If there is one thing that gets fans attention and gets them in an uproar more than anything, it’s rankings. Don’t believe me - check out our recent rankings of the “NFL’s Worst Five Defenses Entering Training Camp,” and read some of the comments from Chiefs fans, who seem to feel their 4-12 defense from a year ago is suddenly going to become the next Steel Curtain. While it’s all in good fun, it is good to break down the 32 teams in the league and see where they stand as we head down the home stretch towards training camp.

1. New England - The Pats were just a play or two away from perfection, and this season that will once again be their goal.

2. Indianapolis - Tony Dungy has a great shot to go out on top in his last season with a team still primed for a Super Bowl run.

3. Dallas - Sorry Giants fans, this is the best team in the NFC, and adding Pacman Jones and Felix Jones will only make this team even more ready to represent the NFC in the big game.

4. San Diego - The Chargers have as much talent as any team in the league if they stay healthy, and if the Colts and Pats have a setback, this group is as ready as any to win the AFC.

5. New York Giants - The Super Bowl champs still are a very solid group, and it will be interesting to see if they can control the usual post Super Bowl hangover teams seem to have these days.

6. Jacksonville - David Garrard will try and take another step to being an elite QB, and the defense will look to be even better this year in challenging the Colts in the AFC South.

7. Pittsburgh - The line has to do a better job for Big Ben, and their response to the Browns offseason moves was to add offense in the draft with RB Mendenhall and WR Sweed. Still a talented bunch.

8. Seattle - Mike Holmgren’s last season with the Hawks, they need to get back to running the ball better, and trying to get more than one home game in the playoffs.

9. New Orleans - This is the sleeper team in the NFC, a group that’s out to prove that last season was a fluke and they are more like the team that made the NFC Title game two years ago.

10. Tampa Bay - Jon Gruden’s group took home the NFC South a year ago, but will be hard pressed to sneak up again. They need more offense, and a repeat season from Jeff Garcia to make an impact in the NFC.

11. Cleveland - While this team appears loaded on offense, there are still question marks on defense, as well as a tough schedule that includes five prime-time games.

12. Green Bay - Who knows if this is even close, as if #4 is back, they could be the favorites to win the NFC. If not, expect them to eek out the NFC North, but have some growing pains with Aaron Rodgers under center.

13. Philadelphia - The Eagles look like a team that is ready to rebound from what they consider to be a down 2007, and one thing you can’t do is count an Andy Reid team out.

14. Tennessee - The Titans lost some pieces on defense, but are expecting more from their offense. It’s a big season for Vince Young, who needs to take another step in being a quality NFL QB.

15. Minnesota - A lot is expected of this group, as they have a great defense, with the addition of Jared Allen. Questions remain at the QB spot, but it helps to have a great RB like Adrian Peterson to help out.

16. Washington - New coach Jim Zorn wants to open up the offense, and Jason Campbell is going to have some growing pains in a new system. Look for the Skins to be better in the 2nd half of the year.

17. Buffalo - Trent Edwards and the Bills are a team that is looking to take that next step. They added secondary help in the draft, and think that they have enough to make a push for a wild card. We’ll see.

18. Denver - There are rumblings about the future of Mike Shanahan, as well as how this team is going to find points. They have to get back to running the football, which is a major reason they have missed the playoffs the last two years.

19. Carolina - While the teams hopes rest on the repaired arm of Jake Delhomme, the team has to play better on both sides of the ball, or John Fox may very well be looking for work elsewhere in 2009.

20. Arizona - It looks as if the Cards are poised to finally take a step towards being a contender in the NFC, but the QB situation still bears watching, and the running game ran out of gas late in the season and will need to do better in 08.

21. Cincinnati - Mike Zimmer has the task of getting the defense to play better in 2008.  Good luck.  As for the offense, they appear to be still very good, but had some serious lapses last season that cost them some games.

22. Houston - Mario Williams is stud for that defense, but they still lack a good enough secondary to win more than 8 games, and are in a division that does them no help with three other very good teams.

23. St.Louis - Last season this team was hit early and often with injuries, and while they should be a better team this season just being healthy, they still are no better than a 6-8 win team.

24. Chicago - How far has this team fallen since being in the big game two years ago?  The offense is awful, and while the defense should get healthy and rebound, it won’t be enough to turnaround their lack of playmakers on the offensive side of the ball.

25. Oakland - They have the makings of a team that could be fun to watch in a year or two, but this year will still have struggles.  They have an intriguing running game shaping up with rookie Darren McFadden, Justin Fargas and Michael Bush.  It also will be interesting to watch JaMarcus Russell’s first full year under center.

26. San Francisco - The QB battle in camp could shape the long-term future of this franchise.  Alex Smith is on the hot seat at QB, as is Mike Nolan if the team doesn’t get better.  Mike Martz was hired to turn the offense around, we’ll see if he has it to do what he couldn’t do in Detroit.

27. NY Jets - A team full of moves throughout the offseason is going to be hamstrung by two very average QB’s that both have flaws.  As for the pickups, in the end some of that money is going to be totally wasted on guys that don’t pan out.

28. Baltimore - This team should commit to rookie QB Joe Flacco from day one and take their chances.  He’s the guy they want to go with, so just give him the job and let him run with it.  The defense is aging, but should have enough to hang around against some of the lesser teams.

29. Detroit - Poor Motown fans.  They hate Matt Millen, and he won’t go away.  Look for Drew Stanton to get a shot at some point this year, and while Jon Kitna is talking again about 10 wins, they just don’t have the makeup of a team that is going to be very good.

30. Miami - The youth movement is on down south, and the Fins hit rock bottom last season and should only be better from here.  The QB spot should be interesting to see, as well as if Ronnie Brown is ready to regain form from before he was hurt.  Look out in 2-3 years here.

31. Kansas City - The Chiefs have admitted they are in the rebuild mode, and it was the right move to make.  Brodie Croyle has to take advantage of getting the starting job, and while Larry Johnson should have a better 2008 with a better O-line, the defense (as well documented with all the hate mail I’ve gotten from Chiefs fans from previous columns), does not impress.

32. Atlanta - All we can say here is good luck to Mike Smith, new head man in the ATL.  Matt Ryan is going to get the ball maybe in week one, and he’d better not be a bust or this team is going to be another 3-4 years even more behind the 8-ball.

1. New England Patriots – I know it’s getting cliché since they had the 16 – 0 season but the Pats really stood out this year. Their record breaking season deserves the #1 spot.

2. Indianapolis Colts – The Colts have done a lot for their defense since their Super Bowl season. A word that best describes the Colts is consistency.

3. Dallas Cowboys – They were very strong this year, and next year with rookie Felix Jones in the backfield they will be better. Someone needs to step up to help T.O. in the #2 receiver spot.

4. San Diego Chargers – Very disappointing at the beginning of the season but they had a huge turn around. Behind LT and a healthy Philip Rivers, this team has Super Bowl potential.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars – A really strong team that is often overlooked. Their roster is stacked and I wouldn’t be surprised if they overtake the Colts this year as AFC South Champions.

6. New York Giants – Super Bowl Champions yes but they have their problems. Winning 10 road games in a row, 11 if you count them being the road team in the Super Bowl is quite a feat.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers – An already strong team does well in the draft, to become a Super Bowl potential team. Rashard Mendenhall was a steal and should really make an immediate impact.

8. Seattle Seahawks – Seattle is a very consistent team that has had a few improvements this offseason. They will be fighting to keep their edge in the NFC West against some teams with potential in the Cardinals and the Rams.

9. Green Bay Packers – They are a mystery team right now. With Favre gone, will Rodgers be able to fill his shoes? They have the components to be a playoff team, but will it happen?

10. Cleveland Browns – Behind a great arm in Derek Anderson and great receivers in Edwards and Jurevicius the Browns can go far this year. Look for them as a wild card this year.

11. Minnesota Vikings – If Adrian Peterson continues being the sensation that he is, all the Vikings need is a decent guy in quarterback and then a playoff run wouldn’t be out of the question.

12. Washington Redskins – An 8 – 8 record isn’t bad when coupled with an amazing offseason. They really made out in the draft. Behind the pair of rookie WR’s and their new head coach, this team will develop before your eyes this season or the next.

13. New Orleans Saints – Their defensive upgrades along with their established offense will prove to make the Saints a decent team this season.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Bringing Warrick Dunn back was a very smart move. Look for them to win their division again this season.

15. Tennessee Titans – Vince Young is good but can he carry the whole offense? Titans are a little shaky.

16. Philadelphia Eagles – With McNabb healthy, the Eagles will be a considerable threat. They made good moves this offseason and will make the NFC East that much better.

17. Arizona Cardinals – Defensive and offensive line still need some work but they have a leader in Kurt Warner.

18. Carolina Panthers – Jake Delhomme is healthy again but will the Panthers’ fate be any different?

19. Buffalo Bills – Bills are up and coming but I don’t see it being enough for a playoff run this year.

20. Houston Texans – After a pretty decent start to the 2007 season they died off. It’s hard to compete when your division consists of Indianapolis and Jacksonville.

21. Denver Broncos – Need a lot of work, although they were second in the AFC West, but that isn’t saying much.

22. Chicago Bears – Have fallen quite a bit since their Super Bowl run. They really need a consistent QB but will have to put up with Rex Grossman again this season unless Orton steps up.

23. Cincinnati Bengals – With Chad Johnson out of the picture, Bengals will suffer some. Really they need to accept the trade and get someone to replace him.

24. Baltimore Ravens – One guy can change it all, Joe Flacco. This team has playoff potential and they have it in them for a 12 or 13 win season.

25. Oakland Raiders – Darren McFadden should be huge, another Adrian Peterson if you will. JaMarcus Russell is a shaky idea for a starter just yet. They have a mediocre season in them.

26. St. Louis Rams – Plagued by injuries throughout their lines caused the horrible 3 - 13 season. They really can’t be that unlucky again this season. With a healthy Marc Bulger and Steven Jackson, expect this team to do very well in ’08.

27. Detroit Lions – Jon Kitna is calling for another 10 win season for the Lions. Do they really have what it takes on the line to back that up? I don’t think so.

28. Kansas City Chiefs – They made out very well in this year’s draft. Don’t expect a super power just yet. Rebuilding will take a few seasons.

29. New York Jets – Jets also made out well this offseason but did not find a solution for the QB problems.

30. San Francisco 49ers – This franchise needs a turnaround fast. Upgrades including offensive coordinator Mike Martz should help.

31. Atlanta Falcons – Matt Ryan is now the face of the franchise. Hopefully he doesn’t just fall on his.

32. Miami Dolphins – Well you can’t really do worse than a 1 – 15 season. Well except maybe a 0 – 16 season. They really need to sort out their lack of a leader in the QB position and the rest will follow. Don’t expect much this season.

This list is a reflection, without bias, ranking the NFL’s 32 teams from the 2007 Season. These rankings are coming out a week after the Super Bowl to avoid team-changing trades, exiting free agents, retirees and incoming players to remember who was better in ’07.

I devised a ranking system based on points to further support the lack of bias in these rankings. The accumulation of points in this system comes by:

Regular Season:
Win = +1.0 Loss = -1.0

Post Season:
Entrance = +1.5 Bye = +0.5

Win = +2.0 Loss = -1.0 Super Bowl Win = +5.0

* Tie in rankings goes to strength of schedule, squad and/or how well the team finished their season.

The Rankings:

1. New England Patriots, 21 pts. 18-1 with one loss at the wrong time, but the Pats still broke records, overcame controversies and awed NFL fans everywhere. They had the best QB, WR threats and experienced defense throughout ’07 to rank #1.

2. New York Giants, 18.5 pts. A fantastic finish after a questionable start to 2007. A win in the Super Bowl defines their destined ’07. The Giants matured so much since last season’s “Ballin” and so did their coach PERIOD

3. Green Bay Packers, 13 pts. Favre definitely proved he can still do it all. Grant picked up the slack when the team needed it. Kapman and the Packers D (at every position) became heavily intimidating, and HC McCarthy set his leadership in stone for GB.

4. Indianapolis Colts, 11 pts. Manning and the Colts were shadowed by the Pats regular season, and the Colts faltered before they could make an impact where it counts.

5. Dallas Cowboys, 11 pts. Wade couldn’t win his first playoff game but the ‘Boys had an excellent season behind Romo, Barber, T.O. and their powerful D.

6. San Diego Chargers, 8.5 pts. Turner turned the team around; inspired by their fans and teammates affected by Cali’s blaze. Cromartie, Rivers, Tomlinson Merriman and Jackson are a future worth looking at for NFL fans.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars, 8.5 pts. Monster D-Line, monster O-Line, quick & experienced RBs, and a great QB to start a roll for the Jags into next season.

8. Seattle Seahawks, 6.5 pts. Nagging injuries slowed the Hawks but a much improved pass rush should keep Seattle ready for more in ’08.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers, 4.5 pts. A great start but worse finish, and now they decide to keep the grass again in Heinz…At least Parker and Holmes ran well in good weather on grass.

10. Tennessee Titans, 4.5 pts. Vince didn’t exactly suffer the Madden Curse, and LenDale proved his worth. The D stepped up to the challenge and led the team to the playoffs with Collins and Co.

11. Cleveland Browns, 4 pts. No playoffs but a heck of a record while great play in the AFC. The awesome team was finally built and started to play on time. Anderson’s connection with Edwards is undeniable. Will the Crennel era truly be allowed to begin in Ohio?

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2.5 pts. (Tampa D) + (Galloway + Hilliard + Garcia) = Good + (Graham) = Much better.

13. Washington Redskins, 2.5 pts. Coaching decisions set ‘Skins back on a year they wished they had back with such a great but aging team. God bless Sean Taylor, his family and friends.

14. Minnesota Vikings, 0 pts. Tarvaris Jackson improved behind a great O-Line, RBs and trusted D. AP is calling for 2,000yds in ’08.

15. Arizona Cardinals, 0 pts. Recovered well with injury to Leinart a week after his wining, and a refurbished Edge and Dansby were worth watching. The Warner to Fitzgerald+Boldin hookup were quite nice, but when’s a TE going to step up for Arz?

16. Houston Texans, 0 pts. The most IRs, the most turnovers, Sage Rosenfels throwing to Kevin Walter & Andre Johnson, and Ron Dayne & Darius Walker carrying the rock YET they still improved every game and finished 8-8.

17. Philadelphia Eagles, 0 pts. Forget the early part of ’07, do you remember the end? 5-3 in their last 8 with close losses to the Patriots, Seahawks and Giants.

18. Cincinnati Bengals, -2 pts. Disruptions, injuries and faults led to the downfall of the ‘07 Bengals. Nothing to do but look forward to next season. But really, when’s the management going to change for the better? I’m sure 85 wants to know. So does Cincy. Who dey think they are? Two seasons ago the media wondered why there were so many criminals on the Bengals? Who scouted them? Who’s responsible for the crew of crims?

19. Chicago Bears, -2 pts. Which would you use for your franchise? A) Grossman, Griese, Orton. B) Benson, Peterson. C) None of the Above? (That’s what I thought.) At least their 2-0 finish was promising.

20. Buffalo Bills, -2 pts. Jauron improved the Bills greatly from last season but they still have their kinks to work out. I’m very impressed with Lynch and the Bills desire to improve on D even when stunned with various injuries. K.O. is on schedule and the Whitner-Simpson safety combo can be in effect for ’08.

21. Carolina Panthers, -2 pts. Vinny half-did it but Carr couldn’t. Delhomme’s return should be worth looking forward to but what happened to Deangelo’s promise other than one game with a few good plays? From Foster’s ’07 performance, can he really be the back of their future? Plenty of needs were only covered up to be exposed before the ’07 season began and crumpled. They better not do the same this offseason.

22. Detroit Lions, -2 pts. Millen’s still there but their multitude of backs paid off. Kitna dealt with hits (& concussions) yet still proved his heart. But they were inconsistent overall on D and O.

23. New Orleans Saints, -2 pts. Disappointing after a great ’06. Brees improved but not in time, plus an 0-2 finish tanks the Saints to bottom 10. Mario Williams had a good time beating up Reggie and the Saints too.

24. Denver Broncos, -2 pts. Remember early in ’07 they were barely pulling out wins? Well that was with WRs Javon Walker and Brandon Marshall. Then Walker went down and Marshall proved his #1 status. But the Broncos never really picked up the slack they began to give in Week 1.

25. Baltimore Ravens, -6 pts. Best memories: McGahee, the Pats loss, the aging yet still enthusiastic D, and Ed Reed’s ST returns.

26. San Francisco 49ers, -6 pts. Just wait for next season…that is if Alex Smith is really the QB SF expects him to be. Gore’s knees are holding up, and the D can still be promising with players returning in ’08.

27. Atlanta Falcons, -8 pts. Harrington was efficient but couldn’t pull out wins. Redman could throw all over but that was after ex-HC Petino left the team. Norwood isn’t all he was in the ’06 preseason but that could be Dunn’s presence lingering over.

28. New York Jets, -8 pts. Mangini’s a hero in my books, Pennington still has it but Clemens may be worthy of starting in ’08. Rhodes, Revis, Harris, Coleman, Cotchery, Mangold, Ferguson and Smith are the Jets real future.

29. Kansas City Chiefs, -8pts. A 9-Loss streak to finish ’07. QB controversy not worth making a controversy out of where Gonzalez suffered but Bowe flourished for what it was from Croyle.

30. Oakland Raiders, -8 pts. Russell should have been in months before December. Culpepper showed promise and McCown’s interception prone abilities reminds me of the Raiders from ’06. When are they going to improve? Michael Bush and (insert Rhodes, Fargas or Jordan) may not be enough, so should they go for a Long line or McFadden?

31. St. Louis Rams, -10 pts. 3-13 could have been caused by Pace and other important pieces’ injuries. Yet they never showed promise finishing with 4 straight losses on the wheels of Jackson. -175 net points.

32. Miami Dolphins, -14. Their franchise was saved perfection in two ways. ’72 kept perfect and ’07 avoided it in losses thanks to Mr. Camarillo. Injuries to Green, Thomas, and Crowder hurt all season long throughout ‘07. Was Ted Ginn, Jr. really worth the pick over Brady Quinn in last season’s draft? For the answer, ask the worse team from 2007.

Crunch time in the NFL with just two weeks left for teams to make or break their seasons, and for teams to end the year on an up note. It should be a fun final two weeks of the year, and with it here are our power rankings for week 15.

NFC Top 5

—————–

1. Dallas (1) - Don’t look now but things are getting a bit hairy in the NFC. The Cowboys dropped a game they should have won 10-6 to the Eagles, and with it their offense was terrible complete with Tony Romo playing like a rookie making his first start. Check out the comments on Cowboysgab.com, this fan base is starting to sweat a little bit. And they should.

2. Green Bay (2) - The Pack continued to play well, dispatching the lowly St.Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome Sunday. Brett Favre seems to have overcome his fear of domes, and with games left vs the Lions and Bears, the Pack needs another slip-up by the Cowboys and two wins to clinch that all important #1 seed.

3. Seattle (3) - I think the Hawks may have been a little overconfident on Sunday in Carolina, as their offensive line didn’t play well at all, and the running game never got on track. On a positive note, the defense played well, and anytime they can hold a team to 13 points they should win. Look for them to refocus this week vs the Ravens at home.

4. Tampa Bay (4) - Jeff Garcia was back, and things seemed very much back to normal this weekend for the Bucs in their easy 37-3 win over the Falcons. This team has made more than a successful turnaround in one season, getting younger on defense and gaining renewed confidence on offense with Garcia leading the way.

5. Minnesota (-) - With the Giants being as crazy as Brittney Spears on the Sunset Strip, the Vikings slide into the 5 spot after their 5th straight win Monday night vs the Bears. The team didn’t play all that well, but the fact they got the job done was the key, and now two more wins and this team that was at one point 3-6 will make the playoffs.

NFC Bottom 3

———————-

1. Atlanta (2) - Seriously, who is going to want to take on this train wreck in the offseason? Already Bill Cowher and Bill Parcells have said “nada” to the Falcons, and you can bet top coordinators like Mike Singletary and Jason Garrett are going to really ponder taking this job. There are plenty of problems all over the place with this franchise.

2. St. Louis (3) - The Rams hung for a half with the Pack, but then got blown away by Brett Favre and Green Bay in a 33-14 home setback. This week will be equally as tough, as the not-so-happy Steelers come to town for a Thursday night game after giving up 400+ yards to the Jags at home Sunday. Chances of Scott Linehan staying: 50-50.

3. San Francisco (1) - Could we be seeing a new look at QB for the 49′ers? It looked that way on Saturday night, as Shaun Hill looked poised, playing well in his first start in a win over the hapless Bengals. The team will have plenty of time to look at Hill the last two weeks and think long and hard about their offseason options with former #1 pick Alex Smith.

AFC Top 5

—————–

1. New England (1) - Weather couldn’t stop the Pats on Sunday, as while the Jets put up a good fight, the Pats were clearly the better team in a 20-10 win. They were able to run the ball, and they showed that Tom Brady doesn’t need 300 yards and four TD’s to win every week. The Dolphins should be even easier to take care of at home Sunday.

2. Indianapolis (2) - Wideout Anthony Gonzalez could turn out to be the biggest draft choice this team has made in sometime, as he has done a great job filling in for an injured Marvin Harrison. Sunday the Colts had some issues on offense, but were able to get some late drives and hold the Raiders in the end in another win, 21-14. All anyone wants to really see in the AFC is Indy-New England.

3. Jacksonville (4) - The Jags move up the ladder in the AFC for the second straight week, as they finally are getting some much deserved props for their big win in Pittsburgh. Bottom line is this team can run the ball, play defense, and are mistake free at the QB spot. A rematch in Pittsburgh or a game in Cleveland would be very winnable in the first round.

4. San Diego (5) - For the first time this season the Chargers move up to the #3 seed, meaning a game with the high-powered Browns may await them in the first round, or possibly the Steelers if they slip up again. They did what they wanted Sunday vs the Lions at home, and should have another good day Monday vs the Broncos at home as well.

5. Pittsburgh (3) - The black and gold have suffered their first two-game losing streak of the season, and another letodwn in St.Louis or Baltimore in the last two weeks may find them playing on the road in the playoffs, or not in them at all. While it’s unlikely they will miss the playoffs all together, with the way they are playing winning more than one game seems like a stretch.

AFC Bottom 3

———————-

1. Miami (1) - The streak is over, and as I wrote Sunday, for one night at least the Fins can go to bed winners. They had better enjoy it, because despite the win they are in for a long afternoon in Foxboro Sunday vs the Pats. Greg Camarillo had not caught a TD since high school, but made the most of his first NFL TD Sunday vs the Ravens in OT.

2. Baltimore (2) - Think that Steve Biscotti doesn’t want to rethink his decision to announce Brian Billick will be back in 2008? The Ravens have been the biggest AFC bust in 2007, losing a franchise record 8 in a row, and with the Seahawks and Steelers left, there is a good shot this team will end the year losing 10 straight and going from 13-3 in 2006 to 4-12 in 2007.

3. New York Jets (3) - At least they made it interesting vs the Pats in Foxboro on Sunday. Chad Pennington seemed to play with a sense of freshness about him, and the team looked like they were not scared of the Pats, which despite the loss was nice to see. The Titans and Chiefs are left, and they could sneak one out at home vs old coach Herm Edwards the last week.

Just four weeks left in the regular season, and teams are starting to find their stride in terms of their playoff rankings.  Now we seem to have most of the spots filled, but there are still plenty of things that could happen.  Here below are our power rankings for a crazy week 14.

NFC Top 5
—————-

1. Dallas (1) - The Cowboys didn’t play their best game by any means Sunday in Detroit, but the important thing is they won, and with it featured their newest and possibly most important offensive weapon heading into the playoffs - Jason Witten.  The tight end caught a whopping 15 catches and the final TD that won the game.  They take on a reeling Eagles team this week at home in a game they should win.

2. Green Bay (2) - Ryan Grant has added a huge part to the Pack’s offense, as their running game been solid the past few weeks.  This past week vs the Raiders he rushed for a career high 156 yards and a score in the teams win.  The defense seems as solid has it has all season, and the Pack is going to have to be dealt with come January.

3. Seattle (3) - The NFC West once again belongs to the Seahawks, and with their win this week they are now 9-4, and seem poised to take home the #3 seed in the NFC.  Matt Hasslebeck is playing as well as he has in two years, and the running game is doing its job.  We’ll see if they can land an upset in the playoffs after winning their first home game vs the #6 seed.  Likely they would head to Green Bay for what would be an interesting divisional playoff game.

4. Tampa Bay (4) - The Bucs this past week had a lot of things going against them, the biggest of which being the loss of QB Jeff Garcia, which this week was too much to overcome.  Garcia should be back next week, and with it the Bucs should be able to get on track vs the Falcons.  Look for them to clinch the South, and for them to host the Giants in the first weekend of the playoffs.

5. New York Giants (5) - Another gutsy road win for a team that has the makings of giving the Bucs or possibly the Hawks a tough time in the first round of the playoffs.  Not enough credit is being paid to Plaxico Burress, who is simply not 100 percent with the ankle injury, and won’t be till after the season.  As long as he can go, the Giants will be dangerous as the playoffs get underway.

NFC Bottom 3
———————

1. San Francisco (2) - This week they had some guy named Shaun Hill playing quarterback.  Isn’t that enough said?  A lot of changes are coming for this team, that seemed to be on the right track after last season.  The loss of Alex Smith hurt, but there are a lot of other reasons that this team has lost as many games as they have.

2. Atlanta (1) - Chris Redman was the winner of “Play QB for a week for the Falcons” contest they had this past week.  We saw how that turned out.  Yet another team that will be making many personal changes once this nightmare 2007 is over.

3. St.Louis (3) - The Rams continue to try, but this past week had to throw out Brock Berlin as their starter, and the team was not very good on offense, despite holding the Bengals to 19 points.  Health is the biggest thing the Rams are going to need in the offseason.

AFC Top 5
—————

1. New England (1) - The perfect season is now totally within reach after they beat up the Steelers at home Sunday.  They pulled out all the tricks, including the throw-back pass which worked to Jabar Gaffney.  The only, and I mean only, thing that is a concern is what might happen in the playoffs should there be bad weather in Foxboro.

2. Indianapolis (2) - The Colts put their foot on the Ravens neck Sunday night and didn’t let go until they had a very comfortable lead and Jim Sorgi was at QB for the team.  They have every intention of getting back to the dance in Glendale in February, and despite how good the Pats are, the Colts are going to give them a fight.

3. Pittsburgh (3) - A major road bump on Sunday in Foxboro, as the team hung in for a half, then went into collapse mode in losing 34-13.  Guys like Anthony Smith should learn that you win with your play on the field, not with your mouth.  The team has another huge test vs the Jags this week, a team that they have in the past not played well against.  They are at home though, so they do have the advantage.

4. Jacksonville (5) - How could you not be impressed with the job that Jack Del Rio and the Jags have done this year?  A major QB change, injuries, suspensions and arrests have not stopped this team from being a force in this conference, and next year at this time we very well may be talking about them being the best team in the division or maybe even the conference.

5. San Diego (4) - The Chargers trailed late in Tennessee, but got the job done and pulled out a huge win as they march towards the AFC West title and the playoffs.  Phillip Rivers pulled out a gutsy effort hurt, and I thought his play was a big motivator in the Chargers getting the key win.  A home game vs the Lions this week should be another win.

AFC Bottom 3
———————

1. Miami (1) - Is John Beck the answer at QB?  If so, why did he get yanked after two throws Sunday (one taken back for a TD) in the teams latest defeat?  Miami may be the worst team to take a field in the last 25 years, and you can bet that the Ravens, Pats and Bengals are going to do their best to make sure they don’t become a footnote for the worst season the league has seen in some time.

2. Baltimore (2) - The Ravens looked like they gave up Sunday night vs the Colts, and it seemed like they spent too much time during the week still focusing on the loss last Monday night to the Pats.  Many say that Brian Billick will be back as the teams coach in 2008, but with the way that this season is ending up, I think they should take a hard look at that.

3. New York Jets (3) - A wild fourth quarter almost saw the Jets pull out a win vs the Browns, but Eric Mangini took the ball out of the offenses hand late simply to kick field goals, which was strange.  Kellen Clemens is another question mark, and if he’s the long term answer at the teams QB spot.

Another week in the books in the National Football League, and while it appears that most of the divisions are wrapped up, there is still plenty of battles left for the wild card spots. With that, here is our week 14 power rankings.

NFC Top 5

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1. Dallas (1) - The Cowboys took care of their biggest challenge on Thursday night in the Packers, and now should be able to cruise into the playoffs as the number one seed. They have played well all the way around, and will be favored to be the NFC rep in Super Bowl 42.

2. Green Bay (2) - We all knew the game in Dallas would be a tough one, and it was as Brett Favre was knocked out, as were the Packers. Now the team has to refocus, and hope that the Cowboys have a letdown so they can sneak back into the #1 spot in the NFC. This team still has a great shot to be in Glendale in February.

3. Seattle (3) - At 8-4 the Hawks are the team that no one is talking about in the NFC. Sunday they won an impressive road game at Philly in tough conditions against a team that they have had issues with in the past. Maurice Morris has to get the ball more, as he looks better than Shaun Alexander at this point in the season.

4. Tampa Bay (4) - The Bucs seem headed towards the NFC South crown, as they pulled off a huge win in New Orleans Sunday without Jeff Garcia. A loss and the South could have been a dogfight down the stretch. Is there another wide out that is having a huge yet almost forgotten season as Joey Galloway?

5. New York Giants (5) - Two late TD’s helped the Giants overcome the Bears on the road, and keep what appears to be a stranglehold on the 5th spot in the NFC. They seem certain to be headed to either Tampa Bay or Seattle in the opening weekend of the playoffs, and if they play as well as they have for most of the season, they have a shot.

NFC Bottom 3

———————

1. Atlanta (1) - The Falcons have cemented the top spot with their loss to the Rams Sunday. Joey Harrington was lifted as the team was getting beat bad, and seldom used backup Chris Redman did a nice job in making a game of it. I can’t believe we have to watch the Falcons on Monday night this week vs Saints. Ugh.

2. San Francisco (3) - In Carolina the 9′ers were beaten up by a Panthers team that had yet to win a home game in 2007. Trent Dilfer was not very good, despite getting the team close to back in it in the third quarter. The Niners will have to answer a lot of questions this offseason about the direction of the team.

3. St.Louis (2) - Give the Rams some credit for overcoming a ton of injuries, and with Marc Bulger not playing Gus Ferrotte actually played well against a bad Falcons team in a home win. The Rams will use the offseason to re-tool and get healthy to try and get back to form in 2008.

AFC Top 5

—————-

1. New England (1) - The last two weeks the Pats have looked beatable to two teams that are not going to the playoffs. A letdown? Or are they just human? We’ll find out Sunday when they have to raise their level of play against a Steelers team that has the number one ranked defense in the league. I have a feeling at home they will be up for the task to keep the perfect season going.

2. Indianapolis (2) - Talk about everyone else in the AFC all you want, the Colts are more than happy to go 14-2, slide into the playoffs as the #2 seed, and then hopefully set up for an AFC title game rematch with the Pats. The makeup of this team is clear they will not go down without a fight.

3. Pittsburgh (3) - The Steelers looked back to form Sunday night after they allowed an early TD to the Bengals they basically controlled the game from that point in a 24-10 win. Of course Willie Parker has to work on holding onto the ball (4 fumbles) and this team needs WR Santonio Holmes and safety Troy Polamalu back if they are going to challenge the Colts and Pats in the conference.

4. San Diego (-) - Time to start thinking about the Chargers and what they will bring to the table in the 2007 playoffs. They will have to play a home game (likely vs the Jags) then win two on the road to make it to the big game. Can they do it? Probably not. But if they do get hot, they can give teams some problems like the Pats and Colts.

5. Jacksonville (4) - The Jags have had two shots to make life tough on the Colts this season, and both times they didn’t play all that well and lost. Sunday at the RCA Dome, the Jags were in a dogfight, and almost made it all the way back, but again just didn’t have enough. Bottom line if this team wants to win this division someday, they have to start beating the Colts on a yearly basis.

AFC Bottom 3

———————

1. Miami (1) - Looks like we are going to go down to the wire with the Fins and their season of perfection. Last week at home they hit another low - not scoring an offensive TD for the third straight game, and allowing 40 points on defense to a Jets team that is not all that good. John Beck simply looks lost as a rookie QB, and right now 0-16 looks very possible.

2. Baltimore (3) - The Ravens seemed to be on the verge of pulling off the huge upset against the Ravens Monday night, but then their lack of control got in the way and penalties killed them as they lost 27-24. Steve McNair is on the IR, putting his career in question, and the defense is getting older. A complete rebuild may be in the works for 2008.

3. New York Jets (2) - The Jets have won two of three, and vs the Dolphins they had their way with them on the road for their first win away from home in 2007. This week they play the high powered Browns at home, and if they run the ball well and keep away from turnovers, they have a shot in this matchup.

We’re officially into the stretch run of the regular season, and things have become very interesting in the wild card and even some of the divisional races around the league. With that here we are with our week 13 edition of our power rankings.

NFC Top 5

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1. Dallas (1) - The best team in the conference had a bye this past week, as they took on the Jets at home and won easily 34-3 on Thanksgiving. The showdown with the Packers is up next, and this game with them is ultra critical for home field throughout the NFC playoffs.

2. Green Bay (2) - Packers did a nice job on the road in Detroit making sure they took care of business against a Lions team that sorely needed a win. Brett Favre has never played well against the Cowboys, so this Thursday’s matchup is a good time for him to excerise his demons.

3. Seattle (4) - The Hawks did have luck on their side Sunday in St.Louis, as they knocked Marc Bulger out of the game and then got slippery fingers Gus to drop the ball on 4th-and-goal from the one yard line to preserve a win. They seem to actually be better without Shaun Alexander.

4. Tampa Bay (-) - It looks as if the Bucs are for real, as their defense stepped up and did what it had to do in stopping the Skins Sunday at home. Jeff Garcia needs to be healthy if this team is going to make some noise in the playoffs, and their game with the Saints Sunday is going to be key in winning the South.

5. New York Giants (3) - Poor Eli. With brother Peyton looking on, Eli threw three picks back for scores, and four overall in their bad loss to the Vikings. They have a rather easy road to a wild card spot, but with Eli playing like he did Sunday, this team could have a major collapse still left in them.

NFC Bottom 3

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1. Atlanta (2) - The Falcons regain the top spot after blowing an early 10-0 lead at home to the Colts on Turkey day. They have a long list of needs this offseason, including QB as Joey Harrington and Byron Leftwich do not appear to be the answer long term.

2. St.Louis (3) - The Rams appeared to have been making strides with two straight wins, but then after leading at home to the Hawks the roof caved in and then the bumbling mistake at the goal line cost them the game. I still think they have 1-2 wins left in them though.

3. San Francisco (1) - On the road and with their backs against the wall, the 9′ers actually stepped up and pulled out a game they should have lost in beating the Cards in OT. San Fran has some tools, but other than the Cardinals they have only won one game this year, and that was against the Rams. Not good.

AFC Top 5

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1. New England (1) - Hmmm…so the Pats are capable of giving up points and having to hold on at the end against a team that they are clearly better than. At least their latest win in their march towards being perfect was entertaining. I think their next bout, a Monday nighter in Baltimore, will be back to being a 28-34 point blowout.

2. Indianapolis (2) - The Colts continue to fight off the injury bug and do what they can do win games, and on Thursday vs the Falcons they were able to overcome some early sluggish play to go on for a big win. Their showdown with the Jags this week is not going to be easy, but it will make a statement that the division is theirs with a win.

3. Pittsburgh (3) - Monday night was not exactly a thing of beauty, but at the same time they got the job done on an awful field against an awful team. Is this team in trouble after not the best of outings against the Jets and Dolphins? This weeks game vs the Bengals at home will tell us a lot. They had better keep an eye on the Browns.

4. Jacksonville (4) - The Jags have a great shot Sunday vs the Colts to make them sweat for the top spot in the division. They have been playing at such a high level the recent weeks with the defense stopping teams and the offense being mistake free and moving the ball well. Starting David Garrard this year was clearly the right decision.

5. Cleveland (-) - Sunday the Browns put forth a workmanlike effort at home against the Texans in a solid 27-17 win. They started slow, but by the end of the half they led 14-10 and were off and running from there. They have a cupcake schedule the rest of the way, and it would be a letdown at this point if they didn’t make the playoffs.

AFC Bottom 3

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1. Miami (1) - They had a great shot Monday night to pull off a huge upset of the Steelers, but couldn’t make plays when they needed to, and got hit with some injuries to their backs, Ricky Williams and Jeese Chatman that hurt their chances. The field was a joke, but it actually helped their chances. The Jets game this week is one of their only chances for a win.

2. NY Jets (-) - The Jets were back to normal this week as they came down to earth in their bad 34-3 loss to the Cowboys. Everything they did right against the Steelers on both sides of the ball they didn’t do in Dallas. They should be able to get their third win of the year in Miami Sunday.

3. Baltimore (-) - We welcome the Ravens to our list, as they have started to really fall apart after their latest loss in San Diego. The biggest letdown is their defense, which has let up a ton of points and has not made many plays to turn games around. The losing streak will only grow this week vs the Pats.

Six game remain in the regular season, and there are still a lot of things to play for in the National Football League.  It was another week of wild endings and some surprises, so here we go with our week 12 edition of our power rankings.

NFC Top 5
————

1. Dallas (1) - The Cowboys struggled early with the rival Redskins, but once they found their stride, and that included Terrell Owens getting behind the secondary, look out.  T.O. had four TD’s, and Dallas held on for a  28-23 win.  This week should be much easier with the two win Jets coming to town on Thanksgiving.

2. Green Bay (2) - Another solid win Sunday at home for the Pack, who beat up the Panthers and are also sitting at 9-1.  The defense is still playing at a high level, and the running game with Ryan Grant continues to get better.  And then there’s Brett Favre, who is also playing like an MVP which is one of the better stories of 2007.

3. New York Giants (3) - Sunday in Detroit the Giants got a big road win that cements them as at least a wild card team in the NFC.  Their defense played well against the high powered Lions, and the offense did enough in the end to get the job done.  They look like they have the makings of a team that can give someone a tough game in the first round.

4. Seattle (5) - The new look Hawks that are throwing the ball a lot more seem to be the team that we thought they would be.  Matt Hasslebeck is going to have to continue to play well for this team to keep making strides, and Sunday vs the Bears he hung in there and made some big plays.  They will have to hold off a Cards team that is also starting to hit their stride.

5. Arizona (-) - Speaking of which, the Cards make our list for the first time in 2007, as they have won two in a row and Sunday their defense came up with some big scores in a win in Cincinnati.  They have started buyin into their defensive scheme, and the offense is doing enough with a banged up Kurt Warner to get the job done.
NFC Bottom 3
—————-

1. San Francisco (1) - Another ugly offensive effort Sunday from the 49′ers, who are now saying that they will make no coaching moves with coordinators till after the year.  Whatever.  This team has gone so backwards in 2007, it’s hard to imagine it just being the fault of one coach or player.  Trent Dilfer played again on Sunday for Alex Smith, and nothing changed.

2. Atlanta (-) - The Falcons are back in our rankings after a dismal home outing vs the Bucs.  They keep playing the QB shuffle, and no one knows what the heck Bobby Petrino is thinking.  They host the Colts on Thursday night, and that should be another ugly night at the Georgia Dome.

3. St.Louis (3) - Yes, the Rams have won two in a row, but considering it’s their only two wins of the year, they still have a long way to go.  I still contend this team can play spoiler for the last month and a half, and with the talent they have all over the place, there’s no reason for them not to win 4-5 games this year.
AFC Top 5
————

1. New England (1) - Is it getting boring watching this team week after week?  I started feeling bored Sunday night as they took apart yet antoher hapless foe in the Buffalo Bills.  What are they going to put up on the Jets in a few weeks, 80?  How about the winless Dolphins, 100?  If there’s a team out there that can beat these guys, I’d like to see it.

2. Indianapolis (3) - The Colts are still struggling on offense, but Sunday they at least had enough on defense and at the end to get the job done at home vs the Chiefs.  That was a gutsy call late for Tony Dungy to go for it on 4th-and-1 inside the Cheifs 10.  What it did was spark the team enough to repay their coach with a first down and a win.  They really need to get some players healthy though.

3. Pittsburgh (2) - What the heck was that Sunday in the Meadowlands?!  The Steelers, who for the past few weeks looked like a legit challenger to the Pats and Colts, couldn’t stop the 1-8 Jets, and lost 19-16 in OT.  That loss can do one of two things - wound them for the rest of the year, or be a serious wake up call.  It will be interesting to see which one it is.

4. Jacksonville (4) - The Jags continue to impress, as this past Sunday they were at home for the first time in almost a month and beat the Chargers 24-17.  They welcomed back David Garrard, who played well, and the defense did a great job in holding down the up and down Chargers offense.  They still are a threat to the Colts in the AFC South.

5. Denver (-) - Monday night the Broncos got back in the AFC West race with a big win home over the Titans.  Hard to believe after bad losses to the Chargers and Lions that this team could actually sneak out the AFC West and host a first round game at Invesco Field.  This is not to say that would win that game, but if they can keep making strides, they could be a darkhorse in the AFC the rest of the season.
AFC Bottom 3
—————-

1. Miami (1) - The troubles for the Fins continued on Sunday in Philly, as they had little offense with new QB John Beck, and their defense allowed Brian Westbrook to run all over them for a career-high 148 yards.  Now they get to go play a ticked off Steelers team in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers have yet to lose in 2007.  Is it possible they may not win a game?  Very much so.

2. Oakland (3) - Daunte Culpepper threw the ball a ton against his old team, but he continues to be a turnover machine, and it’s a big reason he and the Radiers are in the midst of a 6-game losing streak.  There’s hope coming, as #1 pick JaMarcus Russell is a few weeks away from playing, and it looks like he indeed will play this season.

3. Cincinnati (-) - One week after beating the Ravens, the Bungles dropped a winnable home game to the Arizona Cardinals.  Carson Palmer looks like he and the wide outs are not on the same page anymore, and this team has not been able to run the ball well the whole season.  The fan base is becoming restless in the Queen City, and at 3-7 a 6-10 record is even going to be tough to get to.                                                      

10 weeks are in the books in the National Football League, and some teams are finally starting to pull away in their divisional races.  This past week we saw the Steelers and Cowboys take huge steps towards wrapping up their divisions and making an impact in their conference races.  With that said, here below are our Power Rankings for week 11.  If a team was ranked a week ago, their ranking will be next to their name.

NFC Top 5
————-

1. Dallas (1) - They overcame a major hurdle in beating an overmatched Giants team at the Meadowlands.  Tony Romo showed enough ability to avoid a solid Giants pass rush, and the running game has done enough to keep the passing game on track.  Their showdown with Green Bay on 11/29 could decide home field in the conference.

2. Green Bay (2) - The Pack rolled up their sleeves and simply went out and destroyed the Vikings Sunday 34-0 at home.  They knocked leading rusher Adrian Peterson out with a knee injury, and carved up a solid Vikings run defense.  Mark it down, they will give the Cowboys and anyone else a serious run for their money towards Glendale in February.

3. New York Giants (3) - They were totally outplayed by the Cowboys on Sunday, and with it their chances of winning the East are likley gone.  Now they have to avoid what has been their big issue the last few years, a second half letdown.  Their game at Detroit this Sunday will go a long way in telling us what this team is made of when the chips are down.

4. Detroit (4) - The Lions looked awful in losing to the Cards on Sunday in Arizona, and their -18 rushing was just a sign that this team has a lot of work still to do.  They also lost a game on the Packers, and now look more like a wild card team along with the Giants.  See the last mention about the Giants and apply it here as well.

5. Seattle (-) - Finally the Hawks got on track Monday night at home against a bad 49′ers team.  They look a lot better when they just use the pass first, and then run only to cross up the defense.  They always do play better at home, and need to keep it up this week against the Bears.
NFC Bottom 3
—————

1. San Francisco (2) - The 49′ers looked terrible Monday night vs Seattle, a team that they beat twice last season.  Alex Smith looks lost right now, and with the amount of injuries the team has had, it’s going to make it tough for this team to win more than 2-3 more games.  Plus they don’t even have a #1 this year, the Pats own it.

2. St.Louis (1) - Give the Rams some credit, as they finally got some players back this week, and they put together a solid game and beat the red-hot Saints in New Orleans.  Marc Bulger showed that he is still one of the league’s best QB’s when given time.  With that, if this team can get on track they can still win a few games this year.

3. Minnesota (-) - The Vikings lost their best player Sunday in Adrian Peterson, and were run all over by Ryan Grant and the Packers, which is always their strong point.  They have big problems at the QB spot, and at the wide out spot as well.  Brad Childress’ job might just be on the line over the last 7 games.
AFC Top 5
————

1. New England (1) - The undefeated Pats got the week off, and they will get back at it with a Sunday nighter in Buffalo.  They are still on pace to go perfect, and there is not much to report about them as everything that could go right, has so far in 2007.  Can anyone stop them?

2. Pittsburgh (3) - The shake-up of the week comes with the Steelers taking over the two spot in the AFC.  They showed some heart coming back against a game Browns team Sunday, and it looks like Big Ben and that offense is going to give teams some major headaches in the last seven games.  Oh, and they have the leagues best defense as well.

3. Indianapolis (2) - Are the Colts a bit worried right now?  They should be, as they are a hurting bunch with some major play makers hurt, and they have to find a way to overcome guys like Harrison, Clark, Jackson and Freeney all watching from the sidelines.  Hey, I didn’t say it would be easy to do.  The Chiefs should be a win Sunday at home for them to get back on track.

4. Jacksonville (-) - Give some props to the Jags for winning two games with Quinn Gray in there, and for their defense winning two out of three on the road.  They have a big home game Sunday vs the Chargers, and big games coming up at Indy and at Pittsburgh where they will be tested.

5. San Diego (-) - They are still the best in the West, but still have some big question marks.  Sunday they went up 23-0, only to have the Colts claw their way back in it, and then they had to survive at the end.  Their game in Jacksonville Sunday may be a good indication as to how far this Bolts team can go in 2007.
AFC Bottom 3
—————

1. Miami (1) - With the first pick in the 2008 NFL Draft - the Miami Dolphins select….that will be the big question for this group, as they simply are the worst team in the league.  They had a great shot to win at home vs the Bills Sunday, and they allowed 11 points in the 4th quarter to lose.  A game at Philly should be another loss Sunday.

2. New York Jets (2) - They come off a bye and get the red-hot Steelers this week at home.  They are going to have some issues trying to stop the Steelers blitzes, and if they can’t stop the run, they are going to have a long afternoon watching Willie Parker run right past them.

3. Oakland (-) - The Raiders are hoovering as turning into a really bad team, losing five in a row and Sunday their offense continued its decline.  They really need to start getting JaMarcus Russell ready for playing QB next season, and the defense can’t do enough right now to keep them in games.