A weird week as the teams that went in 3-1 had a tough time coming out with wins. The ranks of the undefeated also went down from five to three, which all but ensures that the Rankings suffer and have to admit teams that probably don't yet belong. At least record-wise.
An interesting note is that the Super Bowl participants from earlier this year are back in the Rankings at the same time. I can't guess how long that will last as neither team has maintained consistency. But the signs appear to be there right now.
As of tonight, the Falcons are 1-4 and I don't see how they contend for the Wild Card. The division is likely out; the Saints are 5-0, look unstoppable, and have next to no competition that one can point to. I don't think the Falcons can contend with them the way either team is playing right now.
Here are the Rankings for Week 5:
An interesting note is that the Super Bowl participants from earlier this year are back in the Rankings at the same time. I can't guess how long that will last as neither team has maintained consistency. But the signs appear to be there right now.
As of tonight, the Falcons are 1-4 and I don't see how they contend for the Wild Card. The division is likely out; the Saints are 5-0, look unstoppable, and have next to no competition that one can point to. I don't think the Falcons can contend with them the way either team is playing right now.
Here are the Rankings for Week 5:
1.) Denver (5-0) [no change]
I doubt anyone thought that Denver's defense was the equal of its nigh-unstoppable offense. But man, did that unit look exposed playing against a QB who is not even within shouting distance of the top five. Luckily for Denver, the Cowboys' QB who is error-prone at the worst possible time delivered yet another signature gaffe, tossing an INT with two minutes to go, thus sealing the victory for the Broncos. I guess if you were being generous, you could say that the Broncos "survived" this game. I'm not sure I would say that.
I doubt anyone thought that Denver's defense was the equal of its nigh-unstoppable offense. But man, did that unit look exposed playing against a QB who is not even within shouting distance of the top five. Luckily for Denver, the Cowboys' QB who is error-prone at the worst possible time delivered yet another signature gaffe, tossing an INT with two minutes to go, thus sealing the victory for the Broncos. I guess if you were being generous, you could say that the Broncos "survived" this game. I'm not sure I would say that.
2.) New Orleans (5-0) [no change]
The final score makes it look closer than it was. This game was domination from front to back by the Saints, even without Drew Brees throwing for 300+ yards. He had Sproles and Jimmy Graham open all day and had no hesitation in throwing it to them. True to form they made plays and Jay Cutler made mistakes. Someone is going to beat the Saints, much like the Broncos; I just have no idea who that team is yet.
The final score makes it look closer than it was. This game was domination from front to back by the Saints, even without Drew Brees throwing for 300+ yards. He had Sproles and Jimmy Graham open all day and had no hesitation in throwing it to them. True to form they made plays and Jay Cutler made mistakes. Someone is going to beat the Saints, much like the Broncos; I just have no idea who that team is yet.
3.) Kansas City (5-0) [+2]
Third-best should be no insult to the Chiefs. They're clearly behind Denver and New Orleans, but are ahead of everyone else. Even with Alex Smith rarely throwing the ball downfield (twice on Sunday, at least), the Chiefs don't make the dumb mistakes you routinely see from other teams in the league, which is a large part of why they're 5-0. The other large part of that is the defense. They didn't show quite as well as the previous week, but were good enough when it counted.
Third-best should be no insult to the Chiefs. They're clearly behind Denver and New Orleans, but are ahead of everyone else. Even with Alex Smith rarely throwing the ball downfield (twice on Sunday, at least), the Chiefs don't make the dumb mistakes you routinely see from other teams in the league, which is a large part of why they're 5-0. The other large part of that is the defense. They didn't show quite as well as the previous week, but were good enough when it counted.
4.) Indianapolis (4-1) [+2]
It is said regularly that Andrew Luck is the best of the young QB's currently in the league. I'm not one to argue, especially when he just out-dueled Russell Wilson and again made it viable to question the Seahawks on the road. Luck can make all the throws and has the body people want in a QB, but I think his success is largely intangible. That annoys a lot of people who can't really "see" that sort of thing. But it's not like he's surrounded with top-flight talent. He's got a couple good guys around him, but the O-line has been tabbed as an area to improve and the defense was not thought of especially highly coming into the season. That defense just forced Wilson into a bad INT on a potential game-winning drive, so maybe they're not too bad.
It is said regularly that Andrew Luck is the best of the young QB's currently in the league. I'm not one to argue, especially when he just out-dueled Russell Wilson and again made it viable to question the Seahawks on the road. Luck can make all the throws and has the body people want in a QB, but I think his success is largely intangible. That annoys a lot of people who can't really "see" that sort of thing. But it's not like he's surrounded with top-flight talent. He's got a couple good guys around him, but the O-line has been tabbed as an area to improve and the defense was not thought of especially highly coming into the season. That defense just forced Wilson into a bad INT on a potential game-winning drive, so maybe they're not too bad.
5.) New England (4-1) [-2]
A bad loss in Cincinnati, and one that the Pats should not take lightly. They only put up 6 points on a team that was looking pretty fraudulent after a month of play. Actually, I still think Cincinnati is fraudulent, at least as far as the expectations go. People somehow expected them to make or win the Super Bowl with Andy Dalton at QB; that won't happen and I don't think he really did anything to change that "narrative" in this game. Tom Brady looked like crap, but I chalk that up to one bad game (unless it happens three games in a row, in which case the Pats are in trouble). They might actually miss Vince Wilfork more than Gronkowski/Hernandez/Welker when all's said and done.
A bad loss in Cincinnati, and one that the Pats should not take lightly. They only put up 6 points on a team that was looking pretty fraudulent after a month of play. Actually, I still think Cincinnati is fraudulent, at least as far as the expectations go. People somehow expected them to make or win the Super Bowl with Andy Dalton at QB; that won't happen and I don't think he really did anything to change that "narrative" in this game. Tom Brady looked like crap, but I chalk that up to one bad game (unless it happens three games in a row, in which case the Pats are in trouble). They might actually miss Vince Wilfork more than Gronkowski/Hernandez/Welker when all's said and done.
6.) Seattle (4-1) [-2]
No matter how much I want to take Seattle seriously as a Super Bowl contender, i just can't do it when they have to go to OT against the Texans and then lose the next week at Indy. Their road performance is problematic at best. They may be unbeatable at home, but home-field advantage isn't guaranteed when New Orleans is sitting at 5-0 and looking unstoppable no matter where they play (except Tampa, of course, where they stank). The Seahawks might merely be very good as opposed to great.
No matter how much I want to take Seattle seriously as a Super Bowl contender, i just can't do it when they have to go to OT against the Texans and then lose the next week at Indy. Their road performance is problematic at best. They may be unbeatable at home, but home-field advantage isn't guaranteed when New Orleans is sitting at 5-0 and looking unstoppable no matter where they play (except Tampa, of course, where they stank). The Seahawks might merely be very good as opposed to great.
7.) San Francisco (3-2) [-]
I like it when teams embarrass the Texans, so naturally, the 49ers were getting back into the Rankings. Two wins in a row and the 49ers are back to looking like winners, if they're not necessarily dominant. They weren't dominant on offense, at least. But then again, when they're forcing mistakes as bad as the ones Schaub was making with regularity last night, it doesn't really matter how well the offense looks as long as they punch it into the end zone.
I like it when teams embarrass the Texans, so naturally, the 49ers were getting back into the Rankings. Two wins in a row and the 49ers are back to looking like winners, if they're not necessarily dominant. They weren't dominant on offense, at least. But then again, when they're forcing mistakes as bad as the ones Schaub was making with regularity last night, it doesn't really matter how well the offense looks as long as they punch it into the end zone.
8.) Baltimore (3-2) [-]
A modicum of luck was needed, as well as taking advantage of a suspect Miami offensive line. Yet despite a late pick-six, Baltimore somehow won the game and are back in the Rankings. I really don't expect this to last, but somehow they remain the best team in the AFC North, by virtue of being there longer than the Browns and being slightly less fraudulent than the Bengals. Not a lot of nice things to say here, as Baltimore hasn't really done anything praiseworthy just yet. I'm sure once the weather cools down, Flacco and co. will start putting up better numbers. That's how he rolls, isn't it?
A modicum of luck was needed, as well as taking advantage of a suspect Miami offensive line. Yet despite a late pick-six, Baltimore somehow won the game and are back in the Rankings. I really don't expect this to last, but somehow they remain the best team in the AFC North, by virtue of being there longer than the Browns and being slightly less fraudulent than the Bengals. Not a lot of nice things to say here, as Baltimore hasn't really done anything praiseworthy just yet. I'm sure once the weather cools down, Flacco and co. will start putting up better numbers. That's how he rolls, isn't it?
9.) Detroit (3-2) [-2]
Despite looking terrible, I'm giving the Lions a one-week reprieve from getting knocked the hell out because they were missing WR Calvin Johnson.
Despite looking terrible, I'm giving the Lions a one-week reprieve from getting knocked the hell out because they were missing WR Calvin Johnson.
10.) Tennessee (3-2) [-2]
They actually gave the Chiefs a bit of a fight, which I wasn't really expecting. So the Titans stay in for at least this week. Having to travel to Seattle in Week 6 is hardly what I'd call a good matchup and will likely result in a beatdown assuming Seattle is back into winning form and the crowd in that architecturally 'roided up stadium yells like we know they can.
They actually gave the Chiefs a bit of a fight, which I wasn't really expecting. So the Titans stay in for at least this week. Having to travel to Seattle in Week 6 is hardly what I'd call a good matchup and will likely result in a beatdown assuming Seattle is back into winning form and the crowd in that architecturally 'roided up stadium yells like we know they can.
Three Games to Watch (Week 6):
Tennessee @ Seattle (CBS)
New Orleans @ New England (FOX)
Arizona @ San Francisco (FOX)
Tennessee @ Seattle (CBS)
New Orleans @ New England (FOX)
Arizona @ San Francisco (FOX)
That's all for this week. See you next week.
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