St. Francisco
45-35 Never Forget
Vote and comment...unless your ram, you can go die in a fire.
HONORABLE MENTION
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) - With Roethlisberger's return looking favorable for this weekend, and games against the Chargers, Cowboys, and Browns to round out the season, this team truly has a chance to turn around what I thought was going to be a free fall into mediocrity...but Charlie Batch came through with a clutch win over Baltimore to save the season. My eyes are on the week 16 matchup against the Bengals, which will almost certainly determine the final wild card slot in the AFC.
Seattle Seahawks (7-5) - Following their overtime victory over the Bears, the Seahawks are certainly in prime position to win one of those wild card spots, and are even still in the hunt for the division title...but I'm not sold yet. Seattle is 0-3 against divisional opponents this year, and three of their last four games occur in the NFC West. Fortunately, they're all at Qwest Field...but I'm taking a wait and see approach before placing them in the top 10.
Cincinnati Bengals (7-5) - I was ready to discount this team when they were 3-5 midway through the season, but they followed up their four-game losing streak with a four-game winning streak over the Giants, and three members of the sub-par AFC West. Dallas and Philly are winnable games for the team in the next two weeks, but their season truly rests of their performance in weeks 16 and 17 when they face Pittsburgh on the road, and Baltimore at home.
Washington Redskins (6-6) - The best team without a winning record? I think so. After three crucial wins over NFC east opponents, the Redskins are in prime position to win the division if the Giants stay on their cold streak. They finish the season with games against the Browns, Eagles, and Cowboys, but I'll be ready to crown them division champs if they can pull out a win over Baltimore this weekend.
THE ELITE
10. New York Giants (7-5) - Three losses in the last four games, and upcoming contests against the Saints at Home, and the Falcons and the Ravens on the road have put this team on the bottom of this week's rankings. I don't think an 8-8 finish is out of the question for one of the NFL's most notorious hot-and-cold teams...the only question is if they'll be able to get hot at the right time, and ride that streak into the postseason.
9. Indianapolis Colts (8-4) - They've won six of their last seven games, but the competition they've faced and beat (Tennessee, Miami, Jacksonville, Buffalo, and Detroit) is not as impressive. They also still have to face the Texans twice, but a 10-6 finish will be above and beyond what anyone in Indy dreamed of, and will be a sign of great things to come in the future. Congrats of the exciting win on Sunday, but I'll need to see more before moving you up the rankings.
8. Chicago Bears (8-4) - Chicago falls one spot to #8 after losing three of their last four games, but it has been against some pretty solid competition, so I'm willing to give them a little bit of a pass. Still, with the division lead all tied up now, and a game against the Packers still left to be played, I think the Bears are destined for a wild card spot and an early exit in the playoffs.
7. Green Bay Packers (8-4) - The Packers haven't really looked like the Packers since their 42-24 win over the Texans, but they have won six of their last seven games, and are certainly in the hunt for not only the division title, but a possible first round bye in they can overcome their mounting injuries, and return to their 15-1 form from a year ago. Their next two games against the Lions and Bears will be very telling for this team.
6. Baltimore Ravens (9-3) - A loss to the Charlie Batch-led Steelers would normally knock you down the rankings, but I had you at #6 for a reason last week, and you proved me right on Sunday. With upcoming games against RG3 and the Manning brothers, Baltimore is certainly no lock to win their division unless they can start actually beating teams, and not just escaping with victories.
5. San Francisco 49ers (8-3-1) - San Francisco's free fall to the #5 spot has less to do with their performance on Sunday, and more to do with the other teams that are now ahead of them. As much shit as I give Houston and Atlanta for escaping against sub-par competition, at least they escape! The same can't be said when the 49ers play the Rams, who are apparently built for the sole purpose of defeating their NFC west foes. We were 30 seconds away from a second tie in this divisional series, but St. Louis' clutch 54-yarder sealed the game. The bone-headed pitch play that ultimately lost us the game I blame equally on Harbaugh's shitty call, and Kaepernick's inexperience. Despite that, Kaepernick still completed 65% of his passes, and showcased his legs with a 50-yard scamper. I believe we still have the right QB starting, and the 49ers are still an elite team capable of a securing a bye, but they can't afford anymore games like that.
4. Atlanta Falcons (11-1) - You finally beat Drew Brees, and for that you earn the right to be called the best team in the NFC, but one game doesn't erase all of the close calls you've had all season long. Plus there's also the matter of two more divisional games on the schedule, and a meeting with the hot-and-cold Giants. I'm more than willing to call the Falcons elite, but not ready to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl, or even the NFC championship game.
3. Denver Broncos (9-3) - Peyton Manning is back, and has his team riding a seven-game winning streak. Not to mention the fact that they get the Raiders, Browns, and Chiefs to end the season. New England and Indy have some tough games ahead of them still, so I think Denver is looking hard at a first-round bye in the playoffs...so long as their leader remains upright.
2. Houston Texans (11-1) - The Texans are certainly a team to be reckoned with, but still have a tough road left before them with a road game against the Patriots, and two meeting with the red-hot Colts. If these close games start going the wrong way for the team, I could see Denver and New England winding up with the first round byes, and Houston resigned to the opening round of the playoffs once again.
1. New England (9-3) - The Patriots will get a chance to prove their #1 ranking as they face off against Houston and San Francisco in the next two weeks. They weren't exactly impressive in last week's win over the Dolphins, but a win is a win I suppose.
HONORABLE MENTION
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) - With Roethlisberger's return looking favorable for this weekend, and games against the Chargers, Cowboys, and Browns to round out the season, this team truly has a chance to turn around what I thought was going to be a free fall into mediocrity...but Charlie Batch came through with a clutch win over Baltimore to save the season. My eyes are on the week 16 matchup against the Bengals, which will almost certainly determine the final wild card slot in the AFC.
Seattle Seahawks (7-5) - Following their overtime victory over the Bears, the Seahawks are certainly in prime position to win one of those wild card spots, and are even still in the hunt for the division title...but I'm not sold yet. Seattle is 0-3 against divisional opponents this year, and three of their last four games occur in the NFC West. Fortunately, they're all at Qwest Field...but I'm taking a wait and see approach before placing them in the top 10.
Cincinnati Bengals (7-5) - I was ready to discount this team when they were 3-5 midway through the season, but they followed up their four-game losing streak with a four-game winning streak over the Giants, and three members of the sub-par AFC West. Dallas and Philly are winnable games for the team in the next two weeks, but their season truly rests of their performance in weeks 16 and 17 when they face Pittsburgh on the road, and Baltimore at home.
Washington Redskins (6-6) - The best team without a winning record? I think so. After three crucial wins over NFC east opponents, the Redskins are in prime position to win the division if the Giants stay on their cold streak. They finish the season with games against the Browns, Eagles, and Cowboys, but I'll be ready to crown them division champs if they can pull out a win over Baltimore this weekend.
THE ELITE
10. New York Giants (7-5) - Three losses in the last four games, and upcoming contests against the Saints at Home, and the Falcons and the Ravens on the road have put this team on the bottom of this week's rankings. I don't think an 8-8 finish is out of the question for one of the NFL's most notorious hot-and-cold teams...the only question is if they'll be able to get hot at the right time, and ride that streak into the postseason.
9. Indianapolis Colts (8-4) - They've won six of their last seven games, but the competition they've faced and beat (Tennessee, Miami, Jacksonville, Buffalo, and Detroit) is not as impressive. They also still have to face the Texans twice, but a 10-6 finish will be above and beyond what anyone in Indy dreamed of, and will be a sign of great things to come in the future. Congrats of the exciting win on Sunday, but I'll need to see more before moving you up the rankings.
8. Chicago Bears (8-4) - Chicago falls one spot to #8 after losing three of their last four games, but it has been against some pretty solid competition, so I'm willing to give them a little bit of a pass. Still, with the division lead all tied up now, and a game against the Packers still left to be played, I think the Bears are destined for a wild card spot and an early exit in the playoffs.
7. Green Bay Packers (8-4) - The Packers haven't really looked like the Packers since their 42-24 win over the Texans, but they have won six of their last seven games, and are certainly in the hunt for not only the division title, but a possible first round bye in they can overcome their mounting injuries, and return to their 15-1 form from a year ago. Their next two games against the Lions and Bears will be very telling for this team.
6. Baltimore Ravens (9-3) - A loss to the Charlie Batch-led Steelers would normally knock you down the rankings, but I had you at #6 for a reason last week, and you proved me right on Sunday. With upcoming games against RG3 and the Manning brothers, Baltimore is certainly no lock to win their division unless they can start actually beating teams, and not just escaping with victories.
5. San Francisco 49ers (8-3-1) - San Francisco's free fall to the #5 spot has less to do with their performance on Sunday, and more to do with the other teams that are now ahead of them. As much shit as I give Houston and Atlanta for escaping against sub-par competition, at least they escape! The same can't be said when the 49ers play the Rams, who are apparently built for the sole purpose of defeating their NFC west foes. We were 30 seconds away from a second tie in this divisional series, but St. Louis' clutch 54-yarder sealed the game. The bone-headed pitch play that ultimately lost us the game I blame equally on Harbaugh's shitty call, and Kaepernick's inexperience. Despite that, Kaepernick still completed 65% of his passes, and showcased his legs with a 50-yard scamper. I believe we still have the right QB starting, and the 49ers are still an elite team capable of a securing a bye, but they can't afford anymore games like that.
4. Atlanta Falcons (11-1) - You finally beat Drew Brees, and for that you earn the right to be called the best team in the NFC, but one game doesn't erase all of the close calls you've had all season long. Plus there's also the matter of two more divisional games on the schedule, and a meeting with the hot-and-cold Giants. I'm more than willing to call the Falcons elite, but not ready to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl, or even the NFC championship game.
3. Denver Broncos (9-3) - Peyton Manning is back, and has his team riding a seven-game winning streak. Not to mention the fact that they get the Raiders, Browns, and Chiefs to end the season. New England and Indy have some tough games ahead of them still, so I think Denver is looking hard at a first-round bye in the playoffs...so long as their leader remains upright.
2. Houston Texans (11-1) - The Texans are certainly a team to be reckoned with, but still have a tough road left before them with a road game against the Patriots, and two meeting with the red-hot Colts. If these close games start going the wrong way for the team, I could see Denver and New England winding up with the first round byes, and Houston resigned to the opening round of the playoffs once again.
1. New England (9-3) - The Patriots will get a chance to prove their #1 ranking as they face off against Houston and San Francisco in the next two weeks. They weren't exactly impressive in last week's win over the Dolphins, but a win is a win I suppose.
