarter of good play. They are hosting the Jets this week and are good enough to put a wrinkle in their playoff plans.
Seattle (6-7) – Seattle has come on strong in the second half and is just a game under .500. Its too late to get into the races but with other teams quitting it is nice to see.
Arizona (6-7) – See Seattle above but with exciting plays by Larry Fitzgerald.
Buffalo (5-8) – The demise of the Bills feels a little unprecedented right now. Not in terms of the total losses but in terms of how badly they are getting beaten. Does this team have any heart?
Carolina (4-9) – That was a tough loss to the Falcons last week. They mainly get high grade for their record because of the potential this team is showing for 2012.
Miami (4-9) – The Dolphins were back to their lifeless selves on Sunday and this time it cost coach Tony Sparano his job. Hard to know what the effort will be for these guys from here on out.
Tampa (4-9) – Word on the rumour mill is that last week’s pathetic performance is enough to get Raheem Morris fired. Seems a little quick for my liking but with a great coach this team could have a huge rebound next year.
Cleveland (4-9) – The Browns need to go in a different direction offensively. The combo of Peyton Hillis and Colt McCoy just isn’t good enough to compete most times out.
Jacksonville (4-9) – The Jags were handed their win this week on a silver platter thanks to all the turnovers by Tampa. This team usually struggles to score but MJD made them pay.
Kansas City (5-8) – The Chiefs turfed their coach after another dismal outing in a loss to the Jets. It probably wasn’t fair but the team was looking for a scapegoat for a disastrous season. I mean who’s fault was it that Tyler Palko was even on the roster to begin with?
Washington (4-9) – A valiant effort against the Pats last week but it might have just been another indicator of how bad New England’s defense is. This team is in 2012 draft mode for sure.
Minnesota (2-11) – I really want the Colts to win so I can give another worthy team some time at the bottom of the pyramid. Minnesota is just floating there.
St. Louis (2-11) – This team is dead in the water and has a tough final three games. Forget winning, they will be lucky to put up 30 combined points.
Indianapolis (0-13) – Again the Colts garner some spirit points for refusing to give up in a ball game. This week might be the time to back them playing an average and dejected titans team.
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