After a week away, the Rankings look different. I'm just scrapping what I had and basically reseeding the teams after their Week 8 performances. Otherwise Denver would be below Seattle and a couple other teams would be lower than they probably deserve to be. So now, the top ten teams are seeded by record. Where they go from here is up to them, as I don't anticipate missing any more time in the regular season.
I think Seattle was damn lucky tonight. Denver and New England in particular had comebacks that shouldn't have been necessary. And I have to kowtow to Cincinnati now and finally admit that maybe they do belong. Well, at least I waited until they showed something. Now they'll probably come out on Thursday and lay an egg just to spite me.
Of course, as a Cowboys fan, how I could not say something about my team? Wow, that was a stinkbomb of a 4th quarter. Or, really, the last couple minutes of the 4th quarter. I have yet to hear anyone take Garrett to task for not doing something on 4th & 4, a decision that would have been his to make even though Callahan is calling the plays on offense. Had they gone for it instead of taking the field goal, they may have crashed and burned. But they may have kept the Lions from getting the ball and marching down the field.
Also, KC is 8-0. Well done.
Here are the Rankings for Week 8:
I think Seattle was damn lucky tonight. Denver and New England in particular had comebacks that shouldn't have been necessary. And I have to kowtow to Cincinnati now and finally admit that maybe they do belong. Well, at least I waited until they showed something. Now they'll probably come out on Thursday and lay an egg just to spite me.
Of course, as a Cowboys fan, how I could not say something about my team? Wow, that was a stinkbomb of a 4th quarter. Or, really, the last couple minutes of the 4th quarter. I have yet to hear anyone take Garrett to task for not doing something on 4th & 4, a decision that would have been his to make even though Callahan is calling the plays on offense. Had they gone for it instead of taking the field goal, they may have crashed and burned. But they may have kept the Lions from getting the ball and marching down the field.
Also, KC is 8-0. Well done.
Here are the Rankings for Week 8:
1.) Kansas City (8-0)
Not sure what's more troubling, the fact that this team is 8-0 with a bottom-third QB or that they've had difficulty with the Texans and Browns, teams they should have walloped with no problem. Some will want to excuse their greatness based on the schedule. Not me. They got a last-place schedule (deservedly so, as they blew last year) and are now making hay as a result of the coaching change and new QB. Well, I guess the new QB has something to do with it. The real credit seems to go to Jamaal Charles and the stifling defense that makes plays in the 4th quarter.
Not sure what's more troubling, the fact that this team is 8-0 with a bottom-third QB or that they've had difficulty with the Texans and Browns, teams they should have walloped with no problem. Some will want to excuse their greatness based on the schedule. Not me. They got a last-place schedule (deservedly so, as they blew last year) and are now making hay as a result of the coaching change and new QB. Well, I guess the new QB has something to do with it. The real credit seems to go to Jamaal Charles and the stifling defense that makes plays in the 4th quarter.
2.) Denver (7-1)
Down 21-7, I was a little concerned. What did the Broncos do? Oh, not much...just score 38 unanswered and 31 in the 4th. It turned into a slopfest with turnovers and sacks galore, but Denver won the game and put up a ton of points again. Despite losing to Indy, Denver still looks like the team to beat in the AFC, and the defense is rounding into form with Von Miller back in the fold.
Down 21-7, I was a little concerned. What did the Broncos do? Oh, not much...just score 38 unanswered and 31 in the 4th. It turned into a slopfest with turnovers and sacks galore, but Denver won the game and put up a ton of points again. Despite losing to Indy, Denver still looks like the team to beat in the AFC, and the defense is rounding into form with Von Miller back in the fold.
3.) Seattle (7-1)
As I said above, damn lucky. St. Louis ran the ball all over them and if they had had a QB who could hit the broad side of a barn, they would have won the game, too. Luckily, Wilson hit Golden Tate for the one big play of the game and that was enough to beat a pretty bad Rams team. But mark my words, if they have to go on the road in the playoffs, there'll be trouble. I'm not saying they'll automatically go out, but it won't be a beatdown like a potential home playoff game would.
As I said above, damn lucky. St. Louis ran the ball all over them and if they had had a QB who could hit the broad side of a barn, they would have won the game, too. Luckily, Wilson hit Golden Tate for the one big play of the game and that was enough to beat a pretty bad Rams team. But mark my words, if they have to go on the road in the playoffs, there'll be trouble. I'm not saying they'll automatically go out, but it won't be a beatdown like a potential home playoff game would.
4.) New Orleans (6-1)
I was a bit concerned after the loss to New England. But then Brees & co. righted the ship. I still think this team wins 12-14. In their division, I'm not sure how they wouldn't. People are trying to prop up Carolina, but I'm not buying that for a minute.
5.) San Francisco (6-2)
The 49ers went international and got a fairly easy win. Kaepernick is playing well enough, but Frank Gore is the real story. In a QB-dominated league, Gore is one of the few RB's getting the job done with any consistency. He's not just marching up and down the field, he's getting into the end zone. Somewhat surprising considering their near-disastrous start, but now it looks like 10-12 wins isn't out of the question.
The 49ers went international and got a fairly easy win. Kaepernick is playing well enough, but Frank Gore is the real story. In a QB-dominated league, Gore is one of the few RB's getting the job done with any consistency. He's not just marching up and down the field, he's getting into the end zone. Somewhat surprising considering their near-disastrous start, but now it looks like 10-12 wins isn't out of the question.
6.) Cincinnati (6-2)
It was a long time coming, I guess. I can't say that I believe Andy Dalton is the guy there, but he's making the doubters like me look pretty stupid. So let's see what he does next. Facing the Dolphins on Thursday is kind of a test, in the sense that it should be an easy win if they can get their minds right and bodies ready. Even if they're lacking something after a huge win, they should still deal the Dolphins another loss easily enough.
It was a long time coming, I guess. I can't say that I believe Andy Dalton is the guy there, but he's making the doubters like me look pretty stupid. So let's see what he does next. Facing the Dolphins on Thursday is kind of a test, in the sense that it should be an easy win if they can get their minds right and bodies ready. Even if they're lacking something after a huge win, they should still deal the Dolphins another loss easily enough.
7.) New England (6-2)
Tom Brady's first half was one of the worst I've seen recently. Then he comes out in the second half and magically turns transcendent. It's a bit unbelievable, really. Somehow, the Pats are 6-2, Gronk is back and playing fairly well, and Brady is usually unflappable. Even when he screws up, he somehow finds a way to come back and stick it to the opposition, as he did on Sunday against Miami.
8.) Indianapolis (5-2)
Coming off a bye, the Colts face a reeling team in need of something. I can't say that I see Luck losing to the Texans at this point, though. Especially not against a third-string QB. They had the bye to get rid of the high of the win against Denver, so there should be no excuses. Now they have to get Trent Richardson some more carries and better results. And it wouldn't hurt for Luck to throw a few TD's either. The more the merrier, after all.
Coming off a bye, the Colts face a reeling team in need of something. I can't say that I see Luck losing to the Texans at this point, though. Especially not against a third-string QB. They had the bye to get rid of the high of the win against Denver, so there should be no excuses. Now they have to get Trent Richardson some more carries and better results. And it wouldn't hurt for Luck to throw a few TD's either. The more the merrier, after all.
9.) Green Bay (5-2)
I've insisted recently that Rodgers is an elite QB, despite his tendency to disappear for stretches this season. Last night he threw one of his better games, with sharp passing throughout the night. Granted, it came against Minnesota (he's really taken advantage of weak defenses), but I'm not going to penalize for that. They look like they're rounding into form, but the defense might be a concern later on. Not sure, but maybe.
I've insisted recently that Rodgers is an elite QB, despite his tendency to disappear for stretches this season. Last night he threw one of his better games, with sharp passing throughout the night. Granted, it came against Minnesota (he's really taken advantage of weak defenses), but I'm not going to penalize for that. They look like they're rounding into form, but the defense might be a concern later on. Not sure, but maybe.
10.) Detroit (5-3)
Four turnovers and they still won. Kind of amazing when you think about it, since that almost never happens. They didn't force a Dallas turnover either, they just pushed the ball down the field numerous times, especially in the critical late-game situation that fairly well defines Cowboy ineptitude. Matt Stafford is getting closer to being great now that he finally has a decent running back behind him. Calvin Johnson was sublime with over 300 yards receiving. How does that happen? I can't say, but I don't expect it to stop.
Four turnovers and they still won. Kind of amazing when you think about it, since that almost never happens. They didn't force a Dallas turnover either, they just pushed the ball down the field numerous times, especially in the critical late-game situation that fairly well defines Cowboy ineptitude. Matt Stafford is getting closer to being great now that he finally has a decent running back behind him. Calvin Johnson was sublime with over 300 yards receiving. How does that happen? I can't say, but I don't expect it to stop.
Three Games to Watch (Week 9):
Pittsburgh @ New England (CBS)
Indianapolis @ Houston (NBC)
Chicago @ Green Bay (ESPN)
Pittsburgh @ New England (CBS)
Indianapolis @ Houston (NBC)
Chicago @ Green Bay (ESPN)
That's all for this week. See you next week.
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