2014 NFL Power Rankings, Week 17

The 2014 season has ended.  Remember where it began?

It was a Thursday night and Green Bay traveled to Seattle.  I had no idea both teams would be in my top 5 when all was said and done.

The 2014 season was a bit nutty.  There was a lot of off-the-field drama that captured peoples' attention.  Then the games would start and the other nonsense was quickly forgotten.

Truly, there was uproar over various things that occurred off-the-field.  And that uproar was justified.  So for 2015, I hope to see less of that and more talk about the action on the field.

As usual, I'm not sure how I'll cover the playoffs.  I may do something here on NHC...and I may not.

Here are the Rankings for Week 17:

Bleach 611 - Death of the Soul King

Another Bleach chapter is out, so we may as well talk about it.  Put down your forks and/or presents!

Spoilers after the cut.

2014 NFL Power Rankings, Week 16

One week to go, people.

If there's anything I hate, it's breaking a rule that I've set for myself.

As you know, what I do here is take the top 10 teams by record and slot 'em based on how they did that week.  One of my rules is "never punish a winning team".  Another one is "keep Cincinnati out at all costs".

I had to break the latter, because what do you know?  There are only nine good teams in the league this week (and a few of them lost and looked like crap doing so), which means that Cincinnati makes it back in for the first time since...who knows; last year, I guess?

At any rate, the format may well change for next season.  I don't really know; I'm just tired of doing this the way I have been, but that might be a function of my distaste for writing in general.

So there's one more week this season and then the playoffs start.  I'll try to step my game up for the playoffs, but I'm not sure I can guarantee anything.

Here are the Rankings for Week 16:

Bleach 610 - Mausoleum of Skulls

Another chapter of Bleach for your perusal.  Let's talk about it.

Spoilers after the cut.

2014 NFL Power Rankings, Week 15

Week 15 provided some drama, but not a whole lot.  Most of the complaining seemed to center on bad calls, whether or not the games mattered.

There were a couple of elite QB's who failed to show up.  In one case it didn't hurt the team.  The other, of course, was Green Bay, who let Buffalo complete a 4-0 record against the NFC North.

I personally haven't seen many people say anything about it, but I think it's a heck of an accomplishment.  Especially when you consider how poor the offense is, even with Orton in at QB instead of Manuel.  I don't think anyone expected it to happen, especially with Green Bay playing as well as they had been prior to meeting the Bills.

Also, the Cowboys won and the Monday Night game was terrible.  Big surprise.

Here are the Rankings for Week 15:

Bleach 609 - A

Watch your step, another Bleach chapter is out and this one is a doozy.

Spoilers after the cut.

2014 NFL Power Rankings, Week 14

Week 14 was a lot like Week 12: nice and fairly predictable.  To be sure, I didn't get everything right, such as that slopfest down in New Orleans.  And I didn't figure that Kaepernick and the 49ers would flounder as badly as they did in Oakland.

But on the whole, things went well, starting on Thursday when the Cowboys took out the Bears.  It wasn't a "dominating" or even especially convincing win, but the Cowboys don't have a strong defense, so I'm not totally surprised.

Here are the Rankings for Week 14:

Bleach 608 - Darkness from the Blackest of Black

Another Bleach chapter to peruse and discuss.  Let's do.

Spoilers after the cut.

2014 NFL Power Rankings, Week 13

Thanksgiving came in Week 13 and that meant three games on Thursday instead of one.  I'm not sure any of them were particularly good, especially the night game between Seattle and San Francisco.  Honestly, I don't understand why either team gets national attention, because their styles are not conducive to a watchable product for a national audience.

Neither team is flashy.  They don't throw the ball down the field effectively and usually don't find many opportunities to do so.

Still, Seattle's win finds them back in the Rankings this week as they are once again one of the top 10 teams in the NFL.

Here are the Rankings for Week 13: