The NFL is great. Why is it great? Because (and excuse the cliché) on any given Sunday, any team beat any team. It’s impossible to figure out who will beat who. The Redskins lose to the Lions, yet come within a chip shot field goal of beating the Saints. The Jets beat the Patriots, but lose to the Bills. The Packers are a top five offensive team and the No. 1 defense and lost to the Buccaneers. The Raiders can lose to the Chiefs, but then beat the Eagles and Bengals. And I haven’t even mentioned the defending Super Bowl champions losing to the Chiefs, Raiders and Browns. Yes, the NFL is great and the final three weeks of the 2009 season are going to be fun to watch. Four 7-6 teams in the AFC fighting for just one playoff spot while things in the NFC are just as competitive. With 15 weeks under our belts, here are the latest NFL Power Rankings.
Teams’ previous ranking in ( ).
1. New Orleans Saints (1): Another nail biter, another Saints win. The Saints appear to be the team of destiny in 2009.
2. Indianapolis Colts (2): The Colts could go undefeated this year with their eyes closed if they chose to do so. However they have clinched home-field throughout the playoffs and will likely rest their starters during the final three games.
3. Minnesota Vikings (3): Well-balanced attacked against the Bengals, but QB Brett Favre had his second straight below average game. No reason to panic quite yet though.
4. San Diego Chargers (5): Eight straight wins for the Bolts. Nobody wants to face this team come playoff time.
5. Philadelphia Eagles (6): WR DeSean Jackson might be the most explosive player in the entire NFL. He alone makes the Eagles an under-the-radar Super Bowl contender.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (4): The loss to the Vikings didn’t really hurt the Bengals. A win this week or a Ravens loss will give the Bengals the AFC North division title.
7. Green Bay Packers (8): Heart breaking losses to the Bengals and Bucs may have cost this team a division title and first round bye.
8. Arizona Cardinals (7): Seven turnovers will never win you a football game. However they can turn it on at any time and be as dangerous as anyone. WR Larry Fitzgerald’s health will be critical. Don’t expect him to play much in their final three games.
9. Dallas Cowboys (9): The ‘Boys currently occupy the sixth and final playoff spot in the NFC, but they have a date with the unbeaten Saints this weekend.
10. Denver Broncos (10): WR Brandon Marshall put his name in the record books with 21 catches in a single game. His Broncos still lost, but nonetheless should secure a playoff spot in the next couple of weeks.
11. New England Patriots (11): Randy Moss a quitter? I disagree. Expect him to have a monster game this week (and naturally, I face him in my fantasy playoffs this week).
12. Baltimore Ravens (13): Well, as predicted the Ravens offense found their way against the Lions. They need to keep it going though; every game is a must win from here on out.
13. New York Giants (12): Tough loss to swallow for the Giants against the Eagles this week. They are still in the thick of the playoff hunt though.
14. Miami Dolphins (14): Miami’s win over the Jags was huge for their playoff hopes. Three tough games remaining, but Miami is capable of three wins.
15. Tennessee Titans (18): No matter what the Titan’s final record is, if RB Chris Johnson breaks the all-time rushing record, he should be the NFL MVP.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (16): Losing to Miami really hurts the Jags playoff hopes. Their next two games are against the Colts and Pats.
17. New York Jets (19): Darrelle Revis might just be the best corner in the NFL. The Jets could potentially finish 3-0 and end up with 10 wins if the Colts and Bengals choose to rest their starters down the stretch.
18. San Francisco 49ers (21): I’ll say it again, the 49ers will be a force next season.
19. Houston Texans (20): It’s too bad the Seahawks didn’t give the Texans a game, because if they had, Houston QB Matt Schaub had a legitimate chance to throw for 600 yards.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers (15): Five straight losses, three of which came to the Chiefs, Raiders and Browns. Needless to say, there will be no post season for the defending champs.
21. Atlanta Falcons (17): Tough to win games with a backup quarterback and backup running back.
22. Carolina Panthers (22): There are 30 other NFL teams that will want to watch the Panthers defensive strategy against Randy Moss.
23. Washington Redskins (26): I get the feeling TE Fred Davis and (fourth string) RB Quinton Ganther put some fantasy football players through fantasy hell this week.
24. Chicago Bears (23): Despite the fact that he threw two touchdowns, the next time QB Jay Cutler sees the Green Bay defense will be too soon.
25. Oakland Raiders (24): The Raiders stink. Quite frankly, if they had lost to the Eagles, Bengals and Steelers like they should have, they would have possibly gotten another first overall pick. Although last time that happened they took Jamarcus Russell and we know how that turned out.
26. Buffalo Bills (28): WR Terrell Owens is apparently open to returning to Buffalo next season. My only question is, why?
27. Seattle Seahawks (25): I guess covering Texans’ WR Andre Johnson wasn’t part of Seattle’s game plan.
28. Kansas City Chiefs (27): RB Jamaal Charles is a star in the making, even for a poor team like the Chiefs.
29. Detroit Lions (29): Could the Lions lose back to back games by 40+ points? Considering they play an angry Cardinals team next week, it’s entirely possible.
30. Cleveland Browns (32): I still believe this team might be the worst in the league, but with two wins, they move up to the No. 30 spot.
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (30): Week 15 against Seattle is the Bucs best chance to get their second win of the season.
32. St. Louis Rams (31): On second thought, if third stringer Keith Null is your starting quarterback, there is no choice but to be ranked dead last.
NFL Power Rankings: All 32 Teams - Picks
Teams’ previous ranking in ( ).
1. New Orleans Saints (1): Another nail biter, another Saints win. The Saints appear to be the team of destiny in 2009.
2. Indianapolis Colts (2): The Colts could go undefeated this year with their eyes closed if they chose to do so. However they have clinched home-field throughout the playoffs and will likely rest their starters during the final three games.
3. Minnesota Vikings (3): Well-balanced attacked against the Bengals, but QB Brett Favre had his second straight below average game. No reason to panic quite yet though.
4. San Diego Chargers (5): Eight straight wins for the Bolts. Nobody wants to face this team come playoff time.
5. Philadelphia Eagles (6): WR DeSean Jackson might be the most explosive player in the entire NFL. He alone makes the Eagles an under-the-radar Super Bowl contender.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (4): The loss to the Vikings didn’t really hurt the Bengals. A win this week or a Ravens loss will give the Bengals the AFC North division title.
7. Green Bay Packers (8): Heart breaking losses to the Bengals and Bucs may have cost this team a division title and first round bye.
8. Arizona Cardinals (7): Seven turnovers will never win you a football game. However they can turn it on at any time and be as dangerous as anyone. WR Larry Fitzgerald’s health will be critical. Don’t expect him to play much in their final three games.
9. Dallas Cowboys (9): The ‘Boys currently occupy the sixth and final playoff spot in the NFC, but they have a date with the unbeaten Saints this weekend.
10. Denver Broncos (10): WR Brandon Marshall put his name in the record books with 21 catches in a single game. His Broncos still lost, but nonetheless should secure a playoff spot in the next couple of weeks.
11. New England Patriots (11): Randy Moss a quitter? I disagree. Expect him to have a monster game this week (and naturally, I face him in my fantasy playoffs this week).
12. Baltimore Ravens (13): Well, as predicted the Ravens offense found their way against the Lions. They need to keep it going though; every game is a must win from here on out.
13. New York Giants (12): Tough loss to swallow for the Giants against the Eagles this week. They are still in the thick of the playoff hunt though.
14. Miami Dolphins (14): Miami’s win over the Jags was huge for their playoff hopes. Three tough games remaining, but Miami is capable of three wins.
15. Tennessee Titans (18): No matter what the Titan’s final record is, if RB Chris Johnson breaks the all-time rushing record, he should be the NFL MVP.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (16): Losing to Miami really hurts the Jags playoff hopes. Their next two games are against the Colts and Pats.
17. New York Jets (19): Darrelle Revis might just be the best corner in the NFL. The Jets could potentially finish 3-0 and end up with 10 wins if the Colts and Bengals choose to rest their starters down the stretch.
18. San Francisco 49ers (21): I’ll say it again, the 49ers will be a force next season.
19. Houston Texans (20): It’s too bad the Seahawks didn’t give the Texans a game, because if they had, Houston QB Matt Schaub had a legitimate chance to throw for 600 yards.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers (15): Five straight losses, three of which came to the Chiefs, Raiders and Browns. Needless to say, there will be no post season for the defending champs.
21. Atlanta Falcons (17): Tough to win games with a backup quarterback and backup running back.
22. Carolina Panthers (22): There are 30 other NFL teams that will want to watch the Panthers defensive strategy against Randy Moss.
23. Washington Redskins (26): I get the feeling TE Fred Davis and (fourth string) RB Quinton Ganther put some fantasy football players through fantasy hell this week.
24. Chicago Bears (23): Despite the fact that he threw two touchdowns, the next time QB Jay Cutler sees the Green Bay defense will be too soon.
25. Oakland Raiders (24): The Raiders stink. Quite frankly, if they had lost to the Eagles, Bengals and Steelers like they should have, they would have possibly gotten another first overall pick. Although last time that happened they took Jamarcus Russell and we know how that turned out.
26. Buffalo Bills (28): WR Terrell Owens is apparently open to returning to Buffalo next season. My only question is, why?
27. Seattle Seahawks (25): I guess covering Texans’ WR Andre Johnson wasn’t part of Seattle’s game plan.
28. Kansas City Chiefs (27): RB Jamaal Charles is a star in the making, even for a poor team like the Chiefs.
29. Detroit Lions (29): Could the Lions lose back to back games by 40+ points? Considering they play an angry Cardinals team next week, it’s entirely possible.
30. Cleveland Browns (32): I still believe this team might be the worst in the league, but with two wins, they move up to the No. 30 spot.
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (30): Week 15 against Seattle is the Bucs best chance to get their second win of the season.
32. St. Louis Rams (31): On second thought, if third stringer Keith Null is your starting quarterback, there is no choice but to be ranked dead last.
NFL Power Rankings: All 32 Teams - Picks