St. Francisco
45-35 Never Forget
Sorry I missed last week, I got caught up offshore. This week, I'm just doing a top ten with no honorable mentions...so here we go!
10. Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) - The team rebounded nicely from their last last week with a 34-13 drubbing of the lowly Eagles. With games against the Steelers and Ravens to end the season, Cincinnati is firmly in control of their own playoff destiny. Let's see if you can really hang with the big boys, and win big games when it counts.
9. Indianapolis Colts (9-5) - Despite the loss to Houston, the upstart Colts are still 7-2 in their last nine games. Worst case scenario, they're looking at a 10-6 season, and what seemed to be an improbable playoff spot at the beginning of the year.
8. Washington Redskins (8-6) - Make that five straight wins for the hottest team in the NFC East, and they even did it this week without their brightest star. Their road game over Philly next week should be a win, then the season comes down to their date with Dallas, but I've got the Redskins taking home the division title.
7. Seattle Seahawks (9-5) - With five wins in the last six games, and an incredible 50+ points in each of their last two games, Seattle is definitely a serious concern heading into the playoffs. Next week's matchup against the 49ers at Qwest Field will be a very telling slugfest.
6. Houston Texans (12-2) - Big win against your hot divisional rivals, but you must still face Adrian Peterson, and the Colts on their turf. The Texans have the inside track on the #1 seed, but they have some work left to do.
5. Atlanta Falcons (12-2) - Congrats on absolutely embarassing the Giants with your first shutout of the season, but you won't get too much credit from me for beating the most notorious hot-and-cold team in the nation. Still, with games against Detroit and Tampa Bay to wrap up the season, the #1 seed in the NFC looks like a foregone conclusion.
4. Green Bay Packers (10-4) - The Packers have now won eight of their last nine games after starting the season an average 2-3. They're certainly playing up to their 2011 form at the moment, and have a home game in the playoffs locked up, with an eye on a first round bye if they can take down Minnesota on the road, and get some help from the 49ers.
3. New England Patriots (10-4) - After being owned for nearly three quarters on their own home turf, the Patriots finally came to life and engineered an incredible comeback that we all knew they were capable of. Still, they fell just short in a game of NFL juggernauts, and for that they fall to #3 on the list.
2. San Francisco 49ers (10-3-1) - The first three quarters were a tremendous showing of just what the 49ers were capable of: absolutely bottling up the league's best offense, forcing a ton of turnovers, and seemingly scoring at will to go up 31-3 despite missing some scoring opportunities early in the game. The comeback I'll attribute less to the Niners, and more to the amazing talent of the Patriots. Still, kudos for hanging tough and winning a close game on a national stage. But the road doesn't get any easier with a meeting in Seattle next week to potentially decide the division.
1. Denver Broncos (11-3) - With nine straight wins, Peyton Manning reclaims his rightful spot at the top of these rankings as the leader of the best team in the NFL. Games against Cleveland and Kansas City to end the season all but guarantee the Broncos a first round bye, and if the Texans slip, it could be the #1 seed in the AFC.
10. Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) - The team rebounded nicely from their last last week with a 34-13 drubbing of the lowly Eagles. With games against the Steelers and Ravens to end the season, Cincinnati is firmly in control of their own playoff destiny. Let's see if you can really hang with the big boys, and win big games when it counts.
9. Indianapolis Colts (9-5) - Despite the loss to Houston, the upstart Colts are still 7-2 in their last nine games. Worst case scenario, they're looking at a 10-6 season, and what seemed to be an improbable playoff spot at the beginning of the year.
8. Washington Redskins (8-6) - Make that five straight wins for the hottest team in the NFC East, and they even did it this week without their brightest star. Their road game over Philly next week should be a win, then the season comes down to their date with Dallas, but I've got the Redskins taking home the division title.
7. Seattle Seahawks (9-5) - With five wins in the last six games, and an incredible 50+ points in each of their last two games, Seattle is definitely a serious concern heading into the playoffs. Next week's matchup against the 49ers at Qwest Field will be a very telling slugfest.
6. Houston Texans (12-2) - Big win against your hot divisional rivals, but you must still face Adrian Peterson, and the Colts on their turf. The Texans have the inside track on the #1 seed, but they have some work left to do.
5. Atlanta Falcons (12-2) - Congrats on absolutely embarassing the Giants with your first shutout of the season, but you won't get too much credit from me for beating the most notorious hot-and-cold team in the nation. Still, with games against Detroit and Tampa Bay to wrap up the season, the #1 seed in the NFC looks like a foregone conclusion.
4. Green Bay Packers (10-4) - The Packers have now won eight of their last nine games after starting the season an average 2-3. They're certainly playing up to their 2011 form at the moment, and have a home game in the playoffs locked up, with an eye on a first round bye if they can take down Minnesota on the road, and get some help from the 49ers.
3. New England Patriots (10-4) - After being owned for nearly three quarters on their own home turf, the Patriots finally came to life and engineered an incredible comeback that we all knew they were capable of. Still, they fell just short in a game of NFL juggernauts, and for that they fall to #3 on the list.
2. San Francisco 49ers (10-3-1) - The first three quarters were a tremendous showing of just what the 49ers were capable of: absolutely bottling up the league's best offense, forcing a ton of turnovers, and seemingly scoring at will to go up 31-3 despite missing some scoring opportunities early in the game. The comeback I'll attribute less to the Niners, and more to the amazing talent of the Patriots. Still, kudos for hanging tough and winning a close game on a national stage. But the road doesn't get any easier with a meeting in Seattle next week to potentially decide the division.
1. Denver Broncos (11-3) - With nine straight wins, Peyton Manning reclaims his rightful spot at the top of these rankings as the leader of the best team in the NFL. Games against Cleveland and Kansas City to end the season all but guarantee the Broncos a first round bye, and if the Texans slip, it could be the #1 seed in the AFC.
